Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University staged a march in > solidarity with their student's union president Kanhaiya Kumar from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar.in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Vice-Chancellor of JNU, however, > issued an appeal to the students to reconsider their decision, citing safety reasons. "While we appreciate your right to protest, we are concerned for your safety outside the campus. We, therefore, request you to reconsider the decision of taking out a march outside the university," M. Jagadesh Kumar said in an official statement.
The students, however, have refused to cancel the march. "The JNU Solidarity March is very much happening from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar," according to a statement issued by the students.
Live updates:
6.20 pm: Students claim it to be a success. As per JNU students, more than 10,000 people participated in the protest march.
5. 50 pm : "This was a message that the Centre was giving to the Supreme Court that do whatever you like, we will not follow your orders. It has given an open challenge", says the Delhi CM. > Read more
5.30 p.m.: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal reacts to attacks on media persons and JNU students.
5.15 pm: The protest march is diverted towards the Parliament street.
5.05 pm: Police stop them from entering the protest venue.
5.00 pm: Over 1000 strong crowd reaches Jantar Mantar.
4:42 pm: More security forces being deployed in Chanakyapuri as Geelani set to be taken to Tihar. > Read more
4.41 pm: SAR Geelani sent to 14 days in judicial custody after secretly being produced before magistrate.
4.20 pm: The entire judicial system has come under threat from “hooligan forces“, says noted historian Irfan Habib. > Read more
4.15 pm: Students hold protests in the Aligarh Muslim University campus against the attack on students and journalists in Delhi’s Patiala House courts .
4.09 pm: Yogendra Yadav marches at Mandi House with students, teachers, and activists.
4.01 pm: Citizens too join the protest march.
3.45 p.m.: Swara Bhaskar, film actor and JNU alumus is here at the march. Initially, two buses full of JNU students start arriving at the protest march spot.
3.25 pm: Also participating in the protest are students from the Allahabad University.
Photo: Kritika Sharma
Brinda Karat at the venue. Photo: Sandeep Saxena 3.09 pm: Swaraj Abhiyan founder Yogendra Yadav set to join the march at Mandi House.
3.08 pm: The entire Delhi and India wants Kanhaiya released. This is is the nation's demand, says CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat.
3.03 pm: Mr. Karat reachers the venue and addresses the students.
3.00 pm: Teachers from the Aligarh Muslim University and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) join the movement. Students from the Hyderabad University were also present.
2.57 pm: At Mandi House, more protesters gather, but the march is yet to start. Protesters have not moved.
Photo: Kritika Sharma 2.56 pm: 'Observable threat to life and security of Kanhaiya Kumar,' his lawyers and journalists tell Patiala House court.
2.55 pm: Kanhaiya Kumar in court; tells SC he was "violently assaulted" in court by gathered lawyers and later by one other person in the courtroom.
2.52 pm: SC to hear Kanhaiya Kumar's bail plea at 10.30 am on Friday.
2.51 pm: Afraid to ask for bail in trial court because of atmosphere there. Dire threat to my life. Grant me bail, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar tells Supreme Court.
2.50 pm: Sedition case: S.A.R Geelani not to be produced at Patiala House, elsewhere instead because of security concerns, say police sources.
2.46 pm: Delhi University teachers including DU Teachers' Association president Nandita Narain also join the march.
2.45 pm: Students shout out slogans - "Dam hai kitna daman me tere, jagah hai kitni jail me tere, dekh liya hai dekhenge." "Inqialab zindabad."
2.40 pm: More JNU students, around 10 buses full, are expected to join in soon.
2.35 pm: Protest gets underway with a large number of JNU students. AISF hijacks protest with their own members.
2.30 pm: Aam Aadmi party delegation led by Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal addressing the media after a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Photo: Shanker Chakravarty 2.20 pm: Students have started pouring in large numbers. Heavy police deployment in and around Mandi House.
2.15: The All India Students Federation (AISF) start a separate protest march of their own, in support of Kanhaiya Kumar, at Mandi House.
AISF members gather at Mandi House. Photo: R.V. Moorthy 2.00 pm: Patiala Court clash: Bar Council of India to > take action against guilty lawyers . "“I seek apology from mediapersons and that boy Kanhaiya Kumar for such mishappenings and misconduct. Strong action will be taken against lawyers, if found guilty of indulging in violence at Patiala House Court," says BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra.
1.45 pm: Delhi Police have > registered a case in connection with alleged assault on an advocate after he was targeted by persons dressed in lawyers’ robes at Patiala House court for speaking in favour of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.
