Left, Right & Centre

One of the things that has stood out in the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has been the opposition to it from ordinary people, students, teachers, scientists and former bureaucrats. Many have spoken out and many continue to do so. Last month, some 2,000 scientists and Science students signed a public letter against the CAA.

Amid protests across the country, the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act comes into force, with a gazette notification from the government.

As student protests sweep across India and the role of the police and the State comes under scrutiny, author Madhav Khosla warns about the dangers of 'extra-constitutional violence'. Speaking to NDTV, he said, "the interesting thing about countries that self-destruct is that there is anarchy in every single corner. And if that happens, you are actually going to end up in a situation that, in fact, doesn't work whatever side you are on".

Students of St Stephen's in Delhi boycotted classes and protested on the lawns on Wednesday - in a gesture described as "very rare" for the college - to express solidarity with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students and teachers attacked by a masked mob on Sunday. The prestigious college has, over recent decades, gained the reputation of remaining distant from student politics and activism and silent on a number of issues that caused a stir in other universities. Students from St Stephens and DSE talk about why even Stephens was protesting.

Actor Deepika Padukone's visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi in a show of support for students targeted in a mob attack has sent out a powerful message and given courage to many others, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap said today. "The whole image of Deepika with her folded hands to Aishe Ghosh sends out a very strong message, and it is not just a message of solidarity but one that says 'I feel your pain'," the acclaimed filmmaker stressed.

BJP leader Mamta Kale said that she rejects the politics that happened in JNU. "I simply reject such politics that happened in JNU on Saturday. The goons went to the server room and shut it and cut the WiFi wire, then they went to the hostel and threw stones at ABVP students and the staff there. This is what you call student leadership?" Mamta Kale said.

Former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan said that Home Minister Amit Shah is partly responsible for the violence at JNU on Sunday evening. "It was very unfortunate when Home Minister Amit Shah comes out and says that these people should be taught a lesson. That is such an irresponsible statement to make. He is partly to be blamed for the incident," Kannan Gopinathan said.

Actor Swara Bhasker today said the terminology of 'tukde tukde gang' is false and is made up to drive an agenda of hate. "To me the terminology 'tukde tukde gang' is false and mythological and it is made up to drive an agenda of hate, where you silence people by labeling them this way," Swara Bhasker said.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today condemned the violence that took place in JNU on Sunday evening and said and enquiry committee will look into the matter. "Violence of this kind, of any kind needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. I have absolutely not hesitation in giving you condemnation of the act. I would like to find out however, where I want to be very careful what exactly happened. There was one incident which the TV cameras and all the channels had on last evening. The trouble has been brewing for a while there," he said.

A masked mob armed with sticks and stones barged into Delhi's prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University this evening and beat up students and teachers, leaving at least 20 injured, including the chief of the students' union.

Protests were reported from Jammu region, Ludhiana and Delhi against violence at Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. India has also condemned the incident and asked Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure safety for pilgrims. Hundreds of people on Friday surrounded the shrine and shouted slogans; they also threw stones at the gurdwara. Workers and leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday staged a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.

The new Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane has said the army has "various plans" for operations in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and is ready for "any task". In an interview with NDTV, asked if India can look at military operations in PoK as something than can be realistically achieved, General Naravane said: "We have our forces deployed all along the border including Jammu and Kashmir and we have various plans and if required, those plans can be put into action. We will carry out and carry out successfully any task that we are tasked to do." Asked if that can include operations in PoK on a larger scale, he told NDTV, "Should that be the mandate".

The Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government's proposal for a tableau for this year's Republic Day parade has been rejected by the expert committee, which selects the proposals from the state governments and Union Territories. The Trinamool Congress has reacted sharply to it, terming it discriminatory. Several leaders of the TMC have linked this development to Mamata Banerjee's staunch opposition to the citizenship law and citizens list NRC. Maharashtra government's tableau has also been rejected.

Defence analyst, Commodore Uday C Bhaskar (Retired), explains how the Army chief is within his operational rights to define how the Army would function, and how the Army would train. He explains if the Army chief can decide his priorities on his own and the position and role of the Chief of Defence Staff and the three chiefs of the organisation.

Indian singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad's break-up ballad 'Cold/Mess' made it to Barack Obama's list of songs of the year. The list that was shared by Barack Obama on Twitter on Monday has 35 songs. Cold/Mess is a love song, composed and sung by Kuhad and features actors Jim Sarbh and Zoya Hussain in the video. Watch Prateek Kuhad speaking to NDTV about how 2019 just got better for him. (Video courtesy: Prateek Kuhad - cold/mess, Artist Originals / Jiosaavn)