Jamia shooting incident 'direct result' of BJP leaders' provocative comments: CPI

CPI general secretary D Raja on Thursday said incident of firing at Jamia Milia Islamia was a "direct result" of provocative comments made by BJP leaders while campaigning for Delhi Assembly elections. Raja said that it was unfortunate that such an incident happened on death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

'Anurag Thakur should be arrested for his comments'

"Jamia firing incident a direct result of provocative statements made by BJP leaders during campaigning in Delhi. BJP leader Anurag Thakur should be arrested for his comments urging crowds to raise slogan of shoot traitors," Raja said.

In a shocking incident on Thursday, an armed man identified as Gopal was detained after he brandished a pistol and fired at students of Jamia Millia Islamia University who were protesting against CAA and NRC.  incident took place when protesters were marching towards Rajghat to hold a protest.

"Kisko chahiye azadi? Main dunga azadi"

According to reports, man shouted, "Who wants Azadi, I'll give you Azadi" and n fired on protesters. student, identified as Shahdab, was sustained an injury on his left wrist. He was taken to a hospital and is undergoing treatment. "We were moving towards Holy Family Hospital where police had raised barricades. Suddenly, a gun-wielding man came out and opened fire. One bullet hit my friend's hand," Aamna Asif, a student of ecomics at university, was quoted as saying by PTI news ncy.

READ | Delhi Police issues first reaction as gun-toting man opens fire at Jamia; injures one

Protests against CAA, which fast-tracks Indian citizenship for n-Muslim mirities from three neighbouring countries, have flared up since last December. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has said that law is required to help persecuted mirities who came to India before December 31, 2014, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. But protesters insist law discriminates against country’s Muslim mirity and violates India’s Constitution.

READ | Mehbooba Mufti says Jamia shooting completes 'transition from democracy to mobocracy'

BJP "stars" get campaign bans

Union Minister Anurag Thakur and BJP MP Parvesh Verma have been banned from campaigning for Delhi elections for 72 and 96 hours, respectively, after making hate speeches, Election Commission said on Thursday. Both will also remain off ir party's "star campaigner" list, poll body added, reiterating instructions issued to BJP on Wednesday evening.

READ | Guns In Jamia: Here's what we kw, as man opens fire amid protest; injures one

READ | Yogendra Yadav accuses Delhi Police of 'openly inviting violence' at Jamia Millia

(with PTI inputs)