On December 16, students of IIT Madras assembled at the Gajendra Circle inside the IIT campus and carried out a march to the Himalaya block. Their march was in solidarity with the students of Jamia Milia Islamia University and the Aligarh Muslim University. The IIT-M students were also demanding the Centre revoke the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
What stood out in this protest was a German student named Jakob Lindenthal. In IIT he held a placard staying, "1933-1945 -- We have been there" and at the Chepauk protest on the evening of December 16, he held a placard stating, "Uniformed Criminals = Criminals".
Jakob Lindenthal is a German student who was studying in the Physics department of IIT- Madras. On the day of the protest, he said, "I'm here in solidarity and for human rights". Jakob stood out at most protests as a foreigner amongst Indians.
On Monday, December 23, Jakob was asked to leave by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office.
"What we heard is that officials from the immigration department got in touch with him and asked him to leave because as per his visa he wasn't allowed to take part in political protests," said a student who was protesting with Jakob on the 16th. "He decided to leave as soon as the instructions came through," said the student on the condition of anonymity.
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On the other hand, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has asked the HRD Ministry to revoke the expulsion of a German student pursuing his Masters at IIT Madras after he was asked to leave the country following his participation in an anti-Citizenship Act protest (CAA).
"This is dismaying. We used to be a proud democracy, an example to the world. No democracy punishes freedom of expression," Tharoor said.
"I call on Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (HRD Minister) to instruct IIT Madras to withdraw the expulsion and allow India to hold head high in the academic world," he added.