New Delhi : Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad escaped police custody and ran after leading a huge protest against the citizenship law at Jama Masjid in the old quarters of Delhi on Friday.
He had been detained after a protest along with hundreds of supporters, during which he shouted slogans and waved flags from the steps of the historic mosque, dramatically defying the police. Chandrashekhar Azad had managed to dodge the police and had surfaced suddenly inside the gates of Jama Masjid just after Friday prayers, holding up a copy of the constitution and a photo of BR Ambedkar. He was detained soon after.
The Delhi Police had denied permission to Chandrashekhar Azad’s protest march against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar in the heart of Delhi. But he tweeted that he would make it to the area anyway, and he did. “Please ignore the rumors of my arrest. I am reaching Jama Masjid,” he tweeted.
Slogans of “Jai Bhim” rang out from the steps of Jama Masjid as Azad, whose blue hoodie covered his face, emerged on the steps. Scores of policemen, prepared to push back against the protests, stayed on the other side of the gates, keeping a cautious eye on the rapidly swelling crowds. Drones were also deployed to monitor the situation.
