Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma
Jakob Lindenthal, the German student from IIT Madras who was made to leave country by immigration department on Monday for attending CAA protests, has reached his home safely.
“Thank you all for the huge solidarity that you showed! Thank you for your messages, the legal advice and the shelter I was given when my flight out of India was delayed by one day. I will take some days to arrive at home and find out where the road leads,” he said in a Facebook post.
“Any activity outside campus will exceed my entitlements as a holder of a student visa – this was reason enough to evict me from the country.”Jakob Lindenthal, German Student
This is what immigration officials had told Jakob, before they made him leave the country.
Jakob was told he had allegedly violated his visa rules by taking part in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
He lauded the "relentless efforts taken by millions to protest and demand political freedom".
“Even though the protests happen for very concerning reasons I hope that they will bring together people who want a change for the better, for true representation, freedom of expression and civil rights.”Jakob Lindenthal, German student in his Facebook post
Speaking to The Quint on Tuesday, 24 December, he told how he was told a student visa holder ‘cannot participate in protests’ and was even criticised for his liberal stand on freedom of speech. He said he expected more freedom in a democracy like India and was disappointed with the government.
In the last week, photos of him holding placards with strong slogans while protesting in anti-CAA and NRC rallies at Valluvar Kottam and Chepauk in Chennai, went viral.
Hailing from Dresden in Germany, he was going to complete his second semester with the Physics department in the institute.
‘Criticised Me for My Stand on Freedom of Speech’
It was on Saturday that Jakob reportedly received a mail, asking him to show up at the immigration office. Since he was away – on the outskirts of Bengaluru for a match with his college sports team – he did not check his mail.
Jakob then received a call from his course coordinator at the institute, who informed him of the call from immigration.
In an interview to The Quint, he said that when he went to the office on Monday, he was initially told he needed to get his resident permit renewed, which is necessary for foreign nationals staying in the country for a long period.
Since his permit was valid till next year (2019), Jakob enquired about the formalities and the documents needed for the process.
He, in fact, even pointed out that it was the duty of the immigration officer to send a mail and a letter intimating the same, which he hadn't received.
During his meeting with immigration officials, one of them asked him generic questions about his stay in the country and his view on current politics.
“She asked generic questions and touched upon the conflict of freedom of speech. At some point she criticised me, for my words... a liberal stand on freedom of speech. She said, people who were not informed should not have a say.”Jakob Lindenthal, German Student to The Quint
She then directed him to step outside so that she could finish up some paperwork.
No Right to Protest Peacefully?
Jakob was called inside the room after 10 minutes when he was told the shocking news.
“She told I had misused or violated the Visa regulations. I asked her to specify... to lay out the regulations. She said it was not necessary. A student Visa is issued to study in India and said this was enough ground to assume that participation in a protest outside campus would be assumed as a violation of the regulations,” he said.
“... I could only live between the classroom, canteen and my bed as that’s all that is necessary for studying.”Jakob Lindenthal, German Student to The Quint
Jakob strongly opposed this because he believed, “That a student Visa holder should be able to participate in the civic life of a country.”
“However, she didn't hold this as valid and even threatened to use force if I didn't comply with the order,” he added.
Speaking to The Quint, Jakob’s classmate Yashodhan said, “He was deported because he was anti-fascist and that means this country is fascist. People are asking why did he protest because if he hadn't protested he wouldn't have got deported. But I think that's what makes him a great person. These people will see genocide happening outside their window and do nothing about it.”
“Jakob could have been detained, beaten up, his Visa cancelled, yet he still went and stood up for humanity. He stood up for humanity and now he is gone.”Yashodhan, Physics Department, IIT Madras to The Quint
He pointed out that Jakob had even participated in the fight for justice for an IIT- Madras student, Fathima Latheef, who had killed herself. She was found hanging in her room and her family had alleged harassment by professors.
“He was helpful during earlier protests, such as ‘Justice for Fathima’, where we had six suicides on campus and the institute didn't take any action. We passed a resolution and they didn't take it up. People were sitting on hunger strike and he was there then as well,” he added.
Is the Move Even Legal?
Advocate Suhrith Parthasarathy, at the Madras High Court, pointed out that the move by India was ‘disappointing’ and ‘morally wrong.’
“Obviously, all foreign nationals who apply for a Visa and declare a purpose of visit are expected to strictly adhere to the purpose while they stay in India but there is nothing here on record to suggest that the person studying in IIT Madras wasn't, in fact, studying there... or indulging in activities that were antithetical in some way or the other. That he participated in a protest cannot be a valid legal ground for deportation,” he said.
We tried reaching out to IIT Madras for a statement but haven’t received a response yet.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter to condemn this move:
‘No Time for Goodbyes’
When Jakob was told to leave the country, he called up his course coordinator who, he said, was quite 'passive' and not very helpful. He even reached out to the German Consulate who weren't of much help either.
“I called the Consulate who advised me to leave rather than wait for legal action. One must say, the German Consulate is not known for taking a strong stand against civic rights. They accept anything that the government says,” Jakob added.
Following this, he returned to the campus on Monday evening, booked a Chennai-Delhi-Amsterdam-Germany flight for the same night and packed his belongings. Since his flight was delayed, he will now be taking the 3:30 am flight from Delhi on Wednesday morning.
What Were the Slogans That Drew Attention to Jakob?
Despite the ordeal, Jakob was all praise for the people of the country. He applauded the unity and warmth of the people. He, however, said that he was quite astonished with the way the government was operating.
When Jakob stood in a 1,000-people strong crowd at Valluvar Kottam, protesting against CAA and NRC, his cardboard placard stood out. His slogans compared what is unfolding in India to Hitler's Nazi regime, which soon went viral.
He had also held a poster condemning the police excesses against students carrying the slogan, ‘Uniformed Criminals = Criminals’.
Slamming the police brutality that was inflicted upon the students of Jamia Millia University and Aligarh Muslim University, he said, “Police had hit (students) without any legal ground... this action suggested that crime can be performed by those wearing uniforms as well.”
‘I Am Not Coming Back’
“I am not coming back. At least, as of now. I will take a few days of rest and then contact for any legal assistance I feel appropriate and try to figure out what the restrictions are and what is there to fear in case I return and will speak to the institute.”Jakob Lindenthal, German Student
Jakob has even handed over an apology letter to the immigration officials, as, “Maybe there were some people who were affected by what I stood up for. I understand their feelings though I don't share it with them,” he said.
Jakob, though, is disappointed that he didn’t even get a decent farewell with his friends at the institute, as he hardly had an hour before he had to leave. In a message to some classmates, Jacob said: "I am at the airport... Leaving. I won't come back. Decided by immigration office (sic)."
“It does not diminish my positive feelings towards India in general, because I made wonderful friends and academics-wise, my time at IIT Madras was quite fruitful. But, I am disappointed with the government. I was expecting more freedom and more spirit among the government, but apparently that is not there.”Jakob Lindenthal, German Student to The Quint
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