Spotted at anti-CAA protests, German student at IIT Madras told to leave India
Jakob Lindenthal, a German exchange student doing his Masters in Physics at IIT Madras, participated in an anti-CAA protest holding a placard that drew Nazi reference.
24 December, 2019 11:57 am IST
German student Jakob Lindenthal | Twitter
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Chennai: Jakob Lindenthal, a German student on an exchange programme at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, was reportedly asked to leave the country after he took part in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
He was seen holding placards at anti-CAA protests in Chepauk and Valluvar Kottam areas of Chennai. During one of the protests, he was seen carrying a poster that made a reference to the Nazi rule in his own country: “1933 to 1945 – we have been there”.
He was also seen carrying a placard that said “Uniformed criminals = criminals”, and even gave interviews to a few TV channels from the protest sites.
Lindenthal, who is a student of the Technical University of Dresden, was pursuing his post-graduation in physics at IIT-Madras.
A senior official at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office told The Indian Express that it was a “clear case” of violation of visa rules for foreigners staying in India if the German student attended a protest. “This isn’t the same as deportation. His visa may be cancelled soon.”
The Express report also said an IIT official had sent a report to “higher-ups” about Lindenthal’s participation in the protests, though the Dean of Students S. Sivakumar said he was not aware of it.
Quoting sources in the immigration department, a report in The Times of India also said a foreigner participating in political activities or protests amounted to violation of visa norms. An official said such violation attracts deportation, and also an inquiry.
ThePrint has sent an email to IIT-Madras for comment but is yet to get a reply. This report will be updated when the institute responds.
Also read: Drones, medical care, shame, shame!: How high courts are dealing with CAA protest pleas
‘Questions asked about my political stance’
Lindenthal left for Amsterdam from Chennai via New Delhi late Monday night.
Before boarding his flight back home, the German student told The Federal: “I was informed about the summon from the immigration office by my department faculty. While the initial interaction with the immigration officials did not hint anything, the questions on my political stance and involvement in anti-CAA protests that followed made it evident.”
He said he had also offered a written apology when accused of violating the student visa norms but was allegedly asked to leave the country as soon as possible.
Talking to ThePrint, an acquaintance of his at the IIT-Madras said, “Lindenthal had only one semester remaining to complete the programme. He had taken part in other protests too, and have helped fellow students during a hunger strike against the alleged suicide of IIT-Madras student Fathima Latheef in the campus last month.”
Also read: UP Police arrest state head of Islamic outfit PFI, 2 aides for ‘inciting’ CAA violence
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Full facts on German IIT student forced to leave India - New Bricks
German student Jakob Lindenthal | TwitterText Size: A- A+
Chennai: Jakob Lindenthal, a German student on an exchange programme at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, was reportedly asked to leave the country after he took part in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
He was seen holding placards at anti-CAA protests in Chepauk and Valluvar Kottam areas of Chennai. During one of the protests, he was seen carrying a poster that made a reference to the Nazi rule in his own country: “1933 to 1945 – we have been there”.
He was also seen carrying a placard that said “Uniformed criminals = criminals”, and even gave interviews to a few TV channels from the protest sites.
Lindenthal, who is a student of the Technical University of Dresden, was pursuing his post-graduation in physics at IIT-Madras.
A senior official at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office told The Indian Express that it was a “clear case” of violation of visa rules for foreigners staying in India if the German student attended a protest. “This isn’t the same as deportation. His visa may be cancelled soon.”
The Express report also said an IIT official had sent a report to “higher-ups” about Lindenthal’s participation in the protests, though the Dean of Students S. Sivakumar said he was not aware of it.
Quoting sources in the immigration department, a report in The Times of India also said a foreigner participating in political activities or protests amounted to violation of visa norms. An official said such violation attracts deportation, and also an inquiry.
ThePrint has sent an email to IIT-Madras for comment but is yet to get a reply. This report will be updated when the institute responds.
Also read: Drones, medical care, shame, shame!: How high courts are dealing with CAA protest pleas
‘Questions asked about my political stance’
Lindenthal left for Amsterdam from Chennai via New Delhi late Monday night.
Before boarding his flight back home, the German student told The Federal: “I was informed about the summon from the immigration office by my department faculty. While the initial interaction with the immigration officials did not hint anything, the questions on my political stance and involvement in anti-CAA protests that followed made it evident.”
He said he had also offered a written apology when accused of violating the student visa norms but was allegedly asked to leave the country as soon as possible.
Talking to ThePrint, an acquaintance of his at the IIT-Madras said, “Lindenthal had only one semester remaining to complete the programme. He had taken part in other protests too, and have helped fellow students during a hunger strike against the alleged suicide of IIT-Madras student Fathima Latheef in the campus last month.”
Also read: UP Police arrest state head of Islamic outfit PFI, 2 aides for ‘inciting’ CAA violence
ThePrint is now on Telegram. For the best reports & opinion on politics, governance and more, subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram.
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Full facts on German IIT student forced to leave India - New Bricks
Full facts on German IIT student forced to leave India
Full facts on German IIT student forced to leave India: CAA protests new casualty is a German student sent back due to his participation in it. Shashi Tharoor MP has requested the Central Education minister to withdraw his expulsion. IIT Madras students say it is a shame for India to send the German student back.
Many prominent leaders have also expressed their voice against his deportation. But Jakob Lindenthan is long gone to Amsterdam after being expelled by the Indian immigration authorities.
CAA protests across India have already claimed more than 20 lives. There is no rolling back of it by the Government, and the BJP party for the first time is holding demonstrations in favor of CAA in many parts of India.
Peaceful protests are turning violent to arrest and kill innocent people. The latest casualty is Jakob Lindenthal, who is a postgraduate physics student in IIT Madras. He participated in many CAA protests holding banners like "1933 – 1945 We have been there" It refers to the Nazi rule in Germany by the infamous Hitler who killed millions of Jews due to racism. But, later Hitler had to commit suicide. Uniformed Criminals = Criminals, It refers to the peaceful CAA protests turning violent.
Jakob Lindenthal spoke to a Press person in the airport on his way back to Amsterdam after the immigration authorities asked him to leave the country immediately. The excerpts include
A few days back I received a mail regarding my participation in CAA protests
My coordinators asked me to meet the Immigration authorities immediately
I went and met the immigration authorities
They casually asked about my hobbies and political stances
They continued to ask my part in the CAA protests
After answering the questions, they told me that, I had violated the immigration rules
They asked me to leave the country immediately
I asked them to give the expulsion order in writing, but so far they have not given one
I love India and IIT Madras, but the situation now is worrying me
No one in Germany have to leave it for protests against the law
Many IIT student associations have praised the humanity of Jacob and wanted the Central Government to cancel his expulsion.
Full facts on German IIT student forced to leave India
Author Biography
They casually asked about my hobbies and political stances
They continued to ask my part in the CAA protests
After answering the questions, they told me that, I had violated the immigration rules
They asked me to leave the country immediately
I asked them to give the expulsion order in writing, but so far they have not given one
I love India and IIT Madras, but the situation now is worrying me
No one in Germany have to leave it for protests against the law
Many IIT student associations have praised the humanity of Jacob and wanted the Central Government to cancel his expulsion.
Full facts on German IIT student forced to leave India
Author Biography
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