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.
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‘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.”
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