CAA Protests: A number of protesters on Friday night gathered around Delhi Police headquarters (File)
Fifteen people have died in violence across Uttar Pradesh over the centre's amended citizenship law, which has seen massive protests against the law that has swept the country since December 11, when it was signed off by President Ram Nath Kovind. Over 260 cops have also been injured in the violence since Thursday, police said.
The Congress announced that it will hold a protest on Monday against the newly amended act. Senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, who had been abroad since the protests over the new law escalated last Sunday, is expected to attend the meet.
This morning, prohibitory orders were issued in areas around the Uttar Pradesh Bhavan in South Delhi's Chanakyapuri. Protests are continuing at Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia for the seventh straight day since Sunday's violence. The national capital witnessed protests yesterday morning as Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad led a massive protest at the Jama Masjid and called for a march to Jantar Mantar. In the evening, hundreds of protestors took to the streets, defying prohibitory orders.
Curfew was imposed in some areas of Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district after a protest march against the citizenship law turned violent on Friday. The Congress-led state government had placed restrictions on large gatherings in 50 of 52 districts amid violent protests against the law across the country.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act for the first time makes religion the test of citizenship in India. The government says it will help minorities from three Muslim-dominated countries to get citizenship if they fled to India before 2015 because of religious persecution. Critics say it is designed to discriminate against Muslims and violates the secular principles of the constitution.
Here are the LIVE Updates on protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA):
Amid nation-wide protests, BJP plans to reach out to three crore families over the next 10 days. This included several rallies and over 250 press conferences to clear "misconceptions" about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the government said.
The BJP's outreach decision was taken at a meeting in Delhi today that was chaired by JP Nadda.
After the meeting, BJP General Secretary Bhupender Yadav told reporters the party would counter the "lies" of the opposition, including the Congress. He also referred to an old video of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh advocating for citizenship to all persecuted minorities from Bangladesh.
The Congress announced that they will hold a protest at Delhi's Rajghat, the Mahatma Gandhi memorial on Monday.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Aazad produced before Delhi court, reports news agency PTI
Jamia students offer tea, food to cops
The Jamia Millia Islamia students staged a demonstration yet again outside the varsity campus, days after violent clashes in its vicinity. Some of the students were also seen to be offering food and tea to the police stationed at the venue.
15 dead in violence in UP since Thursday
Thirteen people were killed in violence across Uttar Pradesh over the amended law, which broke out after Friday prayers. One person had died in Lucknow and one in Sambhal on Thursday, taking the total number of deaths in the state to 15.
READ HERE: Citizenship Amendment Act: Sharad Pawar Says New Law Will Hurt Social HarmonyAmid massive protests against the new citizenship law across the country, NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said that "all those who care for the country's unity and progress" are opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. His remarks come a day after ally Congress's chief Sonia Gandhi, in a televised message on Friday, accused the government of "brute repression" and showing "utter disregard" for people's voices in the nationwide protests.
Citizenship Amendment Act Protest: Congress Core Group meeting to be held at the residence of Sonia Gandhi
Congress Core Group meeting to be held at the residence of party's interim president Sonia Gandhi, at 4:30 pm today, over the Citizenship Act, reports news agency ANI
BREAKING: CAA Protests: Delhi police arrests Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad
Delhi police arrests Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad
Jamia Protests, CAA Protests: Jamia students protest outside university campus
Students of Jamia Millia Islamia on Saturday staged a protest outside the university campus against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, reported news agency PTI.
The protest at the main gate of the university was started by women students and later men also joined them.
They raised slogans such as "Ladke lenge azadi" and "Inquilab Zindabad".
CAA Protests: Tejashwi Yadav's tweet over Citizenship Act
CAA Protests: Airtel mobile internet restored in Lucknow
Airtel mobile internet restored in Lucknow
Citizenship Act Protests: Curfew relaxed for two hours in Karnataka's Mangaluru
Mangaluru city which is under a curfew remained calm under heavy police security on Saturday while prohibitory orders were lifted for two hours from 6 a.m to enable people to purchase essential items, reported PTI.
CAA Protests: Situation improving amid heavy security deployment in Delhi areas: news agency PTI
The situation in areas hit by violence during protests against the new citizenship law is gradually returning to normal, police said on Saturday, and assured that a heavy deployment of security personnel has been made in Old Delhi and Seemapuri areas, reported news agency PTI.
Manish Seth, secretary of Daryaganj Traders' Association, said all shops in the area opened on Saturday morning and there's no unrest. He said police have been keeping a tight vigil, reported PTI.
A senior police officer from Shahdara district said situation was under control in the area.
"Delhi Police have dominated the area and are conducting flag marches since Friday evening to ensure that no untoward incident is reported," he was quoted as saying by PTI.
Citizenship Act Protests: Chennai police detains around 200 students near Chennai central station
Chennai police blocked and detained around two hundred students near the Chennai central station as they attempted rail roko demanding withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Many of the protestors are members of the SFI. Many say the Act discriminates people on the basis of religion and shuts down opportunity for more than a lakh Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu for over three decades from becoming Indian citizens.
Citizenship Amendment Protest: "I don't know if democracy is there in state or at Centre," says Siddaramaiah
"As per notice, I can't go to Mangaluru by train, bus or car. I don't know if democracy is there in state or at Centre. If situation is favorable for them, why not for me. We aren't going to provoke people.We don't have to learn lessons about law and order from them," Congress' Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Citizenship Act will disturb and hurt religious, social unity and harmony in the country, says Sharad Pawar: news agency PTI
Citizenship Act will disturb and hurt religious, social unity and harmony in the country, says Sharad Pawar: news agency PTI
Citizenship Amendment Protest: Citizenship Act, NRC are attempts to divert attention from serious issues the country is facing, says Sharad Pawar: news agency PTI
Citizenship Act, NRC are attempts to divert attention from serious issues the country is facing: Sharad Pawar in Pune, reports news agency PTI
CAA Protests: Cases against 3,600 registered in Ghaziabad
In four police stations in Ghaziabad, complaints against 3,600 have been registered.
The cases were registered in the Sahibabad, Muradnagar and Kotwali stations.
The cases were registered after protestors allegedly threw stones at the police.
A case has also been filed against Rashid Malik, a Samajwadi Party leader.
Police has arrested around 66 as of now.
CAA Protests: Congress steps up campaign against Citizenship Act in Kerala
The Congress in Kerala is organising protests in all district headquarters on Saturday as part of strengthening its campaign against the Citizenship Amendment Act, reported news agency PTI.
Senior Congress leaders including Ramesh Chennithala, KC Venugopal, Mullappally Ramachandran and Shashi Tharoor are participating in the campaign, capturing the mood of the people in the state against the law enacted by Parliament during its winter session, according to PTI.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Chennithala will inaugurate the protest in Malappuram district in North Kerala, which has been witnessing a series of agitations against the CAA.
Mr Tharoor will lead the agitation in Kozhikode.
AICC General Secretary Venugopal led the protest in Alappuzha on Friday.
The party has called for a peaceful agitations across state against the CAA.
Upping the ante against the CAA, Mr Venugopal had on Friday said the "unconstitutional" legislation will not be implemented in Congress-ruled states.
CAA Protests: Anti-Citizenship Act Protest Bandh called by RJD in Bihar
Thousands of RJD supporters fanned out across Bihar on Saturday, disrupting rail and road traffic while trying to enforce a statewide shutdown in protest against the new citizenship law and the proposed NRC, reported news agency PTI.
In the state capital, hundreds of party supporters - among whom children could also be seen - stormed railway stations and bus stands carrying sticks and party flags but they were chased away by police personnel.
In Bihar's Nawada, bandh supporters staged a demonstration on national highway 31 where they burnt tires on the road causing disruption in the movement of vehicles while agitators protested at Zero Mile Chowk in Muzaffarpur.
There were reports of bandh supporters squatting on railway tracks in Araria and East Champaran districts.
Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar said, "Adequate forces have been deployed in all districts of the state and officials concerned were asked to deal sternly with anyone trying to foment trouble."
The Bihar bandh called by the main opposition party comes barely two days after a statewide shutdown was organised by the Left parties.
The RJD, after initially scheduling the bandh on December 22, had advanced the shutdown by a day in view of police recruitment tests on Sunday.
On Friday night, RJD activists led by leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav had taken out a march in the city holding aloft burning torches to garner support for the bandh, which they termed as "an attempt to save the Constitution from the assaults by the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre", reported PTI.
"It will be a peaceful protest. But if the state police indulges in any high-handedness, there would be a backlash", Mr Yadav was quoted as saying by PTI.
Citizenship Amendment Act Protests: Mayawati asks Centre to give up its "stubborn stand" on the citizenship law
BSP president Mayawati on Saturday asked the Centre to give up its "stubborn stand" on the new citizenship law and NRC and withdraw its decisions.
"Now that voices opposed to the CAA and NRC have started coming from within the NDA, the central government should give up its stubborn stand and withdraw its decisions," she said in a tweet in Hindi.
"Also, it is an appeal to protesters to express their opposition in a peaceful manner," the Bahujan Samaj Party chief added.
Citizenship Act Protest: Meghalaya mobile internet ban lifted after a week
Meghalaya mobile internet ban lifted after a week
Meghalaya internet ban was imposed on 12th December after violent protests in Shillong.
Ban has been lifted after a week.
Night curfew however still continues in parts of Shillong.
Citizenship Amendment Act Protests: "No to NCR as well as NPR," tweets Kerala's finance minister Thomas Isaac
"Kerala Government orders that all activities related to preparation National Population Register be stayed in the state with immediate effect. All earlier notifications in this regard stand stayed. No to NCR as well as NPR," tweets Kerala's finance minister Thomas Isaac.
BREAKING: CAA Protests: 10 people arrested for Daryaganj violence, charged with rioting and using force to deter policemen from doing duty, say police: news agency PTI
10 people arrested for Daryaganj violence, charged with rioting and using force to deter policemen from doing duty, say police: news agency PTI
Citizenship Act Protest: Shashi Tharoor to lead protest rally in Kerala
"My first event this morning: leading an @inckerala #IndiaAgainstCAA_NRC protest rally in Kozhikode. All welcome," wrote Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Twitter.
CAA Protests: Protestors gathered outside Delhi Police headquarters
A number of protesters gathered outside the Delhi Police headquarters in the national capital on Friday night to demand the release of around 40 people who were detained in clashes that broke out during an agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Daryaganj area that afternoon.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, who had escaped from the police custody on Friday, was again detained early this morning.
Eight of those detained by the police were minors aged between 14 and 15 years. Police said they will only be released, provided their parents come to collect them. Six minors have been released so far. Doctors told NDTV that their hands were swollen, and a child with a head injury had to be sent to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital for treatment.