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.