Citizenship Act protests: Thousands have been taking part in protests against the new law. (File)
Even as restrictions under section 144 of the CrPC are being imposed in several parts of the country, several protests have been planned against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act at Delhi's Jamia University, Shaheen Bagh, India Gate and Zakir Nagar today. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on a day-long visit to Assam today to extend the party's solidarity to the people protesting against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
Every day since the bill was passed in the parliament on December 11, thousands of people have been taking part in demonstrations, braving chilly winter temperatures to protest against the new law.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday justified his government's crackdown on agitations against the Citizenship Amendment Act, saying that the action has "shocked" every protester into silence. The tweet was a reference to the government's decision to make protesters pay up for public property destroyed in Uttar Pradesh. As many as 21 people died in violent clashes that erupted in the state.
The CAA, for the first time, makes religion the test of citizenship in India. The government says it will help minorities from three Muslim-dominated countries get citizenship if they fled to India before 2015 because of religious persecution. Critics say it discriminates against Muslims and violates the secular principles of the constitution.
Here are the Updates on Citizenship Amendment Act protests:
Mamata Banerjee's Poem Blasts Centre On Citizenship Law, NRCIn a strong-worded poem against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the Narendra Modi-led government on Friday, saying who has given "you" the right to "trample" upon "my rights".
People have realised new Act is justified, protests to end soon: Anurag ThakurUnion Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur on Saturday said the agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would end soon. Speaking to reporters at his hometown in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur, the minister of state said people have realised that the CAA is "pro-people".
"The Congress and the Left were behind these protests as part of their unsuccessful attempts to return to power as they had been voted out by the people," he added. Justifying the amended law, Mr Thakur said the agitation would end soon as the people had realised that the action of the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "justified and pro-people".
CAA will benefit lakhs of people and it is wrong to say that it will harm minority communities, he added, reported PTI.
Congress organises protest march in Kerala demanding suspension of amended Act
Intensifying its protest against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Congress in Kerala took out a "Maha Rally" to the Raj Bhavan on Saturday, demanding the suspension of the amended law and to stop the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Addressing party workers, Former Union Finance minister P Chidambaram said the party's demand was to suspend CAA and completely stop NRC.
"Our demand is to suspend CAA and to completely stop NRC. These are our demands and we will continue to fight until they are met," the Congress leader said. Describing the CAA and NRC as most "unconstitutional" and "illogical", P Chidambaram said he was confident that the Supreme court would strike it down.
"The Citizenship Amendment Act destroys the very basis of our Constitution. If they had two-thirds majority in parliament, they would have amended the Constitution," the Congress leader claimed.
Priyanka Gandhi on her way to visit family of arrested activist stopped by police in Lucknow
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was today stopped at Lucknow by Uttar Pradesh police on her way to visit the family of an activist arrested during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
"What should I say - they have stopped me in the middle of the road. They have no reason to stop me. Only God knows why they have done this," she said.
Priyanka Gandhi - the party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East) - was out to visit the family of actress-activist Sadaf Jafar, who had been in custody since her arrest on December 19. Party leaders have alleged that cops have been giving her the "third degree", pulling her hair and beating her brutally. Police officers have, however, denied the accusation.
Citizenship (Amendment) Act: Trinamool Congress protests in Bengal
The Trinamool Congress today staged sit-ins against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in West Bengal.
TMC leaders and activists took part in the demonstrations across the state, party sources said.
Senior state ministers Partha Chatterjee and Firhad Hakim were among the TMC leaders who participated in the sit-ins in their respective constituencies in Kolkata.
Protests in Karnataka's Shivamogga
People protest against Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register at Eidgah Maidan in Shivamogga, Karnataka.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) GP Singh says: "As of December 28, 268 cases have been registered in Assam in connection with the recent violence and 448 people have been arrested have been arrested."
Rahul Gandhi visits residence of Sam Stafford who was killed in Assam protests
Rahul Gandhi visits house of Sam Stafford who was killed during Citizenship Amendment Act protest violence in Assam.
Bail plea hearing of Daryaganj violence accused next month
Delhi court to hear bail plea of 15 accused in Daryaganj violence case on January 7, reports news agency ANI.
Assam returning to path of violence due to BJP: Rahul Gandhi
"I fear Assam is returning to path of violence because of BJP's policies," says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Guwahati. "The spirit of Assam Accord which brought in peace should not be ruined."
Rahul Gandhi addresses rally in Guwahati
"Wherever the BJP goes, it spreads hate. In Assam, the youth are protesting, in other states protests are happening as well. Why do you have to shoot and kill them? BJP doesn't want to listen to voice of people," he says.
The Congress leader adds: "We won't allow the BJP and RSS to destroy the history, language and culture of Assam. We also won't let Nagpur or RSS rule Assam."
Rahul Gandhi reaches Guwahati
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reaches Khanpara, Guwahati. He will address a rally soon.
"Bogus agenda" of "useless brigade" will get over soon: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, while referring to statements made by Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders on the state of the economy and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), says that the "bogus agenda" of the "useless brigade" will get over soon.
"This useless brigade's bogus agenda will get over soon. They are just spreading hatred among people with bogus stories. They are just trying to spread rumours and fear with false information. No one is losing citizenship but, in fact, people will get citizenship through CAA," Mr Naqvi says.
Centre diverting people's attention from economic issues: AK Antony
Senior Congress leader AK Antony says that the PM Modi government through its recent decisions is trying to divert the attention of people from core economic issues and its failure in tackling them.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is spreading all these things just to divert the attention of the people from the core economic issues and the failure of the government. The country is burning, the economy is in deep crisis. Unemployment is highest in the last 40 years and the farm sector is in deep distress. Industries are closing and workers are not getting jobs. As a result, people are coming to the streets," Mr Antony says.
Those who supported Amit Shah, PM Modi now worried: Congress leader
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge says people who used to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are now "worried" due to surging prices and the deteriorating economic situation.
"Indian economy has been destroyed, unemployment and inflation are on the rise. The country is lagging behind in terms of economy. Due to increasing prices, everyone is troubled. Even youth who used to support (Amit) Shah and PM Modi are now worried," Mr Kharge says.
Citizenship Amended Act will be more disastrous than notes ban: Rahul Gandhi
Hours ahead of the "Save Constitution-Save India" protest march that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will lead in Guwahati this afternoon, he launches an attack on the ruling BJP and said that National Register Of Citizens and the new citizenship law will be "more disastrous" than the Narendra Modi government's demonetisation move in 2016.
On being asked about the new citizenship law, the Congress leader drew comparison between the new law, the National Register of Citizenship and the BJP government's demonetisation move in 2016. "This sham (Citizenship Amended Act and NRC) is notebandi number 2. It will be more disastrous than the notes ban move. All the poor people will be expected to prove their citizenship. They will be the worst hit," he says.
He will visit Assam today to pay tribute to those killed in the violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Congress in Mumbai takes our protest march
Mumbai Congress takes out protest rally against Citizenship Amendment Act.
Trinamool team gives Rs 5 Lakh to family of those killed in Mangaluru
Trinamool Congress delegation led by senior leader Dinesh Trivedi hands over Rs 5 lakh compensation to family of one of the two people who died during protests in Mangaluru.
Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Chennai
Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath takes out protest march against Citizenship Amendment Act in Chennai.
Citizenship Act protests: Case filed against 1,000 AMU students
Case registered against 1,000 unidentified students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in connection with violence which broke out during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act on December 15, reports news agency ANI.
Citizenship Act protests: Trinamool to give Rs 5 lakh to families of those killed in Mangaluru
Trinamool Congress delegation reaches Mangaluru, reports news agency ANI. They will hand over Rs 5 lakh compensation each to the family of the two people who died during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act on December 19.
There are visuals of a detention centre: Rahul Gandhi
After the BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of lying about detention centres in Assam, he says: "I have tweeted a video where Narendra Modi is saying that there are no detention centres in India, and in the same video there are visuals of a detention centre, so you decide who is lying."
In a tweet on Friday, the Congress leader had alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was lying to the country on the issue of detention camps in Assam.
Hitting back at Mr Gandhi,
BJP spokesperson Sambhit Patra said he has used objectionable language but it was too much to ask for decency in public discourse from him. Addressing a press conference, Mr Patra showed the official statement issued by the Congress-led UPA government in 2011 stating that detention centres have been set up in Assam.
Rahul Gandhi is expected to pay a day-long visit to Assam today to extend the party's solidarity to the people protesting against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
Mr Gandhi will also address a party rally and pay the party's tributes to the five people who were killed in the state during the stir against the Act, Congress in-charge of Assam says.
Road No 13A between Mathura Road and Kalindi Kunj has been closed for traffic movement, in view of planned demonstrations, says Delhi traffic police.
The Kalindi Kunj stretch has been closed since December 15. The Kalindi Kunj stretch and DND connect Noida to South Delhi.