“What our enemies could not do, is now being done by Narendra Modi to stall the country’s progress,” Gandhi said.
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Protest Today HIGHLIGHTS: During the ‘Satyagraha for Unity’ at Delhi’s Rajghat — a memorial of Mahatma Gandhi — organised by top Congress leadership, led by party chief Sonia Gandhi, to protest against the amended Citizenship Act, former party chief Rahul Gandhi Monday evening accused PM Narendra Modi of spreading hate and trying to break the country. “The country will not let you attack the Constitution, suppress the voice of ‘Bharat Mata’,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Kerala’s Kozhikode, three migrant labourers hailing from Bengal were assaulted by some unidentified people for allegedly taking part in anti-CAA protests Sunday night, PTI quoted the police as saying. The Murshidabad natives were beaten up on Sunday night after they came back from a protest march organised at Nadapuram, the police said.
On the other hand, a Delhi court Monday dismissed the bail plea of the 15 people who were allegedly involved in Delhi’s Darya ganj violence extending their judicial custody by two weeks. Earlier, on Saturday, the court had sent the 15 detainees in two-day judicial custody. The Delhi Police explained that the 15 were arrested as they had pelted stones and a deputy commissioner of police was injured among others.
Meanwhile, fourteen of the 16 persons who were killed during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act over the last four days in UP succumbed to “firearm injuries”, senior police officers from eight districts confirmed to The Indian Express. For over a week, the country has witnessed widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), especially in combination with the proposed all-India National Register of Citizens (NRC).
CAA protests live updates: People protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. (Express photo: Ritesh Shukla)
A group of Jadavpur University students who were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Kolkata's Baghajatin area was allegedly thrashed and some of the women taking part in the agitation were molested, PTI quoted the police as saying.
The students held a demonstration on late Sunday night in front of Baghajatin I block when a group of eight people allegedly attacked them with wooden sticks and thrashed the male students and molested the women demonstrators, PTI quoted a senior officer of the Kolkata Police as saying.
"Acting upon credible inputs, three persons have been arrested. They have been booked under relevant sections of the IPC and we are further investigating the matter," PTI quoted the police officer as saying.
In a fresh wave of protests in Delhi against the new citizenship law, around 140 people were detained even as police stepped up vigil to maintain the law and order situation ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Protests were held in several parts of the city including, outside the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan, Rajghat, India Gate, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Assam Bhawan and Delhi University.
In the evening, teachers and research scholars from JMI also took out a candle march at the India Gate, seeking rollback of amendments made in the citizenship law.
A detained person shouts slogans inside a police bus at a demonstration after deadly clashes with police in Uttar Pradesh in fron of the state bhawan in Delhi. (Source: Reuters)
In a dig at PM Narendra Modi, former Congress president and leader Rahul Gandhi said the country will not allow an attack on the Constitution in the name of the amended Citizenship Act and suppress its voice.
"PM Narendra Modi should tell the country why he is suppressing voice of students and why they are not getting jobs. You have been taught how to break country and spread hatred; you are number one in that," Rahul said.
He further said, as Modi could not provide jobs and destroyed the economy, he chose to hide behind the hate.
"What our enemies could not do, is now being done by Narendra Modi to stall our progress," he said.
(Source: Twitter/Congress)
Apart from several groups of protests taking place in Kochi, a collective of film and cultural personalities marched on the streets protesting against the new citizenship law. Shouting "Azadi" slogans, director and chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Kamal, award-winning actress Nimisha Sajayan, directors Rajiv Ravi and Ashiq Abu and actress Reema Kallingal joined the long march of the film and cultural personalities.
Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy refused to implement the proposed NRC in his state. "My government is against the NRC and will not implement it in the state.
Earlier in the evening, at the Congress dharna against the new citizenship law, Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot pledged to not implement the law in their states.
Apart from them, Weste Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray vehemently oppose the amended Citizenship Act.
The Uttar Pradesh Police said they have arrested the state head of Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and his two aides for allegedly masterminding violence in Lucknow during the protests against the new citizenship law, PTI reported.
"We have got success in arresting the mastermind of Lucknow violence. Wasim, Nadeem and Ashfaq of PFI have been arrested by police. While Wasim is state head, Ashfaq is treasurer and Nadeem is a member of PFI," PTI quoted Lucknow SSP Kalanidhi Naithani as saying.
During interrogation, Nadeem and Ashfaq told the police they made the strategy for the protest that turned violent in state's capital on December 19 and published on social media, PTI quoted the SSP as saying.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee writes to CMs and senior leaders of opposition parties amidst protests against the CAA urging all to work together. 'Let's meet and chalk out a plan to protest and save our democracy,' Mamata wrote, according to PTI.
Protests against the new citizenship law in the form of sit-ins continued in Assam. Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who was the founder of the Asom Gana Parishad which is an alliance partner of the ruling BJP in the state, joined a sit-in at the Gandhi Mandap, a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi atop the Sarania Hill in Guwahati with his party colleagues to protest.
People staged protests in several parts of the state holding up the symbol of Assamese culture — Gamosa - with 'No CAB' and 'We oppose CAB' written on them.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that the BJP government had already started work to make a national registry through the National Population Register. He further demanded that Modi should clarify whether Union Home Minister Amit Shah had lied when he informed Parliament that the National Register of Citizens would be implemented.
"I don't know why the Prime Minister is misleading the nation. It does not befit his office," he said speaking to reporters in Hyderabad.
-PTI inputs
On December 19, anti-CAA protests took place in Mangaluru, which later turned violent leading to two deaths after police firing.
Over 100 people are under arrest and more than 12,000 have been booked in three districts of Marathwada in connection with violence during protests against the new citizenship law in the central Maharashtra region last week, PTI quoted officials as saying.
The protesters on Friday pelted stones and damaged public and private property during the agitation in the districts of Parbhani, Hingoli and Beed. The police said of the 12,000 cases registered, around 104 people have been arrested so far.
"So far, 47 people have been arrested from areas under three police stations in Parbhani. The search is still on for more stone pelters," Assistant Superintendent of Police (Parbhani city) Nitin Bagate told PTI.
Three migrant labourers hailing from West Bengal were assaulted by some unidentified people for taking in protests againt the new citizenship law that took place near Kerala's Kozhikode on Sunday night, PTI quoted the police as saying.
'We have registered a case against four unidentified persons based on the complaint of the migrant labourers. The complaint says around four suspects came to their rented house and started beating them with sticks and bricks,' PTI quoted the police as saying.
The labourers also claimed that the assailants donned saffron shawls and asked them why they took part in the anti-CAA protest in Kerala, the police said. 'They threatened us and said that this was just a warning,' PTI quoted one of the labourers as saying.
Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has demanded a judicial probe by a sitting high court judge into the December 19 police firing that claimed two lives during the anti-CAA protests.
"Firing is done by the police. CID inquiry will be done by the police. Then how it is possible to know the truth? I demand a judicial probe in this case," he told the media at Mangaluru.
“I am regularly collecting information about the incidents in Mangaluru. I request everyone to maintain peace and harmony," he said.
Criticising CM S Yediyuruppa for defending the police for firing, Siddaramaiah said, “The CM has already given a clean chit to the police by saying they have not done any mistake. Was he an eyewitness?"
Earlier in the day, the CM said the state government has decided to conduct both a CID and magisterial inquiries into the violent protests in Mangaluru against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
BJP working president J P Nadda, addressing a rally in Kolkata, said the amended law does not take away citizenship from people, instead, it grants it. He claimed that the TMC in Kolkata among other opposition parties misguided people about the Citizenship Amendment Act. 'Muslims flourished in our country, but Hindus were tortured in Pakistan,' he said.
(Source: Twitter/BJP)
The Congress' protest at Rajghat, led by Sonia Gandhi, has begun where the top party leaders are demanding that the rights of the people as enshrined in the Constitution be protected.Former PM Manmohan Singh read out the preamble to the Constitution.
The party held that in line with Mahatma Gandhi's path of non-violence, it will fight against the the "dictatorial" government and protect the "sacred" Constitution.
The Congress said there is widespread resentment against the recent actions of the BJP government, where people across the country, especially the youth, are demanding the restoration and maintaining the sanctity of rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
(AP photo)
Congress leaders including — former PM Manmohan Singh, former party president Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, MP CM Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel and Anand Sharma — have arrived at the Raj Ghat, Mahatama Gandhi's memorial, to protest against the amended Citizenship Act and the impending NRC. Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter and appealed the students the youth to join him at 3 pm at Raj Ghat to raise voice against the law. “Dear Students and Youth of India, It’s not good enough just to feel India. At times like these it’s critical to show that you’re India and won’t allow India to be destroyed by hatred. Join me today at 3 PM at Raj Ghat, to protest against the hate and violence unleashed on India by Modi-Shah,” he wrote.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Bengaluru and staged a 'Peace Rally' demanding the withdrawal of the new citizenship law and proposed NRC. The rally was called by around 35 organisations under the banner of Joint Action Committee of Bengaluru and gathered at the Quddus Saheb Eidgah Maidan.
The road traffic was badly hit at several parts of the city due to the protest, which by-and-large remained peaceful, PTI quoted the police as saying.
The Delhi court has dismissed the bail plea of 15 people who were arrested in connection with the Darya ganj violence extending their duration of judicial custody to two weeks. On Saturday, the 15 detained were remanded for two days in judicial custody.
Metropolitan Magistrate Kapil Kumar dismissed the bail applications, saying there was no sufficient ground to grant them the relief.
The police told the court that the detainees had pelted stones and deputy commissioners of police was injured among others.
Seeking bail for the arrestees, senior advocate Rebecca John said that the accused should not be kept behind bars since the police did not have the CCTV footage or any other evidence against them. "Section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc) of IPC does not apply. Do they have any proof, CCTV footage etc. against them," John asked.
-PTI inputs
Around 46 students, who were prepping to protest outside the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan today, were detained. The students were protesting against the UP Police's action during the anti-CAA demonstrations in the state and demanded the resignation of CM Yogi Adityanath. Among the detained were 27 women. The pupils were detained as soon as they reached the venue and taken to the Mandir Marg police station, they claimed.
-PTI inputs
A group representing the TRS students' wing staged a protest near Charminar in Hyderabad. However, they were taken away to Charminar police station within minutes, as they did not have permission.
“I decided to show up at multiple protests to ensure my dissent to how the government is functioning these days is expressed directly. Making laws that do not benefit everyone, and then using police force to stop us from protesting, is never the right thing to do. People helping each other, picking litter, and staying united across protests in a peaceful manner is a direct message showing the common man’s unity to this government,” Smita Kommini, a technical writer from Bengaluru.
“I think it is important for everyone who thinks of himself/herself as an Indian citizen to come out and speak up on why our country needs to continue with a democratic identity. India has been feted by world leaders for her secularistic and democratic values. We should not lose the same to CAA, NRC or any such policy,” Athitha Varghese, skateboarder, from Bengaluru
In the wake of CAA-NRC protests, Bengaluru airport issues travel advisory based on "traffic restrictions imposed on certain routes." Bengaluru city traffic Commissioner denies congestion on Airport route. "No congestion on KIAL (Airport) route including Mekhri Circle," he says.
Crowds from CAA-NRC protest rally in Quddus Saheb Eidgah grounds in Bengaluru spill over to roads in the surrounding areas of Miller's Road, Frazer Town, Tasker Town, and Pulkeshi Nagar. Organisers claim over a lakh people present; heavy police deployment.
Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has issued a passenger advisory in the light of massive protests taking place in the city. “Due to traffic restrictions imposed on certain routes in Bengaluru today, we request you to plan your journey to the airport accordingly and get updates from your respective airlines,” the advisory reads.
However, Joint Commissioner (Traffic) B R Ravikanthe Gowda denied any traffic issues on the airport route. “Traffic flow is normal. There is no congestion on KIAL (Airport) route including Mekhri Circle,” he said.
“True Manipur now has the Inner Line Permit (ILP) which exempts the state from CAA but we are Manipuris in Assam, and we are speaking on behalf of the 6 lakh Manipuris who live in Assam. Our problems are different,” says 28-y-o Sanahal Singha, part of the All Assam Manipuri Student Union.
In a show of strength, the DMK and its allies on Monday took out a huge protest rally here against the amendment to the Citizenship Act and warned of intensifying the agitation by mobilising apolitical sections of society till the Centre withdrew the 'draconian' law. DMK president M K Stalin led the peaceful rally and leaders of alliance parties, including senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, walked alongside him holding placards against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act.
Calcutta HC directs West Bengal govt to suspend all media campaigns related to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Students Federation of India in Tamil Nadu said, "We condemn the CAA. Like other states, TN CM Edappadi also should say he will not implement this act in his state. Until the CAA is withdrawn, the Students Federation of India will continue to protest across Tamil Nadu.Among the protestors is the 65-year old Muthusamy, a gardener by profession, who says he will not abide by any rule that will disrupt the unity of the country. "This is my country, no one has the right to change its structure. This CAA is not needed, this AIADMK government is acting as a stooge to BJP."
18-year-old Anjali Hajong says she feels encouraged to attend protests because she sees so many people out. “It makes me even more sure that the CAA is wrong for us.”
A long march will begin shortly in Kochi, where people will travel from JLN Stadium to Cochin Shipyard. Another march at 3 pm by actors, directors and other cultural artists is also scheduled. This March goes from Rajendra Maidan to Fort Kochin.
A long march will begin shortly in Kochi. (Express photo: Vishnu Varma)People will travel from JLN Stadium to Cochin Shipyard. (Express photo: Vishnu Varma)
People prepare placards in Kochi. (Express photo: Vishnu Varma)
Among those attending is 70-year-old Induprabha Gogoi. “When the Assam Agitation happened in 1979, I was living in Arunachal Pradesh. I couldn’t participate then but now I have come out to protect my language, culture and land. I have taken part in all the protests.” Gogoi has also written 4 poems in Assamese to express her opposition to the CAA. She is seen here holding one of her compositions.
AASU has organised a sit-in protest at Guwahati’s Latasil. Across Assam, different districts are carrying out similar protests. Two weeks after continuous protests, the crowds in the epicentre Guwahati’s Latasil are starting to thin.
The district administration has constituted a special investigation cell to probe cases of violence during the protests against the amended citizenship law here, police said on Monday. The cell will comprise 18 police personnel, including 13 inspectors. Superintendent of Police (Crime) R B Chaurasia said the special cell has started investigating 24 cases registered in connection with the violence on December 20. The cases are registered against 262 people of whom 48 have been arrested, he said.
BJP Working President JP Nadda arrives at Kolkata airport; He will lead a march today supporting the Citizenship Act. He will address a gathering at Dharmatala Rani Rashmoni Road from where the march will begin and culminate at Swami Vivekananda's residence.
A march in the favour of Citizenship (Amendment) Act was taken out in Patna today, under the aegis of 'Bharat Bachao Morcha'. Members of BJP-RSS and others participated in the march.
In the backdrop of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday launched a veiled attack on the BJP by quoting words of late American leader Martin Luther King. If politics creates religious issues, then one should know the country is being run by wrong people, Raut said while attributing the comment to the legendary civil rights leader. "The country where religious issues are addressed politically becomes great. But one should know the country is being run by wrong people if its politics creates religious issues," Raut tweeted quoting the American leader, but did not specify any issue.
Advocating "one India, one people and nation", a large number of Indian-Americans gathered around the statue of Mahatma Gandhi installed in front of the Indian Embassy here and held a peaceful demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). "We are here for only a single purpose. That purpose is civil rights and religious freedom and nothing more than that," Indian-American Mike Ghouse from the Washington-based non-governmental organisation Centre for Pluralism told the gathering, which included women, children and students.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that there has been no discussion on a National Register of Citizens (NRC) since the time his government was first elected in 2014, senior ministers and party leaders, including Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP working president J P Nadda, have made public statements about a pan-India exercise — as recently as earlier this month. Read More
The rally in Chennai is being carried out by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Congress, Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK), Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK), Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (KMDK) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
DMK president M K Stalin had extended a formal invitation to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) leader Kamal Haasan to join the DMK-led rally a few days ago. However, information relayed by MNM said that Kamal will be travelling abroad for medical consultation and will be unable to attend the rally today.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies are participating in a march in Egmore, Chennai to protest against CAA. In the wake of a protest march by the DMK-led alliance, heavy police force has been deployed. The Madras High Court on Sunday dismissed a PIL which had been filed to stall the protest after the city police had denied permission. As per HC orders, drone cameras have been deployed to record the rally, a step that has been taken to ensure that the political leaders concerned will be held liable for violence, if any.
The security towers at two corners and the barbed wires on the walls suggest that the green compound and building at Sondekoppa village, around 30 km from Bengaluru, is a secure facility.Inside is an L-shaped building with seven rooms, a kitchen and bathrooms. There are 15 beds in the facility, where finishing touches are being applied.A policeman stands guard at the gate and a few workers from Karnataka social welfare department walk around the main building and an under-construction staff quarters. Read More
For over a week, the country has witnessed widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), especially in combination with the proposed all-India National Register of Citizens (NRC). Indians are debating what the combination means for various sections, and discussing why Muslims, in particular, are worried. Read More
Kerala Minister EP Jayarajan, on Citizenship (Amendment) Act: A joint strike is inevitable. We need to unite against the great calamity that the country faces. The country is facing protests over the passage of Parliament's muscle power.
A DMK led opposition rally of over 10,000 people reaching Rajarathinam stadium in less than an hour. A battalion police force is moving far ahead of the peaceful rally as cadres themselves doing crowd management.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also appealed to people to join them at Rajghat in "this fight for saving" the Constitution. "This country is a collective bond, collective dream. We have nurtured this land with Labour. "We have to save the country from the politics of divide and rule. Let us join at 3 PM at Bapu's memorial at Rajghat and be a part of Constitution recitation," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in a tweet in Hindi.
Watch | Congress leader P Chidambaram and MDMK's Vaiko are also participating in the protest rally in Chennai. DMK chief MK Stalin, Chidambaram and Vaiko, Left and Tamil party leaders are leading the march.
Alliance partners of the DMK have arrived. A massive rally of DMK, opposition parties and dozens of organisations begin in Chennai.
As per the court order, drone cameras are been deployed to record the rally in Chennai so that the political leaders concerned could be made liable for the violence.
Heavy police force has been deployed in Chennai in the wake of a protest march by the DMK-led alliance against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Amid nationwide agitations against the amended citizenship act, the Congress, led by party chief Sonia Gandhi, has decided to stage a 'satyagraha' at Rajghat on Monday afternoon, demanding protection for the Constitution and the rights of people as enshrined in it. Top leaders of the party, including its former president Rahul Gandhi and its general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are likely to participate in the 'satyagrah dharna' till the evening.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to urge the youth of the country to join him at Rajghat. “Dear Students & Youth of India, It’s not good enough just to feel Indian. At times like these, it’s critical to show that you’re an Indian and won’t allow India to be destroyed by hatred. Join me today at 3 PM at Raj Ghat, to protest against the hate & violence unleashed on India by Modi-Shah,” he tweeted.
Welcome to our CAA, NRC protests LIVE blog. The Congress, led by party chief Sonia Gandhi, will hold a ‘satyagrah’ at Rajghat — a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi — at 3 pm to protest against the “hate and violence unleashed on India by Modi-Shah”. Follow to get all the latest updates here.