CAA protest Live Updates: A massive protest erupted at Delhi’s Jama Masjid immediately after Friday prayers against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Hundreds of people were seen shouting slogans and holding placards inside the premises of the mosque against the new law. Television channels showed Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad holding a book with a picture of BR Ambedkar on it. He seemed to be reading out from a book that appeared to be the Constitution of India.
Anti-CAA stir: Images show massive protests at Delhi’s historic Jama Masjid against citizenship law
Security has been tightened in North East Delhi. Apart from Delhi Police personnel, CRPF and RAF troops have also been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident. Meanwhile, entry and exit gates of Chawri Bazar, Lal Quila and Jama Masjid stations have been closed as a precautionary measure.
Protests against the new Citizenship (Amendment) Act spilled over across the country and took an ugly turn on Thursday as three people were killed in police firing on rampaging mob. While two people were killed in Mangaluru, another man was killed in Lucknow.
Highlights
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday joined the students protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and a proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens at the India Gate and said the government is "anti-poor".
She said the government wants every Indian to stand in line to prove one's citizenship in the same manner in which they did after note ban.
The curfew has been imposed in Gohalpur, Hanumantal and some parts of Kotwali, Adhartal police station limits in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur after violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Entry and exit gates at all stations, except Jama Masjid, Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur have been opened. The fates were shut following violent protests across the national capital.
Nirmala Sitharaman on West Bengal CM's remark on Citizenship Act: "We never wanted a third party or international fora's interference in our affairs. On a completely domestic matter, she has chosen to ask for the United Nations. Does she have no faith in institutions of India? I totally condemn her statement. And it is irresponsible of a chief minister to talk like that."
Lates from DMRC: "Following metro stations are currently closed: Central Secretariat, Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Delhi Gate, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Khan Market, Janpath, Pragati Maidan, Mandi House, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Shiv Vihar, and Johri Enclave. Traffic movement is closed from Mandi House to ITO due to demonstration. Kindly avoid the stretch. "
Sonia Gandhi on CAA protests: "In a democracy, the people have the right to raise their voice against wrong decisions and policies of the government and register their concerns. The BJP government has shown utter disregard for people’s voices and chosen to use brute force to suppress dissent. The citizenship law is discriminatory. Like demonetisation, once again every single person will have to stand in line to prove the citizenship of himself and his ancestors"
Delhi: Police use water cannon on protesters in Daryaganj. The police have deployed heavy security in Daryaganj area due to the ongoing protest against Citizenship Amendment Act. Protest continues outside Jama Masjid.
The protestors set a vehicle on fire in front of DCP office in Daryaganj. The police resorted to lath-charge to disperse the crowd at Delhi Gate. The police also fired tear gas to control the situation.
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray appealed to people of Maharashtra to maintain peace and calm. He says that his government will ensure that no one's rights are snatched away.
Hundreds of people have gathered at the India Gate to express their dissent against the recently-passed citizenship law and a proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens. The demonstrators raised slogans of Azaadi, No NRC, No CAA. Today, Delhi witnessed a series of protests against the amended citizenship law.
Update from Delhi Metro: Entry and exit gates of Kashmere Gate station are closed. However, interchange facility is available at this station.
Delhi Additional DCP Rohit Rajbir Singh received injuries in the stone-pelting which took place during a protest against Citizenship Amendment Act, near Seemapuri. The protests turn violent at many places in Delhi.
A vehicle torched during a demonstration against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Heavy police are present at the spot. District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar says mobile internet services and broadband services will remain suspended in the district from 3 pm onwards today. Protestors pelt stones at police personnel during the demonstration.
In Muzaffarnagar, protest against Citizenship Act underway and Section 144 (prohibits an assembly of more than 4 people in an area) is imposed in the state.
Entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur have been closed till further orders. Trains will not be halting at these stations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said.
Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad has reportedly escaped after the police tried to detain him during protest at Jama Masjid. Azad was denied permission for take out a rally from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar by the police earlier in the day.
Protests against the Citizenship Bill have turned violent. Incidents of stone-pelting on police have been reported in Hapur, Gorakhpur, Bahraich, Firozabad.
People are holding a protest at Hyderabad's Charminar against the Citizenship Amendment Act. A large number of people have gathered at the spot.
A massive protest has erupted at Jama Masjid against Citizenship Amendment Act. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad is also present at the spot. Azad had earlier been denied permission for a protest march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar.
Entry and exit gates of Chawri Bazar, Lal Quila and Jama Masjid stations have been closed as a precautionary measure. Trains will not be halting at these stations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said.
Congress leaders, including Sharmistha Mukherjee have been detained by the police after they tried to hold protest against the Citizenship Act outside the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Peace prevails in Jama Masjid area. "Section 144 is not imposed in walled city Jama Masjid. People here are cooperating and want peace, Delhi police is also working for the same," Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa said.
Chennai Police has filed a case against 600 protesters, including Actor Siddharth, musician TM Krishna, MP Thirumavalavan and MH Jawahirullah, for participating in a protest against the Citizenship Act at Valluvar Kottam on Thursday.
Security has been tightened in North East Delhi. Apart from Delhi Police personnel, CRPF and RAF troops have also been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident. "Sufficient force has been deployed including 10 companies of CRPF and RAF in North east district. We've held many rounds of meeting with locals and deployed drones, anti-riot gear to deal with any kind of situation," Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar said.
Union Minister of State (Home) G Kishan Reddy has said that the Citizenship Amendment Act in no way against any Indian citizen. "Appeal to people to not protest. There is not a single word or line against any Indian citizen in Citizenship Amendment Act. I also ask political parties and intellectuals who are misleading people, are you trying to divide people on basis of religion?" Reddy told news agency ANI.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has said that her party is against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Mayawati said her party doesn't approve of violence over the issue. "We have always opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act and we have been protesting against it since the beginning but like other parties we don't believe in destruction of public property and violence," Mayawati said.
Samajwadi Party leaders MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq and Feroz Khan along with several others have been named in an FIR filed by the police in connection with December 19 violence during Citizenship Act protest in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal.
The Delhi Police has denied permission to Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad for a march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar today, reports news agency ANI.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal has called Bihar Bandh on Saturday, December 21 against the Citizenship Amendment Act. "We have called a bandh in Bihar on December 21 against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The act is unconstitutional and against humanity. It has exposed the divisive character of BJP," RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said.
Ahmedabad witnessed widescale violence on Thursday. The police have detained 49 people, including Congress corporator Shehzad Khan for taking part for inciting violence during protest against Citizenship Amendment Act.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has assured people of his region that there is no threat to them from Citizenship Amendment Act. 'I want to assure people that no one can steal rights of the sons of the soil of Assam, there is no threat to our language or our identity,' CM Sonowal said.
Mobile internet services have been restored across Assam. The services were suspended since December 11 following protests over Citizenship Amendment Act. | READ MORE HERE
Farhan Akhtar at August Kranti Maidan where a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act is happening: "To raise your voice against something is democratic right, people are raising their voices and I am of the view that there seems to be a certain amount of discrimination in what is happening."
CAA protests: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar says that the government is committed to work for every section of society and no wrong will be done to the minorities. "We don't think about who instigates whom for what reason, we are committed to work for every section of society. I appeal to you to maintain harmony, fraternity & respect for one another. I guarantee that no wrong will be done to the minorities," Bihar CM says.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says that he will take strict action against those who indulged in violence earlier today while protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act. "I have called a meeting over this. You cant indulge in violence in name of protest. We will take strict action against such elements. Will seize the property of those found guilty and compensate damage to public property," he says.
West Bengal chief minister today demanded a referendum on Citizenship Law by the United Nations. "Let there be an impartial organisation like the United Nations or National Human Rights Commission hold a referendum to see how many people are in favour or against the Citizenship Amendment Act," ANI quoted Mamata Banerjee as saying in Kolkata.
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MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar says that Citizenship Amendment Bill is an internal matter of India and was not discussed in the 2+2 meeting with the US. "This issue, being an internal matter of India, was not discussed in the 2+2 meeting," Kumar says to a question if CAA was raised by Mike Pompeo.
Lucknow: Situation is under control now. Mob had turned violent but the force didn't lose their patience. The mob has been dispersed forcefully so that there is no loss of life or property. The force is now being moved to another location. Around 40-50 people have been arrested across the district.
Delhi Police personnel offered refreshments to protesters who were detained at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Bawana.
Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal on internet services halted in some parts of Delhi: We are bound by the order of the government. We are following their (government) orders.
After Sambalpur, protests turned violent in Hazratganj area of Lucknow. Protesters pelted stones at the police which resorted to lathi-charge to control the situation. A media OB van has also been set ablaze in Hajratganj.