For over a week now, several regions of India have been convulsed by massive protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Starting in the Northeast, especially Assam, the protests soon spread to the national capital and other major cities, drawing students, activists, political leaders, and ordinary students. In Assam, the protests were met with a violent crackdown by government forces, leaving at least five people dead. Protests by students at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh invited similar brutality.
The police violence against the students, relayed on social media in near real time, only served to fuel public outrage, and sparked more protests.
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On Thursday, in response to calls by political parties and civil society groups for protests against the citizenship law and the violence against students, people across the country took to the streets in large numbers. While the protests passed off peacefully at most places, two people were killed in police firing on protesters in Mangaluru, Karnataka, and one in Lucknow.
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On Friday, thousands of people protested at the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. Among the participants was Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, who was later detained by the police. In the evening, as the protesters marched to Delhi Gate, some among them pelted stones, inviting a lathicharge and the use of water cannons by the police. At least 40 people, including eight minors, were detained at the Daryaganj police station, and refused access to legal assistance offered by a group lawyers who had arrived at the station.
Protests also intensified across Uttar Pradesh despite the statewide imposition of Section 144. Two days ago, Chief Minister Adityanath had said his government would take revenge against those who indulge in violence by seizing and auctioning their properties to compensate for losses to public property. At least six people were killed in police firing on protesters across the state.
In Tamil Nadu, the police registered cases against around 600 people, including VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, actor Siddharth, and singer TM Krishna.
For live coverage of the protests on Thursday and Friday, see our blog.
Today, for the third straight day, people have come out to demonstrate at several places, including the national capital.
Here are the latest updates.
5:30 pm
The current debate on AajTak: “Citizen’s protest or a huge conspiracy? Anchor Chitra Tripathi asks panelists, “What is it about CAA and NRC that is scaring you so much?”
5:00 pm
Four students from Aligarh Muslim University arrested outside Uttar Pradesh Bhawan in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Students were protesting again the Citizenship law with placards saying “No CAA, No NRC” and “Save Constitution.” They have been taken to Mandir Marg police station.
4:30 pm
Sloganeering continues outside Jamia Milia Islamia University.
#JamiaProtests #CAA_NRC_Protests pic.twitter.com/xW0ulHQNk0
— newslaundry (@newslaundry) December 21, 2019
4:15 pm
Eleven people were reportedly killed in the protests against the Citizenship law across Uttar Pradesh yesterday. This included an eight-year-old child in Varanasi. Four deaths were reported from Meerut district and two from Kanpur.
3:30 pm
People including students continue their protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act outside Jamia Milia Islamia University in Delhi.
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