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Citizenship Amendment Act: Protests erupt across India over citizenship law | Citizenship Amendment Act: Protests erupt across India over citizenship law |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Protests over a controversial new law on migrants are raging across several Indian cities, prompting police to clash with demonstrators. | |
The new law entitles non-Muslim migrants from three Muslim-majority countries to citizenship if they are facing religious persecution. | The new law entitles non-Muslim migrants from three Muslim-majority countries to citizenship if they are facing religious persecution. |
Police used tear gas and detained protesters in the capital Delhi as buses were torched and roads blocked. | Police used tear gas and detained protesters in the capital Delhi as buses were torched and roads blocked. |
Protests have raged across northern and eastern India since the law was passed. | Protests have raged across northern and eastern India since the law was passed. |
Internet services have been shut down in several cities where protests are taking place. Universities across the country have resumed demonstrations on Monday. | |
Some critics say the law is anti-Muslim, while others - especially in border regions - fear large-scale migration. | Some critics say the law is anti-Muslim, while others - especially in border regions - fear large-scale migration. |
Six people have been killed in the five days of unrest. | Six people have been killed in the five days of unrest. |
Over the weekend, demonstrators in West Bengal blocked key national highways while in Assam, the state government briefly lifted a curfew to allow people to buy essential goods. | Over the weekend, demonstrators in West Bengal blocked key national highways while in Assam, the state government briefly lifted a curfew to allow people to buy essential goods. |
The UK, US and Canada have issued travel warnings for people visiting India's north-east, telling their citizens to "exercise caution" if travelling to the region. | The UK, US and Canada have issued travel warnings for people visiting India's north-east, telling their citizens to "exercise caution" if travelling to the region. |
What is happening in Delhi? | |
On Monday morning, protests resumed in Delhi's prestigious Jamia Millia Islamia university after students held a march which ended in clashes with the police on Sunday. | |
Around 35 students were detained by police on Sunday and released early on Monday morning. | |
It is still unclear who started the violence but stones were thrown at the police who retaliated with tear gas. | It is still unclear who started the violence but stones were thrown at the police who retaliated with tear gas. |
Local media reported that nearly 60 people, including students and police, were injured. At least three buses and several motorcycles were set on fire. | Local media reported that nearly 60 people, including students and police, were injured. At least three buses and several motorcycles were set on fire. |
Students distanced themselves from the violence and some police officers privately admitted that local troublemakers were behind the trouble, the BBC's Kinjal Pandya reported. | Students distanced themselves from the violence and some police officers privately admitted that local troublemakers were behind the trouble, the BBC's Kinjal Pandya reported. |
The university said police later entered the campus without permission and video footage showed police assaulting students and staff. | The university said police later entered the campus without permission and video footage showed police assaulting students and staff. |
Videos shot by students show police beating up students inside campus areas like bathrooms and the library. | |
Police have said that they did what was "necessary" to stop the protests. | |
Some schools in southern Delhi have been asked to remain closed on Monday. | Some schools in southern Delhi have been asked to remain closed on Monday. |
Hundreds of people also protested in other parts of the city, including in Jawaharlal Nehru University and outside the city's police headquarters. | Hundreds of people also protested in other parts of the city, including in Jawaharlal Nehru University and outside the city's police headquarters. |
What has the reaction been in other Indian cities? | What has the reaction been in other Indian cities? |
Live footage from the northern city of Lucknow on Monday showed students at Nadwa university throwing stones at security forces, who retaliated by throwing the stones back at them. | |
The students have been locked inside the campus. | |
Local television footage also showed officers hitting students with large sticks. | |
The situation remains tense and more protests are expected. Students at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in the southern city of Chennai (formerly Madras) have already announced a protest this afternoon. | |
And students in Delhi University have announced that they are boycotting examinations in solidarity. | |
What happened on Sunday? | |
On Sunday, hundreds of students across Indian cities came out in support of those protesting in Jamia Millia Islamia. | |
In the northern city of Aligarh, students of Aligarh Muslim University clashed with police, prompting the university to close down the campus until 5 January. | |
A large protest also broke out in the southern city of Hyderabad, as students of Maulana Azad Urdu University carried slogans against the police action in Delhi. | A large protest also broke out in the southern city of Hyderabad, as students of Maulana Azad Urdu University carried slogans against the police action in Delhi. |
In India's financial capital, Mumbai, students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences held a candlelit march. | In India's financial capital, Mumbai, students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences held a candlelit march. |
Students in other cities like Varanasi and Kolkata also held marches in solidarity throughout Sunday. | Students in other cities like Varanasi and Kolkata also held marches in solidarity throughout Sunday. |
Why is the law so divisive? | Why is the law so divisive? |
The law allows non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered India illegally, to become citizens. | The law allows non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered India illegally, to become citizens. |
The Hindu-nationalist BJP government argues that the law aims to accommodate those who have fled religious persecution. | The Hindu-nationalist BJP government argues that the law aims to accommodate those who have fled religious persecution. |
Critics say the law is part of the government's agenda to marginalise Muslims, and that it violates secular principles enshrined in the constitution. | Critics say the law is part of the government's agenda to marginalise Muslims, and that it violates secular principles enshrined in the constitution. |
Earlier this week the United Nations Human Rights office voiced concern that the new law was fundamentally discriminatory in nature. | Earlier this week the United Nations Human Rights office voiced concern that the new law was fundamentally discriminatory in nature. |
The government denies any religious bias and says Muslims are not covered by the new law because they are not religious minorities, and therefore do not need India's protection. | The government denies any religious bias and says Muslims are not covered by the new law because they are not religious minorities, and therefore do not need India's protection. |
Meanwhile, people in Assam fear that they will be "overrun" by illegal non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. | Meanwhile, people in Assam fear that they will be "overrun" by illegal non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. |
They argue that outsiders will take over their land and jobs - eventually dominating their culture and identity. | They argue that outsiders will take over their land and jobs - eventually dominating their culture and identity. |
The protests in Assam have little to do with concerns about the exclusionary nature of the law and the threat to secularism. | The protests in Assam have little to do with concerns about the exclusionary nature of the law and the threat to secularism. |
They have more to do with indigenous fears about being demographically and culturally swamped by "outsiders". | They have more to do with indigenous fears about being demographically and culturally swamped by "outsiders". |