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Citizenship Act protests: Thousands held across India for defying ban Citizenship Act protests: Thousands held across India for defying ban
(about 1 hour later)
Indian police have detained thousands who defied a ban on protests against a controversial new citizenship law.Indian police have detained thousands who defied a ban on protests against a controversial new citizenship law.
The ban has been imposed in parts of the capital Delhi, and throughout the states of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.The ban has been imposed in parts of the capital Delhi, and throughout the states of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Mobile data services are suspended in some parts of Delhi close to protest sites. There have been days of protests across India, some violent. Mobile data services were suspended in some parts of Delhi close to protest sites. There have been days of protests across India, some violent.
The new law offers citizenship to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.The new law offers citizenship to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The police order, based on a severely restrictive law, prohibits more than four people from gathering in a place.The police order, based on a severely restrictive law, prohibits more than four people from gathering in a place.
But tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities the length and breadth of the country, including in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Patna, Chandigarh and Delhi. Civil society groups, political parties, students, activists and ordinary citizens put out a steady stream of messages on Instagram and Twitter, urging people to turn out and protest peacefully. But tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities the length and breadth of the country, including in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Patna and Chandigarh.
Among those who were briefly detained were Ramachandra Guha, a prominent historian and outspoken critic of the government, in the southern city of Bangalore; and political activist in Yogendra Yadav in Delhi. While Thursday's protests have largely been peaceful so far, two people were sent to hospital with critical injuries after violent clashes between demonstrators and police in Mangalore, according to the city's police commissioner.
Similar clashes were reported in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, where city buses were also burnt.
Civil society groups, political parties, students, activists and ordinary citizens put out a steady stream of messages on Instagram and Twitter, urging people to turn out and protest peacefully.
Among those who were briefly detained were Ramachandra Guha, a prominent historian and outspoken critic of the government, in the southern city of Bangalore; and political activist Yogendra Yadav in Delhi.
Speaking to the BBC's Newshour programme, Mr Guha said he had been arrested with hundreds of others from various different backgrounds, "which clearly shows that a large section of Indians are actually opposed to this discriminatory legislation".
Protests are continuing in some cities, such as Delhi and Bangalore, while thousands have gathered in Mumbai. Bollywood actors and filmmakers are expected to join the demonstration there.Protests are continuing in some cities, such as Delhi and Bangalore, while thousands have gathered in Mumbai. Bollywood actors and filmmakers are expected to join the demonstration there.
While Thursday's protests have largely been peaceful so far, violent clashes between demonstrators and police were reported in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, and city buses were also burnt. Police meanwhile put up barricades on a major highway connecting Delhi and the city of Jaipur, checking all vehicles entering the capital. This led to massive gridlock, with many commuters missing their flights. Indigo, a leading airline, reportedly cancelled 19 flights because its crew members couldn't reach the airport.
Police also put up barricades on a major highway connecting Delhi and the city of Jaipur, checking all vehicles entering the capital. This led to massive gridlock, with many commuters missing their flights. Indigo, a leading airline, reportedly cancelled 19 flights because its crew members couldn't reach the airport.
What is the law about?What is the law about?
The law - known as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) - offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.The law - known as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) - offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The federal government says this is to protect religious minorities fleeing persecution in the three Muslim-majority countries.The federal government says this is to protect religious minorities fleeing persecution in the three Muslim-majority countries.
But what has made the law especially controversial is that it comes in the wake of the government's plan to publish a nationwide register of citizens that it says will identify illegal immigrants - namely, anyone who doesn't have the documents to prove that their ancestors lived in India.But what has made the law especially controversial is that it comes in the wake of the government's plan to publish a nationwide register of citizens that it says will identify illegal immigrants - namely, anyone who doesn't have the documents to prove that their ancestors lived in India.
A National Register of Citizens (NRC) - published in the north-eastern state of Assam - saw 1.9 million people effectively made stateless.A National Register of Citizens (NRC) - published in the north-eastern state of Assam - saw 1.9 million people effectively made stateless.
The NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Act are closely linked as the latter will protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register and face the threat of deportation or internment.The NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Act are closely linked as the latter will protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register and face the threat of deportation or internment.
Why are people protesting against it?Why are people protesting against it?
Many Muslim citizens fear that they could be made stateless if they don't have the necessary documents; and critics also say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in India's constitution. They say faith should not be made a condition of citizenship.Many Muslim citizens fear that they could be made stateless if they don't have the necessary documents; and critics also say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in India's constitution. They say faith should not be made a condition of citizenship.
But Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the law "will have no effect on citizens of India, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists". But Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the law would have "no effect on citizens of India, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists".
He also blamed the opposition for the protests, accusing them of "spreading lies and rumours" and "instigating violence" and "creating an atmosphere of illusion and falsehood".He also blamed the opposition for the protests, accusing them of "spreading lies and rumours" and "instigating violence" and "creating an atmosphere of illusion and falsehood".