NEW DELHI: Though the government had refused to grant permission for manifestations, protesters defied police and a lockdown across Uttar Pradesh, parts of Delhi, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh today.
When the protests against India’s new controversial law on citizenship [Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC)] spread to ten states, police was ordered to retaliate. As a result 3 persons were killed (two in Mangaluru where curfew has been imposed, one in Lucknow where three people were injured too) in police firing and several were injured.
While Delhi-Haryana border was sealed for eight hours causing traffic jams and flight delays, in New Delhi 1,200 protesters were temporarily taken into custody as they defied section 144 that bans gathering of more than four persons.
Over 100 people were temporarily detained in Bengaluru along with historian Ramchandra Guha, who was dragged away by police in the middle of a television interview. In parts of Lucknow and Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, the protesters clashed with police.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah has summoned a high-level meeting to assess state of affairs. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in her seventh major public rally, asked the PM to hold UN-sponsored referendum.
Home Minister Amit Shah held that his resolve to implement the twin-measures of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was rock solid.
Meanwhile, Police brutality had also been reported on peaceful protesters during this week. Sadly, a student in Aligarh Muslim University had his arm amputated after being hit by police shrapnel while two other severely wounded pupils are under treatment. It is pertinent to mention here that the Police Department comes under direct command of Home Minister Amit Shah.
A relevant piece published earlier:
ISPR says Indian Army Chief’s statement is meant to divert attention from CAA protests
ISLAMABAD: Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor has taken to the twitter to hold that the statement by Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat was an effort, as usual, to divert world attention from widespread protests” over the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
It may be recalled that Indian Chief of Army Staff Bipin Rawat had recently warned that situation at the restive Line of Control (LoC) could escalate any time: “We (Indian army) have to be prepared for the spiraling of the escalatory matrix!”
In his Tweet Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor wrote: “Provocative statements and preparations for escalation along LoC by Indian COAS appear to be an effort, as usual, to divert world attention from widespread protests in India against CAB. Pakistan Armed Forces shall befittingly respond to any Indian misadventure or aggression.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Rawat’s statement came two days after a teenage boy was killed (and a couple of civilians were injured) due to shelling by Indian troops on two sectors along the LoC in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
India is currently facing widespread protests after ruling BHP passed the controversial CAA saying that the Act was meant to marginalize the Muslim Community. The Act makes it easier for non-Muslims from the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who settled in India prior to 2015 to gain Indian citizenship.
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 that was earlier called Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was passed by the Indian Parliament on 11th day of December, 2019.
According to details the CAA 2019 amends the Citizenship Act of 1955. It enables religious minorities (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian) from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The act was the first time when religion had been used to gauge who could become Indian citizen.
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