Highlights: Opposition rallies against CAA, NRC as BJP pushes pro-campaign

Thousands of police and paramilitary are on the streets in Uttar Pradesh to ensure peace for Friday prayers.

8:54 PM

Protests foiled in Delhi, over 350 detained

Police detained over 350 protesters including women who tried to stage a demonstration outside the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan here on Friday against alleged police brutalities in the state following agitations over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The Jamia Coordination Committee, which comprises students from various political groups active on the campus, had called for a "gherao" of the UP Bhawan, where prohibitory orders were clamped under section 144 of CrPC. The JCC later said in a statement that the gherao did not take place because of the police crackdown and a memorandum prepared by JCC could not be submitted. It condemned the "ridiculous action" of the police.

7:31 PM

Act against those who destroyed railway property: Goyal to Mamata

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday appealed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take action against those who damaged railway property during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). "It is unfortunate that public property was targeted (during anti-CAA protests). It also shows the mindset of the people who are instigating the violence," the minister said. "We have filed necessary complaints in police stations, (these incidents) largely happened in West Bengal.I hope the West Bengal government will take action," he said. "I appeal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to take stern action against the culprits," the BJP leader said. "Railways do not have the power to take these cases to logical end. Local police have to take necessary action.

6:34 PM

Pics: Protestors gathered at Jama Masjid after Friday prayers

A protestor holds the national flag during a protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, after Friday prayers, at Jama Masjid. PTI

Protestors participate in a demonstration against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, after Friday prayers, at Jama Masjid in New Delhi. PTI

6:25 PM

Stay away from violence: Akshay Kumar on CAA

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar on Friday urged people to stay away from violence during the Citizenship Amendment Act protests, irrespective of their political leanings. "I don't like violence. Whether any side left side or right side, just don't do violence. Don't destroy property, don't do that, be away from violence. Whatever you want to say to each other do it with positivity, talk to each other, stop violence. Just do not destroy anybody's property, nobody should do that," Akshay said in a group interview.

5:37 PM

Pro-CAA rally at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan draws crowds

A large number of people gathered for a pro-CAA rally at the historic August Kranti Maidan, where a massive protest against the Citizenship Act was held last week. At the rally, organised by BJP's Sanvidan Sanman Manch', supporters of CAA were seen carrying national flags along with placards with pro-CAA and NRC messages and shouting slogans. The organisers had planned a support march between the August Kranti Maidan to Lokmanya Tilak statue at Girgaum Chowpatty but Mumbai police denied them permission for the march citing law and order issues.

5:37 PM

Four detained in Gwalior during anti-CAA protest

Four persons were taken in custody during a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) here on Friday, the police said. Additional Superintendent of Police Satyendra Tomar said some people gathered in Fulbagh Square in the afternoon, holding banners and placards against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens without a permission for holding a protest.

5:17 PM

BHIM Army Sena demands release of Chandrasekhar Azad

Supporters of the Bhim Army Sena take part in a march demanding for the release of their leader Chandrasekhar Azad and protest against the amended Citizenship Act, NRC and NPR, in New Delhi. PTI

4:55 PM

CAA does not strip any Indian of citizenship: Fadnavis

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act does not take away the citizenship of any Indian national.Talking to reporters before participating in a rally organised by his party in support of the Act, Fadnavis accused the opposition of misleading Indian Muslims. "Pakistan did not fulfill the (implicit) assurance during Partition that minorities will be protected (in both the countries). Hence India has to look after them because they are our people," said the former chief minister.

 

"The opposition is deliberately trying to create misunderstanding among Indian Muslims about the Act. For vote bank politics, opposition is trying to create unrest," he alleged.

4:49 PM

Opposition rally against CAA in Kolkata

The opposition Left Front and Congress Friday took out a joint rally in the city to protest against the contentious amended Citizenship Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens.The rally was led by West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra and senior Left Front leaders from Subodh Mullick Square to Mahajati Sadan in central Kolkata. "Our message is very clear that only the Congress and Left can fight against BJP. Only we can put up a mass movement against the communal BJP government," Mitra said.

4:38 PM

Protest underway at Azad Maidan in Mumbai

Fresh protest against CAA, NRC in Mumbai; students carry anti-govt banners at Azad Maidan.

4:38 PM

Centre using `trishul' of CAA, NRC, NPR against people: Karat

CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat said on Friday that the Centre was using the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register (NPR) as a "trishul" (trident) to attack people. "The Modi government is using the CAA, NRC and NPR as a trishul to hit the heart of the country's people. The government does not follow the Constitution. It does not know the condition of women in the country," she said.

3:55 PM

Indian techies pen open letter again CAA

A grouping of Indian and Indian-origin professionals working with tech giants like Google, Uber, Amazon and Facebook have written an open letter against the new religion-based citizenship law and the planned national register of citizens, terming them as "fascist". They urged business leaders like Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella and Mukesh Ambani to "take a stance and publicly denounce the fascist acts by the Indian government". 

The letter by 'TechAgainstFascism' on online publishing platform Medium also urged the leaders to refuse to shut off the Internet at the "government's whim" and to ensure that content moderation is not skewing pro-government.

3:53 PM

Protesters marching towards PM's residence stopped

Hundreds of people with their hands tied marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence to demand the release of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad and to protest the amended Citizenship Act were stopped in the way by police on Friday. Amid heavy security arrangement and drone surveillance, the protesters including Bhim Army members started from Dargah Shah-e-Mardan in Jor Bagh in the national capital and were stopped by police at a barricade en route the PM's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg.

3:52 PM

Protesters detained outside UP Bhawan

Police on Friday detained a group of protesters who tried to stage a demonstration outside the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan against alleged police atrocities in the state following the agitation over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

 

The Jamia Coordination Committee, which comprises students from various political groups active on the campus, had called for a "gherao" of the UP Bhawan.

3:15 PM

Citizenship tests like a tax on the poor: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says the government's new citizenship exercises are "tax" on the poor. "Poor people will have to go to officers and show their documents and give bribe. They will have to give bribe if there is a slight mistake in their names. Crores of rupees will be pulled out of the pockets of the poor and will be given to the same 15 people. This is the truth. It is an attack on the people," he said in Raipur.

3:02 PM

Protesters gather at Delhi's Jama Masjid

Hundreds people gather outside Jama Masjid mosque in Old Delhi to protest against the new citizenship law and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). "Is desh ko NRC, NPR nahi chaiye. Is desh ko rozgaar chahiye. Is desh ko aman aur shanti chahiye (This country does not need NRC, NPR, it needs jobs. The country needs peace and amity)," PTI quoted a protester as saying

2:54 PM

Bhim Army supporters march to PM Modi's residence

Police stop hundreds of people marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in central Delhi to press for the release of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad, who was arrested last week for his protests against the citizenship law and NRC. The protesters had their hands tied so they can't be blamed for violence and arson during the protest, PTI reported.

 

1:10 PM

Delhi steps up security

Delhi Police march through northeast Delhi's Seelampur, Jafrabad, Welcome and Mustafabad to ensure peace. Hundreds of police are deployed in Jamia Nagar, Jama Masjid and Chanakyapuri to prevent violence during protests again the citizenship law. Protesters will also gather at Jama Masjid after Friday prayers.

12:08 PM

372 people served property-confiscation notice in UP

Uttar Pradesh government has served notices to 372 people in different districts, saying their properties will be confiscated for damaging public assets during protests, reports news agency PTI.

 

11:57 AM

19 killed in UP in violence: State govt

A spokesperson for Uttar Pradesh government's Home Department on Thursday said 19 had died in the state during days of protest. As many as 327 FIRs were registered and 5,558 preventive arrests made. At least 288 policemen were injured.

11:32 AM

Internet off in a third of UP after days of protests

Nearly a third of Uttar Pradesh has had internet switched off in the past few days, reports NDTV.com. Internet has been snapped in a third of Uttar Pradesh 21 of 75 districts in UP, according to the state police chief. Government authorities have switched off internet because they fear violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act after Friday prayers.

 

10:12 AM

Police march through Gorakhpur

Police marched through Gorakhpur and met with peace committees after violence in the northeast Uttar Pradesh town on November 20. Paramilitary force and state police have been deployed in the city, Gorakhpur District Magistrate Vijyendra Pandiyan told PTI.

 

10:05 AM

Internet off again in UP cities

Internet suspended in Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Shamli again after nearly a week of service. In Agra, internet will be suspended till Friday evening, reported news agency PTI quoting an unnamed police officer.

 

9:56 AM

BJP has a Hindutva project: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram says the citizenship law and NRC prove the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to "somehow implement its Hindu Rashtra" project. Chidambaram said that countrywide protests against the CAA should not be portrayed as an issue between the government and Muslims because "that is what government is also wanting".

9:50 AM

US Congress's research wing flags India's new citizenship law

India's new citizenship law along with a proposal to have a register of citizens may affect the status of Muslims in India, says a report by the Congressional Research Service, an independent research wing of the US Congress. The December report says that for the first time in independent India's history, a religious criterion has been added to the country's naturalization process.

9:43 AM

More than a thousand arrested in UP: Report

Uttar Pradesh police have arrested 1,113 people in 327 cases registered so far and placed another 5,558 people under preventive detention, accusing them of violence and damaging public property during protests. This is the biggest police crackdown in Uttar Pradesh since the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots when 1,480 people were arrested in 567 cases, reports the Indian Express.