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A joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, was debated at the Plenary session in Brussels on Thursday, 30 January, PTI reported.
Earlier, the European Parliament had announced that the vote on the motion would be postponed to the Plenary session in March.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police released photos of 70 people involved in the violence during anti-CAA protests at Jamia Millia Islamia on 15 December 2019.
Senior Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi will lead a 2 km “Save The Constitution March” on Thursday, 30 December at Kalpetta in Wayanad district. The march will start from SKMJ High School to the new bus stand at Kalpetta, party sources said.
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Out of the 144 petitions listed before the Supreme Court regarding the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, two petitions, including the one by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay are in favour of CAA.
Meanwhile, 142 petitions argue it's a violation of Article 14 of Constitution (equal treatment of laws).
As the SC bench sat for the start of hearings of the petitions against and in support of the Citizenship Act, the Chief Justice's courtroom erupted in a ruckus, due to the massive crowd present for the 144 petitions listed for hearing.
The CJI later discussed what to do about the crush of people in the courtroom with the senior lawyers.
He further said that he will convene a meeting of senior lawyers to figure out a solution.
Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal also recommended a larger bench to hear the matter. He told the court that there is also a question of whether the matter should be heard by a larger Bench. CJI Bobde responded saying, "maybe it should."
CJI SA Bobde, while hearing the Citizenship Act petitions, said that he will not grant a stay order without hearing the Central government. "We are not going to pass an ex parte order without the copy being served to the Centre," Bobde said.
The Supreme Court has hinted at setting up a five-judge bench, after recommendations from Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The court said taht it will take up the matter for interim orders in the next five weeks.
Court hinted at setting up a five-Judge Bench to hear the case. The matter will be listed after five weeks for interim orders.
The Supreme Court also restrained all HCs from hearing pleas on CAA till it decides petitions.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday led a 4-km-long protest march in Darjeeling hills against the new citizenship law.
The rally began at Bhanu Bhakta Bhavan near Mall in Darjeeling and will conclude in the Chowkbazar area.
“It is BJP who gives money and asks people to come in their support. Women and youth who are protesting against this law are doing it on their own. This law is not in the best interest of the masses and people do not accept it,” said Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while speaking against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Prakash Karat, CPI (M) leader was stopped from entering the Ambedkar University today. The University reportedly called the Delhi police and had the gates locked from outside to prevent a discussion on CAA, NRC, NPR, for which Karat and journalist Arfa Khanum were invited.
Karat, however, addressed the gathering from outside.
Ashok Pande, an advocate has filed a petition before the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court seeking direction to the Government of India to impose President's Rule in the states, where the Chief Ministers and Ministers are leading the movement against Citizenship Amendment Act, reports ANI.
In her protest march against the amended Citizenship law in Darjeeling, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “The centre is trying to push CAA only in non-BJP ruled states.”
She further said, “Amit Shah should clarify whether a person will be declared foreigner first and then allowed to apply for citizenship under CAA.”
“All states except Bengal attended meeting on NPR in New Delhi due to fear of BJP-led Union government,” she added.
A Delhi court has directed the police to file a report on the action taken on Jamia University's plea seeking FIR against police action in the varsity on 15 December 2019., reports PTI.
Hitting back at Home Minister Amit Shah for challenging Opposition leaders for a debate on the amended Citizenship law, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said that his party is ready to hold a discussion on development.
“As far as debate is concerned, finalise the venue. Select your favourite channels and anchors. We are ready to do a debate on development,” Yadav told the reports in Lucknow.
Earlier, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) leader Mayawati also tweeted, “The government, disturbed by protests against the controversial CAA/NRC/NPR, by the entire country, especially the youth and women, has challenged the Opposition to debate on the matter. The BSP accepts the challenge to debate on it at any forum and at any place.”
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel today termed the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act at Shaheen Bagh a “threat to security” and said it was being held by “misled” people.
The protest against the CAA at Shaheen Bagh in southeast Delhi has been going on for over a month. The protest began immediately after violent anti-CAA protest in Jamia Nagar on 15 December last year. Goel also praised Delhi Police for containing the “threat to security” due to the protest at Shaheen Bagh.
“What is happening in Shaheen Bagh is a very big threat to security. Who are they to tell whether an ambulance or a bus will pass through the road or not,” Goel said at a press conference, reports PTI.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will lead an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally at Kalpetta in Waynad on 30 January, party sources said, reports PTI.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray sought to assuage concerns of the Muslim community over the new citizenship law and likely NRC.
The CM, however, didn't give any assurance to a delegation of Muslim scholars and clergies on their demand to bring a resolution in the state Legislative Assembly against the CAA on the lines of Kerala and Punjab.
Thackeray met the delegation at the Mumbai Police Commissioner's office in south Mumbai this afternoon.
On the occasion, Raza Academy submitted a memorandum to the CM demanding bringing a resolution opposing the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“The CM told us that Mumbai belongs to every Indian, and like him, every citizen has equal rights over the city,” said Sayed Moinuddin Ashraf, President, Jamia Qadriya Ashrafia, reports PTI.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said religious minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are living a “life of misery” and India has fulfilled its “moral duty” towards them by enacting the CAA.
Addressing a rally in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Shatabdi Nagar here, he also questioned those opposing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and said the government has not discussed it.
Dismissing allegations that the Centre is pursuing a "divisive agenda" through the CAA, Singh said the BJP doesn't do politics on religious lines for selfish gains.
“In Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, religious minorities are living a life of misery. India has fulfilled its moral duty (by enacting the CAA),” he said.
With the Shaheen Bagh protest continuing for over a month, the Delhi Police today said it would take appropriate action if a complaint is received about any obstruction in the ongoing electoral process for the assembly polls next month.
Special Commissioner of Police (Election) Praveer Ranjan said the force has not yet received any complaint about protestors in Shaheen Bagh causing obstruction in the electoral process, reports PTI.
In his first visit to Uttar Pradesh after taking over as BJP president, JP Nadda will on Thursday, 23 January, address a public meeting in support of the amended Citizenship Act in Agra, the party said in a statement, according to PTI.
He will be joined by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the rally as part of the BJP's nation-wide campaign to mobilise public opinion in favour of the law.
Accusing the Opposition parties of trying to mislead people, BJP MP Roopa Ganguly on Thursday, 23 January, said that the CAA should be regarded as the “world's most important human rights law,” reported PTI.
Winding up her two-day Odisha visit, the actor-turned-politician said that the CAA will not take away anyone's citizenship.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday, 23 January, objected to senior leader Pawan Verma's questioning of his stand on the CAA and said "he can join any party he likes," according to ANI.
"If anyone has any issue then the person can discuss it within party or at party meetings. But such kind of public statements are surprising. He can go and join any party he likes," Kumar said.
Stones were hurled at a rally taken out in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act in Jharkhand's Lohardaga district on Thursday, sparking tensions in the area, police said.
The incident happened when the rally, taken out by some Hindutva outfits, reached the Amlatoli Chowk area, they said.
Some two-wheelers were set on fire following the attack, police said.
A large number of police personnel have been deployed in the area, official sources said.
“Everyone has the right to express their dissent. Our government will also bring a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the State Assembly,” Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot said on Thursday.
The Rajasthan government will introduce a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the Assembly session beginning on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said. Kerala and Punjab have already passed resolutions seeking the withdrawal of the new legislation.
Pilot said the Centre should listen to people protesting against the Act across the country and asserted that democracy weakens if there is no dialogue, reported PTI.
Former President of the AMU Students' Union, Faizul Hasan, has courted controversy with his remarks amid anti-CAA protests across the country. While referring to an alleged controversial statement by UP CM Yogi Adityanath, he said:
“...If you want to see an example of patience, then you should see the patience of Indian Muslims. From 1947 to 2020, the Muslim is showing patience. We have never tried to break the country. Otherwise, they won't be able to stop us, we are from that group, if we want to destroy, then we won't spare anyone. There's so much anger, so much emotion. But we never want that. We have fought to save our nation, we'll always try to save it...”
“... Sabr ki seema agar sabse zyaada dekhna hai, sabr dekhna hai duniya mein kahin, toh Hindustani Musalmano ka sabr dekhiye. 1947 ke baad 2020 tak, yeh sabr hai joh Musalman kar raha hai. Kabhi koshish nahi kiya ki Hindustan toot jaye. Warna rok nahi paaenge, hum woh Qaum se hai, agar hum barbaad karne pe aaenge, toh chhodenge nahi kisi bhi desh ko khatam kardenge. Itna gussa hai, itne jazbaat hote hain, lekin kabhi nahi chahte hain... apne mulk ko bachane ke liye humne lada hai, apne gale ko katwaya hai iss mulk (ke liye). Toh humesha bachane ki koshish karenge...”
During his speech, Hasan also slammed Home Minister Amit Shah.
Several women reportedly assembled at the Gandhi Park in Delhi’s Hauz Rani area for an indefinite sit-in against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens.
Meanwhile, women from Khureji took out a candle-light march on Thursday to spread awareness about protests against CAA NPR NRC and asked locals to join.
“I think CAA and NRC are irrelevant. CAA and NRC are not required in the country,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in an interview with Times Now.
Asked why he had distanced himself from the Shaheen Bagh protest, Kejriwal said, “We govern sir. We have not distanced ourselves. They (the Centre) have caused this commotion in the country because they haven't been able to handle unemployment.”
He added that his presence at the protest won’t solve the problem and that the government should focus on the economy.
Section 144 has beem imposed in Lohardaga town after stone-pelting during a pro-CAA march.
Violence erupted in Jharkhand's Lohardaga town after a pro-CAA, NRC march was taken out by memebers of the VHP, during which stone-pelting allegedly took place, while the march was passing through Amla Toli.
A Delhi man, named Furkan, has been detained by Crime Branch (SIT) in connection with the violence at Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019.
Asif Muhammad Khan, former Congress MLA, on a complaint filed against him by the Delhi police crime branch under section 160 CrPC, said that the police have no evidence against him. Further, the Congress leader said that he was in Shaheen Bagh, participating in the protests, at the time when buses were set on fire in Jamia. "Police was also recording my speeches, this is my biggest evidence," Khan said.
Delhi Police Crime Branch had issued a notice to the former Congress MLA under Section 160 Cr.PC, asking him to appear before Crime Branch Chanakyapuri, on 24 January, for questioning in connection with incident of violence in New Friends Colony area on 15 December 2019.
BJP leader Kapil Mishra, on Friday 24 January, said that the protesters in Shaheen Bagh are encrpoaching roads and people are not being allowed to go to schools, offices, hospitals and that inciting slogans are being raised. "The shamelessness with which Manish Sisodia said he stands with Shaheen Bagh means that this is a political movement," Mishra said.
Normal life in Maharashtra's Pune continued in the wake of statewide Bandh called by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi today, to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Ashu Khan, local political leader says, "This is a false FIR, it is our right to protest and it was a peaceful protest. I have not given any instigating speeches or damaged properties. This is a movement for our rights and we will not end it".
An all-party meeting, headed by DMK President MK Stalin, is underway at DMK headquarters in Chennai, to discuss the next course of action on protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).
The DMK-led opposition in Tamil Nadu on Friday resolved to hold a 'massive' signature campaign against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register, party chief MK Stalin said.
While the CAA should be withdrawn, no efforts should be taken to prepare the NRC while the NPR activities should not be allowed in Tamil Nadu, he said.
The parties said that they will complete the campaign and will submit the memorandum to the president of India.
Women in Bengaluru have occupied a part of the MM Road, to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC. The women have occupied the spot since 3:30 am last night.
Reports suggest that more and more women are joining the protest as it goes on.
There has been substantial increase in outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants post CAA, BSF’s Inspector General for South Bengal Frontier, YB Khurania was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
People from different spheres and student unions from across the country will be holding protest marches on 30 January against the Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC, activist Yogendra Yadav announced on Friday, 30 January.
DMK chief MK Stalin, on Friday said that at the Opposition meet in Tamil Nadu on Friday, 24 January, it was announced that CAA, NRC And NPR Resolutions will not be allowed in Tamil Nadu.
"We have also decided to conduct a signature movement across Tamil Nadu from 2 to 8 February," Stalin said.
The Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea challenging the imposition of National Security Act (NSA) in few states as also in the national capital amid anti-CAA protests.
A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Indira Banerjee said that it cannot pass a blanket order with regard to the imposition of NSA and asked lawyer ML Sharma to withdraw the plea, reports PTI.
It asked Sharma to file a fresh petition or an interim application in pending pleas on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) giving specific details of violations of NSA.
The DMK-led opposition in Tamil Nadu resolved to conduct a 'massive' signature campaign against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register.
While the CAA should be withdrawn, no efforts should be taken to prepare the NRC while the NPR activities should not be allowed in Tamil Nadu, DMK president M K said.
A resolution was adopted on this at a DMK chaired meeting of allies including the Congress and MDMK, reports PTI.
A group of 154 “conscious, responsible and concerned citizens” today urged President Ram Nath Kovind to take action against those indulging in violence in the name of protests against the CAA and the NRC and "safeguard" the country's democratic institutions.
The group consists of people who have retired from top government and constitutional posts and intellectuals.
Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Chairman and former chief justice of Sikkim High Court Permod Kohli, who led the delegation that called on the President, alleged that some political elements were sponsoring the “violent protestors” and there is also an “external dimension to the disturbances being created,” reports PTI.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “Yesterday what Delhi Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister said showed that Shaheen Bagh is a task of Congress and AAP. There is an effort to mislead people. Slogans like 'Jinnah wali azadi' are being raised. People need to decide what they want, Jinnah wali azadi or Bharat Mata ki jai.”
An FIR has been launched against former AMUSU President Faizul Hasan. SSP Akash Kulhari said, “A video of him making controversial statements in Aligarh went viral. Taking that into consideration, an FIR under section 153 (a) has been filed against him,” reports ANI.
In Madhya Pradesh, a BJP leader Badrilal Yadav has been arrested, over his objectionable remark on Rajgarh Collector Nivedita. Rajgarh Collector had prevented BJP workers from demonstrating in support of CAA, in Rajgarh on 19 January, reports ANI.
In Delhi, a man, Furkan, has been detained by Crime Branch (SIT) in connection with Jamia violence incident.
The Delhi court has sent Furkan to three-day judicial custody, reports ANI.
Stray incidents of stone-pelting were reported from parts of Maharashtra today during the statewide 'bandh' called by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar's party against the CAA and the NRC, but normal life remained largely unaffected, officials said.
A bus driver was injured in stone-pelting in Mumbai.
The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) called for the statewide shutdown to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and also over economic issues.
Speaking to reporters as he called off the shutdown at around 4 pm, VBA leader Ambedkar said the 'bandh' received “good response” from traders and office-goers in Mumbai and that it was “peaceful” across the state, reports PTI.
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the recovery notices issued by the Uttar Pradesh administration to recover the damage caused to properties in connection with protests related to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), reports ANI.
Kerala Leader of Opposition has said that he will move a resolution in Kerala Assembly seeking recall of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan for ‘defaming’ legislature over CAA issue.
Rajasthan passed a resolution against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Saturday, 25 January becoming the third state after Kerala and Punjab to do so.
Assam government would register a case against one of the organisers of the Shaheen Bagh protests in Delhi for his alleged "seditious" comment "aimed" at disrupting law and order in the state, a state minister said on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference, Assam Finance Minister said Sherjil Islam was heard saying in an audio clip that the state should be cut-off from the rest of India and taught a lesson.
The Union health ministry has a 24X7 call centre to monitor and answer queries regarding novel coronavirus. Seven central teams will visit states and designated airports to review preparedness for control of the virus, the health ministry also said.
More than 2000 people from Indian communities across the UK held a protest against the Modi government on Saturday, 25 January, the eve of Republic Day.
At a rally outside 10, Downing Street from 1.00pm to 2.30pm, they called for the repeal of the CAA and the abolition of the NRC and the NPR.
The demonstration also expressed solidarity with the massive protests across India, led by women and young people, against these policies.
The rally opposite 10 Downing Street was joined by students from the SOAS India Society and South Asian Students Against Fascism.
Stating that Muslims were never subjected to discrimination in India, RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Sunday alleged that misinformation was being spread in the country over the CAA.
"Till date, the followers of Islam have never been subjected to any kind of discrimination in this country. If any citizen from there, be it a Muslim, come to India, then they can also get citizenship as per the law which is already in place. What is the problem in that?" Joshi said in response to a question on the CAA.
"Without giving it a serious thought, misinformation is being spread on it. If the feeling behind the CAA is understood properly, then it won't face any opposition," he added.
"It is imperative for the country that no foreign national stays here. This Act allows not only Hindus, but Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan (to become a citizen). Hence, stoking unrest on this is not good," Joshi added.
People in Kolkata formed a 11km long human chain, from Golpark to Shyambazar, to protest against CAA, NRC, NPR on Republic Day.
A group of Bengaluru residents, who had planned an event to read out the Constitution at Town Hall, were allegedly manhandled by the city police on Saturday, The News Minute reported. According to protesters at the venue, the group called Bangalore Vigils had gathered to read out the Constitution. However, the police, who were present at the venue, began dragging the people away.
According to Itisha, a veteran flying officer, who was present at the reading, the SJ Park Police reached the spot and allegedly began dragging away one of the men who was at the reading. Another protester, who was videotaping the incident, was allegedly manhandled by the police.
Perhaps for the first time, mosques under the Kerala State Wakf Board and churches under Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) across the state of Kerala hoisted the national flag and read out the Preamble of the Constitution on Sunday, which marked the country’s 71st Republic Day, The News Minute reported.
The unprecedented move, which was after the regular Sunday masses and prayers, was to register a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR).
At the churches under KRLCC, a circular was also read out and an oath was also taken for the protection of the Constitution.
Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP legislator Angoorlata Deka were shown black flags by anti-CAA protesters at two different locations in the state on Sunday, when they were on their way to attend Republic Day programmes.
Sarma, who is also the North-East Democratic Alliance convener, was heading towards Nurul Amin stadium in Nagaon district, when AASU and AJYCP members rushed towards his convoy and raised 'go back' and 'CAA Ami namanu' (we do not accept CAA) slogans, while waving black flags at him.
They agitators were, however, overpowered by police and taken into custody.
A group of students of University of Hyderabad detained by Police at the main gate of the University, while they were heading towards the Ambedkar Statue near the University to hold a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Protestors detained by police in Valluvar Kottam area in Chennai, during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Amid continuing anti-CAA protest at Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the proposed National Register of Citizens, Vice-Chancellor Najma Akhtar today said that everyone has the right to protest but one must do it "responsibly and peacefully".
"Protests are being held across the country. Everybody has a right to protest but with a lot of responsibility and peace. That's what we are following," Akhtar told news agency ANI.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, on Sunday 26 January, was arrested in Hyderabad on Sunday, 26 January, his official twitter handle said.
While his official twitter handle says that he has been arrested, news agency ANI reported that Azad has been detained ahead of his participation in an anti-CAA, anti-NRC protest.
Azad had been granted conditional bail by a Delhi court last week.
A twitter handle called CAA NRC protest info, said that Azad was resting as he’s sick, but the Hyderabad police barged him and took him in custody.
Amid pan-India agitations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday 26 January, called for raising the "level of protests", saying “as long as freedoms are denied to any number of people, the whole population is denied freedom.”
Greeting the people on the occasion of 71st Republic Day, he said the soul of the Constitution lies in the freedoms guaranteed in part three of the document.
Several students at the Aligarh Muslim University, on Sunday 26 January were detained by the police, as they raised slogans against the Vice Chancellor during the annual Republic Day program.
The students, who chanted slogans, demanding the resignation of the VC, were stopped by the proctor team and several were given to the local police by the administration.
Around 2:00, the students gathered around the proctor office and submitted an ultimatum for the release of the students
At 5:40, the students reached the chungi gate and blocked the road heading to Jamalpur.
The students union of Maulana Azad National Urdu University on Sunday launched a campaign to post one lakh post cards to the President, urging that the CAA be revoked and the NRC and NPR not be implemented.
Hundreds of women, accompanied by children, on Sunday took out a "tiranga yatra" against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) here in Gujarat during which they recited the Preamble to the Constitution.
The European Union’s draft resolution on Citizenship Amendment Act, says that the Amended Citizenship Law is a matter entirely internal to India, news agency PTI quoted official sources as saying.
The report quoted the sources as saying that the EU is hopeful that the sponsors and supporters of EU draft resolution on CAA will engage with India to get full assessment of facts.
Further, the sources said that the EU Parliament should not take action that calls into question rights, authority of democratically elected legislatures.
People formed a human chain in Kolkata, 'to save and uphold the values guaranteed by the Constitution of India', earlier on Sunday, ANI reported.
Protesters at Delhi’s Nizamuddin started a 24x7 sit-in against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens on Sunday, 26 January. Police have been deployed at the protest site.
India's 71st Republic day celebrations in the US today were marred by protests and marches, albeit peaceful ones, against recent changes in the citizenship law by large number of Indian Americans in various cities of the country.
Among Indian Americans, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, however, also had a fair share of its supporters who sought to counter protesters by asserting that “India cares for Neighbouring Minorities” and “CAA Won't Impact Indian Citizens,” reported PTI.
The European Parliament is set to debate and vote on a motion tabled by a large chunk of its members against India's new citizenship law, which it alleges marks a “dangerous shift” in the country's citizenship regime.
A total of six resolutions have been tabled by groups within the European Union (EU), including the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE), Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Renew Europe Group (Renew) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group, reports PTI.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said if the CAA leads to the implementation of the NPR and the NRC, it would be a complete victory for Pakistan's founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He said Jinnah's idea of a country was already winning in India with the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) coming into effect, but asserted that there was still a choice available, reported PTI.
Stones were hurled at police personnel holding talks with a group of pro-CAA rallyists by some unidentified persons on Sunday evening in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur, prompting them to resort to baton charge and lob tear gas shells, a district official said.
The incident occurred in the evening near Anand Nagar bus stop when a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 'Tiranga March' was moving towards Raddi Chowk in Gohalpur area, District Collector Bharat Yadav said, reported PTI.
In Mumbai, people hold protest against Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register, at Morland Road.
The Hyderabad police has denied permission for a 48-hour sit-in protest by women against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
A day before the protest was to be launched at Mir Alam Eidgah, the police clarified on Sunday that no permission was given for the programme, reports The News Minute.
Women have started a 24x7 indefinite sit in protest at Husaini Road in Sambhal against CAA NRC NPR. Sambhal Administration has been continuously pressurising and threatening the protesters to end the protest, sources told The Quint.
In Bihar’s Manjhali Chowk, protesters have been sitting since six days agitating against CAA, NRC and NPR.
RTI activist Akhil Gogoi has written an open letter to leadership of anti-CAA national organisations in Assam.
He wrote, "We believe that the ongoing anti-CAA movement has strangely become protracted, dawdling, and directionless. The movement has been disgracefully devoured by symbolism. The time is no longer suitable to carry out symbolic protests. At this moment, we need a resolute, unified mass movement that can bring the government to their knees."
Stating that the people of Assam took to the streets and defined the nature and character of the movement in December, he said that the most positive attribute of the movement is its peaceful nature.
"Therefore, in order to shake the government in a specious manner, the leadership of the movement had to reiterate the slogan to form an alternate political party and give exaggerated importance to the Supreme Court so that they could convince the people of their intention," he further wrote.
Gogoi continued, "By continuously incarcerating me and my comrades, the government plans to shape the current movement according to their wish. We, the people of Assam must unitedly and unrelentingly move ahead toward victory by overthrowing this conspiracy."
Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha in Lucknow said, “Citizenship Amendment Act is against the basic structure of Constitution. There was no need for this kind of an amendment in Citizenship law as GOI already had power to grant citizenship to anyone. This law cannot be implemented.”
Sinha added, “The way in which Adnan Sami was granted citizenship and now has even been conferred a Padma Award, others could have continued to receive citizenship in the same manner. What was the need for this Citizenship Amendment Act?”
The Supreme Court today sought response of the Centre and Assam government on a plea alleging exclusion of around 2000 transgenders in the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.
A bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde and justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant issued notice to the government on the PIL filed by one Swati Bidhan Baruah, reported PTI.
The Arunachal Pradesh Police has registered a case against anti-CAA activist Sharjeel Imam for his alleged inflammatory speeches, a senior police officer said in Itanagar today, reports PTI.
The BSP on Monday demanded withdrawal of cases lodged by the UP government against women protesting against the amended Citizenship Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.
Women have been staging protests in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, including at the historic Clock Tower here, demanding scrapping of CAA and NRC.
The delegation of European Union to India on draft resolution on CAA, on Monday 27 January, said that the European Parliament is an independent institution, sovereign in the organisation of its work and in its deliberations. Further, it said that the text referred to are draft resolution by political groups in the European Parliament.
A copy of the state government's resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act will be tabled in the State assembly today.
West Bengal parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee tables anti-CAA resolution in Assembly.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that the BJP does not want to open the Shaheen Bagh stretch of the Kalindi Kunj road where anti-CAA protests are going on for over a month as the saffron party is doing "dirty politics" over it.
Nearly 100 lawyers took out a march outside the Bombay High Court on Monday 27 January afternoon in support of the "constitutionally valid" Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The lawyers marched from one gate of the HC to another while shouting slogans like "We support CAA", "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram".
The lawyers included senior counsel Ram Apte, advocate Uday Warunjikar, and Subhash Ghadge and Anjali Helekar, members of the Advocates Association of Western India.
The Enforcement Directorate has found that the recent violent protests in Uttar Pradesh against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) had a "financial link" with the Kerala-based outfit PFI, official sources said on Monday, 27 January.
The police briefly made their presence aware in Shaheen Bagh on Monday, 27 January. They have now officially left the area.
Enforcement Directorate has sent a note to the Home Ministry mentioning there is direct link between anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh and the Popular Front of India. ED has drawn correlation between dates of money deposits in bank accounts&dates of anti-CAA protests, reports ANI.
The West Bengal Assembly has passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act on Monday, 27 January, reports ANI.
Similar resolutions have already been passed in Kerala, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, other Congress leaders are meeting the National Human Rights Commission of India Chief, Justice H. L. Dattu, on alleged atrocities by UP Police on Monday, 27 January, reports PTI.
France, a founding member of the European Union, considers the new citizenship law an internal political matter of India, French diplomatic sources said on Monday, 27 January.
The assertion came after close to 600 lawmakers in the 751-member parliament moved six resolutions against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying the enactment of the law marked a dangerous shift in India's citizenship regime.
They said the European Parliament is an institution independent of member states and the European Commission.
There has been no reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs on the resolutions against the CAA in the European Parliament.
The Allahabad High Court has asked for more information on the postmortem report of all deceased, medical treatment of police personnel & others, from the state government on Monday, 27 January. The court has also asked for details on the procedure of the imposition of Sect 144 in the state at the time, reports ANI.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, 27 January said a country should know how many foreigners and citizens are living in the country, reports ANI.
“Kya kisi desh ko yeh nahi pata hona chahiye ki desh mein kitne swadeshi hain, kitne videshi hain? NRC agar aa bhi jata hai toh kya pareshani hain?,”
(Should a country not know how many citizens and how many foreigners there are? Even if NRC comes into law, what's the problem?)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla wrote a letter to European Parliament President on Monday, 27 January stating that “sovereign processes of fellow legislatures' should be respected, reports ANI.
The letter refers to a joint motion for resolutions introduced in the European Parliament on the Citizenship Amendment Act stating that the enactment of the new law marked a dangerous shift in India's citizenship regime.
The letter further reads “it is inappropriate for one legislature to pass judgment on another, a practice that can be misused by vested interests. I would urge you to consider the proposed Resolution in this light, confident that none of us want to set an unhealthy precedent.'
Sharjeel Imam's brother and two more family members detained. Being questioned at Kako police station, Jehanabad in Bihar.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi asks party leaders to "aggressively" raise issue of CAA, NPR and NRC to corner government in Budget Session beginning on 31 January.
A case was filed against 22 students from University of Hyderabad for taking out a rally on Republic Day without permission. The students were booked under charges of wrongful restraint, unlawful Assembly, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace and public nuisance. The students who were booked include Students' Union president Abhishek Nandan and general secretary Gopi Swamy.
Over 300 students and members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad took out a rally in support of the Citizenship [Amendment] Act and National Register of Citizens in Maharashtra's Pune city on Tuesday, 27 January.
Holding a 300-feet-long Indian flag, students and activists marched from Modern College's Ganesh Khind campus till the Shivaji Nagar campus, shouting slogans in support of the CAA and NRC.
Protesters blocked entry to the AMU engineering college on Tuesday, 28 January, preventing the holding of an examination for the second consecutive day.
On Monday, a group of students had blocked the entrance to Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, prompting the authorities to cancel the examination.
Over 600 students were scheduled to appear for the examination.
The authorities were hoping to conduct the examination amid a boycott call by students demanding the withdrawal of "false FIRs" lodged against them during anti-CAA protests.
Police in Bidar district of Karnataka sealed a school allegedly after the students performed a play against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register Citizens. A sedition case has been registered against the school management and further investigation is underway.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with other artists, took up the brush on Tuesday, 28 January and created paintings to express dissent against the amended Citizenship Act and proposed NRC exercise.
The programme, themed around anti-CAA agitation, was organized near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Mayo Road, where Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, voiced her protests through her paintings.
According to a TMC leader, the paintings will be exhibited in various galleries of the country.
Bureaucrat-turned-activist Kannan Gopinathan on Tuesday, 27 January, said even some "RSS people" are convinced the Citizenship Amendment Act is a bad law but are keeping quiet as the NDA government at the Centre is their own baby.
Speaking in Panaji, he further said the Narendra Modi government was behaving like a "drunken teenager" which needs to be questioned or else it will end up destroying homes.
"I was detained twice in UP, kept the whole day, because they (government) do not want the questioning (of CAA). I have met so many RSS people, they also understand this...if you have this conversation, they also understand the government has done something (wrong) and they have been asked to support it," he claimed.
BJP MLA Narayan Tripathi on Tuesday, 28 January, said “the Constitution of India says that division can't be done on the basis of religion in our country, still the country is being divided.”
“We should either follow BR Ambedkar’s Constitution or we should just tear and throw it away,” he said.
According to Delhi Police, a person present at Shaheen Bagh to talk to protestors brandished a licensed pistol at the protest site on Tuesday, 28 January, reports ANI.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned seven officials of PFI (Popular Front of India) on 29 January 2020.
On Monday, ED had sent a note to the Home Ministry mentioning there is a direct link between anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh and the Popular Front of India (PFI).
Assam ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chandra Mohan Patowary and Siddhartha Bhattacharya faced black flags at different places on Tuesday, 28 January, by All Assam Students' Union (AASU) activists during anti-CAA protests.
While travelling to Darrang district for an official function to distribute land pattas to landless indigenous people, Sarma's convoy was shown black flags on National Highway 15 at Mangaldoi.
Sarma is also the convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the equivalent of NDA in the region.
JNU student Sharjeel Imam, who has been charged with sedition for his speech at an anti-CAA, anti-NRC protest is being taken to Delhi from the Patna airport, after he was taken into custody on Tuesday, 28 January.
The Jehanabad court granted his transit remand to Delhi Police on Tuesday.
Members of the Bahujan Kranti Morcha block a railway track at the Kanjurmarg railway station in Maharashtra, to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. Bahujan Kranti Morcha has called for a 'Bharat Bandh' today.
United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs, on Wednesday 29 January, blocked Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan to protest against the CAA, NRC in the state assembly. They also raise slogans of 'recall Governor" as Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan arrives in the house.
They also raised slogans of 'recall Governor" as Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan arrived in the house.
A sit-in agitation by 60 Muslim women at the Park Circus Maidan here, christened as 'Kolkata's Shaheen Bagh', entered its 23rd day on Wednesday with the protestors firm to carry on with their stir against the CAA indefinitely.
Displaying no signs of fatigue, the women, ranging from housewives to profesionals, expressed their determination to hold their ground.
Mohammad Luqmaan (owner of the gun that was brandished at Shaheen Bagh yesterday) has been called for questioning today. A case has been registered in the matter & investigation is underway.
BJP MP Parvesh Verma, who has created controversy with his remarks over anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, Wednesday morning claimed to have received threat from an unknown caller.
JNU Student Sharjeel Imam who was arrested from Jehanabad, Bihar on Tuesday, has been brought to Delhi. He will be produced in Patiala House Court later today. Imam has been booked in a sedition case by Delhi Police.
Two persons were killed and one was injured in a clash between two groups in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Wednesday, 29 January a senior police officer said.
The incident occured after an argument broke out between the groups at Jalangi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Amid a high voltage protest and boycott by the Congress-led UDF, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday, presented his policy address in the Assembly and read out references to anti-CAA resolution passed by the House, despite disagreeing with it.
Reading out the the anti-CAA stand of the state government, the Governor said "our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of our Constitution."
Referring to the unanimous anti-CAA resolution passed by the Assembly, Khan, who has been at loggerheads with the state government for moving the Supreme court against the law and the resolution against it, said the government believes the Act "goes against the cardinal principles" underlying the Constitution.
A clash broke out between two groups – one protesting against Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the other supporting it, in Sitamarhi on Wednesday. 15 people were injured in the clash. Police personnel have now been deployed in the area.
Incidents of road blockade and stone-pelting were reported during the 'Bharat Bandh' called by various organisations to protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Gujarat on Wednesday, the police said, reported PTI.
A police officer was injured in stone-pelting in Surat.
A group of masked persons pelted stones at police personnel near Madina Masjid in Limbayat locality of Surat, injuring an assistant sub-inspector, a senior official said.
At least 70 persons were detained after they tried to block a road by burning tyres in Katargam area of Surat city.
Women protesters, whose indefinite stir against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in a south Mumbai locality entered the third day on Wednesday, said they want the Maharashtra government to pass a resolution in the Assembly against the new law as done by a few other states.
More than 500 women and hundreds of men have been sitting on a road in Nagpada area since 26 January night against the CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).
So far, Kerala, Rajasthan, Punjab and West Bengal have passed resolutions against the CAA.
Bureaucrat-turned-activist Kannan Gopinathan on Wednesday slammed the “combination” and the “chronology” of the CAA, NPR and NRC, saying their implementation will contribute to corruption and hatred in the country, reports PTI.
“The CAA, NPR and NRC are exercises of hatred, exercises of corruption,” he told reporters. “The farther the process continues, the more hatred it will create,” he added.
Gopinathan quit the IAS last year, saying the people of Jammu and Kashmir were being denied freedom of expression after the abrogation of the special status for the state under Article 370. On Wednesday, he claimed that there has been no substantial change in the situation in J&K.
As part of his party's anti-CAA protests in Kerala led by MPs and MLAs, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will spearhead a "Save the Constitution March" on Thursday, 30 December at Kalpetta in Wayanad district, reports PTI.
Gandhi, who represents Wayanad in Lok Sabha, will lead the 2 km march, being held on the eve of Martyr's day, from SKMJ high school to the new bus stand at Kalpetta, party sources said.
Lashing out at BJP and RSS over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, senior Congress leader A K Antony, on Wednesday, alleged that the Sangh Parivar was practicing the British tactic of 'divide and rule'.
The Congress Working Committee member also said the previous governments at the Centre had never given citizenship to anyone on the basis of religion.
"Today, the BJP and the RSS are going door-to-door and saying the 'Law will not affect you so you don't worry.' They are trying to divide the people. They are trying the old British tactics of 'divide and rule' against which Gandhi ji fought," Antony said.
BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar took a swipe at anti-CAA protesters in the national capital, including those at Shaheen Bagh, saying some people have decided to carry out agitations without taking legal permission.
At a Cabinet briefing, Javadekar referred to alleged objectionable slogans raised at Shaheen Bagh and said "everyone condemns it".
“People have a right to protest and put across their views in a democracy, but legal permission is also required,” he said.
"If some people have decided that they will not take permission and sit on protests, then it reflects on them," the Union Minister told reporters.
The European Parliament decided to put off a vote on a resolution on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on Thursday, 30 January, PTI quoted government sources as saying.
The move is seen as an attempt to not jeopardise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brussels in March for a bilateral summit with the 28-member block.
The European Parliament decided to take up the voting during its new session beginning 2 March.
Government sources called the deferment of the voting a diplomatic victory, adding that friends of India prevailed over the friends of Pakistan in the European Parliament on Wednesday.
A joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament against India's Citizenship (Amendment) Act, was debated at the Plenary session in Brussels on Thursday, 30 January, PTI reported.
The debate opened with a statement by Helena Dalli, the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who spoke strongly in favour of the "rich, frank and open" relationship the European Union (EU) shares with India.
She highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Brussels in March for the 15th India-EU Summit.
"We believe that it is the role of the Supreme Court of India to assess the compliance of the law with the Constitution and we are confident that the ongoing judicial process will contribute to appeasing the tensions and violence witnessed over the past weeks in the country," said Dalli, who concluded the debate with a message to "pursue and intensify" dialogue with India as a "respected democracy" and valued EU partner.