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Citizenship Amendment Act: PM Modi defiant despite widespread protests Citizenship Amendment Act: PM Modi defiant despite widespread protests
(about 1 hour later)
The Indian government has reacted with defiance to widespread protests against a new citizenship law. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reacted with defiance to widespread protests against a new citizenship law.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a rally on Tuesday the protests were being stirred up by his rivals.
The law offers citizenship to non-Muslims from three nearby countries.The law offers citizenship to non-Muslims from three nearby countries.
While the government says the aim is to protect people from persecution, critics say it is discriminatory and part of a "Hindu nationalist" agenda to marginalise India's Muslim minority. The government says it will protect people from persecution, but critics say its part of a "Hindu nationalist" agenda to marginalise India's Muslims.
Others - particularly in border states - fear being "overrun" by new arrivals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Mr Modi said the law "will have no effect on citizens of India including Hindus, Muslims, Sikh, Jain, Christian and Buddhists".
There have been demonstrations in cities across India and the capital Delhi has seen massive protest over the past days after a student protest on Sunday turned violent and left dozens injured. Mr Modi also told his supporters at a rally on Tuesday that the opposition was "spreading lies and rumours", "instigating violence" and "used its full force to create an atmosphere of illusion and falsehood".
Images from the city's Seelampur area, which has a strong Muslim population, showed stone-throwing crowds confronting police officers on Tuesday. Home Minister Amit Shah echoed the sentiment to media saying "both my government and I are firm like a rock that we will not budge or go back on the citizenship protests".
Police retaliated with tear gas and batons. There have been demonstrations in cities across India.
"Both my government and I are firm like a rock that we will not budge or go back on the citizenship protests," Home Minister Amit Shah told Indian media. Some of those protesting see the law as discriminatory, others - particularly in border states - fear being "overrun" by new arrivals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The capital Delhi has seen mass protest over the past days after a student protest on Sunday turned violent and left dozens injured.
On Tuesday, images from the city's Seelampur area, which has a strong Muslim population, showed stone-throwing crowds confronting police officers. Police retaliated with tear gas and batons.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court refused to hear a petition against the police action inside Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University, where on Sunday they allegedly attacked students inside campus premises.
A man injured during the protests on that day told the BBC he saw police shoot at him with a pistol or revolver.
Authorities deny police used live ammunition and have suggested the wounds might be from shrapnel from tear gas canisters.
Earlier this week, Mr Modi had attempted to calm tensions in a series of tweets saying "this is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood".
Opponents say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in the constitution and that faith cannot be made a condition of citizenship.Opponents say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in the constitution and that faith cannot be made a condition of citizenship.
The prime minister's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) though argues it is only trying to give sanctuary to people fleeing religious persecution.The prime minister's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) though argues it is only trying to give sanctuary to people fleeing religious persecution.
Earlier this week, Mr Modi had attempted to calm tensions in a series of tweets saying "this is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood".
Meanwhile on Tuesday, the Supreme Court refused to hear a petition against the police action inside Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University, where on Sunday they allegedly attacked students inside campus premises.