- Title: Indian police, protesters clash over citizenship law
- Date: 17th December 2019
- Summary: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (DECEMBER 17, 2019) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS AND POLICE SCUFFLING PROTESTERS CHANTING SURROUNDED BY POLICE HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, INDIA (DECEMBER 17, 2019) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) PLACARD IN HANDS OF PROTESTER READING (English): 'STAND WITH JNU AMU JAMIA' PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS AND POSTERS PROTESTER HOLDING PLACARD ABOVE HIS HEAD PROTESTERS WITH POSTERS AND PLACARDS WALKING AND RAISING SLOGANS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING AS THEY MARCH DOWN STREET PROTESTERS RUNNING NEW DELHI, INDIA (DECEMBER 17, 2019) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, AMIT SHAH, SAYING: "I want to say that, whatever political protests you want to do you do. The (Narendra) Modi government of Bharatiya Janata Party is firm that all the refugees will get citizenship; they will become citizens of India and they will live with respect in the world." PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA UNIVERSITY PROTESTERS CHANTING AND HOLDING POSTERS PROTESTERS WALKING DOWN STREET PROTESTERS STANDING AND CHANTING VARIOUS OF PROTESTER HOLDING POSTER WITH PICTURE OF GERMAN POLITICIAN AND LEADER OF THE NAZI PARTY, ADOLF HITLER, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, NARENDRA MODI AND INDIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, AMIT SHAH READING (English): 'NO NRIC, NO CAA' (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PROTESTER AND JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA STUDENT, MOHAMMAD KASIF, SAYING: "(Mahatma) Gandhi and (Bhim Rao) Ambedkar made India. India does not belong to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. They are messing up Ambedkar's Constitution which we do not like at all." PRESIDENT OF INDIA'S OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY, SONIA GANDHI, CONGRESS LEADER, GHULAM NABI AZAD (WEARING BROWN BLAZER) AND OTHER OPPOSITION LEADERS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF INDIA'S OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY, SONIA GANDHI, SAYING: "(The) situation in the northeast which is now spreading throughout the country including the capital…the Jamia university because of the act…is a very serious situation. We fear that it may spread even further." VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN PATROLLING ON MOTORBIKES
- Embargoed: 31st December 2019 17:02
- Keywords: India Modi citizenship law protests
- Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA / HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, INDIA / NEW DELHI, INDIA
- City: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA / HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, INDIA / NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001BAD5KJR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Scuffles broke out between police and protesters in the Indian city of Chennai on Tuesday (December 17) over a new law that makes it easier for non-Muslims from neighbouring countries to gain citizenship.
Nationwide opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act - which offers a path to Indian citizenship for religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan - has grown since last week, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government appears to have dug in its heels.
In Delhi's Seelampur area, police fired shots in the air and lobbed more than 60 rounds of tear gas to beat back thousands of people protesting against the new law.
Critics say the law weakens India's secular foundations since it does not apply to Muslims, who have been coming out on to the streets in increasing numbers against the legislation.
(Production: Rosalind Church) - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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