- Title: Indian court refuses to stop implementation of citizenship law, sparks protests
- Date: 18th December 2019
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (DECEMBER 18, 2019) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF INDIA'S SUPREME COURT (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PETITIONER, RAJA CHATERJEE, SAYING: "The court has issued a notice. It has refused to give a stay to the Act because it has not been completely implemented yet. Some rules will be required to implement it. When the Supreme Court said the same, the Attorney General said that rules will be framed and will be published in the leading newspapers, so that the general public can understand it better." GATE TO JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA UNIVERSITY BANNER HANGING AT THE UNIVERSITY GATE READING (English): "MAINTAIN THE ACCELERATION AT MAXIMUM WITH ZERO VIOLENCE" VARIOUS OF STUDENTS HOLDING POSTERS, PROTESTING OUTSIDE UNIVERSITY GATES VARIOUS OF PROTESTER HOLDING POSTER READING (English): "WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LOW (LAW) RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY" PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) STUDENT AT PROTEST, SHAZIA (SURNAME UNKNOWN), SAYING: "We are protesting peacefully here and will continue until the government withdraws the NRC (National Register of Citizens) Bill. This (country) is not (under) the rule of fools - it is a democracy and they cannot interfere with the constitution." SECURITY PERSONNEL ON CAMPUS, SEEN BEHIND GATE BANNER HANGING ON GATE SHOWING LOCATIONS OF PROTESTS BY STUDENTS AROUND INDIA CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (DECEMBER 18, 2019) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) EXTERIOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS / POLICE STANDING NEAR ENTRANCE GATE STUDENTS STAGING SIT-IN PROTEST ON CAMPUS GROUNDS, SEEN BEHIND ENTRANCE GATE STUDENTS SITTING ON GROUND ENTRANCE GATE TO UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS POLICE STANDING BY BARRIERS OUTSIDE CAMPUS GATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MADRAS UNIVERSITY STUDENT, KARTIKEYAN (SURNAME UNKNOWN), SAYING: "This is the government plan. Actually, this is the government agenda that people should not protest against any of the government act actually, this is what is happening, actually. For that, (the) university is also supporting, this is our concern actually. As students we are peacefully against that (CAA) protest but they are making it into critical positions, actually." THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA (DECEMBER 18, 2019) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF WOMEN'S WING OF INDIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY PROTESTING, CHANTING AND HOLDING PLACARDS AND FLAGS
- Embargoed: 1st January 2020 14:30
- Keywords: India citizenship law India protests Indian court refuses to stop citizenship law citizenship law
- Location: NEW DELHI AND CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU AND THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA
- City: NEW DELHI AND CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU AND THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001BAI5LXJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: India's Supreme Court turned down a plea on Wednesday (December 18) to stop the implementation of a new citizenship law based on religion that has set off violent protests in the country, but said it would hold hearings next month on the sweeping measure.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) makes it easier for non-Muslims from the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who settled in India prior to 2015 to gain Indian citizenship.
Thousands of people have protested, saying the law is anti-Muslim and the latest in a series of measures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government to marginalize the community.
Supreme Court Chief Justice S.A. Bobde refused requests to hold off the implementation of the law, which came into effect last week. The court will however hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the law on January 22.
Protesters say the exclusion of Muslims shows a deep-seated bias against the community, which makes up 14 percent of India's population, the third largest Muslim population in the world.
(Production: Louisa Naks) - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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