Large gatherings banned in parts of India

The citizenship amendment bill introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has created widespread protests across India. On Thursday, the government banned large gatherings of people in the national capital and other cities. In New Delhi, the police barricaded roads and asked people to not come together in huge groups near the Red Fort area in central Delhi. Section 144 has been introduced in Karnataka for the next three days.

If the scale of these protests wasn’t a landmark, the government pushback is. All of #Karnataka, all of UP under Sec 144. #Delhi #Chennai #Hyderabad #Ahmedabad: authorities bar protests. Delhi Metro stations shuttered to stop people from gathering. They are gathering anyway- Raghu Karnad, Writer.

Delhi-Gurgaon highway witnessed massive traffic jams since Thursday early morning. Many metro stations were shut down and normal life was disrupted. Police were also seen checking cars that crossed the Delhi border.

Muslim groups had called for a one day strike over the citizenship law in Bengaluru. City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said that Section 144 imposed has been imposed from 6 am on Thursday across the city. Police from across the state further added that no groups will be allowed to hold protests or strikes in the state. Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa had earlier welcomed the citizenship amendment bill. He said it will be implemented across the state.

Social media users and opposition party leaders criticised the central government for the latest move. “Karnataka will not bow to the Gujarat Model. Karnataka must resist this unjustified clampdown on our Constitutional right to protest peacefully. Dear Bengaluru, Don’t be silent. Don’t be violent. #IndiaRejectsCAA”, tweeted Congress leader Rajeev Gowda.

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