India protests rage against CAA, but Modi defiant
NEW DELHI: Police fired tear gas at protesters in India’s capital on Tuesday as tens of thousands rallied around the country against a new citizenship law, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained defiant.
The law grants citizenship to people from three neighbouring countries in what opponents say is part of Modi’s masterplan. Uproar over the move has sparked days of protests, clashes and riots across India that have left six people dead and dozens injured in a major challenge to Modi since he swept to power in 2014.
In Delhi on Wednesday, buses and a police outpost were torched and tear gas filled streets as thousands of protesters hurled stones at police in Seelampur district in the latest violence to hit the capital.
Tens of thousands more rallied in West Bengal, Kolkata and Tamil Nadu states on a sixth day of nationwide protests.
But the prime minister was adamant that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed last week, would not affect Indian nationals, including minorities.
He blamed the opposition Congress party for “spreading violence and creating an environment of fear” by lying about the law’s intent.
“It’s as clear as being engraved in stone that the CAA will not affect any citizen — Muslim, Hindu, Christian or anyone else,” Modi told a political rally in eastern Jharkhand state. ‘PEOPLE WON’T ACCEPT THE LAW’ In the eastern city of Kolkata, more than 20,000 protesters joined a fresh march led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a fierce critic of Modi. Banerjee, who also led protests on Monday, told the crowd the law would not be implemented “for as long as I am alive”.
Film-maker Gautam Ghosh, also at the march, said the law would “divide the country”. “If the federal government tries to implement the law, there will be more bloodshed. People will not accept it,” he added. Train services were disrupted after railway tracks were blocked by protesters, while nearly 700 people have been arrested, Banerjee said.
Authorities have imposed Internet blackouts and used force to shut down rallies and sit-ins across several states.
In the northeastern state of Assam, the epicentre of the protests where four people died after being shot by police, a curfew imposed in some regions was lifted early on Tuesday.