- Indigo’s crew members got stuck in a jam due to protests on the Gurgaon Expressway, after which the airline canceled flights
- Internet was closed for 4 hours on Thursday in 5 areas of Delhi, in Assam also internet will be closed till 9 am on Friday.
- Historian Ramachandra Guha was detained in Bengaluru, JNU alumnus leader Omar Khalid also detained in Delhi
- Mamta Banerjee said in Kolkata – no fair organization should hold referendum on citizenship amendment law
Left parties and Muslim organizations called a nationwide shutdown in protest against the citizenship law on Thursday. Demonstrations and incidents of violence occurred in 12 states. In 6 of the states where protests took place, BJP is in power. In Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, protesters set the bus on fire. In Lucknow, the mob opened fire on the police. Crew members got stuck due to a jam on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, forcing IndiGo to cancel 19 flights from Delhi. 16 flights were delayed. The Union Home Ministry will hold a meeting across the country on the issue of opposition to the citizenship law. At the same time, the Congress Core Committee meeting continued at Sonia Gandhi’s residence on this matter.
At the same rally in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said – Fair organizations like United Nations or National Human Rights Commission should hold a referendum on the issue of citizenship amendment, to find out how many people are in support of it and How many against it.
19 metro stations have to be closed in Delhi
CPI-M workers blocked railway tracks in some cities including Patna, Darbhanga in Bihar. Several people were arrested, including Congress leader Sandeep Dixit, who staged a protest despite Section 144 in Delhi. 19 metro stations had to be closed. Police took historian Ramchandra Guha into custody during a demonstration in Bengaluru. 50 people were also detained in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Conditions in states
West Bengal
During the rally in Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in the rally – BJP was established in 1980. Today BJP is asking us for citizenship documents of 1970.
Uttar Pradesh
In Sambhal, protesters set a bus on fire. Violence occurred at 6 places in Thakurganj and Hasanganj in Lucknow. Three bikes were burnt near the Madheganj outpost in Lucknow. The miscreants opened fire, after which the police had to do aerial firing.
The Satkhanda post of Thakurganj was burnt and arson near the Press Club. A TV channel’s OB van was also set on fire. 22 metro stations of Lucknow were closed.
Thousands of people descended on the roads from Hazratganj Main intersection to Old Lucknow. The police had to struggle hard to push the miscreants back.
More than 20, including Congress state president Ajay Kumar Lallu and several leaders of the SP’s youth wing, were detained by the police.
In view of security, Section 144 has been implemented in all the districts. As a precaution 3 thousand people are banned. 65 people were arrested.
Delhi
Even after Section 144 was implemented around the Red Fort, a large number of protesters gathered. Police detained several people, including JNU alumnus leader Omar Khalid. 19 metro stations were closed.
Barricading by the police led to a 10 km long jam on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. Crew members of several airlines got stuck in it, due to which 16 flights were delayed. IndiGo had to cancel 19 flights.
Apart from the central and northern districts, internet remained closed from 9 am to 1 pm in Mandi House, Seelampur, Zafarabad, Mustafabad, Jamia Nagar and Bawana areas. Police carried out a flag march in sensitive areas after violent demonstrations in Jamia and Seelampur.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said – At present, the law and order situation in the country has collapsed. I appeal to the Center to withdraw the citizenship law and employ youth.
Air India said – will give refund
Bihar
Protests were held in many cities of the state against the citizenship law. CPI (M) workers stopped trains in Patna, Darbhanga and Khagaria. National Highway 10 and NH 83 in Jahanabad blocked.
RPF started operating trains at all stations of the state including Patna Junction. The protesters ransacked an ambulance. This bandh has been supported by Congress, RLSP and other parties.
Karnataka
In Kalburgi, Left and Muslim organizations demonstrated with black flags. Police detained 20 people. Police detained historian Ramachandra Guha during a protest in Bengaluru.
Section 144 will remain in force for the next three days (till 21 December night) in Bengaluru, Kalburgi, Dakshina Kannada and its adjoining districts. Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa said – Congress is behind the protest and bandh.
Gujarat
In Sardarbagh area of Ahmedabad, police had to lathi-charge the miscreants. In the afternoon, the mob pelted stones at the Mirzapur area. In the evening, 20 policemen were injured in stone pelting in the Shah-e-Alam area.
On the main highway of Banaskantha, protesters on the road attacked a police car. A lot of police force was called in to control the situation. This led to a 10 km long jam.
Telangana
50 protesters were detained from the Char Minar area in Hyderabad. The police said that no demonstrations were allowed in the city.
Maharashtra
Demonstrations took place at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan, which was attended by many from Bollywood as well. Also called off in Malegaon, Nashik, Jalgaon and Manmand and Amravati.
Earlier, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held discussions with representatives of the Muslim community through video conferencing. He appealed to maintain law and order during the protest against citizenship law and NRC.
Tamil Nadu
300–400 people demonstrated in Chennai. Organizations, activists and Sri Lankan refugees participated in it. Actor and politician Makkal Needhi Mayyam president Kamal Haasan appealed to the police not to suppress the voices being raised democratically.
Northeast
People lodged a peaceful protest during the bandh in Assam, Meghalaya. Congress leader Harish Rawat attended Guwahati protest. Curfew has been relaxed for 14 hours in Assam today. Internet will be closed here till 9 o’clock tomorrow. In Meghalaya also, internet is banned.
Jammu and Kashmir
Youth Congress protested. Chairman Uday Chib was arrested. Journalists also demonstrated in Srinagar against the excesses of the police.
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