LIVE! 354 arrested to maintain peace in state: WB cops

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Mon, 16 December 2019

354 arrested to maintain peace in state: WB cops

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23:24 354 arrested to maintain peace in state: WB cops

The West Bengal police on Monday said that it has arrested 354 miscreants across the state to maintain peace and harmony.

It also urged the public to contact the police, through the 24*7 control room helpline, in case any person is found violating law and order.

"354 miscreants have been arrested across the state as a part of our endeavour to maintain peace and harmony in Bengal. In case you find anyone or anything violating the law, contact us on the WB Police 24*7 control room helpline," the tweet from West Bengal Police's official handle read.

Earlier today, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the people of the country not to resort to violence while addressing a protest march organised here against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the National Register of Citizens on Monday.

The march was a part of the mega rally announced by the Trinamool Congress chief to protest against the CAA and the NRC. She has requested the people to join the movement in a peaceful manner within the ambit of the law.

The West Bengal Chief Minister also urged the people for maintaining communal harmony, recalling the 1903 Bango Bhango protest, when Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore tied rakhi on the wrist of Hindus and Muslims.

-- ANI

The BJP on Monday lodged a police complaint against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and others alleging their involvement in yesterday's violence at Jamia Millia University.

In a letter to Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said: "This is to complain against Manish Sisodia, Amanatullah Khan and Chairman Waqf Board Delhi and other AAP leaders for hatching a criminal conspiracy, inciting violence and conducting riots at Jamia Millia Islamia on December 15."

"The incident that happened yesterday was less a protest of students and more a politically orchestrated pre-planned riot done at the behest of Amanatullah Khan, MLA and AAP leader. As is revealed in various videos being circulated in the social media and tweets, Khan was seen inciting violence immediately before the riot," the letter said.

"Similarly, Sisodia was tweeting and retweeting contents which were provocative in nature," Tiwari said.

The BJP MP further said, "On the name of students, political opportunists like Manish Sisodia, Amanatullah Khan and other AAP leaders hatched a political conspiracy to attack the police officials, burn buses and break the houses of the general public in New Friends colony."

"It needs to be thoroughly investigated which groups and organisations were behind the riots and investigation needs to be done and culprits should be arrested," he added.

-- ANI

22:34 Yet to see justice: Nirbhaya's parents

Parents of the December 16 gangrape victim on Monday said they have been fighting for seven years but are yet to see the culprits punished and get justice for their daughter who died in 2012 after being brutally gangraped.

"We are waiting for justice to our beloved daughter for years. Unfortunately, we could not ensure that till date. But we will not give up. Our fight would continue through Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust which has been founded to stop violence against women. The crime against women in India is on the rise and very regrettable too. The system should work to make the country safe and secure for women," said Asha Devi, mother of "Nirbhaya".

She was addressing an event here to mark the seventh anniversary of the fateful night which sparked the debate around security of women.

"Public support to our demand to hang the culprits of our daughter has encouraged us to move ahead. It is very unfortunate that even after seven years of the incident we could not ensure capital punishment for the culprits. We are desperately waiting for the execution. Thanks for your continued support," her father Badrinath Singh said.

Nirbhaya was gang-raped on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012, inside a running bus in south Delhi by six people and severely assaulted before being thrown out on the road. She succumbed to injuries on December 29 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

The four convicts in the gang rape-and-murder case have been sentenced to death.

Ram Singh, one of convicts, allegedly killed himself in 2013, while a juvenile, who was among the six accused, was convicted by a juvenile justice board. He was released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term.

"The agitation, erupted after the 2012 incident, has become a mass movement now. I express my gratitude to her parents who gave voice to the women's plight. You have advocated justice for your daughter which has now become the voice of the nation," said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

-- PTI

21:59 Lt Gen Manoj Naravane to be new Army Chief

Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane will be the next Chief of Army Staff helming the 1.3 million-strong force, official sources said on Monday.

Lt Gen Naravane is currently serving as Vice Chief of the Army.

Sources said Naravane's appointment has been cleared at the highest level, adding the government has followed the principle of seniority in the appointment.

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat is due to retire on December 31 after a three-year stint. He is expected to be appointed as the country's first Chief of Defence Staff.

Before taking charge as vice chief of the Army Staff in September, Lt Gen Naravane was heading the Eastern Command of the Army which takes care of India's nearly 4,000-km border with China.

In his 37 years of service, Lt Gen Naravane has served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.

He has also commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Jammu and Kashmir and an infantry brigade on the eastern front.

He was also part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and had served as India's defence attache at the Indian Embassy in Myanmar for three years.

Lt Gen Naravane is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

He was commissioned into the 7th battalion, the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in June 1980.

The General is a decorated officer who has been awarded the 'Sena Medal' (Distinguished) for effectively commanding his battalion in Jammu and Kashmir.

He is also a recipient of the 'Vishisht Seva Medal' for his services as the Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) in Nagaland and the 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal' for commanding of a prestigious strike corps.

-- PTI

21:21 Jairam Ramesh challenges Citizenship act in SC

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has challenged the Citizenship Amendment Act in the Supreme Court and his plea will be heard on Wednesday.

Ramesh has challenged the new law in his personal capacity. He had filed the petition on December 13.

"Given the urgent situation that has developed around the rushed and insidious Citizenship Amendment Act, I approached the Hon'ble Supreme Court to hear my matter urgently.

"The Hon'ble judges have agreed to list my challenge to the same on Wednesday i.e. day after tomorrow," Ramesh said on Twitter.

In his petition, Ramesh has prayed that the court pass appropriate order declaring and quashing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as "unconstitutional, null and void and ultra vires Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and hence void ab initio".

He also demanded that the court passes appropriate direction declaring that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act ultra vires the Assam Accord of 1985 and the Constitution of India.

Ramesh also sought orders declaring that that the act violates the international law and obligation approved and agreed by India under international covenants.

He said he is constrained to move the instant public interest litigation under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the patently unconstitutional amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955 being the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019.

"The impugned Act is a brazen attack on the core fundamental rights envisaged under the Constitution. The impugned enactment ex facie violates the fundamental guarantees under Article 14 as also Article 21 of the Constitution.

"The Act has been enacted disregarding the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of January 7, 2019 as also the terms of the Accord between AASU, AAGSP and the Central Government on the Foreign National Issue signed on 15.08.1985 (Assam Accord)," he said.

-- PTI

20:48 Pranab for raising Lok Sabha strength to 1000

Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday pitched for raising the number of Lok Sabha constituencies to 1,000 from the existing 543 and for a corresponding increase in Rajya Sabha's strength, arguing that India has a "disproportionately large size" of electorate for elected representatives.

Delivering the second Atal Vihari Vajpayee memorial lecture organised by India Foundation here, he said the last time the strength of Lok Sabha was revised was in 1977 which, he noted, was based on the 1971 census that put the total population at 55 crore.

The population since then has more than doubled, and there is a "strong case" to remove the freeze in the delimitation exercise. It should be ideally increased to 1,000, he added.

On the occasion, he also hailed Vajpayee as a consensus-builder who worked to take everyone along and noted that people may have given strong majorities to different parties since 1952 but over 50 per cent of them have never voted for one party.

"A numerical majority in elections gives you the right to make a stable government. The lack of popular majority forbids you from a majoritarian government. That is the message and essence of our parliamentary democracy," he said.

-- PTI

The crime branch will investigate the Jamia violence and people should not pay any heed to social media rumours, the Delhi Police said on Monday and insisted that there was no firing during the incident.

According to Delhi Police's Public Relations Officer MS Randhawa, the force used "maximum restraint, minimum force" despite being "provoked" by protesters and did not carry any firearms.

"There was no firing, there have been no casualties in the Jamia violence. The crime branch will investigate the violence. Thorough investigation will be done and accountability will be fixed," he said at a press conference.

"Four DTC buses, 100 private vehicles and 10 police bikes were damaged during the violence. One policeman is in the ICU," he added.

Thirty-nine people were brought to hospital where their medical examination was conducted, the Delhi Police PRO said.

Randhawa said police are keeping a watch on social media and all CCTV cameras will be scanned and videos circulated on social media will also be analysed and strict action will be taken.

"We are monitoring social media. I appeal to students and public at large to not pay any heed to rumours," he said.

-- PTI

19:07 5.42 L will benefit by Citizenship Act: Sarma

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said a maximum of 5.42 lakh people will be benefitted in the state by the amended Citizenship Act in the state.

Sarma, a senior BJP leader, said, that rumours were being spread by a certain section of people who claimed that over a crore of people will be benefitted by the act and more people from Bangladesh will pour into Assam.

He said that members of Congress and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, a peasant organisation of the state, were found to be involved in the violence that rocked the state and Guwahati, its epicentre, after the amendment was passed by Parliament.

"However, we do not know at this moment if they indulged in violence in their personal capacities or at their organisational levels. A detailed probe will ascertain that, he said.

"As per the Assam government estimates a maximum of 5.42 lakh will be benefitted from the Act. It may be less than

that," Sarma told a press conference.

Asked about the source of the figure, he said that it has been arrived at after assessing persons whose names did not figure in the final list of National Register of Citizens.

-- PTI

The Amnesty International India on Monday slammed the police for its "violent" action against students at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University protesting against the amended citizenship act.

It said the allegations that the police brutally beat up and sexually harassed Jamia students must be investigated and those responsible prosecuted.

The human rights body's executive director, Avinash Kumar, in a statement said the arrest of protesters violate India's obligations under international law, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, set out in Article 19 and Article 21 of that treaty.

"Students have the right to protest. Violence against them cannot under any circumstance be justified," he said, referring to media reports on police baton charge against the protesting AMU students.

-- PTI

18:22 Unnao rape: CBI pulled up for critical lapses

A Delhi court pulled up CBI on Monday for delay in filing the charge sheet in Unnao rape case as also the absence of women officers during the probe without bothering about "harassment, anguish and re-victimisation that occur for a victim of sexual assault".

It also expressed displeasure over the agency leaking selectively vital information relating to the statement of the survivor to put a cloud over her case.

"According to law there should be female officers in CBI to record statement of victims in such cases but surprisingly the girl was called many times to CBI office instead of going to her residence," the court said.

Investigation in such cases has to be conducted by a woman officer as mandated under Section 24 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, but the successive statements of the victim girl had been recorded by calling her to the CBI office "without bothering for the kind of harassment, anguish and re-victimisation that occurs for a victim of sexual assault in such case", it noted.

District Judge Dharmesh Sharma said CBI has not explained the fact that when almost entire investigation had been completed by the end of July 2018, what prevented the CBI from filing the charge sheet on October 3, 2019. The judge also expressed displeasure that vital information concerning witnesses' statement was selectively leaked as an attempt to put a cloud over the case of the survivor.

He said: "When the investigation in the alleged kidnapping, illegal confinement and gang rape of the victim girl had been taken over by them (CBI) on April 13, 2018 and it is also clear from the police report that almost entire investigation had been completed by the end of July 2018, what prevented the CBI from filing the charge sheet without any further delay and it was belatedly on October 3, 2019 after almost a year.

"And I also find from the spate of applications moved on behalf of the accused person that vital information concerning statements or version of witnesses and appears to have been selectively leaked thereby attempting to put a cloud over the case of the complainant, coupled with non examination of the huge data retrieved from the two mobile phones." -- PTI

18:11 Mumbai's TISS holds solidarity march

Over 200 students of Mumbai's Tata Institute of Social Sciences boycotted classes and held a protest march today in solidarity with students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University's anti-CAA protests. Pic: Sahil Salvi.

18:09 Yogendra Yadav stopped

Activist and academic Yogendra Yadav stopped en route to protest site. Yadav tweeted a while ago, "On my way to join peace March at Jamia. Have been stopped by police about 500 meters before that, outside the Ardee School."

18:04 CAA, NRC in Bengal over my dead body: Mamata

Daring the Centre to dismiss her government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed on Monday to not implement the citizenship law and the proposed NRC, which she said can only be enforced in West Bengal over her dead body.

Banerjee, who led a mega rally in the heart of the city, alleged that a few people were paid by the BJP to perpetrate violence in the state, even as she blamed some powers from outside West Bengal "acting as friends" of the Muslim community for vandalism and arson. The TMC supremo, who led the rally from Red Road to Jorasanko Thakur Bari, the ancestral house of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in north Kolkata, was joined by thousands of supporters with placards like "No CAA" and "No NRC"

"There are some forces from outside the state, who are acting as friends of minorities and have indulged in this violence. These forces are stooges of the BJP, don't fall into their trap," Banerjee said in an apparent reference to Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM with whom she got into a war of words recently.

"As long as I am alive, I will never implement the citizenship law or NRC in the state. You can very well dismiss my government or put me behind bars but I will never implement this black law. We will continue to protest democratically till this law is scrapped. If they want to implement it in Bengal they will have to do it over my dead body," she said.

"If the BJP thinks it can "bulldoze" everybody to implement the law, then they are wrong, she asserted. "No one will be ousted from the state. We believe in coexistence of all religions, caste and creed," Banerjee said as she read out an 'oath' for her party workers at the beginning of the rally near a statue of BR Ambedkar in Red Road. -- PTI

The Union Home Ministry on Monday asked states and Union Territories to take all possible steps to check violence and ensure safety of life and properties.

In an advisory, the ministry also told the states and UTs to take action against circulation of fake news and rumours on social media having the potential to incite violence.

Violence has been reported from different parts of the country during protests against the amended citizenship act which was passed by Parliament and given assent by the President last week.

The ministry said the advisory has been sent to states and UTs in view of incidents of violence and damage to public property in some parts of the country.

"It is imperative that all required measures be taken to contain violence, ensure protection of life and safety of citizens and prevent damage of property," the advisory said. The state governments and UT administrations have been requested to take requisite precautionary measures to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility.

"They have also been requested to take action against circulation of fake news and rumours on social media having the potential to incite violence," it said. -- PTI

17:26 Normalcy slowly returning to Assam: Himanta

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Monday said that normal situation is slowly returning to the state after the violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act and internet services would be restored soon. Curfew, which is clamped in various parts of Assam, too would be lifted soon, he told newsmen here. The state police has registered 136 cases and arrested 190 persons so far in connection with the violence, he said.

"Normal situation is slowly returning to the state. We are reviewing the law and order situation daily and have asked the deputy commissioners of the districts to lift the curfew as soon as possible".

"The decision on restoration of the internet services in the state will be taken in a short span of time," he told newsmen. The suspension of internet services in Assam was extended by another 24 hours on Monday to prevent misuse of social media in disturbing peace and maintain law and order in the state, officials said. -- PTI

17:14 Parents stand with protesting Jamia students

Parents and local guardians on Monday came out in support of students protesting outside the Jamia Millia University against the police action during a protest over the amended Citizenship Act a day earlier.

The parents, mostly from nearby areas, said they could not keep themselves confined to their homes when their children were being attacked. Saira Bano, 55, whose two children study in the university said "no mother would tolerate the atrocities being inflicted on the students of Jamia".

Zaheer Ahmed, 60, said he was accompanying his daughter to the protest against "the politics of hatred". Shaheen Kausar, 52, who led a group of women to the protest site, said the students were "dragged, pushed, kicked and caned."

"It is not only about my children. This is about all those who have come leaving their families behind. These students have come from all corners of our country and are all our children," said Kausar.

A group of around 50 women, including students and their family members, demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah resign in the wake of police atrocities inflicted on students on Sunday.

"My name is not important, my voice is. We are not going to back out. Our sisters and brothers were pulled by their hair and dragged on streets. Their clothes were torn and they were left for dead.

"This is not Palestine. We won't give up until Amit Shah resigns," said a female student, who did not wish to be identified The women held up bangles and asked the Delhi police to wear them.

Protestors torched four public buses and two police vehicles on Sunday as they clashed with police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia during a demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act, leaving nearly 60 people, including students, policemen and fire fighters injured. Police used batons and teargas shells to disperse the violent mob, but denied firing at them. -- PTI

Entry and exit gates at three more metro stations in central Delhi were closed on Monday in view of protests at India Gate and Jantar Mantar against the police crackdown on Jamia Millia Islamia and AMU students and the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"Entry and exit gates of Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan metro stations closed. Trains will not be halting at Patel Chowk and Udyog Bhawan," Delhi Metro Rail Corporation tweeted. While Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is sitting on a protest at India Gate in solidarity with the Jamia and AMU students, Delhi University students are agitating at Jantar Mantar.

Students from JNU will join the agitation at India Gate in the evening. An hour ago, the DMRC had announced closing entry and exit gates at Jamia Millia Islamia metro station, which are still closed. -- PTI

A PIL was moved in the Delhi High Court on Monday against the police action on students protesting against the amended Citizenship Act at the Jamia Millia Islamia University.

The petition was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar seeking that it be listed for hearing during the day. The bench, however, declined to list it on Monday, saying "there is no urgency".

The plea moved by Rizwan, a lawyer and also a resident of Jamia Nagar close to the varsity, has claimed in his plea that on December 15 while students and members of the teachers' association of the university were observing a peaceful protest, the police broke into the campus, used tear gas and also lathi-charged the protestors.

The petition, filed through advocates Tariq Khan and Apoorv Singhal, has also alleged that the police officers switched-off the lights of the reading hall, locked the doors from outside, and threw tear gas bombs inside.

Apart from that, the police fired at students and also illegally detained several of them, the plea has further alleged and sought a judicial inquiry into the incident. Rizwan, in his plea, has contended that what the police has done cannot by any stretch of the imagination be termed as justifiable police action. "It can only be called a blatant abuse of power upon unarmed and innocent students," the petition has said. Apart from the judicial inquiry, the plea has also sought proper medical treatment and compensation for the students injured in the incident.

Protestors torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia university during a demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act, leaving six cops and two firemen injured, officials have said. The trouble started during a protest by students of Jamia Millia Islamia. -- PTI

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders sit on a symbolic protest over police action during the students' protests at Jamia Milia Islamia (Delhi) and Aligarh Muslim University. With Priyanka are KC Venugopal, AK Antony, PL Punia, Ahmed Patel.

Unrest over the police crackdown in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia rippled through the country on Monday with demonstrations in several campuses, including in Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata.

The morning after violence broke out in the national capital following protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act, hundreds of students took to the streets demanding a probe into the usage of teargas inside the Jamia library as well as police entering the campus without permission from the varsity authorities.Several Delhi University students boycotted exams to express their solidarity.They said they will gather at India Gate on Monday evening.

Soon after his conviction by a Delhi court on Monday in Unnao rape case, expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar broke down in the courtroom. He was seen crying beside his sister. Court convicted prime accused Sengar for rape under Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act for offence of public servant committing penetrative sexual assault against a child. District Judge Dharmesh Sharma, however, acquitted co-accused Shashi Singh of all charges. The court will hear arguments on quantum of sentence on Wednesday. The offences entail maximum punishment of life imprisonment under POCSO. PTI

Unnao rape and kidnapping case: Former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar has been convicted by Delhi's Tis Hazari court. The court has acquitted another accused Shashi Singh. Arguments on the sentencing to held on 19th December.

Sengar, a four-time BJP MLA from UP's Bangermau, was expelled from the BJP in August 2019.

The court had on August 9 framed charges against the MLA and Singh under Sections 120 b (criminal conspiracy), 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping or inducing a woman to compel for marriage), 376 (rape) and other relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The offences entail maximum punishment of life imprisonment. During in-camera proceedings, District Judge Dharmesh Sharma had said he was likely to pronounce the verdict on December 16 after conclusion of hearing of final arguments by the CBI and the accused in the case.

The judge heard the case on a day-to-day basis from August 5 after it was transferred to Delhi from a court in Lucknow on Supreme Court's directions. On July 28 this year, the car of the survivor was hit by a truck and she was severely injured. The woman's two aunts were killed in the accident and her family had alleged foul play.

Her father was allegedly framed in an illegal arms case and arrested on April 3, 2018. He died while in judicial custody a few days later, on April 9.

National Commission for Minorities Chairman Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi on Monday said that the new citizenship law is not against Muslims in the country and therefore there is no need for protests against the same.

"I appeal to the protesters that protest isn't needed as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, isn't against Muslims of India. If at all they're protesting, it should be done peacefully," Rizvi told ANI.

He said if Commission feels the need to issue a notice in the matter, it will be done."I also appeal to the protesters that such protests should not be done and that the police should show some restraint and control the situation calmly," Rizvi said.

This comes after a clash ensued between police and demonstrators at Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh and New Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia after protests against the new citizenship law at both these places turned violent on Sunday. -- ANI

Meanwhile in Maharashtra, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra on Monday moved supplementary demands totalling Rs 16,120 crore in the Assembly on the first day of the winter session. Of the total supplementary demands, Rs 525 crore has been sought for people affected from natural calamities, while Rs 2,000 crore has been kept for drinking water and sanitation schemes. The demands will be discussed over the next two days and then sanctioned. -- PTI

Congress and several opposition political parties on Monday condemned the police "brutality" against students of Jamia Millia Islamia University and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incidents.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury and CPI's D Raja at a press conference condemned the police action on Sunday against Jamia students who were protesting against the new citizenship amendment law.

"How could the police enter Jamia and unleash such brutality on the students when the university authorities did not allow the police to enter it?" Azad asked. -- PTI

As unrest over the police crackdown in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia rippled through the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that violent protests are unfortunate and asked for peace.

"Violent protests on the Citizenship Amendment Act are unfortunate and deeply distressing. Debate, discussion and dissent are essential parts of democracy but, never has damage to public property and disturbance of normal life been a part of our ethos," Modi said in a series of tweets.

Calling the Citizenship Amendment Act as an act of acceptance and harmony he said, "The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by both Houses of Parliament with overwhelming support. Large number of political parties and MPs supported its passage. This Act illustrates India's centuries old culture of acceptance, harmony, compassion and brotherhood."

Modi also assured countrymen that the act will not affect any citizen of India of any religion.

"I want to unequivocally assure my fellow Indians that CAA does not affect any citizen of India of any religion. No Indian has anything to worry regarding this Act. This Act is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go except India," Modi said.

"The need of the hour is for all of us to work together for the development of India and the empowerment of every Indian, especially the poor, downtrodden and marginalised. We cannot allow vested interest groups to divide us and create disturbance," he added.

Modi further tweeted, "This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumour mongering and falsehoods."

14:02 Accidentally liked tweet on Jamia: Akshay

Akshay Kumar on Monday distanced himself from a post on Twitter that made fun of Delhi police's crackdown on the students of Jamia Milia after their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Akshay said he had accidentally liked the tweet with the caption,"Badhai Ho... Jamia me Azaadi mili hai". The user had posted a video of showing students running away from police personnel. "Regarding the 'like' on the tweet of Jamia Milia students, it was by mistake. I was scrolling and accidentally it must have been pressed and when I realised I immediately unliked it as in no way do I support such acts," the superstar said. After his response, #CanadianKumar started trending on Twitter with many criticising the actor for liking the tweet that praised police crackdown on students.

The police had entered the Jamia Millia Islamia University, where a protest against the amended Citizenship Act, spiralled out of control on Sunday evening. Forty people, including students, policemen and firemen were injured as violence erupted during the protest. PTI

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that citizens should be wary of "jihadists, Maoists and separatists' getting into student activism. Sitharaman, however, said that she was not aware of the events at New Delhi's Jamia Milia Islamia University over the weekend. Hitting out at the Congress, the student-activist turned politician said whipping up people's emotions on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act only shows the opposition party's frustration. She also said that activism per se is not new to universities and attributed the same to "idealism' that guides a student because of his/her age. PTI

13:40 AASU leaders held

AASU leaders Samujjal Bhattacharya, Lurinjyoti Gogoi taken into police custody along with over 100 protestors during rally in Guwahati against citizenship law: Officials.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee begins her protest march against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC. Banerjee hit the streets of Kolkata on Monday along with thousands of partymen and vowed not to allow the proposed country-wide NRC and the amended Citizenship Act in West Bengal.

The TMC supremo began the protest march from Red Road in the heart of the city. The march will culminate at Jorasakho Thakur Bari, the residence of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in north Kolkata, around 4 km away. "We will never allow NRC and CAA in Bengal," Banerjee said as she read out an 'oath' for her party workers.

Jamia Millia Islamia Vice-Chancellor Najma Akhtar on Monday asserted that the varsity will not tolerate police presence on campus and demanded a high-level inquiry into the crackdown on university students. "Police entered the campus without permission. We will not tolerate police presence on campus. They scared our students with police brutality. There has been huge damage to university property," Akhtar said at a press conference. "We will file FIR on damage of property and police action on students, we want high level inquiry. I will present facts to the HRD Minister," she added. Akhtar said the university should not be targeted and its image should not be maligned. -- PTI

Image: Students leave Jamia Millia Islamia as the university is closed till January 5 following protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in New Delhi.

12:53 21 arrested in anti-CAA clashes at AMU

Twenty-one people have been arrested in connection with the students-police clash at the Aligarh Muslim University during the protest against the amended citizenship law, police said on Monday.

"We have arrested 21 persons in the matter. Named FIR has been lodged against 56 persons and others unidentified. The process of hostel vacation is on and 25-30 per cent of them have been vacated, rest expected to be vacated by evening," SSP (Aligarh) Akash Kulhary told PTI over phone.

Internet services in Aligarh, Saharanpur and Meerut stand suspended, a day after protests broke out in certain parts of the state, including at AMU, against the amended citizenship law, DGP O P Singh said.

Hundreds of AMU students had protested against the legislation and clashed with police at a campus gate on Sunday, following which the university adminstration announced closure of the institution till January 5.

Officials said at least 60 students were injured in the clashes. The AMU campus has been sealed and heavy patrolling is underway, university officials said on Monday. Aligarh Muslim University Registrar Abdul Hamid said the police entered the campus late Sunday night and clashes were reported from inside.

The clashes at AMU started after an agitation by Jamia Millia Islamia students in Delhi against the legislation turned violent and police used batons and tear gas to disperse them. The situation is normal in the campus, the SSP added. -- PTI

IMAGE: Police personnel conduct a march after violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act at Aligarh Muslim University.

It has been seven years to that terrible day when their daughter - who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' - was brutally gangraped and thrown off a bus. Her parents still await justice.

The tag of rape capital became all the more pronounced after the Nirbhaya incident but her parents say it is a pan-India problem and cannot bring themselves to hate the national capital, which snatched their child.

"Delhi snatched everything away. But we cannot hate Delhi since our state Uttar Pradesh has also been seeing such incidents.There is no place in the world where we can go where such incidents do not happen. You cannot hate the entire world," says Nirbhaya's mother.

But they hope and pray that things improve for the better. In the last few days, they have seen a bit of hope, with reports saying the four accused in the case might be hanged soon. As Nirbhaya's mother puts it, "We are hopeful. We have been waiting for it. It is not easy till the time we get their death warrant and the date."

The 23-year-old paramedic student's parents have not lost faith in God, despite facing so much. "I have believed in karma for the last seven years. I have the support of God. But I didn't lose faith in him. Of course there are questions like 'Why did we have to face this? '" Her father says they believe in doing good karma. While they might be closer to getting justice, they said their fight for other 'Nirbhayas' will continue.

"With the hanging of the four accused, Nirbhaya will get justice. But there are many Nirbhayas in the country. We will fight for other daughters too," says her father. The last seven years have given the couple a lot of experience and they now understand the loopholes of the criminal justice system and how to tackle them. He said their fight ahead will centre around time-bound justice.

"There is no time-bound procedure for filing mercy or review petitions. There should be a fixed duration of cases," he says. He says it is understandable that trial courts take time because they have to hear both parties and examine evidence, but high courts and Supreme Court should not take time since they only have to examine the judgement of the lower court. "It should not go on for long and should be made online. Cases in HC and SC should not go on for more than a fortnight," he adds. -- PTI

Slamming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her decision to hit the streets against the amended Citizenship Act, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday urged her to desist from "unconstitutional and inflammatory" actions.

He stated that the CM should devote her attention to restoring normalcy in the state, where violent protests over the law have been raging over the past three days.

Banerjee, who is also Trinamool Congress supremo, is scheduled to take part in a rally in the city to protest against the amended Act. She has called on people to join the protest march. "I am extremely anguished that CM and Ministers are to spearhead rally against CAA, law of the land. This is unconstitutional. I call upon CM to desist from this unconstitutional and inflammatory act at this juncture and devote to retrieve the grim situation," Dhankhar tweeted.

An estimated 28.56 per cent of over 47 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 11 am on Monday in the fourth phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections in 15 constituencies, Election Commission officials said. Polling, which began at 7 am, is going on peacefully, they said.

Braving cold weather, voters, including women and senior citizens, are seen waiting in queues for their turn to cast their vote. Voting will end at 3 pm at Jamua, Bagodar, Giridih, Dumri and Tundi while the exercise will continue till 5 pm in the remaining seats, they said.

The seats going for polls in this phase are Deoghar (SC), Jamua (SC), Chandankiyari (SC), Madhupur, Bagodar, Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Bokaro, Sindri, Nirsa, Dhanbad, Jharia, Tundi and Baghmara spread across four districts. -- PTI

The suspension of internet services, which was enforced in 10 districts of Assam amid major protests across the state over the amended citizenship law, was on Monday extended for another 24 hours.

According to officials, internet services will remain suspended for another 24 hours in 10 districts namely -- Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup.The internet services have been suspended in the districts since Wednesday.Meanwhile, Assam Police said that the situation has immensely improved in the region.

"The situation in the State has improved immensely. We thank the people of Assam for following the spirit of the law. Day curfew has been withdrawn in Guwahati from 0600hrs of December 16. Night curfew would remain from 2100 hrs till 0600 hrs next day," Assam Police tweeted.

Curfew has also been relaxed in Guwahati and Dibrugarh districts between 6 am and 8 pm on Monday.As many as 24 army columns have been deployed in upper Assam while 12 columns are deputed in lower Assam.

The development comes after protests broke out in several parts of Assam following the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in Parliament on Wednesday, and it becoming an Act thereupon after the Presidential assent on Thursday. -- ANI

12:22 Mamata's mega rally against NRC, CAA at 1 pm

Amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the North-eastern states, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced a mega rally in Kolkata today to protest against the CAA and NRC.

"A mega rally will be held today in Kolkata to protest against the unconstitutional CAB and NRC. It will begin at 1 pm near the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar on Red Road and end at Jorasanko Thakurbari," tweeted Banerjee.

She requested people to join the movement in a peaceful manner within the ambit of the law.The CAA provides citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who faced religious persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. -ANI

Meanwhile, more bad news on Indian's economy. Moody's Investors Service on Monday said that India's weak household consumption will curb economic growth and weigh on the credit quality of Indian issuers in a range of sectors. Moody's has lowered its GDP growth projection for India for the fiscal year ending March 2020 to 4.9 per cent from 5.8 per cent. The major factors responsible for weakening economic growth were rural financial stress, low job creation and liquidity constraints, Moody's Investors Service said in a report.

12:15 Jamia VC holds meeting on Sunday's clashes

Meeting of Jamia Millia University's Executive Council is underway in Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar's (pictured) office, over yesterday's incident. Protesters had torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi during a demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act on Sunday, leaving nearly 60 people including students, cops and firefighters injured.

A Delhi court is likely to pronounce its judgement at 3 pm on Monday in the case of alleged kidnapping and rape of a woman by expelled Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in Unnao in 2017, court sources said.

The woman was allegedly kidnapped and raped by Sengar in 2017 when she was a minor.

The court has also framed charges against co-accused Shashi Singh in the case.

Sengar, a four-time BJP MLA from UP's Bangermau, was expelled from the BJP in August 2019.

The offences entail maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

During in-camera proceedings, District Judge Dharmesh Sharma had said he was likely to pronounce the verdict on December 16 after conclusion of hearing of final arguments by the CBI and the accused in the case.

The judge heard the case on a day-to-day basis from August 5 after it was transferred to Delhi from a court in Lucknow on Supreme Court's directions.

On July 28 this year, the car of the survivor was hit by a truck and she was severely injured.

The woman's two aunts were killed in the accident and her family had alleged foul play.

Her father was allegedly framed in an illegal arms case and arrested on April 3, 2018.

He died while in judicial custody a few days later, on April 9. -- PTI

12:03 Curfew eased off in Guwahati, Dibrugarh

Curfew was on Monday relaxed in Guwahati from 6 am to 9 pm, with the city limping back to normalcy, following week-long protests over the amended Citizenship Act, Assam Police Chief Public Relations Officer Rajiv Saikia said.

Night curfew in Guwahati, however, will continue to be in force, he told PTI.

Assam's Additional DGP (law and order) G P Singh had on Sunday tweeted that the decision to extend the hours of relaxation was taken in view of the improvement in the law-and-order situation.

"The situation having improved considerably, the day curfew is being withdrawn from Guwahati from 6AM of December 16th. Night curfew would remain from 9 PM till 6 AM next day," Singh had tweeted.

In Dibrugarh district, curfew has been eased off from 6 am to 8 pm.

According to a senior district official, any protest meeting in Dibrugarh without the permission of the administration would have to end before 3 pm.

The official also said that the measure was being taken to "prevent anti-social elements from mingling with the common people after dark".

Police had been using loudspeakers since Sunday to inform people about the curfew relaxation and its re-imposition. -- PTI

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has appealed to the Centre to repeal the amended Citizenship Act while urging the Union home minister and the Delhi chief minister to do all it takes to bring the situation under control.

Protesters had torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi during a demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act on Sunday, leaving nearly 60 people including students, cops and firefighters injured.

"Disturbed by reports from Delhi in the wake of anti CAB protests....urge (Home Minister) Amit Shah & (Delhi CM) Arvind Kejriwal to do all it takes to bring the situation under control & prevent it from escalating further," Singh tweeted.

He also appealed to the Narendra Modi government "to repeal the controversial Act immediately".

Singh on Thursday had said the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was a direct assault on India's secular character and Parliament had "no authority" to pass a law that "defiled" the Constitution and violated its basic principles.

Any legislation that seeks to "divide the people of the country on religious lines is illegal and unethical, and could not be allowed to sustain," he had also said in a statement. -- PTI

The Election Commission has sought a factual report from poll authorities in Jharkhand over the "Rape in India" remark of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made at a rally in the poll-bound state last week.

The decision to seek a report came after BJP leaders approached the poll panel against Gandhi for using rape as a tool to target political rivals.

The BJP had demanded action against him.

Official sources in the EC said further action would be contemplated after getting the report.

Addressing an election rally in Godda, Gandhi had taken a jibe at the Modi government over rising cases of crimes against women. -- PTI

11:52 SC hearing tomorrow on AMU, Jamia crackdown

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on Tuesday pleas which have alleged police atrocities on students holding protests against the amended Citizenship Act at the Aligarh Muslim University and the Jamial Millia Islamia University.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde on Monday also took serious note of the rioting and destruction of public property during protests against the Act and said this must stop immediately.

A group of lawyers led by senior advocate Indira Jaising and Collin Gonsalves mentioned the matter before the court urging it to take suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the alleged violence unleashed against students who are holding protest against the Act.

"The only thing we want is that the violence must stop," the bench said, adding, "if protests and violence and damage of public property will be there, we will not hear the matter".

The bench also comprising justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant asked the lawyers to file their petitions and said it would hear them tomorrow.

11:15 Jamia clashes: Delhi Police registers 2 FIRs

Two cases have been registered in connection with violence at Jamia Millia Islamia and adjoining areas on Sunday following protests against the amended Citizenship Act, according to Delhi Police.

The university had turned into a battlefield on Sunday as police entered the campus and also used force, following protest against the Act.

"One case has been registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station and another case registered at New Friends Colony Police Station," a senior police official said. -- PTI

Veteran India pacer Irfan Pathan has expressed concern about the students of the Jamia Millia Islamia after several of them were injured during violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act.

The 35-year-old pacer, who has played 29 Tests and 120 ODIs for India, posted a tweet to offer support to the students after police entered the Jamia university campus on Sunday.

"Political blame game will go on forever but I and our country is concerned about the students of #JamiaMilia #JamiaProtest," Pathan tweeted.

Protestors torched four public buses and two police vehicles in New Friends' Colony near the university during a demonstration against the act, leaving nearly 60 people including students, cops and fire-fighters injured.

A Jamia students' body claimed they had nothing to do with the arson and "certain elements" had joined the protest and "disrupted" it. They also accused the police of high-handedness.

The university had turned into a battlefield on Sunday as police entered the campus following protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which led to violence and arson.

Several states in the northeast and West Bengal have been rocked by violent protests over the Act, which seeks to provide citizenship to non-muslim religious minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. -- PTI

11:01 Jamia students protest shirtless against cops

A group of Jamia Millia students stood shirtless in the bone-chilling cold outside the university gates on Monday to protest the police action against their colleagues a day earlier.

Slogans of "inquilab zindabad" rent the air as the group of around 10 students, accompanied by their fellow colleagues, took out a small march, demanding a CBI inquiry into the "police brutality".

"Our colleagues have been beaten up badly. The policemen entered bathrooms, libraries and beat up girls. Our protest is against the goons called Delhi Police," said a research scholar who did not want to be identified.

As a few women escorted an injured student to narrate their ordeal to the media, some people were seen asking them not to give any statements.

"We were inside the university when the police barged in. Around 20 policemen came from gate no 7 and 50 others came from the rear gate. We told them we were not involved in the violence. They didn't listen. They didn't even spare women," Khanzala, who suffered injuries to the legs and abdomen, said.

A women broke down as Khanzala showed his injuries to the media.

RN Ravi, Governor of Nagaland, was given additional charge of Meghalaya on Monday.

He was assigned with the additional responsibility as Meghalaya Governor, Tathagata Roy, is on a leave.

The posting came at a time when Assam and other parts of North East are reeling under protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. However, the Act will not apply to areas covered under "The Inner Line" notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. -- ANI

Irish rock band U2 paid tribute to women icons of the country during their maiden performance here, putting the spotlight on Union minister Smriti Irani, author Arundhati Roy and journalist Gauri Lankesh among others.

The Irish rockers closed 'The Joshua Tree Tour 2019' -- their final show of the tour after Seoul, Auckland, Brisbane and Melbourne -- in honour of their 1987 album at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.

Frontman Bono, guitarist The Edge, drummer Larry Mullen and bassist Adam Clayton opened the concert with their classic "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and ended with a visual montage of women icons across the world, including India.

The night also saw performance by academy award winner composer A R Rahman.

Rahman, along with his children, joined U2 to sing -- for the first time -- their new song, "Ahimsa", which Bono described as "India's greatest gift to the world."

In their special segment, called 'Herstory', the musicians featured photos of women -- projected on a giant screen at the backdrop of the stage -- as the band played their track "Ultraviolet".

The names were of women and child development minister Irani, Roy, Kalpana Chawla, Karuna Nandy, Lankesh and Rana Ayyub among others.

U2 also acknowledged the contribution of Greta Thunberg.

To highlight the security concern women face the world over, the band also included pictures from the recent protest march in Hyderabad after a young vet was raped and killed.

"When women feel safe at homes or walking on the street, that's a beautiful day. When sisters around the world are in school like their brothers, that's a beautiful day.

"When women of the world unite to rewrite history as their story, that's a beautiful day. To rewrite history as her story- that's a beautiful day," Bono said as the crowd erupted in applause.

The tour celebrated U2's fifth album, The Joshua Tree. Their playlist included songs from the seminal record including With or Without You, Where The Streets Have No Name and Bullet The Blue Sky.

Bono, in his greeting to the audience which began with "namaste Mumbai!", acknowledged that it took them a while to visit the country.

Image: Irish rock band U2 singer Bono with band members performs during a concert in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, December 15, 2019. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the armed forces for India's victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, saying the history created by the soldiers will be written in golden letters.

"On Vijay Diwas, I pay tributes to the courage, valour and bravery of Indian soldiers. The history that our troops created on this day will be embossed in golden letters," Modi tweeted.

The three service chiefs -- Army Chief Bipin Rawat, Indian Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh -- and MoS Defence Shripad Naik, paid tribute at National War Memorial on Vijay Diwas.

On this day in 1971, over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers had surrendered before Indian troops, bringing to an end the bitterly fought war on the eastern and western fronts.

It also led to the creation of Bangladesh.

10:17 Day after clashes, situation tense in Jamia

The situation in Jamia Millia Islamia, which witnessed protests against the amended Citizenship Act, remained tense on Monday morning and many students decided to leave for their homes, sources said.

The university had turned into a battlefield on Sunday as police entered the campus and also used force, following protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which led to violence and arson.

According to sources, the situation continues to be tense with many women students preferring to leave the campus for their homes.

Many students feel they are not safe even inside the campus.

The varsity had declared winter vacation from Saturday till January 5 and even postponed the exams. -- PTI

Image: Students leave from Jamia Millia Islamia to leave for their homes. Photograph: ANI

The Press Information Bureau on Sunday expressed regret over a tweet from its official Twitter handle which came out in support of the protestersinvolved in clashes with Delhi police.

The tweet, purportedly by a member of the PIB's social media team and former student of Jamia Millia Islamia expressed solidarity with the students.

"Seeing Jamia turn into a war zone is the last thing I expected to see. I can't let my alma mater bleed," the tweet said with hashtags such as "Stop Violence against students."

Barely an hour later, PIB tweeted from its official handle that a member of the social media team had posted her personal comments on the issue.

"A member of our Social Media team inadvertently tweeted from the @PIB_India handle her personal comments on the situation in Jamia Millia. The error is deeply regretted. Suitable action is being taken," the tweet said.

At least six policemen and around 35 students injured when they clashed with each other over the law that seeks to provide citizenship rights to religious minorities from three neighbouring countries who arrived in India to escape religious persecution.

The Press Information Bureau is the Union government's department Under the ministry of information and broadcasting and is mandated with the task to apprise media of the policies and decisions of the government.

A day after violent protests in southeast Delhi against the new citizenship law, traffic movement was closed from Sarita Vihar to Kalindi Kunj on Monday morning as part of precautionary measure, police said.

"Traffic movement is closed from Sarita Vihar to Kalindi Kunj, Road No. 13A. Motorists heading towards Delhi from Noida are requested to take Mathura Road, Ashram and DND and those coming from Badarpur side take Ashram Chowk," Traffic police tweeted.

The violence erupted in southeast Delhi following a protest against the controversial citizenship law. -- PTI

All schools in southeast Delhi area will be closed on Monday in view of the situation that emerged after violence near the Jamia university, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia announced.

"In Delhi's south east district areas including Jamia, Okhla, New Friends Colony and Madanpur Khadar, all government and private schools will remain closed tomorrow. Delhi government has taken the decision in view of the current situation," Sisodia tweeted in Hindi.

Violent protesters set on fire buses and clashed with police near Jamia Millia Islamia university on Sunday afternoon against the amended citizenship law. -- PTI

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M K Stalin on Sunday expressed concern over the violence in Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and said the Centre should reconsider it.

Protesters torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in south Delhi's New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia University during a demonstration against the contentious law this evening.

Soon after the violence, Jamia Millia Islamia Chief Proctor Waseem Ahmed Khan claimed, the Delhi Police entered the campus forcibly without any permission and beat up staff members and students who were forced to leave the premises.

At the Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh, hundreds of students protesting against the amended legislation clashed with police who used batons and teargas to disperse them.

"BJP government must reconsider CAA2019 (Citizenship Amendment Act) in the wake of widespread, continuous protests," Stalin said in a tweet.

"Shocked to see visuals of brutal attacks on students in Jamia Milia and Aligarh Muslim University," he said.

"Every drop of blood spilled will need to be answered for in the days to come," he added.

The amended Citizenship Act seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslim religious minorities from three neighbouring countries who arrived in India till December 31, 2014, to escape religious persecution. -- PTI

08:43 This govt is coward: Priyanka on Jamia clashes

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Modi government on Sunday of being "cowardly" as it feared to hear the voice of people and was making its presence felt through "oppression" on students and journalists.

In a tweet late on Sunday night, she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to listen to the voice of the youth sooner than later as his government was trying to suppress their voice and courage with its "hollow dictatorship".

"Students are being beaten by sneaking into universities of the country. At a time when the government should listen to the people, the BJP government that time is making its presence felt in the North East, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi through oppression on students and journalists. This government is coward," the Congress general secretary said, using the hashtag "Shame".

She said the government was afraid of the voice of the people and it was trying to suppress the youth, their courage and resolve with its hollow dictatorship.

"Modi ji do hear out that this is the Indian youth, it will not be suppressed and you will have to listen to their voice sooner than later," Priyanka Gandhi said. -- PTI

The entry and exit gates of all metro stations were opened and services had resumed at all stations, the Delhi Metro Rail corporation said on Monday.

In the wake of violence in southeast Delhi after a protest against the amended Citizenship Act, the DMRC closed the gates of around 13 metro stations on Sunday evening, following advice from police.

"Security Update Entry & exit gates at all stations have been opened. Normal services have resumed in all stations," the DMRC said in a tweet on Monday. -- PTI

08:28 Voting begins for 4th phase Jharkhand poll

Polling for the fourth phase of the five-phased Jharkhand assembly election began in 15 constituencies on Monday.

The voting began at 7 am, Election Commission officials said.

It will conclude at 3 pm at Jamua, Bagodar, Giridih, Dumri and Tundi, while for the rest of the seats, the voting will continue till 5 pm, they added.

The seats going to the polls in this round are Deoghar (SC), Jamua (SC), Chandankiyari (SC), Madhupur, Bagodar, Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Bokaro, Sindri, Nirsa, Dhanbad, Jharia, Tundi and Baghmara, spread across four districts.

Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey on Sunday said armed forces were deployed in the Naxal-hit areas.

Of the 6,101 polling stations, 587 were "critical" and 405 "sensitive" in the Naxal-affected constituencies, while the non-Naxal-hit seats had 546 "critical" and 2,665 "sensitive" polling stations, he said.

A total of 47,85,009 voters, including 22,44,134 women and 81 third-gender voters, are eligible to decide the fate of 221 nominees, including 23 women candidates.

As many as 34,106 voters were aged 80 years and above, while there were 66,321 differently-abled voters, the CEO said.

He said 2,504 wheelchairs and 4,039 volunteers will help the differently-abled voters, adding that a transport facility was being provided to bring them to the polling stations and drop them back.

Webcasting facilities will be there in 2,122 polling stations, while 183 model polling stations were set up and only women personnel will conduct polling in 70 polling stations, the CEO said.

More than one electronic voting machine will be used in four Assembly constituencies as there are more than 16 candidates in these seats, he added.

There will be 9,902 ballot units, 7,628 control units and 7,931 VVPAT machines, Choubey said.

The key candidates in the fray are Land and Revenue Minister Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP) and Labour Minister Raj Paliwar (BJP) from the Chandankiyari and Madhupur seats respectively. -- PTI

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