‘No CAB, no NRC’

Police fired tear gas at protesters in India’s capital yesterday as tens of thousands rallied around the country against a new citizenship law they say is anti-Muslim, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained defiant.

The law grants citizenship to non-Muslims from three neighbouring countries — Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan — in what opponents say is part of Modi’s Hindu-nationalist masterplan. Critics say the law is unconstitutional because it goes against the country’s secular credentials.

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 Muslim-populated areas of Delhi yesterday, 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 Muslims.

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.

As the situation remain volatile, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi yesterday met President Ram Nath Kovind as the head of an opposition delegation and demanded that the Centre’s new citizenship law be repealed, reported our New Delhi correspondent.

If he doesn’t intervene the violence may spread further, the delegation told the president. Kovind has reportedly assured them of appropriate action.

In the eastern city of Kolkata, more than 20,000 protesters yesterday 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”.

Addressing a rally in Jadavpur, she reiterated: “Our slogan is ‘No CAB, No NRC in Bengal’.”

She is among at least five state chief ministers who have vowed to reject the implementation of the CAA in their respective states.