Three Journalists, Politicians Held During Anti-Citizenship Law Protest March in Delhi

New Delhi (Sputnik): Protests against the new legislation are continuing across the country despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming that no Indian will lose their citizenship as a result of the law change.

Three senior journalists along with politicians were detained by police in New Delhi on Thursday during an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally. The journalists: Shivesh Garg, Rajesh Kumar and Pathiv were detained when they were present at a protest site near the Delhi Gate.

The Communist Party of India General Secretary D. Raja along with party members Atul Kumar Anjaan and social activist Yogendra Yadav were also detained.

He said they were detained for just a short time and later released. Reportedly, policemen also arrested some women despite female officers usually being required to do this.

Several anti-CAA protestors near Jamia Milia Islamia University were also later detained by Delhi Police.

Earlier, in the day time, a gun-wielding man, identified as Rambhakt Gopal, fired at anti-CAA protestors and left one person injured.

Before the incident, the accused went on Facebook to publicly identify himself saying: “All brothers are requested to see me first.” He later went live and showed the students gathered outside Jamia Millia Islamia public university.

Since December 2019, India has witnessed countrywide protests against the CAA, often involving violence.

The law grants Indian citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Jains, and Christian immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who arrived in India before 2015. But critics of the law find it unconstitutional, as it gives citizenship on the basis of religion and discriminates against Muslim immigrants.

Sourse: sputniknews.com