India Rocked with Protests on New Year’s Eve

Where rest of the world welcomed new year with great enthusiasm, anti citizenship law protests rocked India, frustrated the extremist Modi Administration.

India rocked by the protests since December 12.

When the government passed legislation easing the way for non-Muslim minorities from the neighboring Muslim-majority nations

These nations include of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to gain Indian citizenship.

Students and activists in several cities ring in 2020 with street gatherings to protest new law seen as anti-Muslim.

Social media was buzzing with invitations to join such protests.

“Bring your art materials, solidarity candles, placards, snacks and blankets,” said a post announcing “New Year’s Eve at India Gate” in New Delhi.

The protesters  held readings from constitution, poetry, music and candle-light marches.

Resident Maqsood Alam said protesters were not afraid of a police crackdown.

“New Year’s resolution to defend the constitution,” read the schedule for another protest planned in New Delhi

Police said they had deployed additional forces in New Delhi on New Year’s Eve, with traffic curbs imposed in some parts of the capital.

The BJP running a campaign to say that the CAA not discriminatory and needed to help non-Muslim minorities persecuted in the three neighboring countries.

Some protests have turned violent.

Particularly in the populous northern state of Uttar Pradesh

At least 25 people have been killed in clashes with police since early December.

The new law termed as discriminatory Indian legislation and part of a Hindu nationalist  agenda to marginalize India’s Muslim minority.

The anger has spread across India, with protests reported at more than a dozen universities.