In Pictures

In Pictures: Pan-India citizenship law protests

Hundreds detained across India as people defy bans on any assembly to protest against new citizenship law.

Demonstrators attend a protest against a new citizenship law, in Chandigarh, India, December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Ajay Verma — Demonstrators attend a protest against the new citizenship law in the northern city of Chandigarh. [Ajay Verma/Reuters]

Police in India have detained hundreds of people across several cities for defying a ban on protests against a new citizenship law that opponents say threatens the country’s secular democracy.

Authorities on Thursday disrupted internet and phone services, including in parts of New Delhi, and tightened restrictions on protests in the northeastern border state of Assam, which is where the demonstrations first began last week.

The legislation has provoked anger because it offers a path to citizenship for persecuted minorities from three neighbouring countries – but excludes Muslims.

Critics say it is the latest effort by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist-led government to marginalise India’s 200 million Muslims, and a violation of the country’s secular constitution.

Modi has defended it as a humanitarian gesture.

Indian policemen baton charge a man during a protest against a new citizenship law in Ahmadabad, India, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. Police detained several hundred protesters in some of India''s biggest c — Indian police officers charge a man during a protest in Ahmadabad. [Ajit Solanki/AP Photo]

Muslim protesters pray on the street near the Town Hall during a demonstration held against India''s new citizenship law in spite of a curfew in Bangalore on December 19, 2019. - Indians defied bans on — Muslim protesters pray on the street near Bengaluru's Town Hall.[Manjunath Kiran/AFP]

Police detain a woman at a demonstration against Indiai´s new citizenship law in New Delhi on December 19, 2019. - Big rallies are expected across India on December 19 as the tumultuous and angry reac — Police detain a woman at a demonstration in national capital New Delhi. [Sajjad Hussain/AFP]

Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against India''s new citizenship law in Allahabad on December 19, 2019. - Indians defied bans on assembly on December 19 in cities nationwide as anger sw — Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration in Prayagraj, earlier known as Allahabad. [Sanjay Kanojia/AFP]

A protestor shouts slogans after being detained by police in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. Police detained several hundred protestors in some of India''s biggest cities Thursday as they de — A protester being detained by police in the southern city of Hyderabad. [Mahesh Kumar/AP Photo]

Demonstrators attend a protest march against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and a new citizenship law, in Kolkata, India, December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri — People attend a protest march against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the eastern city of Kolkata. [Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters]

A woman holds a banner as she participates in a gathering protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens in Dharmsala, India, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. Police detained s — People gathered in Dharamshala in northern Himachal Pradesh state to protest against the CAA and the NRC. [Ashwini Bhatia/AP Photo]

Indians hold hands and shout slogans during a protest against the Citizenship Act in Gauhati, India, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. Police detained several hundred protesters in some of India''s biggest citi — People hold hands at a protest in the northeastern city of Guwahati. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]