India

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday lashed out at the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), saying it was an attempt to "curb" freedom.

He said the country was facing an "explosive" atmosphere.

Speaking at a joint protest meeting organised by the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the Opposition Congress headed UDF, Vijayan said, "Our country is facing a severe crisis. This has been deliberately created by the central government".

Kolkata, Dec 16 (PTI) Chief Minister Mamata 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 heart of the city, and it is set to culminate at Jorasakho Thakur Bari, the residence of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in north Kolkata, around 4 km away.

Guwahati, Dec 16 (PTI) Suspension of internet services in Assam was extended by another 24 hours on Monday to prevent alleged misuse of social media in disturbing peace and maintain law and order in the state, officials said.

The state has been under an internet blackout since Wednesday amid violent protests against the citizenship law.

Muzaffarnagar (UP), Dec 16 (PTI) Property worth Rs 50 lakh of a cow smuggler was seized under the UP Gangster Act in a village in Muzaffarnagar district, a senior official said.

Imran allegedly extracted money through illegal sources and bought property in Chapar village that was seized on Sunday, according to District Magistrate Selva Kumari J.

Guwahati, Dec 16 (PTI) AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi were taken into police custody on Monday along with more than a hundred protesters during a rally in Guwahati against the citizenship law, officials said.

The AASU's three-day 'Satyagraha' began in the morning and the leaders addressed the protestors at the Latasil playground before beginning a march towards the deputy commissioner's office.

Pakur (Jharkhand), Dec 16 (PTI) BJP president Amit Shah on Monday said a grand Ram temple would come up in Ayodhya within four months as per the wishes of Indians all over the world.

Shah asked Congress leader Kapil Sibal why he sought to drag the Ram Janmabhoomi case in the Supreme Court.

"Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal sahab said, 'abhi mat chalaye case, baad mein chalaye. Keon bhai, aap ke pet mein kyon dard hai' (take up the case latter, why do you have a stomach ache following the case)," Shah asked Sibal.

New Delhi, Dec 16 (PTI) The CPI-M on Monday said it would file a petition in the Supreme Court against the Citizenship Amendment Act, saying the tweaked law is against constitutional provisions.

CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said here that the apex court would be approached either on Monday or Tuesday.

He said the amended law is violative of constitutional provisions.

New Delhi, Dec 16 (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".

New Delhi, Dec 16 (PTI) Their belongings locked in the library and eyes still burning from teargas, several Jamia Millia Islamia students narrated their ordeal on Monday after a police crackdown inside the campus the evening before.

A day after the violence, the students expressed fear of being attacked again.

New Delhi, Dec 16 (PTI) A Delhi court convicted expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar on Monday for raping a woman in Unnao in 2017 saying the victim's testimony was "truthful and unblemished" against a "powerful person".

The court convicted Sengar for rape under Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act for offence of a public servant committing penetrative sexual assault against child.