Delhi Unites Against Citizenship Amendment Act at Jantar Mantar

The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, brought a crowd of thousands of citizens together at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, 14 December.

(Photo Courtesy: Ambalika Banerjee/The Quint)

Thousands gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday, 14 December, to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, which offers citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who are fleeing “religious persecution”.

The omission of Muslims from this legislation and the inclusion of religion as a criteria for citizenship has prompted many to take their protests to the streets.

The protest was held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Cleared by both the houses of the Parliament, the Act has triggered an outrage nationwide.

Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, offers citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who are fleeing “religious persecution”.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill became an Act after the approval by President Ram Nath Kovind on 11 December.

Enacting a Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, without including Muslims has created hysteria within the community. It has prompted many to protest against the move.

Protesters carried posters urging the government to withdraw Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019

Protesters at Jantar Mantar. 

The Janpath metro station has been closed due to the protests.

The Janpath metro station has been closed due to the protests. The entry and exit gates have been shut as per the instructions by Delhi Police.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill was introduced on Monday, 9 December, by Home Minister Amit in Lok Sabha, and it was eventually cleared by both the houses of the Parliament after which it became an Act with the approval of President Ram Nath Kovind on 11 December.