To suppress India’s voice and prevent peaceful protests is an insult to India’s soul: Rahul Gandhi

Senior Congress leader and former East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit was detained near Mandi House when he was on his way to the protest at the Red Fort. "I was not allowed to go to Red Fort (for protest), so, I came to Mandi House,” he told ANI.

Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act resulted in huge traffic snarls across the national capital during the morning peak hours on Thursday, while the Delhi-Gurgaon route choked with traffic as vehicles lined up for as long as 10 kms on the expressway connecting the two cities.

"Police have placed barricades and are checking vehicles coming from Gurgaon to Delhi due to which the traffic is affected on the stretch," the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.

The Mumbai police force ha heightened security arrangement ahead of demonstrations against Citizenship Act at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai.

Maharashtra: Security tightened ahead of demonstrations against #CitizenshipAct at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/nS2ThE4i2T

— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2019

Left leaders D Raja, Sitaram Yechury, Nilotpal Basu, Brinda Karat and others were detained at Mandi House here during an anti-Citizenship Act protest on Thursday for defying prohibitory orders imposed by the Delhi Police in the area. "We are being detained," CPI general Secretary D Raja told PTI just before he was put into a bus by the police.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday hit out at the Centre over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and asked how and where the government intended to settle Hindu immigrants in the country.

Targeting the government over the new citizenship law, Thackeray said, "I would like to know how and where the Hindus from other countries are going to be settled. I don't think you (Centre) have a plan for it." Thackeray's party Shiv Sena had earlier supported the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, but staged a walkout during voting on it in the Rajya Sabha, saying there was no clarity on questions raised over it by the party.

Scores of people, including students, on Thursday demonstrated against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens.

The protesters have gathered near the grounds outside the Sector 20 mosque here and will take out a march.

They also plan to submit a memorandum to Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator V P Singh Badnore to express their resentment against the amended Citizenship Act and the NRC.

Several protesters including Left leaders Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, activist Yogendra Yadav and historian Ramchandra Guha were detained for taking part in anti-citizenship law stir defying prohibitory orders, while rail and roads services were hit in Bihar during a bandh called by left parties.

"Today, law and order situation in the country is deteriorating. There is a fear among all citizens today because of this law. I appeal to the central government to not bring this law but give employment to the youth," Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

Former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid amongst protesters detained by police for protesting against Citizenship Act near Red Fort.

Telecom service provider Airtel has confirmed in a series of tweets responding to people that voice calls and data services have been suspended in parts of Delhi.

“We’re complying with instructions received from govt. authorities on suspending Voice, SMS and data in certain areas in Delhi. Once the suspension orders are lifted, our services will be fully up and running. We’re sorry about the inconvenience,” said a statement released by the company.

Swarajya Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav detained near Red Fort during anti-CAA protest march.

I have just been detained from Lal Qila. About a thousand protesters already detained. Thousands on the way.
Am told we are being taken to Bawana.

साझी विरासत, साझी शहादत, साझी नागरिकता pic.twitter.com/RnkUNjfkzo

— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) December 19, 2019

Entry, exit gates of Vasant Vihar and Mandi House Metro stations in Delhi closed. Interchange facility available; 16 stations now shut: DMRC

Police has detained historian Ramachandra Guha during protest at Town Hall in Bengaluru, news agency ANI reported.

Delhi police has detained protesters near Red Fort, reported news agency PTI. The police, earlier in the morning, had imposed section-144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the area.

The entry and exit gates of 14 Delhi Metro stations are closed for commuters. Earlier in the morning, the DMRC had closed gates of seven metro stations, including Jamia Millia, Jama Masjid and Munirka "Entry & exit gates of Patel Chowk, Lok Kalyan Marg, Udyog Bhawan, ITO, Pragati Maidan and Khan Market are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," the DMRC tweeted.