In Pictures

In Pictures: Citizenship bill triggers protests across India

Hindu nationalist government’s contentious citizenship bill violates India’s secular constitution, say protesters.

A boy holds a playcard during a protest against the citizenship amendment bill in New Delhi India on 10 December 2019. (Photo by Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto via Getty Images) — A boy holds a sign during a protest against the citizenship amendment bill in New Delhi. [Nasir Kachroo/Getty Images]

Protests are being organised across India against a contentious citizenship bill passed by India’s Parliament which would make it easier for non-Muslim minorities from some neighbouring countries to seek Indian citizenship.

In the northeastern Assam state bordering Bangladesh, dozens of people were arrested on Thursday and a curfew was imposed in several districts as protesters attacked train stations and tried to set them on fire.

Protests by Muslim groups and other activists were also held in capital New Delhi, Mumbai and other cities.

A man walks past damaged vehicles that were set on fire by demonstrators, during a protest after India''s parliament passed Citizenship Amendment Bill, in Guwahati, India December 12, 2019. REUTERS/Anu — A man walks past damaged vehicles that were set on fire by demonstrators in Guwahati, Assam during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. [Anuwar Hazarika/AP Photo]

A demonstrator displays a placard during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, a bill that seeks to give citizenship to religious minorities persecuted in neighbouring Muslim countries, in — A demonstrator in Ahmedabad displays a placard during a protest against the citizenship bill that seeks to grant citizenship to religious minorities in neighbouring Muslim countries. [Amit Dave/Reuters]

Social activists set fire to posters about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and other civil rights'' issues like the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 (CAB) as they demonstrate against the Bharati — Activists in Kolkata city set fire to posters about the National Register of Citizens and other civil rights issues such as the citizenship bill as they demonstrate against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government. [Dibyangshu Sarkat/AFP]

People from the north eastern states raise slogans during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), on December 11, 2019 in New Delhi, India. Normal life came to a halt on Tuesday in sev — People from India's northeastern states raise posters during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill in New Delhi. [Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times /Getty Images]

Smoke emits from burning tires as protestors walk defying a curfew in Gauhati, India, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Police arrested dozens of people and enforced curfew on Thursday in several districts in — Smoke billows from burning tyres as protesters defy a curfew in Guwahati. Thousands protested against the legislation granting citizenship to non-Muslims who migrated from neighbouring countries. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]

Indian Muslim women hold placards during a silent protest, organized by the Congress party, against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Mumbai, India, 11 December 2019. The passing of the bill wil — Muslim women hold placards during a silent protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Mumbai. [Divyakant Solanki/EPA]

Members of Parliament (MP) from left parties shout slogans against the government''s Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) at the Parliament House in New Delhi on December 10, 2019. Prakash SINGH / AFP — Indian Members of Parliament belonging to the left parties protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill in front of Parliament House in New Delhi. [Prakash Singh/AFP]