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Thursday, 28 March 2024

Before Trump's Delhi visit, clashes over citizenship law intensify

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Before Trump's Delhi visit, clashes over citizenship law intensify
Before Trump's Delhi visit, clashes over citizenship law intensify

A policeman was killed and dozens of people injured amid clashes in New Delhi on Monday as thousands demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law rioted for several hours before U.S. President Donald Trump's maiden visit to the city.

Ryan Brooks reports.

(EDITORS PLEASE NOTE - A PREVIOUS VERSION OF THIS STORY CALLED MUSLIMS A 'MAJORITY' IN INDIA.

THEY ARE A MINORITY.

THIS NEW VERSION APPROPRIATELY LABELS THEM AS SUCH).

Violent clashes on the streets of New Delhi, Monday (February 24), left a policeman dead and dozens of people injured, according to officials… as thousands demonstrated for and against a new citizenship law.

A wide boulevard turned into a battle zone - for hours - with both supporters and opponents of the law hurling rocks.

The violence - about 11 miles from where U.S. President Donald Trump was set to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks on Tuesday (February 25).

Reuters captured images of a group of men armed with bats and sticks surrounding and beating a Muslim man.

Blood covered his face and splattered on his clothes.

Reuters reporters saw multiple vehicles set on fire, metal barricades torn down and thick smoke billowing as supporters of the new law clashed with opponents.

A small contingent of police was vastly outnumbered.

The law eases the path of non-Muslims from three neighboring Muslim-dominated countries to gain Indian citizenship.

It's led to accusations that Modi and his Hindu nationalist party are undermining India's secular traditions.

Modi's party denies any bias against India's more than 180 million-strong Muslim minority….

But even so, opponents of the law have been holding protests and camping out in parts of New Delhi for two months.

But Monday's clashes were among the worst seen in New Delhi since the protests began.

Police - who have struggled to disperse the huge crowds - imposed an emergency law prohibiting any gatherings in the violence-hit areas.

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