Breaking News December 17: As it happened

Resident Doctors Association of Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi has condemned the 'brutal' action of the police on Jamia Millia Islamia Students. However, they also urged the protesters to avoid violence. Here is their full statement.

Statement by Resident Doctors in Safdarjung Hospital

West Bengal: Authorities have extended restrictions on internet services in North Dinajpur District by 48 hours.

Protests against the Citizenship Act have reached East Delhi. Tension prevails in Brij Puri area after a spell of stone-pelting.

Seelampur violence: 21 people, including 12 policemen and 6 civilians, injured. Five people detained, says Delhi Police.

Trai floats consultation paper to fix floor rate for mobile phone calls and data tariff. 

Resolution by Pak parliament poorly disguised effort to divert attention from Islamabad's appalling treatment of religious minorities. It intentionally mischaracterises objectives of citizenship amendment law: MEA

Delhi Police is conducting patrols in Daryaganj area near Jama Masjid. The patrols are being carried out as a precautionary measure.

"The situation in the Northeast which is now spreading throughout country including the capital because of the act, is a very serious situation, we fear that it may spread even further.We're anguished at the manner in which police dealt with peaceful demonstration," said Sonia Gandhi after she met President Ram Nath Kovind with a delegation.

Congress interim-president Sonia Gandhi accused Modi government of having no compassion. She criticised police for entering student hostels in Jamia Millia Islamia University.

"We've an example in Delhi where Police entered the Jamia women hostel & dragged them out, it mercilessly beat students.I think you all have seen that Modi govt seems to have no compassion when it comes to shutting down people's voices and implement legislation," said Sonia Gandhi after meeting President Ram Nath Kovind with a delegation that comprised prominent leaders from Opposition parties.

Senior Congress leader and MP Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that a single formula is being used by the government to enforce laws across the country.

Drawing similarities to Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said that all the government does is to cut internet, cable news, WhatsApp to stop public communication.

Opposition leaders said that there was fear across the country because of Citizenship Act and NRC. The delegation met President Ram Nath Kovind a while ago.

Opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi met President Ram Nath Kovind a while ago. The leaders requested that Citizenship Act be repealed.

Telecom regulator Trai says 6 paisa/min interconnect usage charges paid for making calls to rival networks to continue for one more year.

Opposition leaders led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi meet President Ram Nath Kovind over police action in Jamia.

Delhi Police is currently investigating an Aam Aadmi Party MLA's involvement in Jamia violence. News agency ANI, quoting sources, said that Delhi Police will take action against whosoever involved.

At least 3 buses were vandalised in protest against Citizenship Act in Delhi's Jafrabad. Police fires tear gas shell.

Citizenship Amendment Act doesn’t snatch away any right of an Indian citizen or causes any harm. Congress and its allies are instigating Muslims for political purpose, says PM Modi in a public rally in Jharkhand

The review petition of Akshay Kumar's, one of the four convicts in brutal Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case, will now be heard on Wednesday. A new three-judge bench will be constituted to hear the petition.

Chief Justice of India SA Bobde recused himself from hearing the plea. CJI Bobde recused because his daughter had once represented Nirbhaya in the court.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde, and also comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice R. Banumathi starts hearing the Nirbhaya case.

Supreme court hearing in the review petition of one of the four convicts in brutal Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case. Review petition to be heard in open court.

"What happened at Jamia Millia Islamia, is like Jallianwala Bagh. Students are like a 'Yuva bomb'. So we request the central government to not do, what they are doing, with students," Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said.

• HCs will also be at liberty to order inquiries
• HCs would be at liberty to pass orders on arrests and medical assistance,
• SC says incidents have taken place at various places, one inquiry cannot be ordered in these cases. 
• We find it appropriate to direct petitioners to approach HCs with their grievances: SC on plea related to CAA protests

Taking a direct potshot against Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Centre stopped railway services in Bengal over a few minor
incidents in the state. Mamata was leading a protest rally in Kolkata over the Citizenship Amendment Act. 

SC asks petitioners to approach the High Court within the jurisdiction of incidents where a protest against Citizenship Act took place. SC said concerned High Courts will be at liberty to appoint former judges of SC or HC for the purpose of inquiry after hearing Centre & the respective States.

The sentence for Kuldeep Sengar, convicted in Unnao rape case of a minor girl has been deferred to December 20

• Indira Jaising appearing for students in Jamia Millia Islamia/Aligarh Muslim University incidents case: It is a cross-state issue & needs a fact-finding SIT. How can the court wash its hands of the issue. Court heard Telangana encounter case. We are asking for a similar order.
• The Telangana encounter case could be looked into by appointing a commission but in this case there is no committee that can look into it all over the country, says CJI Sharad Arvind Bobde to advocates of students who are urging to let this matter be heard by SC.
• SC takes strong note of lawyers arguing at high pitch, says there should not be a shouting match just because there is large crowd, media.
• If anybody commits offence then police is free to arrest, says SC, adding injured students should get medical attention

CBI seeks life imprisonment before Delhi court against Unnao rape convict and former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar.

Maximum punishment be given to Sengar as it was a fight for justice of an individual against system, CBI tells court on Unnao case.

• Police must have prior permission of VC of university before entering premises, says lawyer for CAA protesters to SC.
• Not going to rely on newspapers to arrive at judicial decisions, says SC while refusing to consider statements of Jamia varsity VC to press.
• We have disclosed our minds, HCs be approached for fact-finding exercise: SC on pleas over CAA protests.
• SC says FIRs are to be filed under law for offences such as destruction of properties. 
• FIRs have been filed one after another against students at AMU, Jamia, says senior advocate Indira Jaising for protesters.
•  SC asks as to how buses were burnt during protests in Delhi.

Special court pronounces the death penalty to Ex-Pak President Pervez Musharraf. A special court hands death penalty to former Pakistani military dictator Pervez Musharraf in high treason case: Pakistan Media

Supreme Court hearing on plea against police action on Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University students protesting against Citizenship Act

A special court hands death penalty to former Pakistani military dictator Pervez Musharraf in high treason case: Pakistan Media 

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved decision on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea to quash summons in a defamation complaint against him by BJP leader Vijender Gupta.

Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar reserved decision on Kejriwal and deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's joint plea to quash summons against them in the complaint by Gupta.

Gupta, in his complaint, had accused Kejriwal and Sisodia of "maligning" his image by allegedly accusing him on Twitter of being part of an alleged conspiracy to kill the AAP chief. 

Supreme Court refuses to entertain a PIL seeking that minority communities be defined on the basis of state-wise population data instead of national data.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition challenging the validity of the Centre's 26-year-old notification declaring five communities -- Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis -- as minorities.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde refused to entertain the PIL filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking laying of guidelines to accord minority status based on state-wise population of a community. "Religion must be considered pan-India," said the bench which also comprised justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant.

The opening day of the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh legislature got off to a stormy start, with the opposition forcing adjournment of the Assembly minutes after it met for the day on Tuesday.

Opposition members created uproar over various issues including the law and order situation in the state and the ongoing protests against the amended Citizenship Act.

Writ petitions filed in Calcutta High Court over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement saying Citizenship Amendment Act will not be implemented in the state, & advertisements over the same by the state government in media, using public funds.

 Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis raised the issue of losses to farmers due to untimely rainfall, in the Maharashtra assembly, today. BJP MLAs raised slogans against the government.

Internet suspended till today midnight in Sambhal District: Administration, reports ANI

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile off the coast of Odisha in which it was launched with an advanced indigenous seeker. The target of the missile was a ship.

Earthquake of magnitude 3.0 occurred at 1051 hours in Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh, today.

Equity benchmark BSE Sensex rallied over 300 points to hit its lifetime high of 41,262.88 in morning trade on Tuesday led by gains in IT, metal and financial stocks amid positive cues from global equities and sustained foreign fund inflow.

After surging 324 points, the 30-share index was trading 292.28 points or 0.71 per cent to 41,231 at 1045 hours. Similarly, the broader Nifty inched closer to its record peak of 12,158.80. It was trading 78.15 points or 0.65 per cent higher at 12,132.10.

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the interim bail granted to former NITI Aayog CEO Sindhushree Khullar and others till January 27 in the INX Media corruption case.

During brief proceedings, the CBI opposes the bail application moved by the six accused, saying they may tamper with the evidence if granted relief.
The court adjourned the matter after senior advocate Siddharth Luthra and advocate Vikash Kumar Pathak, appearing for the accused, sought time to advance arguments on replies filed by the CBI.

SP leader takes off his clothes in the protest against Citizenship Amendment Bill outside UP Assembly in Lucknow. 

SC agrees to consider plea seeking CBI or court-monitored SIT probe into violence against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The Supreme Court, in the Murshidabad Case, has said that the High Courts must be approached first before bringing the case before the judges of the SC. "We are not a Trial Court, High Courts must be moved first," said SC.

DMK leaders have decided to move the Supreme Court against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019.

Asha Devi, mother of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim said, "We believe we will get justice because we have no other option. If Kuldeep Sengar (Unnao rape convict) and Nirbhaya's 4 culprits get capital punishment, it will send a strong message to the society."

Delhi Police on Tuesday reached Supreme Court for hearing on December 15 clash between cops and students of Jamia Millia Islamia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a council of ministers' meeting on December 21 at the newly-constructed Garvi Gujarat Bhavan where he will review the progress of the works done by the ministries over the last six months.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at 11 am.

All members of the council of ministers, including secretaries of the ministries, have been asked to attend the crucial meeting. All the central government ministries have been asked to send their achievements respectively in the last six months, prior to the meeting.

They have also been asked to prepare a presentation on the works performed by their ministries. For this, the council of ministers are holding high-level meetings in their respective ministries to prepare the six-month report.

DMK leaders Kanimozhi and Dayanidhi Maran along with party leaders hold protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Chennai Collectorate and Chepauk, Chennai, respectively.

Four students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on Tuesday are an indefinite hunger strike in a protest against the "incessant" hike in both academic and the entrance exam fees.

"There has been a 10 per cent hike in academic fees year on year since the batch of 2013. From the annual fee of Rs 55,380 from the 2013 batch, the fees for the upcoming 2020 batch has reached to Rs 1,18,323," the FTII students' union said in a statement.

 No bullet fired by Delhi Police during Sunday's Jamia protests, says MHA officials: PTI

Shiv Sena will skip all-party meet today.

ADG Ashutosh Pandey has said 19 people have been arrested in connection with yesterday’s violence. Section 144 has been imposed in the area.

Woman who was set ablaze on December 7 in Muzaffarpur allegedly by a neighbour after she resisted his rape attempt, succumbed to her injuries today.

Delhi Police on Tuesday confirmed that 10 people with criminal backgrounds arrested in connection with December 15 Jamia Millia Islamia incident. No student has been arrested.

Internet services in Howrah district to remain suspended till 5 pm today due to ongoing protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act

West Bengal: Internet services in Howrah district to remain suspended till 5 pm today.

Twenty-six protestors involved in demonstrating against the Citizenship law in Aligarh have been granted bail

Traffic alert: Road No. 13A between Mathura Road and Kalindi Kunj is closed for traffic movement due to demonstration over the citizenship law. People coming from Noida are advised to take DND or Akshardham to reach Delhi.

The curfew in Dibrugarh has been relaxed from 6 am to 8 pm for today, the district administration has said.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa will be visiting India for two days from December 19-20, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

"Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa will be visiting India on a working visit from 19-20 December on an invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the second meeting of the Organising Committee on the celebrations for the 150th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 19 December 2019. The Organising Committee meeting would be presided over by the President of India."

Palghar Anti Terrorism Cell (ATC) arrested 12 Bangladeshi nationals including 9 women from Boisar who were staying illegally in India without any valid documents. Further probe underway.