Breaking news on December 20

Citizenship law protesters have gathered at Delhi Police headquarters. The protest is expected to continue late at night. 

Amid the protest over the amended citizenship act, all schools and colleges will remain closed in Uttar Pradesh. 

Curfew relaxed for 16 hrs tomorrow from 6 AM to 10 PM in Dibrugarh district. The restriction imposed on all country spirit shops and other establishments retailing liquor has also been relaxed. Sale of liquor will be allowed only from 12 noon to 4 pm.

Internet services have been restored in Bhopal

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in India. He will hold boundary talks with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Saturday.

Gujarat government has imposed Section 144 prohibits an assembly of more than 4 people in an area in Rajkot till 1 January 2020.

Section 144 imposed in 50 out of 52 districts in Madhya Pradesh. Curfew imposed in four police station limits in Jabalpur.

US President Donald J Trump said: "Had a very good talk with President Xi of China concerning our giant Trade Deal. China has already started large scale purchases of agricultural product and more. Also talked about North Korea, where we are working with China, and Hong Kong."

RAF conducts flag march in front of Jama Masjid.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at a protest, at India Gate, Delhi said: "CitizenshipAct and NRC are against the poor. The poor will be most affected by it. What will the daily wage laborers do?; Demonstrations should be held peacefully."

11 departure and 8 arrival flights were cancelled due to bad weather at destinations in Delhi. 

The tensions have eased in Delhi's Jafrabad. Protesters offer tea to policemen. 

Entry and exit gates at all stations, except Jama Masjid, Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur have been opened.

Police station torched in UP's Meerut. Three people critically injured in Uttar Pradesh. 

All entry and exit gates of Kashmere Gate are open. Entry is permitted at Rajiv Chowk.

Delhi Police has released a statement that traffic movement is closed from Mandi House to ITO due to demonstration. Kindly avoid the stretch.

Nirmala Sitharaman on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's referendum remark on Citizenship Act said: "We never wanted a 3rd party or international fora's interference in our affairs. On a completely domestic matter she has chosen to ask for UN. Does she have no faith in institutions of India?"

"I totally condemn her statement. And it is irresponsible of a chief minister to talk like that," she added. 

The Aam Aadmi Party has launched 'Acche beete paanch saal-lage raho Kejriwal' slogan for the upcoming Delhi Assembly Polls. 

Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi said: "In a democracy, people have the right to raise their voice against policies of govt and register their concerns. BJP govt has shown utter disregard for people’s voices and chosen to use brute force to suppress dissent."

Amid the uproar over amended citizenship act, Sonia Gandhi said: "It is because of the Modi government's anti-people decision that led to violence."

Sonia Gandhi said: "The Modi government must listen to the voice of people of India." 

Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi said: "In the current times, people have no right to raise their voice." 

"The Congress party supports the students protesting against the amended Citizenship Act," she added. 

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation  (DMRC) has released a statement that all entry and exit gates of Dilshad Garden metro station are open. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said: "I appeal to people of Maharashtra to maintain peace and calm. Maharashtra government will ensure that no one's rights are snatched away."

A car has been set on fire amid the anti-CAA protest near the Daryaganj area. 

Anti-CAA protesters resort to arson near Delhi Gate, police baton charges them.

Reports say one person has died as police opened fire on protesters in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad district. The man was killed in firing after a scuffle between police and protesters. 

The situation in Kanpur turned violent after protesters went unruly in one of Uttar Pradesh's biggest city. The crowd, television channels showed chased a police jeep and ransacked public property. 

Several cops and protesters have been injured as police opened fire on protesters in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr. Police has to lathicharge after protesters engaged in stone-pelting, giving a violent turn to Citizenship Protests. 

The entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the rules for the amended Citizenship Act to be issued shortly. 

Pinaka Missile System developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was again successfully tested today off the Odisha coast. The extended range version of the missile can hit targets at 90 km.

Several protesters are pelting stones and burning vehicles in Firozabad. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said: "NRC will not be implemented in Bihar."

Protests turn violent in UP's Bahraich and Gorakhpur. Several protesters lathi-charged by police.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses the press in wake of CAA protests in Kolkata.

Here's what Mamata Banerjee has said:

1. Who will raise the voice of the poor? Mamata said.

2. TMC will hold protest on Dec 23.

3. No CAB, No NRC  protest will start from Swami Vivekananda House in Kolkata on Dec 24. No protest on Dec 25 due to Christmas. 

4. West Bengal will protest the Citizenship Act on Dec 23 (except Kolkata).

Update: Television visuals show Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar lead the protest against Citizenship Act from Delhi's Jama Masjid. People are carrying BR Ambedkar's photo in hand while they march from Jama Masjid.

BREAKING: Slogans raised against Citizenship Act in Delhi's historic Jama Masjid after namaz

People, who assembled in Jama Masjid for namaz, raised BR Ambedkar's photo along with slogans against the Citizenship Act passed by Parliament a few days ago. Delhi Metro has shut Jama Masjid, Lal Quila and Chawri Bazar Metro stations.

It is learned that BHIM ARMY-led by Chandrashekhar is leading the protest at Jama Masjid. Delhi Police has already issued lookout for Bhim Army Chief.

Section 144 continues to be in Jama Masjid area.

Television visuals showed Main Gate of Jama Masjid open has massive gathering trying to move out of the mosque complex. 

Thousands of people were out on road in Mumbai's Mira Bhayandar area in protest against the Citizenship Act. Streets were jam-packed as thousands of people blocked the road in protest.

(More to follow...)

The BJP has alleged that Mangaluru Congress MLA U T Khader was "directly responsible" for the death of two people in police firing during anti-CAA
protests in this coastal town and demanded that a case be registered against him.

"U T Khader, Cong MLA who incited people by his extreme threats is directly responsible for loss of 2 lives in Mangaluru police firing today (Thursday).. Should be booked under law," BJP National General Secretary (Organisation), BL Santhosh tweeted.

(PTI)

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has announced that Chawri Bazar, Lal Quila and Jama Masjid Metro stations will remain shut today in wake of Citizenship Protests. Today being Friday, hundreds of people are expected to assemble at the historic Jama Masjid to offer Friday namaz.

No trains will be halting at the above-mentioned stations, DMRC tweeted. 

Members from Congress's Mahila unit is staging a protest outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah's house in Delhi. The protesters shouted slogans against the new Citizenship Act. 

Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has blamed Karnataka Police for instigating violence in Mangaluru that left two people dead. Two people were reportedly killed in police firing during Citizenship Act protests on Thursday. An uneasy calm prevailed in Mangaluru on Friday morning amidst massive police deployment ahead of the Friday prayers. 

Mangaluru is on high alert after Thursday's violence and public were advised not to move out of their houses, PTI report said. Entry to Mangaluru City from Kerala is also banned by the police as a precautionary measure. 

(Inputs from India TV's T Raghavan, in Bengaluru)

PM Narendra Modi attends the inaugural session of '100 years of ASSOCHAM(Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India)'. While addressing the conference, he said, "We have tried to formalize most of the sectors of the economy. We are also moving forward by using technology to modernize and speed-up the economy."

He further said that "You climb up the 'Ease of Doing Business' rankings when you work hard day and night, when you bring about a change in the policies, starting from the ground."

"For bringing transparency,efficiency and accountability, we are moving towards faceless tax administration," PM Modi added. 

Congress workers on Friday staged protest in front of union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence in Delhi. Some of them were detained by the police.

Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka Home Minister told ANI that the two Kerala journalists have not been detained by Police in Mangaluru they have been sent back to Kerala.

FIR has been registered against 3022 people in Gujarat's Banaskantha protest on Thursday. Only 22 people have been identified. 

Five flights have been diverted since morning at Delhi Airport due to low visibility and around 12 flights are running late.

Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad has been detained by Delhi Police in Delhi ahead of his march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar to protest against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019.

Earlier, Delhi Police denied permission to Bhim Army for march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar.

Pakistan Bar Council has condemned the statement of Pakistani Army Spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor against the Special Court verdict (death sentence to Pervez Musharraf)

BSP supremo Mayawati on Friday said that her party had always opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act and it had been protesting against it since beginning but like other parties they don't believe in destruction of public property and violence.

Delhi is keeping an eye through five drone cameras in North East Delhi. Section 144 has been imposed in 12 out of 14 stations of North East Delhi. Police is conducting flag march and keeping a close watch on social media accounts.

An FIR has been registered against 17 people including Samajwadi Party leaders, MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq and Feroz Khan in connection with violence on December 19, during a protest in Sambhal against Citizenship Amendment Act.

United Muslim Action Committee held a meeting at All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen(AIMIM) head office in Hyderabad, over Citizenship Amendment Act. Asaduddin Owaisi was also present.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday addressed media over recent protests against Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC. He said, "I want to assure people that no one can steal rights of the sons of the soil of Assam, there is no threat to our language or our identity."

Sonowal further said, "In no way will the honour of Assam be affected. We will always have the support of the people and will move forward with peace in the state."

Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty on Friday started at fresh highs led by gains in index-heavyweights RIL, ICICI Bank and SBI amid uninterrupted foreign fund inflow.

After hitting its record intra-day high of 41,809.96, the 30-share BSE index was trading 102.51 points or 0.25 per cent higher at 41,776.43 in opening session.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty rose 22.70 points or 0.19 per cent to 12,282.40. It hit an intra-day lifetime high of 12,284.65.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has issued statements, entry and exit gates at all metro stations have been opened. Normal services have resumed in all stations.

Ahmedabad Police has detained 49 people in connection with violence during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act. Among the detainees, is Congress corporator Shehzad Khan.

Delhi Police has denied permission to Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad for a march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav confirmed about Bihar Bandh. He said, "We have called a bandh in Bihar on December 21 against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The act is unconstitutional and against humanity. It has exposed the divisive character of BJP."

Mobile internet services restored across Assam, services were suspended on December 11 following protests over 

A Kerala Court has stayed expulsion of Sister Lucy Kalappura from Franciscan clarist congregation till January 1. Sister Lucy was expelled from the congregation after she had extended her support to nuns who were fighting against rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

A 35-year-old woman bus conductor, Indira bai was attacked with acid by 2 unknown miscreants. A case has been registered in Bengaluru's Bagalgunte police station.

EAM S Jaishankar in Washington DC met US President Donald Trump and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. He said, "There was discussion on trade,I shared with him(Pres Trump) what was discussed at 2+2 dialogue. In some meetings I also emphasized that flow of talent from India should not be affected&no unreasonable legislative provisions should constrain that"

Jaishankar further said, "Thank PM Justin Trudeau for a cordial meeting. We agreed to raise the quality of our relationship and chart a path for the next 5 years. Will also work closely in the global arena."

Due to bad weather, flight operations at Delhi airport are affected. While takeoffs and landings continue, some flights are impacted due to crew operational limitations

Voting begins for 16 constituencies in the fifth and final phase of Jharkhand Assembly Polls.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has issued a statement: "Entry and exit gates of Jamia Millia Islamia and Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations."

Fifth and final phase of Jharkhand Assembly Polls in 16 constituencies to begin at 7 am, today.