New Delhi: Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act will continue on Thursday as Left parties have organised a nationwide protest. In Bihar, the Left parties are observing a Statewide bandh on Thursday.  While, In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party and some other organisations have also announced that they will protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

"The Left parties strongly oppose this bill that links citizenship with the religious affiliation of an individual, the very antithesis of secularism. This bill aims to further sharpen the communal divide and social polarization in the country, which is dangerously detrimental to the unity and integrity of our country," a statement from the Left parties read.

The Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party, in a joint statement, alleged that the bill was completely violative of the Constitution and aimed at destroying the secular democratic foundations of India.

The contentious bill, which seeks to give citizenship to non-Muslims facing discrimination in neighbouring countries, was passed by Lok Sabha on Monday and the Rajya Sabha last week.

The left parties also said that the passage of the Bill, along with the "proclamations by this Modi-Shah BJP government" to extend the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to the entire country, is the "twin combination to change the character of the Indian Republic from a secular democratic one into an 'Hindutva Rashtra', the RSS political project."

Bihar Bandh: Trains stopped during protest

The left parties stopped an Intercity Express train in Bihar's Darbhanga and raised slogans against the governmnet to show protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The party workers also blocked the Gandhi Setu. later they also stopped Bihar Sampark Kranti Express train in Darbhanga.

Watch here:



No permission for protests, sec 144 in place: UP Police

Meanwhile, the UP police has said no party, group, whatsoever has been granted permission to hold any sort of protest as section 144 is in place.

In view of violence during demonstrations in different parts of the country against the amended citizenship law, the Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday said no permission has been given for protests as prohibitory orders are in place in the entire state.

"Section 144 (prohibiting unlawful assembly) of CrPC is in force and no permission for any gathering has been given for December 19. Please do not participate. Parents are also requested to counsel their children," DGP OP Singh said in a tweet.