Thousands protested in rival demonstrations in India on Friday as tensions deepen over a citizenship law seen as anti-Muslim, with authorities deploying huge numbers of riot police in the country.
Twenty-nine people have died in two weeks of at times violent demonstrations after Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government made it easier for non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to be naturalised.
Coupled with a mooted citizens register, it has stoked fears -- including in Washington and the UN rights office -- about the marginalisation of Muslims who make up 14 percent of India's 1.3 billion people. Hundreds of armed policemen patrolled areas of the financial capital Mumbai, where demonstrators rallied both in favour of and against the legislation, underlining the divisions rippling through India.
First-time protester Amanda Castellino said she had joined the demonstrations "to safeguard India´s secular ethos". "At this moment, either we can stay silent and mute for the rest of our lives or speak up", the 27-year-old told AFP on the sidelines of the rally, which was attended by around 5,000 people.
A similar number of protesters showed up at a rival pro-government demonstration in the city, clutching flags and posters in favour of the new law. "We should welcome persecuted Hindus back home without any restrictions," said Mahindra Shah, an 82-year-old protester. "Why do Muslims need to come here when Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are Muslim-dominated?"
Modi, facing his biggest challenge since storming to power in 2014, said on Sunday that Muslims whose "ancestors are the children of mother India" had nothing to fear. But his assurances have failed to ease fears, with the law unleashing a wave of protests involving Muslims and non-Muslims alike across the country. Several state governments have also said they will refuse to implement the legislation, in a challenge to Modi's authority.
Authorities are keeping a close eye on foreigners with a Norwegian tourist saying she was told to leave India after participating in a protest in the southern state of Kerala. Janne-Mette Johansson, 71, told AFP that police gave her "verbal assurances" that she could take part in peaceful demonstrations against the law that critics say discriminates against India's Muslims. "Yesterday (Thursday), Indian immigration officials came to my hotel for questioning and I was mentally tortured. Today, they again showed up at my hotel asking me to leave the country or they will take a legal action and deport me," she said. Johansson, who had posted photos from the demonstration in the southern state of Kerala on Facebook, added that she would leave India for Dubai on Friday evening and then fly to Sweden.
This week a German student was also ejected after taking part in demonstrations in the southern city of Chennai, according to media reports. Photos on social media purportedly of the student, named as Jakob Lindenthal, showed him carrying a placard saying "1933-1945 We have been there", in reference to his country´s Nazi past.
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