Political Exchange: Anti-CAA protest intensifies, experts discuss

Opposition parties on Thursday alleged that an "undeclared Emergency" has been imposed in the country in the light of restrictions and detention of thousands for defying prohibitory orders to deal with the mounting protests against the new citizenship law in multiple cities.

Rejecting the charge, the Centre and the BJP said no government can tolerate violence and alleged that the opposition parties were fuelling the protests for vote bank politics.

The Congress accused the government of muzzling the voice of people through "draconian measures" and said there is an "undeclared Emergency" while the CPI-M asserted the situation was worse than that during the Emergency with internet shut and metro stations closed in Delhi and the crackdown on the protests.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy alleged that the opposition parties were inciting students, women and others in the name of religion.

"Instead of trying to stop protests, some political parties are fuelling demonstration against CAA. They are inciting women, students and others in the name of religion," he told reporters. Reddy maintained that no government can tolerate violence.

"We have to deal with violence. The Act is not against any religion, community or state. There should not be any reason for protests and the violence is taking place in the name of religion," he said.

Reddy also defended the government's decision to snap internet services in parts of the national capital, saying the step was taken to check the circulation of "false" and "mischievous" information.

BJP working president J P Nadda said the ruling party's rivals are protesting for vote bank politics while ignoring the plight of minorities of three neighbouring countries living in India.

To discuss this, CNBC-TV18's Parikshit Luthra is joined by Saira Shah Halim, author; Tara Krishnaswamy, co-founder of Political Shakti; Mishi Choudhary, data protection lawyer and Rajeev Panday, BJP spokesperson.