New Delhi, December 21: The Congress party will hold its protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Monday at Mahatma Gandhi samadhi (memorial) at Rajghat in New Delhi. Earlier, there were reports that the Congress would protest tomorrow, on Sunday. Sonia Gandhi Accuses Modi Govt of Using 'Brute Force' to Suppress Dissent Against Citizenship Amendment Act.

The party issued a press release which clarified that the protest will take place on Monday. The press release also said that, "Congress party senior leaders will undertake a satyagrah at Raj Ghat on 23rd Dec, to fight the BJP's dictatorial actions & to protect the Constitution." Reports suggest that Congress' interim President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will also take part in the dharna. However, the Congress press release has not confirmed whether the Gandhis' will be part of the protest. Anti-CAA Protests Turn Violent in Old Delhi, Protesters Torch Car in Daryaganj Area And Vandalise Public Property.

Read the Press Release Below

Congress president Sonia Gandhi yesterday, on Friday, had issued a video message and condemned the Narendra Modi government over the crackdown launched by police in BJP-ruled states against the anti-CAA protesters. Gandhi, in her message, accused the Centre of attempting to suppress the voices of dissent emerging against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

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

Gandhi, in her message, said the Congress party would continue its in-principle objection to the CAA and back all forms of peaceful demonstrations across the nation. The citizenship law, she said, is a precursor to the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizenship (NRC) which would end up turning scores of underprivileged Indians and minorities vulnerable.

The anti-CAA protests have engulfed several states and has led to the loss of lives of at least a dozen protestors, said reports. Sector 144 has been imposed in several districts in Uttar Pradesh and police is on alert to avoid any violence as protests have turned violent in Lucknow and Delhi over the last two days.

With reports of violent incidents taking place in the country against Citizenship Amendment Act, Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Friday issued an advisory to news channels to not broadcast content that can instigate violence. The following advisory comes hours after protesters torched a car in Daryaganj and vandalised public property in Old Delhi area.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 21, 2019 11:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).