Clashes in India during Trump's visit, 7 dead

(Patria) – Seven people lost their lives during protests in Delhi against India's controversial new citizenship law, during the first official visit of US President Donald Trump to that country.

Clashes began on Sunday in three Muslim-majority areas in northeast Delhi and continued on Monday, when 6 civilians and a police officer lost their lives.

BBC reporters on the ground claim that the protesters are clearly divided along religious lines, and that one side blames the other for starting the clashes. 

The violence is linked to the leader of the ruling BJP party (Bharatiya Janata Party), Kapil Mishra, who threatened a group of protesters with ostracism after Trump leaves India.

Police attempted to disperse the unruly crowd, divided into two sides throwing stones at each other, using tear gas and batons.

At least 35 people have been hospitalized with serious injuries, and it is believed that more than 100 have been injured.

The new law, the so-called Citizenship Amendment Act, provides amnesty to non-Muslim immigrants from three neighboring Muslim-majority countries, questioning India's secular status, writes the BBC.

Critics of the law claim it discriminates against Muslims, while the government claims the sole purpose of the law is to grant amnesty to persecuted minorities.

The protests are led mainly by Muslims, and the BBC writes that many Hindus have joined them.