Protests over a religion-based citizenship law have spread to student campuses across India as critics say Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is pushing a partisan agenda in conflict with India’s founding as a secular republic.

Anger with MR Modi’s Hindu nationalist government was further fuelled by allegations of police brutality at Jamia Millia Islamia university on Sunday.

Officers entered the campus in the capital New Delhi and fired tear gas to break up a protest.

At least 100 people were injured in the clashes there.

There were similar scenes at the Aligarh Muslim University in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where police also clashed with protesters on the campus.

Wow. Such a powerful image of resistance in New Delhi against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 #CABProtests #CABBill2019 #DelhiProtest pic.twitter.com/InOdKB45a0

— Digi Fusion (@DigiFusion24) December 16, 2019

Hundreds of activists gathered outside the New Delhi police headquarters on Sunday night to protest against alleged police brutality and the detention of students.

The most violent protests during the past few day took place in the north-eastern state of Assam, where mobs torched buildings and train stations, angry the law would help thousands of immigrants from Bangladesh become lawful citizens.

At least two people were killed in the violent clashes with police.

The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by both Houses of Parliament with overwhelming support. Large number of political parties and MPs supported its passage. This Act illustrates India’s centuries old culture of acceptance, harmony, compassion and brotherhood.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2019

Under the law passed by parliament last week, religious minorities such as Hindus and Christians in neighbouring Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who have settled in India prior to 2015 will have a path to Indian citizenship on grounds they faced persecution in those countries.

Critics say the law, which does not make the same provision for Muslims, weakens India’s secular foundations.

His name is Bharat Sharma. Law student of du. State executive committee member of ABVP. Volunteer of Rss
Clearly seen kicking students for no reason and abusing them. #JamiaMilia #JamiaProtests #DelhiProtest #DelhiBurning #CABProtests pic.twitter.com/AuPRZuk0nm

— Akshay Lakra (@akshaylakra17) December 16, 2019

Protests were held in Mumbai’s Indian Institute of Technology and Tata Institute of Social Sciences overnight and on Monday, and more were planned at Bombay University and in the southern city of Bengaluru later in the day.

Students said they also stood in solidarity with fellow students in Delhi who clashed with police in Delhi on Sunday.

“The country is burning, the government has made a mockery of the constitution,” said D. Raja, a general secretary of the Communist Party of India.

Anger with Mr Modi’s Hindu nationalist government over the citizenship act has erupted for two reasons.

In Assam, and other north-eastern states bordering Bangladesh, people upset over the impact that a large influx of migrants is having on society, and the pressure it places on their land.

In the capital New Delhi and other urban centres, opposition political activists and student leaders are angry over a law that they say erodes India’s secular foundations.

Mr Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party denies any religious bias but says it is opposed to the appeasement of one community.

It says the new law is meant to help minority groups facing persecution in the three nearby Muslim countries.

Mr Modi has said the law has been passed by parliament and there is no going back on it.

He told a rally on Sunday the decision was “1000 per cent correct”.

-AAP