Indian national under probe for protest in Marina Bay against country’s citizenship Bill

SINGAPORE — The police are investigating a 32-year-old Indian national for participating in a public assembly without a permit in Marina Bay.

“He allegedly carried out the activity in Marina Bay, to show his opposition to India’s Citizenship Amendment Bill,” the police said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 25), adding that it had received a report on the matter a day earlier.

TODAY understands that the man had held up placards and had photographed himself protesting, with Marina Bay Sands in the background. A photo of this which was posted on his social media account has since been taken down.

Earlier this month, India's parliament passed a Bill which offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from three neighbouring countries — Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The government, led by Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, says this will give sanctuary to those fleeing religious persecution.

Critics said the Bill undermines India's secular constitution and sees it as a move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to turn India into a Hindu-centric state that would marginalise the country’s 200 million Muslims.

In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of Indians have taken to the streets to protest against the Bill in cities across the country.

More than 20 people have died in clashes.

Several thousand people have also been detained and Internet services have been suspended in some cities as the authorities battle to restore order.

In its statement, the Singapore Police Force reminded members of the public that organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit is illegal and constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act.

“The Police will not grant any permit for assemblies that advocate political causes of other countries. Foreigners visiting or living in Singapore should abide by our laws,” it added.