In India’s national capital Delhi, students and political activists hit the street to protest the law; police barred such activity in several places, closed several rapid transport (Delhi Metro) system stations, and suspended internet services for several hours.
Despite these prohibitions, the agitators managed to gather at several vantage points, resulting in heavy traffic jams, even as police barricaded several main highways. On the national highway linking Delhi with the western 'Pink City' of Jaipur, thousands of vehicles were stopped on the road.
Nearly three dozen flights had been subjected to delays and cancellation from New Delhi, because several pilots and passengers were all caught up in a 6.2 miles approx. (10 kilometres)-long traffic jam on national highway 8, that also links Gurugram, one of the busiest satellite cities of the nation's capital.
On Thursday, Indians in several parts of the country gathered in large groups to oppose the newly passed CAA for its failure to include Muslims among immigrants being welcomed by several of India’s neighbouring countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to apply for Indian citizenship.
Added to traffic curbs due to anti-Citizenship Law demonstrations was the low visibility due to severe cold conditions in the national capital region.
Netizens stuck in traffic jams around New Delhi flooded social media platforms with pictures and videos, showing roads to Delhi stuffed to the nose.
— Muhammad imran (@imranmanzoorsha) December 19, 2019
— Shahnawaz Alam (@Shahnawaz_Alam1) December 19, 2019
— Bobins Abraham (@BobinsAbraham) December 19, 2019
— Drishti Gupta (@drishtiguptaaa) December 19, 2019
— Ashu Gupta (@mansiitsmyls) December 19, 2019
— Harshit (@2weet_harshit) December 19, 2019
Travelers who had hoped to catch flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport in the country’s capital also took to Twitter to share their stories of sheer inconvenience.
The Closure of the Gurgaon border has affected flight operations severely. Indigo alone has cancelled 19 flights due to crews getting stuck in traffic jams and other issues. Till now, 16 flights have been delayed due to traffic jam at — Neelam Pandey (@NPDay) December 19, 2019
— Pratik Mukane | प्रतिक मुकणे (@pratikmukane) December 19, 2019
— Pratik Mukane | प्रतिक मुकणे (@pratikmukane) December 19, 2019
— FreeSpirit (@FreeSpi82997985) December 19, 2019
— Ashoke Raj (@Ashoke_Raj) December 19, 2019
While India’s airlines including IndiGo, Vistara and Air India among others promised feasible transit options, as of now it remains unclear by when the highways will clear out and transportation return to normal.
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) December 19, 2019
— Vistara (@airvistara) December 19, 2019
— Air India (@airindiain) December 19, 2019
