India top court refuses to halt implementation of citizenship law

India’s top court on Wednesday declined to stall the implementation of the controversial citizenship law that has sparked massive protests across the country.

The Supreme Court said it would consider the pleas on January 22.

University students across India have been stepping up efforts to have the law overturned because they claim it is discriminatory and violates the constitution. 

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended the move as "humanitarian", opposition parties, including the Congress, have asked President Ram Nath Kovind to have the law withdrawn.