Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought on Sunday to reassure India's Muslims over a new citizenship law that has sparked deadly protests and put his Hindu nationalist government under pressure.

At least 25 people have died in almost two weeks of demonstrations and violence after Modi's government passed a law criticized as anti-Muslim. More protests took place on Sunday.

What did Modi say?

Leading a rally for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi on Sunday, Modi said Muslims "don't need to worry at all" provided they are genuine Indians.

"Muslims who are sons of the soil and whose ancestors are the children of mother India need not to worry," Modi told the crowd of thousands.

"The law does not impact 1.3 billion Indians, and I must assure Muslim citizens of India that this law will not change anything for them," said Modi, adding that his government introduces reforms without any religious bias.

He went on to accuse the main opposition Congress party of condoning the violence over the Citizen Amendment Act by not condemning it.

Why is an NRC controversial?

Modi insisted there had been "no discussion" about a nationwide "register of citizens," which many Muslims in India fear is targeted mainly at them.

Home Minister Amit Shah has said repeatedly that such an exercise will take place aimed at removing all "infiltrators" from India.

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The ruling party also promised in their 2019 national election manifesto to implement a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in a "phased manner in other parts of the country."

This year such a register in Assam state left off 1.9 million people unable to prove they or their forebears were there before 1971. They now face possible statelessness.

What's the background?

The Citizenship Amendment Act gives religious minority members – Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Christians and Buddhists – from three neighboring Islamic countries an easier path to citizenship, but not if they are Muslim.

Islamic groups, the opposition and others at home and abroad fear this forms part of Modi's aim to marginalize India's 200 million Muslims and remold the country as a Hindu nation.

Demonstrations against the citizenship law have been largely peaceful but protesters have also hurled rocks and torched vehicles, while police tactics have fueled anger.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered late Saturday in the southern city of Hyderabad. Other large demonstrations took place on Sunday, including in Jaipur and Mumbai. In Bangalore, other protesters gathered to support the law.

How has the government responded?

Modi's party plans to hold more than 200 news conferences to counter the protests as anger grows over what critics say is an attack on the country's secular constitution.

Authorities have imposed emergency laws and blocked internet access across the country in an attempt to contain the unrest. More than 7,500 people have either been detained under emergency laws or arrested for rioting, according to state officials.

The state's government has said it will confiscate and auction properties of those involved in arson and destruction of public properties to recover damages.

New Delhi's state election early next year will be the first major electoral test for Modi's BJP in the wake of the mass demonstrations.

(With input from agencies)