Spain-Catalonia crisis: Thousands take to street before independence referendum
The activities were backed by Regional President Carles Puigdemont, who told the crowd to believe that Catalonia will be taking its first steps as a sovereign nation, a BBC report read.
However, Madrid, who remains adamant about not granting the region independence, has deployed extra police to prevent the vote from taking place.
The action has also forced tech giant Google to delete an app dedicated to the voting process.
In its defence, the company said that it simply followed court orders.
However, those who already have the app installed, can still use it for finding polling stations.
Madrid has issued orders for police to prevent use of residential buildings as polling stations.
Additionally, if anyone is found guilty of running the campaign, that person will face prosecution.
In defiance of the order, the regional government has said that it'll open more that 2000 polling stations and aid in the polling process.
The existing crisis
The first hint for the separation of Catalonia was dropped in 2014, when Catalan secessionists held a trial referendum.
However, it was downplayed by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who offered no concessions to their demand for a legal vote.
Rajoy has termed the referendum as unconstitutional, while vowing to stop the vote.
People rallying for a united Spain have already said that the region enjoys autonomy.
According to government spokesman Iñigo Mendez de Vigo, Catalonia is inflexible and one-sided, a charge that the latter refutes, while blaming the former for being the same.
Catalonia in numbers
Catalonia, a region in north-eastern Spain, houses a population of 7.5 million people.
It has its own language and culture.
The Catalonian population makes up for 16 percent of Spain's population.
Spain derives 19 percent of its GDP from Catalonia.
About 25.6 percent of the nation's exports come from the region.
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