Barcelona, Spain - About half a million Catalans took to the streets of Barcelona on Thursday in support of the intensifying campaign for an independence referendum planned on November.

Waving Catalonia's independence flags and dressed in yellow and red shirts, the demonstrators assembled on Gran Via and Avenida Diagonal in the northern part of Barcelona, shouting "Independencia!" to demand independence from Madrid's rule.

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The protesters formed a giant V-shape as they swarmed the area where the city's main roads converge, a symbol organizers described as Catalan's desire to vote.

Thursday's rally, which coincided with Catalonia's national day, is a show of force for the long-standing pro-independence movement that has gained massive public support in the past decade, reported Reuters.

The turnout has been a subject of heated debated. Barcelona police has estimated about 1.8 million participants, while official figures pegged the demonstrators at half a million.

Madrid has repeatedly insisted that the Spanish region of Catalonia will not get to vote, arguing that the Spanish constitution makes no allowances for regional self-determination. But the Catalans would not waver.

Artur Mas, Catalonia's regional president, called for Madrid to allow the Catalans to decide for their own political future as he spoke hours before Thursday's rally.

With the Scottish referendum on independence just a week ahead, Catalan separatists are reportedly looking at the secession vote that may result in the September 18 Scottish referendum for independence as boost to their cause.

According to The Guardian, the Catalans are inspired by what they see in the UK-Scotland referendum.

Catalonia looks to Scotland-UK situation with envy, citing the 'quality of democracy' that they see happening in the region, Liz Castro, a Catalan author told The Guardian.

A Barcelona-based political scientist said that a 'yes' vote in Scotland could make the Catalonia independence movement stronger.

According to Barcelona's mayor Xavier Trias, the Spanish government has followed the UK's lead in allowing the Catalans a vote for the region's political status. Madrid, unlike UK however, has ruled out a referendum on independence which it considers unconstitutional unless all of Spain participates.

Beyond addressing the question of the referendum's constitutionality, the Spanish government has refused to discuss the subject, wrote Trias in The Guardian.

Catalonia is one of the most industrialized regions in Spain. Spain's recent economic crisis has led the Catalans to call for separation, reported BBC.

TagsCatalan referendum, Catalans' independence, Catalonia-spain referendum, November referendum