Fresh protest erupts in Assam over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill
Guwahati/IBNS: Despite the imposition of curfew and the deployment of Army, fresh protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, erupted here on Thursday.
Defying curfew, thousands of people took to the streets and set tyres on fire to protest against the controversial bill which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, two days after it was cleared by the Lok Sabha.
The bill, which is now awaiting the President's ascent to become a law, will grant citizenship to all non-Muslim refugees who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan on or before Dec 31, 2014.
The agitators said they are opposed to the influx of all refugees irrespective of their religions sensing a threat to their cultural balance and job opportunities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning tweeted to assure the people of Assam that they have no reason to worry about the CAB.
Modi tweeted, "I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I want to assure them- no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow."
I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2019
I want to assure them- no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow.
The Prime Minister added in a follow up tweet, "The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6."
The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2019
The protests and indefinite strike in Assam turned violent on Wednesday after the agitators set vehicles on fire, torched railway station and also attacked the residence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Protesters at various places gheraoed the residence of many Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Upper Assam. Chief Minister Sonowal's residence at Dibrugarh also came under attack as group protesters pelted stone at house.
Chabua and Panitola railway stations in Upper Assam were torched at night while all traffic between Dibrugarh and Guwahati was suspended, North East Frontier Railway spokesperson said.
(Image Credit: Screenshot grab from video)
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