Violent Protest Erupted in Assam ,Curfew imposed,Army on standby
NEW DELHI /GUWAHATI : The army has been deployed in four areas of Assam as thousands of protesters opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or CAB took to the streets last evening, clashing with policemen and plunging the state into chaos. Amid violent protests in the northeast, the contentious bill passed parliament last evening after being cleared by the Rajya Sabha.
The passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, has sparked violent protests in Assam and Tripura despite assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the Bill will not harm the interests of the people living in North East.
Violent protests erupted in different parts of Assam on Wednesday (December 11) against Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2019. In Guwahati, which is the epicentre of protests, a man identified as Rahul Das suffered bullet injuries when police resorted to firing in Lachit Nagar in the city. Das has been admitted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.
Guwahati, Assam’s largest city and the epicentre of the protests, was placed under indefinite curfew while mobile internet services were suspended in 10 districts in the state. The curfew was later extended to Dibrugarh as protesters targeted the homes of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union minister Rameswar Teli in the district.
Five columns of Indian Army have been deployed in Assam, while three columns of Assam Rifles have been sent to Tripura to maintain law and order. Internet services have been suspended on 10 districts of Assam and Section 144 imposed to stop the protesters from going on rampage.
The Bill, which will give Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, was passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (December 11) with 125 votes in favour and 99 against it. The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha with a thumping majority on Monday (December 9).
PM Modi said on Wednesday that the passage of the Bill that it is “a landmark day for India and our nation’s ethos of compassion and brotherhood”. The prime minister said that CAB will alleviate the suffering of those who faced persecution for years due to their religious beliefs.
Besides the BJP, the CAB was supported by JD-U, SAD, AIADMK, BJD, TDP and YSR Congress. The Congress, TMC, DMK, Samajwadi Party and some other Opposition parties strongly opposed the Bill in both Houses of the Parliament.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Ripun Bora has given ‘Suspension of Business Notice’ in Rajya Sabha under rule 267, over ‘current situation of Assam and northeast region’ While,Congress MPs Adhir Ranjan Chaudhry, K Suresh and Gaurav Gogoi have given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, over ‘unrest in north eastern states & law & order situation’.
Transport services to the region has been severely impacted as all train services to Assam and Tripura have been suspended following protests. Several airlines too have cancelled flights to Guwahati and Dibrugarh.
Internet services have been suspended in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup, a notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Political Department) Kumar Sanjay Krishna, said.(Bureau Report with
