Guwahati, December 31: Amid ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Assam government's education department has warned employees and staff at colleges against criticising the government. The order issued by the Director of Higher Education in the Assam government said action will be taken against those who will criticise the government. Principals of all state-run or aided colleges have been asked to adhere the order. Why Citizenship Amendment Act+NRC Raise Fear And Concerns: A Multi-Dimensional Take.

"...a government shall not make any statement of fact or opinion criticising the Government. If the government servant is found criticising the Government, he/she will be held responsible for violation of rule 3 and Rule 7 of Assam Civil Service (conduct) Rules, 1965 which will attract appropriate provision of the Assam Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964," read the order. Assam has seen volatile protests after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed by Parliament earlier this month. CAA Passage Jolts Northeast: Why Assam and Neighbouring States Are Up in Protest Against Citizenship Amendment Bill.

At least six people were killed in the anti-CAA agitations due to police firing and other reasons. Besides All Assam Students Union (AASU), students of various other organisations, artists, civil society, numerous organisations, lawyers and many state government employees have supported the anti-CAA protests that started on December 10. Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal had earlier said that his government would hold dialogue with the leadership of the agitating organisations.

The Citizenship Amendment Act gives citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Buddhist and Parsi refugees who entered India from Afghanistan, Pakistan or Bangladesh on or before December 31, 2014. A large section in Assam is of the view that the CAA violates the 1985 Assam Accord -- when the then Rajiv Gandhi government had promised to all Bangladeshi infiltrators who entered the state after the 1971 liberation war broke out.

The promise was never to oust only Muslim infiltrators and retain the rest, the powerful AASU had said in a statement. Assam has faced illegal migration in massive scale giving rise to intense existential fear and apprehension among its smaller indigenous communities.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 31, 2019 10:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).