Dispur, December 21: The Assam administration said that it will impose a curfew in Tinsukia which will last from 8 pm on Saturday night to 5 am on Sunday. The administration decided to impose the cerfew after reports emerged that violence could once again erupt in Assam's Tinsukia, which has been on the boil ever since the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed in the Rajya Sabha on December 11. A day later, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bill, making it an Act. CAB Passage Jolts Northeast: Why Assam and Neighbouring States Are Up in Protest Against Citizenship Amendment Bill.
The North East has been up in arms against the CAA, especially Assam. Several groups protesting have alleged that the new Citizenship bill threatens the demography of the state as CAA would result in influx of Hindu Bangladeshi immigrants in large numbers, altering the language, culture and living pattern of the indigenous groups. The protestors have also alleged that the Citizenship Amendment Act violates the Assam Accord of 1985. Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 Passed in Rajya Sabha, 125 MPs Support Law to Naturalise Non-Muslim Refugees, 105 Vote Against CAB.
The situation in Assam was normal though protesters took out peaceful rallies against the amended Citizenship Act in various parts of the state on Saturday, police said. The curfew imposed in Dibrugarh following violent protests against the new citizenship law was relaxed for 16 hours since 6 am on Saturday as the law and order situation improved, they said.
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which is spearheading the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act, has planned a sit-in later in the day in Guwahati. Mobile internet services were restored on Friday in Assam after nine days of its suspension while broadband services had resumed on December 18.
The Assam police had urged people to be cautious while posting or sharing information on the social media and said action would be taken against those violating peace and harmony in the state. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has allayed fears over the Act and said he would not allow anyone to harm the rights and honour of the state’s indigenous population, reported PTI.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 21, 2019 04:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).