New Delhi, December 15: Congress' Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury fired fresh salvo at the Centre over the ongoing protests in North-East against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Drawing parallels with the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, Chowdhury on Saturday said the Narendra Modi government has converted Assam into the "new Kashmir Valley". CAB Passage Jolts Northeast: Why Assam and Neighbouring States Are Up in Protest Against Citizenship Law.

The ongoing unrest in Assam will adversely impact India's strategic interests, said Chowdhury, pointing out that the state is located close to neighbouring China. Chowdhury appealed the central government to change its approach on the CAA in wake of the protests underway across the North-East states and West Bengal.

"It is a matter of concern that the entire North-East, especially Assam region has been engulfed in violence. Assam is recognised as a strategically important place for the country. On one hand, it is Kashmir valley & on the other, the new Kashmir, Assam," Chowdhury said.

Update by ANI

Similar to Kashmir, which is reeling under an internet ban for the last 133 days, Assam is also facing net outage since Thursday. The administration has decided to keep internet shut till Monday in all parts of the state. The services, although stated to be resumed from Monday, could be put on hold if the government considers the conditions to be non-conducive.

Three people have been killed in the unrest in Assam over the last five days. Violent protests have been reported in several parts of the state. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has appealed the protesters to exercise restraint and refrain from violence.

Assam Director General of Police (DGP) B J Mahanta told reporters that the state is inching towards normalcy. The curfew imposed in Guwahati, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and other towns would be relaxed in the next couple of days, he added. The administration has so far arrested over 200 people and taken nearly 3,000 people into preventive custody.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 15, 2019 01:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).