Citizenship Act Protesters Can be 'Identified by Their Clothes', Says PM Narendra Modi Amid Unrest in Assam, West Bengal

Dumka, December 15: With the violent protests in North-East over the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 gaining momentum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that those who are protesting against the amendments to the Citizenship Act can be identified by their clothes. The Premier also attacked the opposition Congress and its allies for raising the storm over citizenship law. He alleged that they are behind the unrest and arson in North-East.

Addressing an electoral rally in Dumka, ahead of the Phase 4 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, PM Modi said, "Congress and their allies are creating a ruckus. They are doing arson because they did not get their way. Those who are creating violence can be identified by their clothes itself." PM Modi Thanks People of Assam for 'Keeping Away Violence' And 'Making Points Peacefully' Over Citizenship Amendment Act.

Here's the ANI tweet:

PM Modi lambasted the Congress party and its allies for allegedly providing tacit support to the violence taking place in the North East. He said, "These scenes are strengthening the country’s confidence that Modi, Parliament, and the government have saved the country by bringing the Act."

Here's the video of PM Modi claiming 'protesters can be identified by their clothes':

He, however, congratulated the people of Assam for keeping away violence and making their points peacefully against the recently enacted Citizenship Amendment Act. He said, "I congratulate brothers and sisters of Assam for keeping away violence. They are peacefully making themselves heard. Assam and the North East are behaving in such a way that will increase their prestige in the country."

In the meanwhile, reports arrived that a section among the demonstrators set three buses on fire, along with a few two-wheelers in the national capital. The students of Jamia Millia Islamia was blamed for the violence, as the agitation call was issued by the varsity students. The University, however, denied involvement of its students in the violence which ensued during the protests. Jamia Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar told reporters the students were not involved in the arson.

Assam, which has been witnessing protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act since earlier this month, was pushed on the edge after the Parliament cleared the Bill to make the law effective. As per the CAA, non-Muslim refugees who entered India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014 would be naturalised. The indigenous groups in Assam have called it a violation of the 1985 Assam Accord -- which promised the expulsion of infiltrators irrespective of their caste or religion.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 15, 2019 06:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).