CAB Triggers Massive Protests In Assam

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the people of Assam that their rights will not be taken away after the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), the northeastern state has erupted in its biggest protests in decades.

Curfew has been imposed as the magnitude of the present agitation is being compared to the violent six-year movement by students in the 1980s that ended with the signing of the Assam accord.

“No one can take away your rights,” the Prime Minister tweeted. ” I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I want to assure them – no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow,” he added.

The controversial CAB, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday evening, enables non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to become Indian citizens. This has created fear in the northeastern states that such a law will legitimise thousands of immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and change the demographics of the region.

To assuage the concerns, the PM tweeted: “The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the bill had “nothing to do” with Muslims in India. “I want to assure all that the original residents of Assam through this House that the NDA government will attend to all their concerns. The Committee constituted under Clause 6 will address the concerns,” he stated while introducing the bill in Rajya Sabha.

All train services have been stopped and flights have been disrupted in the north-east following the protests.