48-Hour Mobile Internet Ban In Tripura As Northeast Opposes CAB; Protests In Assam, Delhi

Even the national capital witnessed protest demonstrations by political parties, students' bodies and civil society groups over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on Tuesday.

The agitators contended that the bill would threaten the identity of indigenous communities. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: A day after the much-controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday, slew protests were reported from different parts of the country including Assam, Tripura, other northeastern states and even in the national capital. In Tripura, the administration has shut down internet services for 48 hours in wake of raising protests against the bill. "In view of the situation, the state government said that it is prohibiting use of SMS and mobile data for 48 hours, beginning 2 pm on Tuesday. This shall be applicable for press messages also, the letter read," a letter from Tripura government read. Major opposition parties from the northeast region, including Indian National Congress (INC), Nationalist Congress Party, Trinamool Congress, voted against the bill in the lower house. Two prominent student bodies - the North East Students Organization (NESO) and All Assam Students Union (AASU) – have been at the forefront of the agitation against the bill. Even in Manipur, the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) on Tuesday called for a total shutdown in the state from 3 am to 6 pm to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The union, a constituent of North East Student's Organisation (NESO), said it would intensify its agitation if the bill was not immediately withdrawn. NESO - an apex body of students' organizations in the northeast - has called for a shutdown across the region in protest against the legislation, which seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees who fled religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. WATCH REPORT | Student Union holds protest against CAB in Northeast & Delhi Normal life was affected in parts of Manipur on Tuesday morning as shops and business establishments kept shutters down, and educational and financial institutions remained closed for the day, official sources said. Vehicles - both public and private - stayed off the roads as demonstrators hit the streets in protest. The agitators contended that the bill would threaten the identity of indigenous communities, despite Union Home Minister's repeated attempts to allay their fears. Laishram Athouba Meitei, the president of All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), said the protests would continue till the central government conceded. He, however, hailed the Centre's decision to introduce the Inner line Permit system in the border state. Even the national capital witnessed protest demonstrations by political parties, students' bodies and civil society groups over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on Tuesday. The Northeast Students' Union is staging a protest against the bill at Jantar Mantar. People from various walks of life and across organisations have joined the stir. The CPI(M)'s Delhi state committee members also held a protest at the same venue against the contentious bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MPs had earlier held a protest near the Gandhi statue on the Parliament premises. Members of the Left party were seen carrying banners, saying "CAB waapis lo" (withdraw the CAB) and "Dharm aadharit CAB nahi chalega" (won't accept a CAB based on religion). WATCH | Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi's Reaction On Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 Another protest, organised by various civil society groups, is scheduled to be held in the evening against the Citizenship Bill as well as the National Register of Citizens (NRC). According to Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, non- Muslim minorities, who fled religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and moved to the country before December 31, 2014, will be accorded Indian citizenship. It, however, exempted tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and areas covered under The Inner Line, notified under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. The legislation, piloted by Shah, was comfortably passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday night as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enjoys a clear majority in the House. (With inputs from agencies)