Citizenship Bill protests HIGHLIGHTS: Two die in Guwahati in police fire

Two persons were shot dead by security forces in Guwahati, which has turned into a garrison town with Army, paramilitary and state police personnel present in every nook and corner

10:54 PM

Don't have any update: MEA on whether Guwahati will host Modi-Abe summit

 

As Assam reeled under violent protests over the Citizenship Amendment Bill, there was no clarity on whether the government will go ahead with the India-Japan annual summit in Guwahati from December 15-17 as planned.

 

"We don't have any update to share," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a weekly media briefing while replying to a volley of questions on the issue.

 

Last week, Kumar announced that the summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe will take place between December 15 and 17.

10:47 PM

Hundreds take to streets in Delhi as chorus against citizenship bill grows louder

Protests against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the national capital intensified on Thursday with hundreds of Delhi University students burning copies of the "unconstitutional" legislation and people raising anti-government slogans at India Gate.

10:25 PM

Guwahati police chief replaced, senior officers transferred amid CAB protests in Assam

In a major reshuffle, the Assam government on Thursday replaced the Guwahati Police commissioner and transferred several other senior officers, amid violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, officials said.

 

9:43 PM

CAB will not be implemented in Kerala, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the Citizenship (Amendment) bill, passed by Parliament, will not be implemented in the state, as hundreds of students of a local college in north Kerala took out a march and burnt the effigy of Home minister Amit Shah.

 

9:35 PM

ABSU demands steps by Centre to allay fears of tribals and indegenous people post CAB

The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) on Thursday demanded that the Centre take immediate steps to allay fears of tribal and indigenous people of Assam and the North East post the passage of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill.

 

The ABSU in a statement demanded that the Centre also take appropriate steps to ensure fool proof constitutional safeguards for the tribal and indigenous people of Assam and the North East to protect and preserve tribal and indigenous people's identity, language, land and rights.

9:11 PM

People pour out on Assam streets against CAB despite curfew

Sentiments ran high against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment Bill) in Assam on Thursday, as people came out on the streets despite inconveniences caused by imposition of curfew on parts of the state.

 

As the day wore on, a large number of people assembled at several places in the state capital, many holding placards and raising slogans against the emotive legislation.

8:50 PM

8:05 PM

2 die in Guwahati as police open fire on citizenship bill protestors

At least two persons died due to bullet injuries on Thursday after police opened fire on protesters in Assam's Guwahati, officials said.

 

An official of the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital told PTI that one person was "brought dead" and another succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.

8:04 PM

Anti-CAB protests: Mobile Internet, messaging services withdrawn in Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government on Thursday withdrew mobile Internet and messaging services across the state for the next 48 hours due to deteriorating law and order situation triggered by protests over contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, officials said.

 

The services have been withdrawn since 5 pm Thursday.

7:25 PM

Protest at India Gate against citizenship amendment bill

A motley group of protesters gathered at the India Gate here protesting against the "divisive" Citizenship Amendment Bill which passed the Rajya Sabha hurdle on Wednesday.

 

The protesters raised anti-BJP and anti-government slogans and asked the President not to sign the Bill into a law. The police appealed the playcard-carrying protesters to disperse but to no avail.

7:09 PM

Delhi University students hold protest, burn copies of citizenship bill

Delhi University students burnt copies of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill here on Thursday as part of a protest against the proposed legislation which they dubbed as "unconstitutional" and "communal".

 

The protest at the university's Art Faculty was called by various students' bodies, including the Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA) and Students' Federation of India, and autonomous women students' collective Pinjra Tod, under the banner of Collective-DU.

6:57 PM

Assam CM appeals to people not to worry about CAB

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a video appeal to the people of the state Thursday said that they need not worry about the Citizenship Amendment Bill as their traditional culture, language, political and land rights will be protected by implementing Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

6:46 PM

Presidency University students protest against citizenship bill

Students of the Presidency University took out a march protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and tried to demonstrate outside the BJP's state headquarters but were stopped midway.

 

6:45 PM

Assam DGP appeals to agitators to exercise restraint

Assam Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta Thursday appealed to people agitating against the Citizenship Amendment Bill despite the indefinite curfew in the city to exercise restraint and not to take the law into their hands.

6:11 PM

Assam governor appeals for calm amid violent protests

Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Thursday appealed to the people to maintain peace in Assam, the hotbed of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

 

5:38 PM

Papon cancels Delhi show, says his home state is 'burning' over CAB

Singer Papon on Thursday pulled out of a music show in Delhi, saying he would not be able to entertain fans when his home state Assam was "burning, crying and under curfew" over the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Parliament.

5:37 PM

Stones thrown at Assam police chief's convoy

Stones thrown at Assam police chief Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta's convoy on GS Road in Guwahati

5:34 PM

Protesters set fire to train stations over citizenship law

Protesters attacked train stations in the northeast, authorities said on Thursday, angry over a new law that would make it easier for non-Muslim minorities from some neighbouring countries to seek Indian citizenship.

 

Protesters in Assam, which shares a border with Bangladesh, say the measure will open the region to a flood of foreigners. Others said the bigger problem with the new law was that it undermined India’s secular constitution by not offering protection to Muslims.

 

Police fired tear gas in Guwahati to break up small groups of people who were demonstrating in the streets, defying a curfew imposed on Wednesday.

4:43 PM

Himanta Biswa Sarma on CAB

Implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord promised by Amit Shah will create new hope of political stability in Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma

4:42 PM

We reached out to members of US Congress on CAB: MEA

We reached out to members of US Congress, other stakeholders on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill; hope they understand our position: MEA

4:41 PM

Asom Gana Parishad headquarters in Guwahati's Ambari area attacked

Asom Gana Parishad headquarters in Guwahati's Ambari area attacked by protestors, vehicles parked outside vandalised: Police

3:31 PM

Mamata Banerjee convenes meeting of MPs, MLAs on Dec 20 to discuss strategy to counter Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: Party sources.

3:07 PM

Left parties to organise joint nationwide protest against Citizenship Bill

The Left parties will organise a nationwide joint protest on December 19 against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, according to a statement issued by these parties on Thursday.

 

The Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party, in a joint statement, alleged that the bill was completely violative of the Constitution and aimed at destroying the secular democratic foundations of India.

 

"The Left parties strongly oppose this bill that links citizenship with the religious affiliation of an individual, the very antithesis of secularism. This bill aims to further sharpen the communal divide and social polarization in the country, which is dangerously detrimental to the unity and integrity of our country," the statement read.

3:06 PM

CM Sonowal appeals to people of Assam to maintain peace

Assam CM Sarbananada Sonowal: I sincerely appeal to all sections of people of Assam to maintain peace and tranquility. It's our cultural, social and spiritual tradition. I've firm belief that people of Assam, as usual, will maintain peace for all time to come.

2:53 PM

Students protest at Delhi University against Citizenship Bill 2019

A group of student organisations held a protest at the Delhi University against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

 

The meeting was called by students' bodies like the SFI and Pinjra Tod under the banner Collective-DU at the arts faculty in the campus. 

2:50 PM

Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen postpones visit to India: Sources

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen: Given increasing demand at home, I have decided to cancel the visit. However, I am looking forward to attending the next meeting in January. I am sending our DG to attend the event.

2:27 PM

Internet services suspended for another 48 hours in Assam

Internet services in Assam suspended for another 48 hours, beginning from 12 noon today, says Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Political) Kumar Sanjay Krishna.

2:26 PM

Passengers stranded at Guwahati airport

Hundreds of passengers are stranded at the Guwahati airport today due to indefinite curfew and internet clampdown in the city as Assam continued to remain on the boil over the citizenship bill.
 

From students to working professionals and old men to young women, people were seen squatting inside or outside of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport at Borjhar area, about 30 km from the main city.

2:25 PM

Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019: Munna Prasad Gupta appointed new Guwahati police chief

Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar removed amid CAB protests; Munna Prasad Gupta new city police chief, say officials. 

Assam's additional general of police (Law and Order) Mukesh Agarwal has been transferred as ADGP (CID) and GP Singh appointed in his place, say officials. 

2:04 PM

Protesters, police clash in Guwahati

Thousands protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Guwahati, defying an indefinite curfew authorities imposed in Assam’s capital on Wednesday. Police said they had to fire in the air in several parts of the city to control protestors attacking shops and burning tyres.