Clearance of the debatable Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) has led to wide-scale protests in Assam. The Bill seeks to give Indian nationality to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. And unlike the previous citizenship law, which requires an individual to reside in India for a minimum of 12 years to get citizenship, this bill will enable eligible individuals to get a fast-tracked Indian citizenship in six years.
The controversial bill created an uproar in Assam, resulting in massive protests in the state and other parts of northeast India as protesters allege that CAB will encourage migration from Bangladesh.
As the Citizenship Amendment Bill is just a few formalities away from taking effect, people are still divided over the bill. Protests continued in Assam even after the government suspended the Internet services (imposed exactly the night after the bill was passed in Lok Sabha). The internet shutdown was extended till December 14 across 10 districts of the state after the bill was cleared by Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (with 125 MPs in favour and 105 opposing the Bill).
Now, in Assam, 26 Indian Army columns have been deployed to support the Central Armed Police Forces.
It has become increasingly difficult to connect to the people of Assam, owing to the Internet ban. Here are some tweets and pictures that show us how Assam has transformed into a battleground.
‘READY To Die But NOT READY To Accept CAB’
This picture says everything. No matter what the fascist politicians does, people will not bow down to their cheap antics.#AssamAgainstCAB #JOIAAIAXOM pic.twitter.com/8kIS58J3Jm
— Hirok kalita (@hirokkalita) December 11, 2019
Assam Is Burning!
The place where I was born and brought up is burning today 😫😓#AssamAgainstCAB pic.twitter.com/wglE1kpyz7
— Anwesha Dutta (@anwesha_dutta10) December 11, 2019
Assam’s ‘Love For Motherland’
We’ve been told that the Students have been creating a sense of War in the state. How do you call this War?
— Rishabh Kalita (@Blackstar_ftw) December 10, 2019
I only see it as Love. Love for their motherland. Love for their culture. Love for their very way of life! #AssamRejectsCAB #AssamAgainstCAB #CABAgainstConstitution pic.twitter.com/Pv6h29wIdF
‘Assam Not A Dumping Ground’
Assam is not a dumping ground for refugees and illegal immigrants. We the people of Assam are against #CAB and will never allow implementing it in Assam.This video is just a preview of what we can do#AssamAgainstCAB#AssamRejectsCAB#IndiaRejectsCAB #SaveNE#GauhatiUniversity pic.twitter.com/ZGVwd5qF0i
— Dipika Sarmah (@im_dipika) December 9, 2019
Assam Wants Answers
The situation here in Assam is wrost then ever. #AssamWantsAnswers #AssamAgainstCAB #CAB2019 pic.twitter.com/zuHg8o9tcG
— Assam Mirror (@AssamMirror) December 12, 2019
‘Assam Needs Support’
#IndiaSupportsCAB is a big lie! #CABAgainstConstitution #AssamAgainstCAB pic.twitter.com/ew2tdgvAFN
— Santanu Changmai (@Changmai) December 11, 2019
‘Help Us Fight The Battle’
People are coming out of their homes, from every street, from every corner. "জয় আই অসম" is sonorous everywhere. This fight is against all the atrocities of the government. We will not stay silent anymore. Help us fight this battle. #NoToCAB #IndiaAgainstCAB #AssamAgainstCAB pic.twitter.com/LJIAiF0W3L
— Tazuddin Ahmed (@Tazuddi82329957) December 11, 2019
‘Why Shut Down Our Voices?’
So I get it you're trying to pass a bill. But shutting down the internet/call services of a certain state? Why are you trying to shut off the voices? Now people can't voice out their opinions too?#CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 #AssamAgainstCAB pic.twitter.com/OxX9Zcp2g6
— Sukanya (@senapatysukanya) December 10, 2019
90-Year-Old Protesting In The Cold
He came out to protest against CAB at the age of 90.#CitizenshipAmmendmentBill2019#CAB_नहीं_चलेगा#RajyaSabha #NoToCAB #NoCAB #WeOpposeCAB #AssamRejectsCAB #AssamAgainstCAB #CAB2019 #CABBill pic.twitter.com/rhaFs9jaYf
— Arif Md Khan (@arifmd_khan) December 11, 2019
Helpless Voices: ‘Assam Rejects CAB’
Assam is burning.we will never let our assam be a dumpyard.we wont let any immigrants to stay here .#AssamRejectsCAB pic.twitter.com/kL4bBtSi8B
— simanta Hazarika (@simanta8403848) December 10, 2019
Not just North-East, the protests have now erupted in the national capital as well. Jamia Millia Islamia University is in a state of lockdown after the students staged a protest. They also pelted stones after which the police used tear gas shells to disperse them.
Featured Image: Twitter
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