Assam 12-hr Bandh; Protesters try to disrupt road, rail traffic over Citizenship Bill

GUWAHATI | October 23, 2018 (PTI):

Protesters tried to put up blockades on railway tracks this morning in order to disrupt train services across Assam, as part of the 12-hour state-wide 'bandh' or shutdown called by 46 organisations protesting against the Citizenship Bill.

Police officials said that the demonstrators, who were trying to prevent train movement by sitting on tracks, were being evicted.

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Demonstrators also burnt tyres on roads at various places across the state, the police said.

Police escorts were provided to public transport vehicles to ensure transport services functioned normally during the 'bandh' or shutdown.

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) and 44 other organisations have called the 12-hour shutdown to protest against the Centre's bid to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in the Winter Session of Parliament.

Political parties, including the Congress and the AIUDF, have extended their support to the bandh (shutdown) "in the interest of Assam and its indigenous people."

All district magistrates and superintendents of police had been instructed by the BJP government in the state to take measures to maintain public utility services in view of the 'bandh' call.

A government order in this regard called for necessary pre-emptive and preventive measures to thwart the shutdown, saying these must be taken in view of the judgement of the Gauhati High Court.

The deputy commissioners of respective districts had issued orders that all government officials should attend to their duties.

It also said that shops, business establishments, educational institutions should remain open and transport facilities should function normally.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014.

State Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Monday that the Gauhati High Court had ruled that calling a 'bandh' or shutdown was an illegal act and so the statewide shutdown called by 46 organisations on Tuesday cannot be allowed as it will amount to contempt of court.

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi said this was the first time that they had called for a shutdown and they would not call it off as the very "existence of Assamese and their identity was at stake by the Bill".