Anti-CAA protests in Assam: Internet restored today; no threat to 'language' or 'identity', says CM Sonowal

The Internet services were restored in Assam on Friday after the widespread protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) act. After major protests erupted in the state over the controversial act, the government suspended internet services across Assam on December 11.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal assured the people of Assam that there will be no threat to their "language" or "identity" due to the passing of the contentious bill.

The Chief Minister said, "I want to assure people that no one can steal rights of the sons of the soil of Assam, there is no threat to our language or our identity."

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal: I want to assure people that no one can steal rights of the sons of the soil of Assam, there is no threat to our language or our identity. #CitizenshipAmendmentAct pic.twitter.com/A01uX9jhZy

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2019

"In no way will the honour of Assam be affected. We will always have the support of the people and will move forward with peace in the state," he added.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal: In no way will the honour of Assam be affected. We will always have the support of the people and will move forward with peace in the state. #CitizenshipAmendmentAct https://t.co/8n7LcDdGmO pic.twitter.com/8rQoRNfoU4

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2019

Civil society groups and other organisations are embroiled in massive protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the state. All Assam Students Union (AASU) are spearheading the protest against the act. 

The protests in Assam took a violent turn with agitators damaging public property by setting ablaze buses, tyres and other vehicles. The police have arrested a lot of people who are protesting against the bill. At least 4 people died in the violent protests that took place in Assam regarding the controversial act. Out of the four, some of them died after the police open-fired on the protestors.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 will grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan by proposing to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955.

While addressing the media in Kolkata on December 16, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command in the Indian Army, Lt General Anil Chauhan said, “In the past three days, columns have been deployed in Assam and Tripura, some columns were kept on standby in Meghalaya also. Initially, till about the day before yesterday, there were about 24 columns that were requisitioned in upper Assam and about 12 columns in lower Assam.” “But physically on the ground, the numbers were much lesser, that just indicates how fast the situation is improving and hopefully in a day or a two we should be back in barracks,” he added.

The Act will provide Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India instead of the current mandatory stay of 11 years even if they do not possess any document. Members of these communities, who have come from the three neighboring nations before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution will be granted Indian citizenship after a mandatory period of stay. 

President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on last Thursday, becoming an act of the constitution. The contentious bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, two days after it was passed in Lok Sabha on Monday.