PM tweets assurance to Assam, Cong points to internet shutdown
In an attempt to reach out the people of Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured them on Thursday that they had nothing to worry after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, even as the northeastern state continued to simmer against the contentious legislation.
The Congress on Thursday (December 12) took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his assurance to the people of Assam, saying the people in the state cannot read his “reassuring” message as the internet there has been cut-off.
In an attempt to reach out the people of Assam, Modi on his official twitter handle, assured them that they had nothing to worry after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, even as the northeastern state continued to simmer against the contentious legislation.
A day after the bill was passed in Parliament, Modi, in a series of tweets in both English and Assamese, said the identity of the people of Assam will be preserved and will continue to grow.
Also read: Train services to Tripura, Assam suspended; army conducts flag march
The prime minister said he personally and the Central government are “totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6.”
The Clause 6 of the Assam Accord guaranteed safeguarding local rights, language and culture. “I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB,” Modi tweeted.
I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB.
I want to assure them- no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2019
Taking a dig at Modi, the Congress party tweeted, “Our brothers & sisters in Assam cannot read your ‘reassuring’ message Modiji, in case you’ve forgotten, their internet has been cut off.”
Our brothers & sisters in Assam cannot read your 'reassuring' message Modiji, in case you've forgotten, their internet has been cut off. https://t.co/mWzR9uPgKh
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 12, 2019
Despite assurance from Prime Minster via tweets, tens of thousands of anti-CAB protesters descended on the streets of Assam on Wednesday, clashing with police and plunging the state into chaos of a magnitude unseen since the violent six-year movement by students that ended with the signing of the Assam accord, Guwahati was placed under curfew. Assam has been on the boil ever since the CAB was tabled in Lok Sabha.
Also Read: Parliament clears Citizenship Bill, Cong calls it a dark day
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (December 11) passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with 125 members voting for it and 105 voting against it. The bill seeks to fast-track citizenship to persecuted minorities coming to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The Lok Sabha had already passed the bill.
