#AssamBandh: Protesters squat on tracks, try to disrupt rail services
What's the story
Protesters today tried to put up blockades on railway tracks and disrupt train services across Assam as part of the 12-hour state-wide bandh called by 46 organizations against the Citizenship Bill. Police officials in Guwahati said that the demonstrators, who were trying to prevent train movement were being evicted. Demonstrators also had burned tires on roads in various places of the state. Here's more.
Information
What is the outcry all about?
The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) and 44 organizations have called the 12-hour bandh to protest against the Center's bid to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in the Winter Session of Parliament.
Details
Congress and AIUDF support the state-wide bandh
Police escorts were being provided to public transport vehicles to ensure transport services functioned normally during the bandh. Political parties, including the Congress and the AIUDF, have extended their support to the bandh in the interest of Assam and its indigenous people. All District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police had been instructed by the BJP government to maintain public utility services.
Preventive measures
Shops and educational institutions should remain open, orders Deputy Commissioners
A government communique had said that necessary pre-emptive and preventive measures to thwart the bandh call must be taken in view of Gauhati High Court's judgment. 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.
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Lok Sabha introduced The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in 2016
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.
Contempt of court
Calling a bandh will amount to contempt of court: Himanta
State Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Monday that the Gauhati High Court had ruled that calling a bandh was an illegal act and so the state-wide bandh will amount to contempt of court. KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi said they would not call bandh off as the very "existence of Assamese and their identity was at stake" by the Bill.