Japanese PM Abe postpones India visit over CAB unrest

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has postponed his three-day visit to India following unrest in Guwahati over CAB. Assam has been witnessing massive protests in the last two days over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill with thousands of people hitting the streets defying prohibitory orders to demand to scrap of the act.

Hyderabad: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is scheduled to visit India starting December 15, has postponed his visit following unrest in Guwahati, the planned venue for the summit over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill media reports said.

In response to queries regarding the visit, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said, "with reference to the proposed visit of Japanese PM Abe to India, both sides have decided to defer the visit to a mutually convenient date in the near future."

Abe was slated to visit Guwahati from December 15 to 17 for annual summit talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

Assam has been witnessing massive protests in the last two days over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill with thousands of people hitting the streets defying prohibitory orders to demand to scrap of the act.

At least two persons died due to bullet injuries on Thursday after police opened fire on protesters in Guwahati.

On Wednesday, protesters pulled down hoardings erected in central Guwahati to welcome Abe. According to Japan's Jiji Press, Abe is considering to cancel his trip to India as the security situation has deteriorated in Guwahati.

"The Japanese and the Indian governments continue to explore the last possibility," it said.

In New Delhi on Thursday, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar when asked whether the government will go ahead with the India-Japan annual summit in Guwahati from December 15-17, said, "We don't have any update to share."

Asked whether the government is contemplating shifting the venue, Kumar said, "I am not in a position to clarify on it. I have no updates to offer."

Sources said a Japanese team visited Guwahati on Wednesday to take stock of the preparations.

Amid lack of clarity on the summit, PIB Hindi on its Twitter handle posted a photograph of commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal with his Japanese counterpart with the caption saying their meeting was held before the scheduled Modi-Abe dialogue on December 16.