Assam burns due to CAB protests: Who said what?

20:46 December 13

BJP leader Ashish Shelar writes to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, seeks immediate implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the state.

20:29 December 13

Students from Assam speak on CAB

Students from Northeast especially from Assam but based in New Delhi on Friday expressed their views on the ongoing CAB protests in their region.

While talking to EV Bharat, one of them said: "We will never accept this CAB. This is against the basic principle of Indian Constitution and it violates the true spirit of Assam Accord."

Hundreds of students from Assam studying in New Delhi on Friday came to the street opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). The bill on Thursday night got the approval of President Ram Nath Kovind.

"We will never allow the government to suppress us," said another student.

One of them said: "The government's initiative to allow people from neighbouring countries will definitely make turn us into a minority."

20:29 December 13

Those who do not want 'divisive democracy' shall go to North Korea, says Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy
 

20:15 December 13

Assam Congress welcomes Kerala CM over his stand against CAB 

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia on Friday welcomed Kerala Chief Minister's stand over Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).

"We welcome the decision taken by the Kerala Chief Minister speaking against CAB," said Debabrata Saikia.

"Government of India must recognise the sentiments of the people of Assam," he added.

He further added, "We were happy to welcome the people who came to Assam prior to March 25, 1971, as an India citizen but how can the government give a fresh date of December 31, 2014."

Saikia took part in a protest rally against CAB held in the national capital. Hundreds of anti-CAB supporters on Friday came to the street opposing CAB.

Interestingly, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday signed the bill recognising the CAB.

19:51 December 13

Congress lawmaker appeals for peaceful agitation against CAB 

Congress lawmaker from Assam Gaurav Gogoi on Friday appealed to the anti-CAB agitators to maintain restraint.

"We will never accept the CAB. It is the arrogance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah that this Government is going ahead with the anti-people bill," said Gogoi.

Talking to ETV Bharat in the midst of a protest rally in the national capital, Gogoi said that the central government is pushing hard to impose many bills.

"Government is playing with the sentiments of the people of Assam...we will never accept CAB," said Gogoi.

Congress legislature in the Assam Assembly Rupjyoti Kurmi said that government is forcibly trying to put legislation on the people.

"The CAB is anti-people...we will never accept the bill," said Kurmi.
 

18:54 December 13

Kerala: Opposition leader requests CM to have joint protests against CAB

Kerala Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has said that he had requested Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to have a joint agitation against Citizenship Amendment Act.

"CM has agreed, all ministers & leaders of the Assembly & Opposition will sit together at Martyrs Column on 16th December to raise our voice," he added.

17:21 December 13

AASU files petition challenging amended Citizenship

The All Assam Students Union(AASU) has filed a petition in the Apex Court challenging CAB, said its chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya.

Bhattacharya, while addressing a meeting amidst the indefinite curfew hit out at the BJP top leadership for 'betraying' the people of Assam.

He also criticised President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent to the Citizenship Amendment Bill on Thursday night within days of the passage of the controversial legislation in Parliament.

"This is very unfortunate," Bhattacharya said.

"I am happy to tell you that the Supreme Court today registered our case. Now our legal battle will start. Simultaneously, our peaceful democratic protest will continue until the Act is repealed," he said.

17:20 December 13

'Is this emergency 2': Asks Derek O' Brien on I&B advisory to media

Slamming the government over its advisory to media houses against airing contents that may promote 'anti-national attitudes', the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday asked if it was 'emergency 2'.

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory on Wednesday to private satellite TV channels to be particularly cautious about airing contents that are likely to incite violence, promote 'anti-national attitudes' and contain anything affecting the integrity of the nation.

The advisory was issued after some TV channels beamed footage of violent protests in the Northeast against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that was passed by Parliament on Wednesday. 

"Is censorship happening in India? Is this emergency 2? The government is trying to intimidate the media by issuing these advisories. These channels cannot telecast anything anti-national, the advisory says. But what is anti-national? When you did notebandi and Opposition opposed, it is anti-national? GST, CAB, when we protested, we became anti-nationals. The government is trying to control the media. We are for a free media. We want to appeal to the media to do your job fearlessly," TMC's national spokesperson Derek O' Brien told reporters.

23:44 December 12

Adv ML Sharma on his petition filed against the CAB

Advocate ML Sharma has recently filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019. 

Explaining the grounds of his petition, he says that the Bill has been made a part of religious politics. 

"Politics cannot be the basis in the Supreme Court, and Amit Shah is trying to gain votes through this Bill," he said. 

He went on to say, "I have no objection over anyone being granted citizenship but the law should be equal for everyone." 

23:41 December 12

Congress boycott zero hour in RS opposing CAB

The Congress on Thursday boycotted the zero-hours in Rajya Sabha opposing the passage of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). The opposition party, however, accused BJP and it's 'Sangh Parivar' for instigating violence in Assam.

A day after Rajya Sabha passed CAB with a voice vote, the opposition mainly the Congress boycotted the zero-hours in Rajya Sabha.

"I tried to raise the matter in the House. But I was not allowed to speak...we have boycotted the zero-hours while registering our protest against CAB," said Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora to ETV Bharat.

He accused the central government of the deteriorated law and order situation in the state.

"It's only BJP and it's Sangha Parivar who have been instigating the violence...," said Bora adding "it's like a war-like situation. In fact, the situation in Assam is worse than Jammu and Kashmir."

23:41 December 12

19:27 December 12

Kerala will not accept CAB: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Condemning the CAB, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said they will not accept Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) as the bill unconstitutional. Also, CM alleged that the central government is trying to divide India into religious lines. This is a move to sabotage equality and secularism.

19:24 December 12

Punjab CM termed CAB as 'direct assault' on India’s secular character

Terming the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) as a direct assault on India’s secular character, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today said his government would not allow the legislation to be implemented in his state.

18:16 December 12

Assam governor appeals for calm amid violent protests

Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Thursday appealed to the people to maintain peace in Assam, the hotbed of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. In a statement, Mukhi urged them to maintain restraint as they have always shown patience and political maturity in the past.

"If the student community has any issues against the government they have every right to agitate but they should do it in a democratic and peaceful manner, without taking the law in their hands," he said.

17:51 December 12

Government first takes the decision and then try to think about it says, Ahmed Patel

Congress' senior leader Ahmed Patel called it a "black day of Constitution". "This government first takes the decision and then try to think about it. That is the reason why there is so much unrest in the country," he said.

He also said that Congress party is planning to approach the Supreme Court against this bill and is in a discussion with other parties as well.

17:47 December 12

Congress leader Ambika Soni: Let the Prime Minister speak

"Let the Prime Minister speak. There is a complete unrest in the entire country. Opposition parties put up their best faces to convey our message to the government that if the bill gets passed then it will have very dangerous results," said Ambika Soni, Congress leader.

17:31 December 12

Entire Northeast is burning due to Citizenship Amendment bill: Ghulam Nabi Azad

As the Citizenship Amendment bill gets passed in Rajya Sabha, on Wednesday, after completing the legislative process, Congress accused the Government of spreading unrest in the entire country, especially in the Northern states which have got deeply affected by the passage of this bill after thousands of people took the streets to protest.

While addressing the media, Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Yesterday, we wanted to give facts and figures over the current situation of this country. But BJP felt bad that we were exposing them. There is not even a single state of North East which is not burning. 90% of people in this country are against this bill."

Azad also alleged that the BJP government is trying to force MP from other parties to support this bill. "This is totally unconstitutional. BJP is basically trying to impose dictatorship in this country," he added.

15:57 December 12

Assam CM calls for peace; appeals people not to be misled by rumours

Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal has appealed to all section of the people to maintain peace and tranquillity. Talking to a news agency, Sonowal said that it is the social, cultural and spiritual tradition of the Assamese people. He said some sections of people are trying to make the whole situation aggravated by spreading misinformation. He also said that some people are running propaganda in the name Citizenship Amendment Act.  

The Chief Minister further said that the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister have already assured that the Centre is committed to implementing Clause Six of the Assam Accord. Sonowal said, people of Assam should not be worried as the commitment made by both the leaders would be fulfilled. He assured that the Assam Government is fully committed to ensuring the protection of the identity of the people of Assam.

15:50 December 12

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill passed in Rajya Sabha

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is set to become law with the Rajya Sabha passing the hotly debated and polarising legislation by 125-99 votes on Wednesday after a lengthy discussion over its provisions offering citizenship to Hindus and five other minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The numbers did not prove a challenge for the government as it notched a comfortable tally even without the support of three 

As the mercurial debate on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill progressed, there were many flashpoints with a blackout of the Rajya Sabha TV as the Opposition heckled Home Minister Amit Shah while he was introducing the citizenship bill, to a verbal duel between the Opposition and the treasury benches.

While Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien drew parallels with Nazi Germany laws to slam the Citizenship Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described December 12 as a "landmark day".

Several senior Congress leaders have indicated that the party may move the Supreme Court against the CAB with advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi saying that the legislation will be legally challenged in the near future as it is against the constitutionality of India.