Security beefed up across Assam as anti-CAA protests looms large
GUWAHATI: Security across the Northeast state of Assam has been beefed up following implementation of the citizenship amendment act (CAA) by the central government.
Keeping in mind the violent protests that broke out in Assam following the passage of the CAA in the Parliament in December 2019, security agencies in the Northeast state is leaving no stone unturned this time to avert any kind of untoward incident.
In Guwahati city, hundreds of security personnel were seen manning vital locations and roads.
Meanwhile, both political and non-political entities in Assam, including Raijor Dal, All Assam Students Union (AASU), AJYCP, AJP and Congress, have expressed their opposition and issued threats of staging protests.
The atmosphere remains charged as diverse stakeholders prepare to rally public sentiment and resistance against the CAA regulations.
It may be mentioned here that the BJP-led central government notified the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday (March 11).
The decision was made prior to the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) preceding the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The MHA in a statement said: “These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 will enable the persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian citizenship. The applications will be submitted in a completely online mode for which a web portal has been provided.”
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) featured prominently in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Following the BJP’s electoral victory, the Act was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, and has since sparked widespread protests throughout India.
The forthcoming notification of the rules is poised to facilitate the pathway for migrants from neighbouring countries to acquire citizenship in India.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) modifies the Citizenship Act of 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who are members of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities.
These individuals must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, fleeing religious persecution in their countries of origin.
The implementation of the CAA aims to provide assistance to refugees from these neighboring nations, particularly those who lack proper documentation.
More than a hundred individuals lost their lives either during the protests or as a result of police action following the enactment of the law in Parliament.