Two dead in protests over Indian citizenship
Bill called anti-muslim, threat to border culture
GAUHATI, India — Police shot and killed two protesters who defied a curfew and arrested dozens of others Thursday in India’s northeastern Assam state, where thousands protested legislation that would grant citizenship to non-muslims who migrated from neighboring countries.
Hundreds of protesters defied the curfew in Gauhati, the state capital, and burned tires before police dispersed them. They later regrouped and lit bonfires and blocked streets, leading to clashes with police officers who fired at them, killing two in separate events, police said.
Soldiers drove and marched though the streets to reinforce police in violence-hit districts, including Gauhati and Dibrugarh, state police chief Bhaskar Mahanta said.
Train and air services were disrupted, leaving people stranded at rail stations and airports.
The protesters in Assam oppose the legislation out of concern that migrants will move to the border region and dilute the culture and political sway of those who already live there. The legislation was passed by Parliament on Wednesday and now needs to be signed by the country’s ceremonial president, a formality, before becoming law.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace and in a tweet said: “I want to assure them — no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow.”
Protesters uprooted telephone poles, burned several buses and other vehicles and attacked homes of officials from the governing Hindu nationalist party and the regional group Assam Gana Parishad, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
While those protesting in Assam are opposed to the bill because of worries it will allow more migrants regardless of their religion, others consider the measure discriminatory for not applying to Muslims.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill is aimed at granting Indian nationality to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs who fled Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh because of religious persecution before 2015. It would not, however, extend to Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar.
Home Minister Amit Shah rejected criticism the legislation was anti-muslim. Human rights watchdog Amnesty India said it legitimized discrimination on the basis of religion and stood in clear violation of India’s Constitution and international human rights law.
“Welcoming asylum seekers is a positive step, but in a secular country like India, slamming the door on persecuted Muslims and other communities merely for their faith reeks of fear-mongering and bigotry,” the group said in a statement.
Several opposition lawmakers who debated the bill in Parliament predicted that it next will be challenged in court.