Two protesters are shot dead by police in clashes over citizenship legislation
POLICE shot and killed two protesters who defied a curfew in India’s north-eastern Assam state, where thousands protested against legislation that would grant citizenship to non-muslims who migrated from neighbouring countries.
Hundreds of protesters defied the curfew in Guwahati and burned tyres before police dispersed them, with dozens arrested.
They later regrouped and lit bonfires and blocked streets, leading to clashes with police who fired at them, killing two in two separate incidents yesterday, officers said.
Soldiers drove and marched through the streets to reinforce police in violence-hit districts, including Guwahati and Dibrugarh, state police chief Bhaskar Mahanta added.
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 also 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 as discriminatory for not applying to Muslims.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill seeks to grant Indian nationality to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs who fled Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh because of religious persecution before 2015.
It does not, however, extend to Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar.
Home minister Amit Shah rejected criticism the legislation was antimuslim, saying it did not affect the existing path to citizenship available to all communities.
Human rights watchdog Amnesty India said it legitimised 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.
The bill’s passage follows a contentious citizenship registry exercise in Assam intended to identify legal residents and weed out those in the country illegally.