Assam: Chabua youths stage nude protest against Citizenship Bill

Tinsukia: Nude protests were staged at Chabua in Assam’s Dibrugarh district on Thursday evening, a day after the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its nod to the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet cleared the CAB that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have faced religious persecution there, paving way for introduction of the bill in the current session of Parliament. The announcement came from Union minister for information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.

Speaking with EastMojo, Priyabat Gohain, vice-president (in-charge), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Dibrugarh district unit, said that of the five youths, who staged the nude protest, one was an AJYCP member. “Our protest will continue till the CAB is scrapped,” Gohain added.

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Altogether five youths stripped off their clothes and staged protest at Chabua town on National Highway 37 following the Centre’s move on CAB.

“RSS murdabad, Asomiya Zindabad. BJP kaam nai kaam nai, Binod Hazarika murdabad,” were some of the slogans raised by the protestors, who burnt tyres on the national highway, halting traffic.

Ever since the government has listed the controversial bill at serial number 16 in the items of government business identified for being taken up in both Houses of Parliament during the Winter Session, 2019, a fresh round of protest demanding scrapping of the bill has erupted in Assam. With the Cabinet nod on Wednesday, the pitch of the protest has only grown louder.