Ahead of PM Modi’s Visit, Assam Anti-CAA Protesters Face Crackdown

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to poll-bound Assam, the police lathi-charged activists of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) in Tezpur, for protesting against the the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), on Friday, 22 January.

According to a report by NDTV, the cops detained several activists across the state who were participating in torch-light rallies organised against the legislation.

The students’ body had called a three-day protest in Assam against the CAA ahead of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visits to Assam this weekend.

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The AASU condemned the crackdown and announced a shutdown in the Sonitpur district on Saturday, 23 January, to protest the police action. According to the NDTV report, outfit's leaders, including its Chief Advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya and President Dipanka Nath, later had a heated argument with the cops.

“The government has directed the police to stop our peaceful, democratic, torch-light rally. This BJP government is trying to snatch away our democratic right to protest by using force,” the report quoted Nath as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are visiting poll-bound Assam over the weekend, to attend different government events, and campaign for the assembly polls, which is likely to be held in April-May.

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