New Delhi: Travellers from foreign countries such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Israel and Canada, have been issued travel advisories by their respective countries, regarding the ongoing violent protests across India against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. In the advisories, the travellers have been asked to “exercise caution” while travelling to the northeast region in particular.
Informing its citizens travelling in India, the UK’s advisory read, “Demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Bill are taking place in some parts of the country. There have been reports of violent protest in Northeast India, especially in Assam and Tripura. An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Guwahati and mobile internet services have been suspended in 10 districts of Assam.”
Stating that transport in various regions may also be affected, the advisory added, that if there is a need for essential travel, potential travellers should stay abreast with the latest information in the regions, follow the instructions provided by local authorities and “allow more time for travel”.
The US advisory, while giving the same instructions, added that it has “temporarily suspended” official travel to the state of Assam.
Violent protests erupted across the northeast region of India, even before the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed through both Houses of the Parliament and finally being passed by President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday night. Guwahati was the worst affected by the protests in the region. Curfew orders were defied by thousands who clashed with the police and vandalised public property. Two of the protesters were killed in police firing on Thursday night.
The situation in the northeast region led to the cancellation of two Bangladeshi ministers’ visit as well as a postponement of a visit from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The latter was supposed to have a summit meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Guwahati.
The United Nations’ human rights office has also opined on the issue, stating that the new citizenship law’s clause that excludes Muslims is “fundamentally discriminatory in nature”.
