Modi shown black flag over ‘controversial’ citizenship bill

Protesters in Assam state of India today showed black flags to the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which seeks to give citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Modi, who was on his way to the Guwahati airport from the Raj Bhawan,  faced the protest organised by the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) in Machkhowa area, our correspondent in New Delhi reports.

This was the second consecutive day of the demonstration.

Hundreds of Gauhati University students waved black flags at Modi in Jalukbari area, while activists of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and AJYCP did the same in Adabari and Fancy Bazar areas.

Members of the powerful All Assam Students Union (AASU) waved black flags to Modi and chanted slogans as his convoy crossed the AASU headquarters on the Mahatma Gandhi Road at Uzan Bazar area.

A few members of both the protesting groups were detained, police said.

On Friday evening, Modi was shown black flags in at least four different locations as soon as he landed in Guwahati and was travelling from the airport to the Raj Bhawan for an overnight stay.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India even if they do not possess any document.

The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, where Modi-led BJP has majority, on January 8 but awaits the nod of the Rajya Sabha where the ruling party lacks the number to pass the legislation.