NEW DELHI, Dec 12 - The Opposition in Lok Sabha on Thursday staged a walkout from the House protesting against the violence in Assam and the government�s inability to handle the situation in the aftermath of the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday maintained silence on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe�s ensuing visit to Guwahati and Imphal for the annual summit. �We have no update to share,� MEA Spokesman Raveesh Kumar said when asked whether the Japanese Prime Minister�s visit is still on.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh AK Abdul Momen cancelled his visit to India. He was scheduled to visit India from December 12-14. Bangladesh is reportedly upset with the CAB as it reflects the country�s poor track record in protecting its minorities.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday had clarified that the situation has improved after Awami League government came to power.
�Any speculation that this development is connected with the legislation adopted by Parliament yesterday regarding the Citizenship Amendment Bill is unwarranted,� said the spokesman.
�As long as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was leading Bangladesh, everything worked very well. But once his government went, minorities began to be oppressed. I can tell you that a large number of Bangladeshi Hindus had to come here to seek refuge.
The current government in Bangladesh is also taking care of religious minorities. It is making arrangements also for religious minorities, but there has been a long period in the past in between, during which people came to India on account of religious persecution. This Bill is only to give citizenship to those people who came at that time.�
The Bangladesh side have conveyed that the minister has changed his programme on account of domestic issues pertaining to the commemoration of the �Victory Day� in Bangladesh on December 16, said Kumar.
Raising the issue, Leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the CAB has triggered violence in the State. In Northeast, Army has been deployed. Northeast has strategic importance. Bangladeshi Hindus are living in fear. �Don�t destroy relation with Bangladesh,� he said.
Chowdhury further alleged that BJP MPs of Assam are going to their State incognito like illegal infiltrators.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, however, refuted the allegation and charged that the Congress party is instigating the violence. He claimed that the Northeast has become a Christian land because of massive conversion. He also alleged that a section of the Congress leaders were involved in the conversion exercise.
Amidst interruptions the Congress party joined MPs of the DMK, NCP, CPI-M, SP and AITMC and staged a walk out from the House.
Later Swagata Ray of Trinamool Congress asked the government about the proposed visit by Japanese Prime Minister, who is scheduled to visit Guwahati. The Union Home Minister should come and make a statement. Thereafter the Trinamool Congress also walked out.
