SHILLONG, JAN 8: An 11-hour North East-wide ‘shut-down’ called by the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) to protest against the BJP-led NDA government’s move to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 passed off peacefully in Meghalaya with few stray incidents.
Heavy burning of tyres in different parts of the state including the state capital marked the beginning of the protest, which started at 5 am on Tuesday, amid tight security.
Boulders were also used for blocking the roads to prevent movement of vehicles which later were removed by security personnel.
In support, several students’ bodies have decided to observe the protest which also evoked positive response from the citizens of the eleven districts of the state.
Normal life was thrown out of gear with business establishments across the city including the two major commercial areas – Iewduh and Police Bazaar, educational institutions and bank institutions remained closed.
However, only few government and private vehicles were seen plying on the city roads during the hours of the protest.
The National Highways in the state were also affected with vehicles remain off roads.
While government offices remained open in all the districts, the attendance of office goers however registered a low percentage, a senior government official said.
Most of the rooms in the main Secretariat were almost empty with only few staffs attending to their duties.
Speaking to reporters, SP (City) SA Rynjah said, “Everything is peaceful…except for minor incidents where there have been some blocking of the roads with boulders and burning of tyres.”
Asked, he said there have been reports where office goers have been disturbed by volunteers of certain organizations but then the police on duty are assisting them.
Admitting that the protest has affected normal life, the SP however said people are walking on the road and emergency vehicles are plying on the road.
Rynjah said no arrest was made so far as there has been no incident of violence reported during the protest.
However, a KSU leader has informed that three activists of the Union from Malki area were detained and later released by police.
Vehemently opposing the Citizenship Bill, the NESO had earlier asked the Centre not to make the North East region a dumping ground for illegal immigrants.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in July 2016 to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 with an aim to provide citizenships to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians facing persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Earlier, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) led by the National People’s Party (NPP) was the first state government to oppose the Bill.
Claiming that passing of a cabinet resolution is the most aggressive stand taken by the MDA government, Sangma had also stated that his party would take a call when the time comes on whether to quit supporting the BJP-led NDA government.
By Our Reporter
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