Lok Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill, Assam protests

Assam: A 12-hour bandh has been called by local Assamese organisations to protest against the Citizenship Bill. Previously, the state reeled under the NRC that was introduced by the BJP government.

Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University and Cotton University in Assam have postponed examinations scheduled for today in lieu of the bandh called to protest against the Citizenship Bill

The Lok Sabha passed controversial legislation meant to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees fleeing religious persecution in three neighbouring countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on Monday.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, must be debated in the Rajya Sabha next, but isn't in today's listed business.

Protests were held against the proposed law on Monday in several parts of India; a 11-hour Northeast bandh called by a body of student groups began early this morning.

P Chidambaram described the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill as "patently unconstitutional" on Tuesday and said with its passage in Parliament, the battleground will shift to the Supreme Court.

He took to his Twitter handle to write: "CAB is unconstitutional. Parliament passes a Bill that is patently unconstitutional and the battle ground shifts to the Supreme Court. Elected Parliamentarians are abdicating their responsibilities in favour of lawyers and judges!," Chidambaram said in a tweet.