GUWAHATI – India moved thousands of troops into the northeastern state of Assam on Thursday as violent protests erupted against a new law that would make it easier for non-Muslim minorities from neighboring countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to seek Indian citizenship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government said the so-called Citizenship Amendment Bill was meant to protect “besieged” minorities.
Critics said it undermines the country’s secular constitution by not offering protection to Muslims while others argue it will open India’s northern states to a flood of foreigners.
As India’s upper house of parliament passed the bill in the early hours of Thursday, protests took place across India’s northeast.(Reuters)
