<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/northeast-bandh-begins-against-citizenship-amendment-bill-188915">Agitators clashed with the police</a>, gheraoed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's house at his native place in Dibrugarh, blocked national highways and damaged vehicles in Assam during an 11-hour "bandh" called by the AASU to protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/agp-pulls-out-of-alliance-with-bjp-in-assam-after-the-union-cabinet-approves-citizenship-amendment-bill-188833">The All Assam Students' Union (AASU)</a> activists clashed with the police when they attempted to ransack a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Dibrugarh, prompting the security forces to resort to lathi-charge and fire rubber bullets to disperse the protestors.

Nobody was injured in the incident, the police said.

The AASU has called for a statewide "bandh" and it is being supported by the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which withdrew support to the BJP-led government in Assam on Monday.

Opposition Congress, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) are also supporting the bandh.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to those Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014.

Normal life was hit in the Brahmaputra valley and was partially affected in the Barak valley due to a "north-east bandh" called separately by the North East Students' Organisation (NESO), an umbrella organisation of students' bodies in the region, of which the AASU is a constituent.

The "bandh" called by the NESO on the same issue is being supported by over 100 organisations in Assam as well as in the other north-eastern states.

The agitators gheraoed Sonowal's house in his hometown, Dibrugarh, to register their protest against the bill. They raised slogans that the chief minister had no reason to continue on his post as he could not protect the interests of the people of the state.

The protesters blocked roads and national highways by burning tyres and smashed the windshields of trucks, cars, and autorickshaws at many places, including in Guwahati, the police said.

The picketers squatted on the railway tracks at various places in Guwahati and Dibrugarh district, but the movement of trains, including that of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express and the Kolkata-bound Kamrup Express, resumed after the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel removed them from the tracks, railway sources said.

There was no movement of goods-laden trucks on all the national highways, following an economic blockade call issued by the KMSS, sources said.

Private and government vehicles plying on the national highways were being escorted by the police in convoys, they added.

Banners and posters at a BJP office were set ablaze in Golaghat, while a black flag was put up at another office of the saffron party in Lakhimpur district, the police said.

Shops, markets, banks, and other financial institutions kept their shutters down, educational institutions, private offices remained closed and private vehicles including long-distance buses kept off the roads in the Brahmaputra valley, the police and official sources said.

The attendance was thin in government offices as the employees faced difficulty in reaching the workplace in the absence of adequate public transport, the sources said.

The "bandh" also evoked a response in the Barak valley, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on January 4 that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would be passed in Parliament as soon as possible as a penance for past injustices.

Thirty ethnic organisations, besides 69 other groups along with the KMSS, have extended their support to the "bandh".

AASU and NESO chief adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya told reporters, "If Meghalaya and Mizoram can adopt a cabinet resolution opposing the bill, why can't Assam do the same?"

"The people of Assam, for the last 70 years since Independence, have been forced by the Centre to agitate for their rights, language, existence, culture, heritage and infrastructure."

Dipankar Nath, the president of AASU, which had led the six-year-long Assam Movement against illegal immigrants, said, "Despite wide opposition to it, the BJP government at the Centre has undemocratically imposed the bill on us as they want to win the (Lok Sabha) election by taking the votes of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants."

The "north-east bandh" called by the NESO is being enforced by its member organisations such as the Mizo Zirlai Pawal (MZP), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), the Garo Students' Union (GSU), the Naga Students' Federation (NSF), the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) and the Twipra Students' Federation (TSF).

The "bandh" has hit normal life in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, according to reports from these states.

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) activists clashed with the police when they attempted to ransack a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Dibrugarh.

Agitators clashed with the police, gheraoed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's house at his native place in Dibrugarh, blocked national highways and damaged vehicles in Assam during an 11-hour "bandh" called by the AASU to protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) activists clashed with the police when they attempted to ransack a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Dibrugarh, prompting the security forces to resort to lathi-charge and fire rubber bullets to disperse the protestors. Nobody was injured in the incident, the police said. The AASU has called for a statewide "bandh" and it is being supported by the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which withdrew support to the BJP-led government in Assam on Monday. Opposition Congress, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) are also supporting the bandh. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to those Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014. Normal life was hit in the Brahmaputra valley and was partially affected in the Barak valley due to a "north-east bandh" called separately by the North East Students' Organisation (NESO), an umbrella organisation of students' bodies in the region, of which the AASU is a constituent. The "bandh" called by the NESO on the same issue is being supported by over 100 organisations in Assam as well as in the other north-eastern states. The agitators gheraoed Sonowal's house in his hometown, Dibrugarh, to register their protest against the bill. They raised slogans that the chief minister had no reason to continue on his post as he could not protect the interests of the people of the state. The protesters blocked roads and national highways by burning tyres and smashed the windshields of trucks, cars, and autorickshaws at many places, including in Guwahati, the police said. The picketers squatted on the railway tracks at various places in Guwahati and Dibrugarh district, but the movement of trains, including that of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express and the Kolkata-bound Kamrup Express, resumed after the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel removed them from the tracks, railway sources said. There was no movement of goods-laden trucks on all the national highways, following an economic blockade call issued by the KMSS, sources said. Private and government vehicles plying on the national highways were being escorted by the police in convoys, they added. Banners and posters at a BJP office were set ablaze in Golaghat, while a black flag was put up at another office of the saffron party in Lakhimpur district, the police said. Shops, markets, banks, and other financial institutions kept their shutters down, educational institutions, private offices remained closed and private vehicles including long-distance buses kept off the roads in the Brahmaputra valley, the police and official sources said. The attendance was thin in government offices as the employees faced difficulty in reaching the workplace in the absence of adequate public transport, the sources said. The "bandh" also evoked a response in the Barak valley, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on January 4 that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would be passed in Parliament as soon as possible as a penance for past injustices. Thirty ethnic organisations, besides 69 other groups along with the KMSS, have extended their support to the "bandh". AASU and NESO chief adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya told reporters, "If Meghalaya and Mizoram can adopt a cabinet resolution opposing the bill, why can't Assam do the same?" "The people of Assam, for the last 70 years since Independence, have been forced by the Centre to agitate for their rights, language, existence, culture, heritage and infrastructure." Dipankar Nath, the president of AASU, which had led the six-year-long Assam Movement against illegal immigrants, said, "Despite wide opposition to it, the BJP government at the Centre has undemocratically imposed the bill on us as they want to win the (Lok Sabha) election by taking the votes of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants." The "north-east bandh" called by the NESO is being enforced by its member organisations such as the Mizo Zirlai Pawal (MZP), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), the Garo Students' Union (GSU), the Naga Students' Federation (NSF), the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) and the Twipra Students' Federation (TSF). The "bandh" has hit normal life in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, according to reports from these states.

Bandh against Citizenship Bill hits normal life in Assam, other NE states

AIUDF chief and Member of Parliament Maulana Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday threatened to smash the head of a journalist, who asked him about the prospects of an alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state.

Ajmal, who represents Dhubri Lok Sabha seat in Assam, allegedly tried to hit the journalist too, while his supporters forced the scribe to tender apologies publicly.

During a press interaction after a function where he felicitated the panchayat election winners of South Salmara district, the journalist asked AIUDF chief if he would ally with the Congress or the BJP in the future.

In response, Ajmal hurled abuse at the journalist "You all are the same who just want to target me. Go dogs. For how much money have you been bought by the BJP? Go, even your father is on sale there. Get out of here or I will smash your head. Go file case against me. I have thousands of men employed to fight for me."

Snapping back at the journalist with a counter-question, the AIUDF chief said, "How much of money will you give? Is this a reporting? Journalists like you defame the entire community."&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal in Hatsingimari, Assam threatens to smash head of journalist who asked him if he'll ally with Congress or BJP in future: Go dogs, for how much money have you been bought by BJP? Go away, I will smash your head. Go register a case against me. <a href="https://t.co/XQvp5mZ4it">pic.twitter.com/XQvp5mZ4it</a>
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The journalist is believed to have filed a complaint with the police against the lawmaker.

However, AIUDF chief informed the media that his party was looking forward to 'Mahagathbandhan,' which is going to take place in New Delhi. "We are looking forward to the formula being worked out under Mahagathbandhan in New Delhi," said Ajmal.

AIUDF chief and Member of Parliament Maulana Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday threatened to smash the head of a journalist, who asked him about the prospects of an alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state.

AIUDF chief and Member of Parliament Maulana Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday threatened to smash the head of a journalist, who asked him about the prospects of an alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state. Ajmal, who represents Dhubri Lok Sabha seat in Assam, allegedly tried to hit the journalist too, while his supporters forced the scribe to tender apologies publicly. During a press interaction after a function where he felicitated the panchayat election winners of South Salmara district, the journalist asked AIUDF chief if he would ally with the Congress or the BJP in the future. In response, Ajmal hurled abuse at the journalist "You all are the same who just want to target me. Go dogs. For how much money have you been bought by the BJP? Go, even your father is on sale there. Get out of here or I will smash your head. Go file case against me. I have thousands of men employed to fight for me." Snapping back at the journalist with a counter-question, the AIUDF chief said, "How much of money will you give? Is this a reporting? Journalists like you defame the entire community." #WATCH AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal in Hatsingimari, Assam threatens to smash head of journalist who asked him if he'll ally with Congress or BJP in future: Go dogs, for how much money have you been bought by BJP? Go away, I will smash your head. Go register a case against me. pic.twitter.com/XQvp5mZ4it — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 × The journalist is believed to have filed a complaint with the police against the lawmaker. However, AIUDF chief informed the media that his party was looking forward to 'Mahagathbandhan,' which is going to take place in New Delhi. "We are looking forward to the formula being worked out under Mahagathbandhan in New Delhi," said Ajmal.

'I will smash your head', AIUDF chief threatens journalist, tries to hit him

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) on Wednesday revealed that a total of 58 MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to hate speech.

The ADR and NEW have analysed the self- sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs.

"15 sitting Lok Sabha MPs have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves. None of the Rajya Sabha MPs has declared cases related to hate speech," a report by Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.&nbsp

Ten sitting Lok Sabha MPs with such declared cases are from BJP, and one each from AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front), TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi), PMK (Paattali Makkall Katchi), AIMIM and SHS (Shiv Sena), it said.

BJP has 27 MPs, MLAs with such cases, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has 6, TRS (6), TDP (3), SHS (3), AITC (2), INC (2), IND (2), JD(U) (2), AIUDF (1), BSP (1), DMK (1), PMK (1) and SP (1), the ADR report added.

"Political party leaders such as Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) and Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves," ADR said.

Also, Uma Bharti, Union Cabinet Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation has declared such cases as also eight state ministers, the report added.

There are 43 sitting MLAs who have declared hate speech cases.

Among party-wise distribution of MLAs, 17 sitting MLAs with such declared cases are from BJP, five each are from TRS and AIMIM, three from TDP, two each from INC, AITC, JD(U) and SHS, one each from DMK, BSP, SP and two Independent MLAs, the report added.

ADR and National Election Watch (NEW) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs. The analysis reveals that many of them have declared cases related to hate speech.

The analysis is based on the affidavits submitted by the candidates and MPs/MLAs prior to the last election they contested.

Uttar Pradesh has 15 MPs, MLAs with declared cases related to hate speech, followed by Telangana (13), Karnataka (5) and Maharashtra (5), among others.

The report further said 11 sitting MLAs with such cases are from Telangana, four from Bihar, nine from Uttar Pradesh and four from Maharashtra.

Besides, three MLAs each are from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, two each from Uttarakhand and West Bengal and one MLA each from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

ADR said it believes that strict action must be taken against the candidates giving hate speech prior and during elections, and against the elected legislators even after elections if found guilty of indulging in hate speech.&nbsp

"Political parties must not give tickets to candidates who have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast-tracked and decided upon in a time-bound manner," ADR said in its recommendations.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked BJP leaders to refrain from making "irresponsible" statements, saying such comments hurt the party's image.

In the last five years, 198 candidates with declared cases related to hate speech have contested elections for state assemblies, Lok/Rajya Sabha.

Also, in the last five years, 28 independent candidates with declared cases related to hate speech have contested elections for state assemblies, Lok/Rajya Sabha.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)

BJP has 27 MPs, MLAs with such cases, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has 6, TRS (6), TDP (3), SHS (3), AITC (2), INC (2), IND (2), JD(U) (2), AIUDF (1), BSP (1), DMK (1), PMK (1) and SP (1), the ADR report added.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) on Wednesday revealed that a total of 58 MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to hate speech. The ADR and NEW have analysed the self- sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs. "15 sitting Lok Sabha MPs have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves. None of the Rajya Sabha MPs has declared cases related to hate speech," a report by Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said. Ten sitting Lok Sabha MPs with such declared cases are from BJP, and one each from AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front), TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi), PMK (Paattali Makkall Katchi), AIMIM and SHS (Shiv Sena), it said. BJP has 27 MPs, MLAs with such cases, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has 6, TRS (6), TDP (3), SHS (3), AITC (2), INC (2), IND (2), JD(U) (2), AIUDF (1), BSP (1), DMK (1), PMK (1) and SP (1), the ADR report added. "Political party leaders such as Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) and Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves," ADR said. Also, Uma Bharti, Union Cabinet Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation has declared such cases as also eight state ministers, the report added. There are 43 sitting MLAs who have declared hate speech cases. Among party-wise distribution of MLAs, 17 sitting MLAs with such declared cases are from BJP, five each are from TRS and AIMIM, three from TDP, two each from INC, AITC, JD(U) and SHS, one each from DMK, BSP, SP and two Independent MLAs, the report added. ADR and National Election Watch (NEW) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs. The analysis reveals that many of them have declared cases related to hate speech. The analysis is based on the affidavits submitted by the candidates and MPs/MLAs prior to the last election they contested. Uttar Pradesh has 15 MPs, MLAs with declared cases related to hate speech, followed by Telangana (13), Karnataka (5) and Maharashtra (5), among others. The report further said 11 sitting MLAs with such cases are from Telangana, four from Bihar, nine from Uttar Pradesh and four from Maharashtra. Besides, three MLAs each are from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, two each from Uttarakhand and West Bengal and one MLA each from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. ADR said it believes that strict action must be taken against the candidates giving hate speech prior and during elections, and against the elected legislators even after elections if found guilty of indulging in hate speech. "Political parties must not give tickets to candidates who have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast-tracked and decided upon in a time-bound manner," ADR said in its recommendations. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked BJP leaders to refrain from making "irresponsible" statements, saying such comments hurt the party's image. In the last five years, 198 candidates with declared cases related to hate speech have contested elections for state assemblies, Lok/Rajya Sabha. Also, in the last five years, 28 independent candidates with declared cases related to hate speech have contested elections for state assemblies, Lok/Rajya Sabha. (With inputs from PTI and ANI)

Hate speech cases: BJP, Owaisi's AIMIM top the list

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Bandh against Citizenship Bill hits normal life in Assam, other NE states

'I will smash your head', AIUDF chief threatens journalist, tries to hit him

Hate speech cases: BJP, Owaisi's AIMIM top the list