Guwahati: The 12-hour Assam bandh on Tuesday, called to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 that many in the state fear is an attempt by the government to make peace with illegal Bangladeshi settlers, has affected normal life in the state as public transport buses were off the roads.

Those in favour of the bandh are protesting against the move of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to hold meetings with officials of the Union ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs to facilitate the passage of the bill. They allege that these authorities have not visited Assam for the second time to take into account the views of people and organisations hugely affected by infiltration.

The Congress and the leftists see the bill as the BJP government's bid to grant Indian citizenship to the non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, a distinction that the opposition is against, notwithstanding the fact that Hindus may be fleeing persecution in Bangladesh whereas Muslims who infiltrate may have economic or terror-related reasons to enter India.

The Assam unit of the Congress is leading the bandh. It enjoys the support of 46 organisations, including Assam’s farmer organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), student organisation Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP), Ahom Sena.

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), an ally party of BJP-led Assam government, the Congress, AIUDF support the bandh too. Many workers of the AGP are taking part in the protests. The AGP expects 50,000 people to participate in the rally. 

The bandh supporters blocked roads and major thoroughfares by burning tyres in Guwahati, Morigaon, Nagaon, Tinsukia, Dhubri districts. Shops and business establishments in many places, including in several parts of Guwahati, remained closed. Security has been heightened across the state.

Over 100 protesters and the members of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and Chatra Mukti Sangram Samiti blocked the Silchar Passenger train at Mohammedpur in Hailakandi district. The train movement was stopped for half an hour at Mohammedpur. Later, police detained 62 protesters.

Sources said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had held an emergency meeting with senior ministers and BJP leaders to discuss the bandh. The government has asked employees to report for duty on Tuesday. 

What does the Bill say?

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, aims to change the definition of illegal migrants. The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 15, 2016, seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to provide citizenship to illegal migrants, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who are of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian extraction.

However, the Act doesn’t have a provision for Muslim sects like Shias and Ahmediyas who also face persecution in Pakistan.

The Bill also seeks to reduce the requirement of 11 years of continuous stay in the country to six years to obtain citizenship by naturalisation.

Who are illegal immigrants technically?

According to the Citizenship Act, 1955, an illegal immigrant is one who enters India without a valid passport or with forged documents. Or, a person who stays beyond the visa permit.

During General elections 2014, the BJP had promised to grant citizenship to Hindus persecuted in the neighbouring countries. In the party's election manifesto, the BJP had promised to welcome Hindu refugees and give shelter to them.