Provocative posts on Citizenship Amendment Act under surveillance: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: As many as 28 cases have been registered against 206 offensive and provocative posts in the social media against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). Altogether 25 of the 206 posts were generated outside Assam, including three in United Arab Emirates. The origins of these 25 posts are still under investigation.

Sharing this information with the media here on Monday, State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We’ve nothing to do when anybody’s posts for or against the CAA in the social media. However, we’re keeping all offensive and provocative posts under surveillance. We’ve already arrested 10 people. While five of them are in judicial remand, as many are on bail.”

On provocation against the CAA, the Minister said, “A section of people has been spreading provocative rumours in the tea estate areas that the Hindu Bangladeshis who’re supposed to get Indian citizenship under the CAA will be given settlement in ceiling surplus lands in the tea gardens. This is a blatant lie. The around 5.42 lakh Hindu Bangladeshis who’re supposed to get Indian citizenship are already settled in some areas in the State. And as such, the question of their fresh settlement doesn’t arise. The government is going to act against such rumour mongers.”

Spelling out the State government’s stance on the NRC (National Register of Citizens), Sarma said, “The NRC at the all-India level is a different issue. The NRC published in Assam is the outcome of the May 5, 2005 tripartite talks involving the AASU (All Assam Students’ Union), the State government and the Central government. It has been updated under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India. However, the State government has rejected its present form. We’ve also filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India seeking 20 per cent sample re-verification in the bordering districts. If massive errors are detected in the re-verification, we’ll demand a fresh NRC update in the State and move the Centre with the demand. Now the ball is with the apex court.”

Also Read: Citizenship Amendment Act: Educational institutions reopen after 10 days in Assam

Also Watch: All Assam Lawyers Association staged protest rally against CAA 2019 in Guwahati