Assam

Guwahati, Jan 19 (PTI) Assam Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said it is impossible for an immigrant to provide proof of religious persecution.

Sarma, who is also convenor of the NDA's regional wing North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said that it is not possible for the person to go back to his country of origin and collect a copy of police report to show that he was subjected to religious persecution.

Guwahati, Jan 19 (PTI) Hundreds of women hit the streets here on Sunday protesting against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, even as public rallies were held across the state.

Artistes, journalists, writers and women from other fields joined in large numbers at Latasil playground and marched to Chandmari area of Guwahati and vowed to continue their agitation till the CAA is repealed.

"Women have been at the forefront in Assam protests.

Guwahati, Jan 5 (PTI) Protest against the amended Citizenship Act continued across Assam on Sunday with thousands of people hitting the streets in the state capital in a 15-km long march originating from Bhupen Hazarika's memorial.

Called by the artiste community and supported by All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP), the march was joined by anti-CAA leaders like Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, Lurinjyoti Gogoi and popular singer Zubeen Garg.

Guwahati, Jan 3 (PTI) Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said the Congress will bring a resolution during the special one-day session of the Assam Legislative Assembly on January 13 to ensure that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is not implemented in the state.

The resolution will make a plea to ensure that the Assam Accord is not violated or diluted in any way by the CAA which should not be implemented in the state, Gogoi told reporters here.

Guwahati, Jan 1 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal faced black flags by agitators protesting against the amended Citizenship Act on Wednesday, the first day of the year.

Activists of the AASU and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) waved black flags at him at a number of locations while the chief minister was travelling from Guwahati to the ashram of religious preacher Krishnaguru in Barpeta district.

The protesters also shouted anti-CAA and anti- government slogans while Sonowal's convoy was passing through Nalbari and Barpeta districts.

Guwahati, Dec 31 (PTI) The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on Tuesday said it has incurred a loss of over Rs 100 crore till December 30 due to the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

NFR chief public relations officer Subhanan Chanda said the impact started from December 9 in the areas within the jurisdiction of NFR.

Guwahati, Dec 31 (PTI) Tourism in Assam suffered an estimated loss of Rs 1,000 crore due to violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act, a top official said on Tuesday.

The sector has been badly hit in December and will be in January too, Assam Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah told a press conference here.

Along with domestic tourists, their flow from abroad too took a hit after a number of countries issued travel advisories due to the ongoing protests, Baruah said.

Tezpur (Assam), Dec 29 (PTI) In order to avoid anti- CAA protests by AASU here, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took a 5-km chopper ride to reach the venue, where a function was held to pay tribute to deceased BJP MLA Rajen Borthakur.

After arriving Tezpur by helicopter from Guwahati on Saturday, Sarma could not go to Ghoramari, where the programme was taking place, due to the agitation by All Assam Students' Union (AASU).

Guwahati, Dec 28 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday visited homes of two persons - Sam Stafford and Dipanjal Das, who were killed in firing by security forces during protests against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act earlier this month.

After addressing a public rally against the CAA, Gandhi who is in a day-long visit to Assam, headed towards the home of Stafford at Hatigaon area here.

He paid floral tributes to the portrait of the 17-year old youth, who was killed in firing by security forces on December 12 near his home during anti-CAA protests.

Guwahati (Assam), Dec 28 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said Assam might return to the path of violence due to policies of the BJP governments at the Centre and the state.

Gandhi, who was addressing a public rally here, said the spirit of Assam Accord which brought peace to the state, should not be ruined.