IJU concern on Internet shutdown in Assam, Tripura

PR / Desk

GUWAHATI, December 12, 2019: The Indian Journalists Union expresses grave concern over the internet shutdown in the north eastern States of Assam and Tripura by the State governments in the name of controlling law and order situation arising out of the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in both Houses of Parliament.

The governments shut down the internet services since Monday in Tripura and since Wednesday in many districts of Assam. In a statement, IJU President Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General Sabina Inderjit said that blocking internet services is an attack on freedom of speech and expression, the right of citizens to get information and curtailing media’s freedom.

The IJU demands immediate restoration of internet services in the north eastern States and also asked the government not to take away the fundamental rights of freedom of expression in the name of controlling law and order situation. Rather, it should ensure that people have the right to information, more so at a time when rumours can trigger further trouble. At the same time, the

IJU shares the concerns of the citizens that the CAB is discriminatory on religious lines and violates one of the basic tenets, secularism, as enshrined in the Constitution.