Mizoram governor addresses ‘empty’ Republic Day venue

Mizoram governor Kummanam Rajasekharan addressed an almost-empty ground in Aizawl as celebrations of the 70th Republic Day in the northeastern states were muted on Saturday due to public backlash against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. A shutdown called by insurgent groups in Manipur saw low public turnout, while in Assam, police ensured no one carried black cloth to official functions.

Rajasekharan unfurled the national flag and addressed a very small gathering comprising just ministers, legislators and top officials at Assam Rifles ground in Aizawl as members of NGO Coordination Committee (NCC) demonstrated near the venue. NCC had given a call on Friday for boycotting Republic Day celebrations in protest against the Citizenship Bill.

“In response to the boycott call, the members of the public did not participate in any Republic Day event in the state. However, there were no reports of any untoward incident,” a police officer said.

The celebrations in Assam and other northeastern states took place despite a boycott call given by eight terrorist outfits in the region, including United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa).

At least five organisations, including the United Committee Manipur, All Manipur United Clubs Organisation and Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak, jointly boycotted the Republic Day celebrations in Manipur to protest against the Bill.

The main function was held at Kangla in capital Imphal where governor Najma Heptulla took the salute from military and other contingents. Chief minister N Biren Singh, opposition leader Okram Ibobi and several Ministers were present at the event but public participation was slim due to the shutdown call by terrorist groups.

Chief minister Singh came down heavily on organisations that boycotted Republic Day celebrations to protest against the Citizenship Bill, saying they should instead contest elections to get people’s mandate. “Let the teachers, students and others carry out their respective duties,” the chief minister said, warning that actions of these outfits would tantamount to running a “parallel administration”, which is “unacceptable”.

In Assam, following massive protests with black flags being shown to ministers and senior BJP leaders in the last few weeks, police made extra effort to prevent any black cloth from being carried. Multi-layered security was put in place to ensure this at the main R-Day function at Veterinary College Playground in Guwahati.

“We have been asked to check if anyone carries black cloth. People are not allowed to carry any black item inside the ground,” an Assam Police constable deputed at one of the gates said.