New Delhi, December 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday broke his silence over the protests which are underway in Assam from earlier this month and escalated with the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), 2019 in the Parliament. Modi took to social media to appeal for calm and peace in Assam, adding that his government would never allow the rights of indigenous communities to be compromised. CAB Protest: Stone Pelted at Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal's House, Protesters in Assam Set Ablaze Chabua And Panitola Railway Stations.

The CAB, he claimed, should not spark anxiety and panic in Assam as the Bill has no provisions which would detrimentally affect linguistic, cultural and indigenous heritage of Assam. The legislation is also not in contradiction to the Assam Accord of 1985. Guwahati: Army Conducts Flag March to Quell Anti-CAB Protests, Indefinite Curfew Continues, Mobile Internet Remains Snapped.

"I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of CAB. I want to assure them - no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow," Modi said.

"The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6," he further tweeted.

Tweet by PM Modi:

The Prime Minister's reiteration to adhere to the commitments made under Clause 6 of Assam Accord comes a day after Home Minister Amit Shah underscored the point. The latter, while speaking in the Rajya Sabha ahead of CAB passage, said the Modi government was the first one in last three decades which formed a committee to suggest measures to ensure absolute adherence to the promises made under Clause 6.

Notably, the Clause 6 of Assam Accord 1985 was inserted after several rounds of dialogues between the then Rajiv Gandhi-led government and the All Assam Students' Union. The clause includes provisions which are aimed at protecting cultural, social and linguistic identity of Assam through legislative and administrative measures.

"Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people," reads the Clause 6 included in the Accord.

The appeal for peace and restraint by PM Modi comes amid a state of curfew imposed in Assam and mobile internet services being terminated in 10 districts of the state. The agitation turned violent last night with a section of protesters burning down the Railway stations of Chabua and Panitola, and also pelted stones at the residence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 12, 2019 10:41 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).