The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, canceled his state visit to India due to unrest in Assam state. He was supposed to meet with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. (Image via Euronews)

Abe cancels state visit to India amid Assam unrest

Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, canceled his state visit to India amid the tension in Assam state, Northeast India, where he was supposedly holding talks with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, on Friday.

Modi had planned the state visit for Abe since last Sunday in Assam to show diversity outside the capital of India, New Delhi. Moreover, Japan is improving infrastructure work in Assam state in recent years. In the supposed summit, Abe and Modi were expected to highlight the projects.

Abe also intended to visit a memorial nearby Manipur, where Japanese soldiers were killed during the WWII era.

The tension in Assam was triggered due to the new citizenship regulation running into effect since Thursday.

The new regulation gives Indian citizenship for six minority religious groups from neighboring Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Indian people were afraid that the regulation would be misused by illegal immigrants, especially Bangladeshis.

Furthermore, the Indian people think that if legal citizenship is given to these immigrants, India’s resources will be further strained.

During the unrest in Assam on Thursday, two persons were killed as the police force opened fire to disperse mobs torching buildings and attacking railway stations to go on strike against the new regulation.

Fortunately, on Friday, the police force said that there had been no unrest. But, the police force stays sharp.

Source: https://bit.ly/2LQIxcg