'Assam Is New Kashmir': Twitter Express Outrage Over Suspension Of Internet Services

Twitterati on Wednesday expressed outrage over suspension of internet services in Assam amid massive protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The Assam government announced on Wednesday that internet services will be suspended in 10 districts of Assam for 24 hours, beginning 7 pm. "24hrs internet ban issued in Kamrup(Metro), Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat & Kamrup districts. Democracy?Govt cannot stop us. We are in the roads to protest," Twitter user Borgohain Mousumi said.

Aman Wadud tweeted, "Internet to be shutdown in several districts of Assam from 7pm. Assam finally inching towards 'normalcy'." "As people protest against the CAB, BJP is doing what it does best, cut off communication. And then say everything is normal. Dialogue is the way forward, not blockade," tweeted Gangotri Neog, a chemical engineer.

Another user Ejaz tweeted, "Assam is on the verge to be called New Kashmir as Internet blackout and curfew in state started to show impact on common people. Everything looks fine untill the same you suffer." Internet services will be suspended in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup, according to a notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Political Department) Kumar Sanjay Krishna.

Internet will be suspended as "social media platforms like Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter and You Tube etc are likely to be used for spreading of rumours and also for transmission of information like pictures, videos and texts that have the potential to inflame passions and does exacerbate the law and order situation," the official notification said.