Japan's Abe Planning To Cancel Trip To India Over Security Fears: Media
Sumaira FH Published December 13, 2019 | 01:17 PM
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to scrap a visit to northeast India as the security situation there deteriorates following the passage of a controversial citizenship bill, media reported Friday
Tokyo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Dec, 2019 ) :Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to scrap a visit to northeast India as the security situation there deteriorates following the passage of a controversial citizenship bill, media reported Friday.
Abe had announced plans to visit India from Sunday to Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to reports in the Indian press, Modi and Abe were due to meet in the northeastern city of Guwahati in Assam state -- the epicentre of the protests of recent days.
They were then slated to visit a new Peace Museum in Manipur -- another northeastern state -- dedicated to the tens of thousands of soldiers, mostly Japanese, who died at the WWII Battle of Imphal between Japanese and Allied forces.
But Abe is rethinking the visit "because security is deteriorating there," public broadcaster NHK said, adding that Tokyo would make a formal announcement later Friday.
A foreign ministry official in Tokyo said he was unable to confirm the reports immediately. However, a briefing for foreign media on the trip was abruptly cancelled "because we are examining the local circumstances.
" An AFP reporter in Guwahati said that dozens of hoardings for the India-Japan summit were lying on the ground after protesters tore them down.
On Thursday, police in northeast India opened fire on a crowd demonstrating against a new citizenship bill, killing two people and wounding several others.
Authorities deployed thousands of paramilitaries and blocked mobile internet access in the region to counter the protesters.
Local police, who joined the paramilitaries in clashes with demonstrators defying a curfew in Guwahati opened fire on the crowd with both blank and live rounds.
India's Citizenship Amendment Bill, passed by the upper house of parliament on Wednesday, allows for the fast-tracking of citizenship applications from religious minorities from three neighbouring countries, but not Muslims.
The two demonstrators killed by police were among a large group being treated for various wounds at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
KP Govt makes botch attempt to maintain credibility by attributing false stateme ..
Juventus sack Allegri for Italian Cup rampage
KP Govt makes both attempt to maintain credibility by attributing false statemen ..
150 personnel of CDA, climate change ministry team up to control Margalla forest ..
Arne Slot confirms he will replace Jurgen Klopp as manager Liverpool
Higher US food prices lead to a shift in shopping habits
First aid enters Gaza via US-built pier
PIA flight to Toronto diverted to Karachi due to technical fault
Aid groups warn of mounting challenges to Gaza operations
Slot confirms replacing Klopp as Liverpool manager next season
Mainly hot and dry weather likely in most parts of country
UN rights expert condemns Palestinian doctor's death in Israeli custody, urges i ..
More Stories From World
-
3 tourists killed in Afghanistan were Spanish: ministry
5 hours ago -
Football's governing body delays vote on Palestinian call to bar Israel
5 hours ago -
Argentine leader denounces 'satanic' socialism during Spain visit
5 hours ago -
US evacuates 17 US citizen doctors from Gaza: officials
5 hours ago -
French police kill Algerian trying to set fire to synagogue
5 hours ago -
Nancy Pelosi's husband's attacker jailed for 30 years
7 hours ago
-
Aid delivery in Gaza via newly built US floating dock welcomed, but land routes ‘more important’ ..
7 hours ago -
First aid enters Gaza via US-built pier
7 hours ago -
Aid groups warn of mounting challenges to Gaza operations
7 hours ago -
UN rights expert condemns Palestinian doctor's death in Israeli custody, urges independent probe
8 hours ago -
4 killed, including 3 foreigners, in Afghanistan shooting: government
8 hours ago -
Military spending pushes Russian economic growth up
8 hours ago