Japan PM Shinzo Abe's India visit postpones as Assam burns over Citizenship Bill

Assam : Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's India visit has been postponed amid protests against the passage of citizenship bill in the Assam, the designated venue for India-Japan Summit.

As Assam is engulfed in violent protests, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar released a statement that they are not sure if the government would go ahead with India-Japan annual summit in Guwahati from December 15-17 as planned.

“We don't have any update to share,” Kumar said at a weekly media briefing while replying to a volley of questions on the issue.

Last week, he had announced that the India-Japan Summit has been scheduled this year from 15-17 December.

At least two people have been killed in the violent protests which erupted soon after the controversial Citizenship Bill was cleared in Rajya Sabha.

Asked whether the government is contemplating shifting the venue, Kumar said: "I am not in a position to clarify on it. I have no updates to offer." Sources said a Japanese team visited Guwahati on Wednesday to take stock of the preparations.