New Delhi: The continued unrest and violence in the northeast over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has led to the postponement of the scheduled summit in Guwahati of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe slated to take place from December 15 to 17.

“Both sides have decided to defer the visit to a mutually convenient date in the near future,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. On December 12, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and the country’s Home Minister called off their visits to India in the midst of the agitations in the northeast.

The talks between Modi and Abe was due to take place from December 15 to 17. A Japanese media report had said he may consider canceling the visit amid violent protests. On December 11, protesters pulled down hoardings erected in central Guwahati to welcome Mr Abe.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, who cancelled his visit, was scheduled to visit Meghalaya for an event on December 13.

Raveesh Kumar

@MEAIndia

With reference to the proposed visit of Japanese PM @AbeShinzo to India, both sides have decided to defer the visit to a mutually convenient date in the near future.

Guwahati, the planned venue for the three-day summit between Abe and Modi, has been engulfed in violent protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.