Manipur Govt appeals to call off proposed bandh

Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 25: Manipur government appealed to all members of civil society organisations including Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (Desam) to call off the proposed bandh in the state in the interest of the general public.
“It is also further appealed to all the service providers including transporters, shop owners and other establishments to continue with normal activities during the days of the bandh,” State Chief Secretary O Nabakishore in an appeal. “The state government machinery will provide necessary security to all students during the bandh.”
It also stated that Supreme Court of India and High Court of Manipur have passed judgements and orders declaring bandh to be illegal as the fundamental rights of the people are curtailed. It implies that anybody engaged in calling and enforcement of bandh is liable to be prosecuted under the law.The state government cannot remain to be silent spectators when people are suffering due to bandh.The state machinery will compelled to take legal actions against the persons calling and enforcing bandh, it added.
Government’s appeal was relating to the 17 hour general strikes called by Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (Desam) in protest against the induction of Md Ashab Uddin, an independent MLA from Jiribam seat as a parliamentary secretary in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led coalition government in the state.
The general strike will come into force from March 25 midnight till 5pm of March 26.
A similar bandh was also called by Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation and AMMOCOC, another body, for the same period, demanding clarification from the government of India over NSCN-IM leader Muivah’s remark on ‘Naga Integration” and implementation of the three bills on Inner Line Permit system to save the indigenous people in the state.