Our Correspondent
Imphal, Dec. 9 (EMN): Normal life has been affected in Manipur on Monday due to ‘cease work’ movement spearheaded by the Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (MANPAC) against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2019.
The entire market areas in Imphal including the busiest Khwairamband Keithel wore a deserted look due to the cease-work movement while local transport services also suspended their normal service for the day. However, there was no report of any untoward incident during the day’s ‘cease work’ movement.
MANPAC-a conglomerate of several civil society organisations in the state has been launching various forms of public movement to oppose implementation of CAB in Manipur and Northeastern states.
Earlier in the morning, the state Chief Minister N Biren Singh while inspecting a solid waste management plant in the outskirt of Imphal around 11 am, told reporters that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah had informed him over the phone that the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system be enforced in the whole state to protect indigenous people. ILP is currently in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
Stating that the implementation of ILP in Manipur has been a dream and a long-standing demand of the people of the state, he said people should thank the Central Government for their concerns for the state.
Later briefing reporters in the evening around 6 pm, Biren expressed his happiness over the announcement by the Union Home Minister to extend the ILP in Manipur. He also announced that Tuesday will be declared a holiday on this historic occasion.
Earlier in the day, supporting the MANPAC’s movement, the women vendors of temporary markets staged a sit-in demonstration at Khwairamband area. The All Manipur Bar Association members also staged a similar demonstration at Uripok.
MANPAC’s cease work movement which was started from 1 am on December 9 is scheduled to continue till 3 am of December 11. But later in the evening around 7 pm, MANPAC leaders announced to relax the proposed movement to hold a public meeting at 11 am tomorrow (based on the centre’s report of extending ILP in Manipur) to take a resolution for a future course of action.