IT News
Imphal, Aug 5:
Almost all places in Imphal West and Imphal East district today were paralysed after a large number of womenfolk came to the street and blocked the road as a response to the general strike called against the failure of the state government for convening a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The 24-hour general strike was called by the Co-ordinating Committee of 27 Assembly Constituencies. Markets and business establishments remain shut in almost all localities; however, several hundreds of women and youths were seen on the roads blocking passersby. The womenfolk even stop vehicles of the central security forces. Public transport stayed off the road and only a few private vehicles were seen plying on the streets. Schools also remained closed due to the strike from midnight.
Police and paramilitary forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells at Singjamei to disperse the womenfolk. Tension runs high among the locals.
Convenor of the committee, L. Binod had stated that the strike is not to add to the hardships of the people, but to “pressure the government”.
The state Cabinet on Friday recommended Governor Anusuiya Uikey to convene a session of the assembly on August 21. The last Assembly session was held in March.
Mentioned may be made that, a public meeting organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on July 29 had resolved to urge the MLAs to convene the special assembly session before August 5. The meeting also resolved that the people can take any agitation if the government fails to convene the special assembly session.