General strike hits Manipur life

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, August 1, 2018: Twenty-four hour general strike imposed by Joint committee of United Committee Manipur (UCM), All Manipur Clubs’ Organisation (Amuco) and the Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak (CCSK) has paralysed Manipur specially the valley areas.

The general strike was imposed against possible extension of Article 371 (A) in Manipur to give “special status” to Naga as outcome of the Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN (I-M) and government of India

The framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015 to finalise the decades’ long Naga peace talk.

The joint committee alleged divisive policy of central government to “disintegrate the state” through the Framework Agreement.

Inter-state and inter-district road transports were cut off. Capital city Imphal wore a deserted look. Institutions, departments and all forms of business establishment were paralysed due to the strike.

Strike supporters blocked roads in different parts of the state. Tyres were burnt on the roads, poles and stones were placed to barricade transport.

The joint committee said that interlocutor R.N. Ravi, presented a report recently in the Parliament by the standing committee on home affairs which suggests “special status” for the Nagas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh under Article 371(A) of the Constitution.

Centre’s attempt to enforce Article 371(A) in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is a strategy to disintegrate people and territory in the three states. It is an attempt to create a state within state, which cannot be accepted, said the committee.

The joint committee staged a sit-in at Keishampat Imphal on July 28. It also scheduled to hold a mass rally on August 18.

Reformist Students’ Front has also announced to extend the general strike by one more day till Thursday midnight in support of the civil societies movement.