Effigies of Modi burnt during general strike

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, January 31, 2019: Effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were burnt by agitating groups in different parts of Imphal during 24-hour general strike imposed since yesterday midnight and police foiled attempt to hang the effigy at Yairiok in Thoubal district.

A committee Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill formed by 66 civil societies imposed the general strike across the state opposing the citizenship amendment bill.

The effigies of the Prime Minister were burnt by agitators at Uripok and Thangmeiband in Imphal West. At Thangmeiband the effigy of the Prime minister was burnt along with the effigy of Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh. Biren’s effigy was also burnt at Khurai in Imphal East.

People blocked roads and staged sit-in rallies at different parts of the state against the bill.

Markets were shut down. Roads wore a deserted look. Banks, educational institutions and government offices were paralaysed due to the strike.

Agitators tried to storm the residence of deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar.

Police stopped the agitators at the gate of Joykumar. The agitators met the deputy chief minister.

Joykumar who is the national vice-president of NPP told the agitators that his party and other regional parties opposed the bill. He told them that opposition parties are in majority at the Rajya Sabha and the bill may not be passed if opposed by them.

He said NPP had a convention with other regional parties of North East recently over the bill and an appointment was sought to meet the Prime Minister before the bill is introduced in the Rajya Sabha.

Yesterday evening people took out torch rallies in different parts of the state opposing the citizenship bill.