Left parties call strike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 14 2019:
As a part of the Left Parties' 'Popular Protest Action Programme' scheduled on December 19 against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, the Left Parties in Manipur have announced that a 12 hour general strike will be imposed in the State, from 5 am till 6 pm, on the said day.
It may be mentioned that the said general strike falls one day after the commencement of the winter session of the State Assembly which will begin from December 18.Speaking to media persons at Irawat Bhawan today, CPI State secretary L Sotinkumar condemned the BJP Government for passing the controversial Bill in the Parliament and turning it into an Act, despite stiff opposition from the people, as a part of its plan to bring about a Hindu Rashtra.
CAA is communal, anti-Constitutional and anti-secular, he claimed.
Pointing out that the Left Parties fought hard to prevent the CAA from becoming a reality both inside and outside the Parliament, Sotinkumar said that today, the country is burning due to the Act.
He continued that as a part of the Nationwide Popular Protest Action Programme scheduled on December 19, a 12 hour general strike will also be imposed in Manipur.
He further narrated that violence and death have gripped Assam and Tripura, and even the planned visit of Japanese Prime Minister to Manipur has been cancelled due to the unfolding unrest.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be able to come to Manipur and Assam right now, he added.
On the other hand, Sotinkumar said that the Left Parties will not accept the invitation for a high tea party by the Chief Minister at his Secretariat tonight.
The Left parties strongly condemn the State Government's antic of organising Thabal Chongba and other festivities during the recent total shutdown, he said adding that the Left parties welcome the extension of ILPS to Manipur, but will not mix the issue of ILPS with CAA.
The Left parties' leaders present at the meet also observed two minute silence in honour of the people who died during the ongoing violence in Assam and Tripura.