JCILPS bandh hits normal life in Imphal Valley
mixed response in hill districts
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal/Ukhrul/Jiribam, March 16 2015:
Normal life was paralysed in most parts of Imphal Valley on Monday due to the 18-hour bandh called by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which began from midnight last in protest against the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants, and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 (MRVT&MW) Bill introduced by Manipur Government and passed by the State Assembly on Monday.
Reports coming in from elsewhere in the valley districts said the bandh was total though it evoked mixed response in the hill districts.
Bandh supporters burn CM's effigies Before the end of the bandh and minutes after passing the Bill by the Assembly, members of the JCILPS and supporters set on fire effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and MLAs at various places.
Even though the bandh concluded Monday evening at 6 pm, tension continued to prevent in Imphal area as members of the JCILPS, particularly members of the women wing were not in the mood to retreat from protesting.
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Reports said that the effigies were torched at Kakwa, Naorem Leikai and in front of the office of the All Manipur Students' Union AMSU) where members of the Students' Wing of the JCILPS converged.
While burning the effigies, the agitators demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Minister.
Ukhrul: In Ukhrul district, passenger buses and taxi services along the Imphal-Ukhrul route came to a grinding halt Monday.
Bus ticket-sellers at Phungreitang Bazaar had to refund money as many commuters had to call off their trip for the day.
The ticket booking counter located in the heart of the town remained shut since early morning.
All commercial establishments continued their normal businesses, while educational institutions and government offices remained open.
Jiribam: JCILPS local unit enforced the bandh and vehicular traffic along Jiribam to Imphal, Nungba, Tamenglong and Silchar, Cachar, Assam were affected.
Schools, Government offices, banks and petrol pumps, shops and markets also remained closed.
JCILPS Jiribam Unit Chairman M Hemanta said they were not dismayed with the bill introduced in the State Assembly and accused the Government of not accepting the suggestions made by the committee.
Rejecting the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants, and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 (MRVT&MW), JCILPS has argued that the bill would not protect the indigenous people as there was no mention of how long people who came from outside the state could stay in Manipur.
JCILPS said the bill was not intended to protect the indigenous people of Manipur quite contrary to the claims of the State Government that it was meant to protect the interests of the people of Manipur.