Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 15:
To protest against the decision of the Centre to extend the ceasefire between the GoI and NSCN (IM) to Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, AMSU, AMKIL, NIPCO and UPF have called for a State wide general strike from midnight of June 17 till midnight of June 18.It will, however, be relaxed for electricity, water supply, medical, press and nay religious function.
Effigies of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and emissary Padmanabhaiah were set ablaze today by AMSU volunteers at Shamu Makhong.
Speaking to newsman at the office of AMSU this evening AMSU president O Shyamchand said that Centre is bent on sowing seeds of distrust and animosity amongst the various communities living in Manipur and added the extension of the ceasefire to the soil of Manipur is a ploy to disturb the territorial integrity of the State.
Coming down heavily on the decision of the Centre, the student leader said the Centre has shown beyond doubts that it does not respect the sentiments of the people and added that Delhi has sold out in the interest of the people to an armed group.
AMSU general secretary SC Khongsai said the student body has still not budged from its earlier stand of demanding cessation from the Indian Union if the ceasefire is extended to the soil of Manipur.
He said a memorandum would also be sent to the Prime Minister tomorrow itself.
The convenor of the joint committee of AMKIL and NIPCO L Achala said the centre has a hidden agenda to compromise the territorial integrity of the State and appealed to all to extend their co-operation in the struggle to get the extension of the ceasefire revoked.