Bandh enters day 2 : Call for MLAs to resign echoes all over
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, September 09 2015 :
Amid the occasional sloganeerings of womenfolk raising slogans for a separate political administration and the immediate resignation of tribal MLAs echoing through the township, normal life remained paralysed for another day as the JAC's 60 hours bandh entered its second day today.
The sight was quiet but far from calm as womenfolk spread out to different crucial streets' corners and holding dharnas imposed one of the most stringent prohibitions ever imposed by the public here.
Even people walking on foot without a reasonable purpose were sent back; the JAC functionaries and the media were also told to reduce movements while the street stretch between the dharna points looked as if it were a ghost town.
The silent and empty streets however intermittently witnessed an opposite scene as womenfolk from different localities took to the streets to vent out their frustration and raised slogans denouncing the killing of innocent lives and called for the resignation of their MLAs and made it known that they will settle for nothing less than a separate political administration.
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During a particularly vocal rally, the rallyists raised slogans in front the police station that they have already paid the price for the station with their children's blood.
Others held silent rally between localities but the one common aspect of the agitation was women folk from Sugnu/Rengkai Road in the east to Tipaimukh Road in the west strictly enforced the JAC total bandh and raised a common voice demanding the resignation of their MLAs and a separate political administration outside Manipur.
Meanwhile, prices of some essential commodities, particularly fuel, has sky rocketed in the town area with some quoting nearly Rs 200 for a litre of petrol.
Even with that rate the goods are limited and not easy to locate as life literally remained crippled for the past two weeks.
Schools and offices have been closed since the protest erupted on Monday last.
With bodies of the nine victims still lying at the hospital morgue it is not known when normal life will return and children will resume classes.
The JAC 60 hours bandh expires on Thursday midnight, so also the ultimatum served to tribal MLAs by tribal apex bodies to get the three controversial Bills repealed or to insert an exceptional clause.
The JAC has announced that the tribal MLAs have to face public boycott in the event of their failure to conform to the ultimatum.
Even resigning from their post after the expiry of ultimatum will not help, the JAC has warned.