Anti-CAB bandh brings life to grinding halt, schools remain shut
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 19 2019: The 18 hours bandh called by the MANPAC against Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2016 brought the State to a grinding halt today.

Coinciding with the announcement of the North East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP) for mass protest in the whole North East region against BJP-led NDA Government's determination to pass CAB 2016 during the ongoing winter session of Parliament, MANPAC called an 18 hour State-wide bandh from last midnight till 6 pm today.

Khwairamband Keithel as well as all adjoining market places wore totally deserted looks on account of the bandh.

Anti-CAB bandh brings life to grinding halt, schools remain shut

All markets of greater Imphal areas and other valley districts too remained shut.

All shops as well as private establishments were also closed for the day.

Although flight service was not affected, all inter-State and inter-district passenger services were suspended.

Nonetheless, some private vehicles could be seen on the roads.

All educational institutions, both private and Government, remained shut.

Even though the Secretariat and other Government offices were opened, attendance was very low.

Notably, the Chief Secretary issued an order yesterday directing all concerned to ensure that all Government offices and educational institutions remain opened today.

In line with the Chief Secretary's order, Imphal Municipal Corporation issued a notification to all shopkeepers and vendors to carry on their normal activities notwithstanding the bandh called by MANPAC.

The usual scene of bandh supporters blocking movement of vehicles and people could be seen at very limited places.

As there was no inter-district transport service, the bandh had its impacts at hill district headquarters too.

Notably, the previous NDA Government introduced CAB 2016 in Lok Sabha on July 19, 2016 and it was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

The JPC submitted its report on January 7 this year before the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha the next day.

This ignited a strong protest movement across the whole North East region.

Amidst the uproar, the contentious Bill was inserted in the Rajya Sabha's business list of February 12 and 13 this year.

However, CAB 2016 was not tabled in the Rajya Sabha and it lapsed.

After MANPAC was set up in Manipur with the main objective of fighting against CAB, NEFIP was set up at the regional level at the initiative of MANPAC to launch coordinated protest movements against the Bill throughout the North East region.