IMPHAL, Dec 19 - Normal life in Manipur, particularly in the State capital, was affected due to the 12-hour Statewide general strike called by Left parties comprising the State units of the CPI, CPI(M), All India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party as part of the national protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
The general strike that began from 6 am concluded at 6 pm on Thursday. Though there was no report of any untoward incident, markets and commercial establishments, banks and educational institutions were closed. Attendance in government offices here, except at the Secretariat complex, was thin.
Inter-State and inter-district public transport was also disrupted. But the Imphal airport continued its operations as usual.
NSCN-K on CAA: The NSCN-K has appreciated the �unflinching stand� of the Nagas and the whole North East people in coming together to denounce the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Alleging that the recently amended citizenship law is biased and hostile in nature and carries the hidden political ideology of the present Central Government, the NSCN-K in a press release stated: �This Bill was specially amended to sideline and target others based on religious ground which implies that Indian secularism is slowly dying�.
The release also alleged that the CAA would legalise and escalate influx of illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries. This will change the regional demography beyond repair.
Claiming that some elected Naga politicians blindly supported the Bill without even consulting the people, the outfit said they owe an explanation to the Naga people for their decisions.
Recalling the revocation of the Constitutional autonomy of Kashmir on August 5, it said tomorrow it could be the Nagas, adding that the Government of India will not hesitate to implement its �tainted policies�.
