Manipur: 17-hour long strike called by DESAM affects normal life

A general strike called by the Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) affected normal life in Manipur on Sunday. The 17-hour long strike started from midnight of March 25 and concluded today at 5 pm.

All the markets and business establishments remained closed. As it was a Sunday, the strike did not affect the activities and government administration or the educational institutions. However, all the public and passenger vehicles were off the road due to the strike. Besides, inter-village, districts and inter-state bus services were halted for today.

Volunteers of the DESAM blocked roads at different places by piling up huge logs and burning used tyers. No vehicle was allowed to pass through the roads. However, people going to attend rituals and religious ceremonies, essential services including media were let to move freely during the general strike. No untoward incident was reported during the strike.

The strike was called by the student body in protest against the inclusion of a non-Manipuri independent candidate Ashab Uddin, who was elected from Jiribam Assembly constituency in the recent 11th state Assembly election of Manipur. The candidate was inducted as parliamentary secretary in the BJP-led government in the state, headed by Chief Minister N Biren.

"Many forms of agitation will be launched after the ongoing class X and XII examination conducted by Board of Secondary Education Manipur and Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur is over. DESAM will not agree to allow a non- Manipuri, who is from Bangladesh, to include in the administration of Manipur. Unless the Manipur government revokes his induction as Parliamentary secretary, the student body will continue the agitation. If any untoward incident happens, the responsibility should be owned by the state government," General secretary of DESAM Jameson warned.

(With inputs from Jit Ningomba)

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