The Manipur government lifted curfew from Imphal East and Imphal West districts and restored Internet connection on Wednesday shortly after the Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die without passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh while lifting the curfew tendered his apology to the people for taking “such drastic steps”. He said they were preventive measures required to protect precious lives and maintain law and order.
“Now that this Bill shall not come up in the near future, we should focus on the developmental works in the State with the same zeal and support the people gave in the last two years,” he said.
Mr. Singh said the credit for the Bill not getting tabled in the Rajya Sabha should go to the people of the Northeast in general and Manipur in particular.
Back to business
Normal life was restored within minutes of lifting of the curfew with women vendors, who have been on strike in the main markets in Imphal city, resuming their business immediately.
Women activists in Imphal West district demanded immediate unconditional release of some youth taken into custody by police on Tuesday night. The activists announced that since the controversial Bill was set to lapse, they were relaxing their agitation to some extent.
However, they said they are keeping an eye on the Bill. They also demanded that the Manipur People's (Protection) Bill, 2018, which was passed by the State Assembly, should be given assent by the President now.
Manipur has no Inner Line Permit system to protect its people from being swamped by migrants, they said during a press conference in Imphal.
Thousands of men and women took out night processions, staged sit-in protests on Monday and Tuesday against the Bill. They also burned effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Singh. Some of them were injured in the firing of tear gas shells and mock bombs by the security personnel.
The activists also demanded that the State government should foot the medical and other bills of the injured persons.
Published - February 14, 2019 01:53 am IST
