Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 25:
The general strike called by different underground organisations as part of the Republic Day boycott, began from 1 am and will be in force till 6 pm tomorrow.
The boycott call has been given by a number of militant groups operating in the North East region.
To check any unwanted incident tomorrow, security has been beefed up in Imphal with security personnel deployed on round the clock vigil.
Police and para-military forces have been deployed at all the major roads of Imphal and as evening approached, the security personnel conducted frisking and checking of all passers by.
Meanwhile addressing the people on the occasion of Republic Day, Governor SS Sidhu recalled that it was on January 26, 1950 that India adopted her Constitution and despite the reservations expressed by other Nations over the feasibility of an Indian Nation, today the country has amazed the world with the rapid strides it has made in the field of Science and Technology, Agriculture, Industry, IT and telecommunications.
Though Manipur is yet to fully attain her potential, it has nevertheless made rapid progress since its merger with the Indian Union in 1950, said the Governor and mentioned the prowess of the Manipuri people in the field of sports and art and culture.
The social awareness of the people is also note worthy, said the Governor, but noted with concern the insurgency movements in the State.
Despite favourable climate and immense potential, Manipur continues to lag behind others in the race for development, said the Governor and called upon all to ponder over this question on Republic Day.
This is the time to study where and how things went wrong and think over ways to take up remedial steps.
Recalling 2004, the Governor said that the past year witnessed unprecedented events in the wake of the custodial death of Th Manorama and acknowledged the nude protest staged by women folk in front of Kangla.
However not everything was bleak in the year just gone by, the Governor noted and mentioned the handing over of Kangla to the people, the foundation stone laying of the Kiri-Tupul rail line, conversion of MU to a Central university and the Look East policy of the Government under which the ASEAN car rally was held.