Newmai News Network Imphal | March 24 Claiming that the MLA from Jiribam assembly constituency is a "non-indigenous person" of Manipur, a student body has called a Manipur bandh. Ashab Uddin, the MLA from Jiribam assembly constituency bordering Silchar, Assam is now a Parliament Secretary in the BJP led Manipur government. Protesting against the appointment of Uddin as Parliamentary Secretary by the BJP government in Manipur, the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has announced a 17-hour general strike beginning midnight of March 25. “Induction of Ashab Uddin, a non-Manipuri, in the government is unfortunate,” DESAM Secretary General Nameirakpam Edsion stated at a press meet at the organization office, Sagolband Moirang Leirak here. He said DESAM would launch a series of agitations against the move of the new government. “The general strike from midnight of March 25 will continue till 5 pm of March 26.” Essential service, media, water supply, electricity, education and religious activities will be exempted from the purview of the strike, Edison informed. “The Biren Singh headed BJP government has challenged the indigenous people of the state while putting Ashab Uddin in charge of the government,” the DESAM secretary general stated. Pointing out that the movement against non-Manipuris in Manipur, which started since 1980, has killed and maimed many lives and affected many more in various ways, Edison termed the state government’s move at this juncture as a “big blow” to the people of Manipur. The student body had earlier on March 14 announced to boycott the Jiribam constituency MLA Ashab Uddin. The All Manipur Muslim Organisations Coordinating Committee had on March 18 decried the DESAM’s stand on the Jiribam MLA.
