Imphal: Four major organisations in Manipur on Friday called for a state wide bandh on October 16 and appealed to the people to boycott all programmes of President APJ Abdul Kalam.
The President is scheduled to come Imphal on October 16 and attend some programmes to be hosted by the Manipur government.
The Working Committee of the Apunba Lup, All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA) have announced that they will boycott all programmes of the President.
They also called a nine-hour general strike in Manipur on Monday from 0500 till 1400 hrs.
They said their agitation was to protest the alleged violations of human rights in Manipur and crack down on peaceful protestors at New Delhi on October 11 last during a rally demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.
The President is scheduled to address the 10th convocation of the Manipur University the same day and later visit Mao and Churachandpur districts by air and later depart for Mizoram on the same day.
The WCAL and other organisations also staged sit-in-protest to demand immediate repeal of the Armed Forces act. They said the President remained silent over the sufferings of the people in the Northeast where AFSPA was imposed since 1958.
As the President was repeatedly informed about the ''gross violations of human rights'' in Manipur, the student communities were expecting some action from him, they added.
The Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) also pledged its support to the cause of Sharmila, who has launched a fast unto death to demand repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
She was now being detained by Delhi police and reportedly force feeded to keep her alive by nasal feeding, the students alleged.
The CPI(M) has decided to oppose the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 in Manipur during the winter session of Parliament.
CPI(M) Central Committee member Nurul Hooda said the party will exert pressure on the UPA Government to repeal the Act.
He said the Justice Jeevan Reddy commission had also reportedly recommended repeal of the act for gross violations of human rights in the region by the military.
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