A 19-hour general strike has been called in Manipur from midnight tonight demanding scrapping of a bill on migrant workers and passing a new one to save the interests of indigenous people.
The shutdown has been called by the Joint Committee on Inner Line System (JCILS) and will end at 7 PM tomorrow.
The Committee said the Manipur Regulation of Visitors Tenant and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 was passed during the budget session of the assembly without taking into consideration its five-point suggestion and allowed migrants to work in the state.
The Bill is yet to get the nod of the state governor and JCILS had held frequent protests during the ongoing assembly session.
JCILS convenor Khomdram Ratan said the government was "betraying" the people of the state by passing the legislation in the budget session of the assembly.
"People's aspirations have not been fulfilled as the bill serves to protect migrant workers who come to the state for permanent settlement.
"Moreover, the government did not include the recommendations of all political parties committee formed before introducing the bill, nor our five-point demand," he said.
Hospital services, water supply and other essential services have been kept out of the purview of the bandh.
Security has been tightened in and around the capital town in view of the general strike, officials said.
