IMPHAL, Mar 25 : Taking serious note of the decision of Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) to impose a 17 hour Statewide bandh against the election and later induction of MLA Ashab Uddin as a Parliamentary Secretary, with effect from midnight today, the State Government has come out with a strongly worded statement, asserting that the Supreme Court of India as well as the Manipur High Court have passed judgments terming bandhs as illegal.
The State Government has also taken strong note of the bandh called by the Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation and AMMOCOC during the same period adding that this will also attract legal action.
In an appeal issued to the media today, the State Government said that the rulings of the Supreme Court and the High Court imply that anybody engaged in calling or enforcing bandh is liable to be prosecuted under the law.
The State Government cannot remain silent when the people are suffering under the impact of bandhs, said the statement and added that the State machinery will be compelled to take legal actions against the persons calling or enforcing a bandh.
Appealing to civil society organisations, including DESAM to call off the proposed bandh, the Government urged all service providers including transporters, shop owners and other establishments to continue with their normal activities during the period of the proposed bandh.
The State Government will provide necessary security to all during the bandh, it added.
On getting news of the proposed bandh, the State Government had invited representatives of DESAM for a talk, but they failed to turn up, said the statement and urged all to call off the bandh.
Source: The Sangai Express
