As protests going on against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was scheduled to be tabled in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, curfew was imposed for the day in Imphal city and mobile internet services have been shut down for five days across the state.
A report published on Tuesday by The Indian Express quoted a senior police officer as confirming the development. The officer reportedly said restrictions under Section 144 were imposed both in Imphal East and West districts on Tuesday.
Also read: Manipur on the boil over possibility of citizenship bill getting passed in RS
The development came in the wake of a series of protests taking place across Manipur against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The Citizenship Bill amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 by relaxing the eligibility rules for an immigrant — belonging to six minority (non-Muslim) religions, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan — in getting Indian citizenship.
The Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8, 2019, is awaiting Rajya Sabha nod.
A 36-hour statewide shutdown started in Manipur from 5 am on Monday in response to a call by several civil bodies under the banner of an umbrella organisation People’s Alliance Manipur (PAM).
On Monday, the civil society groups also carried out black flag protests in Imphal, the state capital of Manipur.
The women vendors of the famous Ima Market of Imphal also continued their protest against the controversial Citizenship Bill.
On Sunday, the police had to use tear gas to disperse the protesters.
It may be mentioned that a meeting called by Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 remained inconclusive as Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh remained rigid on his stand against the Bill.
In the meeting, according to the sources, Singh tried to convince on the outcome of the Bill to the Manipur CM. Later, the chief ministers of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh met minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju and had a detailed discussion over the issue.
Meanwhile, amidst pandemonium regarding the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Tuesday.
The Upper House of the Parliament has been adjourned till 11 am on February 13, 2019