Partial Lockdown in Manipur Valley: Tourism Festival Boycott Disrupts Normal Life
Image Source: Internet
A 24-hour bandh called by the Kangleipak Communist Party to protest against the Sangai tourism festival has partially disrupted normal life in Imphal valley districts. Markets, businesses, and educational institutions remained closed, while few vehicles were seen on the roads in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts. The bandh, which began at midnight on Wednesday, was also supported by internally displaced people and civil society organizations who argued that it's not the right time to host the festival due to ongoing ethnic violence. However, the government maintains that the festival is crucial for the state's economic growth and has intensified security measures across Imphal, particularly at the festival venue. The Sangai festival, scheduled to begin on November 21, aims to promote tourism and revive the local economy through entrepreneurship and market linkages. The event was suspended in 2023 due to ethnic violence and is set to return after a two-year gap. Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel has appealed to the people to participate in the festival, emphasizing the importance of relief and rehabilitation efforts for internally displaced people, while also recognizing the festival's potential to boost trade and investment in the state.
