President to lay foundation stone of tech park, may address Manipur Assembly
President Prathibha Patil inspects a guard of honour at Imphal airport on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos
Imphal, Mar 11 : Deserted streets greeted President Prathibha Patil, who arrived here today on a two-day visit.
The President, who arrived from Kohima after completing a two-day visit to Nagaland, was accorded a warm reception at Imphal airport, where she inspected a guard of honour by an all-women police contingent.
Governor Gurbachan Jagat, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, members of his council of ministers, Speaker Irengbam Hemochandra Singh, top army, police and civil officials were present at the airport to welcome her.
In contrast to the warm welcome at the airport, there was hardly a soul on Imphal’s streets to receive the President, as all shops remained closed, roads were deserted, barring a few private vehicles, and people stayed indoors in response to a 40-hour general strike called by Manipur Peoples Liberation Front from midnight last night.
The front, an umbrella body of three militant groups — United National Liberation Front, Revolutionary Peoples Front and Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak — called the strike to boycott Patil’s visit.
However, no untoward incidents were reported during the day, as tight security measures were enforced in view of the strike.
Patil will lay the foundation stone of an information technology park, launch a statewide area network and inaugurate a data centre at Mantripukhri on the outskirts of Imphal city tomorrow.
Incidentally, shortly before Patil’s landing at Imphal airport, human rights crusader Irom Sharmila was also freed, although her release had nothing to do with the President’s visit. She was released in accordance with a court order, following completion of a one-year jail term under Section 309 IPC for attempting suicide.
After her release, Sharmila, along with her supporters, continued her fast near the Jawarharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal East.
“I wish to plead to the President to remove the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. I also want to ask her whether she is happy with my condition,” Sharmila said, adding that she would continue her fast, and was confident that she would win one day.
Sharmila was released from judicial custody for the 10th time today, and would most likely be arrested again tomorrow.
Earlier, the Manipur Assembly unanimously urged the President to address the House tomorrow before leaving Imphal. All agendas of the Assembly were postponed after the question hour today in view of her visit.
Speaker Irengbam Hemochandra Singh and the chief minister assured the House that they would request the President on behalf of the Assembly.
