BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi may cancel his much publicised visit to Imphal on February 8 on security grounds since at least one proscribed underground organisation has called a general strike aimed at sabotaging the public meeting.
Mr. Modi is scheduled to halt for a few hours in Imphal to address the public meeting. Home Department officials are reported to have told the state unit BJP leaders that it may not be able to provide a cast iron security in the face of the strike threat by the insurgents.
In a statement, the United Revolutionary Front said that the general strike shall remain in force from 5 am till 4 pm on February 8. Press, religious functions and the essential services will not be covered by the strike. Those who oppose the strike shall be doing so at their own risk. It further said that over one lakh soldiers are deployed in Manipur and the common people are at the receiving end.
Though Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei had said Mr. Modi will be given adequate security, in view of the general strike called by the insurgents, there is a second thought in the government circles since there is not enough manpower to ensure an incident-free public meeting during Mr. Modi's visit.
On the other hand, some Muslim organisations seem to be divided on whether they should boycott the visit of Mr. Modi. Two prominent Muslim organisations had announced their boycott saying that Mr. Modi was involved in the communal violence.
Local BJP leaders brush it aside saying that they are just political hirelings.
