No change in tomorrow's hartal plan, say organisers

Even as various political parties, including the ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress and IUML have decided to stay away from the December 17 hartal called by a group of outfits, the organisers on Monday announced that they would go ahead with their agitation plan.

A Joint Action Committee, a group of around 30 political and Islamic outfits, which had earlier declared a state-wide hartal on December 17 against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, said there was no change in their plan.

Meanwhile, the state DGP Loknath Behara said the hartal was illegal as no prior permission had been taken for its conduct, which was necessary as per a high court direction.

"The High Court has specifically given a direction that the notice for a hartal should be given at least seven days before holding it to avoid difficulties to the public. They have not done that.

Action will be taken against the organisers if they forcibly shut down shops and cause inconvenience to the ...