Imphal, Dec 3 (IANS): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi arrived in the Manipur capital on a day-long visit Saturday while a general strike enforced by various civil society groups to oppose their trip hit normal life in the city.

Singh and Gandhi are scheduled to inaugurate the City Convention Centre, a Manipur Film Development Corporation hall and auditorium, and an inter-state bus terminus in the Khuman Lampak area.

The two leaders will also inaugurate the new Manipur legislative and high court buildings, which are part of the capital project. They are expected to address a public meeting in the afternoon.

Normal life was, however, affected and all markets, shops and business establishments in the city remained closed following the dawn-to-dusk general strike.

Civil society groups like the United Committee Manipur (UCM) and All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) have jointly called the general strike, alleging that central leaders had utterly neglected people during an over 100-day economic blockade on two key national highways by both the Nagas and Kukis.