Nagas to end Manipur blockade

GUWAHATI: After almost 130 days, apex body of Nagas in Manipur United Naga Council (UNC) has decided to lift the economic blockade on two highways which it imposed following the earlier congress government’s decision to create seven new districts in Manipur.

Representatives of UNC and new BJP led government met on Sunday in Senapati where it was decided that economic blockade will lifted from Sunday midnight.

People of the state had to face immense hardship due to blockade. S Milan, General Secretary of UNC told ET, “We have decided to lift the economic blockade and government has assured to look in our demand of cancelling the creation of new districts. For new districts is encroachment in our ancestral land.”

Police had in past arrested UNC leader Gaidon Kamei in connection with economic blockade.Blockade was an issue in recently held assembly polls with congress blaming the UNC and BJP and NSCN-IM for being in hand in glove and persisting with economic blockade.

BJP blamed the congress for the blockade and failing to perform its constitutional duty despite being rendered all help from the Centre.

BJP had promised to lift the blockade as soon as it comes to power in Manipur. Earlier on November 15 November, 2016, tripartite talks with Government of Manipur and UNC were called at New Delhi to discuss the economic blockade, which were not attended by Government of Manipur.

Before assembly polls congress legislature party has resolved,” To declare the UNC as un-lawful organisation for its illegal, anti-national and anti-people activities by calling indefinite economic blockade along the national highways, banning construction and development activities of national and state projects for several times over several years including the present one which is going on for more than three months”

Former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh had maintained that the districts were not created for any particular community. The districts were created purely for administrative convenience.