Naga students to call off Manipur blockade-14/6/10

14/06/2010

Naga students to call off Manipur blockade

New Delhi: As the Centre toughened its stand to end Naga groups' blockade of the economic lifeline of northeastern states, a team of students from Nagaland on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in support of their demands and later hinted at temporary suspension of their protests.

"We had a very good meeting with the Prime Minister and submitted our representation. He listened to us and assured us an early solution to the ongoing problem. He asked the young students of the state to create a peaceful atmosphere and resolve the issue," Achumbemo Kikon, Advisor, Nagaland Students' Federation, told reporters here.

The Naga leader, who was the part of a five-member delegation led by NSF, said he was impressed by the PM's assurance and a meeting has been called by the different federations supporting the protest to form a consensus.

"All our senior leaders of different students unions are meeting today at Kohima. They will be discussing the assurances given to us by the Prime Minister. After forming a consensus, we may think of temporarily lifting of ban," he said.

However, Kikon maintained the relaxation will strictly be on temporary basis, subject to acceptance of their conditions.

"The protest will be suspended temporarily if Manipur government agrees to remove the commandos and address other issues," he said adding a decision on the problem is likely to be made either by today evening or by tomorrow morning.

Earlier in the day, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said the Centre has decided to send more security forces to remove the 65-day-old blockade of two national highways that form the vital economic lifeline for Manipur.

The Home Ministry has decided to send 16 companies (about 1,600 personnel) of central paramilitary forces to assist Manipur government to clear the blockade on the highways. Besides, six companies (600 jawans) are also being sent to Nagaland.

Pillai said the chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur will meet here on Wednesday to review the situation there.

Both the National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Silchar), passing through Nagaland and connecting Manipur, have been blocked by different Naga groups since April 11 to protest the state government's refusal to allow NSCN leader T Muivah to visit his ancestral home in Manipur.

The economic blockade has pushed Manipur on the verge of a breakdown with stocks of all essentials commodities, including baby food and life saving drugs, almost drying up.

The Naga leaders accused Pillai and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of being responsible for the present crises.

Kikon said "Singh is not concerned about the cause of the people but was involved in politics. His government was on the verge of collapse. Hence, he manipulated the itinerary related to Muivah's visit to motivate his people, resulting in the blockade...

"We are not happy with Union Home Secretary G K Pillai. He is manipulating the words in favour of Manipur government," the Naga leader said.

The All Naga Students' Association (ANSAM) had launched the blockade to protest holding of elections to six autonomous district councils in the Hills which, it alleged, were given not enough power to carry out development work.

The blockade was intensified after the state refused entry to Muivah on May 3. Before the blockade, between 300 to 400 trucks carrying essential commodities were plying daily on the two national highways.

The Naga leaders have also met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and the leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj in support of their demands.