NEW DELHI, AUG 3 (IANS): The central government Tuesday invited Naga groups for talks and urged them not to press the economic blockade against Manipur that the United Naga Council has threatened to enforce for 20 days from Wednesday.
“The centre has urged the United Naga Council not to resort to economic blockade of Manipur and participate in the next round of talks. The appeal is in view of the hardship that would be caused to the common people,” a home ministry statement said.
The appeal was made after a press statement by the United Naga Council threatening to resume the economic blockade of the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati national highway (NH 39) and the Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar national highway (NH 53).
The home ministry statement said a round-table meeting under the chairmanship of Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh was organised Tuesday to discuss matters relating to the autonomous district councils in Manipur.
The next round of talks would be convened shortly, the statement said.
If the highway blockade is enforced, Manipur will be heading for another round of scarcity of essential goods from Wednesday.
OUR CORRESPONDENT ADDS: Even as the United Naga Council (UNC) Manipur is set to resume the economic blockade with effect from 6 am of August 4, the joint meeting convened by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Tuesday has appealed to the Naga body to call it off in public interest.
Stating that ‘imposition of blockades on highways can never be a solution to any problem as it leads to hardship and misery to all sections’, the Ibobi-chaired round table meeting resolved ‘to issue a joint appeal to UNC to call off the economic blockade in the larger public interest of all communities of Manipur’.
It was also resolved to appeal to the UNC, ANSAM and TNL (Tangkhul Naga Long), etc, to participate in democratic dialogue for resolving their grievances, state chief secretary DS Poonia in a press release further said, adding that ‘the state and central governments are open to a dialogue and will always be willing to provide a forum for a healthy exchange of views and address any grievances of all stakeholders’.
On Sunday, five days after submitting an ultimatum to the Prime Minister, UNC had announced resumption of its suspended stir due to inaction on the part of the centre with regard to their demands.
