Shillong/Imphal, June 4 (PTI/Agencies): In a strong message, the government today said its patience was running out and the organisations enforcing the indefinite highway blockade in Manipur will be dealt with firmly. “The government’s patience is running out. We have to come down with a hard hand on those who are doing this blockade,” Union Home Secretary G K Pillai told reporters here. He said the “consequence of the action will be on these organisations”. They must call it off immediately or else face action, Pillai told reporters in Shillong.
On April 12, the All-Naga Students’ Association of Manipur (ANSAM) had begun the blockade to oppose Manipur’s decision to hold Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections in tribal-dominated hill districts. It claimed that the ADC Act “suppresses tribal rights”. Later, Nagas intensified the blockade after Manipur did not allow NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his native village of Somdal in state’s Ukhrul district. Following this, all communities -- Meiteis, Kukis, Paites and Nagas -- started facing a shortage of essential commodities.
The blockade, which began 50 days ago, has caused immense hardship to the people of Manipur with essential commodities, lifesaving drugs and fuel becoming scarce. “I think the organisations should call it (blockade) off. This blockade is totally illegal which has to stop,” Pillai said. He said the Centre has made an appeal to the chief ministers of Nagaland and Manipur to talk with the groups and ensure that the blockade is removed at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh Friday sought urgent intervention by New Delhi to break the deadlock over the indefinite economic blockade. ‘Definitely, the central government should have intervened and we still want New Delhi to help break the stalemate on a priority basis to get us tide over the crisis,’ the chief minister told reporters.
‘We tried our best to airlift essentials and bring in supplies through National Highway 53 (connecting Assam to Manipur), but are still unable to meet the requirements,’ he said. ‘The government of India must try to convince Muivah to call off the blockade,’ he added.
