Newmai News Network Imphal | November 23 In a recent meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh sought immediate intervention from the Centre with regard to the ongoing indefinite blockade being enforced by the United Naga Council (UNC) since November 1. Disclosing this during a press meet at the CM’s Secretariat conference hall here, Ibobi said he had also raised the blockade issue with Rajnath in a telephonic talks held earlier on November 9. Meanwhile, Ibobi refuted as baseless the news reports published in some Imphal-based newspapers recently that he failed to make any concrete statement during the meeting before the Union Home Minister towards resolving the UNC-sponsored blockade. He said that Union Home Minister informed during the meeting that he (Rajnath) received information from some officials that the blockade was on against the district creation plan of the Manipur government. At this, Ibobi replied that there was no concrete decision from the state government with regard to the district creation proposal. “I also told Rajnath creation of any district is within the purview of the state government and that any authority or organisation cannot detect this in any way whatsoever,” Ibobi said. Asserting that National Highways are assets of the country, the Manipur Chief Minister also cautioned the Union Home Minister that any delay in its intervention in the protracted blockade issue could lead to unwanted incidents. Deputy CM Gaikhangam and other ministers were also present during the press meet.
