Guwahati: In tune with the promise made during the election, the newly-installed BJP government in Manipur has successfully persuaded the United Naga Council (UNC) to lift the 130-day-long economic blockade from Sunday midnight following a tripartite discussion held with the UNC leadership by the representatives of the state government and the Central government at the headquarter in Senapati district on Sunday.
UNC general secretary S Milan informed that the decision to lift the economic blockade was taken after an agreement was reached during the tripartite talks held on Sunday in Senapati district that also houses the head office of the UNC.
Holding talks in Senapati was one of the pre-conditions set by the UNC, which was not accepted by the previous Congress government led by Ibobi Singh.
The new chief minister N Biren Singh, immediately after taking oath on March 15 last had promised to make an all-out efforts to persuade the UNC to lift the blockade so as to provide succour to the people of the state.
He immediately constituted a delegation that represented the state government in the tripartite meeting.
The blockade was imposed on November 1 in protest against the creation of seven new districts by the previous Congress government.
The Nagas maintain that the ‘lands of the Nagas’ left by their forefathers cannot be grabbed in this manner.
Now that the agreement is reached, UNC leaders Gaidon Kamei and S. Stephen, currently in judicial custody, will be released soon.
Talks at the political level will continue with the UNC to resolve the issues raised by the organization over creation of the new districts. The UNC actually demands rolling back of the decision to create new districts carving out of the existing Naga-dominated hill areas of the state.
Several trucks were torched, drivers attacked and security personnel ambushed by unidentified persons along the two arterial highways connecting Manipur during the prolonged blockade which was a major issue during the just held Assembly election in the state.
The BJP during the electioneering promised to get the economic blockade lifted in case the party was voted to power in the polls.
In Sunday’s tripartite talks, Manipur government was represented by Additional Chief Secretary Suresh Babu and Commissioner K. Radhakumar, central government by S. Garg, Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs in charge of North-East, while the UNC was represented by former President Paul Leo and leaders of the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur and the Naga Women’s Union.
