IMPHAL: The two national highways of Manipur remained blocked by the United Naga Council (UNC) for the 25th day on Thursday without any sign of intervention by the Centre.
People hit the streets shouting slogans against the government and the BJP for failing to resolve the crisis. The protesters said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured to send the Joint Secretary to take stock of the situation after a team of BJP leaders urged him to intervene. “Everything is in the court of the Centre as the NHs are under their control and the organisation calling the blockade is holding talks with them,” the protesters said.
Women agitators said the Centre was doing politics just for political gain as the state Assembly elections is scheduled next year. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said the state is facing dual crisis of blockade and demonitisation. A large number of security personnel has been patrolling outside the banks after fall out of demonitisation, he said.
He said he personally went to New Delhi and urged the Union government for help as the UNC, the frontal organisation of NSCN (IM), has blocked the two highways. He also requested Singh to look into the matter as the Centre and the NSCN(IM) signed a peace agreement.
If the situation is not controlled, it may go out of hand, he said. He further said on November 10 last, R N Ravi, the interlocutor to the peace talk with the NSCN-IM, had informed the chief minister that the NSCN (IM) will be asked to lift the blockade, however, there is no report of lifting the blockade.
The Manipur government was asked by the people to upgrade two sub-divisions to full district status for administrative conveniences and the UNC has opposed any move to upgrade the two sub-divisions. The CM clarified that there is no question of granting district status on ethnic lines. The SC had also directed the Central government not to allow any form of blockade on the highways, he reminded.
Streets remained deserted as there is shortage of oil. Prices of essential commodities have reached sky high. There is shortage of medicines, food and other essential commodities. Petrol is now sold at Rs 300 per litre and LPG has reached Rs 2500 in the black market. (UNI)
