Convention condemns using blockade to build vote banks – JPF urges centre for solution

People’s convention had condemned the blame game of the centre and state government over the prolonged economic blockade of the United Naga Council which they has been taken interest on election campaign instead of attempting to end the blockade.

Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) and League of Indigenous Peoples’ Upliftment (LIPUL) organised a people’s convention under the theme ‘People and Election- Politicisation of Economic Blockade as a part of the Election Campaign Culture’ at Gandhi Memorial Hall yesterday.

The gathering took the resolution to organise the same at different parts of the state. It has also appealed both the BJP government at the centre and Congress government in the state to bring an end the economic blockade through dialogue.

Senior Citizen for Society Manipur general secretary Laishram Sadananda, State Vision Document convenor Dr R.K. Ranjan, Manipur Human Rights Commission member R.K. Rajendro, MPCC spokesperson Sarangthem Manaobi, Impact TV chief editor Yumnam Rupachandra and eminent personalities took part in the convention.

Rupachandra said it is really unfortunate that the state government has failed to safeguard the well being of its people and instead tries to shift the blame to a particular group or body.
“Politics alone cannot bring a solution to the economic blockade”, he said.

MPCC spokesperson Sarangthem Manaobi said the central government’s decision to send paramilitary forces to contain the situation is no different than telling the state to finish its people and the state government is hesitant to use force against the blockade supporters”.

He accused the Central Govt of keeping mum despite the possibility that the economic blockade might be lifted if it intervened.

The Joint Forum for Peace (JFP) had also urged the Central Government to bring a solution to the protracted issue of economic blockade in consultation with the State Government.

JFP convenor Elangbam Johnson talking to the reporters yesterday said that a team of JFP went to Delhi on January 17 and met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on January 19.

The 17-member delegation which included representatives of Kuki Inpi, AMUCO, UCM, CCSK, Kabui Mothers Association, ATSUM apprised the Union Home Minister that economic blockades were a regular affair in Manipur.

The issue cannot be resolved because the Central Government and the State Government have been playing political blame games. It is the common desire of the people of Manipur for the Central Government to intervene immediately. The union home minister was also apprised that there is an apprehension of violent conflicts if the economic blockade continues.

Even if Rajnath assured that all possible assistance would be provided, the delegation made it clear that it would amount inviting a public uproar if the government at the centre does not take up some concrete steps in consultation with the state, Johnson said.

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