IMPHAL, Feb. 12: Manipur Lok Sabha MP Dr. Th Meinya Singh categorically reiterated that he had been urging both the union government and the United Naga Council(UNC) to end the blockade the during the winter session of parliament since November last year.
Reacting to the allegation by National People’s Party (NPP) President Conrad A Sangma during ongoing election campaign that no debate took place in parliament on the present economic blockade in Manipur, Dr. Meinya, in a press statement, clarified that he had urged UNC to immediately call off the ongoing indefinite economic blockade.
Stating that economic blockade is “a crime against humanity,” MP in the statement said, “Also I urged the Union Government to immediately intervene and help the State government to mitigate the situation before it is too late.”
Besides reiterating the demand for the establishment of dedicated National Highways Protection Security Forces to regulate 24x7 smooth flows of vehicles for passengers and goods on these highways during discussion of the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address on February 9, he informed that he had made an appeal to centre to intervene the situation during the February 9 Union budget general discussion in the parliament.
In a flag hoisting ceremony of NPP candidate and former minister L Jayentakumar (Keishamthong) in Imphal, NPP President Conrad Sangma had alleged that parliament hardly discussed issues and public sufferings of North East and Manipur blockade in particular.
Manipur has been reeling under indefinite economic blockade on two National Highways- the two life lines of the state since November 1 midnight last year. UNC called the blockade in protest against the government’s move to create Sadar Hills and Jiribam into full fledged districts.
