Manipur government appeals to AMTDGF to withdraw proposed economic blockade

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Nov. 3 (EMN): TheManipur government has appealed to All Manipur Tribal Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) to reconsider their stand and withdraw the proposed indefinite economic blockade in the interest of the general public and upcoming Sangai festival which is an annual tourism festival of Manipur.

“I appeal to the AMTDGF to reconsider (their stand) and withdraw the (proposed) economic blockade in the interest of general public”, the state transport minister Khashim Vashum told reporters after attending an hour long meeting with senior officials of concerned departments including police department in Imphal on Thursday.

On Nov. 2, AMTDGF had threatened to launch an indefinite economic blockade on the two National Highways (NH 2 and 37) from midnight of Nov. 3 demanding the release of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) funds to all districts of Manipur.

The AMTDGF has also appealed to the public of the state, trucks and transport associations and civil society organisations to cooperate with them in the larger interest of the state.

Meanwhile, supporting the transport minister’s appeal, the state transport department in a press release issued on Thursday, said that the Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, government of Manipur had issued a clarification on the release of funds related to MGNREGA on Nov. 2.

The government of Manipur is totally against bandh/blockade on the national highways, suffering the public and hampering the development of the state, the press release said.

The update requested the AMTDGF to withdraw the economic blockade on national highways while the transporters union for the good vehicles have been requested to keep on plying their vehicles on the highways where the police department would provide necessary security and arrangements for the vehicles as per requirement and demand.

Additional DGP Manipur police L Kailun who was present during the media interaction said that the police department will provide all security measures to ensure plying of vehicles along the National Highways.

Meanwhile, many civil society organisations and village authorities based in Senapati, Tamenglong and Noney districts including Naga People’s Organisation in Senapati opposed the proposed economic blockade.

The officials of AMTDGF could not be contacted till the filing of this report.