State Congress boss has no answer on UNC’s economic blockade

By: Wahengbam Rorrkychand
Imphal, Dec 6: When the people of Manipur especially people in  valley areas are filled with anguish, frustration and insurmountable afflictions due to the ongoing economic blockade imposed by United Naga Council (UNC) along the national highways connecting the state, Chief of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has no answer to reply to the general questions of the public- when this blockade will come to an end, and why the government is not taking any step to prevent the UNC and its supporters to make the people suffer by blocking the main lifeline  of Manipur?
The blockade that has been on for more than a month has triggered price rise and crisis of essential commodities in Manipur.Naga apex body UNC had imposed indefinite economic blockade along the national highways (39 and 53)from November 1, 2016 in protest against State government’s decision to crave out two new districts- Sadar Hills from Senapati district populated and Jiribam from Imphal East district.
Infuriated with the hardships, blockade affected people in valley area have also retaliated with counter-economic blockade by preventing supply of essential commodities to hill areas from plain areas of the state, where non-Naga and non-Kuki are dominated.
Worsening the situation apex bodies of various civil society bodies of valley and Kuki-based (like AMUCO, UCM, CCSK, JAC Sadar Hills, KIM, KSO) have come out openly and warned the State government to call off the blockade and UNC to reconsider their mode of agitation else to face the wrath of their impending moves against the economic blockade.
In such a juncture of the state, this reporter of Imphal Times exclusively interviewed President of MPCC, TN Haokip at his presidential chamber situated at Congress Bhavan, the state Congress head office hereon Monday morning.
When asked about the opinion of MPCC over the ongoing economic blockade and creation of two states, the 65-year-old Congress- strongman, who has been consistently representing 59 Saikot(ST) A/C for 5 (five) terms, said that it is up to the wisdom and intelligence of the Chief Minister, who is also the head of the Congress Legislature Party and his council of Ministers. The government will decide the steps which has to be taken up, Congress party and President of MPCC is not competent to comment on it.
On another question- is there have any political agenda over the hasty announcement for the creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam districts and government’s inability to materialize its decision, this reporter got the same answer from the President of MPCC.