Centre calls for lifting Manipur blockade

New Delhi: Concerned over the continuing economic blockade of two national highways passing through Manipur, the Central Government on Friday asked the protesters to end the blockade.

Making an appeal to the protesters, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has constituted a district reorganisation commission to look into the demands of the agitating groups.

“The chief minister has requested them to be patient till the report of the commission comes. My appeal to both the groups is to wait for the report to come and withdraw the blockade,” he replied in response to a question.

Interacting with the media after presenting his ministry’s monthly report for September, Chidambaram said the blockade had been resorted to by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee, seeking conversion of the Kuki-majority Sadar hills area in Naga-majority Senapati district into a full-fledged district.

Asked to comment on reports saying prices of essential commodities in Manipur had soared to such an extent that petrol was being sold in black market at Rs 120 a litre, the Home Minister admitted that “prices have pushed up”. He, however, added that the government had taken steps to bring essential commodities in convoys of trucks and was bringing 1,000-1,100 trucks to Manipur every week.

Replying to a question, the minister said the Centre would provide six new helicopters and five more battalions of CRPF personnel for anti-Maoist operations.