Ibobi warns of ‘harsh steps’ against UNC

Imphal, Nov 7 : Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today cracked the whip against supporters of the ongoing economic blockade warning that the government would take “harsh steps” if the blockade continued.

Though Ibobi Singh did not specifically mention the United Naga Council (UNC), it was clear that the threat was directed to the Naga body, which has been imposing an indefinite blockade along Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam highways since August 21.

“The tolerable limit of the government has been stretched too far. The people of the state are suffering. There is no other alternative than taking action to reopen the highways, come what may,” Ibobi Singh told a large gathering of party workers at a daylong training programme on flagship programmes of the UPA government at Wangoi in Imphal West.

Later talking to media, he said the state government would fully clear one of the two highways because people could not survive with the few supplies coming in.

The chief minister, however, said he would continue talks with the UNC and try to convince them to lift the blockade.

“It is very unfortunate if communities start talking ‘this is my land that yours’. All the land belongs to the government and no one can make any exclusive claim on any part of the state,” he said.

The UNC blockade followed another indefinite blockade imposed by Sadar Hills District Demand Committee, pressuring the government to create Sadar Hills district out of Senapati district.

The 92-day Sadar Hills blockade was lifted on October 31 after singing of an MoU with the state government.

The UNC, which imposed the blockade to oppose inclusion of Naga areas in the proposed district, is also demanding an alternative administrative arrangement for Nagas living in the state outside the purview of the Manipur government.

Ibobi Singh’s tough talk comes at a time when Jiribam District Demand Committee also announced an indefinite total bandh in Jiribam, including portions of the Imphal-Jiribam highway, from November 10.

The demand committee wants Jiribam district out of Imphal East and Imphal-Silchar highway passes through Jiribam.

The Ibobi Singh government has been maintaining some supply of essential commodities with security escorts along the Imphal-Jiribam route. Another blockade by the demand committee will disrupt supply on this line as well.

Manipur PCC president Gaikhangam, who presided over the programme today, said frequent blockades were called in the hills because of lack of Congress MLAs in the five hill districts.

“If more Congress MLAs are elected from the hills, they can restrain organisations in the hills against calling blockades,” Gaikhangam said.

Out of 20 seats in the five hill districts, the Congress only has five MLAs.

The Congress today turned the flagship training programme to an election campaign.