Delhi Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 20: Taking a strong exception on the continued economic blockades on the two national highways in Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party today strongly condemned the centre and state government and urged the centre to immediately intervene into the issue.
Addressing a gathering of law professionals and students from North East presently settled in Delhi and NCR region, which was organised by the BJP’s Northeast India ‘Sampark’ Cell, party leader and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitely, said such (highway) blockades, which were also the lifeline of the state, have never happened anywhere in the country.
Jaitely said it was pity on the part of the centre and state government which still could not bring an amicable solution with the involved parties after almost six weeks.
Drawing the attention of the central government, the BJP leader said the party would soon take up the issue with the Congress led UPA government.
In pursuit of its demand to convert Sadar Hills in Senapati into a full-fledged revenue district, the SHDDC has been imposing economic blockades on National Highways 39 and 53 since August 1. The committee has also called an indefinite general strike in Sadar Hills, which is predominately inhabited by the Kukis.
On the other hand, other Naga civil societies led by the United Naga Council (UNC) have also imposed an indefinite bandh on all highways, including NH-150, in Naga areas since, in protest against what it termed as the state government`s attempt to bifurcate Naga areas to create new districts.
Talking about the controversial Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), the senior leader said the centre should try to explore a balance way in dealing with the Act as it involved civilians as well as security forces. He said some leaders both in the region and the center were playing ‘votebank politics’ which led to socio-economic problem and continued illegal migrants have changed the topography of the whole region.
He also lamented that people did not use the same “mind space” of Jammu and Kashmir that North East requires today.
Apart from students, professionals from the region, the gathering was attended by senior BJP leaders – Prakash Javadekar, Mahendra Pandey and Sunil Deodhar, national convenor of the Sampark cell.
