Other States - Nagaland   

Ministers hold talks with Naga students

Correspondent

IMPHAL: Three ministers held a preliminary round of talks with the protesting All-Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM), in Senapati district on Wednesday evening in a bid to get the economic blockade imposed on this State lifted.

A joint statement said both sides discussed issues in a friendly manner in the ANSAM head office. The talks, held by Industries Minister N. Mangi, Public Health Engineering Minister Govindas Konthoujam and Rural Development Minister of State Allauddin Khan with a three-member ANSAM team led by Nganchomi Chamroy, were kept a secret. Earlier the ANSAM rejected the offer of preliminary talks.

Now, the ANSAM is hopeful that the government will continue the talks. No new date or venue has been announced for the next round.

In the wake of the blockade, which led to scarcity of essential commodities in the State, the Chief Minister extended an invitation for the preliminary round. However, he rejected the ANSAM's preconditions that he come to its head office for talks and that the declaration of June 18 as a State integration day holiday be revoked.

The ANSAM leaders maintain that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak Muivah) had no role in the blockade launched on June 20.

Recently the Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court held the blockade "unconstitutional and illegal" and directed the State and Central governments to get it lifted. The North East Students' Organisation also instructed its member, Naga Students Federation, to stop supporting the ANSAM in its protest on National Highways 39 and 53.

The Centre asked the Army to clear NH 53 and provide security to Manipur-bound vehicles on NH 39. Trucks have started operating, albeit in small numbers.

Also the tribals themselves have started revolting as the blockade hit them. One kg of rice is sold at Rs 70 in their areas.

Meanwhile thousands of school and college students are launching sit-in protests against the ANSAM.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Ministers hold talks with Naga students

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu