Five-month-long economic blockade of Manipur comes to an end

The nearly five-month-long economic blockade imposed in Manipur by the United Naga Council (UNC) came to an end on 19 March 2017. Till date, the council was blocking the two National Highways of Manipur namely the Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Silchar highways.

The economic blockade ended after successful tripartite talks between the representatives of the union government, the state government and the Naga groups at Senapati District Headquarters.

Nongthombam Biren Singh sworn in as Chief Minister of Manipur

The success of the tripartite talks is based on the agreement on certain demands of the United Naga Council. Highlights of demands

• The State Government has agreed to release the arrested leaders of the UNC without any condition.

• The state also agreed to close all the cases related to the economic blockade against Naga leaders including its student leaders.

• All the three sides also agreed upon holding the next tripartite talks within one month.

Yogi Adityanath sworn-in as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

Representatives of the tripartite talks

• The Centre: It was represented by the Joint Secretary (North-East) of the Ministry of Home Affairs-Satyender Garg

• Manipur Government: It was represented by its Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr J Sureshbabu and Commissioner (Works) K. Radhakumar

• The United Naga Council (UNC): It was represented by its Core Committee members including former President of the Council- Paul Leo, Samson Remei, All Naga Students Association and others.

Background

The United Naga Council imposed a blockade on NH-2 and NH-37 on 1 November 2016 to protest against the creation of seven new districts by the erstwhile Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress government in the state.

Trivendra Singh Rawat sworn-in as Uttarakhand Chief Minister

The blockade led to a steep rise in prices of essential commodities and severely affected the normal life and it became a major issue in the recent Assembly polls in the state.