Imphal, July 19: While demanding that ANSAM calls off its indefinite economic blockade along National Highway 39 and 53, Kuki Movement for Human Rights (KUMHUR) has stated that the Central Government should take the ongoing agitation more seriously.

ANSAM is calling the economic blockade along the National Highways and not along the State highways and so it should be the duty of the Central Government to clear its two National Highways immediately.

Or else it may be presumed that the Central Government is instigating ANSAM to impose the economic blockade along the two lifelines of the State, the publicity wing of the rights� body said in a statement.

Questioning the rationale behind the agitation of ANSAM, the rights body observed that it is the duty of every citizen and elected members of the Legislative Assembly including the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues to protect the integrity of Manipur.

ANSAM has imposed the economic blockade for the integration of Nagas as their rights.

But what if the other tribes who are living side by side with the Nagas since time immemorial start claiming the same, KUMHUR questioned.

At a time when the talks between the Government of India and the NSCN (I-M) is still underway, the agitation of ANSAM has done more harm than good for the cause of integration of Nagas, the KUMHUR statement contended.

There are rules to be followed while the talks is going on and moreover, the Government of India has made it clear that integration of Nagas can be done only with the consensus of the people living with the Nagas.

However, the ongoing economic blockade called by ANSAM has made the people more openly opposed to the integration of Nagas, KUMHUR elaborated.