Imphal, June 24: Reiterating its strong opposition to the decision of the State Govt to declare June 18 as Integrity Day and make it a State holiday, the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur today said that the step of the Govt is nothing but prejudiced imposition.

In a statement issued to the press today, ANSAM said that the decision to declare June 18 as State Integrity Day was taken without consulting the other ethnic inhabitants of the State and though demands were raised to revoke the decision, the Government turned a deaf ear to such demands forcing the ANSAM to impose the indefinite economic blockade.

The very declaration of the day as a State holiday tantamount to the Govt endorsing the violence unleashed on the said day in 2001, said ANSAM and recalled how the State Assembly, quarters of MLAs and offices of political parties were burnt.

The June 18 tragedy was a fall out of the reaction to the June 14 Bangkok Declaration that made the cease fire between the NSCN (IM) and the GoI without territorial limits, said ANSAM.

The State Government also made a mockery of the democratic forms of protest by banning the rallies organised by the Nagas, said the student body.

Despite repeated reminders to the Government by people of other ethnic groups to revoke the declaration of June 18, the Government remained indifferent and this forced the UNC to call a 24 hour bandh on June 21.ANSAM was also constrained to impose the indefinite economic blockade from midnight of June 19, added the statement.

The economic blockade call given by ANSAM has received tremendous support from the Kuki Students' Organisation (Ghqs), All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur, Naga Students Federation, United Naga Council, Naga Women's Union, etc, added the statement.

The student body also expressed shock at the bomb attack accompanied by pelting of stones at the residence of Outer Lok Sabha MP Mani Charenamei and added that since the attack came despite the security provided to the MP, it shows that Naga leaders in particular are not safe.

ANSAM also condemned the attack.