Imphal, July 09: Highlighting the grievances faced by the common people due to the imposition of indefinite economic blockade student bodies AMSU, MSF and DESAM fervently appealed to both the blockade sponsor ANSAM and Manipur Government to settle the impasse without further delay.

In a joint statement, the student bodies referring to ANSAM�s opposition to State Government declaring June 18 as Integrity Day and the student organisation�s suggestion for declaring the day as �restricted holiday� instead of State holiday should be considered appropriately by the Government.

Detailing the June 18 uprising in 2001 the student bodies observed that despair of the people on being repeatedly subjugated by the Centre through its divide and rule policy is the main factor for the mass movement.

Stating that opposition of the Naga people to the State Government�s decision is understandable, the student organisations however contended that choking the lifelines of the State is not an appreciable method as it tantamounts to holding the general public at ransom.

The ANSAM should take the initiative to convince the Government rather than make the public suffer by cutting off the food supply, maintained the student bodies while adding that June 18 uprising reflects the people�s determination to foil sinister design of Government of India to drive a wedge amongst various community living cordially since ages.

The June 18 uprising besides being simultaneously a mass movement to preserve the territorial integrity of Manipur was also an event in which the State�s boundary was protected and redrawn in letters of blood, it said.

Time has come for the Naga brethren to realise the sinister policy pursued by Government of India and desist from actions detrimental to interest of several lakh of people living in the State.

Resorting to highway blockade in pursuit of any demand would result in disgruntlement of the general public and create divisions amongst various community which is akin to the people of Manipur themselves falling into the trap laid by the Centre.

Asking the State Government to bring the blockade sponsor at the negotiation table at the earliest, AMSA, MSF and DESAM insisted that State authorities book and punish busi- ness persons taking undue advantage of the situation.