Blockade 'lifted' on the dot of century mark
Tml rallies for Alternative Arrangement ahead of scheduled visit of PM, Sonia
Source: The Sangai Express
Tamenglong, November 28 2011:
After touching the mile-stone of 100 days and ahead of the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on December 3, the United Naga Council has decreed that the ongoing economic blockade will be lifted from 6 am of tomorrow (November 29) .
The UNC sponsored blockade came into effect on August 21 this year as a counter call to the highway blockade imposed by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee on August 1 .
The decision to lift the economic blockade was taken during a meeting of the Presidential Council of 16 tribes held at Tamenglong district headquarters prior to the Alternative Arrangement rally which was held there today.
Significantly, the UNC had earlier announced that the appeal of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to call off the blockade during a meeting on November 22 at New Delhi would be discussed today.
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Announcing this during a public meeting at the Haipou Jadonang Memorial Children's Park at Tamenglong district headquarters today, UNC president L Adani however struck a word of caution and said that if the State Government works against the interest of the Nagas then the decision to lift the blockade would be reconsidered.
Earlier in the day, Tamenglong followed the districts of Chandel and Ukhrul and staged a public rally demanding the Alternative Arrangement model for the Nagas of Manipur.
Carrying placards and festoons, the rallyists started from the mini-stadium and after traversing through the district headquarters converged at the Haipou Jadonang Memorial Children's Park where a public meeting followed.
It was during the public meeting that UNC president L Adani announced the decision to lift the economic blockade from 6 am of tomorrow.
Representatives from the Chandel Naga People's Organisation, Naga Women Union, All Naga Students' Association, Manipur, Tangkhul Naga Long and others turned up for the rally.
As in Chandel and Ukhrul districts headquarters the rallyists demanded an alternative arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur by severing all ties with the State Government.
Slogans were also raised.