ATSUM suspends stir, to talk with CM today
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 21 2014 :
Positively welcoming an invitation extended by the Chief Minister for talks to discuss their demands, the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM-T) has suspended its proposed agitation under Reckoning of Others (ROTO) - III with effect from today.
The agitation under ROTO-III including blockade along the National Highways has been suspended with effect from 3.30 pm today following the CM's invitation for talks tomorrow, Muan Tombing, president of ATSUM told media persons at its office located at Nagaram today.
The ATSUM representatives would hold talks with the CM at 8 am tomorrow (Wednesday) .
The CM is also understood to have assured the tribal students' body that the agreement reached between the Govt and ATSUM on November 25 last year will be fulfilled.
Muan Tombing further said that ATSUM is ready to launch any form of agitation at any moment if the talks fail tomorrow.
ATSUM launched its agitation including indefinite blockade of National Highways and ban on National projects in the State beginning from midnight of Oct 20 .
Amongst others, the demands of ATSUM include providing adequate infrastructure and manpower in health and education sectors in the hill areas, good governance, to strictly follow the reservation policy and to revoke the New Land Use Policy 2014 .
Meanwhile, many vehicles were left stranded at Thamlapokpi along Imphal-Moreh stretch of NH-2 as volunteers enforced the agitation for a while today.
Movement of vehicles was also disrupted for a short time at Motbung and Sapermaina along the Imphal-Dimapur road.
Vehicular movement along Imphal-Ukhrul road was also affected by the ATSUM agitation today.
Significantly the Senapati District Students' Association and the Kuki Students' Organisation-Sadar Hills had stated that they would not support the agitation.
The general secretaries of the two student organisations had asked the people not to be confused over the matter and the SDSA had stated that the agitation will not cover Senapati district.