Imphal, November 08, 2008: A MINISTERIAL team led by Works Minister K Ranjit today had talks with the representatives of the agitating Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) in an attempt to end the continuing blockade on the NH-39 but could not arrive at any amicable solution as the students' body turned down the appeal of the ministerial team urging them, instead, to translate their assurances into work first.

The students' body also told the Ministers that they alone could not take the decision to end the blockade as many other organisations have been extending support to the blockade morally.

The ministerial team comprising Works Minister, K Ranjit and Education Minister, L Jayentakumar, who inspected the condition of the highway on their two-day tour along the stretch upto Mao, held talks with the representatives of the agitating students' body at Senapati led by its president Peter this evening.

In the talk which was held at the Divisional Office of PWD at Senapati district headquarters, the Works Minister was assisted by two MLAs from Senapati district, Thohrii and K Raina who also accompanied the ministers.

During the talk, Minister Ranjit informed the representatives of the students' body that the repairing work of the stretch of the highway from Maram to Imphal, which is under the control of the state PWD, has already started from November 2, a day after the economic blockade began.

He also assured them that the repairing work is targetted to be completed by December this year and appealed to the students to end the blockade with immediate effect in the interest of the people and inconveniences caused as a result of the economic blockade.

But instead of positive response to the called of the minister, representatives of the students body urged the minister to convert into works first to his assurance so that they could consider for suspension of their stir.

However, they (agitating students) assured that they will consider appeal of the ministerial team with other organizations like the ANSAM, KSO etc.

extending support to the stir.

They will hold a meeting with them and will take a decision on the matter, they informed.

As the students body turned down to withdraw the blockade inspite of repeated appeals, the ministerial team returned back this evening at around 7.10 pm.

Later, speaking to the media persons, education minister observed that the demand put down by the students body is a right one.

He also said that the road condition could not be improved due to various flaw while implementing the road maintenance works.

Even though there could not bring any amicable agreement in the talk, the minister said they could conveyed the works taken up by the government for improving the highway.

The blockade will call-off surely, he believed.

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