Imphal, June 01 2010: Manipur State Unit of All India Lawyers' Union has submitted a memorandum to the President of India Pratibha Devisingh patil highlighting hardships being endured by the people of Manipur due to continued enforcement of economic blockade on both National highway 39 and 53 .

Contending that approval by the Central Govt to NSCN (IM) general secretary Th Muivah's desire to visit his birth place in Ukhrul district is the genesis of the ongoing impasse in the State, the Union called upon the President to intervene and redress problems of the people.

The representation also conveyed to Pratibha Patil that candidates contesting ADC elections are feeling insecure as certain groups had been threatening as well as committing violence against the candidates.

If the Union Govt and its functionaries including the Union home Minister is really interested and serious in bringing a peaceful solution to the problem of Manipur and the so-called Nagas, first and foremost step should be refer the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 to the Supreme Court of India, to determine its legality and validity and to determine the political status of the State of Manipur in view of this merger Agreement, as done earlier in (i) President of India versus Berubari Union and Exchange of Enclaves, reported in 1960 AIR (SC) 845 and (ii) N masthan Sahib and S Reddiar versus Chief Commissioner, Pondicherry, as reported in 1962 AIR (SC) 797, the Union elaborated.

Insisting that addressing the issue of Merger Agreement is very much required as most of the problem infesting manipur arose out of resentment against the said Merger Agreement, the Union maintained that taking into account suffering of the people the legal practitioners cannot remain silent and as such the President needs to act accordingly.

The memorandum also desired that rule of law should be restored at all cost and every obstacle on NH-39 and 53 that connect Manipur with other parts of India, should be immediately removed to make the routes safe for travel and transportation of goods.

Students demonstrate: Demanding lifting of the economic blockade being imposed along the National Highways in view of its impact on the education following shortage of fuel, students and teachers staged protest demonstration in front of their respective school gates at different parts today.

With placards and festoons inscribed with wordings like 'Take up some other forms of agitation instead of economic blockade', 'State Govt should provide adequate petrol and diesel to ensure proper education of the students', 'We are one, so why should we fall to the trap of divisive forces', etc, the students and teachers of Pioneer Academy, MM Higher Secondary School, St Sebastian High School, AIMS Model Academy and Millennium Institute of Science demonstrated in front of their respective schools.

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