KSDC suspends public blockade
Source: The Sangai Express / Singlianmang Guite

Imphal/Lamka, January 28 2013: The indefinite public blockade imposed by the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) has been temporarily suspended with effect from 7.30 this evening.

At the invitation of Chief Minister O Ibobi, four representatives of KSDC held a meeting with the State Government at the Chief Minister's Secretariat at 10 am today.

The meeting went on for almost one hour and the two sides finally came to an understanding following which KSDC decided to suspend the indefinite public blockade for sometime.

Talking to The Sangai Express, KSDC publicity secretary George Guite said that they very much appreciate the initiative taken up by Chief Minister O Ibobi.

The meeting agreed on initiating necessary measures to start a political dialogue on the agenda of creating a Kuki State within the State of Manipur.

The one hour long threadbare discussion on the demand of creating a Kuki State and its outcome were satisfactory to both the parties, George Guite said.

KSDC was represented by its chairman Hejang Haokip, vice-chairman S Haokip, spokesperson K Khongsai and executive member Sadar Hills in-charge Satlen Kom at the meeting with the Chief Minister.

KSDC chairman Hegang Haokip conveyed that the Chief Minister made no comment on the demand for Kuki State throughout the meeting.

Nevertheless, the Chief Minister confided that the State Government would never accept formation of any pan Naga Development Council as part of the efforts to bring a solution to the ongoing dialogue between Government of India and NSCN-IM, Hegang Haokip conveyed.

During the meeting between AICC president Sonia Gandhi and an-all party delegation at New Delhi on January 14, there was a thorough understanding of the issue between the two sides.

Though Manipur is divided into hills and valley according to the geographical terrain, it is a single socio-political entity.

Calling upon all communities to live together in harmony, the Chief Minister appealed to call off the public blockade in the interest of general public, he said.

After listening to the Chief Minister's appeal, the KSDC representatives said that they would consider the appeal with other leaders of the committee and thus ended the meeting, Hegang Haokip said.

Later in the afternoon, a meeting of KSDC leaders was held at Churachandpur where the Chief Minister's appeal was deliberated at length.

The meeting finally arrived at an agreement to suspend the public blockade for sometime with effect from 7.30 pm today.

"Now the Government both at the Centre and the State have made a promise each.

We will only be constrained to intensify the agitation if those promises are not fulfilled", George Guite said.

During the blockade period, which came into force from 5 pm of January 24, twelve cars, four auto rickshaws, three Honda Activas and three motor cycles were damaged by bandh supporters at Churachandpur district while a Tata truck engaged for the Railway track laying work was torched at Tamenglong district.

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