As the crippling economic blockade on two national highways in Manipur entered the 94th day on Wednesday, its sponsor United Naga Council (UNC) in an ominous note threatened “severing” of all ties with the State.
UNC sources said that the Nagas in the State wanted to “severe” all ties with the Manipur government and wanted an “alternative arrangement” for themselves.
They said that UNC representatives had met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on the demand and submitted a memorandum to him.
The stand of the UNC on continuing the blockade since August 21, 2011 stemmed from the State government signing an agreement with the Kukis of Senapati district, a Naga majority one, to convert the Sadar hills area into a full-fledged revenue district.
The demand was made by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC), which had also blockaded the two national highways Imphal-Jiribam Silachar and Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati for 94 days since August 1, 2011 before withdrawing it on October 31, 2011.
The prices of all essential items have skyrocketed following the blockades.
Petrol was selling at Rs. 200 per litre, diesel Rs. 90 per litre and cooking gas (LPG) at Rs. 1,650 per cylinder in the black market, reports said.
Prices of onion and other vegetables have not only gone up but were also not readily available, the reports said.
