The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said despite the lifting of the economic blockade in Manipur the situation there was grim and demanded that the Centre make arrangements to airlift essential commodities and medicines to the State as these were in very short supply.
“The situation in Manipur is becoming worse day by day. It is very serious. There are reports that fuel and essential supplies there will last for only one more day. We demand that the government airlift essential commodities, fuel and medicines to the State within 24 hours,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
The main opposition wondered why the UPA had not taken any action to end the blockade which lasted 93 days.
“Is Manipur not a part of India.... Government has been giving sermons but has not done anything,” Mr. Javadekar said.
Mr. Javadekar, along with BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, will be leaving for Manipur tomorrow to meet the locals there and learn about the condition of the people. The team will spend three days in the State.
BJP has taken up the issue of economic blockade in the poll-bound State in a big way. A party delegation led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and BJP president Nitin Gadkari had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sometime back to demand an end to the blockade.
“It is surprising that there is a ceasefire but yet the rebels are toting guns while the armed forced have kept their weapons under wraps,” Mr. Javadekar said today.
He rued that petrol and LPG cylinders were being sold at “unthinkable prices” in Manipur.
