Imphal, November 04: A public discussion on National Highway and Sixth Schedule organized by United Committee Manipur (UCM) was held today at GM Hall, Imphal.

The meeting was presided over by the president of UCM Sapamcha Jadumani.

The meeting discussed threadbare the issues involved and the blockade of National Highway 39 and also about the improvement of National Highway 53.However, the focus of the meeting was given to the fraternal co-existence among all the ethnic communities of Manipur.

In this regard the meeting discussed thoroughly the move to extend the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in the hill districts of Manipur and its implications against Manipur's integrity and peaceful co-existence among all the ethnic communities.

The meeting resolved that the blockade of National Highway 39 be suspended temporarily in order to give sufficient time to implement the agreement between the government of Manipur and Nagaland as a result of the movement of the Manipur people against the inhuman crime of September 5 at Piphema in Nagaland on National Highway 39 and also against the forcible collection of taxes and harassments along the National Highways 39 and 53.A firm stand will be taken against the move of the government of India and Manipur to destroy the integrity of Manipur by creating Constitutional division between the hills and the plains, it resolved.

All move to replace the existing District Council formed under the Manipur Hill Areas District Council Act 1971 (as amended in 2000) enacted by the Manipur State Assembly, by the District Councils under the sixth Schedule enacted by the Indian Parliament be stopped immediately and that a firm stand be taken to make the existing District Councils recognized by the Indian Constitution under Article-243 (M) fully functional at the earliest so as to implement development works of the hill districts at a fast pace.

UCM also resolved that the Manipur State Assembly be urged to repeal the relevant resolutions, adopted during the tenure of previous Ministries, to implement the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in the hill districts of Manipur as the same contains elements that threaten the integrity of Manipur.

The meeting unanimously resolved that a movement to demand full autonomy for Manipur be launched so as to enable all the ethnic groups of Manipur to achieve economic development while preserving their distinctive identities in peaceful co-existence within a united Manipur.