Imphal, July 05 2010: The All Zeliangrong Students' Union of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland (AZSU-AMN) has announced a '48 hours' bandh along National Highway-53 beginning from the midnight of July 9 .

The AZSU-AMN said that the bandh was being called in protest against the Manipur Government decision to take over the maintenance and construction work of NH-53 ( from Imphal to Jiri) from Border Road Organisation (BRO) and hand it over to the State Public Works Department (PWD) .

Elaborating on the matter, the Zeliangrong students' body pointed out that earlier it had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways regarding the Manipur Cabinet decision to take over the construction work and maintenance of NH-53 road stretching from Imphal till Jiri from the BRO.

It further asserted that the students' body had earlier demanded the Manipur Government to repeal its Cabinet decision of taking over such a major project work alleging that the State PWD is 'incompetent and irresponsible' to manage even roads within Imphal Municipality areas.

"As the Manipur Government failed to meet the demand made by the students' body, AZSU-AMN has no other option but to go ahead with the 48-hour bandh on NH-53," it added.

Meanwhile, the AZSU-AMN while appealing to civil society leaders including scholars and village chiefs to participate in the 'public convention' to be held at Peren, Nagaland on July 30, the student body of the three States affirmed that the resolution for 'public convention' was adopted during a meeting convened by the Zeliangrong Interim Body (ZIB) on June 18 at Siquiluang (Sibilong).

Seeking valuable suggestions and innovative ideas for the larger interest of Zeliangrong community, AZSU-AMN said that at the very convention, the present imbroglio regarding the nomenclature of the Zeliangrong apex body will be finalized and bring to its logical conclusion.