Nagpur, May 23 2010: RSS today demanded immediate steps from the Centre to end the economic blockade faced by people of Manipur and for their safety.

"It was highly deplorable to shut both the national highways to Manipur for last 17 days while opposing the entry of NSCN-IM leader T Muivah in Manipur", RSS General Secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said in a statement here today.

About 25 lakh people in Manipur are hit by the closure of national highways.

Prices of essential commodities including rice, pulses, floor, diesel, petrol and kerosenes are skyrocketing.

Dimapur-Imphal NH 39 and Jiribam-Imphal NH 53 are closed since April 11, he said.

"I, therefore, urge the Centre and state to initiate immediate steps to reopen the closed national highways.

Some years ago, the Centre intervened to reopen the Jammu-Srinagar national highways within 48 hours, Joshi recalled.