NEPO concerned over blockade impact
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 24 2011:
North East People's Organisation (NEPO), Manipur Chapter has expressed serious concern over the hardships being faced by the people on account of the prolonged economic blockade of SHDDC and the counter blockade of UNC.
In a statement, Convenor of NEPO Manipur Chapter K Chingkham pointed out that it is the common people who have been hit hardest by the ongoing economic blockade and counter blockade.
Such agitations hardly make any difference to Ministers and officials who continue to get permit for oil.
But the common people have to stand in long queue at the oil pumps just to get a few litres of petrol.
Moreover, through arbitrary hike in the prices of essential commodities, unscrupulous traders have been trying to fleece the people of their hard earned money by taking advance of the situation.
However, genuine a demand may be, it would be advisable on the part of SHDDC and UNC to relax their respective economic blockade and counter blockade every now and then in the larger interest of the suffering public.
On the other hand, bandh, blockade or any other restrictions are normally relaxed in the run up to any major festivals like Christmas, Kut and Ramjan but the manner of intensifying the ongoing blockade and counter blockade just ahead of Ningol Chakkouba of the Meiteis scheduled to be celebrated on October 26 may not be a wise decision.
So, in the event of any untoward incidents, those who are behind the ongoing economic blockade and counter blockade should be held responsible, the statement of the NEPO Manipur chapter categorically added.