Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 31 2010:
Wielding the willow for Manipur, BJP MP and National spokesperson of the Saffron party, Tarun Vijay today raised a motion during zero hour in the Rajya Sabha drawing the attention of the House to the re-imposition of yet another economic blockade in Manipur by advocates of Nagalim.
Raising the motion, Tarun Vijay said that the Government must take immediate action to restore peace and normalcy as the people have started losing faith in the Indian State.
Pointing a finger at the United Naga Council, which he dubbed as being supported by the NSCN (IM), which is anti-National, the BJP leader said that the UNC has re-imposed a 25 day economic blockade on both the National Highways, which link Manipur with the rest of the country.
Before this, Manipur was paralysed for 68 days, when the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur, imposed an economic blockade, he recalled.
Asserting that the economic blockade has hit the people of Manipur hard, Tarun Vijay said that prices of essential commodities have sky rocketed with a filled LPG cylinder being sold at Rs 1200 in the black market while petrol and diesel are being sold at Rs 100 or so, per litre in the black.
So far eight trucks have been burnt during the course of the economic blockade on the highways, asserted the BJP leader.
Painting a glib picture of the State, Tarun Vijay said that non-Manipuris have been threatened by an armed group to leave the State.
The blockades and bandhs have not only affected the pockets of the common people but have also hit the academic institutions, said the BJP leader and recalled that schools and colleges had to remain shut for about four months last year, at the instance of some lobby groups.
Despite all these, the Centre nor the State Government have not been able to provide adequate security to ensure normal functioning of the academic institutions.
Left with no choice, a good number of parents have been forced to sell their landed properties to send their children outside Manipur to pursue their studies, pointed out the BJP leader and added not only these, but parents have also been forced to take loans.
The BJP leader further stated that there are cases where a good number of Govt employees have not been paid their salaries for the last six months.
This scenario is worse than Kashmir, he claimed.
Quoting the people of Manipur, Tarun Vijay said "If the rulers in Delhi think Manipur really belongs to India, then why doesn't it take action to help the people ?" .