Imphal, August 20 2010: Reacting to news report in some State dailies that quoted the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram as saying that additional Central security forces have been deployed for safe journey of goods and passenger carriers along the Imphal-Dimapur section of National Highway-39, the State unit BJP observed that without political solution security of travellers on this route cannot be guaranteed.

Addressing newspersons at the Nityaipat office of the State BJP unit this afternoon, Manipur Pradesh BJP president Sh Shantikumar demeaned the Union Home Minister's stand/vision as detrimental to interest of the Manipur public.

P Chidambaram, replying to a call attention motion of BJP MP Bijoya Chakraborti in the Lok Sabha yesterday has opined that myriad problems besieging people of Manipur due to frequent blockade and unwanted criminal activities on NH-39 could be addressed through deployment of additional Central paramilitary force personnel.

Shantikumar also ridiculed Chidambaram's assertion that essential items were transported to Manipur under stringent security measures even when economic blockade was enforced on the National highways for over two months.

The State unit BJP president in contending that the transported food items were inadequate for the entire State populace, also disagreed with the Home Minister's contention that shortage of essential items in the State was due to the transporters' decision not to ply along the Imphal-Dimapur section of NH-39 .

strongly suggesting that more stringent security measures would have avoided the general public endure severe hardships owing to the prolonged economic blockade, Shantikumar pointed out that inspite of security cover provided by CRPF personnel safety of truckers could not be guaranteed for the escort convoys either lead the vehicles or follow at the rear which makes those travelling in the middle exposed to attacks by anti-social elements.

Noting that the Central Government had provided 12 additional CRPF companies to sanitise NHs of disruptive elements, Shantikumar opined that travellers are still vulnerable to attacks for safety could be guaranteed only through political solution of the existing problems.

Belittling the Home Minister's assertion that open sale of diesel/petrol has resumed in Manipur, the State BJP president said Chidambaram's contention is misleading for the so-called open sale is not a routine affair.

On MP Dr T Meinya's objection to the BJP Parliamentarian pointing out that the State Government has failed to control prices of essential commodities as well as failure on the law and order aspect, he posed whether the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency MP was referring that there is no problem either in availability of food items or on the law and order front in the State.

Shantikumar opined that had the MP proposed imposition of President's Rule in the State the people would have heartily welcomed such a move.

He also construed that no Central Congress leader visiting Manipur when the economic blockade was in force demonstrate the Centre's indifferent attitude to hardships faced by the masses here.

Contending that the SPF Government's decision to suspend Imphal Municipal Council for six months is un-democratic, Shantikumar further conveyed that the BJP is seriously observing the situation.

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