Imphal: All Manipur Tribals Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) Friday announced calling off an indefinite blockade being imposed along National Highway No. 2 (Dimapur-Imphal) and National Highway No. 37 (Jiribam-Imphal).
The announcement came after the State government gave its assurance to release Rs 150 crore under MGNREGA to all the 16 districts of Manipur and the remaining balance on phase wise basis within January, next year without delay.
Meanwhile, the Tribal Forum appealed to the state government to release all the executives and blockade supporters detained by police without condition. The Forum also further urged the government to withdraw the arrest warrant issued against its executive members.
The Forum earlier said that the state government’s ‘adamant stand’ not to release sufficient funds for all the districts led to a serious economic crisis among the people living in the interior and tribal dominated areas.
On Thursday, Manipur’s Transport Minister Khasim Vashum appealed to the AMTDGF not to impose economic blockade, saying that the so-called economic blockade hasn’t been heard for a long time since the BJP-led government came to power in the state.
He also urged the leaders and members of the forum to come forward for a talk with the government while threatening that if the forum goes ahead with the agitation, appropriate legal actions will be initiated against them.
