By IANS,
New Delhi: Home Minister P. Chidambaram Monday appealed to groups demanding a separate district in Manipur to suspend their 92-day-old economic blockade, which has led to prices of various commodities sky-rocketing in the north-eastern state.
“I appeal to the Kuki groups and other groups to suspend the agitation,” Chidambaram told reporters while releasing the monthly report of his ministry.
He said essential commodities were available in the state, though prices had spiralled.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Governor Gurbachan Jagat have also repeatedly urged the agitators to withdraw the blockade.
The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) began the indefinite road blockade on National Highway (NH) 53 and NH 39 that link the northeastern state with the rest of the country.
They are demanding that the Sadar Hills sub-division in the Naga-dominated Senapati district in northern Manipur be upgraded as a full-fledged district.