Centre’s North-East policy starts shaping up as Manipur economic blockade ends after five-month

It seems that the Centre is in no mood to leave any stone-unturned in delivering its poll promises after the BJP-led Manipur government successfully took out solution to end the impasse of economic blockade that was lifted on Sunday night after talks held between Centre, state government and Naga groups.

It was a major feat and an attempt to reach out people who were protesting the creation of seven new districts by the previous Congress government. The United Naga Council had imposed the blockade on November 1.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach towards North-East policy became effective when Centre and Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) had signed an accord on August 3, 2015.  The opposition party Congress had questioned the deal and demanded to make the clauses public.

Appreciating the "first step of the newly formed government" led by the BJP, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla said the lifting of the blockade "will usher in an era of peace and prosperity" in the northeastern state. Chief Minster Biren Singh said the lifting of the blockade was "just the beginning" and that his government was trying to fulfil the promises Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made to the people of the state.

Lifting of indefinite economic blockade was resolved in a tripartite talk,involving United Naga Council,GoI&Manipur govt in Senapati,Manipur pic.twitter.com/ZEQ1VeeNxV

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 19, 2017

"Our effort is to make it (lifting of blockade) successful. It is just the beginning. The word was given by honorable Prime Minister Modiji to the people of Manipur during the election campaign. We are trying to fulfil his words," he told news channel NDTV.

Earlier in the day, a joint statement, issued after the tripartite talks held at the Senapati district headquarters, stated that there would be "unconditional release of the arrested UNC leaders and all cases related to the economic blockade against the Naga tribe leaders and student leaders will be closed".

It had said that the blockade would be lifted from midnight today. The statement was signed by Joint Secretary Satyendra Garg of the Union Home Ministry, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) J Suresh Babu and Commissioner (Works) Radhakumar Singh of the Manipur government and UNC general secretary S Milan and All Naga Students Association president Seth Shatsang.

Also Read | Indefinite economic blockade in Manipur to be lifted from Sunday midnight