Tribal students threaten indefinite economic blockade on NHs

Universal News Agency
Imphal, Oct 2: Alleging that Manipur government failed to address their demands, the agitating Joint Committee of Hill District Student Organizations (JCHDO) Tuesday threatened to impose an indefinite economic blockade on two main national highways, NH-37 and NH-2.

If the state government fails to meet their demands, opening of Teachers’ Eligibility Text (TET) centres in hill district headquarters before October 15, an indefinite economic blockade will be imposed on two national highways, NH-37 and NH-2, YS Yangmi Khapai, president of TKS(Tangkhul Kantamnaolong Saklong) and spokesperson of the JCHDO threatened today.

Members of the JCHDO, an apex body of students’ body of five hills district-based student bodies launching various kinds of agitations demanding opening of TET centres in all district headquarters, held a meeting today at Imphal to discuss their future course of action.

The JCHDO is currently launching ZEOs (Zonal Education Offices) in hill districts with effect from Monday after it had called a bandh in hills districts of Manipur last week.

Today’s meeting has resolved to impose the economic blockade, YS Yangmi said in an interaction with some media persons after the meeting was over.

“What makes the government hesitate to open TET centre in hills district? Are tribe of Manipur not the citizen of Manipur,” he asked while announcing the decision to call the economic blockade.

The spokesperson said, since before the 48-hour general strike was imposed, JCHDO had given an ultimatum to the state government regarding the same demand, opening of TET exam centre in hill
district. However, the state government was unheeded.

He further warned that the state government will be held responsible for any untoward incident arising out during the blockade. Urging the cooperation of the public to the proposed economic blockade, the spokesperson said that the economic blockade will be continued until and unless the state concedes their demands.