Date:01/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/01/stories/2005080106831200.htm

Other States - Assam

Call for dialogue with Manipuri students

Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI: The North-East Students' Organisation (NESO) on Sunday demanded the Manipur Government to start immediately the process of dialogue with the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) which has been spearheading the economic blockade against the declaration of June 18 as a State holiday and State integrity day by the Ibobi Singh Government.

The umbrella organisation of Northeast student bodies also urged its member organisation the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) to suspend the ongoing economic blockade taking into consideration the suffering of the affected people. The NESO also urged another of its member organisation All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) to pressure the Manipur Government to resolve the impasse in the interest of the people of the State and not to adopt repressive measure on the agitators.

The NESO appeal was issued by its chairman Samujjal Bhattacharya, and general secretary N.S.N. Lotha while briefing reporters on the resolutions adopted at the two-day meeting of the executive council of the umbrella students' body held on Saturday and Sunday.

Dr. Bhattacharya said both the NSF and the AMSU would discuss the NESO appeal in their respective State bodies and hoped that they would reciprocate. He insisted that it was the duty of the Manipur Government to initiate dialogue with the agitators so that "cohesiveness of the people of Manipur" could be maintained.