Newmai News Network
Senapati | November 1
The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has announced an economic blockade from November 3 evening onwards in “Naga areas in Manipur.” The economic blockade will continue until the ‘memorandum of agreement’ (MoA) signed between Government of Manipur and the ANSAM is implemented, asserted the Naga student body.
The ANSAM had launched “picketing of government offices” in the hill districts of Manipur under its jurisdiction from October 24 as the first step of agitation demanding immediate lifting of the order of internet shutdown or restore internet connectivity “in the peace area of the state”, and also to declare the result of the interview held in the month of September, 2021, for the appointment of 190 posts of assistant professors (145 + 45 ST Special Drive) for government colleges of Manipur at the earliest. The Naga student body suspended its agitation of picketing government offices from October 27 following the agreement with the state government of Manipur during a meeting on October 26.
The October 26 ‘memorandum of agreement’ was made with an assurance of the government to “restore internet connectivity in the state within five days (in three working days) subject to assessment of law and order condition,” and also to “declare the result of 190 (145+45 ST special drive) posts of assistant professors to be engaged on contract for one academic session on or before November 2, 2023.” The 'memorandum of agreement' also said that the Naga student body would resume its agitation in the event of the failure to implement the above agreement.
In a statement made available to Newmai News Network today, the ANSAM said it was “irked by the further extension of blanket Internet ban in the state vide Government Order No. H 3607/4/2022-HD-HD(Pt) dated 31st October 2023 which negates the Agreed point No.1 of the ‘memorandum of agreement’ (MoA) that has breached the mutual trust amongst the parties.” As such, the Naga student body said it will launch an economic blockade in all the “Naga areas in Manipur” from 6 pm of November 3, 2023, until the ‘memorandum of agreement’ (MoA) signed between Government of Manipur and the ANSAM is implemented.
Therefore, the ANSAM requested all its constituent units and subordinate bodies to strictly enforce the proposed economic blockade in their respective jurisdictions to withstand and fight for the rights and for implementation of the agreed points in ‘memorandum of agreement’ in letter and spirit.
The ANSAM further appealed to the government officials and public for utmost co-operation and understanding during the course of the agitation.
