The Narendra Modi government has taken a tough view of the blockades in Manipur, which have being going on for years and send the prices of essential items skyrocketing. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has now warned in a statement released on Monday: "No individual or organisation will be allowed to take the law into their own hands."
"The Ministry of Home Affairs has watched with concern the ongoing blockade on NH-37 in Manipur and the consequent shortages of essential commodities faced by the people of Manipur. The government of India is firmly committed to maintaining rule of law," it added.
The MHA, led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has also said the Centre "considers blockades anywhere in India a gross violation of law and a crime against humanity causing untold suffering to countless humans."
The significance of this is that the Central government under the BJP-led NDA is finally talking tough on the blockades and strikes — often called by Nagas for a separate state to be carved out from the existing ones — that have caused hardships to people of the north-east for years.
Combating the situation
In a state that has seen the price of petrol reach Rs 300 a litre and LPG touch Rs 3,000 per 14.2-kg cylinder last month, the MHA said it had "placed 15 companies of central forces stationed in Manipur at the disposal of the state government."
Last week, another 15 companies of central forces were made available to the state government to enable the state government to have the blockade lifted.
"It is hoped that state government will act with responsibility and maturity to ensure both maintenance of supplies to Manipur as well as social harmony. The MHA will provide additional forces to the state government if necessary," the statement added.
Appeal to protesters
The MHA has also urged all protesters and blockade enforces to take the dialogue route in order to solve their problems. "The government of India expects all to cooperate with the government of India's resolve to both maintain rule of law and supplies of commodities to Manipur, and appeals to the United Naga Council (UNC) to remove its illegal blockade in view of the difficulties faced by the people of Manipur," the statement said.
"All contentious issues need to be settled peacefully by democratic and lawful means," it added.
