Manipur, Nagaland PCCs to work together for diffusing crisis caused by blockade

Imphal, May 27: The Manipur and Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) have agreed to work together to facilitate a dialogue between civil society groups, including the Church, of the two States as part of their bid to defuse the crisis arising out of the economic blockade. The leaders have agreed to send a joint party delegation to the national capital to seek Central Government's intervention in the crisis. But no certain timeframe could be worked out to sending the team to New Delhi.

Led by party president I. Imkong Ao, a six-member delegation of the Nagaland PCC arrived in Imphal on Wednesday afternoon from Kohima to hold discussions on the prevailing situation in both the States with Manipur.

Earlier, welcoming the Nagaland delegation, Manipur PCC president Gaikhangam said the visit was a "good opening".

The Manipur PCC chief said the committees in both the states would work for people-to-people contact to work out an amicable solution to the ongoing blockade along two prime supply routes as well as the ban on Manipur vehicles in Nagaland.

Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh has reportedly agreed and also assured the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee that he would strengthen and activate the Church organizations and civil societies to defuse the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

"We've decided and agreed upon that Church and civil societies should be strengthened and activated to defuse the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Manipur," Nagaland Post quoted NPCC president I. Imkong as saying in press conference at the Congress Bhavan in Kohima on Wednesday.

The Nagaland PCC delegation returned to Kohima in the afternoon after meeting chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh at the chief minister's office and Manipur PCC president Gaikhangam at Congress Bhavan here.The blockade was intensified after NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah's bid to visit Manipur was foiled by the Ibobi Singh government. (ANI)