RALEGAN SIDHI: Anti-graft campaigner Anna Hazare have asked team members Arvind Kejariwal and Akhil Gogoi to study the humanitarian crisis besetting Manipur in the face of the intensified-economic blockade on the national highways for redressal.
Taking serious note of the crisis, the Gandhian even assured to visit to the state personally if required. "If the situation worsens, I'll visit Manipur and do the needful to end the chocking of key supply routes by pressurizing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," Anna told a team from Manipur at his Ralegan Sidhi ashram-cum-residence here, about 60 kilometers from Pune, on Saturday.
Kejariwal , who paid a visit to Pune to discuss various issues with Anna on Saturday, said he, along with Akhil, will arrive in Manipur on October 24. "After assessing the whole situation prevailing in the state, we will furnish our report to Annaji," said Kejariwal, minutes before he left for the national capital.
In pursuit of its decades old demand to create Sadar Hills district, the self-explanatory Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) has been imposing economic blockades on the Imphal-Silchar and Imphal-Dimpur routes since August 1. The United Naga Council (UNC) has also been calling a similar stir on the same routes to denounce the state government's alleged bid to bifurcate Naga-dominated areas for creating new districts.
"The crisis should be resolved at the earliest so that the people of Manipur get rid of their sufferings ahead of the coming festivals such as Ningol Chakouba, Diwali, Kut and Christmas," the anti-corruption campaigner said.
Anna's commitment came after senior journalist B B Sharma , social worker Jeevan A Ningthou, advocate Salam Rupachandra and another scribe gave a first-hand report on Manipur to him. While Sharma is the team leader, Jeevan is its coordinator. The state team's visit was sponsored by Sarhad, a Pune-based NGO, working for the betterment of the people of border states.
Sarhad's founder-president Sanjay Nahar and founder-member Yuvaraj Shah said they first raised the Manipur issue with Anna a few days ago after which the Gandhian immediately took up the matter.
"After Annaji assured to take up the matter, we requested the team from Manipur to give an initial report on the current situation to both Team Anna and Sarhad," said Sanjay. He added that besides Kejariwal and Akhil, other members may also accompany the duo in their Manipur visit.
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