Imphal, December 3
Prime Minister Manmohon Singh today said that there were no winners in the crippling economic blockades that Manipur had faced, while stating there was no plan for a ‘supra state’ (a body which is above the state) for Nagas in the North-East.

“There were no winners. The only the losers were the common people,” Manmohan Singh said referring to the economic blockades on two national highways at a public meeting here on a day’s visit to Manipur along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Central ministers.

He said the economic blockades had severely affected the economy of the state. On recent media reports that the Centre was planning a ‘supra state’ for Nagas in the North-East, he said: “There is no such proposal. The integrity of Manipur will be protected and the state is an important part of the union.”

The public applauded the Prime Minister when he said that the protection of the territorial issue in Manipur was a very ‘sensitive one’.

Stating that Manipur needed peace and tranquility for all-round development, the Prime Minister said: “Different communities have been living here for centuries and there should not be any misunderstanding among them.”

The UPA chairperson said the people had suffered during the recent economic blockades and wanted all youths to work for normalcy in the state.

Stating that the Central government was working closely with the people of Manipur, Sonia Gandhi said: “New Delhi may be far away from Imphal, but the UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is sensitive.”

She said all aspirations could be accommodated through dialogue. The Prime Minister urged the people to live in peace and harmony as the Centre was prepared to do anything for the all round development of the state. — PTI