Monday, July 4 2005 16:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Imphal: Manipur Government appealed to the All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), which has called the economic blockade on national highways in the State to come for a discussion even as hundreds of trucks loaded with essential items for the State remained stranded at Assam and Nagaland.

The Manipur cabinet presided over by Chief Minister M Ibobi Singh yesterday (July 3, 2005) discussed the situation arising out of the blockade of the NH 39 Imphal-Guwahati and NH 53 Imphal-Silchar by ANSAM since June 20 to protest a recent Government decision declaring June 18 every year as holiday to observe Integrity Day, official sources said today (July 4, 2005).

The ANSAM has said Government decision was against Nagas plan for unification.

As more than 454 Manipur-bound trucks loaded with essential items remained stranded at different places in Assam and Nagaland, several organisations appealed to ANSAM and State Government to settle the issue immediately as prices of various items were soaring due to non-availability of daily need items, they said in separate statements.