The demand committee had suspended its public blockade imposed along all the lifelines of Manipur from February 28 this year in view of the High School Leaving Certificate Examination and Higher Secondary School Examination.
“The committee has now decided to intensify the temporarily-suspended general strike in Kuki-dominated areas of Manipur if the delaying tactics of the government continue. Moreover, the general strike will be followed by a economic blockade as well,” George Guite, the information secretary of the demand committee, said in a release today.
The committee slammed the government for delaying the start of the political dialogue to settle the Kuki issue.
“Time and again, the government has assured us that the talks will begin but nothing has been done so far,” the release said.
More than 20 Kuki militant groups, under the umbrella bodies of Kuki National Organisation and United Peoples Front, entered the peace process in 2008, after signing a tripartite agreement with the state government and the Centre.
Members of the rebel groups are at present staying in more than 10 designated camps.
However, the political dialogue is yet to start.
The Kuki militant groups are demanding the creation of a separate Kuki state out of Manipur.
The demand committee’s proposed Kuki state comprises Churachadnpur district, and portions of the four hill districts of Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong, with an area of 12,958 square km, more than half of the state’s geographical area.
The lackadaisical attitude of the government will invite socio-economic and political turmoil in Kuki-inhabited areas, the demand committee said.
“The government will be responsible for the outcome of the failure to keep the promises made to the Kuki people,” a member of the demand committee said.