Manipur BJP delegation to meet Rajnath Singh to discuss economic blockade, political crisis in state

The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) delegation from Manipur will meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence on the UNC blockade issue.

Curfew was relaxed on 21 December in some portions of Imphal West and Imphal East especially the market areas, but internet services remained suspended for the fourth day.

Earlier, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh convened a series of meetings with ministers, MLAs, security personnel and members of civil society.

Due to the blockade by United Naga Council and bandh by a Naga organisation in Nagaland, all passenger services were stopped and over 1,000 vehicles carrying passengers and goods were stranded on the Assam Nagaland border areas.

Also, on 21 December, BJP MLA and party national secretary Khumukcham Joykishan and Nationalist Congress Party MLA and national secretary Laisom Ibomcha Singh resigned from their respective parties and joined the Congress party.

Joykishan Singh was one of the two sitting BJP MLAs in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly from Thangmeiband Assembly constituency. With his resignation, the BJP now has only one sitting MLA, Thongam Bishwajit of Thongju Assembly constituency.

Laisom Ibomcha Singh was elected from the Keishamthong Assembly Constituency.

The two MLAs said the Centre's inability to resolve the economic blockade and political crisis in Manipur was the main reason behind their resignation.

-ANI