Nagaland Chief Minister concerned about 1000 hour bandh call in Karbi Anglong

The Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang, has expressed concern about the 1000-hour bandh called by the Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS) of Karbi Anglong, Assam. In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh the chief minister yesterday expressed concern about the proposed bandh by JACAS stating that Nagaland and Manipur have been the worst-affected by frequent bandhs imposed by various organisations of Karbi Anglong district.

The frequent shut-downs caused severe inconveniences to travellers and affects the supply of essential commodities, causing artificial shortages and unrealistic price rise, the letter, copy of which was released here, said. He expressed apprehension that the proposed 1000-hour bandh, the reason for which is not even remotely connected to Nagaland, would practically stop supplies of all essential commodities including petroleum products to Nagaland and Manipur.

The Chief Minister therefore appealed to the Union Home Minister for his personal intervention to ensure that the proposed bandh would not affect the interest and welfare of the people living in the two states of Nagaland and Manipur.

The present 1000-hour bandh has been called by the JACAS in protest against the Central Government's delay in announcing the schedule of the next round of talks since the last one held on 6th November 2013. The JACAS is spearheading the demand for an autonomous state within Assam and the proposed bandh if taken place would start from 5 am tomorrow and last for around 40 days, greatly affecting normal life in Nagaland and Manipur, apart from their own district of Karbi Anglong in Assam.