Hindi boycott planned if Manipur not assured of territorial integrity

The All Manipur Students Union on Thursday served an ultimatum to boycott Hindi if Prime Minister I K Gujral did not clearly spell out the Centre's policy on the territorial integrity of Manipur.

An AMSU-sponsored mass hunger strike in all important places of the valley on this issue evoked a good response on Thursday. Tribal women took part in the fast clad in traditional attire.

AMSU president W Ratankumar Singh said on Thursday that if the prime minister failed to clarify his views on the territorial integrity of the state, the Union and other organisations in Manipur would boycott the national language, Hindi, starting Thursday evening. They would also boycott communication, transport and set up economic blockade, he said.

He also said the AMSU would force the state machinery to remain in isolation from the rest of the country from the midnight of August 23, if their demands were not met.

AMSU leaders alleged that the proposed peace talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac/Muivah) would break up Manipur state as the Naga rebels were demanding four important districts of Manipur that bordered Nagaland.

All shops and business establishments remained closed following hunger strikes by traders in the valley.