Imphal, May 27: A day after leaders of Manipur and Nagaland PCC leaders agreed to hold talks with civil society groups to find an amicable solution to the economic blockade, Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today met a delegation of the All Manipur Church Organisation.

The Church delegation was headed by its president Prim Vaiphei and the meeting lasted for more than an hour.

Church sources said during the meeting Ibobi Singh “responded positively” to an appeal by the church delegation to hold dialogues with the All Naga Students Association, Manipur and United Naga Council (UNC).

“We met the chief minister to urge him to find a solution to the ongoing economic blockade as the entire state was suffering because of it. The chief minister assured us that he would extend an invitation to the Naga groups very soon,” a member of the Church delegate said.

He said the organisation was neutral.

“We are concerned with the welfare of the people. So we met the chief minister. Conflicts and problems could be solved across the table,” the source said.

The chief minister also assured the delegation that the government was always ready to hold talks with any group to redress their grievances.

Ibobi Singh told the delegation that his government was also ready to make amendments to the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Third Amendment) Act, 2008.

The UNC, ANSAM and other Naga organisations are opposed to the district council election because they felt that the powers given to the district councils were not enough.

ANSAM imposed the blockade on Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Dimapur highways since April 11 to protest against the election.

The first phase of the election was held yesterday in Chandel, Sadar Hills in Senapati district and Churachandpur. In the second phase Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts would go to polls on June 2.

Civil society groups in Tangkhul has called a 72-hour Ukhrul bandh from May 31 midnight to boycott the election.