New Delhi, Jan. 4: People from Manipur staying here protested against the Union and state governments, on a day the poll dates were declared.

Manipur will go to the polls on March 4 and 8.

The declaration came as a relief to chief minister O. Ibobi Singh, who had rushed here with 35 party MLAs and state party president T.N. Haokip yesterday, following speculation that President's rule could be imposed in the state.

An economic blockade, called by the United Naga Council (UNC), has been imposed in Naga-dominated hills in Manipur since November 1. People from the valley called a counter-blockade against the UNC's move. The situation has remained tense ever since.

Ibobi Singh told reporters, "I am very happy. In 2012 also the CorCom (an insurgent conglomerate) had declared a complete boycott. We saw what happened (the Congress won)." He later met President Pranab Mukherjee, all members of the Election Commission and the Congress's election in-charge for the state, Ramesh Chennithala.

After meeting the President, Ibobi Singh said, "I have been told that there was a negative report sent by the Union home ministry to the Election Commission that the law and order situation in Manipur is not conducive to free and fair elections. It is totally wrong and baseless. We had suggested to the commission that just like earlier, the polls should be conducted in two phases. We are grateful to it and hope that our party will win this time as well."

When he returned to Manipur Bhawan, 20 Naga protesters greeted him with placards calling for the President's rule. "The Manipur government has fomented this social tension for the Congress to gain political mileage by consolidating votes in the valley. It is trying to appease the Kukis. This is not the time to conduct polls as the state's security agencies are unable to protect the fundamental right to life and liberty. President's rule must be imposed to restore normalcy," Lakpachui Siro, convener of the Committee for Joint Naga Civil Societies, Delhi, told The Telegraph.

Siro, who led the protest, added: "Live bullets are used against us while rubber bullets are used in the valley. BJP MP Tarun Vijay has raised the issue of our plight. We want the state government to rescind the creation of new districts to divide the Nagas. We want complete separation from Manipur. We want leaders of the UNC to be set free and the Centre to fulfil the peace agreement with the NSCN (I-M), so that we can live in peace and with justice," he said.

Six kilometres away on Jantar Mantar Road, more than 100 Meiteis also sat in protest. "We are not concerned over whether polls are held or not. What affects us is this humanitarian crisis in Manipur because of the blockade. The UNC is a front of the NSCN (I-M) and neither the state nor Centre does anything because of the peace talks. Why can't they use peaceful modes of protest?" N. Shyamkishore, general secretary of the Delhi Manipur Society, asked.

"There has been blockade after blockade by one group or the other and we are here as citizens to demand the rule of law in the state. We demand that the UNC adopt peaceful means. If not, the central and state governments have to use the state machinery to lift the blockade."

Matham, a Naga student photographing the protest at Manipur Bhawan, said: "Here in New Delhi, Meiteis and Nagas are both minorities, and hence don't have differences."