Manipur cannot be divided, says state home minister

IMPHAL: Stating that Manipur cannot be divided, state Home Minister Gaikhangam today asked all the communities to term themselves as Manipuris.

Talking to mediapersons here, Gaikhangam, also a senior Congress leader, asked how a state with a geographical area of 22,327 sq km could be divided.

"It is the homeland of more than 32 communities. How can one say it is the land of the Meiteis or the Nagas or the Kukis? Manipur is the homeland of all communities," he said.

"It is a democratic country but if a community raises a demand, it should not make another one suffer," he said.

Gaikhangam's statement followed a call of 12-hour general strike in Kuki inhabited areas of the state today to press for creation of 'Kukiland' out of Manipur.

The bandh was called by the Kuki State Demand Committee.