'Manipur has become a failed state, needs emotional integrity'

IMPHAL: Lamenting that Manipur has become a "failed state", National People's Party (NPP) general secretary Vivek Raj Wangkhem today said "emotional integrity" was the need of the hour.

In an interaction with PTI, the NPP general secretary said that this was evident from the fact that the state government had been not able to lift the 3-month long economic blockade imposed by United Naga Council (UNC) on the lifeline of Manipur, despite the blockade being "unlawful".

On the creation of seven districts by bifurcating some districts for which UNC extended the economic blockade, he said that the creation of districts for administrative convenience was appreciative but "the timing of the creation seems to be politically motivated with an agenda."

Claiming that NPP is the sole national party which originated from the north east region, he said that the political party "knows the aspiration of the different ethnic communities" inhabiting the region.

The NPP, he said, was likely to field not less than 25 candidates, in both the hill and valley assembly seats, for the upcoming Assembly election.

NPP has 2 sitting MLAs in Meghalaya and 4 sitting MLAs in Rajasthan, the party National General Secretary said.

He also said that party will be releasing its election manifesto within three days and party leader Conrad Sangma would soon be visiting the state for campaigning.