'Manipur violence disturbing, needs to be stopped'

Kozhikode (Kerala): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the continuing violence in the northeastern state of Manipur is disturbing and needs to be stopped immediately.

The MP from Wayanad said the violence in the state was a direct result of a particular type of politics of division, hatred and anger.

"So, it is important to keep everyone together as a family," said Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to Kerala and will return to Delhi tonight.

He said everyone has to come together to not only help Manipur heal, but also "ensure this new unpleasant type of politics does not spread and is stopped in its tracks".

Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Community Disability Management Center (CDMC) at St Joseph High School Auditorium in Kodenchery here, Gandhi said he has been disturbed for the last few months ever since he visited Manipur.

"I saw with my own eyes what happened there and what has been done to the people of Manipur. In my 19 years of political life, I have never experienced what I experienced in Manipur.

"It is as if one person has been torn into two pieces. It is like someone has torn one whole state of the union. The violence, rape and killing just continues. So, it is important that the violence (in Manipur) is stopped immediately," he said.

Gandhi said that the wounds inflicted as a result of the violence would take many years to heal.

Tight security in troubled state ahead of I-Day

Security arrangements were beefed up in Manipur on Sunday after some Imphal valley-based banned organisations called for a strike on Independence Day, officials said.

Several outlawed outfits, such as Coordinating Committee (Corcom), called for a general strike on I-Day from 1 am to 6.30 pm. (PTI)