Congress leader's appeal to voters

Imphal, July 18: Senior Congress leader and former Manipur chief minister Rishang Keishing today (Jul 18) appealed to the people not to allow their votes to be purchased by candidates who did not care for the welfare of the people.

Keishing who was chief minister for over 15 years said voters should not be influenced by such selfish candidates in the next Manipur assembly elections.

Assembly elections are due in Manipur in February 2012. Speaking at a social function at Naosem Chaprou in Imphal West district, Keishing, also a Rajya Sabha MP, said it was now time for all ethnic communities in the state to live in harmony.

"There is no threat to territorial integrity of the state as long as all communities live together", Keishing said.

There should not be any misunderstanding between hill and valley people and also among various ethnic communities in the hills, he said. More than 33 ethnic communities live in Manipur, he said.

PTI