Imphal, February 06: Col (retd) H Bhuban Singh, former president of the BJP state unit and a prominent candidate of the NCP in the forthcoming elections, has said that unemployment, combined with gun culture, has given rise to insurgency in the state.

Addressing mediapersons at the Manipur press club, the former Army officer also reiterated that insurgency in the north cast cannot be eradicated through force alone.

It can only be resolved through political dialogue, he stated.

He also stressed that peace can be brought if there is development.

NCP leader C Doungel, who also attended the meet, stressed that to preserve the territorial integrity of the state, it was not enough to protect geographical integrity, but emotional integrity too had to be ensured.

Emphasizing the need for bringing in a new political and administrative culture, lie said the public must seriously consider whom they wanted as their representative.

Doungel also stressed the need for taking up generation of employment other than white collar employment by taking up of self-employment schemes in the state.

Expressing certainty that the NCP could become the single largest party after the elections, he said of the 38 candidates fielded, including 15 in the hill districts, at least 20 were expected to win.

NCP president N Tiken Singh disclosed that instructions have arrived yesterday from the party central leadership against forging any pre-poll alliance, but said the party would join with like minded parties after the elections to form a coalition government.

He said extension of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution to the hill areas of Manipur was not on the agenda of the NCP.

He also appealed for restricting the sizes of ministries and discouraging defections.

Regarding the fiscal problems of the state, Tiken said the Centre should provide an economic package to solve the state's problems.

He also mentioned that the state government should be one trusted by the Centre.