Imphal, July 09, 2010: A Private Member Resolution to urge the Government of India to amend Article 3 of the Constitution of India so as to exclude the State of Manipur from the purview of this Article was passed by voice vote in the Manipur Assembly today.

The Private Member Resolution seeking amendment to Article 3 of the Indian Constitution was moved by Opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam and Th Nandakishore of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the House after the general discussion on the budget estimate 2010-11. MLA Radhabinod Koijam, who moved the resolution, observed that the provision of the Article 3 of the Constitution gives constitutional power to the Union government to create new states by slicing out parts of a state or states bypassing the state government(s) concerned or increase the size of a state by taking over lands from the neighbouring state(s).

If the state is kept outside the purview of the Article, which some states of the country are enjoying, recurrence of people's uprisings over the issue of territorial integrity resulting in the loss of lives, could be averted.

If the land demanded by the NSCN (IM) for formation of Greater Nagaland is conceded, the boundary of Manipur will be only the part of Kangla, the Opposition leader said insisting the members of the House on unequivocally passing the resolution.

He also said that once this Article of the Constitution is amended, the prevailing apprehension among the people of the state could also be erased, and could lead a peaceful life.

Unless and until Manipur is kept outside the purview of the Article 3 of the Constitution, the chaotic situation which has been creating restlessness in the mind of people of the state will continue.

Apprehension among the people of the state that the Government of India may sacrifice territory of Manipur in negotiating with the NSCN(IM) in the ongoing Centre-NSCN-IM peace talks could be eased, he observed.

MLA Radhabinod Koijam also insisted that the government should keep a clearcut stand on the borderline of the state.

Without keeping a clearcut border with other neighbouring states, how could the territorial integrity of the state be protected, he asked.

The Central government has always promised to keep the territory of Manipur undisturbed but the people do not have full confidence in the assurances as there is no Act or law that binds the promises made by the Central leaders to the people of the state, Radhabinod went on to observe in the House.

MLA Th Nandakishore of NCP, who moved the resolution jointly with the Opposition leader, recalled that Manipur was merged with the Indian Union with its own national character and the Indian government has no right to redraw the boundary of the state.

In order to keep the rights of the state, Government of India should keep Manipur outside the purview of the article 3 of the constitution which gives power to the Central government allowing redraw of boundary of a state or states if they think it necessary for the purpose of administration.

Members from both ruling and opposition taking part in the discussion like health and family minister, Ph Parijat, revenue, forest and law and legislative affairs minister supported the observation made by the motion movers and shared their opinion that if India government wanted to give peace a chance in the state, the constitution should be amended to keep Manipur outside the purview of the article 3. The importance of keeping Manipur outside the purview of the Article 3 has been raised when peace and tranquility in the state frequently disturbed in the wake of Indo-Naga peace talks.

So long as the amendment is done, unrest situation in the state will prevail, they observed.

Citing that the neighbouring state of Assam was the most hurt victim of the Article 3 they recalled the born of Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland by slicing out parts of Assam.

India government should agree to keep Manipur outside the purview of the very Article like that of Jammu and Kashmir and two other states of the country so as to save Manipur becoming the next victim.

Taking part in the discussion, state revenue, forest and law and legislative affairs minister, Th Debendro said that government will constitute a committee of officers to identified the border of the state and keep a clear cut boundary of the state.

There is nothing wrong in passing the private resolution to exclude Manipur binding by the Article 3 of the Indian Constitution.

Government agrees with the resolution, he said seeking supports from the political parties of both ruling and opposition in lobbying the Centre to move a bill for amendment of the Articles in the Parliament.

At the concluding part of the discussion, Speaker, Dr Sapam Budhichandra proposed the House that the private member resolution "This house unanimously resolves to urge the Government of India to amend Article 3 of the Constitution of India so as to exclude the state of Manipur from the purview of this Article be passed".

Later, the House unanimously passed the resolution voice vote.