More censure nomination of titular king for RS poll
FH, Meitei Pangal bodies decry
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 16 2020:
Strongly condemning the decision of titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba to contest the Rajya Sabha election, the Federation of Haomee has remarked that his step is against the aspiration of both the hills and valley people and it is highly advisable for him to revoke the decision.
Speaking to media persons at Dewlahland today, president of the Federation of Haomee, Sapamcha Jadumani said that the people of Manipur are still in shock that Leishemba Sanajaoba filed his nomination paper as a BJP candidate for the Rajya Sabha election.
His decision will completely render the voice of the people against the Merger Agreement useless, Jadumani explained, adding that such a reckless decision taken by the king is completely against the interest of the people of both the hills and the valley.
It will be the most logical step to revoke his decision while there is still time, Jadumani implied reasoning that if Sanajaoba fails to do so, then the people will no longer regard him as their king.
Just yesterday, the Hundung king himself called Leishemba Sanajaoba over phone and urged him to revoke his decision, Jadumani said, condemning the fact that the king has completely disregarded the sacrifice and efforts made by thousands of people through the generations for the motherland.
On the other hand, Federation of Haomee Core Committee co-convenor Raihing Sweeten opined that there might be an ulterior motive or agenda of the BJP Government in giving the party ticket to the king.
Moreover, it is doubtful if the Government took the decision in the best interest of both the hills and valley people, he alleged, reasoning that as Leishemba Sanajaoba is the king, he should act like one and think for the welfare of the people instead of acting as per his own whims and fancies.
It is better to be a patriot and a hero to the people instead of being a crorepati.
Instead of trying to jump into politics, he should be focusing on how to develop the State.
His decision is highly condemnable, the co-convenor added.
On the other hand, numerous Meitei Pangal associations have also come out strongly against the decision of the king to contest the Rajya Sabha election, terming the move as an attempt orchestrated by the Centre to seal the fate of the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 as valid and legal.
Speaking to media persons at Hafiz Hatta today on behalf of the Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO), Muslim Council Manipur (MCM) and the United Meitei Pangal Organisation (UMPO), president of MMWO Abdullah Phundreimayum said that on September 21, 1949, the Manipur Merger Agreement was signed at Shillong and Manipur became a part of India on October 15 the same year.
The events surrounding the merger has been shrouded in debate with many reports alleging that then king Budhachandra was made to sign the agreement at gunpoint.
Angered, Manipur Legislative Council adopted a resolution on September 24 (1949) claiming that Manipur could not merge into India based on the agreement signed by a powerless king (Budhachandra), he explained.
Coming to the present scenario, he lamented that the act of giving party ticket to Leishemba Sanajaoba by BJP is akin to projecting the Merger Agreement as valid.
Appealing the king to revoke his decision, Abdullah Phundreimayum said that those people who are right now supporting Sanajaoba's decision to enter politics, are the kind of people who rejoiced back then when then king Budhachandra was forced to sign the agreement.
Various other associations, namely League of Indigenous Peoples Upliftment (LIPUL), Eramdam Singpangbi Apunba Khutpu (ESAK), Eramdam Kanba Apunba Lup (EKAL) and People United Youth Alliance (PUYA) have also strongly condemned the decision of the king to contest the Rajya Sabha election.
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