Sana Konung Take Over:: Titular king stops taking food, people begin to guard Palace
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 23 2013: On hearing the decision of the State Cabinet to take over Sana Konung (Royal Palace) for development into a historical monument, Titular King of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba has stopped taking food and remained confined inside the Palace from today morning.

Meanwhile, large number of men and women along with members of Sana Konung Semgat Lup has begun to guard the Royal Palace from today following the State Cabinet's decision to take over the Palace.

In a follow up to the Cabinet decision, Hueiyen Lanpao visited the Royal Palace and found large number of people gathered at the premises of the Palace.

The members of Sana Konung Semgat Lup were also found interacting with an American journalist.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Secretary of Sana Konung Semgat Lup P Araba said that Sana Konung Semgat Lup is a body comprising 37 indigenous communities of the State.

The members of the Lup have begun to guard the Royal Palace after hearing the decision of the State Cabinet.

Sana Konung Take Over

He informed that Titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba has refused to take food and step out of the Palace after learning about the Cabinet's decision to take over the Palace. Araba further said that the State government should revoke its Cabinet decision on taking over the Royal Palace.

The King is the customary head of the State and his rights cannot be deprived by the government, he noted.

Sana Konung Semgat Lup and the State government had signed an agreement on February 2, 2006 .

The members are prepared to launch stern agitations along with the people if the State government takes any decision against the agreement, the Secretary disclosed.

He continued that the people are ready to lay down their lives if the government uses force to take over the Palace.

The people's demand to the government is to revoke its decision and nothing else, Araba added.

He further maintained that the State government has remained silent for more than six years after signing the agreement in 2006 .

The Lup has also submitted memorandums to the Governor and Chief Minister just yesterday, he stated.

Recalling the events associated with this Palace, Araba said that the construction of Royal Palace began in 1904 during the British Rule and handed over to Maharaj Churachand after completion in 1909.The State became independent after the departure of the British and established its own rule with a Constitution and Legislative Assembly, he noted.

After the merger of Manipur with the Indian Union in 1949, the political rights of the people have been taken over by the Indian government.

However, the customary rights of the people were retained with the King.

The decision of the State government would make the Royal Palace a non-living institution thereby depriving the customary authority from the King, he asserted.

Araba also said that the people of Manipur should question the authorities of the exact date and instrument on which the territory of Manipur accrued to the Indian government after signing the Merger Agreement in 1949 .