Palace Takeover: Memo submitted to President against Cabinet decision
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 28 2013 :
The President of India has been urged to press the State Government to retract its Cabinet decision on taking over Sana Konung (Royal Palace) .
Maharaja in Council, Sana Konung has submitted a memorandum in this regard to the President.
Addressing media persons in this regard at Chongabon, Sana Konung here today, P Tomcha, Legal Advisor of Sana Konung Royal Council, informed that a delegation of Sana Konung Semgat Sagat Lup and other women organizations of the State would also be going to New Delhi to meet the President of India over the issue very soon.
Highlighting the details of the points raised in the memorandum, Tomcha said that when the British took over sacred Kangla after conquering Manipur, they constructed the present Royal Palace at the Palace Compound.
In the Merger Agreement, it has been clearly mentioned that the Royal Palace is the private property of Maharaja of Manipur.
The king has been living in the palace and performing all customary rites and rituals as the sole authority.
It is a fundamental right of the King which has been enumerated in Article 26 of Indian Constitution.
So, the decision of the State Cabinet to take over Royal Palace is in violation of the fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of India, Tomcha asserted.
He pointed out that on numerous occasions; the State Government has tried to take over Sana Konung from the King.
In 2006, the State Government tried its level best to confiscate Sana Konung.
However, after the public protested, the State Government was forced to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sana Konung Semgat Sagat Lup.
However, in spite of this MoU, the State Cabinet has came up with the decision of taking over Sana Konung without informing anything to the Sana konung Semgat Sagat Lup or other concerned authorities.
This is a total violation of the fundamental rights of the king, he added.
He also expressed discontentment over the failure of the State Assembly to discuss the issue.
Ima Sakhi, President of AMKIL, who was also present during the press conference, pointed out that soon after the report of the Cabinet decision to take over Sana Konung was received, titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba refused to take food.
But after being consoled, he started taking food from today.
In the memorandum to the President of India, the Maharaja in Council, Sana Konung has sought the intervention of the former in pressing the State Government to withdraw its Cabinet decision.
The memorandum has also made it clear that if the State Government does not retract its stand, then there should be President's Rule in the State.
Furthermore, the memorandum warned of launching various forms of agitations if the Cabinet decision is not revoked within 10 days.
Copies of the same memorandum have also been forwarded to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Sonia Gandhi and the Governor of Manipur.