Protest against Royal palace takeover move continues
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 07 2013: The sit-in-demonstration demanding withdrawal of the State Cabinet's decision to take-over the Royal Palace for renovation works continued for the 17th consecutive day today with volunteers of MEELAL, Yumnam Lairemba-Lairembi Development Society, Salai Taret Meira Paibi Apunba Lup (Uripok Sorbon Thingel Leikai) and Thangmeiband Apunba Lup (Thanil) sustaining the movement.

Interacting with mediapersons at the protest site in Palace Compound, Meelal vice president Naokhamba opined that if the Government wants to carry out repairing works in the Royal Palace there would be not much opposition but the State Cabinet endorsing restoration works under the Historical Monument Act would not be acceptable as the Royal Palace would eventually become a 'protected area' thus threatening existence of the titular king and diluting identity of Manipur being an erstwhile independent kingdom.

In case the Government of Manipur is committed to protecting historical sites of Manipur then the Langthabal ruins of Maharaj Gambhir Singh and Bishnupur palace of Maharaj Bheigyachandra or even the historically significant bungalows of the CM and the Governor may be renovated under the Historical Monument Act, suggested the script activist.

Reminding that the present official residence of the CM used to be the resting place of Maharaj Churachand and merits repairing works under the said Act, he observed that the State Cabinet's intention to dislocate occupants of the Royal Palace, including the titular king, in the name of renovation would certainly be an affront to the sentiment of the public.

While urging the Government to revoke the Cabinet decision with the insistence that there is possibility of mass uprising for the issue has sentimental attachment with the people, Naokhamba also ridiculed the State Government likening the Royal Palace of Manipur to that of Tripura.

Apart from the original Tripuris struggling for survival in their home State the Tripura palace has no in-residence ruler unlike Manipur where the titular king is still protecting customary rites and practices, he explained.

Naokhamba also cautioned that the public sentiment should be accorded all seriousness for objection to the Cabinet decision is not only limited to valley pockets but several village chiefs of the hills have also voiced strong resentment against the Government's move for shifting the titular king from the Royal Palace.

Comment