People's convention seeks amendment of Constitution
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 26 2020:
Defence, external affairs and inter-State relations shall be tested in the Central Government while the rest shall be conferred on the State Government

A People's Convention on Special Status for Manipur was held today at GM Hall here under the aegis of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) .

The people's convention resolved that the Constitution of India should be amended in order to grant special status to the State of Manipur.

According to a resolution adopted at the convention, special status shall include, inter-alia, the following competencies:
Special status will mean specific provisions in the Constitution of India.

Three administrative subjects viz; defence, external affairs and inter-State relations shall be vested in the Central Government while the rest shall be conferred on the State Government by amending the Constitution of India.

The Constitution of India should be amended to provide powers to Manipur to trade with its neighbours, share profits from Central projects in the State between the Centre and the State and inter-State migration within the State shall be controlled by Manipur.

The people's convention resolved that Article 3 of the Indian Constitution should be amended by inserting a proviso that any change in the boundary of Manipur shall require concurrence of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

To constitute a Manipur Legislative Council with representation from all the recognised communities of Manipur, with the condition that for larger communities, there shall be one representative in the said council for every two-lakh population.

It was also resolved that no ethnic-based territorial council can be accepted within the territory of Manipur as such arrangements will create more political and ethnic problems.

The convention resolved that a people's democratic movement demanding special status for Manipur within the framework of the Indian Union be launched in the light of the above stated principles.

It was further resolved to constitute a working committee to work out specific details of the special status and draft a memorandum demanding special status for Manipur which would be submitted to the Government of India.

Finally, the people's convention entrusted the responsibility of accomplishing the resolutions adopted today to the COCOMI.

The convention noted that only a special status with a high degree of autonomous powers for the State of Manipur can provide for all aspirations and rights of all communities.

Leaders of several CSOs, academicians, intellectuals, legal experts and people from different walks of life shared their views and opinions at the convention which was chaired by COCOMI coordinator Sunil Karam and moderated by W Nabakumar.

Giving the presidential address, Sunil Karam asserted that the COCOMI is fully committed to oppose any attempt to disturb the boundary, integrity and political structure of Manipur under any circumstance.

The demand for special status is in addition to this non-negotiable position of the people, he said.

The civil movements seen in Manipur since the last many decades demand re-orientation and incorporation of special status as a primary goal, Sunil Karam said.

The exclusive approach adopted by different communities in the State in pursuit of their own aspirations and interests has become a serious threat to the integrity of Manipur, he decried.

On the other hand, most of the Government of India's policies and parameter for distribution of power and opportunities are based on population.

As such, they are highly unsuitable to a State like Manipur which has a very small population, said the COCOMI coordinator.

He said that the yearning for peaceful co-existence, collective development and sharing of rights and opportunities on equal footing gave birth to the idea of special status.

He asserted that the public convention held today was the first step towards the common goal of special status for Manipur.

The meaning, connotation, scope and other details of the special status can be revised and changed, if necessary, Sunil Karam said.

He informed that they have received a written invitation from the State Government for a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah tomorrow.

"A team of COCOMI would talk with Amit Shah tomorrow and we will make it clear once again that there is no change to our position", he said.

The Union Home Minister would be told in unambiguous terms that any infringement upon the collective interest of Manipur, any attempt to create territorial or regional council or any form of administrative division aimed at appeasing one group or community will not be tolerated, asserted the COCOMI coordinator.

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