House reaffirms Art 3 amendment resolution
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 23 2018: The State Assembly today reaffirmed the resolution adopted by the same House on December 22 last year which demanded amendment of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution.

Regarding the deep apprehension and anxiety felt by the people of Manipur over any possible negative impact to the State's integrity on account of the political dialogue going on between the Government of India and NSCN-IM, Chief Minister N Biren gave a statement on the floor of the State Assembly today.

Biren stated that the Assembly had adopted certain resolutions repeatedly in connection with the GoI-NSCN (IM) political dialogue.

Between 1995 and July 21, 2017, the State Assembly had adopted certain resolutions seven/eight times on the political dialogue.

The report presented by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs recently pointed out that all stake holders should be consulted as and when the political dialogue reaches its final stage otherwise there may be unrest in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, Biren said.

Both BJP and Congress delegates went to Delhi and met Central leaders and laid down their positions on the Naga issue.

There is a consensus among all the people to safeguard the integrity of Manipur.

Many CSOs of the State too asked the Government of India to seek prior consent of the State Assembly before working out a solution to the protracted political dialogue in case it impinges upon the interest of Manipur in any manner "We submitted a memorandum categorically stating that we will take extreme steps if anything inimical to Manipur is done without obtaining prior consent of the State Assembly", asserted the Chief Minister.

The Central leaders were told that all the communities of Manipur which have been living together since ages will continue to live in peace and harmony, and they assured that no harm would be done to Manipur.

The Central leaders further assured that all the neighbouring States will be consulted, Biren told the House.

Apart from the assurances given by Central leaders, the House may adopt a resolution reaffirming the resolution adopted on December 22, 2017 in the interest of Manipur's integrity, the Chief Minister proposed.

The Speaker then read out the resolution adopted on December 22 last year and the House reaffirmed the same resolution.

The resolution seeks amendment of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution by incorporating that 'prior consent of the State legislatures of the affected States shall be mandatory while forming a new State or changing names of existing States and also to request the Government of India to make the contents of the Framework Agreement available to the Government of Manipur, there shall not be any change in the present administrative set up of the State ofManipur and autonomy of any kind should not be granted to any part of the State as a result of the Framework Agreement leading to resolution of the Naga political issue' .

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