Meet rejects Govt's letter on Sana Konung takeover
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 10, 2013: A meeting of the Chingburoi-Tamburoi (hill and plain people of Manipur), which was held at Chongabon, Sana Konung here has flatly rejected the letter sent by the Government to the Sana Konung Semgat Lup expressing the former's desire for early settlement of the Sana Konung takeover issue.

Presided over by Chingsubam Gopal Macha, President of Sana Konung Semgat Lup, the meeting which was also attended by Khurai Lakpa Yumnam Gouramani, Wangkhei Lakpa Saikhom Wanglen; Khwai Lakpa Thokchom Ibungohal, Yaiskul Lakpa Ngangbam Nongyai, Laipham Lakpa Salam Birendra, Khabam Lakpa RK Sanayaima and Ahallup Lakpa Yumlembam Meiraba among others adopted a number of resolutions.

The resolutions stated that if the State Government desires to protect, preserve and develop Sana Konung, then it should be done in accordance to the wishes of Chingburoi-Tamburoi without taking over Sana Konung and without forcing the King to vacate his palace; the renovation and development of Sana Konung should be taken up in consultation with the Royal Council of Sana Konung and other various experts; the State Government cannot take over Sana Konung and the King also cannot give away Sana Konung to the Government, the Sana Konung would be protected by the people from today onwards and the developmental works would begin shortly and if the Government continues to act against the wishes of the people, then various forms of agitations would be launched.

Attending the meeting, Vachung, Chief of Khunpur village, said that neither the Sana Konung nor the private properties of the King can be taken over by the State Government for any reason whatsoever.

The King will remain as the King both for the people of the hills and the plain.

The hills will also be affected to the maximum with non-existence of Sana Konung.

P Tomba, Legal Advisor to the Royal Council of Sana Council, stated that the decision of the State Government to take over Sana Konung lacks sincerity and transparency.

"There is no harm in developing Sana Konung but the Sana Konung cannot be taken over by the State Government under any circumstances.

The act of the government to take over Sana Konung and shift the King to another rented place is a clear case of making the King of Manipur homeless�, he asserted.

YR Akhui of Hundung village, Ukhrul also expressed discontentment over the decision of the State Cabinet and said that they have come here to express their sorrow over the issue.

If the State Government takes over Sana Konung, the people of Manipur will cease to exist.

The decision of the State Cabinet should be revoked at the earliest possible so that no unwanted incident happens, he cautioned.

Arjun Telheiba of All Manipur Youth Protection Committee alleged that Chief Minister O Ibobi is acting under the whim of the Government of India.

The move to take over Sana Konung by the State Government has ben forced to be undertaken as the Government of India is certain that as long as the Royal Palace remains as a living institution, the fact that Manipur was once an independent kingdom would never be forgotten by one and all.

Chingkhei Luwangcha, President of IPSA; K Namba, King of Maram Khullen; Luikang, Secretary of Maram Khullen; C Kharnu Tangkhul of Hundung and Moirangthem Naodalenkhomba, Vice President of MEELAL were also among others present on the occasion and expressed their discontentment over the decision of the State Government to takeover Sana Konung.

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