Centre can't do whatever it fancies: O Joy
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 06 2023:
Veteran politician Okram Joy has categorically stated that the Central leadership don't have the right to do whatever they fancy in Manipur as the provisions of the merger agreement are still effective and protected by the Indian Constitution.
The Integrated Meetei Alliance (IMA) hosted an intellectual dialogue on "Political status of Manipur-to bring a political solution" at the Sangai Hall of Hotel Imphal today.
The programme was participated by several civil society organisation, club, meira paibi and political party leaders.
At the function, the ex-MLA said that Manipur was earlier a sovereign kingdom and self governance has a distinct place in 'our history' .
Claiming that the provisions on political status, territory, population etc of Manipur documented in the merger agreement are still operational and protected by the Constitution, O Joy added that the Centre doesn't have the right to do whatever they want in Manipur.
If there is any conflict on the provisions of the treaty (merger agreement) then the President has to refer the same to the Supreme Court to settle the issue, he added.
" Idon't take Manipur as a State which can be affected by the amendment of Article 3 too," he contended.
He went on to state that the studied silence of the Prime Minister on Manipur violence would be remembered by the people for a very long period.
The Prime Minister is very vocal about the Russia-Ukraine war and advocated holding of dialogue to end the war but he hasn't said a word about Manipur other than condemning a particular event, he rued and accused Modi of treating the people of Manipur as low-class citizens.
It is also unfortunate that the Parliament is not able to discuss the situation in Manipur as of yet, he added.
Ex-MLAs RK Anand, NG Bijoy, retired Lieutenant Colonel T Hemo and IMA convenor Akhom Birendra also attended the programme among others.