UCM asks titular king to abdicate
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 15 2020: Taking strong exception to nomination of titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba for contesting the Rajya Sabha election, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) has labelled the developing situation as an attempt by the Central Government to absorb the Manipuri king into Indian electoral politics and sideline the issue concerning the merger of Manipur into India in 1949.UCM further clarified that it has no qualms with Leishemba Sanajaoba entering into politics on his own accord, but demanded him to abdicate his throne if he wishes to do so.

Speaking to media persons at its office at Lamphelpat today, UCM president Sunil Karam conveyed that even if Manipur is no longer regarded as a princely State, the people have been looking upto Sanajaoba as their king and the king testifies that Manipur was once a free and independent State.

As a result, when it was announced that he had been nominated as the BJP candidate for the Rajya Sabha election, the people were left completely shocked and immensely disappointed.

UCM has not problem with Leishemba Sanajaoba entering into politics on his own will.

However, UCM will never accept him, who is the cultural head of Manipur, going to the Parliament while still on the throne.

If he wants to go, he has to abdicate his throne, Sunil demanded.

Sunil then reasoned that BJP gave its ticket for the Rajya Sabha election to Sanajaoba as he is the king of Manipur and it is an attempt by Delhi to make it clear that the king has joined Indian politics and he no longer has any problems with the issue surrounding the merger of Manipur into India in 1949.Strongly condemning the clarification made by Leishemba Sanajaoba on his decision a few days back, Sunil explained that the king cannot do anything or bring any changes for Manipur by entering the Indian political system and added that such reckless behaviour, without considering the sentiments of the people, is not the right step.

If he dives into electoral politics, then Leishemba Sanajaoba will no longer be a symbol for the people of Manipur.

This can even lead to cracks in the relation between the people of the hills and the valley in the future.

Moreover, the king must not mix his economic condition with his decision to join politics.

Instead, it is necessary to remember and analyse if the people are behind his condition or if it was the result of the bad decisions by the Governments.

Sunil continued that the CSOs of Manipur came forward to help Leishemba Sanajaoba during his tough times and reminded that during the time of the Congress, when the Government wanted to take over the Sana Konung and convert it into a heritage site, the CSOs came forward and prevented it from becoming a reality.

On the other hand, UCM secretary general Kh Athouba said that in the past, the titular king had claimed that he did not imagine he would be approached by the BJP for nominating him as their candidate for the Rajya Sabha election.

As such, UCM views the recent shocking move of giving the ticket to the king, as a plan to slowly win him over and ultimately bring an end to the issue surrounding the merger of Manipur into India, Athouba added.

Stressing on the seriousness of the present development, Athouba reminded Leishemba Sanajaoba that it is the people who have been holding him up as their king all this time and it does not mean that he rules over all of them.

Leishemba Sanajaoba cannot go to the Parliament by compromising the more than 2000 years old history and culture of Manipur, he cautioned, opining that UCM's demand for the king to abdicate his throne if he wishes to join Indian politics, will also reverberate with the people.

The UCM secretary general further continued that the State Government is also at fault regarding the hasty decision to give the MP ticket to the king.

He reminded that earlier, Manipur Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution and handed over 180 acres of land to Shree Shree Govindajee Temple Board, whose Chairman is Leishemba Sanajaoba.

But today, the king has been sidelined and the Chief Minister himself has become the Chairman of the Shree Shree Govindajee Temple Board.

The land belonging to the Board, generates around Rs 36 crore in revenue annually.

The king was deprived of all these benefits and then ultimately baited with the MP ticket after he had suffered enough, Athouba alleged.

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