Popular Government must have representatives of all communities, says Joy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 20 2025: A popular Government, when it is formed, must have representatives of all communities including the Naga, Kuki and Muslims, veteran politician Okram Joy has said.

He said this on October 18 at his residence at Kakwa speaking to reporters.

The representation of all the communities is required to bridge gaps, resolve differences and bring about complete normalcy and peace in Manipur, he said.

All popular Governments in the past had representation of all the communities.

Similarly, if a new popular Government is installed in Manipur repealing the President's Rule, it should have the representation of all the communities, Joy said.

Popular Government must have representatives of all communities, says Joy

On the issues surrounding the Rajbari in Redlands, Shillong, Joy said the historic building was demolished on October 8 despite appeals made from different sectors.

Prior to the demolition of the Redlands building, Manipuri Sahitya organisations based in Shillong had made an appeal to Manipur's Governor, Secretary Art and Culture and other relevant authorities to safeguard and preserve it, Joy said.

The indifference shown by the Art and Culture Secretary, Commissioner, Director and other high ranking Government officials over the demolition of the Rajbari is unfortunate, he added.

The Manipuri Rajbari in Redlands was a historic building, an integral part of the State's history.

It was a testament to the existence of Manipur as a princely and an independent State.

All officials involved in its demolition must be held accountable and given befitting punishment, Joy said.

While the Manipuri Rajbari was sold off by a Manipuri King, then Manipur Government under Chief Minister RK Joychandra had bought it back paying Rs 10 lakh to the Meghalaya Government and entrusted it to the State Revenue Department, Joy said.

This building which was bought back then was somehow found in the custody of the Meghalaya Government, prompting the recent N Biren Singh Government to buy it on lease.

This issue or confusion regarding the ownership of the Redlands building must be investigated thoroughly, Joy said.

Notably, the Manipur Rajbari in Shillong's Redlands was handed over to the Government of Manipur permanently by the Meghalaya Government on August 12, 2021.The legal document certifying the transfer of the Manipur royal property was signed on August 12, 2021 by the Under Secretary to the Revenue & Disaster Management Department and addressed to the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner.

The land, measuring 1.93 acres at Redlands, Laitumkhrah Shillong was transferred to the Government of Manipur, on payment of a premium of Rs 91,04,784 including land revenue with effect from 2008 amounting to Rs 24,271, said reports.

Among other things, Joy also spoke on the "deteriorating conditions of road connectivity", and blamed the then BJP-led Government and their MLAs for it.

He also condemned the murder of 67-year-old retired physiotherapist, Dr Ashem Rita at her Yaiskul residence, and blamed it on the deteriorating law and order situation under the BJP administration.

He said the tight security cover given to the Legislative Assembly Speaker at present is a telling sign of deteriorating law and order situation in the State.

The Speaker would need no security details if the law and order situation was good, he added.