IMPHAL, June 24: Members of the Sana Konung Semgat Lup and several other women organizations of the state today held a meeting at the Royal Palace against the June 22 cabinet decision to acquire the Manipur Royal Palace and its surrounding areas.
Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the meeting, Tomcha, legal advisor to the titular King Leisamba Sanajaoba said the cabinet decision on acquisition is “illegal and there is no such law to take over some one properties and it’s unconstitutional”.
He elaborated the Sana Konung Semgat Lup had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government in 2006 to settle an attempt of the state government to acquire the Royal palace then.
The MoU signed had provided that until and unless there is a mutual consent between the Sana Konung Semgat Lup and the state government, there can be no government acquisition of the Darbar Hall, Sana Konung and the Lambi Lampak inside the Palace Compound, he said.
It was also resolved that until an amicable agreement was brought between the two sides, the acquisition of the palace will remain suspended, he continued.
The legal advisor to the titular king further told media persons, that if the need arise in the wake of the state government trying to continue with its attempt to forcefully acquire the Royal Palace, they will place the matter before both the Prime Minister and the President of India.
He said, the Manipur Royal Palace has been “retained as a living Palace” with the King remaining as the customary King of Manipur. He expressed that the government needs to call back its decision without any delay. If the government is as much concerned about the maintenance of the palace as it has expressed, then maintenance work can be done as it is.
The lup alongwith several other civil organizations of the state will continue to fight until the government calls back its decision, he said.
Ak Janaki, president, Momnu Eerikkhombi Lup (MEEKHOL) said the women’s bodies of the state will not take the cabinet decision lightly, and further condemned the decision which also included turning the palace into a “tourist spot”.
Once the Royal palace is destroyed, there will be no identity of the state and the land of the Manipuris will perish, she said.
During the reign of “Muwa Ningthou” it was known as Muwapali and the name “Manipur” was given by Santidas Gosai, she said.
The land was also known by different names like “Meitrapak” and “Kangleipak” under different kings, she said.
The Sana Konung Semgat Lup along with women organisations will press its demand for the Government to revoke its order, she said.