Imphal Jun 23 MNS UNA : Family members of the last Manipur King were upset with Manipur government’s decision to take over the Sana Konung (Royal Palace) of elsewhere kingdom of Manipur even as residents of Palace Compound where the royal palace located and would be affected by the government’s decision strongly opposed the government move.
A sit-in-protest to register a strong objection to the government decision was staged today at Palace Compound.
A cabinet meeting held on Saturday evening chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh after a thorough deliberation on plans to renovate historic structures of the Royal Palace so as to retain the glorious era of Manipur’s existence as an independent nation has decided to take over the place by government.
The cabinet meeting further endorsed necessary construction activities at the Royal Palace and adjacent areas in order to replenish the taste and decorum of Manipur being a kingdom.
For accommodation of the family members during the renovation/construction activities a spot of choice within the Royal Palace would be refurbished for the king’s lodging, besides not to intervene in customary and traditional rituals of the royal family were other decisions taken in the cabinet meeting.
Manipur government has been trying to take over the Royal Palace so that it could be developed as a historic site for tourist attraction along with preserving Manipur’s rich cultural heritage.
Government had taken such a similar decision earlier in 2006 to undertake renovation works at palace complex with no compromise on its original form. However, the decision could not be translated into works with the best reason known to the government only.
The decision of the government has upset grandson of King Buddhachandra, Leishemba Sanajaoba who had fallen ill. His health was deteriorated for the last many days since chief minister O Ibobi announced on May 20 last that government was considering for taking over the Sana Konung.
“He is now bedridden,” informed P Araba Mangal, general secretary of Sana Konung Semkat Lup, a body formed by 37 civil organizations, mostly based in localities within the Palace Compound including a civil organization of Kuki, Naga, Muslim (Meitei-Pangal) and Meitei, speaking to reporters at the site where the sit-in-protest was staged today.
He recalled an agreement signed between the Sana Konung Semkat Lup and state government on February 2, 2006 which agreed to prior consent of the body while government takes a decision regarding the Royal Palace.
The government has broken the agreement. Government should review the decision. If government failed to review the decision, they would launch a series of agitations and would not retreat until government review its decision, he said.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/decision-to-take-over-royal-palace-opposed/
