IT News
Imphal, Dec 30:
The Ojha Sanajaoba Memorial Trust (OSMT) Manipur organized the 12th Ojha Sanajaoaba Memorial Lecture on “Jurisprudence for Constitutional Guarantee to Safeguard Manipur” in connection with the 78th Birth Anniversary of Ojha (Prof.) Naorem Sanajaoaba at the Ojha Sanajaoba Library Hall, National Research Center (NRC), Canchipur.
The speaker of the memorial lecture, Irom Lalitkumar Singh, Senior Advocate (High Court & Supreme Court) and former chairman of the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland & Manipur, elaborated on the issues of the Indian Constitution when it comes to the state of Manipur, which was merged into the Indian Union. Technically, the constitution of India came into existence on January 26, 1950. However, when the framers of the Indian constitution started drafting the constitution after the passing of the Indian Independence Act 1947, Manipur was not a part of India, and thus there are no provisions for safeguarding Manipur.
“The Indian Independence Act 1935 and 1947 was passed for two countries, India and Pakistan, and not for Manipur,” the Senior Advocate said, adding that when one looks from the angle of the Indian Independence Act, there are many loopholes when it comes to the interests of Manipur.
While discussing the Jurisprudence for Constitutional Guarantee to Safeguard Manipur, it is pertinent to note that Manipur was an erstwhile nation and merged with India on October 15, 1949. The legitimacy of the merger agreement has already been discussed, and people have declared that the merger of Manipur into the Indian Union was illegal and illicit, Advocate Lalitkumar said.
The loopholes in the Indian constitution to serve the interests of Manipur straight away indicate that Manipur did not grow up with India and needs separate clauses.
“I often say that I am not a true Indian, as my fathers and mothers were not Indian,” Sr. Advocate Lalitkumar said.
The session was presided over by Prof. N. Rajmuhon Singh, Vice Chancellor, DM University Manipur. He is also the president of the Ojha Sanajaoba Memorial Trust (OSMT), Manipur.
On the occasion, the 9th edition of the book entitled “Meitei Ningthourol,” authored by Sarangthem Bormani and published by Sarangthem Ajit, was also released today.
