Dimapur, March 3 (MExN): Leaders of tribal Hohos, namely the Phoms in Longleng district, Yimchungers and Sangtams of Kiphire district, Zeliangs of Peren district and Lothas of Wokha district demanded full implementation of Delimitation in Nagaland under the Delimitation Act, 2002 which was Amended in 2003.
The representation letter stated that, they are very much aware and support the Centre’s rejection of the demand of the Nagaland Government to exempt the State from the purview of Delimitation exercise under the Delimitation Act on the basis of 2001 Census figures. The representation letter rubbished the reasons put forward by the State Government which were anomaly in the 2001 Census and unique tribal composition, which was also rejected by the centre.
“The argument that there will be tribal imbalances and the unique tribal composition will be distorted is farce, baseless and hypocritical” stated the representation.
Implement delimitation
The representation letter pointed out that the working plan proposed by the Delimitation Commission of India as per 2001 Census figures for Nagaland with a population of 33,167 per Constituency is just, proper and equitable for all the districts/tribes of Nagaland.
Further the representation stated that if no delimitation takes place or if internal adjustments within the district is allowed as informed through official sources of the State Government there will be more chaos, discontentment and the Commission’s Office will be floated with representation and counter-representations.
“If the Delimitation process does not take place there will be gross injustice to the backward District/Tribes and the gap between the advanced and backward District/Tribes will be widened and the Districts like Longleng, Kiphire, Wokha and Peren will continue to be neglected in terms of developmental activities due to less representation in the State Legislature” stated the release.
Why delimitation?
The representation letter stated that the purpose of the Delimitation Act was to make adjustments of the excess Assembly seats of the Districts to the Districts which are having less Assembly Seats as per 2001 Census figures. Accordingly, the Delimitation Commission of India proposes in its working plan to adjust the excess Assembly Seats in the six districts to the five Districts of Nagaland which are having less Assembly Seats, stated the representation.
The representation letter pointed out that if the delimitation process is taken out then districts like Mokokchung districts like Mokokchung and Zunheboto (including Pughoboto) will have a population of only 23,000 and 22,000 respectively per constituency; whereas Longleng District will have a huge population of 60,690 per Constituency, Kiphire District will have 50,716 per Constituency, Peren District will have 45,383 per Constituency, Wokha will have more than 40,300 per Constituency and Dimapur will have over 60,100 per Constituency.
What’s the problem now?
The representation letter stated that Mokokchung District has 10 Assembly Seats and Zunheboto has 7 seats at present; and hence it is not justified to allow them to have a population of 22,000 and 23,000 per Constituency whereas other backward Districts will have a population of over 40,000 to 60,600 per Constituency. Thus some tribes may not have any representation in the State Legislature if Delimitation is not implemented and status quo is allowed as asked by the State Government, stated the release. The representation stated that politicians with vested interests particularly those in power are trying to retain their power with vested reasons to exploit the backward tribes by demanding exemption and status quo.
What if no delimitation?
The representation letter gave a warned that the people of the five districts which are facing victimization of being neglected are prepared to boycott any future elections in Nagaland if there is no delimitation.
The representation letter also cautioned that if Nagaland is exempted and status quo is maintained and is left to the State Government alone, then there will be discontentment and chaos among the ethnic tribal groups in the state.
The representation also reminded that the inequality and gaps between the advanced and dominant Tribes and backward and minor Tribes will be greatly widened and the backward tribes will continue to be neglected politically, economically and socially for lack of representation in the State Legislature.
Furthermore, the representation letter predicted inequality and tribal imbalances which will result in economic, social and political imbalances among the tribes of Nagaland which may ultimately create unpleasant social unrest in future.
The representation letter to the Chairman of the Delimitation Commission of India was jointly issued by the reprensentative of Lotha Hoho Dimapur, Ntsemo N Ngulie, The former president of Phom Students’ Union, BS Nganlan, The President of Zeliang People Organisation, Haireulungbe, the representative of Lotha Hoho Wokha, KR Murry and the President of the Yimchunger Tribal Council, Thsesong Yimchunger.
