KOHIMA, APRIL 25 (MExN): The Chakhesang Public Organization today reiterated its stand to oppose any move to implement the Delimitation Act basing on the ‘erroneous and controversial’ 2001 Census.
Addressing the pressmen at Hotel Japfu on Tuesday, the CPO Delimitation Committee and the CPO executive members maintained that “the wrong basis can not deliver justice to the people till such time the loopholes are rectified”.
It demanded that the government either conduct fresh census or skeleton census, which they claimed is possible within 6 months time. CPO also said that they are not against the implementation of Delimitation Act or is against any tribe benefiting from the Act, however, they are against the erroneous census on which the implementation of the Act is going to be based.
Tomorrow a committee of the Delimitation Commission is visiting the state to conduct a public hearing. CPO said that they will put forth the same stand before the committee.
In 2003, the Chief Minister convened a meeting of all the NGOs and civil societies where the 2001 Census was unanimously rejected by all present. The state government is not able to release to Census 2001 till due to stiff opposition from the CPO and some other tribal organization till date. In February 2004, the attempt was to release the Census, however, the record did not permit, the CPO also revealed.
It is learnt that the Delimitation Commission has washed of its hands from the Census controversy, endorsing the whole matter to the Registrar of Census of India. But the latter despite of so many representations and reminders rejected the plea of the CPO outrightly, which compelled them to file a PIL in the Guwahati High Court.
The High Court in its hearing on April 10 passed an interim order, stating that the implementation of the Act is subject to the final outcome of the writ petition. It also granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the court for necessary order in the event of any decision taken by the delimitation Commission.
The Court is scheduled have a final hearing on May 3.
The CPO also questioned the Christian ethics of the Nagas, and the integrity of Indian Democracy on the issue as there has been massive manipulation and anomalies in the Census 2001, without giving any room for verification and rectification.
Those present in the press conference were CPO President, Yesonu Veyie, General Secretary, Mikha Kenye, CPO Delimitation Committee Convener Thimikha Koza, Former Speaker Z Lohe, and Theja Therie.
“We are not giving up. We will compromise on the issue”, said Thimikha, Convener of the Committee, adding that from the first day the CPO has staunchly demanded for restoration of the losts to Wokha and Phek taken away by Delimitation Act 1972 because there were certain evidences of political manipulation.
The Phek and Wokha district lost one seat each in 1974, when Delimitation Act was affected basing on the 1971 census. This time Wokha will regain the lost seat, but the Phek district instead of regaining will lost another seat, which the CPO said is not acceptable.
CPO also said that if the present trend continued unrectified, Census will become a thing of stiff competition amongst the Nagas.
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