Zeliang People Organization, Lotha Hoho Dimapur, DCC (I) slams Delhi Delegation
Dimapur, June 20 (MExN): Proving a counter-act to those against delimitation, the Zeliang People Organization, the Lotha Hoho Dimapur and the District Congress Committee (I) Wokha, has demanded that the Delimitation Act 2002 be implemented in Nagaland at the earliest so that backward sections of the state are not marginalized further in terms of development and state benefits.
The three bodies, as well as a former president of the Phom Students’ Union Longleng, in a joint representation to the Chairman of the Delimitation Commission of India took strong exception that “some leaders” in Nagaland are “still harping” to keep the state away from the purview of the Delimitation Act, so as to remain in power in their respective constituencies.
“Nowadays almost all the development schemes are implemented through the MLAs of respective constituencies. Moreover, development funds are divided on the basis of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies as local area development funds.
As such the Delimitation Commission’s proposal for delimitation of Assembly constituencies under the Delimitation Act 2002, has come as a blessing in disguise and as a great relief for the most backward districts of Nagaland like Kiphire, Longleng, Peren and Wokha” asserted the representation signed by Haireulungbe and Haigam Kauring, President and General Secretary respectively of the ZPO, KR Murry, President, DCC (I) Wokha, BS Nganlang Phom, ex-president of the Longleng PSU, as well as TL Merry and Khondao Ngullie, President and General Secretary respectively of the Lotha Hoho Dimapur.
It maintained that the aforementioned districts have been deprived of the benefits of developmental works for less representation in the State Legislative Assembly for more than “30 years” since the last delimitation of constituencies under the Delimitation Act 1972.
Strong exception was also taken that the delegation of Ministers, MLAs and MPs led by Home Minister Thenucho to Delhi in May had asserted to Union Law Minister Bhardwaj that the Act would adversely affect the people of Nagaland if implemented in the state. “The State DAN government has sent delegations to New Delhi on several occasions for the same purpose with unreasonable grounds” the signatories stated.
They held the view that if delimitation is not implemented “as demanded by a few leaders in power,” the majority of the people of Nagaland particularly the backward tribes who have been neglected and deprived of their due rights and share of development for so long due to less representation, will be effected.
“There will be social unrest and discontentment which may result in social problems amongst the Naga tribes as the gap between the advanced tribes and the backward tribes will be widened” it was asserted adding that those who are socially, educationally and economically backward would continue to remain neglected politically for the injustice, exploitation and deprivation of their fundamental rights through “criminalization of politics”.
The signatories reiterated that the demand for impartial and just implementation of the Delimitation exercises on the basis of the 2001 census as per latest proposals is just proper and is completely on equality basis for all districts, tribes and ethnic groups of Nagaland.
“Some of the present political leaders without exception to any political party are apprehensive of losing their own seats if delimitation exercise is carried out and hence try to maintain status quo and pleading to keep Nagaland to keep away from the purview of the Delimitation Act” it was asserted. “And to prevent the commission from exercising its constitutional obligation under the act of Parliament” it added.
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