Ram Muivah clarifies on delimitation rumour
Source: Chronicle News Service

Ukhrul, February 24 2022: NPF candidate for Ukhrul AC Ram Muivah has categorically stated that the rumour that caused alarm and concern about possible fragmentation of Hunphun and Hungpung villages in the event of implementing the proposed delimitation is baseless.

Addressing a press conference at his Greenland office on Thursday, Ram Muivah said that some people are spreading the rumour that he was scheming to fragment Hunphun and Hungpung villages through the delimitation exercise.

"But as far as I know, this isn't true.

If anyone is using this rumour as election propaganda against me, I don't think this is appropriate," he clarified.

He then asked the rumour mongers to substantiate their claims with valid proof.

"If anyone has proof of this claim, or of a false proposal submitted, then we need to immediately act on it and apprise to the Delimitation Commission or the Prime Minister," he said.

On the contrary, he contended that he is one of the most concerned persons about delimitation and that he would pursue implementation of the proposed delimitation according to the wish of the district's populace.

Muivah then revealed that, as part of the delimitation process, a forum was established a few years ago, with Retd Chief Justice WA Shishak as chairman, Retd Income Tax Commissioner Home Raikhan as convenor, and him and a few others as executive members.

He continued that delimitation in Manipur is critically vital for the future of the people.

"Democracy is the rule of the majority.

So, the more MLAs we have, the bigger our benefits will be," he said.

According to Muivah, the delimitation should be implemented as soon as possible in the bigger interest of the state and the peaceful coexistence of all Manipur's communities.

He further stated that in order for parliamentary democracy or a democratic form of government to function properly in the state, people's representation should be based on the population rather than the interests of the majority community.

"The overall number of voters in the Ukhrul AC is 47,706, but in the valleys, the total number of voters in most of the constituencies is less than 30,000," he pointed out, citing Sagolband AC as an example, which has only 22,913 voters, which is less than half of Ukhrul AC's total.

According to him, tribals in Manipur's hill regions account for roughly 45 percent of the state's total population.

However, they are only represented by 19 MLAs out of a total of 60.In this scenario, the hill districts will never be able to compete in terms of development, with the valleys.

It's worth noting that Ukhrul had five ACs with five MLAs in the 1950s and 1960s, but the number was cut short to only 3 MLAs in the 1970s, he added.

The press conference was also attended by Ram Muivah's chief strategist and former TNL president Artax A Shimray and others.

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