Delimitation issue
CM back with Delhi's blessings
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 09: Claiming that Delhi has responded positively to the stand taken by the State Government over the Delimitation exercise to be conducted on the basis of the 2001 Census report, Chief Minister O Ibobi today informed the media that the Prime Minister, Home Minister and political leaders of other parties have all assured that no problem would be allowed to crop up because of the Delimitation exercise.

An all political party team led by the Chief Minister had left for Delhi some days back to meet the Prime Minister, Home Minister and political leaders of other parties following the directives of the Delimitation Commission of India to finalise the delimitation exercise by September 30 this year.

Chief Minister O Ibobi along with members of the all political party team addressing the media after their return from Delhi

The team returned to Manipur today while some Opposition MLAs, who were part of the team are still at Delhi.

They are Radhabinod Koijam and O Joy.

Speaking to reporters straight on his return to Imphal today, the Chief Minister said that the team met the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, AICC president Sonia Gandhi and leaders of other political leaders and urged them not to carry out the delimitation exercise on the basis of the contentious 2001 Census report.

During the series of meetings, the Central leaders assured that no action will be taken up which can cause problems in the North East particularly in Manipur due to the delimitation exercise.

After the provisional report of the 2001 Census report was published, opposition to it was raised since April of the same year on the ground that some parts in the hill districts and some parts in the valley area had shown abnormal population growth, claimed the Chief Minister.

Since then a demand for a fresh head count was raised.

The Chief Minister explained that abnormal growth was seen in 15 sub-divisions of the hill districts, which was much higher than the National growth of 21 pc while in some areas, it was found that the growth was abnormally low.

The sub-divisions which recorded abnormal population growth included Paomata, Purul and Mao-Maram (Tadubi) in Senapati district.

The population growth in the named places was put at 165 pc.

In Ukhrul the population growth was put at 60.95 percent while in Kamjong the growth was a mere 6.71 pc.

On the other hand at Patsoi in Imphal West the growth was recorded at 48 percent while neighbouring Lamshang recorded a growth of only 2 pc.

A case was then lodged with the Gauhati High Court to stall the delimitation process on the basis of the 2001 Census, said the Chief Minister and added that subsequently, the High Court issued a stay order.

The order was also intimated to the Registrar General of Census.

Ibobi further said that there is no logic in first recording the population growth at 165 percent and then bringing it down to 39 pc.

It is doubtful whether the head count was taken according to laid down rules or not, added the Chief Minister.

As the matter has been highlighted to the Centre, the Central Government has floated the suggestion of forming an Officer Committee comprising of the Union Law Secretary and Union Home Secretary, said the Chief Minister and added that the Committee will study how best to deal with the matter.

The Prime Minister and the Home Minister have also been urged to amend the 2003 Delimitation Bill so that the delimitation exercise is not taken up on the basis of the 2001 Census or until such time that a fresh head count is finalised.

MPP president Dr L Chandramani, who was also part of the team to go to Delhi, said that the 2001 Census was not conducted as per the guidelines laid down by the Census Rule of 1994.The Delimitation Commission had set September 30 as the deadline to complete the delimitation process, after the Supreme Court stayed the earlier order passed by the Gauhati High Court not to go ahead with the delimitation exercise.

The Supreme Court acted after the Union Ministry moved a case in this connection, added Dr Chandramani.

A memorandum signed by the 18 member all political party team was also submitted to the Chairperson of the Delimitation Commission of India.

The memorandum stressed that it would be wrong to go ahead with the delimitation process years before the State Assembly election, said Chandramani and added that it also urged the Commission to right the wrong.

On another memorandum submitted to the Union Home Ministry, Chandramani said that since the Delimitation Commission comes under the Home Department, it urged it to ensure that the Commission does not to go ahead with the delimitation process and to review the Sept.

30 deadline given by the Commission earlier.