Strongly reacting against the Central government’s plan to conduct delimitation in the state, the ‘Committee against Delimitation on Census 2001, Moirang’ appealed to authority concerned to draw attention in this regard.
A release stated that conducting delimitation based on Census 2001 may create conflict between the hills and valley of Manipur. The delimitation work will lead to an increase of assembly constituencies in hill areas whereas it will decrease in valley areas, it said.
It further said that the committee does not have any issues against increasing the numbers of assembly constituencies in hill areas but it would not accept the decrease in their numbers.
In 2008, delimitation was conducted in many states under Indian Delimitation Act 2002, the release stated. But Manipur was not part of it as all the political parties of the state unanimously resolved to file a case against the government, urging not to carry such activity in the state based on Census 2001, it added.
It further said that the present condition of the state demands that an apex body be formed to jointly fight against the decision of conducting delimitation by the central government.
While appealing to the state government to draw attention in this regard, it said that the said committee was formed on May 31 after a joint meeting between various bodies and all political parties of Moirang Kendra was held with an objective to place the demand as a representative of the people of the state.
The state government should take up pragmatic steps to stop the delimitation process until and unless a new census report is being released, it added.
