Demand for Statehood for Andamans reiterated

Port Blair, Jul 11 (UNI) Eight political parties have joined hands together to press the demand for according statehood and setting up of a Legislative Assembly for the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The demand has been jointly made in a memorandum submitted to the Lt Governor of these islands Mr M M Lakhera in Port Blair, Mr K G Das, Secretary, CPI(M), told UNI today.

Das said every islander would have a say in Administration.

Eight political parties-- AIADMK, BSP, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), DMK, JMM&RJD as well as the Congress and the BJP had separately demanded for according statehood to the far flung islands, which are at present a Union Territory.

These parties went on to justify that unless and until statehood with a Legislative Assembly, with special status as has been done in the North Eastern States, is provided, problems and aspirations of the islanders cannot be resolved in a democratic and meaningful manner.

The eight political parties also pressed their demands pertaining to inclusion of left out categories in the OBC and identification of SC/ST in Andaman and Nicobar islands, stalling the influx of population from mainland alleged and recruitment of candidates from mainland in government jobs here.

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