Changlang leaders move APSDC, demand population-based delimitation

Itanagar, Feb 10 (UNI) Member of Arunachal Pradesh State Delimitation Commission (APSDC) and Deputy Speaker Takar Marde today demanded that population be considered as the basis for delimitation.

He assured the leaders of Changlang district to convey Delimitation Commission of India (DCI) chairman Justice Kuldip Singh (Retd) about their grievances convincingly.

" I told the group to make all possible efforts to convince DCI chairman and members to consider various factors, including the diverse culture and ethnic groups and topographical peculiarity of the state, particularly of Changlang district. But, the final decision rests with the autonomous body," he added.

A group of leaders, led by Health and Civil Supplies Minister C.

C.Singpho and Changlang District Delimitation Advisory Committee (CDDAC) chairman Thingap Taiju, called on APSDC chairman in his office here to register their protest against the proposed delimitation process that would reportedly reduce the five existing assembly segments to four, if delimitation is carried out on the basis of indigenous schedule tribe (ST) population.

Marde informed that the leaders opposed the indigenous ST population criteria and demanded that population be considered as the basis, which would increase the number of seats to seven of the most populous district having a total population of 1,25,477, including 45,361 ST as per 2001 census.

The group, including MLA Phosum Khimhum, CDDDAC vice-chairman N Changmai, ZPM N K Longchang, Diyun chairperson R C Deori, public leaders K.Chithan, C.Tekhil, H.Konkhu, C K Monpong, Mukut Deori and G Singpho, who submitted a memorandum to Marde, has decided to send a delegation.

It may be recalled here that the people of Changlang had organized rallies at Changlang, Jairampur, Yatdam, Khimjung, Namtok, Manmao, Nampong, Miao, Kharsang, Bordumsa and Diyun on February seven last to express their resentment over the proposed delimitation process.

UNI