Left joins delimitation protests

Guwahati, May 8 (UNI) Jumping into the anti-delimitation bandwagon, the CPI today said the situation in Asom would turn 'volatile' if the delimitation exercise is implemented before updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

CPI national executive member Pramode Gogoi told mediapersons here that the CPI central committee had submitted a memorandum to the Delimitation Commission, seeking a halt to the exercise.

''Ninety per cent of the state's revenue is generated from upper Asom. But the delimitation has slashed the number of constituencies in the districts of Jorhat, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh, thereby hitting the economic viability of the state, especially upper Asom,'' Mr Gogoi said.

Warning that the delimitation would create a 'volatile' situation in the state, the Left said status quo should be maintained till the NRC is updated.

''The abnormal rise in population in Asom is clear. In lower Asom the population has grown at the rate of over 50 per cent. That can't be unless there is ingress from across the border,'' Mr Gogoi said.

He hinted that the voters list to be prepared after the delimitation is bound to enlist names of illegal migrants, as the basis of the exercise is the Census report.

Terming the exercise a 'gamble' played by the Centre, the CPI said the party would embark on an agitation if the delimitation panel ignores the 'interests' of the indigenous people.

The CPI leader also informed that the Delimitation Commission would be conducting a hearing in the state in the first week of July.

UNI