Bodos Urge President for implementation of DC recommendations

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) A high-level Bodo delegation has urged President APJ Abdul Kalam to ensure that the Delimitation Commission (DC) recomendation for two Lok Sabha seats for the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) be implemented.

The BTAD delegation -- which called on the President here last evening -- apprised him about the DC recommendation wherein it had specifically mentioned that two Parliamentary constituencies -- 9-Kokrajhar (ST) and 10-Udalguri Open/General Hilly Area Parliamentary Constituency -- under BTAD be reserved for its Scheduled Tribes as per the provisions of Article 330 (i)(c) -- even by removing constitutional constraints, if any, like Article 330 (i)(c) and Article 330 (2) and (3) -- at the earliest.

The delegation, led by Bodoland area MP Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary, also submitted a five-page memorandum to President Kalam stressing the dire necessity of taking prompt political initiative to help ensure reservation of the aforementioned Parliamentary Constituencies for the STs of the concerned Autonomous District in Asom as per Article 330(i)(c). ''The matter is of great public interest'', the delegation observed.

Pointing out that the DC had earmarked two of the co-terminus Parliamentary Constituencies for BTAD, the memorandum noted with ''serious concern'' that the latest Draft Working Paper of the DC had shown both the existing constituencies in contravention to the provisions of Article 330(i)(C) of the Constitution. ''This should be restored'', the delegation demanded.

UNI