Protests, bandh against proposed delimitation in Arunachal

Itanagar, May 18 (UNI) The draft proposal on delimitation of Assembly constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh has invited the wrath of the people here with protests from various quarters.

This despite the state government having said that it would not accept the draft proposal of the Delimitation Commission as 'it was against the wishes of the people'.

Several districts in the state witnessed protest rallies and bandhs. The people demanded maintenance of status quo in all the 60 existing constituencies.

The people of Barduria-Bogapani Assembly constituency in Tirap district observed a peaceful 12-hour bandh yesterday to protest against the proposed delimitation to break their constituency and merge it with three seats.

Shops were closed and transport remained off the roads. People of neighbouring Khonsa East and West, affected by the proposal, also extended their moral support, MLA Wanglin Lowangdong said.

''I had opposed the population criteria and conveyed my apprehension to the Delimitation Commission chairman at New Delhi recently that such a criteria will reduce the number of border area representatives,'' he added.

A group of 19 panchayat and political leaders of Koloriang under Kurung Kumey district, in a memorandum to the Commission chairman, had opposed the proposal of merging Koloriang with Nyapin Assembly seat and demanded inclusion of Sarli and Damin circles while allowing Koloriang to remain a single seat.

The All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) had appealed to the Delimitation Commission to exempt Arunachal from delimitation.

ANSU president Likha Taji told newspersons here that the continuity of the areas, better connectivity, communication means and public convenience should be taken into consideration before arriving at a final decision.

UNI