Political parties for maintenance of assembly status quo

Imphal, Aug 9 (UNI) The political parties of Manipur have mooted a proposal to maintain status quo on 60 assembly segments of Manipur while the Delimitation Commission has been urged not to disturb the assembly segments as the Census 2001 was found to be plagued with errors.

Manipur Information Centre Jt Director Meghachandra Kongbam today said representatives of political parties led by Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh were at the national camp for the last few days.

The delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence yesterday and apprised him of the situation of the delimitation process in the state. The Delimitation Commission of India had asked its officials to complete delimitation in Manipur by September 30, 2007.

A representation signed by 18 representatives from different political parties of Manipur was submitted to the Prime Minister requesting a review of the Commission's decision to complete the delimitation by September 30, impose a moratorium on all exercises until the fresh census figure was published and pending the publication of the fresh census, status quo of the existing Assembly constituencies be maintained.

The 18-member delegation also met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and requested him to act on the state government's decision on the matter, which the people of Manipur also desired.

The delegation also met President, BJP Rajnath Singh, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and leader of CPM Parliamentary Party Basudev Acharya.

Officials said Dr Singh gave a positive response to their request. They further claimed the census in 2001 at Nagaland and Assam also contained errors.

During the stay in New Delhi, the delegation met Chairman of the Delimitation Commission of India Kuldip Singh. It was pointed out that contrary to and defying the international and national standard and norms for census, the 2001 Census of Manipur abnormally recorded a very high population growth rate in some Sub-Divisions and alarmingly low growth rates in some areas.

High growth rates were recorded at Chakpikarong, Ukhrul South, Machi, Tengnoupal (Moreh), Saitu Gamphazol, Patsoi, Chandel and Churachandpur.

Low population growth were recorded at Lamsang, Tipaimukh, Kamjong Chassad, Henglep, Lamphelpat, Jiribam and Moirang .

In the case of Purul, Mao- Maram (Tadubi) and Paomata sub-divisions, decadal growth rate in percentage were 168.78, 143.12 and 122.64 respectively in provisional figures.

Later, the Registrar General, India and Census Commissioner imposed 39 per cent as decadal growth rate of population of the aforesaid three Sub-divisions without any field verification.

The representation also highlights the absurdity of Census 2001 giving the example that the decadal growth rate of Lamsang Sub-Division is 2.19 per cent and this means that there has been only two child births for every 1000 persons in a year. The decadal growth rate of Purul Sub-Division is 168.78 per cent and this would mean that a mother would give birth three times in a year.

It mentions that representatives of all political parties in Manipur took a decision on July 22 to urge authorities not to proceed with the delimitation proceedings on the basis of the 2001 census, which is not acceptable to the people of Manipur.

The state cabinet also took a decision on July 30 not to accept the Census 2001 until a correct fresh census figure is published.

Thereafter, the Manipur Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution on August one against the census figure and also against the proposed delimitation on the basis of the census.

UNI