Delimitation split: JAC says exercise not related to Naga issue

Dimapur, June 22 (EMN): Tribal bodies in Nagaland have been split, yet again, over the proposed delimitation of the existing 60 assembly seats in the state. At least 11 tribe organisations have recently opposed the move.

On Monday, a meeting of the joint action committee (JAC) of tribe hoho representatives of Peren, Longleng, Kiphire, Wokha and unit representatives from Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) and Rengma Hoho held a meeting in Kohima.

A statement released after their meeting asserted that the nationwide delimitation exercise has nothing to do with losing or gaining seats but simply a constitutional obligation to bring about proportionate representation of the people to the state assembly.

“Delimitation also has nothing to do with Naga issue as we all know that the former is a mere constitutional obligation and the latter is a dignified political issue. Everyone knows what the Naga issue is and hence nobody should preach to others on Naga issue,” read the statement.

The JAC resolved that the delimitation exercise should be implemented in Nagaland ‘in letter and spirit’ as per the provisions of the Delimitation Act 2002 (amended in 2003).

It also reposed “full faith and confidence” in the calibre and astuteness of Sentiyanger Imchen, who has been nominated to the Delimitation Commission from Nagaland. The committee expressed hoped that he would implement the Act of parliament without fear or favour.

Further, the JAC took exception to former Nagaland Commissioner and member Delimitation Commission, TN Mannen’s statement that “the existing seats were distributed tribe-wise and that any new delimitation exercise would bring about tribal imbalance and…that any such exercise would collide with Article 371(A)”.

It stated that delimitations are done based only on Census and not tribe-wise, and “delimitation is outside the purview of the Article 371 (A)”.