Dimapur, June 16 (EMN): Public of Peren have taken a strong stand in support of delimitation in the midst of what is termed as “various whimsical statements made by some organisations in order to prolong injustice or unequal representation of districts to seat of power in the state.”
The decision to this effect was taken during a public meeting held on June 14 at Jalukie town represented by Zeliangrong Baudi (N) with all its units comprising Zeme Council (N), Liangmai Council (N) Rongmei Council Peren, Zeliangrong Mipui Organisation (N), Zeliangrong Students’ Union (N), GBs’ Association Peren and Rongmei Mother’s Association (N) with Kuki Inpi (N) and its units including Kuki Students’ Organisation of Peren district, and Joint Action Committee for Covid-19 Peren.
“That doesn’t mean people of Peren district is against Naga solution, but while Indo-Naga talk is continuing, let the flow of justice and equal representation of people to the development process during pre-solution in the Naga society be allowed to take place as passed by both the houses of Parliament for delimitation exercise 2021,” an update from the above mentioned organisation stated.
It pointed out about the ‘stage managed’ consultation meeting of 14 Naga tribes held on June 12 at Kohima to give representation to the governor of Nagaland for ‘solution before delimitation’ wherein Lotha Hoho and Rengma Hoho opted out from giving their assents. The public of Peren district has demanded from the organisers of the said meeting at Kohima if Zeliang tribe was counted as one against delimitation and to reveal the identity/identities of those who put their signatures against the will of the people of the district.
The civil organisations under Peren district also noted the recent meeting of GBs’ Federation of Nagaland, which made a statement not to conduct delimitation exercise before Naga political solution is concluded with government of India. However, as its federated unit of Peren District GBs’
Association was neither consulted nor invited, it therefore stated that the statement made by GBs’ Federation Nagaland does not and cannot be counted as approved opinion of GBs’ Association, Peren district.
The organisations strongly felt that the people of the district have been long deprived and denied of the basic rights to equality of opportunity in matter of equal representation in the state legislative assembly. It, therefore, stated that delimitation exercise 2021 must take place.
ZPO proposes Jalukie AC to Delimitation Commission
Having faith to dispense utmost justice by the Delimitation Commission of India, Zeliang People’s Organisation (ZPO), the apex tribal body of Zeliang people in Peren district of Nagaland, has put forth its well-founded proposal to delimit Peren district into three assembly constituencies.
In a representation to the chairperson of Delimitation Commission of India, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, ZPO has proposed Jalukie assembly constituency with a population of 27523 as per 2001 census, besides the existing six Tening assembly constituency with a population of 33682 and seven Peren assembly constituency with a population of 29561.
The representation, jointly appended by ZPO president Ramdi Meru and general secretary Kiepeube Zehuny, stated that Jalukie, the proposed assembly constituency is a sub-division administered by an additional deputy commissioner.
In conformity to discernible traditional land ownership system in Nagaland, ZPO stated that no parent and offshoot inhabited communities be geographically delimited into two different assembly constituencies but reverentially clustered under one.
Meanwhile, ZPO has welcomed the delimitation exercise, a long felt need owing to unequal representation in the assembly constituencies of Nagaland and as required by the Delimitation Act, 2002.
ZPO further desired that the Delimitation Commission delivers justice to the citizens of Nagaland.