KOHIMA, APRIL 8 (MExN): Protest over the non-implementation of controversial Delimitation Act 2002 or Readjustment of state assembly seats appeared to have reached its peak Saturday as the public of Peren, Wokha, Longleng, Kiphire districts and Tseminyu sub-division of Kohima district took the issue to street in the form of mass protest rally in their own respective headquarter.
At Tseminyu, the rally which began at 10:00 am stretched to 2:00 pm as various speakers outpoured their discontentment against the manipulative tactics of the state government and the Associates Members of the delimitation commission, while demanding that the last Nagaland Legislative Assembly resolution to maintain status quo in regard to the implementation of Act, or readjustment of assembly seats be done away with and the Act be implemented in letter and spirit.
The protesters’ placards and banner said it all as they took the matter to the street pointing out that the manipulative tactics of the State government and the Associate members is a total discrimination and injustice against the minor tribes.
In a representation submitted to Justice Kuldeep Singh, Chairman of the Delimitation Commission through Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Tseminyu during a protest rally on Saturday, the Rengma Hoho said that they are holding the public rally against the blatant injustice done to the Rengma by the unscrupulous actions of the Associate Members and member of the delimitation Commission for Nagaland state depriving the tribe of the entitled assembly constituency seat.
Rengma Hoho also rejected the alternative proposal sent by State government, and demanded that the Act be fully implemented in letter and spirit and the Commission proposal for creation 47 Tesophenyu and 48 Tseminyu assembly constituencies.
“The alternative draft proposal which dropped the proposed 47 Tesophenyu assembly constituency from the list of new draft proposal for Kohima district was arranged and prepared by the other tribes without the knowledge and consent of the Rengma Hoho. Thereby, depriving us of one seat which is entitled to the Rengmas”, said the representation signed by its President, Kegwanye Lorin and General Secretary Zukeya Woch, adding that the populations of 53,000 Rengmas were placed under 12 Tseminyu AC alone, whereas the 8 Angami AC has only 25, 618 populations. It is a total injustice, the representation stated.
Similar reports of mass protest rally were also received from Longleng, Kiphire, and Wokha districts yesterday. Source said that all the rallies have written a representation to the Delimitation Commission Chairman through their respective deputy commissioners for the implementation of the Act in toto.
In Peren district, where there are two assembly constituencies, each seat has about 45,000 voters. “It is a disgrace to have only 2 MLAs for 90,000 people”, said Idialung Thou, the Jt Secy. of the JAC, adding that the people of the district has been deprived of their right for too long, and this time they are not going to let go the opportunity.
He also urged upon the people to support the issue without favouritism or dragging in the party colour.
It is also learnt that 11 MLAs from Peren, Kiphire, Longleng, Wokha and Tseminyu will leave for New Delhi on Easter Sunday to meet the Delimitation Commission.
The students’ union of Lotha, Rengma, Sangtam, Phom and Zeliangrong tribes has also threatened to call a dawn to dusk total bandh in their respective jurisdiction on Monday to voice against the state’s government refusal to implement the Delimitation 2002 in letter and spirit and for immediate revoking of the Nagaland legislative assembly resolution of maintaining of status quo over the delimitation issue.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Delimitation Commission, Kuldeep Singh was reported to have stated that the Associates Members of the Commission from Nagaland are not extending cooperation for smooth implementation of the Act.
It also alleged that the members are reporting one thing to the Commission, while speaking different things back at home.
“Such partial attitudes of the Associates members, who are all from the major tribes is a clear case of discrimination and injustice”, said Nillo Rengma, Ex- Minister, who also spoke at the Tseminyu rally.
