Cabinet rejects 2001 Census report
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30:
A day ahead of commencement of a three-day long special Assembly session to discuss the Delimitation issue, the State Cabinet has rejected the 2001 Census report of Manipur prepared by the Centre.
The Cabinet decision was arrived at after a serious discussion on the issue besetting the State during a sitting today with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the chair, said senior Cabinet Minister Pheiroijam Parijat Singh.
"Our plea is that the delimitation exercise should not be carried out on the basis of the earlier 2001 Census report of the State", Parijat said.
The State Cabinet has also decided to communicate its decision to the authorities concerned of the Delimitation Commission.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Hill Area Committee Thangminlien Kipgen has clarified that there is no question of boycotting the Assembly session by the MLAs of the Hill Constituencies since they need to participate in the discussion of the issue and give their respective opinions.
Following a writ petition filed by all political leaders of the State , the Gauhati High Court had on January 19 this year stayed the delimitation process in the State but the Supreme Court again stayed the HC order on July 13 entitling the Delimitation Commission of India to process its exercise in Manipur.
While staying the delimitation process, the Gauhati High Court had also asked for a fresh head count in view of the alleged abnormal increase of population in nine hill sub-divisions of Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel districts as per the 2001 census.
Of the total 60-seats in the State Legislative Assembly, three Constituencies of the valley area will go to the hill districts in case the delimitation process is exercised.
Hence the total number of Constituencies in the hill districts would rise to 23 from 20 Constituencies while the 40 seats of the valley areas will be reduced to 37.The Opposition Manipur Peoples' Party (MPP) has already approached Governor SS Sidhu to utilize his office to ensure that the delimitation exercise is nor carried out based on the contentious 2001 Census report.