Imphal, November 30: Along with demanding immediate withdrawal of the steps being taken up by the Delimitation Commission of India to effect delimitation in Manipur based on the controversial census report of 2001, a meeting of the Central Committee of Manipur People' Party (MPP) today has decided that the party will take a firm stand against the Government of India in case it forcefully tries to go head with the delimitation process.

Announcing this during a press conference at the office of MPP here today, party president and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr L Chandramani informed that the meeting of the Central Committee of the party has decided to communicate the decision of the party to the Delimitation Commission of India as well as to the Government of India.

MPP has been demanding review of the contentious Census report before effecting the delimitation of the existing Assembly Constituencies in the State since 2004, Dr Chandramani said, while asserting that as a democratic country like India should try to rectify the mistake committed in the Census report.

If the working paper brought out by the Delimitation Commission of India based on the Census report 2001 is to be accepted then, the total number of General seats in the 60-member State Assembly would come down to 35 from 40 while that of the ST seats will increase from 19 to 23 and that of the SC seats from one to 2 seats.

Although there is no objection as such to reducing the number of General seats in the valley and adjust them up with the SC seats, however, it should not be done on the basis of the erroneous census report, Dr Chandramani asserted, adding that MPP has already submitted written complaint with the Director of Census, Prime Minister and Union Home Minister in this regard.

Leader of the Legislature Wing of the party O Joy, who was also present during the press conference, said objection of the party to effect delimitation based on the doctored census report of 2001 has already been made known to member of Delimitation Commission of India Navin Chawla himself.

So the delimitation process being carried out based on the controversial census report should be withdrawn at once, Joy reiterated.

While observing that increasing the number of existing Parliamentary and Assembly seats of the State has been frozen in accordance to the 47th Amendment of Indian Constitution, O Joy contested that the effort being made to increase the number of ST seats in accordance to the increase in the population without any corresponding increase in the General seats would act like torching Manipur and break it up.

Party MLA Dr Ng Bijoy, who also spoke at the occasion, said people should stay alert and analyse the pros and cons of the issue so as to avoid any complication in the future.

MLA RK Anand pointed out that any attempt to effect delimitation inspite of the earlier State Assembly resolution against carrying it out based on the controversial census report of 2001 would amount to inviting social unrest in the State.

MLA Dr I Ibohalbi said that in case the Government of India went ahead with the delimitation based on the controversial census report, then the people can rest assure that the Government of India does not respect the sentiment of the people of Manipur.

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