ATSUM demands delimitation exercise at the earliest

Imphal: The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) demanded that delimitation exercise should be carried out in the state of Manipur at the earliest.

According to the ATSUM, a meeting of the ATSUM Sub-committee on Delimitation was held today to discuss the long pending delimitation exercise in the state of Manipur. The sub-committee comprising of representatives from the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) and the ATSUM deliberated on the issue in which serious concerns were raised as to why the Election Commission of India fails to conduct delimitation in the state of Manipur and why the state government is silent on the matter. “This is akin to violation of the fundamental rights under Article 14 of the Constitution of India and as such the ATSUM demands that delimitation exercise may be carried out in the state of Manipur at the earliest,” the apex tribal student body of Manipur demanded.

Must read | Attempted rally demanding ST status for Meitei/Meetei foiled by police

According to the ATSUM, the Ministry of Home Affairs, in an Office Memorandum No.8/5/2017-NE,I dated the 19th July, 2022 issued to Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice had already conveyed the decision that the Legislative Department may consider requesting the Election Commission of India to initiate delimitation exercise in the state of Assam and Manipur based on Census 2001. “Consistent with the decision of Ministry of Home Affairs, steps have been taken up to carry out delimitation exercise in the state of Assam but in respect of the state of Manipur the whole gamut of delimitation exercise seems to be completely ignored,” it alleged. 

Must read | 49 cases of custodial deaths recorded in Meghalaya since 2012

Therefore, the “ATSUM and the people of the state” cannot remain a mute spectator to this injustice, the tribal student body said. It further said that the Election Commission of India has to consider carrying out the delimitation exercise at the earliest. At the same time, the state government of Manipur has to earnestly pursue the matter with ECI so that delimitation is conducted in the state as is done by the government of Assam, the ATSUM also added. 

The tribal student body then said it will explore whatever option is available so that its demand is heard and met in order to uphold the rights of the people.

The ATSUM then expressed solidarity and support to Delimitation Demand Committee for the NE States (DDC-NE) as well as the North East Students’ Forum on Delimitation (NESFOD) and pledged to extend whatever assistance it could to the two organisations. 

NNN

Must read | Manipur to ban mining of minerals, including sand using machines: CM Biren