Chennai, Mar 5 (UNI) Strongly condemning the Centre's proposed delimitation exercise based
on population, the All Party meeting convened by the Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday demanded an assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha that it would be
conducted only based of the 1971 population census, besides constituting a Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising MPs from all the Southern States, including Tamil Nadu, to create an awareness among the people.
An unanimous resolution was adopted at the meeting, chaired by Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin, in which leaders of nearly 40 parties--barring the BJP--setting aside their political differences, participated and spoke in one voice against the proposed population-based exercise which would reduce the number of Lok Sabha seats from the present 39 to 31.
The resolution, adopted after more than three-hour long deliberations held at the State Secretariat, said the proposed population-based delimitation poses a grave threat to the country's federalism
and the rights of political representation of Southern States.
While strongly condemning the delimitation of Parliamentary seats based on population, the resolution moved by Mr Stalin referred to the assurance given by the then Prime Minister in
the year 2000 that the delimitation exercise would be conducted based on the 1971 population
and sought a firm assurance from Mr Modi in this regard.
"Mr Modi should give an assurance in the Lok Sabha that as promised in 2000 by the then Prime Minister, the present delimitation will continue for a further period of 30 years from 2026", the resolution said.
It also urged the Centre to bring in an Amendment ensuring that in the event of enhancing the existing number of Parliamentary seats, the number of constituencies in the Southern States, including Tamil Nadu, will be increased based on the present strength of MPs in both the
Houses of Parliament which was done as per the 1971 population.
While asserting that Tamil Nadu was not against the delimitation exercise, Mr Stalin said at the
same time the proposed exercise should not result in punishing the states which had been
effectively implementing various socio-economic schemes for the last 50 years.
Stating that it was the least demand being put forth before the Centre by this All Party meeting,
the resolution said with a view to carry forward the struggle and to create an awareness among
the people, a Joint Action Committee comprising MPs from Tamil Nadu and Southern States
should be constituted by sending a formal invitation to their respective parties.
UNI GV 1520