Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: Seeking the introduction of the bill for delimitation of Assembly constituencies in the current Budget Session of the State, NPP chairman and former minister Harshdev Singh has said that it is high time that Coalition Govt initiates measures for removal of regional imbalances and end of regional bias in conformity with its elections time promises.
Talking to media persons here today, Mr Singh said that delimitation of constituencies which forms a part of the CMP, deserves a priority consideration with its passage in the current Budget Session. He said that the exercise of delimitation involves passage of a bill in both the Houses of Legislature by amendment of Sec 47 of the State Constitution, followed by constitution of Delimitation Commission as envisaged under the Representation of Peoples Act with ultimate delimitation process involving delimitation of constituencies, re-adjustment of territorial boundaries, rotation of reserved seats, identification of seats for fresh reservation, reservation of seats as proposed for women etc.
Cautioning the BJP to shun its approach and to assert, Mr Singh said that its coalition partner PDP has already embarked upon the accomplishment of its core agenda by delivering its message to Kashmir region with its native bluntness. He said that Mufti Syed had spelled out his priorities on the day one of the Govt formation with subsequent announcements regarding rehabilitation of surrendered militants, release of political prisoners, raking up of Afzal Guru issue, talks with Pakistan, Hurriyat and other separatist leaders and holding of unified command meet followed by civil- military conference for realizing phase-wise revocation of AFSPA from the State and so on. But the people from Jammu region were still eagerly awaiting a statement from BJP regarding the settlement of West Pak refugees’ issues as promised by it by granting them state subject rights, voting rights in Assembly besides right to state Govt jobs.
Emphasizing the urgency to initiate the Delimitation process on war footing, Mr Singh said that geographical area, topography, number of voters, nature of terrain, inaccessibility and poor communication facilities are the factors which weigh heavily in favour of Jammu region and entitle it to a higher number of Assembly constituencies.
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