22-Mar-2025 02:49 PM
2805
Chennai, Mar 22 (Reporter) The first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting convened
by the Tamil Nadu government in which Chief Ministers, a deputy Chief Minister
and representatives of several states took part, on Saturday demanded freezing
on delimitation for the next 25 years.
A resolution was adopted at the JAC meeting presided over by Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin here on Saturday.
It said the JAC expressed its deep concern on the lack of transparency and
clarity in the impending delimitation exercise without any consultation with
the various stakeholders.
While lauding Mr Stalin for taking up this initiative to safeguard the political
and economic future of performing States in India, it said based on the
various points and scenarios put forth by the representatives during the
discussions, the JAC unanimously resolved that any delimitation exercise
carried out by the Union Government to improve the content and character
of democracy should be done transparently, enabling political parties of all
the States, State Governments and other stakeholders to deliberate, discuss
and contribute in it.
"Given the fact that the legislative intent behind the 42nd, 84th and 87th
Constitutional amendments was to protect / incentivise States which have
implemented population control measures effectively and the goal of national
population stabilisation has not yet been achieved, the freeze on Parliamentary
constituencies based on 1971 Census Population, should be extended by
another 25 years", it said.
The resolution said States which have effectively implemented the population
control program and consequently whose population share has come down,
should not be penalised and the Union Government must enact necessary
constitutional amendments for this purpose.
Resolving that the Core Committee consisting of Members of Parliament from
the represented States will coordinate the parliamentary strategies to counter
any attempts by the Union Government to undertake any delimitation exercise
contrary to the principles mentioned above, it said the Core Committee of MPs
would submit a Joint Representation on the above lines to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi during the ongoing Parliamentary session.
It was resolved that the Political Parties from different states represented in the
meeting will initiate efforts to bring about appropriate Legislative Assembly
resolutions in their respective States on the issue and communicate the same
to the Centre.
"The JAC will also undertake necessary efforts to disseminate information on
the history and context of past delimitation exercises and the consequences
of the proposed delimitation among the citizens of their respective States,
through a coordinated public opinion mobilization strategy", it said...////...