All Assam Students’ Union welcomes delimitation, seeks changes in draft proposals

GUWAHATI: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) said that the constituency delimitation exercise in the state is a positive initiative, but the draft proposals need some changes to serve the interests of the indigenous people of the state.

Speaking to the media here today, chief adviser of the student body Samujjal Bhattacharya said, “The delimitation of constituencies is the demand of the AASU raised in 1986 after the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. The AASU made a slew of suggestions, including the delimitation of constituencies, to the then Prime Minister of India to ensure constitutional safeguards for the indigenous people of Assam in accordance with Clause VI of the Assam Accord. The high-level committee on Clause VI of the Assam Accord also suggested the delimitation of constituencies in Assam for the interest of the indigenous people of the state. The delimitation exercise should have been based on the 1991 census data. However, the current delimitation exercise is based on the 2001 census data. Even then, we welcome it. We, however, demand that the next delimitation after 2026 be based on the 1991 census data.”

He said, “We demand that the delimitation exercise ensure the dominance of the indigenous people of the state to make them able to play a decisive role in their constituencies. Keeping an eye on the population explosion, the constituencies in districts that have no impact from the changing demography should be kept in constituencies within the districts. We demand the Election Commission of India to ensure that the number of constituencies with indigenous people playing a decisive role should not decline but increase to make them play a decisive role for all time to come.”

AASU’s in-charge president, Utpal Sarma, said, “We are hopeful of the Election Commission of India concluding the delimitation exercise on a positive note. We welcome the decision to increase the number of Assembly seats in the BTR and the West Karbi Anglong district. We also welcome the increase in the number of seats reserved for SCs and STs. We, however, raise the demand for the restoration of the Lahuwal LAC and Amguri LAC that have been abolished in the draft proposals. The Commission should resolve the genuine objections regarding the inclusion and exclusion of areas in the proposed LACs with a positive mindset. The Commission should also take necessary measures in the interest of the recognised indigenous Assamese Muslims of the state. The delimitation should not desecrate the historic places of the state. Jania LAC, named after the Jania Xatra, should be restored and kept as an assembly segment in the Barpeta parliamentary constituency. Likewise, the Dihina Xatra area should be restored with the Hajo LAC.”

AASU’s General Secretary Sankor Jyoti Baruah said, “We have seen the violation of the political rights of the indigenous people of the state by the demographic changes. The delimitation of constituencies should ensure that the indigenous people continue to play an all-time decisive role in their respective constituencies. We have sent our response to the Election Commission of India yesterday.”

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