By Bunty Mahajan
Jammu: Bharatiya Janata Party here on Thursday opposed the delimitation of assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir solely on the basis of 2011 census.
The opposition to the criteria fixed for the delimitation exercise by the BJP government itself at the Centre in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, came from a five member delegation from all the three districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban met the Delimitation Commission in Kishtwar.
“We raised two-three issues,’’ former minister and BJP’s UT general secretary Sunil Sharma said, adding “first of all, we negate(d) the 2011 population as a lot of fudging has been done in it’’(figures). “So the 2011 census shall not be taken as the sole criteria’’ for delimitation of assembly constituencies, he added.
Instead, the delegation asked the Delimitation Commission to work out population on the basis of latest electoral rolls. “As electoral rolls are updated every year, so on their basis the population ratio shall be worked out,’’ he added.
It also opposed application of uniform population criteria for carving out assembly constituencies in both the plain and hilly areas. “We told the Commission that keeping in view the geographical compactness, vast hilly terrain and scattered population of erstwhile Doda district (present Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts), the delimitation here shall be done on the basis of lesser population, public conveniences and terrain,’’ he said, adding that they also demanded holding of delimitation exercise across the districts instead of within districts.
In Jammu also, the BJP delegation led by its UT president Ravinder Raina opposed the carving out of assembly constituencies only on the basis of 2011 census which was a farce. It suggested the Commission to use Adhaar data to check the population of Kashmir inflated in 2011 census. The BJP delegation also had members in former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta, former Assembly Speaker Dr Nirmal Singh, party’s chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi and former MLA R S Pathania.
The Delimitation Commission led by Justice (retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai is on visit of Jammu and Kashmir since Tuesday to ascertain views of cross section of people for carving out 90 assembly constituencies as provided in the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019.
Meanwhile, National Conference delegation led by former minister party’s provincial president Devender Singh Rana asked the Commission to give its due to all parts of Jammu region so that our commitment for equitable empowerment of all regions and sub regions does not get dented. Referring to geographical and topgraphical challenges in Jammu region especially certain far flung, inaccessible, remote, backward and mountainous areas, it said that representation to such areas must be judiciously decided so that there is accessibility and ease of public delivery to enable effective governance and approachability of public representatives. It also sought reservation for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes on the basis of settled criterion which should be followed in a transparent manner to ensure that the faith of people in maintained in the institution of the Delimitation Commission.
National Panthers Party delegation led by its president Bhim Singh sought equitable division of 90 assembly constituencies between both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions, saying that any area getting more constituencies will lead to public unrest in the other. He also sought shifting of seats reserved for scheduled castes as these have not been rotated during the past three assembly elections. He also asked the commission to convey his party’s demand for an assembly for Ladakh also.
Congress leaders comprising former ministers Mula Ram, Raman Bhalla, besides former MLC and chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma among others told the Commission that restoration of statehood was paramount for any meaningful delimitation and restoration of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. They also urged the Commission to recognize and consider the respective demands of diverse sections of society in Jammu including Scheduled Cases, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, Paharies, Sikh minority, POJK refugees, Kashmiri Pandits etc., and give them their rightful due.
A BSP and Apni Party delegations also met the Delimitation Commission.
