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I, therefore, commend to this House that this Bill be approved by this House.

   

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM (NAGALAND): Mr. Chairman Sir, only last year I was talking on this amendment Bill, that is, Delimitation (Amendment) Bill, 2002.

The State of Nagaland had a lot of problems after the cut off Census year as 1991 because when the Election Commission tried to carry out an exercise to find out the size of the Assembly segments, there were lot of protests because Nagaland State is a very sensitive State. It has got a variety of tribals and there are different languages spoken. People do not want to go from one polling station to another polling station where another tribal is staying and another language is spoken. Thereby, they protested vehemently and the complete State machinery was brought to a standstill. So, having this kind of problem, this Act, which has been brought in, was very essential.

अध्यक्ष महोदय : अरूण जी के बारे में बोलते समय आपने बताया कि वकील कैसे होते हैं।
श्री राम विलास पासवान: जी हां।
अध्यक्ष महोदय : हर वकील वैसा ही होता है।
…( व्यवधान)
  SHRI K.A. SANGTAM (NAGALAND): Sir, I had actually left out one point. The Nagaland Government and we, the associated members, had represented last time to the Delimitation Commission and the Government of India that if the Delimitation Commission continues to keep this guideline of population divided by the number of population, it will be a big headache for the State of Nagaland. So, if the Commission continues to do that, I am afraid that there will be a lot of commotion, trouble, and the associated members may be failing in their duty. I am afraid that it may also compel the associate members to withdraw from the associated membership of the Commission.
SHRI K.A. SANGTAM : If the sentiments of the people are expressed, then only you should increase the Assembly Constituencies and make the adjustment. Otherwise, status quo should remain.
SHRI ARUN JAITLEY: I respect your views. Unfortunately, though you are raising it in the case of Nagaland where we would like things to be done very harmoniously for many good reasons, once you frame an Act and the Constitutional amendment, the Delimitation Commission has to go by that. Once we introduce that in some States, the sentiments of the people will be taken into consideration while determining the constituencies. What will happen? It may have one logic in the case of Nagaland. It may have a different kind of logic in other States. Somebody will say that the sentiment in my area is that you should do it in such a manner that the caste dominates this constituency; then religion dominates this constituency. The argument based on sentiment is extremely important in public life and politics. But to give it a constitutional shape itself will be extremely difficult. I hope the hon. Member, with his seniority and wisdom, will understand it. When the Delimitation Commission goes there, your representatives are going to sit as a part of it. I am sure, whatever you have to say with regard to any constituency, your representatives will say about it.
SHRI K.A. SANGTAM : Suppose, there is a demand that you should do it only when the request comes from the Government and the people; till the number of seats is increased – Assembly as well as Parliament – you should not touch it. If there is such a thing, can you go against that? The sentiments of the people have been expressed in my constituency.
SHRI ARUN JAITLEY: You raise it before the Delimitation Commission. If it is possible for them to consider this argument, they can. I would suggest what Shri Paswan has said. His intentions are that the effect of this is that representation and reservation must have proportional representation to the constituency. I remember that we had passed it in the Cabinet. He was very jubilant when we adopted it. Now, it is getting delayed because of reasons that are out of our control. We try to expedite as far as possible so that we are able to notify it as quickly as possible.