Several organizations and political parties have called for a 12-hour bandh on Tuesday in...
Digital Desk: Several organizations and political parties have called for a 12-hour bandh on Tuesday in three districts of Barak Valley—Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi in protest of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) proposed delimitation draft.
The ECI released a draft of the proposed delimitation of Assam's 126 assembly seats and 14 Lok Sabha seats on June 20. The Commission has proposed reducing the number of assembly seats in the Barak Valley from 15 till the 2021 election to 13.
Many political parties and civil societies have been upset by the decision. Moreover, the Silchar Lok Sabha seat has been proposed for SC reserved, with the Karimganj Lok Sabha seat being opened up for general.
The proposal also stipulates that some parliamentary, assembly and constituencies will be renamed, and the boundaries of many will be redrawn.
Several organizations, including leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have expressed their displeasure with the draft of the ECI.
While briefing the media, Barak Democratic Front chief Pradip Dutta Roy stated, "For the greater good of the people of this region, we have decided to call for the 12-hour bandh."
The group was the first to call for the bandh. "The Election Commission has issued a request for comments and suggestions on the draft. The bandh will help us to echo the disappointment of this region's electorates on a larger scale," Roy stated.
The working president of the Assam Congress, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, expressed similar displeasure with the draft and supported the bandh called by the group.
"Despite the fact that the population of Barak Valley has nearly doubled, two seats have been reduced. This has been done in accordance with the double-engine government's objective to muzzle local people's voices. Without consulting the general public, this draft developed," Purakayastha said to the media.
Karim Uddin Barbhuiya, AIUDF MLA from the Sonai constituency under the Cachar district, stated that the draft is definitely an act of agenda and not based on any population or geographical causes.
"Rather than complicating the legislative process, delimitation should make it easier. This is plainly an RSS and BJP objective, and we will vigorously resist it. The AIUDF district committees of all three Barak Valley districts met yesterday and decided to call a Bandh on Tuesday," Barbhuiya said.
Meanwhile, police have increased security surrounding the bandh and have warned Congress and the BDF to call off their protest.
The Hailakandi police issued a warning to BDF head Pradip Dutta Roy, claiming, "We received input that a bandh has been called against the delimitation order of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituency which is passed by Hon'ble Election Commission of India. Therefore, you are advised by this notice US-149 CrPC to refrain from engaging in the cognizable offense."
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