Centre is like South’s Step-Mother: DMK Over Delimitation Issue
The ongoing debate over delimitation in India has taken a new turn with Rajya Sabha DMK member Tiruchi Siva accusing the Centre of treating southern states with a “step-motherly attitude”. Siva made these remarks while discussing the issue of delimitation in the Upper House of Parliament.
According to Siva, the Centre’s decision to go ahead with delimitation would have “very bad consequences” for southern states. He claimed that these states have a “controlled” population, unlike northern states, which are more populous. Siva’s statement has sparked a heated debate over the issue, with many politicians and experts weighing in on the topic.
Delimitation is the process of reorganizing the territorial boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on population data. The process is carried out by the Election Commission of India and is usually done every 10 years after the census. The last delimitation exercise was carried out in 2008.
Siva’s statement is not without basis. Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have a lower population density compared to northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. This could potentially lead to a reduction in the number of seats allocated to these states in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The DMK leader also took a dig at the Centre’s handling of the health sector, saying that the condition of the country’s health sector has deteriorated under the BJP government. “In the last 11 years under the BJP-government, the condition of country’s health sector has deteriorated,” Siva said.
Siva’s remarks have been met with strong opposition from the Centre, with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, terming them as “unfortunate”. “Delimitation is a neutral process and does not discriminate against any state or region,” Rai said.
The Centre has maintained that the delimitation exercise is necessary to ensure that the representation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies reflects the changing demographic landscape of the country. The exercise is also aimed at ensuring that the electoral system is fair and equitable.
However, critics of the Centre’s decision argue that it is biased towards northern states, which have a larger population and therefore more seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. They claim that the Centre’s decision to go ahead with delimitation will only serve to further marginalize southern states.
The issue of delimitation has been a contentious one in India for many years. In the past, the Centre has faced opposition from southern states over the issue, with some even going to court to challenge the Centre’s decision.
In conclusion, Siva’s statement has highlighted the deep-seated concerns of southern states over the Centre’s decision to go ahead with delimitation. While the Centre maintains that the exercise is neutral and necessary, critics argue that it is biased towards northern states. The issue is set to continue to be a major point of contention in Indian politics in the coming years.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/9a92aaa8-0c00-47b1-a172-de938ccfc50f
