How can there be a fair delimitation when it is a fraud: TNCC president

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president B. Manickam Tagore on Sunday said there could be no “fair delimitation”, and criticised certain political parties “for changing their tune in their opposition to the delimitation Bill in just a matter of months”.

Speaking at the anti-delimitation march held at Medavakkam in Chennai, Mr. Tagore said, “When Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Kamarajar, and Vallabhbhai Patel called for the Quit India Movement on August 8, 1948, two groups did not take part in it: one, sanghis, and the other, everyone knows who they are.”

He further said those who did not participate in the meeting of MPs from Tamil Nadu were now “talking about fair delimitation”. The DMK, AIADMK, and their allies had stayed away from the delimitation discussion meeting chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday.

“This is a fraud — how can there be a fair and an unfair delimitation when it is a fraud? The [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi government is denying Tamil Nadu its financial share and schemes. We have 39 MPs from Tamil Nadu. In April this year, we defeated the Bill [on delimitation] by voting against it. But those who said ‘no to delimitation’ are now calling for a ‘fair delimitation’. What is fair delimitation? They may increase the seats of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh by 50%. But, the 40 seats will become 60, and 80 will become 120. The difference in the number of seats between Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh will be 60 after the delimitation. ‘Fair’ delimitation is a scam,” he said.

Congress Rajya Sabha member Praveen Chakravarthy said, “Tamil Nadu’s rights and freedom are in danger. The delimitation Bill will suppress its voice in Parliament. The share of MPs from Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh should remain the same. That’s our demand. But the BJP is trying to increase the representation of north Indian States. They are trying to defraud us by showing some numbers… if they increase our seats by 20, they will increase Uttar Pradesh’s by 40. We have to oppose this. All parties in Tamil Nadu should oppose the Bill… if they don’t, it is a betrayal. As Chief Minister Vijay said, we should oppose the Bill in one voice.”

On the Mekedatu dam issue, Mr. Tagore said, “The Tamil Nadu Congress is very clear that the Mekedatu dam should not be allowed to be constructed. Who can give clearance? Only Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Vijay, and [Karnataka] Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar can. Just like how we are fighting for Tamil Nadu’s interests, the Chief Minister of Karnataka will fight for Karnataka’s interests.”

TNCC district president Vijay Sekar said the party’s district office-bearers held marches against delimitation across Chennai.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi general secretary D. Ravikumar said any delimitation Bill, including the proposal that there would be a uniform increase of 50% for each State, would render the idea of parliamentary democracy in India “meaningless”.

Speaking to The Hindu, he urged political parties to eschew the traditional view that the delimitation exercise would drive a wedge between the northern and southern States in terms of political representation in Parliament.“After delimitation, there could be close to 850 Members of Parliament. In the current Parliament, in which there are 543 seats, majority of parliamentarians hardly get on people’s issues. If the strength is increased to 850 MPs, there would hardly be any meaningful debates,” he said.

Mr. Ravikumar said, “It is obvious that the BJP finds a great advantage in bringing in this delimitation at this moment. They could simply pass the Bills and amendments without any debate.”