Population Should Not Be Only Criterion for Delimitation: Naveen

Bhubaneswar: Delimitation based only on population figures will be unfair to the states that have worked hard to reduce their population growth rates in line with national priorities, said Biju Janata Dal President and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Saturday.

Addressing the first Joint Action Committee meeting on delimitation convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin virtually, the BJD President said that population should not be the only criterion to determine the number of seats in Parliament and sought a detailed discussion with all parties before the commencement of the delimitation process.

Naveen reiterated that his party would do everything to protect the interests of the people of Odisha.

The BJD’s stand is that population should not be the only criterion to determine the number of seats in the highest representative body of our country, Naveen said.

He also urged the Union government to take up a detailed discussion with all parties to remove any doubt on this very important issue that has far-reaching implications for the democracy.

He said, “This is an important meeting to ensure democratic representation and rights of people living in states that have done very well to control and stabilise population”.

The BJD supremo further stated that population control is an important national agenda for the development of the country.

“This (population control) has been our contribution towards a positive national agenda and building a strong India. Delimitation based only on population figures will be unfair to the states that have worked hard to reduce their population growth rates in line with national priorities,” he said.

Earlier, Naveen has nominated two senior BJD leaders Amar Patnaik and Sanjay Das Burma to attend the meeting in Chennai.