Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 10: Andaman and Nicobar State Conference of Communist Party of India (Marxist) held on 28 – 29 December, 2024 through a resolution has demanded establishment of Legislative Assembly on Puducherry model for Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The resolution, a copy of which has been sent to the Union Home Secretary, Government of India, New Delhi by D. Ayyapan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee noted that even after 77 years of Independence, the Central government of the largest democracy in the world has not provided a democratic set up with a Legislative Assembly for the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The State Conference of the CPI (M) observed that even the Pradesh Council which was provided by the Janata Party Government in the year 1979 was abolished by the Congress Government in 1994, thereby once again allowing bureaucracy to reign supreme. After the abolition of the Pradesh Council, there is no state-level democratic body for the whole of the union territory having 3 districts.
The State Conference further observed that in the past, attempts were made by the CPI (M) MPs in the Parliament to establish a Legislative Assembly, but could not succeed due to lack of interest shown by Congress (I) and BJP. The population of these islands is more than five lakhs. The Conference observed that unless and until a Legislative Assembly, on the Puducherry model is provided, problems of the islanders cannot be resolved in a democratic and meaningful manner. The State Conference, therefore, urged upon the Govt. of India to take immediate steps to provide Legislative Assembly for Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the Puducherry model in order to fulfill the aspirations of the islanders.
Leave a Reply