Delimitation debate: Congress leader Keshav Rao calls for all-party consensus

India Today

Senior Congress leader Keshav Rao discussed the critical issues surrounding delimitation. He emphasised the need for a representative character in Parliament, highlighting disparities in constituency sizes and state representation. Rao called for an all-party meeting to address the concerns, particularly from Southern states, regarding population control, GDP contributions, and fair representation.

Transcript

00:00We're joined by Senior Congress Leader Keshav Rao Garu.

00:02Sir, you have been raising your voice on delimitation.

00:05Now, you find it very critical.

00:07The delimitation is at a very critical stage.

00:09What do you have to say?

00:10What measures have to be taken?

00:11There was an all-party meeting held.

00:13You're saying the next meeting will be held in Hyderabad.

00:15What are the plans from the government now as an advisor to the Taliban?

00:18Now, the questions that you have raised should be answered before I take the second step.

00:25This is my simple, positive answer to you.

00:28Because, when I say critical turn it has taken, it has raised a lot of issues

00:35which will become big issues for you, national issues for you, crisis issues for you.

00:41So, before you really take a second step, please look into them.

00:47And don't look into them from partisan attitude, but from the attitude of all people's view.

00:55And take them all into confidence and do it.

00:57Because, nobody is asking.

01:00The things that are now involved, one is the seat, the very democratic structure of this nation.

01:09Because, delimitation is redrawing a constituency,

01:15so that a representative from there could go and sit in the parliament.

01:20So, each man has only one vote.

01:23So, there has to be representative character to the parliament, the new parliament that is coming up.

01:28So, please look into that, because it is now being effected.

01:32Because, few states are getting a chance to represent 10 lakhs,

01:38while other place has to represent 45 lakhs.

01:44And few states are getting, because in the process,

01:49as D.D. Imre Sheikh says, few states are being reduced in the representation of parliament,

01:55and few states are getting more states.

01:57So, look into this thing.

01:58How do we solve?

02:00This is what exactly we said.

02:02So, I have raised the issue, perhaps that will be faced by you.

02:09We have said earlier that I am only trying to ring the ISIS bell,

02:16and tell you it is not that easy as you people are thinking.

02:21Let us all sit, let the entire nation sit.

02:24As a matter of fact, we know when the delimitation will come.

02:28We know it is due to 26.

02:31It is not something new, it has come up now.

02:33We should have, this government should have taken all parties into confidence,

02:40should have talked to them, because South was raising this issue for last 20 years.

02:45We should have talked to them.

02:47Kerala, for example.

02:48Tamil Nadu, for example.

02:50Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.

02:53You see, you know our contribution to FC.

02:58But we don't get, see, these are, they might not be delimitation issue.

03:03But that is the issue that is now affecting the delimitation, because my man is going down.

03:08Now I am selecting my man.

03:10How many people will go?

03:12So, will I have the kind of voice needed to raise the voice,

03:18so that the injustice that is being done to the South is solved?

03:24That is the issue.

03:24On one hand, the South is being penalized for population control is what is being said.

03:30On the other hand, the GDP, the contribution by the South,

03:35Southern states in terms of GDP is far more better than the

03:39Northern states, which are going to get better seats.

03:42So, what do you have to say on that?

03:43So, what is it about GDP?

03:44No, no, no.

03:45The last question you said is, because of development, our contribution is more.

03:52But we are not getting the equal benefit.

03:56That is the question.

03:57It is not representation there.

04:00Representation is the first question you said.

04:02Only because we have been following the national agenda of development.

04:10Because we all thought together, we sat in the parliament and we passed the bill

04:19asking for birth control, population control bill, which was later withdrawn.

04:26As a matter of fact, it was passed, nearly passed, it was totally discussed.

04:31Then 2002, we have withdrawn that.

04:34Now again, we have to, although we have withdrawn, but the problem remains.

04:40So, we have to answer.

04:41How do you answer it?

04:43You must see.

04:44So, South is saying, now when you are thinking of representation, I must have my voice in the

04:50parliament.

04:54Consummate with my population, my contribution, my policy formulations.

05:04Inconsolence is what you said.

05:06These are things I am raising today.

05:08Sir, well, you have seen an inspiring story about the GDP from our channel.

05:13You are talking about that.

05:13Tell us more about it, sir.

05:14How do you feel?

05:15What is your opinion on that?

05:16It was very good.

05:17As a matter of fact, today when I am speaking to you, most of it I have copied from your copy.

05:26So, very good.

05:27But I disagree in few places when you people raise the issue of the South and North.

05:35You think South is not that big problem as we are wasting because it pinches us.

05:42I am wearing the shoes.

05:43You are not wearing the shoes.

05:45You are with the chappal in Maharashtra.

05:47So, all the Maharashtra people who are now speaking, do not know how it is pinching me.

05:54Well, sir, the Union Minister here, Kishan Reddy has said that there are no guidelines.

05:59So, I don't know how he says he is a very...

06:02Why are the southern states, why are the parties in a hurry and trying to create a

06:06atmosphere where there is some...

06:07He is talking politically.

06:09Otherwise, he is a very nice man.

06:10I would not like to criticize him.

06:13But he has not understood what you are saying.

06:15You are saying this is what is going to happen when the Delegation Commission is being appointed.

06:19The Delegation Commission can't sit and write whatever it wants.

06:24It should address.

06:25And I am addressing and telling him.

06:30Last time also, Indira Gandhi put it at pause.

06:37So, the Delegation Commission was not there.

06:40But I also followed the same thing.

06:43Now, today, when it has come, the time has come.

06:47Now, we are all crying.

06:48What is the use?

06:50We should have used all these 30 years to sort out this issue.

06:56What is your party, which is in government in the states, demand here on this particular issue?

07:02Now, yesterday, today morning, I have read,

07:08Jeev is asking for 33% seats instead of 24 to South.

07:16Whether that is also going to solve the problem or not, I would not like to say.

07:20Because on a periodic basis, how will it go?

07:2234%?

07:23Where will it go?

07:25So, this has to be worked out.

07:26Whatever it is.

07:28But there is some meaning, methodology, some method in the thinking of the Chief Minister,

07:36Mr. Ramachandran Devi.

07:37What he is thinking is, you, first of all, think of keeping the things, the number, as it is.

07:51Then work out, that is the 21%.

07:53Work out the increase, 33%.

07:56The prioritize, you go by state-wise or constituency-wise.

08:02But at the same time, that 33%, he has said it because he wanted you to take into consideration

08:08not only the population, other parameters which I have raised.

08:14So, that is the demand that you have mentioned.

08:16No, but this is not only a first demand.

08:19He says it has to be discussed by all political parties and all the people.

08:25So, Hyderabad is going to host a big meeting, inviting all the leaders, so that they would

08:33give their suggestions to the leaders.

08:36When will it take place?

08:36Why not?

08:38Others also should come.

08:39You are thinking wrong.

08:40Mr. Bengal will certainly come out with more roaring voice than us.

08:50When are you planning to hold the speech?

08:53Let us see.

08:55We are seeing the reactions of all people.

08:57But one thing is sure, we must all thank Rehwant, the way he has taken the issue.

09:05Although yesterday when Stalin spoke, I was at least afraid he was sitting here,

09:13shimmering with some kind of fear.

09:15I said, what is going to happen?

09:18He really brought them to line and said, look here, these are the issues.

09:22These have to be tackled.

09:24But only if it can be tackled by all people put together, and one state or one region

09:31cannot dictate.

09:33So, he is today, to my mind, the hero of this delimitation fight.

09:39Thank you, sir.

09:40Thank you for speaking with us.

09:41This was Senior Congress Leader, Advisor to the Governor, Keshav Rao.

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