AIZAWL, March 1 ? The Mizoram state Assembly Speaker R. Vanlal Awia has denied having any foreknowledge of the Delimitation Commission?s proposed re-organisation of the state?s Assembly constituencies as insinuated by a local daily. The vernacular daily published a letter the Speaker had sent to the Delimitation Commission (DC) Chairman, Justice Kuldip Singh in which the Speaker had stated his desire for Hmunzawl village in the Lungpho constituency to be placed in N Vanlaiphai constituency, which is the Speaker?s constituency. The letter was dated February 13, 2003.
Awia denied having any advance information about the Working Paper and that he and the MNF ministry had, as insinuated by a local Mizo daily, nothing to do with the Working Paper. The Speaker said that his first knowledge about the DC?s Working Paper was reports from newspapers.
?Only after the DC?s proposed re-organisation of some constituencies in the southern and western parts of the State became known not only to the ministers but to the whole state, did I appoint the Associate Members and urged them to strongly oppose the said proposed re-organisation of constituencies,? Awia said.
Talking of his letter to the DC?s Chairman Justice Kuldip Singh (Rtd), ?I just cannot refuse the request from the Hmunzawl people for their village to be included in the North Vanlaiphai Constituency,? Awia said. Hmunzawl village found it difficult to remain in their constituency since most of the social institutions like YMA, MHIP, MUP and Churches had been included in the N. Vanlaiphai constituency, the Speaker said.
According to Awia, the Hmunzawl community wanted so badly to be included in the North Vanlaiphai constituency that they had allowed an MNF Village Council to be formed at the last VC elections. ? Moreover, it is normal for a citizen to send letters to the DC to request them to make changes, which he feels are necessary, the Speaker added.
The Speaker also mentioned that the YMA, MHIP and MUP of Hmunzawl village in a joint effort would submit a memorandum requesting the DC to include their village as per their desire. This, he said, is not being done recently since citizens have the right to approach the authorities to get what they want.