Port Blair, Jan. 22: A BJP delegation met the Home Minister, Shri. P Chidambaram on 21st and handed over a memorandum containing various demands. The demands included Buffer Zone, ATR and increase of Convoy, Jarawa Issue, Quarry Products, Introduction of Assembly or re-induction of Pradesh Council, Direct election, Construction of Bridge, OBC to all settlers and ST Status to Chotanagpuri Vanvasis, Induction of 30 seated Aircraft for inter-island connectivity, Subsidized Airfare at par with North East, Control of Influx of population by introduction of inner line permit, Creation of new water bodies, Facilities to the Press Personnel, Cargo vessels for Southern groups of Islands, Transfer of present Lt Governor etc.
While discussing issues on Assembly, the Minister told the delegation that at this juncture it will not be fair for an Assembly here. On the issue of withdrawal the case filed by the A&N Administration, the HM however escaped the question and on the matter of construction of a Bridge in between Chatham to Bambooflat and other points the Minister gave patient hearing and said that the matters will be taken care on priority. He also assured the delegation that issues like ATR, Buffer Zone and Jarawa will be placed before the Ministers, which will be convened soon.
The Party at the last informed the Home Minister that the Lt Governor has started openly to support one particular political Party. He does not care to take action on the demands and requests placed before him except on a few cases of sanctioning financial help to the hapless and is using ‘The Daily Telegrams’ as his personal photo album and have no developmental work in his credit and requested his transfer since he had already been extended his tenure. The delegation also handed over the CD of his speeches and a few paper cuttings, a communication from the BJP office said here.
The delegation comprised of L Moorthy, Sheela Singh, R Vimod, K Paramasivam, T Reynold, Jijith Rekh and CH Babu led by the Party President R Mohan.