The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : De-reserve it

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Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

De-reserve it

The resignation of V. Azhagumalai as president of the Keeripatti village panchayat and his reasoning that the percentage of Dalits is very small in the village and it should therefore be de-reserved are not altogether without substance. The purpose of a democracy is to give representation to the views of the majority.

When the representative of the majority feels a reserved constituency no longer deserves that status, there is no reason why it should not be de-reserved. At least, it will then have an elected representative.

N. Aravind Rajesh,
Tiruvannamalai, T.N.

* * *

In 2002 it was Karutha Kannan and now it is Mr. Azhagumalai. Both resigned their posts within minutes of assuming office. The following questions need to be addressed. Does the need to provide reserved constituencies even for panchayat elections continue to exist? Is the parameter used for arriving at such reservation based on Dalit population, and if so is it proper to have declared the Keeripatti panchayat, where Dalits constitute only 13 per cent of the total population, a reserved constituency? Why not introduce a proviso for punitive action in the Panchayats Act against elected persons who make a mockery of the election process?

R.M. Manoharan,
Chennai

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