Don’t drop Anglo-Indian members from Assembly, demands Opposition

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam introduced the 126th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Assembly with the purpose of ratifying it, but the DMK, Congress and Anglo-Indian members in the Assembly opposed the Bill. The 126th Constitutional Amendment Bill proposes to give extension to reservation to Scheduled Castes/Tribes in Lok Sabha and state assemblies by another 10 years but according to opposition parties, the Bill had also taken away the nomination of Anglo-Indians to Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Speaking on the Amendment Bill, DMK Treasurer Duraimurugan said, “Anglo-Indian community has served the country a lot. Their service to the country, in particular, the initial years after India obtained Independence is remarkable and they should not be denied the nomination to the state Assembly.”

He also said that by passing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Muslims were excluded and through 126th Amendment Bill, Christians are now alienated. State government should not ratify the Bill and should not exclude Anglo-Indian community from the Assembly.

Congress MLA S Vijayadharani said though Congress welcomes one part of the Amendment Bill which proposes to extend the reservation for SC/STs by another 10 years the party condemns the exclusion of Anglo-Indians. “126th Constitutional Amendment Bill provides amendment to Article 334 of Indian Constitution where 334 B of Constitution provides nomination for Anglo-Indians, but the Amendment Bill does not extend nomination for Anglo-Indians. They have already been reduced to the state of micro minorities and so state government should not approve the Amendment Bill as state also has rights in thisissue,” said Vijayadharani.

Nancy Ann Synthia Francis, the Anglo-Indian member in the state Assembly, said, “Anglo-Indian nomination has been in practise for 70 years and if they are now reduced to the status of linguistic, religious and ethnic minorities. If they are deprived of their nominations suddenly, they will be heart broken and considering the contribution of the community particularly in the field of education, the state should not discontinue their nomination to the Assembly.”

Panneerselvam replied that when the Amendment Bill was passed, many political parties had spoken for continuing nominations to Anglo-Indian community and even the concerned Union Minister has agreed that Central government will consider their demands.

Following the reply of Panneerselvam, the 126th Constitutional Amendment Bill was ratified by the state Assembly.