PORT BLAIR: All political parties of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have unanimously decided to constitute a Joint Action Committee to voice for Pradesh Council, a form of Mini Assembly, which was earlier present in Andaman but was withdrawn nearly two decades back.
In this regard an all party meeting was held recently at Port Blair under the Chairmanship of Mr. Vishal Jolly, State President BJP, A&N Islands.
“During the meeting all political leaders discussed the major issued faced by Andaman and Nicobar Islands and in absence of any elected body in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, how difficult things have become to address this issues,” said Mr. P Cheku the State President of Trinamool Congress in Andaman. The meeting also decided that all political parties will now voice for reconstitution of Pradesh Council A&N Islands.
In this regard a Joint Action Council will be constituted to address the agenda of reconstitution of Pradesh Council, which will study and review the enactment of parliament to constitute the Pradesh Council and shall submit the proposal for savings and repeal if required in the provisions of the enactment as far as the executive powers of the Pradesh Council according to the genuine requirement of the Island and all Islanders, as the case may be.
“Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which doesn’t have statehood, is run by one man rule, in absence of an Assembly. Hence public voice is not heard in most of the cases and things are decided by bureaucrats,” said Mr. Sanjay Meshak the Convener of Aam Admy Party in Andaman.
During the tenure of Vakkam Purushotamman, former Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands the Pradesh Council was withdrawn after which people of these Islands had no role in local policy making.
“We have supported the move and we demand a body like Pradesh Council for Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” said Mr. Haris Anslem, the State President of Bahujan Samaj Party in Andaman.