Port Blair: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma on 3rd December 2021 introduced a comprehensive private members bill to amend the Constitution of India and add Article 239C which will provide for special provisions for Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Through this provision, the bill seeks to grant Andaman and Nicobar Islands the status of a Union Territory with Legislature on the lines of National Capital Territory of Delhi and Puducherry.
This Bill is in furtherance of the demand for a separate Legislature for Andaman and Nicobar Islands to achieve national integrity which can be fulfilled after considering the local aspirations, reasonable and legitimate aspirations of the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands said MP. He said, there is an imminent need to take cognizance of the growing demands and aspirations of the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Due to the increasing population, the people of Andaman need to have a proper forum to express themselves or to have a rule of their own through the people’s mandate. Their demand for a forum to express themselves and to have a rule of their own is a highly justified demand. So, through this bill, a democratic setup in the form of a Legislature for Union Territory with constitutional powers is proposed. The bill has provisions for a Legislature, Chief Minister and Council of Ministers for Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The need of the hour is to give a voice to the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and accept their long-pending demand. The creation of a Legislature will be the right step to lay the foundation of democracy & rule of law in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. News courtesy Andaman Sheekha
