Diu, Daman and DNH residents demand legislative assembly

After organizing a successful bandh to protest against Gujarat high court’s suggestion that Daman be merged with Gujarat, residents are now preparing to launch a campaign to demand partial statehood and legislative assembly like Puducherry for Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH).

Daman-Diu Pradesh Congress Committee (DDPCC) has announced its plan to launch a public campaign to demand partial statehood and mini-legislative assembly for the Union territories of Daman, Diu and DNH.Congress workers will be launching a massive signature campaign in all the three territories in the next few days and a letter will be sent subsequently to President and Prime Minister.

Under Articles 377 and 377A, Puducherry and New Delhi were allowed to have legislative assemblies considering the population of these territories. However, they function with limited powers, unlike the legislative assemblies of other states. In 2014, the then UPA government had sought the views of the administrator of the Union territories of Daman, Diu and DNH on forming legislative assembly for the UTs. A 31-member Parliamentary Standing Committee had submitted its report recommending a joint assembly for Diu, Daman and DNH.