Chennai, March 22 -- Asserting that the Union Government's arguments that States will get additional seats on a pro-rata basis under the proposed delimiation could not be taken at face value, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said federalism was not a gift from the Union, but a right of the States.

The fight against delimitation was to preserve India's soul as a diverse and inclusive democracy, he said.

In his address at the first JAC meeting on delimitation convened by the Tamil Nadu government here, he said the Union has not been able to clarify whether this pro-rata distribution will be based on the current strength of parliamentary seats or on the basis of population figures.

Urging the Union Government to a...