Scrapping Article 370 in J&K triggers fear in Mizoram

Newmai News Network

Aizawl | August 6

 

The scrapping of special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir has triggered fear in Mizoram, which is given special protection under the provision of Article 371-G.

 

Article 371-G, which came into effect after the signing of the historic Mizo Peace Accord in 1986, states that "no act of president in respect of religious or social practices of the Mizos, their customary laws and procedures, administration of civil and criminal justice and ownership and transfer of land, shall apply to the Mizoram without the consent of the state legislature."

 

However, intellectuals and politicians in Mizoram are apprehensive that the Centre’s move may give boost to the demand for Union Territory by minority Chakmas, whose population, according to the native Mizos, is compounded by "illegal immigrants" from Bangladesh.

 

Lallianchhunga, assistant professor of the Political Science department in the Mizoram University said that the abrogation of Article 370 can be replicated in Mizoram in two ways-firstly, the move will boost the demand for Union Territory status by minority communities like the Chakmas.

 

Secondly, considering the consequence of the abrogation of Article 370, so man things can also happen here. He also said that the Mizos will be ready to sacrifice their special privileges and status granted to them by Article 371-G and the 1986 Peace Accord if the Centre tries to scrap the special status granted to Mizoram.

 

A senior politician, who chose to be anonymous, also expressed apprehension that if the Centre scraps Article 371-G, it may grant Union Territory to minority Chakmas on compassionate ground as there are occasional communal issues between the Mizos and the Chakmas.

 

Meanwhile, former Mizoram chief minister and state Congress president Lal Thanhawla took to twitter sounding ‘red alert’.

 

He said that the Centre’s move has become a threat to states like Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunchal Pradesh which are protected by the special statuses.

 

By repealing Article 35-A and Article 370 by the Centre, Article 371-G too is no longer safe, which safeguards the interests and existence of tribals is under severe threat,” the Congress leader said in his tweet.

 

The Centre’s move to abrogate Article 370 also came under severe attack from political parties.

 

Sounding high alert, state Congress said that the Inner Line Permit system, which protects the state from outsider under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, can become under threat. The party also called for collective effort from political parties, organizations and churches to protect the state.

 

Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the newly floated People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) also blamed the Centre’s move, saying it violated the federal spirit of the Constitution.