Mizoram celebrates Statehood Day

Photo: Mizoram Governor  PS Sreedharan Pillai addressing the gathering

Newmai News Network

Aizawl | February 20

Mizoram Statehood Day was celebrated on Thursday with official functions being held in all the 11 district headquarters of the state.

All government offices, educational institutions and commercial banks remained closed as the state government declared a public holiday.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other important leaders also greeted Mizoram on the Statehood Day.

Addressing the main celebration at Vanapa Hall here, Mizoram Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai paid tributes to those leaders who were instrumental to the attainment of Mizoram a statehood.

He said that the signing of the historic Mizo Peace Accord on June 30, 1986 remains a beacon of hope for the world that peace can be attained and sustained if the people and leaders choose it above violence and sincerely work hard towards keeping it.

Calling upon the state government and the people, he said that efforts should be taken to refrain from depending solely on the Central funding.

“Mizoram is blessed abundantly on many fronts. We need to urgently unleash our untapped potentials, be it in terms of horticulture, handloom and handicrafts, human resource and tourism, among others,” he said. He also expressed happiness that the state government has a clear-cut plan and vision to become a self-reliant and welfare state. “After we achieved statehood in 1987, our continued aim has been to attain a self-reliant and self-respected Mizoram,” he added.

While urging the citizens of Mizoram to re-dedicate themselves for the development of the state, the Governor reminded government officials of their responsibilities and urged them to work their best for the people.

“The achievement of our vision and goals largely depends on the top government officials who are present here. If you collectively give your best efforts, I am certain that Mizoram will progress in leaps and bounds,” he also said.

Pillai said that the Centre has been giving utmost concern to the development of the Northeast for which 10 per cent of the Union budget is allocated for the region.

He also urged the churches and NGOs to back the state government in combating the growing cases of AIDS and cancer on a war-footing.

Mizoram state was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on February 20,1987 as a result of the peace accord signed between the Union government and Mizo National Front (MNF), the erstwhile underground group headed by late Laldenga, on June 30, 1986, which ended 20 years long insurgency in the hilly state.

Subsequently, Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on August 14, 1987 after the President gave his assent to a bill to make Mizoram (then union territory) a full-fledged state.