Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga addressing the people at Aibawk village in south Mizoram on January 24. (Photo courtesy: NNN)
Newmai News Network
Aizawl | January 24
Mizoram Chief Minister and Mizo National Front (MNF) President, Zoramthanga on Thursday said the state government and his party are not hesitant to spearhead agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, and also pull out of the BJP led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
Zoramthanga’s comment came a day after Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) President and Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader, Lalduhoma said that the MNF should cut ties with the BJP and pull out of NEDA in order to show solidarity to the people of Mizoram against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
“The government is vehemently opposed to the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. We are not hesitant to spearhead agitation against the Bill, and also pull out of NEDA if necessary,” Zoramthanga said while addressing a function at Aibawk village, about 28 km south of Aizawl today. Zoramthanga also said that he personally opposed the controversial CAB and took massive efforts to have the Bill scrapped.
He further said that he had raised the issue before Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Union Home minister, Rajnath Singh during his recent visit to the national capital.
“I told the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister that the people of Mizoram are vehemently opposed to the Bill and also to honour the Mizo Peace Accord, which gives special protection to the people of the state within the framework of the Constitution,” the Chief Minister claimed.
The three times Mizoram Chief Minister then said that the people of the state will not be happy with the Centre if it goes against their interest. He also said that he had reminded the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister of the 20-year long insurgency in the state. Zoramthanga added that he had told the Centre that the Mizo people during insurgency period had thought of turning towards Burma or remained as a “crown colony”. “There are procedures to approach the Centre. We will take massive efforts to oppose and get the Bill scrapped,” he added.
Meanwhile, agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has been intensified in Mizoram after the NGO Coordination Committee, an umbrella body of major civil societies and student bodies in the state, decided to boycott Republic Day celebration across the state.
The committee chairman, Vanlalruata said that the civil bodies would go ahead with their move despite an appeal by state Home minister Lalchamliana to withdraw it.
He also said the boycott call was given by the committee in order to draw attention from the Centre over the Bill.
