Savio Rodrigues, the founder and editor-in-chief of Goa Chronicle, has recently stirred controversy with his obsession over a two-month-old speech by Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma. Rodrigues, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson and leader representing the Velim Assembly constituency in Goa, has once again made headlines with claims that have ignited political debate.
In the past week, Rodrigues resurrected a speech by Lalduhoma delivered in September 2024 during an event in the United States. The speech, which can be found on the Directorate of Information & Public Relations website, has now become the focal point of a controversy, with Rodrigues claiming it points to a larger conspiracy. According to him, Lalduhoma’s statements signal an attempt by the Kuki-Zo-Chin tribes to form a separate nation with the help of the CIA, spanning parts of Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India’s northeastern states.
This is not the first time Rodrigues has written about the unity of the Kuki-Zo-Chin tribes. Earlier, he accused the CIA of trying to carve out a Christian nation by uniting these ethnic groups, similar to the creation of East Timor. In his writings, Rodrigues suggested that the CIA may have an interest in establishing a new Christian nation incorporating the Kuki, Zo, and Chin peoples, and that this idea could be politically advantageous for international powers, especially the U.S.
In one article, Rodrigues referred to a statement made by Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which he claimed brought a “startling dimension to the geopolitical landscape of South Asia.” According to Rodrigues, Hasina disclosed that a foreign agent had offered to help her secure an easy victory in the January 7, 2024 elections in exchange for allowing a foreign country to build a military airbase in Bangladesh. Rodrigues linked this to the broader idea of carving out a Christian nation from parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar, with the Kuki, Zo, and Chin tribes at its heart. He suggested that the plan could resemble the establishment of East Timor, which gained independence from Indonesia with international backing, including from the United States.
Rodrigues concluded his article by writing: “The story of Zogam, Chin-Kuki-Zo people would like us to believe is one of faith, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of a united and thriving Christian nation.”
However, there is a significant flaw in Rodrigues’ narrative. No speeches by Chief Minister Lalduhoma—nor by any previous Chief Ministers of Mizoram—have ever mentioned the creation of a Christian state or a separate nation for the Kuki-Zo-Chin people. In fact, even in the speech that Rodrigues is so fixated on, Lalduhoma speaks of unity under the government, not a separatist agenda. The Kuki-Zo-Chin tribes, separated by colonial borders drawn by the British, have been living in different countries for over seven decades, and no state government or politician from any of these countries—India, Myanmar, or Bangladesh—has ever entertained discussions of unification under a new or separate government.
Rodrigues, however, continues to push this narrative. On November 3, 2024, he posted on Twitter: “This statement of Chief Minister of Mizoram in the US in September needs to be thoroughly interpreted and understood for its true intent, and investigated @AmitShah. I have always maintained that the Chin-Kuki-Zo want to have a separate nation carved out of Bangladesh, Myanmar and India. They plan to achieve it with the assistance of the CIA.”
While his earlier tweets may have garnered only a few comments or a handful of reposts, this particular tweet exploded on social media, receiving almost 2,000 reposts and more than 134,000 views. The viral post has given Goa Chronicle a much-needed boost, turning what was a dying newsroom into the center of a new media firestorm.
On October 30, 2024, Exchange4Media reported that Rodrigues had warned of “tough decisions” ahead for Goa Chronicle, hinting at financial difficulties facing the publication. However, after his tweet on November 3, the post went viral, which could provide the momentum he needs to revive his media outlet.
On November 4, 2024, following the success of his viral post, Rodrigues tweeted again: “GoaChronicle is an investigative team that sets the tone of reportage which most mainstream media catch up later because our focus is always the truth. You can like us, you can hate us but you cannot ignore us. We will survive and we will continue to expose the existential threats to India.”
Rodrigues, who has authored three books, is also known for his controversial opinions on other topics. His second book, Modi Stole My Mask (co-authored with Amit Bagaria), chronicles India’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The book controversially suggests that certain protests, like the farmer’s protests and those surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), were “probably” orchestrated to malign Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rodrigues has also spoken out on international issues. In the wake of the Canada-India diplomatic row, he was quoted in reports blaming Canada’s Foreign Minister for targeting Home Minister Amit Shah. Rodrigues claimed, “The leaks by Canada’s Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison targeting Home Minister Amit Shah show that they are trying to put India in a bad light. The leaks prove one thing for sure, that the Canadian government is directly supporting the anti-India Khalistani extremists for their own political benefits, which is a point that’s been repeatedly emphasized by our government.”
Rodrigues has been involved in other controversies as well. In 2011, he filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking a ban on the release of the Hindi-language film Dum Maaro Dum, claiming it portrayed Goa in a negative light. He also objected to the constitution of a seven-member government committee that reviewed the film before its release in theatres.
While BJP has borne the brunt of Manipur’s ethnic clashes, now this puts the clashes into a new light—the Zo-Kuki-Chin ideology pushed by the CIA—while BJP can wash its hands.
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