Aizawl: In a scathing statement released on Monday, the Mizoram Congress Party launched a sharp critique against Chief Minister Lalduhoma, branding him a “coward” for his alleged stance during a meeting with the NGO Coordination Committee on February 17. Congress officials said the Chief Minister urged the NGOs to refrain from organising protests or burning effigies, a move the opposition party deemed indicative of his purported lack of courage.
The Congress Party vowed to vehemently oppose the recent decision by the central government to scrap the free movement regime, expressing concerns over its potential impact on Mizoram’s relations with fellow Mizos.
Drawing a historical parallel, Congress officials recalled the tenure of former Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla during the Congress rule. They highlighted Thanhawla’s response to the anti-tribal bill issue in Manipur, noting that he strongly advocated for Mizoram’s interests with the central government, even in the face of warnings. The party accused Chief Minister Lalduhoma of displaying fearfulness in dealing with the central BJP government and questioned his reliability as a leader.
Following their memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) in Mizoram, comprising five non-governmental organizations, has announced plans to organize a protest against the central government’s decision to abolish the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and initiate border fencing. The protest is scheduled to take place on February 21 at 1 pm on the premises of Vanapa Hall.
The decision to protest was made during a meeting held at the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) committee room on Tuesday, presided over by Lalchmachhuana, the CYMA president and chairman of NGOCC. The meeting involved deliberations on further initiatives after the submission of the memorandum to the Union Home Minister.
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The memorandum, expressed deep concern over the government’s decision, pointing out that as signatories of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007, they expected the government to uphold the rights of indigenous peoples, especially those divided by international borders.
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