Step down if...: E MNF fighters slam Mizoram CM over remarks on peace accord
Two associations of former Mizo Front fighters on Saturday strongly criticised Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma over his recent remarks on the 1986 peace accord and
Two associations of former Mizo Front fighters on Saturday strongly criticised Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma over his recent remarks on the 1986 peace accord and the Inner Line Permit system, saying his comments had undermined a pact reached after the sacrifice of many lives. Vanlalbia, chairman of the Coordination Committee on E Mizo Army and the Peace Accord MNF Returnees Association, said the accord had brought peace to Mizoram and that its benefits were being enjoyed by the people. He accused Lalduhoma of repeatedly making statements that, in his view, reduced the importance of the agreement. Read Full Story At a press conference, Vanlalbia referred to remarks allegedly made by Lalduhoma while addressing students at Mizoram Law College on July 31.
According to him, the chief minister had said the term "Mizoram Accord" was technically inaccurate because the agreement was signed between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and one political organisation in Mizoram, the MNF, rather than between the Government of India and the state of Mizoram. Vanlalbia also said Lalduhoma had referred to the peace accord, formally known as the Memorandum of Settlement, as a "Memorandum of Agreement" and a "Memorandum of Understanding", which he called factually incorrect. Rejecting the chief minister's alleged claims, Vanlalbia said the document carries the signatures of Laldenga on behalf of the MNF, then Union Home Secretary KD Pradhan on behalf of the Union government, and Lalkhama on behalf of the Mizoram government as chief secretary.
"If the Chief Minister cannot properly understand or utilise the Peace Accord, and cannot safeguard it, he should hand over the power he currently holds to others," Vanlalbia said. The two associations also objected to Lalduhoma's reported remarks on the Inner Line Permit, saying he had presented it as a system that the Centre could remove at its discretion. Vanlalbia said clause 8 of the peace accord clearly states that the ILP regulations now in force in Mizoram cannot be altered or withdrawn without consulting the state government. Lalduhoma had earlier said the accord does not require the state government's consent, though the Centre must consult it before making changes to the ILP system. Vanlalbia said the chief minister was expected to stand firmly before the people on issues linked to the protection of Mizoram and its people.
He also expressed concern over what he described as remarks suggesting that the Centre could remove an important constitutional and administrative safeguard protecting the state's interests even without external pressure. Vanlalbia further alleged that Lalduhoma had made similar comments on the ILP at an earlier function at the ruling Zoram People's Movement office in Aizawl. Representatives of the former MNA and PAMRA said they were deeply hurt by what they described as repeated attempts to undermine or downplay safeguards secured through sacrifice and struggle, and reiterated that the peace accord and the ILP remain central to Mizoram's protection. Ends
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