Aizawl: At the backdrop of the Hmar outfit accusing the Mizoram government of reluctant to implement the Memorandum of Settlement signed in 1994, Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana warned those elements who attempted to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of Mizoram and its people.
He said that as Mizoram is the most peaceful state of India, therefore the state government wants that everyone should live without fear and should not support any insurgency-related activities.
He said this while gracing the inauguration programme of Keifang Venglai Hall.
R. Lalzirliana said that all the ‘Zo tribes’ (Zohnahthlak) coming from east, west, north, south, despite speaking different dialects, should not be mocked at for their peculiarities. “Those who intend to divide Mizoram should be fought back by everyone”, he warns.
“Good mannerism, chivalry, respect for elders, helping of the needy, and caring for the poor- who maintains all these are part of Mizo traditions,” the state home minister said.
“The Mizoram government would not support any demand of the creation of Autonomous District Council and other related demands; and the government does not have any will to give any Autonomous District Council in any constituency”, the Mizoram Home Minister said.
R.Lalzirliana further said that because of the act of a “few rascals” no one should be identified in terms of ethnicity. ” However, regarding those who disturb the Mizoram government and its people, the government would no longer tolerate”, R. Lalzirliana said, adding, “As all the ‘Mizo tribes’ (Mizo hnahthlak) are brothers and sisters, to live peacefully is what the Mizoram government wants”.
Few days ago, the Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) General Headquarters, Sakawrdai Mizoram had alleged that the Mizoram government has been reluctant in implementing the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed in 1994. The Hmar outfit then accused that the intervention of Young Mizo Association (YMA) recently in the HPC’s demand for Autonomous District Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, has been acting as disintegration force of the Mizos rather than unifying the community.
The HPC had also said that when Mizoram was given the status of Union Territory under Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Act, 1971 and North Eastern areas (Re-organisation) Act 1971, it had been deleted from Sixth Schedule Para 20, Part III since 29 April 1972. “It no longer was Tribal Area, which will be regretted in future, and the then Mizo leaders are responsible for this. The districts of Lai, Mara and Chakma are the only districts under the Sixth Schedule. All these districts are within Mizoram, and are still administered by the ministers and government officials, and they never separated themselves from Mizoram, nor can’t they do so. Likewise, the Hmar people have simply demanded the creation of Autonomous District Council, which will but safeguard the Mizos”, the HPC stated.
“After such long period from 1994, the Mizoram government is not fulfilling its promise, just because it doesn’t take steps to fulfill”, the HPC stated, adding that in comparison that, the Indian Government was very faithful as it fulfilled the MoS which it signed with the Mizo National Front (MNF) in 1986.
The HPC then accused the Young Mizo Association (YMA) of disintegrating the Mizos rather than uniting the the community. “The YMA is apprehensive that the creation of Autonomous District Council is threatening the Mizo integration,” the Hmar outfit had added. (NNN)