Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla’s skipping a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss the restructuring of the Planning Commission has drawn flak from opposition Zoram Nationalist Party in the state.
“It is extremely unfortunate that our chief minister skipped the meeting on restructuring of the 65-year-old Planning Commission. Skipping such crucial meeting is unethical on the part of the chief minister, given the state’s financial constraints,” a statement of ZNP said on Tuesday.
The chief minister, on the other hand, has attended so many unimportant functions as chief guests. It shows the chief minister’s irresponsibility and negligence about real development, the statement added.
ZNP said skipping such a crucial meet would definitely scuttle the development of the cash-strapped Mizoram.
ZNP also demanded the Congress government to pay employees under centrally-sponsored schemes and plan fund, who have not been paid since the last four months. It severely criticised the government for failing to pay its employees ahead of Mizos’ biggest festival Christmas.
ZNP also accused the Congress government of totally failing in law and order. “There has been hardly any action to eradicate corruption, no measures to protect the people from social and economic assimilation, and neither any move to solve the age-old border dispute with neighbouring states,” the statement said.
It also expressed disappointment over the Mizoram government’s “failure” to implement the Forest Rights Act passed by the Parliament that allows tribal forest dwellers to benefit from minor forest produces. ZNP passed the resolutions during the party’s election at Vanapa Hall here today.
ZNP claimed it is the only party in Mizoram that conducts party election in the most democratic means where the party members directly elect the president and other office-bearers.
Party president Lalduhoma, who was reelected to the post, said, “Our party election is completely different from others. While one party had official candidates selected by a few executive members (referring to Mizo National Front), another party (read Congress) had its existing OBs filed nominations without any contestants. ZNP is the only party that has floor candidates and elects its OBs like church elders election (without nominations).”
However, Lalduhawma, as well as vice-president K Liantlinga and treasurer Lalbiakliana, though they were nominated from the floor, were re-elected uncontested.
Lalduhawma said what Mizoram needs most is not a change of guards but a change in the system. “We have been experiencing a switching of chief ministers for more than 40 years, which has not brought about any real change. What we need is a change in the system,” he said.
The ZNP president also explained the party’s new policy called Family Oriented Sustainable Economic Policy, which has been prepared to suit the changing of global economy. (UNI)