Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Aizawl: Former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga attacked the ruling Zoram People's Movement government on Tuesday. He claims they are gutting constitutional protections earned four decades ago. Zoramthanga spoke at a Remna Ni ceremony in Saitual district. He praised the 1986 Mizoram Peace Accord as a triumph.
The agreement ended twenty years of insurgency. It paved the way for statehood in 1987. Zoramthanga called it a model for the rest of the country. "The peace accord we are commemorating today between the MNF and the Government of India has proven, over time, to be one of the most successful peace agreements," he said.
The former leader pointed to Article 371G. This clause shields local customs and identity. It prevents central parliamentary laws from applying in the state without assembly approval. Zoramthanga argues the ZPM surrendered this power. He cited their acceptance of the Forest Conservation Amendment Act of 2023. He says the move harms the Mizo people.
He claimed the current government failed to use its constitutional authority. "The ZPM government's decision to accept the FCAA 2023 without exercising the protections available under Article 371G amounts to surrendering the authority of the Mizos in Mizoram to the Central government," Zoramthanga told the crowd. He vowed that the Mizo National Front would restore these safeguards if they return to power.
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