Aizawl, Aug 8 (PTI): Two associations of former Mizo National Front (MNF) fighters on Saturday strongly criticised Chief Minister Lalduhoma over his recent remarks on the 1986 Mizoram Peace Accord and Inner Line Permit (ILP), alleging that he had belittled an agreement achieved after the sacrifice of numerous lives.
Vanlalbia, chairman of the Coordination Committee on Ex-Mizo National Army (MNA) and Peace Accord MNF Returnees Association (PAMRA) said that the peace accord had ushered in peace in Mizoram and its benefits were being enjoyed by the people.
He accused Lalduhoma of repeatedly making statements that allegedly undermined the importance of the Mizoram accord.
Vanlalbia was referring to remarks allegedly made by Lalduhoma during his address to students at Mizoram Law College on July 31 where he had allegedly said that the commonly used term “Mizoram Accord” is technically inaccurate as the agreement was signed between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and one political organisation (MNF) in Mizoram rather than between the Government of India and the state of Mizoram.
Lalduhoma had further allegedly said that the continuation of the ILP ultimately rests with the Centre, which has the authority to revoke the system if it chooses, and cautioned its implementation with “reasonable restraint” against outsiders.
“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 told a news conference here.
He claimed that the chief minister referred to the Mizoram peace accord, formally known as the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS), as a “Memorandum of Agreement” and “Memorandum of Understanding”, which is factually incorrect.
Vanlalbia alleged that Lalduhoma had said the accord was not signed between the Government of Mizoram and the Government of India, but between the Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Government of India, and therefore was not an agreement between Mizoram and India.
Rejecting Lalduhoma’s claims, the leader asserted that the document bears the signatures of Laldenga, representing the MNF, K D Pradhan, then Union Home Secretary representing the Union government and Lalkhama, Chief Secretary representing the Mizoram government.
The associations also took exception to the chief minister’s reported remarks concerning the ILP, which they said had been portrayed as something that could be removed by the Central government at its discretion.
Vanlalbia claimed that clause 8 of the Mizoram peace accord clearly states that the ILP regulations, which are currently in force in Mizoram, could not be altered or withdrawn without consulting the state government. Lalduhoma had earlier said that the peace accord does not mandate obtaining the state government’s consent even as the Centre is required to consult it before making changes to the ILP system.
Vanlalbia said that Lalduhoma, as chief minister, was expected to stand firmly before the people on issues concerning the protection of Mizoram and its people.
He 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.
The former rebel associations leader also alleged that Lalduhoma had previously made similar comments on ILP in a function held at the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) office in Aizawl.
The former MNA and PAMRA representatives said they were deeply hurt by what they described as repeated attempts to undermine or downplay safeguards secured through the sacrifices of lives and blood during the struggle for Mizoram’s protection.
