E-Paper
‘MNF, ZPM gateways for BJP to enter Mizoram, don’t experiment’: Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi also accused the BJP of dividing the society in Manipur and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the violence-hit state
Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday appealed to voters in poll-bound Mizoram not to experiment with the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and opposition Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) saying that they are the gateways for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into the state.
In a video released by the Congress, Gandhi also accused the saffron party of dividing the society in Manipur, a BJP-ruled state in the northeast which has witnessed ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kuki tribals since May, and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the violence-hit state.
“The MNF and ZPM say that they are independent. But are they really? No, I believe they are not. They are gateways for the Bharatiya Janata Party into Mizoram,” Gandhi said.
The Congress lost power to the MNF in Mizoram in 2018 managing to win just 5 of the total 40 seats in the assembly- less than the ZPM’s 8 seats. Mizoram will go to polls on November 7.
Gandhi said the Congress will never compromise with the BJP and it’s the only party that can guarantee development of Mizoram, empowerment of its people and protection for the weakest in society.
“We stand for the protection of the Mizo way of life as enshrined in Article 371 G of the Constitution, which is the legacy of Rajiv Gandhi,” she said adding that the Congress is the only party that can fulfill guarantees made to voters.
Article 371G, which came into force after the 53rd constitution amendment in 1986, is a special provision for Mizoram which states that no Act passed by Parliament related to religious and social practices of Mizos, customary laws and procedures, administration of civil and criminal involving decisions according to Mizo customary law and ownership and transfer of land shall be applicable in Mizoram unless the state assembly passes a resolution approving it.
“That is why, I make a personal appeal specially to the youth and women of Mizoram. This is no time for experiments. Please vote for the Congress. The hand of experience and the hand of security. The vote for the Congress is for peace, for progress and prosperity in Mizoram,” said Gandhi.
Gandhi alleged that democracy is under threat from the BJP and the RSS in Mizoram, the northeast and across the rest of India. She said that the BJP wants to impose uniformity across India.
She said, “Six months of suffering have gone by (in Manipur), but there is no effort towards peace and reconciliation. The Prime Minister is completely silent and has not seen it fit to visit Manipur for even a few hours.”
“In Parliament, the BJP forces laws which weaken the rights of tribals to the land and forests and doesn’t even allow the Mizoram member of parliament to speak,” said Gandhi.
