Mizoram: Congress’ Lalbiakzama vows to restore border trade with Myanmar if elected

Aizawl: Congress nominee for Mizoram’s lone Lok Sabha seat Lalbiakzama on Tuesday said that he would take steps to restore the border trade between Myanmar and Mizoram if he is elected to the Lok Sabha.

Polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state will be held on April 19.

Addressing a rally in east Mizoram’s Champhai town, Lalbiakzama emphasized on the importance of the border trade, which does not function properly now.

He said that the border trade between Mizoram and Myanmar at Zokhawthar has a positive impact on Mizoram’s economy. 

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” The border trade between Mizoram and Myanmar has not been functioning properly nowadays. I will give first priority to restoring the border trade if I am elected to the Lok Sabha,” Lalbiakzama said. 

Hitting out at the BJP, the Congress leader alleged that there were several instances of religious persecution and atrocities against religious minorities, particularly the Christians under the BJP regime. 

He said that religious persecution against Christian devotees and oppression of Christian missionaries have occurred at least 687 times across the country during the last year.

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“I will expose to the world the religious atrocities faced by the Christians in India if I am elected to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls,” he said. 

Lalbiakzama also questioned the validity of Mizoram being exempted under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

“Some people talked about Mizoram being exempted under the CAA. Is there any mention in the act or rules that Mizoram is exempted? If there is no mention in the act or rules that we are exempted or if we are simply verbally exempted then there is no security at all,” he said.

Congress president Lal Thanzara, who accompanied Lalbiakzama, also alleged that atrocities against Christians and oppression against Christian minorities have considerably increased since the BJP-led NDA came to power in 2014.