Aizwal: Mizoram’s ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has said it will not support the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) if the legislation fails to address the state’s concerns.
ZPM media and publicity chairman B. Lalchhanzova said the party leadership had taken a firm position on the proposed changes and that its two MPs would follow the decision when the Bill is considered in Parliament.
Lalchhanzova said the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) discussed the FCRA issue during a meeting at Chief Minister Lalduhoma’s official residence on August 5 and adopted a clear position on the proposed amendments.
“Our two MPs will firmly uphold what we have decided. If it does not reflect our position, we will not support the passage of the FCRA in Parliament,” Lalchhanzova, who is also a Minister of State in the Mizoram government, said.
The ZPM has one member each in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with both MPs belonging to the ruling party. Their votes could therefore be significant if the legislation is brought before Parliament. The ZPM is not aligned with either the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or the Congress-led INDIA bloc and has maintained its position as an independent regional political force.
In June, Chief Minister Lalduhoma ruled out the possibility of a formal alliance with the NDA, saying that joining the central coalition was not part of the party’s agenda.
Lalduhoma said the ZPM values cordial relations and cooperation with the Centre but does not currently see a need to formally join the NDA.
He has also maintained that the party intends to retain its identity as a regional political organisation with a national outlook.
The chief minister had earlier said that senior leaders of the BJP-led government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, had repeatedly invited the ZPM to join the NDA.
However, he said the party had chosen to maintain a cooperative relationship with the Centre without becoming part of the ruling coalition.
The ZPM’s latest position on the proposed FCRA amendments comes against this backdrop, with the party making clear that its parliamentary support will depend on whether the legislation addresses Mizoram’s concerns.