Mizoram’s main opposition party, Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) on Friday sought apology from chief minister Zoramthanga for his controversial remarks over the neither Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Zoramthanga, who is also the president of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), had said that Mizoram’s lone Lok Sabha member C Lalrosanga voted in favour of the CAB in the parliament at the behest of the MNF because the Centre has fulfilled the demands of the people in exempting Mizoram from the ambit of the amended law.
He had said that all political parties, NGOs, student organisations and churches were strongly opposed to the CAB and had demanded that Mizoram be exempted from the purview of the bill.
“It will be wrong and childish to oppose the amended citizenship act even after the Centre fulfilled our demands,” he had said.
Zoramthanga’s remarks has sparked controversy in the state with opposition parties claiming that they did not demand exemption, but asked the Centre not to pass the CAB.
ZPM secretary general K. Sapdanga said the chief minister was either speaking out of his mind or expressing his dream in claiming that all political parties, NGOs and churches had demanded “exemption.”
“Political parties, NGOs, students’ organisations and churches never demand ‘exemption’ but urged the Centre not to introduce or pass the bill.
The chief minister should tender apology to the people for fabricating lies,” K Sapdanga told reporters here on Friday.
He also asked the MNF to make its stand clear on the CAA.
The ZPM leader alleged that some ministers and leaders and workers of the ruling MNF had took part in the state-wide strike organised by the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) in support of North East Students’ Organisation (NESO)’s Northeast bandh on December 10 and some of them were spotted giving financial aids to the bandh organisers.
“We ask the party to make it clear to the people whether it is in favour of or against the CAA,” Sapdanga said.
He also blamed the state government for manhandling peaceful protesters on December 13 and demanded that such incident be not repeated in future.
Sapdanga said his party would continue to oppose the CAA till it is scrapped or re-structured to protect the interest of the Christians and other religious minorities in the country.
The ZPM also asked the Centre to withdraw its decision to table Uniform Civil Code Bill in the next parliament session next year, said Sapdanga.
Earlier, opposition Congress had also accused the chief minister of being a “liar” for claiming that his party had directed C Lalrosanga to vote for the citizenship bill as Mizoram was exempted from the ambit of the bill as per the wishes of all political parties and NGOs.