Hawla minces no word criticising UG presence in state 

By: David M Thangliana  

Aizawl June 13: Opposition leader and Pradesh Congress chief Lal Thanhawla has openly pointed to chief minister Zoramthanga for the presence of Manipur underground elements within the state.  

On tour of chief minister Zoramthanga’s constituency Champhai last week, Hawla said it was because they were given a nod by the chief minister that Zomi Revolutionary Organisation and members of its armed wing are active in the state, specially in and around Champhai constituency which borders Manipur.  

In the various public meetings that the opposition leader conducted during his tour, he alleged that the MNF party owed money to the ZRO from “services rendered” and since a part of the money is yet to be paid, ZRO activists had resorted to collecting money from the people of Mizoram.  

There had been recent reports from the constituencies where these underground organisation is said to be active that underground personnel had started collecting money in the form of donations from government employees.  

It may be recollected that during the campaign for the November 20 assembly elections here, several ZRO/ZRA members had been arrested with arms in Champhai town. They had been accused of campaigning for the MNF party by the opposition parties.  

In his capacity as the opposition leader with the rank of a cabinet minister, Lal Thanhawla called a meeting of district government officials during his tour at Champhai town where he instructed the deputy commissioner to look into allegations that development funds were not being handed over to village councils.  

He said since there were many reports that MNF-appointed welfare committees had taken over these funds, the district authorities should ensure that the funds are given to the legitimate organisations.  

Hawla also expressed his concern that apart from the six Congress village councils within Champhai district that the MNF government had dissolved without proper justification, plans were afoot to dissolve more Congress dominated village councils.

Lal Thanhawla, accompanied by two other Congress MLAs, left for Champhai district last Thursday and after visiting several strategic villages within this district, returned to Aizawl yesterday.