Opposition MNF accused Congress for creating mess over Chakma quota issue

MNF logo

Aizawl (Mizonews.Net): Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) has accused the ruling Congress government of creating “unnecessary problem” over quota isue involving the Chakmas.

Hitting back at Congress youth wing Sevadal’s statement that accused MNF of not daring to make its position clear on the STEE issue, the main opposition party said MNF was the only party that framed laws for safeguarding the indigenous people in term of ‘Category’ as far as Mizoram Technical Exam is concerned.

“It was Lal Thanhawla led Congress government that created mess for it wanted to illegally include Chakma under Category-I,” MNF said in a statement.

The regional party said that at the time of the process of peace negotiation with the Indian government, MNF founding president Laldenga had questioned about the autonomy given to “foreigner” (Chakma) by the Indian government.

“The former chief minister had wondered how the Indian government gave autonomy to foreigners as no country does it. Therefore, Laldenga had strongly appealed to dissolve Chakma Autonomous District Council. But the president did not succeed as District Council Union Merger Congress recommended the creation of Autonomous Council,” MNF said.

MNF has not specifically mention Chakma as ‘Indigenous’ because it is an old belief that Chakmas are not the indigenous people of Mizoram, the party added.

“They (Chakma) called themselves as an indigenous of Chittagong Hill Tract (Bangladesh) the same of which is intimated to UNO,” MNF said adding even at the time of British rule, Chakma were considered foreigner as a result of which the Chakma paid Rs. 5 as tax while the Indigenous Mizo were paying Rs. 2.

Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President, Lal Thanhawla even proudly had declared that it was the Congress party which gave Chakma an Autonomous District Council.

“It was because of this that the Congress has always been getting 90% of the Chakmas vote in every election,” the MNF said.

MNF further said that as the existence of Chakma in Mizoram was seen even before India got Independence, the former settlers and their descendants were put under Category-II. During the MNF rule 1998-2008, there were some Chakma applicants who entered Technical Exam under Category-I, but none of them entered to disturb the privilege of indigenous Mizo tribes.