MNF not happy with Centre
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Aizawl, April 18 2013: Youth wing of the political party Mizo National Front (MNF) has been irked by the step-motherly treatment meted out to Mizoram by the central government in time of adversities.

In a lengthy memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today, Mizo National Youth Front (MNYF) said natural disasters like floods, cyclones, earthquakes and numerous man-made disasters have occasionally ravaged different states of India.

In times of such emergencies, the Central leaders visited the affected states with relief packages and words of comfort, which fostered the unity of India.

"Unfortunately, the Central leaders however, usually remained indifferent to Mizoram when the state suffered such calamities as though the land was not considered part of India," the MNYF lamented.

Pointing out incidents that had happened in Mizoram where no Central leader had uttered a word of comfort nor was monetary relief given to Mizoram on a par with other states, the MNYF said collapse of stone quarry at South Hlimen near the state capital Aizawl had killed 66 people and destroyed hundreds of houses on September 8, 1992; massive landslides damaged 65 houses at Ramthar Veng and Armed Veng localities in Aizawl during 1993-1994, while another landslide killed five people at Keifang village during the same period; disastrous landslides claimed 26 lives, completely damaged 194 houses, partially damaged 617 houses in Saiha during May 1995; in the same year (1995), one of the worst landslides killed 22 people and swept away several houses in Lawngtlai, the headquarters of Lai Autonomous District Council; in the monsoon of 2010, sinking of land rendered 168 people (44 families) homeless in Mamit district capital; devastating fire completely destroyed 32 houses, rendered another 37 houses unlivable and reduced properties worth crores of rupees to ashes at Saiha bazar in February 2012 .

"The Congress party ruled both at the Centre and in the state when all the aforesaid tragedies took place," the MNYF said.

"Where were the central leaders to comfort us when these disasters struck us? Why did you turned a blind eye to us when we need help? Why was all those comfort and monetary reliefs showered on other states restricted for Mizoram? Did not you consider Mizoram part of India?," the MNYF asked in its memorandum to the Prime Minister.

"You may consider the tragedies in Mizoram to be small compared to those in other states, but given the small population, about ten lakhs, it is not that small.

Compared to the ratio of say Uttar Pradesh, the death toll is even higher than 1000 .

Why did you always turned a blind eye to the sufferings of Mizo?," it further asked.

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