The Mizoram unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded President's rule in the northeastern state, citing "lawlessness" under the current Mizo National Front (MNF) government led by Chief Minister Zoramthanga.
The party has also submitted a memorandum to Mizoram Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati based on this.
In their memorandum, the BJP claimed that there was a complete lack of good governance in the state, which resulted in the misappropriation of public funds.
The Party claims that corruption was pervasive at all levels of government, with ministers and senior officials suspected of engaging in a variety of murky economic dealings.
According to their report, the Union Home Minister instructed the state administration in November 2019 to cease the illegal cross-border trafficking of dried areca nuts and fertilisers from Myanmar.
The governor was pushed by the party to invoke Article 356 of the Constitution, establishing President's control. The MNF, however, dismissed the claims, noting that the state has no law and order problems.
It is important to note that the MNF party is a member of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance(NEDA) And the National Democratic Alliance at the central level. The two parties however did not partner in forming the government in the state, Mizoram being the only state where BJP has not been able to make any significant inroads.
The MNF government has come under multiple criticisms especially ever since the government's transfer order of Champhai DC Maria CT Zuali, who was hailed by the people of Mizoram as a hero in the fight against illegal smuggling of goods. The MNF government is accused of being compliant and being controlled by smuggling rings.
On 29th January, opposition parties in Mizoram ZMP, Congress and BJP had a meeting where they unanimously resolved to push for the imposition of President's Rule in the state. Criticism of the MNF government has grown as Mizoram's Legislative Assembly Speaker Pu Lalrinliana Sailo has been accused of involvement in a high profile corruption case. Opposition Congress and Zoram People's Movement ( ZPM) assembly members on Wednesday staged a walkout in the Mizoram Assembly to protest Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo presiding the session.
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