President Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Mizoram amid strong protest
President Pranab Mukherjee on his arrival in Aizawl.
President Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Mizoram capital Aizawl on Thursday and was greeted by hundreds of students in school uniforms, and others draped in traditional shawls of mourning, to protest against the spate of transfers and sackings of the state’s Governors. Mizoram has had seven different Governors within nine months.
The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP, or Mizo Students’ Association) which led the protest also submitted a memorandum to the President, expressing “deep displeasure” over the frequent changes of Raj Bhavan incumbents and that it considers “such unprecedented frequency of appointments of Governors to the state as motivated by political vendetta, and the choice of the state of Mizoram for this dishonourable action an act of sheer impunity and disrespect for the people of the state.”
“We regret the inconvenience and atmosphere of protest brought upon our state during your current visit compelled by the Government’s lack of respect and regard for the people and state of Mizoram,” the MZP’s memorandum added.
Former Home Minister and senior Mizo National Front leader Tawnluia also said the party would take up the issue of the frequent changes of Governors in a memorandum to the President and also raise it if the party leaders are given time to meet him.
The President arrived at Lengpui airport at 4 pm Thursday and was flown from there to a helipad within Aizawl city in an Indian Air Force helicopter.
He is on a two-day visit to Mizoram to attend the 10th convocation ceremony of the Mizoram University, which is scheduled for Friday.
Source:: Indian Express
