Zoramthanga survives floor test

Aizawl, Apr 2 (UNI) Chief Minister Zoramthanga today proved his strength in the assembly as a no-confidence motion was moved against his government by 25 votes against 13.

The no-confidence motion was moved by opposition MLA and Zoram Nationalist Party(ZNP) leader Lalduhoma and supported by opposition Congress and Mizoram People's Conference(MPC).

In his motion, Mr Lalduhoma alleged that the Zoramthanga government has nexus with insurgent groups from neighbouring states, and also demanded that the present government was not fit to rule any more.

Mr Lalduhoma pointed out, with facts and figures, how and when the MNF government had made A secret truce with insurgent groups such as Santi Bahini of Chittagong Hill Tract of Bangladesh, Manipur's Hmar National Army and Zomi Revolutionary Army.

He said that these outfits had been, on many occasions, provided with arms and ammunition by the MNF government for their support in the electoral campaigns in Mizoram in return, adding that several militant leaders are being harboured in Mizoram.

He also quoted former Tripura DGP G M Srivastav as saying that the Bru National Front of Mizoram surrender was staged and that Mizoram has become a haven for militant outfits in the northeast.

The opposition MLAs insisted that the ruling members presented clarification in this respect.

Since there was no member standing up, the Speaker invited the House leader Mr Zoramthanga to wind up.

The House was in an uproar following Zoramthanga's counter-attack against Lalduhoma personally.

In the 40-member Mizoram assembly, ruling MNF has 27 legislators.

Since MNF outnumbered all the three opposition parties put together, the motion was voted down despite its being very sensible.

UNI