Mizoram opp have no faith in House's "inquiry committee"

Aizawl, Apr 5 (UNI) The opposition parties in Mizoram today said they have no faith in the inquiry committee to be set up by the Assembly to probe into the alleged Mizoram government-underground nexus.

However, House leader Chief Minister Zoramthanga said, ''We have precedence that the inquiry committee will be chaired by a ruling MLA. In that case, the inquiry will find out nothing more than the ruling party's denial of the charges.'' ''It is not judicious to chair an inquiry committee by someone from the accused,'' Zoram Nationalist Party MLA Andrew Lalherliana said.

The opposition MLAs,during the recently concluded budget session, alleged that the MNF ministry had employed underground outfits of the neighbouring states in election campaigns, and provided them with arms and ammunition in return.

Coincidentally, two former leaders of the Myanmar-based Zo Re-unification Organisation (Burma Front) have confessed that they had campaigned for Chief Minister and MNF president Zoramthanga at his home Champhai constituency and the neighbouring Khawbung constituency during the 2003 assembly polls.

In fact, ZNP leader and Ratur legislator Lalduhoma moved a no-confidence motion based on these allegations, which however, were voted down.

The Home minister did not make any comment on the charges in the House, but later instructed the Mizoram DIG to hold a press conference to clarify the charges on his behalf.

In the top cop's press conference, which could be termed as a ''breach of privilege'', Andrew said, ''The fact that the Home Minister instructed the DIG to make clarification, which he himself dared not do in the House created a very bad precedence.'' In fact, Andrew asked the House, while the top cop's press meet was in progress, yesterday that should not the police officer be summoned by the House because what he was doing was a breach of privilege and a challenge to the House. However, the speaker said if the top cop had been instructed by the concerned minister, he saw nothing wrong in it. At this point, the Home minister admitted that he had instructed the DIG.

Andrew said the minister instructed the police officer to make an official statement while at the same time he was moving the House for constitution of an inquiry committee, made things more suspicious.

One more thing which has made people suspicious, Andrew said, is that insurgent groups have been so quick to ''come to the rescue of the MNF government'', referring to the Hmar National Army's statement and that of one Mukto of the Shanti Bahini, following the revelation of their nexus with the MNF ministry.

UNI