Opp members resign from House probe team

Aizawl, Jun 19 (UNI) Three opposition members have resigned from the House inquiry committee, set up to probe the alleged supply of arms to insurgents by the MNF government.

MLAs Andrew Lalherliana (Zoram Nationalist Party), H Liansailova (Congress) and Sailothanga Sailo (Mizoram People's Conference) tendered their resignation to Assembly Speaker Lalchamliana yesterday from the inquiry committee after the Speaker rejected the opposition's plea for changing its chairman and the terms of preference of the committee.

Congress senior vice-president and MLA R Lalzirliana today said the Opposition parties had suggested that Mr Lal Thanhawla be made the chairman of the committee for effective investigation to which the Speaker did not pay any heed.

The inquiry committee formed on April 13, in response to Lalzirliana's allegations during the budget session that the MNF government had supplied arms to Hmar insurgents, had Mizo National Front's ally Mizoram Congress Party MLA Saikapthianga as its chairman.

The Opposition alleged that an inquiry committee chaired by an MLA from the accused side would reveal nothing. '' There has been no positive move even after two months of the committee's formation,'' they said.

The Opposition parties demanded inclusion of independent member H Lalsangzuala in the committee.

''Since we clearly see that the inquiry committee is only for a name sake, and will lead us nowhere, there is no reason for us to remain,'' said Andrew Lalherliana.

The Speaker,however, is yet to accept the resignation.

UNI