CM Zoramthanga asked to step down

Aizawl, July 23 (UNI) With the coordinated crusade for President's Rule not bearing fruit, the combined opposition parties of Mizoram have once again asked Chief Minister Zoramthanga to voluntarily step down to avoid more damage.

''Mizos used to be honest, industrious and courageous people and depend a lot on the government. But the way you are ruling, it will not be long before we will become immoral and Mizoram will be left unworthy to live in. As a true Mizo, you should accept our request and step down as the chief minister,'' a memorandum to the Chief Minister signed by the general secretaries of Mizoram Pradesh Congress, Zoram Nationalist Party and Mizoram People's Conference said today.

The Mizoram Three-Party Joint Committee cited several reasons why the chief minister should step down.

The chief minister is accused of 'degrading the dignity of politicians and the government'. ''The loss of faith in the government and the existing politicians has been caused by your ministry,'' the memorandum alleged.

''You have turned Mizoram into a safe haven for underground militants of the neighbouring states. They (the militants) are so near and undaunted that one day we counter them, the next day they hit back. By allying with the militants, you have given Mizoram a bad name,'' it further alleged.

''Large scale misappropriation of public money had made the Planning Commission censure you. The state's debt had sky-rocketed from Rs 32 crore annually to Rs 230 crore annually in your ministry,'' the opposition parties told Zoramthanga.

To name a few, Tuirial HE power projects, Falkawn referral hospital and the PMGSY are the schemes initiated during the previous ministries which the MNF ministry has 'ruined', according to the three opposition parties.

UNI