Thanhawla dubs proposed youth commission ''deception''

Aizawl, Sep 4 (UNI) Even as the Mizo National Front (MNF) government has initiated the much-demanded Youth Commission, Congress president Lal Thanhawla today termed it the MNF's method to ''deceive the youths.'' The MNF ministry has entrusted Mizoram Congress MLA Liansuama to draft the Youth Commission Bill to be tabled in the coming autumn session.

While Lawngtlai MLA and Zenics chairman H Vanlalthaliana has been appointed to work with Mr Liansuama on the draft bill, sources said more members could be roped in later.

Students' body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) had been pressurising the MNF government to fulfill its election manifestos by forming Youth Commission.

Meanwhile, Mr Thanhawla claimed that his party would create a ''new world'' for the youths.

''We had promised in our election manifestos that if we come to power we will set up Youth Welfare Commission shortly after we form the government,'' he said.

He alleged that the MNF was imitating the Congress and setting up the Youth Commission without true interest.

''The MNF was compelled to set up a draft committee yesterday because of the MZP's pressure and the Congress's commitment. This is only another of its desperate attempts to win votes,'' he said.

''It is unlikely that the Bill will see the light. Even if it does, I am not very hopeful that it would serve any real purpose considering what the MNF government has done with the previous Bills tabled in the House,'' he added.

Mr Thanhawla launched the Mizoram chapter of the nation-wide 'membership drive' of the AIYCC at Congress Bhavan here today, which was attended by Indian Youth Congress general secretary Sriniwas Khalep.

He invited all the youths of Mizoram to join the Congress's mission to create a ''new world for the youths''.

He claimed that the Youth Congress had the largest youth members in the world, the former chief minister attributed the success of a number of development programmes under Congress ministries to the activities of the Youth Congress.

Mr Khalep pointed out that the membership drive programme targets at least 2.5 crore new youth members across the country.

UNI