Desperate farmers join Congress: Thanhawla

Aizawl, Jan 29 (UNI) Mizoram Pradesh Congress chief Lal Thanhawla has claimed that farmers across the state have resorted to joining the Congress party out of desperation.

''Desperate farmers from all over Mizoram have resorted to joining the Congress party with a hope to alleviate their condition with the party's New Land Use Policy,'' he said today, while addressing a public meeting at Bungtlang under his Serchhip constituency.

Party sources here said the party chief inducted a good number of new voters from the village to the Congress party during the public meeting. The former chief minister also accused the Zoramthanga-led Mizo National Front government of diverting Centrally-sponsored development funds from reaching their targets.

''While the actions of philanthropic organisations and churches in helping the famine-stricken people on the onset of Mautam (bamboo flowering) famine are highly laudable, the government's failure to fulfil its duties is truly regrettable,'' Mr Thanhawla said.

UNI ZS LL RSA ND1654