Hnahthial begins fresh protest for district status

Aizawl, Apr 29 (UNI) After completion of a long march, members of the Hnahthial District Demand Committee have resorted to a fast-unto-death here.

This, they hope, would exert more pressure on their demand for the district status for the sub-divisional town. Even as the demand committee is determined to ''bring home'' the district by hook or by crook, the state administration stands firm on its point that there is no general consensus among villages for conferring the status of district to the town.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga had not denied that he had promised a district status for Hnahthial, but on a ''condition that all the claimed villages agree to fall under the proposed Hnahthial district'', an MNF party source has said and added that three or more villages have opposed to the demand.

However, the demand committee claimed that the chief minister had promised them the district status only on condition that if the MNF candidate (F Lalthanzuala) was elected from the Hnahthial seat in the 2003 elections.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has offered full support to the demand for Hnahthial district, while strongly slamming the chief minister for ''never keeping his words''.

''If Zoramthanga had promised a district status, he should give them without any hesitation. But, if it is not possible due to administrative reasons, he should tell that to them straightforwardly,'' a Congress statement said here today.

''If the fast still proves futile, the demand committee will further resort to road blockade on National Highway 54, the lifeline of the entire southern parts of Mizoram,'' committee secretary J Lalliankima told UNI here.

''We will not rest until we get the district status,'' he added.

UNI ZS LL RL HT1547