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Time of India
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Zoramthanga: CM plotting to shift state capital to Thenzawl
1 2 3 4 Aizawl: In a fiery address on Monday, former chief minister and Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga accused current CM Lalduhoma of secretly plotting to relocate the state capital from Aizawl to Thenzawl. Drawing a parallel to the infamous medieval ruler Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Zoramthanga slammed the CM for allegedly making erratic decisions reminiscent of Tughlaq's controversial capital shift from Delhi to Daulatabad. Speaking at the MNF headquarters in Aizawl, Zoramthanga referenced a letter from Seema Rani, a section officer at the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA), which he claimed outlined plans for a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on moving the state capital. He accused Lalduhoma of misleading the public by only mentioning a "Peace City" initiative in Thenzawl to ease congestion in Aizawl. Zoramthanga criticised the alleged plan for its lack of transparency, stating, "There has not been a single cabinet meeting or public consultation on this sensitive issue. People of Mizoram have been kept in the dark." In response, the state urban development & poverty alleviation department clarified that there are no plans to shift the capital. They attributed the confusion to a miscommunication from the central govt. The MoHUA had approved Rs 10 crore for a DPR on establishing a Peace City in Thenzawl, not for relocating the capital, the department said.
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MNF accuses ‘secret plot' by Mizoram CM to shift capital
1 2 Aizawl: CM Lalduhoma chaired a high-level meeting in June that discussed a master plan to transform Thenzawl, the second-largest town in his Serchhip constituency, into a Peace City. An official statement said the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs had already agreed to allocate Rs 10 crore to the Mizoram govt for preparing the master plan, of which Rs 1 crore (10 per cent) has already been released. Opposition parties trained guns on the CM, saying the latter has a hidden agenda behind the proposal. The Mizo National Front (MNF), Mizoram's main opposition party, has accused the CM of secretly attempting to shift the state capital from Aizawl to Thenzawl, located in his own constituency, without public consultation. MNF general secretary Zodinpuia claimed that while Lalduhoma publicly framed the initiative as a Peace City project to decongest Aizawl, he allegedly concealed his actual intention of making Thenzawl the new state capital. "This is a betrayal of the people's trust," he said, demanding that the CM clarify his position. The chief minister's office has not issued any response to the MNF's allegations. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MNF alleges infra funds misuse in Mizoram
Aizawl: Mizo National Front (MNF) on Friday raised serious concerns over the utilisation of funds sanctioned for key infrastructure projects in Mizoram, questioning whether the money was misused or misappropriated by the Mizoram govt. The alleged fund embezzlement was brought to light during a meeting of the DONER Consultative Committee held on Thursday afternoon at the Parliament Annex Committee Room. The meeting was attended by several MPs from the northeastern states and key officials, MNF said in a statement. According to the statement, during the meeting, Mizoram's lone Rajya Sabha member, K Vanlalvena, representing MNF, pointed out that funds allocated under the ministry of DONER for the repair of the Keitum-N Mualcheng-Zawlsei road in central Mizoram's Serchhip district, under the 2023-2024 budget, were yet to be utilised. Despite approval for the repair works, the projects did not commence, and Vanlalvena suggested that the allocated money might have been diverted to other purposes by the present state govt. The meeting decided that the matter should be addressed in the next meeting for further investigation. The MP told TOI that around Rs 200 crore was sanctioned by the ministry of DoNER for the repair of the road. In addition, the director of fisheries and animal husbandry from Mizoram raised concerns about the SNA SPARSH Scheme, for which the central govt sanctioned Rs 1,000 lakh in April 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo Central officials pointed out that the Mizoram govt had not utilised the funds, and this non-utilisation might affect further sanctions amounting to Rs 700 lakh. MNF also demanded a white paper on the use of funds sanctioned in April 2025, stressing the need for accountability and transparency in the spending process. They called for the central govt to step in and ensure that the funds are utilised effectively for the benefit of the people of Mizoram.
Economic Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Mizoram decides to collect biometrics, biographic data of Myanmar refugees
Synopsis Following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the Mizoram government will begin collecting biometric and biographic data of approximately 35,000 Myanmar refugees in all 11 districts, mirroring a similar exercise in Manipur. The initiative, funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs, aims to identify and document these "illegal migrants. AP The former Mizo National Front government in Mizoram was reluctant to collect the biometrics and biographic data of Myanmar refugees. Guwahati: The Mizoram government has decided to collect biometrics and biographic data of Myanmar refugees taking shelter in the northeastern state after a military coup in the neighboring country in February 2021. Earlier, Manipur had carried out this exercise. A Mizoram Home Department official, who did not want to be named, told ET, 'Towards the end of July, the work of collecting biometric and demographic data of around 35,000 Myanmar refugees would start. The biometric exercise would be conducted using the Foreigner Identification Portal and would be carried out in all 11 districts of the state." He added, 'Around Rs 38 lakh was earmarked for the exercise, and the expenditure would be borne by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Training of the government staff to conduct the exercise has almost been completed in all the districts." The MHA had earlier asked both the Manipur and Mizoram governments to capture biographic and biometric details of "illegal migrants" in the two states and complete the process at the earliest. Both northeastern states had earlier agreed to undertake the collection of biometrics and biographic data of Myanmar nationals. The former Mizo National Front government in Mizoram was reluctant to collect the biometrics and biographic data of Myanmar refugees. The incumbent Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government, led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, had earlier agreed to conduct the exercise. After a military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, refugees, including women and children from the neighboring country, started coming to Mizoram and Manipur seeking shelter in the two Indian states, and now their numbers in Mizoram have increased to around 35,000. According to Home Department officials, the maximum number of Myanmar refugees are currently taking shelter in Champhai district. Myanmar's Chin state shares mountainous borders with six Mizoram districts—Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. Recently, a fresh batch of refugees has started coming since July battles have erupted between the Chin National Defence Force and the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram over control of Chin state in Myanmar. A senior official, who does not want to be named, said that around 3,000 to 4,000 refugees had come since the fighting started on July 2.'They are being provided with food, water, and shelter.' Refugees are coming to Zokhawthar and Saikhumphai Village, bordering Myanmar in Champhai district.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Zoramthanga celebrates 81st b'day, guv VK Singh wishes good health
Aizawl: Former Mizoram CM and president of Mizo National Front (MNF), Zoramthanga , on Sunday celebrated his 81st birthday. The veteran politician received warm wishes from governor Gen VK Singh , who took to Instagram to offer his congratulations. "Congratulations and warmest wishes to Pu Zoramthanga on your special day. May you be blessed with excellent health, profound happiness, and many more years of continued wisdom and strength," Singh wrote. Zoramthanga was born on July 13, 1944, in the small village of Samthang in Champhai district, bordering Myanmar. His political journey began in 1966, when he joined the erstwhile underground MNF. He became a close confidante of MNF supremo Laldenga, rising to the position of second-in-command. Following the historic Mizo Accord signed on June 30, 1986, Zoramthanga led a contingent of MNF insurgents from their headquarters in the then Arakan state of Burma (now Myanmar) to Mizoram to lay down their arms. Zoramthanga was inducted as a minister during the six-month interim govt, where MNF shared power with Congress. Mizoram was elevated to a full-fledged state on Feb 20, 1987, and he continued as a minister, holding portfolios including finance and education. After a decade in political wilderness, MNF allied with the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC), won the 1998 assembly elections, leading to Zoramthanga's first term as chief minister.
