Politics / Mizoram

Aizawl, June 1: Alleged favouritism over allotment of seats in the Imphal Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) under the Mizoram government quota has sparked a controversy here with the names of few political bigwigs of the state being dragged into it.

The controversy started with allegations that the state government had resorted to manipulations to accommodate chosen candidates for the highly sought-after post-graduate course at RIMS, reserved only for medical practitioners working in the state-run hospitals in Mizoram.

Sources said four out of the seven reserved seats at RIMS...

AIZAWL, May 30 ? Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has distributed some of his portfolios among his ministerial colleagues, according to an official statement here Tuesday, reports PTI.

Zoramthanga gave District Council Affairs department to Home Minister R Tlangghmingthanga, Information and Public Relations to Health Minister F Malsawma and Fisheries department to Excise Minister K Vanlalauva.

He also gave Secretariat Administration department to the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies C Lalrinsanga. The Chief Minister?s present portfolios include Finance, Public Works department...

Aizawl, May 28: The Mizoram forest department today downplayed the case against state excise minister K. K. Vanlalauva?s, indicted for having killed and feasted on a barking deer, saying it was a ?minor one?.

Though government officials refused to comment, an assistant conservator of forests said the offence for which Vanlalauva has been indicted was ?minor and punishable at most by a fine of Rs 2,000?.

Chief minister Zoramthanga, also an invitee to the feast at Vanlalauva?s home in which the venison was served, said he had no comment on the court directive.

?Since I have not been...

GUWAHATI, May 27 ? The ghost of a ?Barking deer?, a protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1986, may sound the political death knell of Mizoram Excise Minister, Pu K Vanlalauva. The Gauhati High Court disposed of a PIL, yesterday and directed the Mizoram Chief Secretary to take appropriate action within a month, as the Division Bench opined that prima facie offences have been committed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the rules.

The Chief Justice, P P Naolekar and Justice I A Ansari were hearing a PIL field by C Thangmura and supported by P Vanlalthlana of the PUCL,...

AGARTALA, May 26 ? Central Government has extended a financial help of Rs 10.99 crore in the last financial year for the displaced Reang refugees presently sheltered in six camps at Kanchanpur.

The Reangs had come to North Tripura from adjacent Mizoram following fierce ethnic conflict between the Bru (Reang) and Lushai (Mizo) communities in October 1997. The exodus from Mizoram began on the night of October 15 and in phases the Reangs under constant threat and persecution from the majority community poured in the North district.

Several rounds of talks among the representatives of displaced...

Aizawl, May 25: The Congress in Mizoram is facing a major embarrassment with former party general secretary M.C. Lalrinthanga coming out with an insiders? account of the state unit in a book scheduled to hit the stands soon.

Lalrinthanga, a former Congress leader who was expelled some years ago for his opposition to Mizo strongman Lalthanhawla, said he is ready to release his book ? Mizoram eiruk thubuai lian ber (Mizoram?s Biggest Corruption Case) involving the PCC president and former chief minister.

The book?s release, Congress sources said, may come in handy for the Opposition to put the...

AIZAWL, May 20 : Special Judge for Prevention of Corruption Court P Singthanga has denied allegations by the Mizoram People?s Party Youth general headquarters of having been approached by former CM Lal Thanhawla?s representatives, Lalkhama, a retired IAS officer and former CS of Mizoram and his (Singthanga?s) first cousin sister in connection with the corruption case against Lal Thanhawla.

According to the MPCY, Lalkhama and Singthanga?s cousin had met him on April 27, Sunday, between church services. However, the Special Judge denied this and said except for officials concerned with the case...

AGARTALA, April 26 — In what can be called a fresh initiative for dialogue with the Mizoram government for early repatriation of the Reang (Bru) refugees presently sheltered in six camps in North Tripura district, a high level team of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) headed by a special secretary will visit the Reang (Bru) refugee camps. The team would among other things, ascertain the actual number of refugees in the six camps in Kanchanpur subdivision.

According to official sources, the central team will arrive at Agartala on April 30 next to settle the dispute over the total number of...

GUWAHATI, April 8 — The Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today informed that the State Government was in touch with Mizoram and Manipur governments for initiating coordinated action to tackle the ethnic violence that has flared up along the inter-State boundary areas in the Cachar district of Assam. Talking to newsmen here, Sri Gogoi stated that as the Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) extremists involved in ethnic cleansing of Dimasas in Cachar areas were based in those two neighbouring States, the coordination with the two State governments was the need of the hour to control the ethnic violence in...

NEW DELHI, April 4 – Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has opposed granting of any local administrative powers to Reang tribals, many of whom have migrated to the state from neighbouring Tripura, reports PTI.

“We are trying to find an amicable solution to the problem .... but are opposed to their demand for administrative powers,” Zoramthanga told PTI after a 20-minute meeting with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani here, on Thursday. The Reangs shifted out from Tripura about two years ago alleging harassment by other tribes.

Zoramthanga said the Centre also did not approve of granting any...