Aizawl, Dec. 5: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, who was sworn in for his second term in office yesterday, has said that his government will concentrate on the twin issues of development and peace. The chief ministerwas quite upbeat over the fact that his party had been given the people?s mandate again and said his government would continue the development work it had started.
Asked about the time limit he had set himself for completion of the development programmes, Zoramthanga said it would depend on the individual projects. ?Some of the projects could be completed by the end of this term, while others may take even a hundred years,? he told newspersons last night.
On the peace front, Zoramthanga is likely to continue with his role of an unofficial negotiator between the Naga rebels and the Centre to realise his goal of being a model peacemaker in the region.
However, he has met with serious criticism from his Tripura and Meghalaya counterparts, Manik Sarkar and D.D. Lapang, on this issue. Both have accused him of meddling in their affairs.
At home too, Zoramthanga has faced criticism, with the Opposition parties accusing the previous government of being ?over-friendly? with insurgents, so much so that the militant groups now allegedly have a free rein in the state.
In the recent Assembly election, the Opposition had alleged that Zomi Re-unification Organisation, a militant outfit from Manipur, had campaigned for the ruling Mizo National Front in the constituencies of Champhai, Ngopa and Khawbung.
The Opposition also alleged that the Suangpuilawn constituency problem, which is yet to be resolved, stemmed from the fact that the government had suspended its operations against the banned Hmar People?s Convention (Democratic).
Asked whether he would enlarge his ministry, Zoramthanga said it would depend on the political situation of the state.
On the positive side, the MNF had indeed made significant progress in the development sphere, which had stagnated during the Congress rule. At present, Zoramthanga?s government has several projects to complete, including those meant to alleviate poverty and preserve forests. These could prove to be the turning point in the lives of rural folk.