WAKE-UP CALL FOR MODI-SHAH

- K Remruatfela

1. Before the British era, the Mizo clans lived in autonomous village headed by their respective local chief. The chiefs were the absolute leaders of their respective clans having full sovereignty within their territories. 

pic: the quint

2. But after the British intervention, the British rulers subjugate our chiefs, and the Lushai Hill was formally included in British India under proclamations by the Governor General of India in-Council, issued by Foreign Department on 6th September, 1895.

3. In the year of 1921, the Lushai Hills District was classified as ‘Backward Tract’ as per the provision of Section 52A of the Govt. of India Act. 1919. And later, the Government of India Act. 1935 declared the Lushai Hills along with Hill District of Assam as ‘Excluded Area’ from the provincial autonomy of Assam.

4. When India got Independence in the year 1947, Lushai Hills was annexed under the Union of India without taking the consent of our political leaders and put under the province of Assam State with having a District Council as per the provisions mentioned in Art. 242 (2), which is particularly enshrined in the VI Schedule of the Constitution.

5. In 1959, Mizo Hills was devastated by a great famine known in Mizo history as "Mautam Famine" (Bamboo-flowering famine). And unfortunately, in this hour of darkness, the Assam Government completely ignored the suffering of the Mizo people. The people became very much dissatisfied and infuriated with the treatment they got from the Assam government. And as a result, a rebel organization, Mizo National Front (MNF) was emerged, demanding full independence from India.

6. In 1970 - 1971 there was a political reorganization of the areas in North Eastern region, which was brought about by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act, 1971 (Act 81 of 1971). By this Act, Mizoram also was taken out from Assam and became a Union Territory. And in pursuance of this Act, the boundary of Mizoram was demarcated without obtaining the assent of the Mizo leaders.

7. And since then, the Assam Government frequently encroached/es our ancestor land thereby destroying our crops and sometimes even burning our huts. Meanwhile, being a peace loving state, we never resort to violence and in spite of that we calmly waited for peaceful negotiations in order to avoid unnecessary loss of life. 

8. In the meantime, on 26th July of 2021, unfortunately, around 200 Assam Armed Police came into our land and damaged several vehicles that were travelling along the National Highway between Vairengte and Lailapur of Assam state. And when the local people proceeded to the site to inquire, the unarmed civilians were assaulted by the Assam Police thereby causing injuries to several civilian.

9. And in that situation, the Mizoram Police have no other option but to respond spontaneously in order to protect the civilians from the violence act of the Assam Police. But in the meantime, we are deeply saddened by the needless death and injuries, which was provoked by the Assam Police. 

10. Looking back to the past, it is crystal clear that the entire incident was inevitably aroused due to intimation and provocation of the Assam Government. It is indeed a matter of fact that both 1966 insurgency and the recent border-tension could be avoided if the Assam Government stops pushing the limit of the people of the Mizo.

11. So, it is a high time for the Union Government to learn from the history and to take necessary action against the culprit. If the Government of India failed to take necessary action, I am afraid that a day may come, when the youth who have not experienced the effect of insurrection will repeat the same old things. So, something has to be done now.