Political heat weave of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has now swayed upon the high hill of Mizoram. On Thursday the angry Mizo protester hit Aizawl’s serpentine hilly road showing placard – bidding farewell to India and welcoming China.
CAB crisis at Mizoram
Mizo Student Federation spearheaded the mass protest organized against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bills 2016 was successful in pulling thousands of people on the street.
Mizo National Front led government also supported the public outcry, subsequently, state Chief Minister Zoramthanga threatened to come out from the forum of BJP backed National Democratic Alliance.
Mizo National Front after signing the accord with Government of India in 1987, for the first time, people of Mizoram coming in forefront shouting against political integrity of Indian Sovereign.
In fact, showing their to the assertion of Amit Shah and Ram Madhav, people of Mizoram reminded the Government of India that for any foul play Mizo people would again come in confrontation with Indian machinery.
Rebellion in Mizoram
Recalling the past, it was the devastated famine in Mizoram in 1959 that lead the Mizo people to take arms, against Indian sovereign.
The armed contingent of first Mizo rebel outfit, Mizo National Front started armed offensive against Indian security forces on March 1966, subsequently MNF launched attack on Assam Rifle head quarter in Aizwal and on several garrison of Lunglei. The rebel ravaged several bastions of Border Security Force, in the armed propaganda during this period. Moreover several hundreds of government employees were made captive as Prison of War (POW) and women, children were used as human shield.
However in 1966, then Prime Minister of India, late Indira Gandhi took a farm decision to curb the rebellion in Mizoram and hence ordered for air strike on the civilians inhibited at Aizawl in Mizoram.
This was the first airstrike on the history of Indian Air Force, for bombing on the civilian of own country. The fighter plane took off from Saloni (Tezpur), Rowriah (Jorhat) military airbase for surgical air strike on Mizo civilians. The rebel left to the territory of East Pakistan and Myanmar and common villagers went back to the hill top to save their life from the machine gun firing from the height of fighter aircraft. After the airstrike, the scattered Mizo rebels surrendered to the Indian Army, however, MNF continued guerrilla warfare, till mid 80’s. In 1986, MNF came to sign a peace accord with Government of India for inviting permanent peace in Mizoram. Rebel leader Laldenga became a first Chief Minister of the state of Mizoram.
Threat from Bru & Chakmas refugees
It is seen Bru refugees from Myanmar,and Chakmas of Bangladesh refugee creating the problem as the same is created in Assam by illegal immigration of Bangladeshi people. Mizos apprehension can be ruled out in present socio political context of the state. They fear that if Government of India decides Chakmas and Brus migrated from neighbouring countries given citizenship, then local Mizos will be out numbered in their own home land.
Scared Mizo peoples are now fallen in despondency to decide whether their future will be with India or China. Therefore, setting the party politics aside, the Government of India must come with positive gesture, in order to prevent the secessionist activities in peaceful Mizoram.
The views expressed by the author are personal and may not in any way represent those of TIME8.
