Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma recently visited New Delhi to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the concerns of the Mizos and the issue of Myanmarese refugees. Lalduhoma highlighted the proposal by India to fence the border with Myanmar and expressed his opposition to it. He argued that the current border between Mizoram and Myanmar was forced upon the two ethnic groups without their consent and that it is impossible for Mizos to accept it. He stated that the wish of people on both sides of the border is to come under one administration.
During the meeting with the Prime Minister, Lalduhoma also raised the issue of a Greater Mizoram. He expressed his support for the concept of Akhand Bharat and advocated for the inclusion of Mizoram in it. He emphasized that Mizos should not be separated from their ethnic brethren and that border fencing would be seen as a sign of separation.
In his meeting with the External Affairs Minister, Lalduhoma discussed the Myanmarese refugee issue. He highlighted the fact that over 38,000 people from Myanmar have sought refuge in Mizoram since the military coup in February 2021. He also mentioned that around 1,000 people from the Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh have also come to Mizoram. Lalduhoma emphasized that these refugees are not treated differently, but as their brethren.
The Chief Minister shared his discussions with the PM and the External Affairs Minister on his Instagram page. He mentioned that the PM advised him to submit a proposal for a more uniformed system of Inner Line Permit (ILP). The ILP is currently used to regulate the entry of outsiders into Mizoram and some other northeastern states. Lalduhoma’s proposal aims to make the ILP more standardized and efficient.
Lalduhoma’s visit to Delhi was his first official trip after becoming the Chief Minister of Mizoram. He won the assembly polls in December last year and assumed office soon after. The meetings with the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister were important for Lalduhoma to highlight the concerns of the Mizos and seek support for the issues affecting Mizoram.
Overall, Lalduhoma’s meetings with PM Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar were focused on addressing the concerns of the Mizos, particularly regarding the proposal to fence the border with Myanmar and the issue of Myanmarese refugees. Lalduhoma advocated for a Greater Mizoram as part of Akhand Bharat and emphasized the desire of people on both sides of the border to come under one administration. The Chief Minister also discussed the need for a more uniformed system of Inner Line Permit (ILP) and received advice from the PM on submitting a proposal for the same.
