Aizawl: The Opposition parties in Mizoram on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government for its reluctance to give compensation to the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the state's apex students' organisation, for losses incurred by them during the border standoff in March.
Addressing a programme at Tuikual, Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Lalruatikima accused the ruling Congress of lying to the MZP. He said the state government had promised the MZP to compensate for losses caused by Assam police.
"The government has failed to keep its promise and sternly refused to give compensation to the students' organisation. This is an insult to the students who stepped out to defend our land," the MLA said.
Lalruatikima alleged that MZP functionaries, who tried to construct a wooden rest shed at Zophai near Bairabi town along the Assam-Mizoram border, were beaten up by Assam police who opened fire and damaged several properties of the students worth lakhs of rupees. Lalruatkima urged people to support the MZP's plan to raise funds through public donations.
Leader of the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), Lalduhoma, also vehemently criticised the Congress government for hurting the sentiments of the students by refusing to give compensation.
Accusing the state government of being irresponsible, Lalduhoma asked it to honour its promises. MZP president L. Ramdintliana Rentheli alleged that Assam police had damaged properties, including the students' mobile phones, worth over Rs 21.7 lakh. According to him, they not only beat up the students, but also torched vehicles and their makeshift camps.
He said their appeal to the Centre besides the Assam and Mizoram governments to give compensations went in vain.