Thousands protest outside Mizoram CEO’s office in Aizawl demanding his ouster; schools, shops closed
Mizoram:The flashpoint has occurred after the chief electoral officer complained against principal secretary (home), Lalninmawia Chuaungo for allegedly interfering in poll process, leading to his removal.
Thousands gathered outside Mizoram CEO's office in Aizawl. | Photo Credit: Twitter
Aizawl: Protests were held in Aizawl on Tuesday, ahead of the upcoming elections in Mizoram, as thousands of people assembled outside the office of the chief electoral officer of Mizoram, SB Shashank, and held peaceful protests, demanding his ouster. The flashpoint has occurred after the chief electoral officer complained against principal secretary (home), Lalninmawia Chuaungo for allegedly interfering in poll process, leading to his removal.
Crowds gathered outside the CEO’s office near the busy street of Treasury Square at 8 am on Tuesday, and blocked roads for more than four hours, Hindustan Times reported. However, Shashank did not attend the office yesterday, reports suggested. He has also been provided with additional security, the daily reported.
Several schools, shops and offices remained shut in Aizawl yesterday, while a total shutdown also took place in Mamit town as well, where a large number of government employees were protesting on the streets. Agitations were also held in at least five other district headquarters, NDTV reported.
The Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee, which a joint platform for non-government organisations and civil society groups, had asked Shashank to resign from his post by November 5 and leave the state as well following the removal of Chuaungo.
Shashank has alleged that Chuaungo had interfered with the revision of electoral rolls of Bry refugees from Mizoram, who have been residing in relief camps in Tripura even since the ethnic violence force them to escape in 1997. Majority of the Mizos, including the state government, have opposed the Election Commission’s proposal to permit the Brus to cast their votes at their camps.
In light of the developments, the committee called for protests outside the Mizoram CEO’s office after his refusal to resign and leave the state.
The committee has launched a “Save Mizoram Movement”, arguing that Shashank’s decision to have Chuaungo removed and the proposed plan to allow Brus to vote in Mizoram “could vitiate the atmosphere and create divisions among various groups”.
Interestingly, many political parties, including the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have backed the committee’s stance and have appealed to PM Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter of Shashank’s ouster, reports said.
Mizoram goes to polls on November 28.