Hmar leaders meet BJP president over long standing political issue

Aizawl, April 17: The Hmar leaders on Thursday met visiting BJP president Amit Shah at Aijal Club and apprised him of political grievances of the Hmar living in Mizoram.

The delegation of Hmar leaders that included leader of Mizoram Hmar Welfare Committee (MHWC), HPC party and Hmar Student Organisation (HSA) submitted representations to Shah regarding the long standing political problems of the Hmars in North East especially in Mizoram. The leaders told BJP president that the minority Hmar were being neglected and denied political rights by the government of Mizoram since the Mizo union movement (1946) and MNF movement (1966) despite the former being actively participated in the movement to include all Hmar dominated area in Manipur and Assam within the then Mizo district which was cherished as the main slogan by both Mizo Union movement and MNF movement. The Hmar people were however neglected and their aspiration for inclusion of Hmar dominated area within Mizoram was dashed to the ground when Mizo district came into form and the state of Mizoram was created in 1987.

The leaders said that not to speak the Hmars living in Manipur and Assam, even the Hmar community living in north Mizoram were denied political rights and were deprived of developments enjoyed by their brother like Lai and Mara in south Mizoram. Moved by political frustration during Mizo Union and MNF movement the Hmar who had once offered Regional Council by Manipur premier PB Singh provided they alienate and secede from Mizo Union movement, formed political organisation called HPC and later entered to underground demanding ADC in Hmar dominated area in northern Mizoram. 

In 1994 the erstwhile HPC rebel signed peace accord with the government of Mizoram which resulted in the creation of Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC) with 2 years interim period. The provision of the peace accord envisages the upgradation of SHDC to a full fledged district council under sixth schedule of Indian constitution. The government of Mizoram however, did not commit to its promise even after the lapse of more than 20 years since the signing of peace accord, Hmar leaders told Shah.

The Hmar leaders told Shah that they have great faith in the BJP government and asked him to find solution to the Hmar political problems. While Shah on his part told the leaders that he will go through the representation and look into the grievances of the Hmar people.