Newmai News Network
Aizawl | February 21
The Mizoram legislative assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a private member resolution asking the Centre to take measures for protection of “religious freedom” enshrined in the Constitution.
Opposition Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Zodintluanga, who moved the resolution alleged that religious minorities have come under severe attack as the rate of religious persecution is increasingly after the BJP came to power in 2014. He further alleged that atrocities and physical assault on religious minorities and vandalism of religious monuments, including church buildings and mosques were rampant under the BJP regime.
According to the Congress leader, India is among top ten countries where communal clashes are high. He also said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act passed recently by the Parliament was a discriminatory law, which seeks to grant citizenship on religious line.
He added that “freedom of religion” or secularism is the pillar of the Constitution.
The assembly witnessed a prolonged discussion on the resolution, involving chief minister Zoramthanga and opposition leader Lalduhoma.
Mizo National Front (MNF) members, including party president Zoramthanga argued that persecution of religious minorities was even high during the Congress' time, which introduced anti-conversion law in the country.
Zoramthanga also said that his party did not follow the ideologies and principles of the BJP and was strongly opposed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill before it became an act.
MNF is a partner of BJP led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), which was formed to make Congress free-Northeast.
“Our ideologies and policies are antagonistic to those of BJP. We are fighting each other in terms of principles and ideologies,” he further said.
The MNF top brass also said that his party joined the NEDA banner because it is anti-Congress and wanted to oust the Congress from Mizoram.
However, cutting across party lines, legislators from both the ruling MNF and the oppositions unanimously passed the resolution , which stated that "the Central government must take measures to ensure that religious freedom is protected."
