President of Mizo National Front party (MNF) Zoramthanga. File
| Photo Credit: Ritu Raj Konwar
Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga on Monday (June 30, 2025) asserted that the Mizo peace accord signed between the Centre and erstwhile underground MNF in 1986 was not only an accord between the MNF and the Union government but it represents the entire Mizo people.
The 39th anniversary of the Mizo peace accord was celebrated by the MNF across the State on Monday.
However, there were no official functions to mark the peace accord day.
“Some vested interests say and devalue the Mizo peace accord as only the accord between the Centre and the MNF. It was signed by Laldenga on behalf of the MNF and Lalkhama (former State Chief Secretary) on behalf of the Mizo people, who did not go underground,” Mr. Zoramthanga said while addressing the celebration of peace accord day in Saitual.
The former rebel leader turned politician said that the Mizo peace accord was signed when both parties were in good and strong positions.
“Had the accord been signed when we were organisationally weak, we would have been too submissive. The accord, however, was signed when we were economically and organisationally strong,” he said.
Mr. Zoramthanga said that Mizoram was elevated to full-fledged Statehood from being a Union Territory with a special provision under Article 371 G after the signing of the historic Mizo accord.
He said that article 371 G provides special provision to Mizoram as no act of Parliament in respect of religious or social practices of the Mizos, Mizo customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law, ownership and transfer of land, can be applied to Mizoram unless the State Legislative Assembly decide by resolution.
The Youth wing of the MNF erected a hoarding of Article 371G at a roadside in front of Mizo Hnam Run or the MNF office here.
The hoarding was unveiled by Mr. Lalkhama, the former Chief Secretary who signed the historic accord in 1986.
Mr. Lalkhama said that the sacrifices and sufferings of the MNF cadres and martyrs deserve public respect and they are the real heroes because of whom the peace accord and its outcomes could become a reality.
He said that the protection given to the people of Mizoram under Art 371 G needs to be made known to more people.
MNF Legislator Robert Romawia Royte said that the peace accord mandated the Parliament to enact the 53rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1986 which in turn incorporated the provisions and safeguards for the Mizos under Art 371G.
The Mizoram peace accord was signed between the Centre and the erstwhile underground MNF on June 30, 1986, ending two decades of insurgency, after which Mizoram became the 23rd Indian state on February 20, 1987.
Published – July 01, 2025 07:05 am IST
