Major NGOs in Mizoram Not To Support Protest March

Aizawl, Jul 3 : Major NGOs in Mizoram today decided not to support a procession proposed by the Presbyterian Church in protest against the state government's intention to relax the prohibition law.

The NGOs - central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA), the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or Mizo women's federation and the Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) or Mizo elders' association - expressed their inability to participate if the Mizoram Synod of the Presbyterian Church organised a protest rally.

General Secretary of the YMA central committee Vanlalruata said the opinions of the NGOs were expressed in a meeting convened by the Mizoram Synod this evening.

The NGOs, while vowing to continue their fight against drugs and alcohol said they could not support the church's protest march as their members belonged to different church denominations.

Senior Executive Secretary of the Mizoram Synod Rev Lalzuithanga had earlier said the church would organise mass prayer on Sunday night at every local church.

He said posters would be displayed in Aizawl city protesting the proposal of the state government and also send letter to the Chief Minister and Excise and Narcotics Minister not to introduce the proposed bill to relax the prohibition.

The church also proposed to take out a procession if the major NGOs agreed to support the church on the issue.

Meanwhile, the proposed Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition and Control) Bill, 2014 was submitted to the state Assembly for introduction and deliberations in the Monsoon session commencing from July 8.

The proposed bill was already endorsed by the state cabinet and the ruling Congress party and was set to be introduced and deliberated in the Assembly on July 10.

The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995 has been in force in the state for the past 17 years and many felt it has done more harm than good to the society while the state government lost huge revenue during the period.