AIZAWL: The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the apex student body of the state, demonstrated a protest against the state Congress for violating its “diktat” and fielding a Mizo woman who is married to a non-Mizo individual as their candidate in the forthcoming Assembly elections..
“The MZP could not accept such a politician sitting in the state assembly and representing the people of Mizoram,” said MZP president H Lalthianghlima on Friday, adding that the student body is strongly against “a non-tribal in the assembly through his wife”.
Earlier in the day, students and supporters of the organisations took the streets of Aizawl for fielding Meriam L Hrangchal, a Mizo woman, as a candidate from the Lunglei South constituency. “We will intensify our agitation to ensure that such Mizo women are not elected,” the president said.
It all began when the Congress on October 17, fielded Hrangchal in the Lunglei South seat. She is reportedly married to one local resident Dipen Zoliana, who belongs to the Gorkha community, but has adopted Christianity and identifies with Mizo culture.
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Earlier in December 2022, the student body had passed a diktat asking all the political parties not to nominate any Mizo woman who is married to a non-Mizo person. They had defended the diktat, arguing that it’s as per the provisions in Mizo Customary Law, published by the state Law and Judicial Department.
“The law states that if a Mizo woman marry outside the community, she should adopt the culture, tradition and identity of her husband,” they were reportedly cited referencing the law by the press.
In a meeting post the demonstration, three resolutions, including an appeal to the people not to vote for Mizo woman who married outside the community and a pledge to fight for the protection of the Mizo identity, were passed.
State Congress president Lalsawta said Hrangchal was given nomination as the party believes that she is an asset to the state. Congress vice president Lal Thanzara said that unless the Election Commission rejects her nomination, the party will not replace her as a candidate in the Lunglei South seat.
Following MZP’s appeal, the BJP on October 19, however, replaced its candidate in the Tuivawl constituency. It previously fielded Judy Zohmingliani, who married a non-Mizo person.
