Mizoram assembly adopts resolution against Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, won’t snap ties with NDA over Act says CM

The resolution was moved by the Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, T J Lalnuntluanga

In a remarkable display of bipartisanship, the Mizoram Legislative Assembly today unanimously adopted an official resolution opposing the recent Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, passed by the Parliament.

The resolution, moved by the Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, T J Lalnuntluanga, carried the collective voice of the assembly in its endeavour to safeguard the rights and interests of the people of Mizoram.

Minister Lalnuntluanga, while presenting the resolution, underlined the state government’s long-standing opposition to the legislation, dating back to October 2021.

He emphasised the exhaustive efforts of Mizoram in expressing its concerns regarding the proposed Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, conveyed through numerous correspondences to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, as well as the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tasked with reviewing the amendment.

Stretching across the sensitive states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Manipur, the FC Act 1980 has historically enforced stringent regulations for diverting forests for non-forest activities. However, the new amendment introduces relaxed restrictions for specific types of land.

Experts underscore the amendment’s apparent objective of opening forest lands for commercial use and corporate interests.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Monday said that the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) party will not snap ties with the NDA over the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 though the party opposed the legislation.

Reacting to opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma’s insistence during the debate on a resolution opposing the Act in the state assembly that the MNF should leave the BJP-led NDA if the ruling party really opposed the bill, Zoramthanga said that his party supports and opposes the alliance based on issues.

In an apparent dig at Lalduhoma, a former Lok Sabha member, the Chief Minister said that the MNF does not leave and join political alliances on the spur of the moment or on a particular issue, but rather supports or opposes from the inside.

Zoramthanga said that he was contacted by Union Home Minister Amit Shah through the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asking him to oppose no-confidence motion on Manipur issue moved by the opposition alliance.

“I replied that we will support the no-trust motion and that we have instructed both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sahba members from the state to support the motion in both houses of the Parliament. When he asked me to at least abstain, I flatly said no,” he said.

He said that the 2 Mizo MPs belonging to the MNF supported the no-confidence motion in both houses of the Parliament due to the current turmoil in neighbouring Manipur.

He said that there are two groups in the Indian political scenario and in the Parliament – the NDA and the Congress-led UPA – and the MNF, which opposes the Congress party, joined the other group.

Also Read: Mizoram CM appeals to Kuki-Zo people in Manipur to adopt policy of non-violence

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