LAL THANHAWLA, a five-time chief minister of Mizoram, heads the Congress in the state. He recently attended a rally against the Citizenship Bill in Aizawl, organised by the all powerful church-affiliated group, the Young Mizo Association, which threatened secession if the bill was passed. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Lal Thanhawla said the bill was aimed at destroying Christians in the northeast. Excerpts:
You are at the forefront of the protests against the Citizenship Bill.
This is because [it affects] the safety and security of the people of Mizoram and the northeast. Why me alone? The entire northeast burned.
How would Mizoram be affected?
Ours is a state sandwiched between a Buddhist country and a Muslim nation. Any adventurism by the Central government will put our state in trouble.
But under the Mizo Accord, you are free to enact certain laws.
So what? The Indian government is desperate to pass the bill. Then people from outside will flood our land. There have been examples in the past. The Mizos are being attacked.
Can you be more specific?
Let us take the example of Assam. It has been changed completely. We won’t let Mizoram go Assam’s way.
But the Central government said the entire nation would share the burden.
False. This bill is anti-Mizo and anti-Christian.
But the bill calls for the protection of Christians coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
How many Christians are there in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh? The Central government is bluffing. It wants to destroy Christians in the northeast and the Mizos as a whole. I can say the enemy is at our doorstep.
Who is the enemy?
The majority in India. They want to destroy our community and religion.
You are supporting a movement which called for a separate Mizo nation in case the bill is passed.
What is the harm in it? I sacrificed my chair (in the 1980s following the Mizo Accord) to bring the underground elements to the mainstream politics in India. My gesture brought peace. Did I do that to see this day? The Mizos cannot be blackmailed like this.
So you feel that there should be a new nation for the Mizos if the bill is passed?
I hope things will not go that far. I always abide by the law of this land. But the Government of India cannot destroy our religion and community. We cannot be spectators in that case and will have to take up our right of self determination.
You were once an underground leader. Do you feel those days are coming back?
I was never underground. I don’t know who spread this lie. I was part of the movement and, if needed, I would again launch the same movement to save our motherland.