Congress Leader Levels Serious Allegations Against Mizoram Chief Minister Over Airport Land Transaction
In a significant political development in Aizawl, senior Congress leader and former minister John Rotluangliana has made explosive allegations against Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma regarding an alleged irregular land transaction near Lengpui Airport. Speaking at a political session organized by the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) at Congress Bhavan on Friday, Rotluangliana claimed that substantial kickbacks and payoffs were involved in the deal, demanding an immediate investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Specific Financial Allegations and Demand for Central Probe
Rotluangliana, who serves as MPCC vice-president, presented detailed financial allegations during his address. He asserted that while landowners received Rs 70 crore for the land transaction, an additional staggering amount of Rs 117 crore was allegedly siphoned off as kickbacks in the controversial deal. The Congress leader went further to claim that if the information available to his party is accurate, Chief Minister Lalduhoma's alleged share in these kickbacks amounted to Rs 14 crore.
"Reportedly, Rs 10 crore was received with a specific request that payment be made 'in gold'," Rotluangliana stated, adding a dramatic dimension to the allegations. He emphasized that the Congress party has already lodged a First Information Report (FIR) with the CBI regarding these matters and insisted that the Chief Minister must grant formal consent for a central investigation to proceed.
Political Criticism and Warnings
The senior Congress leader did not mince words in his criticism of the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government. He pointed out that although one minister from the ruling party had publicly claimed both he and the chief minister had "clean hands," serious questions remained about others potentially involved in the alleged irregularities.
"If consent for a CBI probe is denied, we will see. We will not remain mute spectators," Rotluangliana warned, indicating that the Congress party would pursue the matter aggressively through all available democratic and legal channels. His statement suggests potential political and legal escalation if the state government refuses to cooperate with central investigative agencies.
Historical Context and Broader Allegations
Rotluangliana also targeted the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) administration, alleging that irregularities linked to Lengpui Airport date back to earlier governments. He acknowledged that the Congress government had originally established the airport infrastructure but accused the MNF of allegedly misusing it for financial gain during their tenure.
"If the MNF had remained in power, this controversial land deal would have been concluded during their administration," the Congress leader claimed, suggesting a pattern of alleged misconduct across different political administrations in Mizoram.
Moral Comparisons and Political Positioning
Using a traditional Mizo idiom, Rotluangliana likened the MNF and ZPM to "Zawlbuka e tang ve ve," suggesting that neither party could claim moral superiority in this matter. This cultural reference implies that both parties are similarly compromised in the eyes of the Congress leadership.
The Congress leader concluded by positioning his party as uniquely clean in this controversy, stating that Congress leaders had not been part of any airport-related land controversies, which he described as "a matter of gratitude" for the people of Mizoram. This statement appears designed to contrast the Congress's self-proclaimed integrity with the allegations against both current and previous ruling parties in the state.
The allegations come at a sensitive political time in Mizoram and have the potential to significantly impact the state's political landscape, particularly regarding public perception of governance and transparency in land transactions involving critical infrastructure like airports.
