Northeast Desk, 4th Jan: In a significant move, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma initiated a three-day visit to New Delhi on January 3rd, 2024, marking his inaugural official trip to the national capital since assuming power in December 2023. This visit held paramount importance, featuring a series of high-profile meetings with key figures in the Indian government.
Lalduhoma’s agenda included crucial discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, focusing on pressing issues related to refugees and internally displaced persons from neighboring regions grappling with unrest, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Manipur.
During the meetings with PM Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, Lalduhoma addressed various key issues. Mizoram has been a sanctuary for those fleeing conflict and instability, providing refuge to over 31,300 individuals from Myanmar, predominantly from the Chin community, who share ethnic ties with the Mizos, following the military coup in February 2021.
Furthermore, the state has sheltered more than 1,000 members of the ethnic Bawm community, seeking safety due to a military offensive in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh in November 2022. An ethnic clash in Manipur in May 2023 resulted in over 9,000 internally displaced people finding refuge in Mizoram.
The financial strain on Mizoram due to these humanitarian crises was considerable. The state government had previously sought financial assistance of Rs 10 crore from the Centre to aid the internally displaced people from Manipur. However, as of Lalduhoma’s visit, the response from the central government was still pending.
These meetings were not only pivotal for addressing the refugee situation but also provided an opportunity for the newly appointed Chief Minister to establish rapport and engage in discussions on broader issues concerning Mizoram’s welfare and its role in the regional geopolitical landscape.
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