Mizoram Congress tenders apology to churches, organizations for allowing liquor sale in 2015

Aizawl: Regretting the decision of allowing the operation of liquor shops in the Christian majority state of Mizoram, the opposition Congress party on Monday tendered an apology to the churches and the civil society organisations.

The party also asserted that due to the opening of the liquor shops during the 2018 assembly polls in the state, it has faced defeat.

While addressing a press meet at south Mizoram's Lunglei town on Monday senior Mizoram Congress leader Lal Thanzara who also happened to the former Health Minister expressed his apology for the mistakes the party has committed when it was in power during its term from 2008 to 2018.

As per reports, the minister was quoted as saying that the party has gone against the interests of the people of the state by allowing the opening of wine shops and issuing alcohol permits which have led to the defeat of the party in the assembly polls.

During the Congress regime led by Lal Thanhawla, the party allowed the opening of wine shops in the dry state in March 2015. This raged by the issue which became a major factor before the Assembly Elections that was held in 2018.

The current ruling government Mizo National Front (MNF) was of the view to impose a complete ban on alcohol, while Congress was against the prohibition.

After the Congress party faced a defeat, the MNF re-imposed the ban on liquor.

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) had promised during the state Assembly election that if voted to power it would ensure total prohibition in the northeast state.

It needs to be mentioned here that there was total prohibition in Mizoram from 1997 till January 2015 with the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act in force in the state.

Keeping up its promise, in 2019, the Mizoram Cabinet chaired by state Chief Minister Zoramthanga has approved the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Bill, 2019. The Bill was also introduced in the Budget Session.

Regretting the mistake, the party has committed, Thanzara promised that if the party is voted back to power in 2023 assembly elections it will not issue liquor permits in the state.

Moreover, the other members of the party asserted that the party is learning from its past mistakes and is rectifying itself so the people vote it back to power.

Taking a dig at the ruling MNF government led by Zoramthanga, former finance minister Lalsawta from the Congress party alleged that the present government has failed miserably in fiscal management. He further claimed that the Congress government had taken measures that improved the financial condition of the state.

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