Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader and Aizawl West-I legislator Lalduhoma on Monday came heavily on the BJP-led NDA government for introducing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Addressing a meeting at ZPM office here, Lalduhoma said the origin of the citizenship law lies in the update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

He claimed that more than 19 lakh Hindu Bengalis were excluded from the updated NRC published on July 31 and the “CAA was nothing but to soothe public anger in Assam”.

“The NRC gave rise to the CAA as the BJP government had to calm down those people whose names did not figure in the NRC,” he said.

The ZPM leader said the country was divided into two rival camps. While one camp supports CAA and wants Hindu Rashtra, the other, which is opposed to the citizenship law, wants the BJP government to resign, he said.

ZPM president Lalliansawta claimed his party had benefited from the Act, as well as Chakma and Bru issues.

He said the people were fed up with the Congress and the Mizo National Front (MNF), which interchangeably ruled the state for more than three decades.

“People are desirous of a Congress and MNF-free government and issues like CAA, Chakma and Bru have benefited the ZPM,” he said. He, however, did not disclose how the ZPM had benefited.

Aizawl North-I ZPM legislator Vanlalhlana said it would win the next Assembly polls in 2023. He said all the seven ZPM legislators would make massive efforts to strengthen the party so that it wins the next state polls. He also claimed the ZPM was the only hope of the Mizo people.