The Opposition Congress in Mizoram on Thursday strongly criticised the state government, headed by chief minister Zoramthanga, for renaming the Mizoram Institute of Medical Education and Research (MIMER), the state’s first medical college, as Zoram Medical College (ZMC), saying it was against the cabinet’s decision to oppose renaming any monument after a person who is alive.

MIMER, established as the state referral hospital at Falkawn, about 16km from here, was inaugurated by former chief minister Lal Thanhawla on August 7 last year.

Classes started with 100 students in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry courses from the next day.

A statement issued by the Youth Congress said on Monday the state cabinet meeting, chaired by Zoramthanga, had renamed MIMER as ZMC which was against the decision — taken in its first meeting after assuming power in December — that no public building or monument can be named after a person who is alive.

“The renaming of MIMER goes against the cabinet decision as chief minister Zoramthanga’s nickname is ‘Zorama’,” the statement said.

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Congress earlier vied with each other to take the credit for setting up the medical college after it was opened on August 7 last year.

While the Congress claims that the basic infrastructure for the medical college was built during its rule, the MNF claims that the medical college became a reality owing to its unrelenting effort.

The Youth Congress also alleged that many contracts, awarded during the Congress rule, were cancelled by the MNF when it came to power.

Alleging that there was “no free and fair” recruitment during the MNF rule, the members of the Youth Congress said the state government had decided to recruit 946 teachers for primary and middle schools in violation of the recruitment rules only to give jobs to party workers.