Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) on Tuesday levelled corruption charges against the ruling Congress government and accused chief minister Lal Thanhawla, his brother Lal Thanzara, who holds the health portfolio, and sports minister Zodintluanga of robbing the people.
MNF general secretary Zosangliana alleged before reporters that there was rampant corruption during the 10 years of Congress rule.
“We want to announce again before the people of Mizoram how deeply the Congress government indulged in corrupt practices,” he said.
He said the only way to make Mizoram free of corruption was to reject the Congress.
Zosangliana said the chief minister owned a plot of land in Calcutta, where he is constructing a multi-storeyed building worth Rs 4.623 crore, which is disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Quoting the CAG report presented to the Assembly in 2016, the leader said the state government lost Rs 11,808.77 crore during 2012-13 to 2014-15 fiscal because of non-deposit of minimum guaranteed revenue and administrative expenses by four lottery distributors.
Citing that the state government, during 2012-13 to 2014-15, received a paltry revenue of only Rs 25.45 crore, Zosangliana questioned the government about the whereabouts of over Rs 10,000 crore.
He accused Lal Thanhawla of having a secret pact with distributors in the lottery scam.
The MNF leader alleged that the people of Mizoram have to suffer because of the corrupt nature of the minister, who held a plethora of shares in Sunshine Overseas, a Delhi-based construction company which bagged crores of rupees worth road construction work under the state government.
Lal Thanzara resigned from the cabinet on August 18, 2015, over an allegation that he held 21.6 per cent in Sunshine Overseas. He had also been accused of supplying nutrition items worth crores of rupees to the state social welfare department through his company, HP Food Products, while being parliamentary secretary and a minister of state.
Zosangliana also alleged that sports minister Zodintluanga was involved in the Mizoram carbon product scam. The firm claimed to have processed charcoal at its unit in the Industrial Growth Centre at Luangmual in Aizawl and had allegedly illegally received central subsidies amounting to over Rs 3.41 crore since its inception in 2011.
