For days, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma’s controversial statement in the United States about India being “an enemy” has been doing rounds on the internet. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded to his comments on Thursday (Nov 7).&nbsp;

The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in the weekly briefing said he has not seen Lalduhoma's comments yet and will respond when they get some clarity on it.&nbsp;

"... We have had issues there [India-Myanmar border] because of the Myanmar security situation. We have talked about [border] fencing earlier, some of the proposals that are there, so I will come back to you after we have some clarity on that," Mr Jaiswal told reporters on Thursday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-high-court-lifts-36-year-import-ban-on-salman-rushdies-the-satanic-verses-due-to-missing-notification-774455">Delhi High Court lifts 36-year import ban on Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses due to missing notification</a>

Manipur’s Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also reacted to Lalduhoma’s comment, saying, that anyone attempting to challenge the unity and integrity of Manipur or India would receive a fitting response. But what exactly Mizoram’s CM said in the US?

<h2>What sparked controversy over Mizoram CM’s statement in the US?</h2>

The Mizoram CM gave a speech in Indianapolis during a Mizo Day event, on September 4. It had two instances that have been shared and reported widely.&nbsp;

There he explained why "we cannot afford to have three enemies which are bigger than us", and explained towards the end of the speech why he accepted the invitation to visit the US.

The Mizoram Chief Minister's "cannot fight three enemies simultaneously" comment has been taken out of context on social media, with clips of this speech beginning only from the middle being shared. The three enemies included Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.&nbsp;

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Mizoram CM calls India an enemy (at a Baptist Church event in the USA, 4th Sep, 2024). 
 
Mizoram is the state through which allegedly huge numbers of Kuki infiltrators reach Manipur! 
 
Shocking as this has gone unreported till date and no action taken!<a href="https://t.co/cWQcvbK7ze">pic.twitter.com/cWQcvbK7ze</a>
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1854521046860202283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Lalduhoma was referring to a point in time when Mizoram had just become a state in 1987 after a violent insurgency, and the formation of the Zo Reunification Organisation, or ZORO, a year later.

The entire controversy arose from the later portion of his speech, where he said,&nbsp;"I want to let everyone here know that the primary reason I accepted the invitation to visit the United States."

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"We are one people - brothers and sisters - and we cannot afford to be divided or apart from one another. I want us to have the conviction and confidence that one day, through the strength of God, who made us a nation, we will rise together under one leadership to achieve our destiny of nationhood. While a country may have borders, a true nation transcends such limitations. We have been unjustly divided, forced to exist under three different governments in three different countries, and this is something we can never accept..."

No clarification has been provided from the Mizoram government on the cryptic statement by CM, as of now.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

For days, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma’s controversial statement in the United States about India being “an enemy” has been doing rounds on the internet. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded to his comments on Thursday (Nov 7).

For days, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma’s controversial statement in the United States about India being “an enemy” has been doing rounds on the internet. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded to his comments on Thursday (Nov 7). The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in the weekly briefing said he has not seen Lalduhoma's comments yet and will respond when they get some clarity on it. "... We have had issues there [India-Myanmar border] because of the Myanmar security situation. We have talked about [border] fencing earlier, some of the proposals that are there, so I will come back to you after we have some clarity on that," Mr Jaiswal told reporters on Thursday. Also Read | Delhi High Court lifts 36-year import ban on Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses due to missing notification Manipur’s Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also reacted to Lalduhoma’s comment, saying, that anyone attempting to challenge the unity and integrity of Manipur or India would receive a fitting response. But what exactly Mizoram’s CM said in the US? What sparked controversy over Mizoram CM’s statement in the US? The Mizoram CM gave a speech in Indianapolis during a Mizo Day event, on September 4. It had two instances that have been shared and reported widely. There he explained why "we cannot afford to have three enemies which are bigger than us", and explained towards the end of the speech why he accepted the invitation to visit the US. The Mizoram Chief Minister's "cannot fight three enemies simultaneously" comment has been taken out of context on social media, with clips of this speech beginning only from the middle being shared. The three enemies included Myanmar, India and Bangladesh. Mizoram CM calls India an enemy (at a Baptist Church event in the USA, 4th Sep, 2024). Mizoram is the state through which allegedly huge numbers of Kuki infiltrators reach Manipur! Shocking as this has gone unreported till date and no action taken!pic.twitter.com/cWQcvbK7ze — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) November 7, 2024 × Lalduhoma was referring to a point in time when Mizoram had just become a state in 1987 after a violent insurgency, and the formation of the Zo Reunification Organisation, or ZORO, a year later. The entire controversy arose from the later portion of his speech, where he said, "I want to let everyone here know that the primary reason I accepted the invitation to visit the United States." Also Read | Ex-Canada cop exposes Trudeau, says Ottawa welcoming criminals, gangsters from India "We are one people - brothers and sisters - and we cannot afford to be divided or apart from one another. I want us to have the conviction and confidence that one day, through the strength of God, who made us a nation, we will rise together under one leadership to achieve our destiny of nationhood. While a country may have borders, a true nation transcends such limitations. We have been unjustly divided, forced to exist under three different governments in three different countries, and this is something we can never accept..." No clarification has been provided from the Mizoram government on the cryptic statement by CM, as of now. (With inputs from agencies)

MEA responds to Mizoram CM Lalduhoma's controversial statement at US event

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Thursday filed nominations to contest the November 28 state polls from Champhai South and Serchhip assembly seats, officials said.&nbsp;

The last day for filing of nominations is Friday.

The Congress leader would be contesting from his home turf Serchhip as well as the Champhai South constituency located on Mizoram's border with Myanmar.

He could not file his nomination papers from Serchhip on Tuesday due to a massive protest for removal of the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) SB Shashank. The agitation was held in front of the office of the returning officer.

While Thanhawla personally appeared before the returning officer in Champhai on Thursday, his representative filed the papers on his behalf in Serchhip, the officials said.

The five-time chief minister would be pitted against Zoram People's Movement's (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma, Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee C Lalramzauva, a senior advocate, and People's Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) party chief Vanlalruata, among others, in the Serchhip seat.

Thanhawla would contest against another lawyer T J Lalnuntluanga of the MNF, and C Lalremliana of the ZPM, both first-timers, in the Champhai South seat.

Mizoram is the only State in the north-east where the Congress is in power.&nbsp;

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Thursday filed nominations to contest the November 28 state polls from Champhai South and Serchhip assembly seats, officials said.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Thursday filed nominations to contest the November 28 state polls from Champhai South and Serchhip assembly seats, officials said. The last day for filing of nominations is Friday. The Congress leader would be contesting from his home turf Serchhip as well as the Champhai South constituency located on Mizoram's border with Myanmar. He could not file his nomination papers from Serchhip on Tuesday due to a massive protest for removal of the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) SB Shashank. The agitation was held in front of the office of the returning officer. While Thanhawla personally appeared before the returning officer in Champhai on Thursday, his representative filed the papers on his behalf in Serchhip, the officials said. The five-time chief minister would be pitted against Zoram People's Movement's (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma, Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee C Lalramzauva, a senior advocate, and People's Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) party chief Vanlalruata, among others, in the Serchhip seat. Thanhawla would contest against another lawyer T J Lalnuntluanga of the MNF, and C Lalremliana of the ZPM, both first-timers, in the Champhai South seat. Mizoram is the only State in the north-east where the Congress is in power.

Mizoram polls: Lal Thanhawla files nomination from two seats

P Lal Thanhawla has been&nbsp;the chief minister of Mizoram since 2008 for a record&nbsp;five times. He started with Mizo National Front (MNF) in 1966 and subsequently joined Congress in 1967. He gave up the position of chief minister for Pu Laldenga when former late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the peace accord. Though BJP is not much of a force in Mizoram, the chief minister&nbsp;will face both BJP and MNF at the same time.

He spoke to WION’S Kartikeya Sharma on a&nbsp;number of issues ranging from prohibition to BJP and&nbsp;trade links with Bangladesh.

 
WION: How hopeful you are of wresting Mizoram again?

Lal Thanhawla: I’m very hopeful of winning back Mizoram again. Trends are in our favour and there is no anti-incumbency in the state. People are with us and our candidates will do very well.

WION: What are the issues in the upcoming assembly elections?

Lal Thanhawla: There aren’t many issues. Economically Mizoram has done well. &nbsp;Congress&nbsp;is a popular government. Our policies have benefitted the poor. Mizoram is part of the best performing states in India. It is ahead of Gujarat in some parameters. Mizoram’s per capita income is higher than the national average. We have been able to cater to the low-income strata very well.

WION: Is prohibition an issue in the elections?

Lal Thanhawla: Prohibition is not an issue. We implemented the prohibition on the advice of the Church which failed miserably. We had to find alternatives after its failure. We made the sale of liquor legal but added strong provisions to control its rampant sale.

WION: Two important ministers have quit your government...

Lal Thanhawla: There resignation will not affect my government. Some years ago our vice-president also quit but we came back with a thumping majority. We will repeat our performance again.

WION: What explains the rise of BJP in the state and is Opposition a force in Mizoram?

Lal Thanhawla: BJP has come up in North-East through money power. Even in the past money power was used in Mizoram. It did not find success in the state. We will defeat BJP’s attempt to intrude in the state. MNF is not a major force even in the legislature today. They only have 5 MLAs in an assembly of 40. Though some regional parties are trying to come together, Congress will defeat all of them.

WION: Will you be the CM again or would you like to go to the Centre?

Lal Thanhawla: I have no plans of doing politics at the Centre. I do not want to leave the state.

WION: What will you do if you are voted back into power?

Lal Thanhawla: I want to establish trade links with Bangladesh. Nothing was done for 10 years when I was not in power. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very keen on trade links with our state. We already have trade links with Myanmar. This will give us access to the port. It will benefit Mizoram immensely.

P Lal Thanhawla has been the chief minister of Mizoram since 2008 for a record five times. He started with Mizo National Front (MNF) in 1966 and subsequently joined Congress in 1967.

P Lal Thanhawla has been the chief minister of Mizoram since 2008 for a record five times. He started with Mizo National Front (MNF) in 1966 and subsequently joined Congress in 1967. He gave up the position of chief minister for Pu Laldenga when former late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the peace accord. Though BJP is not much of a force in Mizoram, the chief minister will face both BJP and MNF at the same time. He spoke to WION’S Kartikeya Sharma on a number of issues ranging from prohibition to BJP and trade links with Bangladesh. WION: How hopeful you are of wresting Mizoram again? Lal Thanhawla: I’m very hopeful of winning back Mizoram again. Trends are in our favour and there is no anti-incumbency in the state. People are with us and our candidates will do very well. WION: What are the issues in the upcoming assembly elections? Lal Thanhawla: There aren’t many issues. Economically Mizoram has done well. Congress is a popular government. Our policies have benefitted the poor. Mizoram is part of the best performing states in India. It is ahead of Gujarat in some parameters. Mizoram’s per capita income is higher than the national average. We have been able to cater to the low-income strata very well. WION: Is prohibition an issue in the elections? Lal Thanhawla: Prohibition is not an issue. We implemented the prohibition on the advice of the Church which failed miserably. We had to find alternatives after its failure. We made the sale of liquor legal but added strong provisions to control its rampant sale. WION: Two important ministers have quit your government... Lal Thanhawla: There resignation will not affect my government. Some years ago our vice-president also quit but we came back with a thumping majority. We will repeat our performance again. WION: What explains the rise of BJP in the state and is Opposition a force in Mizoram? Lal Thanhawla: BJP has come up in North-East through money power. Even in the past money power was used in Mizoram. It did not find success in the state. We will defeat BJP’s attempt to intrude in the state. MNF is not a major force even in the legislature today. They only have 5 MLAs in an assembly of 40. Though some regional parties are trying to come together, Congress will defeat all of them. WION: Will you be the CM again or would you like to go to the Centre? Lal Thanhawla: I have no plans of doing politics at the Centre. I do not want to leave the state. WION: What will you do if you are voted back into power? Lal Thanhawla: I want to establish trade links with Bangladesh. Nothing was done for 10 years when I was not in power. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very keen on trade links with our state. We already have trade links with Myanmar. This will give us access to the port. It will benefit Mizoram immensely.

Congress will defeat BJP’s money power: Mizoram CM Lal Thanhawla to WION

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MEA responds to Mizoram CM Lalduhoma's controversial statement at US event

Mizoram polls: Lal Thanhawla files nomination from two seats

Congress will defeat BJP’s money power: Mizoram CM Lal Thanhawla to WION