'Will Be A Big Minus For My Party': Mizoram CM Zoramthanga Says He Won't Share Stage With PM Modi

Mizoram CM Zoramthanga has said that he will not share the stage with PM Narendra Modi when the latter comes in state to campaign for the party.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected visit to the poll-bound Mizoram, Chief Minister Zoramthanaga has said that he will not share the state with the PM as standing the BJP at "this time" will be a big minus for his party Mizo National Front (MNF). The northeastern state will vote on November 7 and the results will be declared on December 3 along with four other states. Pm Modi is most likely to visit the state's Mamit town on October 30, news agency PTI reported citing Mizoram BJP president Vanlalhmuaka.

Now, before the visit, MNF chief and CM Zoramnthanga said it would be better if the PM shared the platform by himself. The Chief Minister, in an interview to BBC, said Mizos were against the act of burning down churches in Manipur done by the people there.

"The people of Mizoram are all Christians. When the people of Manipur (Meities) burned hundreds of churches in Manipur, they were (Mizos) totally against that kind of idea. To have sympathy with the BJP at this time will be a big minus point for my party," Zoramthanga said, reported PTI.

"It will be better if the prime minister comes alone and he shares the platform by himself, and I take the stage separately by myself," he added.

Notably, CM Zoramtanga's party MNF is a part of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and an ally of the NDA at the Centre. But it does not work with the BJP in Mizoram. He said his party joined the NDA and NEDA because it was totally against the Congress, and did not want to be part of any alliance led by it.

Speaking on shelter given ti people from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur, the CM said the state government was working similarly like the Centre.

"The Indian government helped the refugees from the erstwhile East Pakistan and even armed them to attain independence. We don't arm the refugees from Myanmar but we simply provide them food and shelter on humanitarian grounds," he said.

PTI stated that over 40,000 people from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur are taking shelter in the state.