Mizoram Polls: Massive protest against Congress candidate over non-Mizo husband
- Oct 20, 2023,
- Updated Oct 20, 2023, 1:10 PM IST
Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest against the candidacy of Meriam L Hrangchal, fighting on Congress ticket from the Lunglei South Assembly constituency in Mizoram for the upcoming Assembly election slated to be held on November 7.
The protesters, primarily from Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Mizo Students Association) took out a massive rally against Hrangchal's candidacy, objecting to her non-Mizo lineage due to her marriage to a non-Mizo person.
Raising slogans against the candidate, the protesters sought the cancelation of Hrangchal's candidacy.
Earlier, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) in a statement, issued after an emergency meeting, expressed their reservations about the nomination of Hrangchal, who is married to Dipen Zoliana, the son of Niraj Singh, a non-Mizo and Kawlhmingliani, whose heritage is of Gorkhali origin.
According to the Mizo Customary Law, as published by the Law & Judicial Department of the Government of Mizoram (chapter 3:74), "A Mizo woman who marries a foreigner or non-Mizo is considered to belong to a foreigner's family
This legal standpoint has fueled the MZP's concerns, as they view Mizo women married to foreigners as part of foreign families. Consequently, they believe that such individuals may not truly represent the interests and cultural heritage of the Mizo community, particularly in the highest legislative body.