Chakma Council Chief rejects MZP version as “purely concocted and misleading”

On 28^th March 2019, a news report appeared in media, including The Mizoram Post, Vanglaini, and Eastmojo, which published the alleged version of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl, a students body, regarding the private discussions held between the MZP and the Chakma Autonomous District Council chief Mr Rashik Mohan Chakma at CADC headquarters Kamalanagar, in Southern Mizoram on 27^th March.

“During an interaction with leaders of Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) at Chawngte in south Mizoram's Lawngtlai district bordering Bangladesh, Chakma said there are some illegal villages in the CADC area and the government will make concerted effort with the MZP to demolish them.”, Eastmojo and The Mizoram Post reported.

The Mizoram Post, 28.3.2019

But Mr Rashik Mohan Chakma refuted the MZP’s version as reported in the media. A press statement released by Mizo National Front, Youth Wing, on behalf of Mr Rashik Mohan Chakma on 28th March 2019 rejected the MZP’s version as appeared in the media as “purely concocted and misleading”.

Press Release by MNF, Youth Front dt 28.3.2019

The Mizoram Post, 30.3.2019

Eastmojo also reported on 30th March 2019:

"Denouncing such reports as “purely concocted and misleading,” Rasik Mohan Chakma asserted that the media had misreported about the proceeding of the meeting and misquoted him on illegal villages issue, the statement added. “I refute these mala fide and mischievous out of context reports attributed to me in the newspapers”, Chakma was quoted as saying."

Earlier, on 13 March 2019, while responding to question from opposition Congress MLA KT Rokhaw, Minister of district council and minority affairs R Lalzirliana told the Assembly House that “No unauthorised villages have been established by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in Chakma area since the formation of the new government.”

Hence, the question now is, will the Chakma Council Chief and Chakma leaders trust MZP anymore and will be willing to hold discussions with them since facts were allegedly distorted and put out in the media to mislead the people?