Khuangchera not Indian freedom fighter: Mizo bodies to PMO

Aizawl, Aug 17 (PTI) A day before the Centre’s planto pay tribute to Mizo warrior Khuangchera, two Mizo studentsbodies today wrote to the PMO, a day after taking a strongexception of the move, saying the proposal to honour him as anIndian freedom fighter is not acceptable. The letter was sent by fax to the Prime Minister’sOffice by the Mizo Students Union (MSU) and the Mizo ZirlaiPawl (MZP) or Mizo Students Association. Khuangchera, who was killed in 1890, "fought againstthe British expansion and occupation of our Zo country and notfor the freedom of India," the letter said. Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain is scheduledto attend a public meeting at Ailawng village, about 30 kmfrom Aizawl, tomorrow to pay tributes to Khuangchera asan Indian freedom fighter among the tribals in the northeast. MSU and MZP said they could not accept that the greatwarrior is wrongly honoured as an Indian freedom fighter. A joint resolution adopted by the MSU and MZP yesterdaysaid "Khuangchera did not die for India but for the Mizopeople". Khuangchera and his friend Ngurbawnga were killed in1890 when they tried to expel the British invaders fromLushai country and save the Mizo people, the resolution said. Mizo hills were formally declared as part of theBritish India by a proclamation in 1895. North and South Hillswere united into Lushai Hills district in 1898 with Aizawl asits headquarters, according to Mizoram government website. Meanwhile, another organisation, the Zo Re-unificationOrganisation (ZoRO), in a statement condemned the Centre’sintention to portray Khuangchera as an Indian freedom fighter. The organisation striving for unification of all theMizo inhabited areas under a single administration, urged thelocal organisers to cancel the program as it will harm thesentiment of the Zo people. Mizoram (then known as Lushai country or Zo country)was not under the rule of any country, the statement said. The programme at Ailawng, Khuangchera’s nativevillage, is being organised by the Mizoram unit of BJP. PTIHCV NNASV