𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀.

A day after the Mizoram Legislative Assembly adopted the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, protests erupted in Aizawl on Thursday, with activists accusing the state government of undermining constitutional safeguards and local land rights.

Led by Vanramchhuangi, popularly known as Ruatfela Nu, demonstrators gathered outside the Assembly complex carrying placards and chanting slogans against Chief Minister Lalduhoma. They alleged that his government had “yielded to the BJP at the Centre” in exchange for political or financial benefits.

The Centre for Environment and Social Justice (CESJ) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the resolution and warned of escalated agitation if the government fails to act.

The controversy marks a sharp departure from the Assembly’s stance in August 2023, when it had unanimously rejected the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023, citing fears of ecological harm and the dilution of land ownership rights. Under Article 371G of the Constitution, Parliamentary laws relating to land and forests apply to Mizoram only when ratified by the state legislature.