Oppn youth wing demands resignation of CEM

Aizawl (mizonews.net): Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) Chief Executive Member Kali Kumar Tongchangya has been accused of making a public speech wherein he claimed that India attained Independence in 1974 and not 1947.

The Mizo National Youth Front in a statement said that Tongchangya while addressing the public at CADC Secretariat at Kamalanagar on the occasion of the 66^th Independence Day Celebration on August 15 stated that India attained its Independence in “1974”.

“What is more surprising is that he has refused to rectify his blatant mistake,” the MNYF said.

“Today we hang our heads in shame after hearing our Chief Executive Member, Mr Kali Kumar Tongchangya in his official speech say that India attained independence in 1974. We were even surprised as he did not utter a word subsequently to correct his mistake. The entire proceeding has been video recorded. What is more astonishing is that even after some people brought to his attention, the CEM refused to correct his speech,” stated Samir Tongchongya, MNYF unit president in the MADC.

The CADC MNF has condemned the CADC CEM for his “ridiculous speech” and called for his immediate resignation.

“If it were a written statement, we could have forgiven him on the ground of typo mistake. But he mentioned the year of independence of our country as 1974 in his official public speech and refused to rectify subsequently. It is an insult to all our freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to attain country’s freedom. Surely, there must be limits to ignorance, more so if the person is holding responsible post like that of Chief Executive Member of an Autonomous District Council. By refusing to admit his mistake, he has shown his true face,” Tongchongya added.

This is not the first time Tongchangya has made a gaffe.

The MNYF claimed that during the proceeding of the first meeting of the Present Executive Committee on 25/3/08, it is recorded “Shri Kali Kumar Tongchangya, CEM presided over the meeting” but Dr. Buddha Dhan Chakma’s (Executive Member, CADC) designation was recorded as Chief Executive Member. But, the proceeding was duly signed by Shri Kali Kumar Tongchongya, the actual CEM.

Further, on August 1, Tongchangya had put his signature on the name of Buddha Lila Chakma, Executive Member, in charge of Local Administration Department, CADC for which a corrigendum had to be issued.

“Since 2008, the people of CADC have been suffering every day under the present Congress government led Tongchangya who proved himself to be incompetent, careless, ignorant and absent-minded person. If the CEM is such, people are bound to suffer. We call for his immediate resignation,” the MNYF said.

The youth wing of the main opposition party also said that Tongchangya’s Independence Day speech was “totally political; hence, unbecoming of a head of Government who must take along all the people irrespective of their party affiliations. Tongchongya must apologies for the blunders he committed.”

Keywords: Mizoram News