Mizoram Congress urges Val Upa Council to probe alleged IAF land deal irregularities
Aizawl: Mizoram's opposition Congress Party on Wednesday urged the Val Upa Council (Senior Bachelors’ Council), a top decision-making body of the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), to investigate alleged irregularities in the acquisition of land by the Indian Air Force (IAF) near Lengpui Airport.
The opposition party claims the transaction involved illegal land sales and the payment of "exorbitant compensation" to middlemen, suggesting a significant corruption scandal under the current ZPM administration.
A statement issued by the Congress said that the ZPM, before coming to power, emphasized that the Val Upa Council would be a vital body to keep the government on the right track, authorized to reprimand leaders and even remove those deemed unfit.
It said the council had pledged to do its utmost to fight corruption in the new government and stated it would bravely act as a watchdog over government officials, as enshrined in the ZPM party's constitution.
The Congress added that while the Council had previously pledged to be a "brave watchdog" against corruption, there has been no visible intervention in the Lengpui case.
The party alleged that while the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government granted initial permission for the land purchase, the sale was finalized under the present ZPM administration.
Citing that neither party is innocent, the Congress urged both the MNF and ZPM to apologize to the public for "harming the people's interests" and to rectify the transaction.
The Congress also challenged the integrity of the Val Upa Council’s members, stating that their reputation for being "upright and honorable" is at stake.
"If they truly possess authority, they must not sit idly by in the face of this repulsive wrongdoing," it said.
The party further demanded a full probe and called for the exercise of the Council's power to remove any involved parties, regardless of their rank, if evidence of bribery or illegal middleman payments is found.