Mizoram CM slams Centre on governors' appointments

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Wednesday criticised the central govcernment for what he said was "high-handed and unilateral" action in removal and postings of state governors.

"Our views might not be accepted all the times, but the earlier union governments consulted or informed the state chief minister concerned on the transfer, appointment or removal of governors. This is a matter of courtesy in a federal democracy," the chief minister said.

"When Sayeed was the home minister at the Centre, he consulted me on the appointment or transfer of the Mizoram governor," Thanhawla said while participating in an obituary reference to the then Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the Mizoram assembly.

The chief minister accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government of showing high-handed and unilateral approach in transferring, appointing or removing state governors.

"Mizoram has had the highest number of governors in a year," he remarked.

The Congress-ruled Mizoram earned the dubious distinction of seeing eight governors in 10 months before Lt. General Nirbhay Sharma (retd) took office as the 17th governor of the state on May 26 last year.