ECI directive on Brus in camps spark protest in Mizoram

Election Commission of India instructed Mizoram Election department to conduct special summary revision of voters' lists in the six relief camps in Tripura triggering protests from the civil societies in Mizoram.
The Election Commission issued the instruction to the state election department on September 14, State Joint Chief Electoral Officer F. J. Liantluanga told PTI today.
"We have forwarded the instruction from the ECI to the District Electoral Officers (Deputy Commissioners) of Mamit, Kolasib and Lunglei districts to take necessary action," Liantluanga said.
He said that those descendants of Bru refugees enrolled in the Mizoram's voters lists in 1995 who would attain the age of 18 on January one, 2016 would be registered by the election officials while holding hearings in the relief camps.

Meanwhile, major civil societies and student bodies opposed the instructions of the ECI saying that those staying outside the state should come to Mizoram to have their names enrolled in the electoral rolls.
General Secretary of the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) Vanlalruata said that even Mizos from Mizoram, who were working outside, unless they came to the state during elections, were not allowed to exercise franchise, and there was no ground to grant special allowance to the Brus staying in six relief camps in Tripura to cast their franchise by postal ballots.
The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or the Mizo students federation also expressed objection to the instructions of the ECI saying that those Brus remaining in the Tripura relief camps were those who refused to return despite several attempts by the centre and the state government and also despite warm welcome from the Mizo people.

Describing the decision of the Election Commission as giving undue favor to a particular community, the MZP, in a statement issued here today said that the students would oppose any move to implement the instruction of the ECI.