Aizawl, July 15: Opposition Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) members today accused Congress legislators in the assembly of trying to avoid discussion on the graft case against the former chief minister and state PCC chief Lal Thanhawla. The din was created after Chief Minister Zoramthanga replied to a question from one Congress and two MPC members that the Tuipanglui and Kau-Tlabung small hydel projects could not be commissioned due to problems created by the Mumbai-based contractor.

Zoramthanga said the eastern overseas corporation, Mumbai had been claiming price escalations and liabilities due to defective contractual agreement signed by the previous (Congress) government. While he said that the case was being investigated, R. Lalzirliana of the Congress said that the matter could not be discussed in the assembly as it was 'sub-judice'.

The MPC members, however, accused the Congress MLAs of trying to avoid discussion on the graft case against their party chief and said even hawala cases were discussed in Parliament.

"No charge-sheet had so far been submitted in the case. The former chief minister, named as accused, has, however, claimed that he did not have any criminal case against him," H Laltanpuia of MPC said while urging the speaker to open the matter for discussion. The discussion was, however, discontinued after the speaker R Lalawia asked all the members to end the discussion as the matter was in the court of law.

Bureau Report