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HomePolitics'My ministers don't understand Hindi': Mizoram CM requests Amit Shah to change...

‘My ministers don’t understand Hindi’: Mizoram CM requests Amit Shah to change chief secretary

CM Zoramthanga raises issue of Renu Sharma not having a working knowledge of Mizo whereas none of his cabinet ministers understand Hindi & 'some have problems understanding English'.

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New Delhi: Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah asking the central government to modify its order of appointing Renu Sharma as the Chief Secretary of the state and, instead, appoint Additional Chief Secretary J.C. Ramthanga as the new chief secretary.

“After the retirement of my Chief Secretary Mr Lalnunmawia Chuaugo of Gujarat Cadre, I requested my present Additional Chief Secretary Mr. J.C Ramthanga (Manipur Cadre) to be the next Chief Secretary However, the Home Ministry has posted Mrs. Renu Sharma as the new Chief Secretary,” the chief minister has said in the letter dated 29 October, a copy of which was accessed by ThePrint.

ThePrint reached Pu C. Lalramzauva, advisor to the Mizoram chief Minister who confirmed that a letter was sent to the union home ministry on 29 October.

Renu Sharma, an AGMUT cadre IAS officer of the 1988 batch, was appointed by the Centre on 28 October to take charge from 1 November. The same day, the Mizoram government also ordered J.C. Ramthanga to take charge as chief secretary from November 1 until further orders.

In the letter, the chief minister pointed out that none of the cabinet ministers understand Hindi and some even have problems understanding English.

“The Mizo people by and large, do not understand Hindi, and none of my Cabinet Ministers understand Hindi, some of them even have problems with the English language. With such a background, a Chief Secretary without the knowledge of a working standard Mizo language will never be an effective and efficient Chief Secretary,” the CM said in his letter.

He further added in the letter that “Due to this fact, the Government of India never posted a Chief Secretary who does not know the working standard of Mizo language since the creation of the state of Mizoram. Whether it is the UPA Government or the NDA Government at the Centre, this has been a practice since the creation of Mizoram State. It is a well known fact that in other States of India, a Chief Secretary, who does not know even the basic working language of the the respective state is never posted at all.”

ThePrint reached spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs Nitin Wakankar over telephone and message for a comment, but there was no response till the time of publishing this report.


Also read: Mizoram, Nagaland & Sikkim make big strides on infant mortality rate, Assam lags behind


CM has shown ‘immaturity’, says Mizoram BJP president 

Reacting to the letter written by the chief minister, Mizoram BJP president, Vanlalhmuaka, said “the letter shows his immaturity”.

“As Hindi and English are the official languages of the nation, I don’t think language barrier should be a problem between the state government and the newly appointed chief secretary of Mizoram. Besides, English is the working language of the whole state of Mizoram. His request is a lame excuse and he is writing this letter for his own personal interest…As a whole, it is shameful and deeply saddened by the immature letter written by CM,” he told ThePrint.

The chief minister’s letter also mentions being a NDA partner “since the beginning” and keeping that in mind his “special” request should be accepted.

“While many of the States are changing themselves from one alliance group to another, I am the only one among North East States, who has been a faithful partner of NDA from the beginning upto this time. I, therefore, believe that I deserve a special favour and consideration for this faithful friendship with NDA,” he said in his letter..

“Considering all these facts and circumstances, the proposal of Chief Secretary, which was given even to my predecessor Congress Chief Minister, if it is denied to me, the Congress Party and all other Opposition Parties will make a mockery of me for faithfully serving the partnership of NDA. I, therefore earnestly request you to modify the order and kindly accept my proposal,” he requested in the letter.

(Edited by Paramita Ghosh)


Also read: Myanmar crisis forces kids in Mizoram village to climb a mountain for ‘Indian’ internet 


 

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