Dry Christmas, New Year’s in Mizoram as CM takes steps for total prohibition

Aizawl, Dec. 18 (PTI): Christmas and New Year’s celebrations in Mizoram would happen without alcohol as Zoramthanga government Tuesday decided to declare dry days from Friday to January 14 and shut all liquor shops operated by state agencies.
Zoramthanga’s MNF, which stormed to power in the state, promised total prohibition ahead of the polls. However, as a new legislation would require time, the new government decided to declare dry days in the christian-majority state.
The decision was made in the first meeting of the council of ministers, Zoramthanga told reporters. “Efforts would be made to legislate prohibition law by early next year,” he added.
Total prohibition was imposed in the state on February 20, 1997 by the then Congress government. However, it was lifted in early 2015. Following this, wine shops were opened in the state from March 16, 2015.
In the run up to the November 28 assembly polls, alcohol emerged as a major political issue. While the Congress was against total prohibition, the MNF wanted a complete ban.

Lalrinliana Sailo is new Mizoram Assembly speaker
Lalrinliana Sailo of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) was on Tuesday elected as the Speaker of the Mizoram Assembly.
Pro-tem speaker Lalrinawma declared Sailo as elected unopposed as the opposition parties did not field any candidate.
Sailo said that in a deviation from the past, supplementary questions in the Assembly would now be allowed even if the minister concerned is absent to reply to the queries.
The minister in-charge of any department can authorise another minister to reply on his behalf, he said.
Sailo said that he did not find any clause in the rules of procedures of the state legislature that bars a minister, who is not in-charge of the department, to reply to questions.