The MNF legislature party today said the exclusion of the largest opposition party while appointing two ruling party MLAs as members was "arbitrary" and "cannot be accepted." The inquiry committee has Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) president Lalduhoma as chairman, while T T Zothansanga and John Siamkunga, both ruling Congress legislators, Lalthansanga, of Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and P P Thawlla, of the Maraland Democratic Front, are appointed as members. No member representing the largest opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) was appointed in the committee.
The "partiality", the MNF alleged, clearly indicated the intention of the inquiry committee, which is "hide the truth than reveal it." The MNF legislature party said appointment of members for such a crucial inquiry committee should not be made based on the size of legislature parties. MNF legislature party leader and former education minister Dr R Lalthangliana had alleged that over Rs 700 lakh SSA fund meant for the purchase of school uniforms of more than 1.8 lakh students lapsed during 2010-11.
Education minister Lalsawta, however, denied the allegations saying that the fund did not lapse and was regarded as spillover in the next fiscal.
The debate between the two members even disrupted the proceedings of the session and the two legislators dared that they would resign if they were proven wrong by an inquiry committee.