Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has offered his services to mediate between the Central Government and the underground forces active in the North-East. He offered his services during a recent meeting with Union Home Minister L. K.Advani in New Delhi.

In reply, Mr. Advani has assured the Chief Minister that the Centre would not hesitate to utilise his services whenever the situation arose.

Disclosing this at a press conference, the Mizoram Chief Minister said that as he was aware about the grievances of the misguided youths in the region, he was in a better position to assist the Centre in its endeavour to bring back peace in the North-East region. Zoramthanga was a top ranking leader of the Mizo National Front (MNF) when it waged a war against the Central Government. He, however, surrendered before the authority and came overground when the Mizo accord was signed in the '80s.

On being asked about the report that the North-Eastern ultras are still using Mizoram as a transit point to go to other countries for arms training and shelter, the Chief Minister said that use of Mizoram as a corridor by the cadres of the underground outfits active in the region had been stopped as the Mizo people were against it. After years of violent struggle, Mizoram had now achieved peace and the Mizos wanted to preserve it at any cost, he added.
Talking about the financial situation in the State, Zoramthanga said that unless the Centre released some funds, the State Government would not be able to pay the salaries to the Government employees for the month of January. He blamed the previous Congress ministry for the poor financial position in the State.

He, however, was confident about making Mizoram a 'model state' in next five years provided the Centre bails out the State Government from this present financial quagmire.