Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday to discuss the state's pressing issues, particularly the demand for a "peace bonus." He pointed out that while other states receive security-related expenditure (SRE), Mizoram is excluded from this benefit despite maintaining peace. He argued that peace should be rewarded, not penalized, and urged the Centre to grant Mizoram a special financial incentive for its peaceful status.

One of the major concerns he raised was the welfare of nearly 41,000 displaced people from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Manipur, who have taken refuge in Mizoram. He stressed that providing them with food, shelter, and education is a huge financial strain on the state, and continuous support from the Centre is essential. Additionally, given Mizoram's long international borders, he called for more immigration checkpoints to manage security effectively.

Lalduhoma also highlighted the state's poor internet connectivity, which has made it difficult to implement the newly introduced criminal laws. He urged the Ministry of Communication and IT to address this issue by introducing a dedicated scheme. Further, he drew attention to the severe shortages in law enforcement, including a lack of manpower, vehicles, and funding, all of which are hampering police operations.

Speaking to the media after his meeting with Shah, Lalduhoma reiterated that Mizoram’s peaceful status should be recognized and incentivized. "If being the most peaceful state means losing out on central support, then peace doesn’t pay. That’s the wrong message to send," he said. By granting Mizoram a peace bonus, he argued, the Centre would set a positive precedent for other states to follow.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.