Mizos stand by Israel; applaud PM Modi putting on Hmar tribal attire ::: Naga leader Khyamo Lotha had lauded Narasmha Rao in 1990s

 Mizos stand by Israel; applaud Modi putting on Hmar tribal attire 

New Delhi/Aizawl 

The Hmar tribe's typical 'puan' or shawl/scarf called 'Hmaram' and Narendra Modi is a talking point in Mizoram these days.

During his recent visit to Israel, Prime Minister Modi was clad in a Hmar tribal attire.

Modi did the honour during an important diplomatic engagement with his Israeli counterpart and friend Benjamin Netanyahu.

"It was a unique gesture. Every Hmar and every Mizo is proud about it," said a local educationist  Lalrinawma. Several others have applauded the Prime Minister for doing the honour as they put it.

The BJP's controversial pro-Hindutva leaning is a major issue in Mizoram polity and generally natives say the Lotus (BJP's symbol) cannot bloom in the hard rocks of the state. But this unique episode and that in a foreign soil and especially in Israel has left many Mizos emotionally touched.

One woman social worker says : "I am not sure whether these things can translate into votes. Mizos are politically hyper sensitive and have the reputation of being politically honest and wise. But Shri Narendra Modi's gesture has brought tears in many eyes ... some would admit; and others may conceal".

Trying to make optimum use of the occasion, the BJP state unit organised a small get together in the party office Atal Bhawan in Aizawl on Monday, March 2.  

This meeting had a special significance as it was convened amid the ongoing conflict between Israel-US combine against Iran.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP Mizoram unit Vice President Vanupa Zathang said that the saffron party always had stood by Israel while "the Congress party prays for Hamas".

Zathang is a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.

He did not forget to add that the people of Mizoram always stand behind Israel and pray for the country and the Israeli people in the events of conflicts and wars because of the Israelites being "elected nation of God".

Noting that a good relationship exists between the BJP-led NDA government at the centre with Israel, he said the Prime Minister Modi, after assuming power, looked forward to having better ties with Israel.

He further claimed that Modi's address to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) recently was highly inspiring. He added that the Prime Minister was even awarded the 'Speaker of the Knesset Medal', the highest award of the Israel Parliament.

On the other hand, he accused the then Congress-led UPA government of pursuing a policy of "appeasement" towards Hamas and the Muslims.

The former cop-turned-neta emphasised that the Mizo people, who always support Israel, should therefore carefully think about the propaganda of the Congress against the BJP. 

"The foreign policy of the present government headed by Shri Modi ji at the centre is sufficient for the people of Mizoram to support the BJP," he claimed. 

Notably in 2017  a prominent Naga leader and a former Congress MP Khyamo Lotha had said that improved India-Israel relations would go down well for Christians as Jerusalem is a place of pilgrimage for Christians.

Sources close to 77-year-old former Congress MP in Rajya Sabha told this blogger that the aging Naga politician had raised the issue on the need for

improvement in Indo-Israel relations way back in 1991.

"During Parliament debate and otherwise, Khyamo Lotha had strongly pitched for improved and qualitative boost in bilateral relations

between India and Israel in 1991 during the stint of Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao," a source said.

"Our MP, now retired from active politics, was possibly the first among Congress leaders to raise the issue that India must have good diplomatic relation with Israel. Prior to establishment of bilateral ties, Christians could not go to Israel, even with diplomatic passports," the source said.

Besides raising the issue during budget session of 1991, Khyamo Lotha had also written to the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and complimented and thanked him for formally giving his nod for establishing of bilateral ties.

"I, as a Christian MP expressed my frank and strong opinion in this matter and demanded establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Israel in the last Budget Session in Parliament (in 1991). Now that it has come to reality, I am sure Government of India will have a greater role to play and that too more effectively for peace in West Asia," Khyamo Lotha had written to Prime Minister Rao.

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