New Delhi

With less than a week to go for the Mizoram Assembly election, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday appealed to the people of the northeastern state to vote for her party, saying the MNF and the ZPM, who claim to be independent, are, in reality, gateways for the BJP into the state.

In a video statement, Sonia Gandhi recalled her memories of the state, saying: You all know I am sure that Mizoram occupies a very special place in my heart. I visited many times over the years. Your customs and culture, the beauty and richness of your land have left a deep impression on me. Above all I have never forgotten your warmth and affection.

I remember with great fondness particularly the visit with my family right after the signing of the historic Mizo Peace Accord on June 30, 1986. The Accord is celebrated every year as Remna Ni.

Attacking the Central government, she said: Today, democracy is under threat from the BJP and RSS in Mizoram, in the northeast and across India.

She accused the BJP and the RSS of neither valuing diversity, nor democracy, nor dialogue.

They want to impose uniformity across India. In Parliament, the BJP forces through laws which weaken the rights of tribals to their lands and forests and does not even allow the Mizoram Member of Parliament to speak. In Manipur, the BJP has divided society bitterly.

Six months of suffering have gone by, but there is no effort towards peace and reconciliation. The Prime Minister is completely silent and has not seen it fit to visit Manipur for even a few hours, she said.