DO elected representatives like the MLAs and MPs actually repay the soft loans they get to purchase cars and construct houses? Not in Mizoram, where each MLA is entitled to a Rs 5-lakh loan for house construction and Rs 2.5 lakh to purchase a car. None other than state legislative assembly speaker R Lalawia loudly complained last week that the average outstanding against each former MLA was between Rs 5.5 and Rs 6 lakh. All of two ex-MLAs were ‘‘regular’’ in repaying loans: former finance minister John Lalsangzuala and former MLA Lalsawta. Another trendsetting politician from the state is former MLA Bualhranga, who has refused to draw a paisa of pension when the amount was hiked in August 1999 because of the state’s precarious financial health. Oh, for many more Bualhrangas. A beautiful sacrifice THE Manipuris are particular about giving recognition and honour to the brave. Last week, a war memorial was inaugurated to keep alive the memory of the soldiers and villagers who died in the Battle of Shangshak during World War II. Shangshak, outside Imphal, was witness to one of the bloodiest battles in the eastern sector in March 1939. The soldiers of the Indian 50 Parachute Brigade, in collaboration with Shangshak’s villagers, had halted the 31 Division of the Japanese Imperial Army for 10 days. After partial success in the Imphal Valley, the Japanese wanted to open another axis to Ukhrul which would have cut off the Manipur capital from the rest of the world as well as help the invaders advance up to the Assam plains. But the valiant battle put up by the Parachuteers (consisting of soldiers of the 4 Maratha Light Infantry and the 152 Para Battalion) and the Shangshak villagers gave Field Marshal Slim enough time to send in fresh reinforcements and halt the Japanese advance. Tippling trouble TIPPLERS in Tripura beware: it only gets worse. The Left Front government headed by Manik Sarkar has slapped a fresh duty on the sale and marketing of India-made foreign liquor. The duty on foreign liquor has been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 120 per London Proof Litre (LPL) and from Rs 8.50 to Rs 12 for beer. The government has also increased the registration fee for sale and marketing of all Indian liquor brands. The carrot the state expects to earn for its stick: an extra Rs five crore annually.
