A Mizoram minister on Monday submitted his resignation to protest the denial of medical education seats from the state quota to Chakma tribal students, an official said.

“Minister of State of Sericulture and Fisheries Buddha Dhan Chakma today (Monday) submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla after the four Chakma tribal students were denied seats for MBBS course from the state quota,” an official of Mizoram Chief Minister’s office told reporters.

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In his resignation letter, made available to the media, Chakma said: “I firmly believe that it is my bounded duty as a minister of the state to serve the people with equality irrespective of caste, creed and religion.”

He requested the Chief Minister to accept his resignation immediately but Lal Thanhawla is yet to take a decision.

Meanwhile, New Delhi-based All India Chakma Students Union (AICSU), welcoming the resignation of the Mizoram ministerm, said that four Chakma students who have qualified in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year and become eligible to get seats in the MBBS course under Mizoram state quota.

AICSU President Dilip Kanti Chakma said, in a statement, that the denial of MBBS seats to the four meritorious Chakma students by the Mizoram government “following undue pressure from the non-state actors is totally illegal and unjustified”.

“The Chakmas of Mizoram are facing a very hard time due to racial discrimination against them by the state. Hence, we welcome the resignation of our lone minister Buddha Dhan Chakma to send across a strong message. Mizoram government should respect merit of the students and the NEET results,” he said.