Govt to examine demand for CBI probe in SAG scams: Dohling

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 12, 2020

Minister in-charge District Council Affairs (DCA), Hamletson Dohling on Saturday said the government will examine the demand for instituting a CBI inquiry into the alleged rampant corruption in the two tribal district councils.

“As a minister in-charge, I am yet to receive any complaint against misappropriation of funds by the autonomous district councils (ADCs) but I am concerned over these allegations as there’s no smoke without fire,” Dohling told reporters.

The BJP had threatened to pull out of the National People’s Party-led MDA government over alleged corrupt practices in the implementation of the Central special assistance grants (SAG) by the GHADC and JHADC.

Dohling, who is also a leader of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), said that he will look into the matter seriously.

“Since I cannot take any decision at my level, I will also consult with the chief minister on whether to institute an inquiry into the alleged corruptions in the two district councils,” he said.

Asked, the PDF leader however refused to comment on BJP’s statement to withdraw support to the MDA government. “It is their right to express whether they want to be part of the government or withdraw support to the government,” he said.

On the allegations that the BJP MDCs were made to sit in the opposition bench, Dohling said that is the internal matters of the political parties which are in the district councils.

“From the government side, we have never interfered as to who should be the executive member in the executive committees of the district councils as this depends on the understanding among the political parties there,” he stated.