NPP taking pride in ‘corruption’: Mukul

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 11, 2021

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is taking pride in “corruption”.

Referring to an order of the Meghalaya Lokayukta regarding the alleged corruption in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Mukul said, “…the chief minister is proud that one of his earlier CEM is likely facing prosecution by the law of the land. This is the pride they take in.”

Stating that the investigation will not confine only to the alleged misappropriation of the central funds, he said, “Who is the author of this whole mess in the district council? If you go through all the beneficiaries of these projects, you will know who. Every beneficiary who was awarded the contracts name after name, you ask the relation? Who’s sons and daughters, you will have the identity and you will have the interpretation.”

The Leader of Opposition was reacting to the allegation made by the Chief Minister on the floor of the House that the Congress was responsible for the mess in the GHADC by appointing over 720 additional employees.

Asked, Mukul said, “I agree there was no regulation (followed) in recruitment, it will continue unless we correct it. Whether it is in the education, health department everywhere there were instances, we had to correct. Whenever there is perceived irregularity and brought to the authority for rectification that must be taken cognizance of that is what we are saying…”

He however said nepotism has taken place over the decades in the autonomous district councils.

“Now we cannot point a finger to any specific individual because it has not happen only at one time but it has happened over a period of time that is why there is need for correction, there is need for intervention if we wanted to strengthen the ADCs, that is why we brought in special funds after long drawn engagement with the government of India, it was not easy but that has to be used for the purpose but what has happened to the money you will know, you continue to know even now,” Mukul stated.

The Leader of Opposition also said that during his tenure as chief minister, the state government was able to bring many crores of rupees for the development of the ADCs in the state.

“Now all these funds that have been passed on to the district councils as special funds and direct funding – these were funds provided for the ADCs so that they will be able to come up with all necessary interventions including how to have proper management, proper fiscal discipline, check and balances which should be put in place including empowering the traditional institutions so that insync with the provisions, the ADCs and traditional institution are able to do justice to the constitution,” he said.