Opp Cong demands inquiry by independent agency into MeECL irregularities

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 2, 2021

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has demanded that the inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) should be done by an independent agency. 

“The inquiry has to be by an independent agency which cannot be under the influence of the state government and the authorities,” Mukul said. 

He was reacting to the letter recently submitted by the Assembly Speaker and United Democratic Party (UDP) chief Metbah Lyngdoh to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma requesting his personal intervention for instituting an independent inquiry into the matter.

According to him, the scale of alleged irregularities in respect of implementation of number of programmes by the MeECL which reflected in the letter of the UDP to the CM speaks for itself.

“I have raised a question when there was a demand for relieving the power minister from the portfolio that relieving the minister from the portfolio only doesnt serve the purpose because if there is an alleged irregularity or mismanagement resulting in loss to the government’s exchequer, there is a provision of law and the law of the land must prevail,” Leader of Opposition said. 

He also asserted that the law of the land must be invoked in the instant case as there is not just one alleged irregularity but there are too many. 

He further added, “You cannot just club everything together and dilute the whole thing, you have to be specific. The intent of any inquiry to be ordered has to be specific to some instances of irregularities, specific for every specific irregularity, if any…therefore, there must be separate inquiry.”

Mukul said the independent inquiry cannot be something only for the purpose of creating a perception or just for the purpose of playing to the gallery.

On the other hand, the former chief minister said that the UDP and other political parties who are supporting the present state government cannot just wash their hands from such irregularities. 

“Please remember that the cabinet has the collective accountability to legislature. Therefore, if there is an alleged irregularity and alleged mismanagement resulting in compromising the interest of the state or in other words loss to the state exchequer then the responsibility of such irregularity have to be collectively taken by the members of the cabinet.

Therefore, none of the political parties who are in the government can just shy away saying that okay they are not part and parcel of this irregularities as they are equally responsible for ensuring that the interest of the state is protected and unless this is done then they will be failing in their duty towards the state and the people,” he stated.

Stating that he is keeping a close watch on the development, Mukul however said that the people of Meghalaya has never tolerated instances of corruption.

“I am proud of the people of Meghalaya as they has always come forward and collectively assume upon themselves the responsibility of protecting the interest of the state and this is what will happen in the state, people are not going to watch it silently,” he warned. 

Asked, the Congress leader said that the opposition are not bother of how the Chief Minister will try to shift the naratives.

“That has been their usual strategy shifting the blame. That is nothing new. However, people have seen it but the fact here is specific to instances of alleged irregularities in respect to implementation of few schemes – Saubhagya, smart meter and others,” he added.