Dimapur, March 30 (EMN): Asserting to challenge an opponent and then back off would be dishonourable akin to social suicide, Anti graft organisation Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) today posed challenge not only the NPF but all the political parties to a public debate on the issue of corruption with a neutral person of impeccable integrity as the moderator.
ACAUT today issued a press statement in responds to NPF Media Cell in which the latter alleged them as ‘backdoor political agents with their own political axes to grind.’ Contrary to the allegations, ACAUT said even the members of the NPF Media Cell can be labelled as backdoor appointees if appointed without following procedures and drawing salaries from the State government as designated press secretaries to the chief minister.
Accepting the challenge of the NPF, ACAUT Nagaland dared to declare both movable and immovable assets of its members at the earliest. In the meantime, the ACAUT advised all the 60 legislators and the NPF media cell members to be ready for the showdown. It said the public debate would not only greatly enrich the voters but helpfully transform the outlook of the lawmakers as well.
Regardless of whether the ACAUT members are backdoor political agents or linked with NPCC, RAW, IB, CIA, KGB, Mossad et al, it said the State government has been exposed stark naked like the proverbial foolish emperor who thought he was being adorned in the finest clothes.
‘Like the naked emperor, the State government has been unrobed by scams after scams such as backdoor appointments, rice scam, fuel adulteration scam, MNREGA blank cheque scam, teachers’ salary scam, Finance Department 10% deduction scam, 2-lane road scam, Rs 100 Cr pension scam, and CSS scam,’ ACAUT said.
Besides, it also referred to the CAG Report 2016 directly pointing at the daylight robberies in the Treasuries & Accounts department, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, MAD, R&B, NST, Technical Education department, Health &Family Welfare, PWD, RDD, Fisheries, Tourism, RTE Act, and the State Lotteries department.
It reminded the NPF Media Cell that even the State Governor had openly expressed shock at the level of corruption in the State and condemned the rice scam as well.
ACAUT also ridiculed claim of NPF Media Cell as both ‘laughable and foolish’ that NPF government is pro-poor whereas up-till now an approximate Rs 500 crore worth PDS SK oil and Rs 1200 crore worth of PDS rice meant for poor Nagas have been siphoned off by the successive chief ministers. It said wheat worth multiple thousands of crores never reached the poor in Nagaland or is repackaged in Nagaland and then sold off in other states.
Referring to the speech of the present chief minister on the floor of the Assembly wherein he said that the State has 14, 02,579 PDS beneficiaries, it questioned the NPF Media Cell if it was aware that the total population of the state is not more than 12 lakhs.
On backdoor appointments, ACAUT Nagaland questioned which “deserving Naga youths” were incorporated into service by the government. It said if the NPF media cell members scan names of the backdoor appointees serving as BDOs, CDPOs, senior lecturers, medical officers, veterinary officers, JEs, etc., they will notice that most are sons/daughters of serving legislators, party leaders and bureaucrats. It, therefore, said backdoor appointment is a classic example of how the NPF government has totally marginalised the poor- that section of society without any political connections.
Meanwhile, ACAUT advised the NPF Media Cell to stop the cacophony but prepare itself for the asset showdown and also accept the public debate challenge.
