Dimapur, July 7 (EMN): Former legislator, Khriehu Liezietsu – who is currently serving as advisor to the chief minister – has more or less claimed that the allegations made by Kekhrie Yhome through this newspaper on July 6 concerning distribution of household materials in 10th Northern Angami-1 assembly constituency was off-target.
In an interview, Yhome had alleged that chief minister Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu was “using his party workers to distribute hundreds of Milton flasks and radios to entice voters”. This, he had stated, was a violation of election model code of conduct.
On Friday, Khriehu Liezietsu who is also the son of the chief minister, issued a rejoinder claiming that the allegation was baseless. “That Khriehu Liezietsu is not an intending candidate for the by-election and his charitable act of rendering assistance to the elderly and the disabled in the constituency, has been going on for the past four years, twice in a year, during which the recipients are given heater and blanket for winter, ration allowance for agricultural seasons, likewise, flask and radio this time, which are dearly treasured”, it stated.
The implication was clear: it was not the chief minister but the son distributing goods in said constituency. “It is Khriehu's desire to continue this service whether he is in power or not and hence such a heart warming act of giving and receiving should not be misconstrued as violation of model code of conduct because even the latest round of distribution has started well before the announcement of by-election.”
According to Khriehu it was unfortunate that Kekhrie was raising ‘eyebrows over such impertinent issues’ instead of performing other more important duties at hand. “He and his supporters must be grateful, because even their parents and relatives are recipients of this charitable deed which is done to the seek blessings of elders, irrespective of party colour or gender, whether rich or poor, employed or unemployed, etc. and has nothing to do with the CMO, the by-election or any political matter.
“Besides rendering assistance to the elderly and the disabled, Khriehu has been helping needy students during admission, organising sports and cultural programmes, sponsoring educated unemployed youth to undergo IAS coaching, etc. Hence if such initiatives coincide with some government notifications which do not have any connection, it cannot be considered as violation of rules”, the statement read.
He suggested that the authorities concerned should instead try to ascertain the validity of Yhome’s candidature. “...whether he is actually a permanent resident with valid documents or not, because it is reported that he and his family work and reside in Delhi and only stay in a rented apartment in Kohima during short visits.”
