Dr Benjong clarifies; says he did not have powers to utilize funds

Our Correspondent MOKOKCHUNG, DECEMBER 9 THE recent raid by the Vigilance Department without the knowledge and sanction of the minister in-charge i.e. the chief minister, on the residences of a cabinet minister must be the first of its kind in Nagaland history, said Agriculture minister and chairman of NSAMB Dr Benjongliba Aier. The raid which was carried out without the knowledge of the minister in-charge (the chief minister) and also the Governor of State and the Vigilance Commissioner was totally wrong and uncalled for, Dr Benjongliba added. He termed it as the handiwork of the Opposition party which is hell-bent on creating problem for the present DAN government led by chief minister TR Zeliang. On the allegations hurled by the Opposition party against him that was published in the local newspapers, Dr Benjongliba Aier clarified that as the then Mission Director, he didn’t have the powers to utilize the funds received by the Agriculture Technology Mission as there was a director in the department and there were also joint directors. Dr Benjongliba then explained that though some vested interested groups are trying to fruitlessly rake up old issues, but whatever he has done during the past three or four years ago, was done in full knowledge of the department director, and the bank account was opened by him not on his own volition but as demanded by the Agriculture Technology Mission so that the farmers can be helped by the department. “However, some vested interested people in the department gave false information to the Opposition party which published it in the local papers, and within a few days the Vigilance Department without any second thought raided my residences,” he added. In this regard, the minister asserted that whatever false information being furnished will be discarded as God will reveal the truth in his own time. According to the personal secretary of Dr Benjongliba, the chief minister called the Vigilance Department whether there was any case against the Agriculture minister, to which the department replied that there was none. “However, the next day around thirty personnel from the department raided his two residences which clearly showed that the department disobeyed their minister in-charge, the chief minister,” the secretary of Dr Benjongliba said. “Though the Opposition party is trying its level best to weaken the DAN government led by TR Zeliang by fruitlessly raking up old issues, yet the DAN government is as strong and united as always, and the present government has good relation with the Central government,” the press statement issued by Dr Benjongliba’s secretary added. According to him, the Agriculture minister also met the CLP leader Tokheho and informed that he has no ill-feelings for the publication in the local media as he was simply acting like a good Opposition leader, however, Dr Benjongliba strongly asserted that he has done nothing wrong as was alleged in the papers. “Therefore, the demand of the Opposition party for the resignation of Agriculture minister Dr N Benjongliba Aier is without any basis and does not hold any water,” the minister’s secretary stated. NPF, Mkg div condemns raiding of Dr Benjongliba residences THE Naga Peoples’ Front, Mokokchung division strongly condemns the ‘unscrupulous’ act of raiding the official and private residences of Dr.Benjongliba Aier who is the minister for Agriculture, Nagaland onDecember 5 at 4 pm by the personnel of State Vigilance Commission and Anti-Corruption Cell. “The NPF, Mokokchung division said the ‘unwarranted’ raid conducted by the said personnel after registering a suo moto case against the minister based on mere fabricated allegations made in the newspapers by the CLP Leader Tokheho reeks of dubious intentions which the NPF Mokokchung division finds highly objectionable,” the press note of the NPF Mokochung division said. It then said chief ninister of Nagaland T.R.Zeliand who is in-charge of the State Vigilance Commission, and chief secretary of Nagaland Toshi Aier who is the State Chief Vigilance Commissioner were not made aware before the ‘obnoxious’ act of raiding both the official and private residences of the minister which was conducted under the cover of darkness. Further, personnel of State Vigilance Commission and Anti-Corruption Cell during the raid not only threatened and humiliated the minister, which is an unacceptable act of transgression against a sitting cabinet minister that must be condemned by all right thinking citizens, but also the occupants and family members of the minister and some party workers were also searched and threatened during the raid, which is highly condemnable, the NPF, Mokokchung division also said. “Does this mean that the State Vigilance Commission and Anti-Corruption Cell will also raid the residences of all elected members and people of social standing in such questionable manners even in the future?,” it asked. NPF Mokokchung division expressed outright condemnation of the manner in which the State Vigilance Commission and Anti-Corruption Cell handled the case without any respect for established norms and protocol. “Such an act of dodgy high-handedness is unbecoming of any responsible agency and it will only further polarize the various sections of Naga society and destabilize the delicate social fabric,” it cautioned.