EMN
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 13
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has advised the frontal organizations of Pochury community to understand that the charges of corruption against Parliamentary Secretary for School Education Yitachu is not an issue of ‘grudges’ but of corruption and moral failure. The NPCC issued a press release on Saturday expressing pain that a community’s leadership interpreted an issue of corruption from the viewpoint of tribalism.
The parliamentary secretary is currently in the eye of censure following reports that he demanded “10 percent” deduction from a bill to be paid as first installment to the contractor constructing a science wing of Senayangba Government School under the Ministry of Development of North East Region.“The Pochury Hoho and Pochury GBs Union should understand that the issue here is about corruption and mis-governance and nothing to do with personal grudges or enmity between SI Jamir and Yitachu, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education,” the NPCC stated in the press release.
“It is most unfortunate and painful that the Pochury Hoho and Pochury GBs Union representing the Pochury community are subtly trying to interpret this issue of 10% deduction along narrow tribal lines which is not the case. Senayangba Government Higher Secondary School, Ungma village is located in Ao area but nevertheless, it is a government school and it is for the DoSE and the Parliamentary Secretary Yitachu to answer as to why the latter demanded 10% deduction from the bill to be paid as first installment to the contractor constructing a science wing of Senayangba Government School under DoNER,” the NPCC stated.
The Congress party also called “grossly wrong” that the Pochury Hoho and the Pochury GBs Union went so far to be ‘unduly sentimental’ and come to the defense of Yitachu without understanding the facts which only Yitachu and the department can answer.
“Since the Pochury Hoho and Pochury GBs Union are asking me to furnish evidence, I shall do so at the appropriate time. However, in the meantime I wish to ask the two esteemed bodies these questions: What action will you take incase evidence/s are furnished that Yitachu indeed asked for 10% deduction? As responsible tribal bodies and institutions, are you prepared to take moral responsibility incase irrefutable evidences are submitted against Yitachu?,” the NPCC statement appended by SI Jamir queried.
“To what extend are you prepared to take responsibility if irrefutable evidences are submitted against Yitachu? Are you also prepared to defend the Department of School Education since any deduction has to be done by the department? If yes, what is your locus standi? If not, why? Unless, these set of questions can be answered, the two esteemed bodies would do well to stay away from what is purely an issue of corruption involving a ruling legislator and nothing to do with any tribe.”
Twist to meeting schedule issue
In regard to the issue concerning meeting of the Congress leaders and the parliamentary secretary, the NPCC statement stated that Yitachu as a Naga should have been more honorable. “On that day, when the NPCC chief went to meet Yitachu, his press secretary told the former that Yitachu was ill, apparently. Thereafter, the NPCC president left the premises but surprisingly within an hour Yitachu called. What transpired between the NPCC president and Yitachu shall be divulged as and when required,” the NPCC added.
