Party to take up 9-point query on Council graft in Budget session, lodge complaint with District Council Affairs Minister
SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has expressed dissatisfaction over the clarification given by KHADC CEM PN Syiem on the nine-point query posed by the party related to various scams in the district council.
While demanding a detailed response on the matter from the KHADC CEM, the UDP has further decided to take up the issue in the Budget session of the Council starting Monday besides apprising the District Council Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong of the matter.
UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said KHADC CEM PN Syiem had promised the party that he would clarify on all the queries during the meeting of the Executive Committee and the PDF on February 16. “Instead of giving specific replies to our queries, the KHADC CEM in a letter said that the UDP MDCs who attend the meetings would inform the party leaders about what transpired in the meeting,” he said.
While terming the clarification of Syiem as dissatisfactory, Mawthoh said that the sub-committee of the party which met here on Friday evening decided that the issue would be taken up during the upcoming budget session of the council.
Stating that the party will take the matter head on, Mawthoh, who is the secretary of the sub-committee on KHADC affairs, said the UDP will get to the bottom of the issue.
In addition, the UDP has also decided to lodge a formal complaint with the concerned Minister in charge against all the alleged irregularities which have surfaced in the KHADC.
“Public and we have the right to know all the details in a democratic setup,” Mawthoh said and added that the party has demanded a befitting response from the KHADC chief on all the allegations.
The nine-point query deals with the purported misappropriation of Rs 16 lakh belonging to the Forest Department, lack of transparency in the allotment of land in Ri Bhoi with a compensation of Rs 23 lakh and the matters related to providing loan to Khasi Heritage Conservation Forum.
Another irritant is the decision of the EC to extend the service of its secretary Welljune Syiemlieh and his appointment as Principal Secretary, a post which was unknown to the Council.
UDP is also annoyed over the delay in making public the magisterial inquiry report on the illegal transfer of Rs 2 crore to private bank accounts, especially belonging to Syiemlieh.
The UDP has also sought a clarification on the move of Syiem to form a regional party.