By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Political parties and NGOs of the State on Friday demanded action against those who were involved in alleged manipulations in the appointment of assistant teachers in Lower Primary Schools in the State.
With the CBI report revealing the involvement of former Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh in the tampering of the score sheets, FKJGP president Joe Marwein said that the former Education Minister should immediately step down owing moral responsibility for the irregularities which has taken place.
While at one hand, the State Government has been claiming that it is taking steps to improve the education system in the State, it is really pathetic to see that such controversies are taking place which is having a huge negative impact on the education system in the State, the FKJGP president said.
“It is unacceptable that eligible candidates were deprived from being appointed due to manipulation in the enrollment process. The act on the part of the authorities is totally unjustified,” he said.
Meanwhile, the HSPDP said that the CBI ‘findings’ which reveals involvement of MLAs is ‘shocking’ and ‘unbelievable’.
“We demand strong action against these so called people’s representatives who are directly or indirectly involved in these illegal activities,” HSPDP spokesperson G Nonglong said.
He said that it is shocking to note that this tampering and manipulation was done at the residence of the former Education Minister.
“This manipulation made by Ampareen Lyngdoh in the score sheet of the candidates cannot be condoned at all. Being a teacher herself she (Ampareen) should have been an example to the budding teachers,” the HSPDP spokesperson said.
“The findings by CBI confirms that Congress, UDP and NCP legislators are all ‘hands-in-gloves’ in this manipulation,” Nonglong said.
Meanwhile, the UDP (Shillong City District) expressed shock over the irregularities by the State’s minister.
“This has worsened the plight of the meritorious and deserving teachers and is a ‘dark patch’ in the educational history of the State. This is a stark example of the gross misuse of power by an elected public representative to the tune of illegally depriving the rightful by gratifying others for vested interests,” UDP Shillong City secretary Allan F Dkhar said.
He further said that this amounts to betrayal of public confidence is against the law and this warrants the resignation of the concerned minister who should take full responsibility for the whole scam with whom the moral courage of refusal rested.
“The Chief Minister should take necessary action at the earliest in keeping with the rule of law, as shielding the guilty would be interpreted as a sign of his covert support to malafide acts of crime. This does not bode well for the citizens of the State as a whole, and in particular, the educational fraternity which has a direct bearing on the future of all concerned,” Dkhar added.
Meanwhile, the BJP Meghalaya Unit demanded an independent inquiry into the matter.
The BJP also asked all ministers, MLAs, MDCs including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, already named in the CBI report, to resign from their post for influencing the then education minister to appoint candidates of their choice.
The Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation also slammed the illegal action of State ministers and legislator which had deprived the right of deserving candidates.
RBYF education secretary S Rangslang denounced Ampareen Lyngdoh for her role in tampering the score sheets of the candidates.
“The majority of candidates were appointed due to personal interferences of the minister and the legislators. What is the future of those deserving candidate who gave their best for the examination but were rejected since they did not have any links with ministers or legislators,” Rangslang said.