Mukul shields Ampareen, says no need of resigning until proven guilty
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Attempting to downplay the ongoing outcry over the revelation of the CBI report on manipulation and tampering of the score-sheets for appointment of assistant teachers in Government Lower Primary Schools, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma adopted a damage control exercise. He has assured that there would be no interference or influence on the High Level Scrutiny Committee (HLSC) which has been constituted as per the directive of the court.
The Chief Minister said that the Government constituted the Committee since the directive had come from the Court.
“We are following the court directive in letter and spirit. The High Level committee would carry out its job as per the terms of reference indicated in the court ruling. One should dispel all doubts that there would be an attempt on the part of the Government to dilute the exercise which has been mandated to the Committee,” Dr Sangma said while addressing newsmen here on Thursday.
When asked if it would not be proper for the former Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh to step down till the Committee completes its findings since she has been named as the main accused in the CBI report, the Chief Minister said it would not be right to condemn the Minister until she is proven guilty.
“Let the Committee complete its task, I assure that all those who were involved would be brought to book,” he said.
To a question as to why the Government has gone on appeal to the court without even opening the CBI report, he said that Government had in fact gone on to appeal before the Division Bench of the High Court after Single Bench had asked the Government to take all consequential action on the basis of the inquiry report by the CBI including cancellation of the entire selection process and also to restart the recruitment exercise.
“The Government cannot cancel the entire selection process since it would have a huge impact on the whole system,” the Chief Minister said.
When asked as to why the Government has not taken action on the basis of the CBI report, he said it is not proper for him to dwell on the CBI report since the court has already directed for constitution of the HLSC.
“The court in its ruling has clearly mentioned that the Committee while undertaking the exercise should take beneficial assistance and guidance on the findings of the CBI. I would also like to clarify that the Division Bench had not issued any directive to the Government to initiate any criminal proceedings in the matter,” Dr Sangma said.
When asked of the about FIR filed by the NGOs against the people who were named in the CBI report, he said that it is for the police to examine the FIR taking into cognizance the court ruling on the matter.
Assuring that his government is trying to improve the process of selection of candidates for various jobs and bring about transparency, Dr Sangma said the MPSC chairman had been appointed after the search and select committee had identified him. He said, “Even the recruitment of the police is done in a transparent manner to instill confidence in people that there will be no manipulation.”
“We should not think that just because something bad had happened in the past, the present and future will not be good,” Dr Sangma said adding “In fact the present will be good and the future will even be better”.
NPP demands Ampareen’s resignation
Meanwhile, the NPP leader PA Sangma on Thursday said Ampareen Lyngdoh, who has been named in the CBI report regarding the job scheme, should step down from the Cabinet.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sangma said, “She should step down on moral ground and if she does not do that on her own, the Chief Minister should step in.”
Appreciating the role of CBI, the former Lok Sabha Speaker said, “The CBI has acted on this particular case. However, there are many instances of rampant corruption in Meghalaya. It appears that nobody bothers about corruption in high places and many get away without being caught”.
Sangma also termed as ‘sad’ the role played by the present Education Minister Dr RC Laloo in the CBI case.
Sangma , however, said that the then education minister should have used her judgment in deciding on the recommendations of the legislators as far as the appointment of school teachers is concerned.
“Though the legislators had recommended the names, the minister should have used her prudence,” Sangma added.