SHILLONG: The Congress Parliamentary Party will meet on Tuesday to deliberate on the dissidence in the KHADC and the demand for removal of Council CEM, PN Syiem.
Though the CEM’s stand on ILP seems to be the immediate reason for the demand for his removal, several alleged cases of corruption in the KHADC are also the supposed causes for the rebel MDCs’ demands for removal of PN Syiem.
The CEM had convened a meeting with the traditional chiefs and MDCs to discuss the ILP issue. Syiem also wanted the government to negotiate with the pro-ILP groups to end the stalemate even as the same was not endorsed by many Congress MDCs.
Besides this, according to sources, there has been several allegations of financial irregularities in projects under Syiem which included the construction of a two-room guest house at Nongpoh, painting of the MDC hostel, extension of district council building and purchase of a generator at a higher cost. It has also been alleged that for all these projects, only one contractor (D Marbaniang), was allotted work.
There are also reports of diversion of MDC scheme to hold the recently concluded two-day Monolith Festival organised by the KHADC. One allegation is that Congress MDCs were not given a clear picture of the programme.When contacted, Syiem referred to the allegations as “old cases which crop up every now and then.” On the irregularities surrounding the Monolith Festival, Syiem said, “the preparation (for the festival) was done by the Khasi Heritage Conservation Forum (KHCF). Since the festival was held for the first time, lapses are expected in some areas.”
Meanwhile, reacting to the complaints lodged by the Congress MDCs against him, Syiem said, “I haven’t heard about the complaints from any MDCs but only through newspapers and if a decision has to be taken, it will be done in the Parliamentary Party (PP) meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday.”
“If there are any differences it should be brought to the notice of the Congress Parliamentary Party and problems can be solved by discussions around the table,” Syiem said.
“If ILP is the reason then they should voice out their views on the issue at the meet, which will then be taken up for discussion,” the CEM added.
