Education scam
SHILLONG: The UDP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh for her alleged role in the education scam.
The fresh demand comes as the Government is yet to act against Lyngdoh, under whose tenure the score sheets of eligible candidates, were corrected to facilitate the appointment of many candidates based on the recommendations of politicians.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, UDP leader AF Dkhar said with Government deciding to terminate the services of 246 teachers and planning to appoint meritorious teachers, there is hardly any action against the Minister who was responsible for the mess.
“We have nothing against the order of the Court regarding the appointment of eligible teachers, but we wanted to know what happened to the FIR lodged long time back with the police to investigate the matter”, Dkhar said.
He said that it was the social activist Agnes Kharshiing who had filed the FIR demanding action against the guilty.
The FIR lodged with Laitumkhrah police station on November 7, 2012 said that the CBI report has clearly mentioned that “former Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh had instructed the then Director of Director Elementary and Mass Education JD Sangma and two of her supporters to tamper, forge the score-sheets by applying white fluid wherever there is need to increase the marks and deduct the marks of the deserving candidates.”
According to the UDP leader, it is the moral responsibility of any public leader who is holding high office to step down and allow a fair investigation.
“We also fail to understand under which law in the country, the minister is protected”, the UDP leader said, adding that the accused is still holding the position of a minister.
He also pointed out the irony of arresting the leaders of pressure groups and putting them under MPDA while the real culprits involved in education scam go scot-free.
According to UDP, the most unfortunate thing is that grave injustice was meted out to the officer ( JD Sangma) who merely carried out the order of the Minister .
The UDP leader also said that striking down the names of deserving candidates is a highly criminal act.
“We will be meeting next week to discuss the future course of action regarding the matter “, Dkhar said, adding that the party is also in touch with other Opposition parties.
To a question on whether the politicians, who made the recommendations to accommodate their candidates are also guilty, Dkhar said, “We had made our position very clear that though many can make recommendations, the onus lies in the authority and in the person who broke the law to accommodate the candidates and not on those who made the recommendations”.
He also deplored that the wrong action of the higher ups resulted in hardships to 246 teachers who will be terminated after serving for nearly four years.