SHILLONG: Demand for resignation of Urban and Municipal Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has gained momentum following the order of High Court on January 7 allowed CBI to register a case against her and 21 others and prosecute them for giving permission to construct high rise buildings illegally.
Opposition UDP on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma asking him to drop Lyngdoh from the ministry.
The UDP in a statement issued by its general secretary AF Dkhar said, “We feel that for a free and fair investigation, it is only right for a person holding high public office to resign, so as to facilitate due process of law without fear or favour, not as long as she can influence by continuing in office. The education scam against the same Minister could not take off because of the very same reason”.
The UDP general secretary said that it was the prerogative of the Chief Minister to drop her from the Cabinet, considering the fact that till date, the Minister, has not taken any position on this matter.
The party opposed the decision of the state cabinet to debar government employees from holding the post of headmen and others.
The party also expressed its dismay over the stand of state government in not accepting the proposals of district councils to give nod to the names of nominated members Conrad Sangma for GHADC and J Reenborn for KHADC. The UDP reminded the Chief Minister that these issues were discussed in the meeting of the party held on January 12. The party also pointed out that the cabinet in its first sitting for the year had amended the Meghalaya Service and Conduct rules, debarring government employees from being members or office bearers of community based organizations, associations and traditional bodies.
” This we feel is a retrogressive step in a democracy, especially when the key objective is to provide service to the people. This in turn has brought about a dilemma amongst government employees who earlier on saw no conflict of interest, as services provided were voluntary in nature”, the party observed.
The UDP also discussed the matter pertaining to the issue of nominated Member in the KHADC- J Reenborn and GHADC-Conrad Sangma and felt that the government should have considered the respective proposals which were brought about after following the district council rules and duly approved in the respective Councils’ session, instead of violating the underlying principles of nomination.
“This delay and attempt to overturn or subdue resolutions adopted by respective Autonomous District Councils in this respect, only indicates the absence of the spirit of sharing responsibilities, which is counterproductive and harmful in the long run, for the people”, the UDP added.
