GSU-FAF to hold protest on Nov 27
TURA: The three-day winter session of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) beginning on November 28 is going to be a stormy one as the opposition Congress and Independent MDCs prepare to take on the ruling NPP-BJP-GNC alliance over the alleged misappropriation of Central funds meant for the autonomous body.
Two students’ and social organisations, Garo Students’ Union and Federation for A’chik Freedom (FAF), are planning to protest against council authorities on Sunday, a day before the session, over the alleged ‘scam’ in which over Rs 100 crore released by the Centre to the GHADC under its one-time special assistance fund has been allegedly misappropriated by the ruling MDCs.
“GHADC’s blunt refusal to provide information about utilisation of the fund and the allegations that some of the executive members (EMs) had deposited money in their personal bank accounts and in the accounts of their relatives has forced us to hold a protest. It is reported that 100 per cent of the money has been withdrawn from the GHADC treasury,” said GSU president Tengsak G Momin and FAF president Brinbal Sangma.
Meanwhile, CEM Denang T Sangma is planning to reply to the opposition’s allegations and has reportedly deputed two senior members of the coalition, Deputy CEM Augustine Marak and Executive Member Dipul R Marak, to hold a press conference before the winter session commences.
“All the allegations levelled against our Executive Committee are false. This money was released by the Central government for the development of Garo Hills and we have to be accountable to every rupee. Works are already being undertaken and some of the smaller projects are already nearing completion,” said CEM Sangma when The Shillong Times sought his reply to the reports of alleged misappropriation.
Allegations were levelled against some of the ruling MDCs that an attempt was made to deposit some amount of the Central fund in their personal accounts but the sudden demonetisation had put a stop to it. The reports were dismissed by the ruling Garo Hills Progressive Alliance that maintained that there were several key checks by the Centre to ensure that funds go into developmental activities. Meanwhile, the GSU CEC led by Tengsak G Momin which is pursuing the alleged Rs 100.71 crore scam has sought through RTI detailed information to be provided by the concerned authority to prove its innocence.
In their RTI filed with the GHADC, the union sought the provision of copies of the DPRs and estimates of each and every project under the ‘Abstract of Schemes of the GHADC Volume 1 & 2: Creation and Maintenance of Assets for 2015-16, when the ‘One Time Special Assistance Scheme’ was deposited in the bank and when it was withdrawn by the GHADC and how much of it remains in the bank and the GHADC including, details of signatories responsible for its withdrawal from the bank along with date.
The union also sought photo copies of supporting documents which were signed by cashiers and accountants for the release of the Special Assistance Scheme along with their names.