RTI against me has political motive: Syiem

SHILLONG: Refuting allegations of misappropriation of MLA schemes, CEM KHADC and MLA from Mawsynram, P.N. Syiem said that allegations against him has hidden political motive.
“It seems like ‘election talk’ to me. It is not social activism but election propaganda which seems to mislead the people especially the people of the constituency,” he said.
Terming the episode as ‘Council Mawsynram-government politics’, he said it is a welcome move to file an RTI but it is unbecoming of someone to tarnish the image of a person, especially a public representative.
“He said that he will write to the CM, maybe he is close to the CM,” Syiem said.
Commenting on the purchase of ambulance amounting to Rs 5,50,000, he said, “At first there was a proposal for the ambulance but later on realising that an ambulance is not important, I wrote another letter on April 29, 2009.”
The purchase of ambulance for Mawsynram Committee Development Council was cancelled and substituted by purchase of auto trucks for Mawsynram village at Rs 1,50,000, construction of footpath at Mawsynram (Dong rum) at Rs 2,00,000, Mawsynram (Dong Shiliang) at Rs 2,00,00, he said.
“To come out publicly without any ground is something that it is misleading. How can you see an ambulance when it is my authority to change the scheme,” he said.
The Mawsynram MLA said it was implemented and there might be some mistakes on the part of the DC office to not check the latest letter, which he is ready to clarify.
As for the CGI schemes, Syiem said the number of beneficiaries from 2008-2009 till 2014-2015 come to 1905 (approx).
“Beneficiaries for house repairing is 981, new house beneficiaries-90, beneficiaries for sewing machine-45, protection wall beneficiaries-135, fishery pond beneficiaries- 56, beneficiaries for soaking pond (for betel nut)- 70, land reclamation beneficiaries-40, financial assistance- 280, piggery funding beneficiaries- 55, poultry farm-30,” he added.
He expressed concern over the allegations of the misuse of Rs 8, 00, 00,000 and asserted that RTI should provide genuine information.