Nine-point questionnaire to KHADC CEM
SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) is eagerly waiting for the clarification of KHADC CEM PN Syiem on the nine-point queries posed by the party before the KHADC chief on the various anomalies in the functioning of the Executive Committee of the council.
The UDP, however, has made it clear that it was not interested in toppling the EC.
A special committee of the UDP on KHADC affairs had issued a February 16 deadline to Syiem to clarify on the points.
Syiem said that the issues raised by the UDP will be discussed in the meeting of the EC and PDF to be held on Thursday.
UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said on Wednesday that the committee of the party will meet on Friday to figure out if Syiem’s clarifications are satisfactory.
The nine-point queries deal with the purported misappropriation of Rs 16 lakh belonging to the Forest Department, lack of transparency in the allotment of land in Ri Bhoi with a compensation of Rs 23 lakh and the matters related to providing loan to Khasi Heritage Conservation Forum.
Another irritant is the decision of the EC to extend the service of its secretary Welljune Syiemlieh and his appointment as Principal Secretary, a post which was unknown to the Council.
UDP is also annoyed over the delay in making public the magisterial inquiry report on the illegal transfer of Rs 2 crore to private bank accounts, especially belonging to Syiemlieh.
The UDP has also sought a clarification on the move of Syiem to form a regional party.
Replying to a query on the allegations of Syiem that the Congress and UDP are trying to dislodge him from power, Mawthoh said that UDP is a big party and a partner in PDF.
“The party only wants to bring some corrective measures in the functioning of the KHADC,” he added.
“In a democratic set up, we can seek clarification as we are partner in the PDF,” Mawthoh said while denying the allegations that the UDP, under the influence of Congress, was trying to overthrow Syiem.
“If clarification is satisfactory, the matter ends there,” he said.
The party leader further said that the regional party will never stake claim for the post of CEM even though the party has many MDCs while citing an instance that party supported the alliance even during the tenure of Ardent Basaiawmoit and Edelbert Nongrum as CEMs of the KHADC.