MDCs question why report not tabled on Day 1
SHILLONG: KHADC chief executive member P.N Syiem drew flak from the opposition after the inquiry report on misappropriation of Council funds was not tabled on the first day of the budget session on Monday.
On Day 1 of the session, Syiem had to face a barrage of questions over wordplay as Congress’s Manstudy Nongrem took a dig at Syiem for not clearing the air on the status of the probe report.
In his reply to Congress member P.T Sawkmie’s question on whether the executive member in charge would reveal the findings of the probe, Syiem said the report would be placed during the House session.
However, while answering to HSPDP MDC Teilinia Thangkhiew’s question, the CEM said the inquiry committee has submitted its report on misuse of professional tax and that the matter would be examined before the executive committee takes action.
To this, Nongrem said Syiem’s different answers to similar questions are confusing.
“In the reply to Sawkmie over the inquiry report, it stated that the inquiry report will be placed in the House during the session. Whereas in the reply to the query raised by Thangkhiew, it stated that the report has been received and that the EC is still examining it,” Nongrem said.
“I find it hard to understand as to how will the report be placed in the House when one of the replies says that it is being examined,” he added.
He wanted to know whether any clarifications were sought from the person named in the report.
Syiem, while trying to bring more clarity to his reply, said the EC cannot take action unless the report is discussed in the House.
“There is no such question of taking action as we understand it will be placed in the House that needs to discuss it. It is not the authority of the EC to take action unless it is placed in the House,” he added.
However, the reply was not enough to satisfy Nongrem who continued his salvo saying the confusion was not over the word “examine” but on the status of the probe report – whether it would be placed in the House or it was being examined.
“The earlier reply states that the report will be placed in the House, which means the EC has already examined the report… The report should have been placed today so that members of the House will get the time to study the report and deliberate on it on February 21 or 22,” he added.
To this, the CEM said, “If there is a need to extend we will do so. It is ‘being examined’ and ‘have been examined’.”
As for sending the copy of the report to the former secretary, he said the House would discuss on this matter and then proceed accordingly.
The pillorying continued with UDP MDC H.S Shylla demanding an answer on the delay in tabling the report. He contended that the budget session was only for three days and if placed on the first day, the members of the House would have ample time to study it.
To this, Syiem said there is no difficulty in placing the report at any given time but it was upto the convenience of the EC.
Amid the din in the House, Syiem said the report was not too long and assured that if need be, the session would be extended.
Earlier, Sawkmie asked whether there was any suggestion from the inquiry committee to file criminal charges against Welljune Syiemlieh, the former KHADC secretary, or any suggestion to file an FIR at any given time as proposed by the inquiry committee.
To this, Syiem said, “With regard to filing an FIR, the inquiry report is the property of the House that was again constituted under the direction of the House.”
The CEM urged the opposition member to be patient.
Sawkmie again asked Syiem to confirm whether Rs 1.50 crore, which was deposited in the account of the secretary (KHADC), was refunded. To this Syiem said it would be mentioned in the report.