SHILLONG: BJP National spokesperson and Meghalaya in charge Nalin Kohli has said dropping Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh from the Cabinet does not matter as the state is soon going to have elections.
“Does it matter when elections are just around the corner and the chief minister did not even drop his home minister whose guest house was used for unethical activities and he continues to hold the Home Department while the probe is on,” Kohli said.
The BJP leader’s comment comes after the Division Bench of the High Court of Meghalaya ordered CBI inquiry into the criminal aspect of the education scam pending against politicians.
The court also ordered probe into all the centers where teachers’ recruitment was carried out while cancelling the selection process in five centers.
Kohli said in February, people of Meghalaya will have the opportunity to select their leaders.
On being asked if the education scam will be an agenda of BJP in the elections, Kohli said it was an agenda of the people of Meghalaya for a long time, so why the government cannot be held responsible and accountable for its mistake, he said.
On the other hand, NPP leader James Sangma said the scam will be one among the issues which the party will raise during the election.
The party leader, however, refused to comment on the matter as it is under investigation.
Meanwhile, UDP leader Allan Dkhar said dropping the minister in question is the prerogative of the chief minister. “We hope CBI will do justice,” he said, adding that the party has raised the issue since 2013 and now it will be easier for the party to highlight the issue.
“If the person can stoop so low to interfere in the future of children for whom these teachers were appointed, we leave it to the wisdom of the public to decide,” he added.
He hoped that an upright chief minister would facilitate free and fair investigation into the matter.
The government is yet to make clear its stand on cancelling the appointments as ordered by the High Court. The Advocate General has been asked to examine the 105-page order to find out whether there is any scope for review or appeal.