SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Friday the CBI should investigate BJP for misusing government funds.
Sangma’s reaction comes a day after the central investigating agency booked Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, who on Friday questioned the timing of the action, and Additional Chief Secretary PS Thangkhiew in the education scam. The duo faces charges of forgery, criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
The chief minister told reporters that the NDA government celebrated its three years of governance in Amlarem with fund from North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO).
“And they have the audacity to use the platform to declare their candidate there and it is loot of public money. They will be exposed. How is it possible for a political party to make government entities like NEEPCO organise a party rally? They have to refund the money and NEEPCO officials have to be prosecuted for it,” he added.
Lyngdoh too questioned the CBI’s action before the elections in the state. “Why all this has happen just before the model code of conduct is to be announced,” she told reporters at a separate event.
The minister, who has “confidence in the judiciary”, is consulting lawyers both in Shillong and New Delhi.
The two-time MLA from East Shillong vowed to fight back and said she would file her nomination for the Assembly elections though she was apprehensive about “forces” attempting to queer her pitch.
“I will take this as an opportunity to prove that I am innocent. The law of the land will stand supreme and like any other citizen I too will be conditioned to the same law and I am not above law, I am a law abiding citizen. I will conform, I will cooperate… I too have the space to fight for my rights,” she said.
Sangma too expressed faith in the judicial system and said, “According to him, the officer (PS Thnagkhiew) concerned and Lyngdoh will know how to defend themselves and prove that they are innocent.”
However, after the Cabinet meeting, in a different tone, the chief minister said that the CBI action was following the court order and added, “Let the course of law ultimately determine the overall outcome of the case.”
He said the CBI had acted since there was no stay order following the appeal of the Education Department before the Supreme Court against the order of the High Court but abstained from making further comments as “the matter is sub-judice”.
