Withdrawal of consent to CBI draws VPP ire

SHILLONG, March 8: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Tuesday questioned the state government’s decision to withdraw general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) without giving clear reasons.
VPP general secretary, Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon said the decision of the state government which is led by the National People’s Party, a partner of the National Democratic Alliance, is a serious issue since it will send a message to the people of the state that there is something hidden and that the government does not want to bring to light any possible alibi that the CBI which is a ‘premier investigating agency of India’ with a high conviction rate of 70.8% in 2010, 67% in 2011 and 69.83% in 2020 is not competent enough to handle the illegal cases that are ingrained in Meghalaya.
“Further, what is even more puzzling is that the ruling combination in Meghalaya is part and parcel of the NDA Government at the Centre. Except for Mizoram, the seven other states who have currently withdrawn consent for CBI investigation are opposition-ruled states who have construed that the Centre is misusing central agencies like the ED and the CBI to target the opposition and gain political mileage,” Syngkon said.
He said the VPP is of the view that this decision of the government to prevent CBI from conducting investigation in the state is either to shield some of its members at the helm of affairs or due to some other reasons understood only by those who are playing dirty games at the cost of others.
“It must be remembered that senior members of the present government have been alleged to be hand in gloves with illegal activities such as the extraction and transportation of coal in the state in gross violation of the NGT order,” the VPP leader said.
Syngkon also expressed dismay over the appointment of consultants from outside the state in various departments who are paid hefty fees since such decisions amount to demeaning those officers who have been serving their respective departments for years and who understand the ground reality but are deprived of carrying out their tasks without interference from those who know nothing.
“The fees and other non monetary benefits that these fly-by-night consultants earn could have been channelised to pay school teachers and ASHA workers,” Syngkon said.
“It would be prudent on the part of the government to have faith and trust in our own able local human resource and at the same time ensure timely payment to those who deserve and who do not have much alternative to earn like some others,” he added.