AITC accuses MDA of large-scale corruption

SHILLONG, June 8: Accusing the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance of usurping public money, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Wednesday requested Governor Satya Pal Malik to take cognisance of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s letter to him on the lapses by the three autonomous district councils (ADCs) in maintaining their accounts.
The party also asked the Governor to apprise the Centre of the corrupt practices in the state. “Now that the CAG has highlighted the issues, we appeal to the Governor to take cognisance of all these corrupt activities in the state and bring it to the notice of the Government of India,” AITC chief whip, George B Lyngdoh told The Shillong Times on Wednesday.
Underlining the “freehand corruption” and lack of accountability since the Conrad K Sangma government took charge in 2018, he said: “After sharing the spoils, they are now pointing fingers at each other and indulging in backbiting to ensure a chaotic situation in the state. The common people have suffered a lot.”
Lyngdoh said the CAG took an extraordinary step to check corruption in the ADCs after the chief minister and the chief secretary were alerted but neither of them responded to the auditors.
“The CAG’s letter to the Governor is a clear signal that something is really wrong with the administration of the district councils,” he added.
Overlooking the CAG’s caution will show the district councils in a very bad light, which may affect the financial support from the Centre, he said.
Reminding that the government has failed to fulfil most demands, Lyngdoh said: “We had alerted about the financial mismanagement and gross corruption, especially through the illegal district council toll gates, lack of accountability and transparency but nothing seems to be forthcoming from the state government.”
Accusing the state government of being indifferent to pleas, requests and cautions raised by the Opposition from time to time on various issues, he said, “I think the people should understand that the leaders are involved in misusing public money.”
Pointing out that inquiry after inquiry has happened but no report has been made public as yet, Lyngdoh said this is a waste of public money and the state government was taking the people for a ride.
“These inquiries are primarily to pacify the people and silence the voices raised against corruption,” he said.
On the issue of the memorandum of understanding signed between Meghalaya and Assam, Lyngdoh said the MDA coalition has been making farcical claims about resolving the interstate border agreement.
Referring to the dispute at Gizang Salbari, he said the Assam police arrested the headman and five others after Becline G Sangma, a school teacher from West Khasi Hills’ Umshiak lodged an FIR, accusing them of destroying property.
The six arrested people include the village secretary, Pairosh Marak, besides the headman, Kribin Sangma.
Lyngdoh accused the Assam government of harassing the headmen and others living along the border.