SHILLONG, Dec 6: Allegations levelled by Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Saket Gokhale against IAS officer Vijay Kumar D of misuse of Rs 632 crore in an ecotourism project, has drawn strong reactions from many quarters with some clamouring for his removal while others seeking a thorough inquiry into the charges.
The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), which is an ally in the NPP-led MDA coalition government, has asked the state government to inquire into the allegations, while the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), on the other hand, has maintained that if any inquiry is instituted, the IAS officer in question should be relieved of his duties for a free and fair enquiry.
Talking to The Shillong Times on Tuesday, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said, “Whatever allegations are made in the public domain, it is the bounded duty of the state government to clarify and put the facts and figures in the public domain or else the people will be confused and believe the allegations.”
He, nonetheless, maintained that he is not defending anyone, while insisting that any allegations must be justified or else imposing the blame on anyone becomes improper. In the fitness of things, he added, it is only proper for the state government to initiate an inquiry, be it of whatever nature, to clear the air of confusion and filter the truth to the public.
Suspended Congress MLA PT Sawkmie, meanwhile, has demanded the removal of IAS officer Vijay Kumar D, a close aide of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, from his posts in view of the accusations.
Sawkmie on Tuesday said the government should remove the officer temporarily and conduct a detailed inquiry into the entire matter.
Terming the allegations as very serious, Sawkmie said that MLAs cannot remain mute spectators.
In a statement issued earlier, the TMC national spokesperson had underlined the gravity of the “immense financial irregularities” in the MEIDP through Meghalayan Age Ltd, a company “spearheaded” by the IAS officer in question, Vijay Kumar D.
Stating that the company is implementing the MEIDP for which the state government took a loan of USD 79.05 million from the New Development Bank (NDB), Gokhale said tenders and RFPs were floated by the company and not the Meghalaya government. This conveniently made the tenders private so that the names of the contractors, awarded the project, are not made public.
HYC general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem said, “If there is an allegation of misuse or misappropriation of money by anyone or any officer of the government or any government agency, then the government should come up with a response/clarification so that the citizens of the state are informed of the matter”.
“The officer in question should be relieved of his position as the head of agency/corporation/department concerned so that free and fair inquiry, if any, is conducted in the matter,” Synrem said.
