Tura, Jan 16: South Tura UDP candidate, John Leslee K Sangma, has, through the media posed a question to the NPP-led MDA government over the allegations posed by BJP’s union minister of state, John Barla, who had earlier stated that the flagship program of the government, FOCUS was nothing but a nomenclature change to the Centre’s PM – Kisan scheme and also that Rs 1000 was missing from money that was meant for the producers.
Leslee sought a public clarification from the CM, Conrad Sangma on the amount of Rs 5000 being given to producers under the aegis of the MBMA (Meghalaya Basin Management Agency) under FOCUS.
The funds are being granted to producers of the state as a mobilization money to each member of each producer group. The program aims to enhance the livelihood of Meghalaya’s farmers through interventions across the value chain.
“However, John Barla, Union Minister of State for Minority affairs in his recent visit to Garo Hills has stated that the money, which is being distributed, was in fact the money sanctioned by the Union Government where the actual amount to be disbursed for each producer was actually Rs 6000,” stated Leslee.
He stated that Barla claimed that the Chief Minister has changed the nomenclature of the welfare scheme to FOCUS and given only Rs 5000 to the producers.
“Barla alleged that the government kept Rs 1000 to buy the votes during election. This is a very serious allegation if it’s true. If we go by the statement of Conrad that the money earmarked for this flagship initiative is Rs 500 Cr for 4.5 lakhs producers, then the money that will go missing is whooping Rs 45 crores. If it is true then the producers of Meghalaya had been swindled by the NPP led government,” stated Leslee.
However, he stated that despite the enormity of the allegation no statement has been made by the NPP chief nor has there been an attempt to initiate an inquiry into the matter.
“We are not sure who is at fault at this time. Whether the CM has lied about FOCUS and cheated the people or the MoS is falsely implicating the CM needs to be clarified by the CM. In such serious cases, defamation cases are filed but there is silence from the CM’s camp like there was in the case of AITC spokesperson, Saket Gokhale.
He added that only a statement from the Chief Minister or details of the central fund by the MoS, John Barla could bring out the truth.
When contacted on the issue, Leslee informed over the phone that it was strange that there were allegations of such nature and silence from the NPP camp.
“If the MoS is aware of such anomalies, the BJP should initiate an inquiry into the scandal. Further if the CM is innocent, there has to be something concrete that he provides that ridicules these allegations,” stated Leslee.