SHILLONG, Feb 21: The NPP-led MDA government, which is facing allegations of indulging in a litany of corruption cases and scams, now finds itself embroiled in yet another controversy with principal opposition party TMC alleging a “Meghalaya Land Scam” involving an amount in excess of Rs 140 crore.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, TMC Legislature Party leader Mukul Sangma made the disclosure and called for an immediate probe in the scam. He demanded accountability from the NPP-led MDA government for gross misuse of the state’s resources.
“The MDA, which I will refer to as ‘Meghalaya Deceitful Alliance’ has once again engaged in looting the state through purchase of around 807 acres of land at Mawpdang Mawkhanu in East Khasi Hills District. The state government purchased 807 acres of land from the middlemen at Rs 85 per square feet, amounting to a total of Rs 298.98 crore, while the actual price purchased from the villagers was Rs 45 per square feet amounting to a total of Rs 158.28 crore, a difference of Rs 140.7 crore,” he claimed.
Stating that the rates were fixed by the Cabinet on October 4, 2021, Mukul said the Urban Affairs Minister piloted this proposal and it was appropriately approved by the Department of Revenue.
“All Cabinet items are approved by the chief minister. Therefore, the documents show that the three persons – the CM, Revenue Minister, and Urban Affairs Minister – have entered into a criminal conspiracy to rob the state of such a huge amount of money – Rs 140 crore – which could have been given to the innocent landowners.”
Slamming the Conrad Sangma-led MDA government for robbing poor people of their lands, Mukul said the central government must take cognisance of the matter.
“While addressing an election rally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah went hammer and tongs alleging that the state is active in corruption. He referred to Meghalaya as the number 1 corrupt state in the country. This has defamed the name of the state and its people. Corruption is not our way of life. Our people are not that greedy. I would urge him to take immediate cognizance of this alleged corruption. Let there be immediate investigation into this,” Mukul demanded.
The TMC stalwart also stated that the ‘Meghalaya Land Scam’ was the latest addition to the growing instances of graft executed by the NPP-BJP government, including the ‘Saubhagya Scam’, ‘Smart Meter Scam’ and ‘Assembly Dome Collapse Scam’.
“The kind of alleged corruption of this scale cannot happen without the patronage of the people in authority…corruption is more crippling and deadlier than terrorism. There will no more resources left for development or to create jobs. Through terrorism, people get affected but when you rob the state and cripple its economy, you are robbing every citizen and the future generations,” said Mukul.
The Meghalaya TMC leader said that as the main Opposition party and as the only political alternative in the state, it was their duty to expose the corrupt, inept, and incompetent MDA government.
He also said that the government was answerable to the people for buying land at extremely inflated rates when the villagers had sold their ancestral property for half the amount.
Pointed out that the TMC raised many an issues but there has been no action from the authorities, he said, “Instant denial has been the response of the government. Why are they denying? Are they the accused? If the onus of taking action on any instances is on you and if you instantly deny, I have reasons to believe you are the patron otherwise such cases cannot happen without the patronage of authorities.”
The NPP was quick to dismiss the allegations.
Deputy Chief Minister and NPP leader Prestone Tynsong refuted the allegations of land scam by the TMC and stated that all due procedures were followed.
“It is not a scam. How can he call it a scam as the procedure is all there? When we acquired the land, the assessment was done by the district collector. It was not blindly done by me or Conrad but the procedure is in place…it comes from the Urban Affairs and goes to the Revenue and thereafter it comes to the government and then we improve it,” the NPP national vice president said.
Questioning why Opposition leader Mukul Sangma was wasting time in levelling allegations, Tynsong said, “I am afraid he may lose the elections. A person who spends maximum time in making allegations against other persons or political parties does not have any other agenda.”
“Their agenda is to allege and tomorrow again new allegations will come…maybe till 26th and from 27th he will not talk anymore about the allegations because voting ends at 4 pm on the 27th of February,” he said.
