By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 3: The latest CAG reports highlighting large-scale irregularities, including undue benefit of more than Rs 150 crore to companies for implementing the Saubhagya scheme, have provided fodder to the state BJP for renewing its fight against corruption in Meghalaya.
Allies and adversaries, however, did not rule out the possibility of the saffron party using the CAG report to drum up support for the Lok Sabha polls scheduled next year.
When asked about the CAG observations, state BJP vice-president Bernard N. Marak said he was optimistic that things would change after the inquiries at different levels conclude.
“We will not compromise on anything as long as the implementation of any scheme is not done in the true spirit,” he said on Tuesday, pointing out that the CAG reports are being taken up with the party’s central leaders.
The CAG reports have made official what the BJP has been harping about for a long time, he added. “Since we are a coalition partner, it is our duty to take up these things and at least minimise corruption,” Marak said.
Despite being a coalition partner, the BJP had been hammering the Conrad K. Sangma-led government for two years before the Assembly elections in February. However, the party made a U-turn by extending support to the NPP immediately after the poll results were declared. Referring to the CAG report pulling up the state government for PM Kisan scheme not reaching the beneficiaries, Marak said some beneficiaries were not getting the funds provided by the Centre as they have not linked their bank accounts with their Aadhaar numbers.
He called for mass awareness about the central schemes and said the BJP would be taking it up with the departments concerned. He faulted the state government for not implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission in its true spirit. “We are getting reports that the scheme has been half-done in 80% of the villages in the Garo Hills. Some villages have pipelines but no tanks or water sources,” he said. “They have turned this scheme into a joke,” he said.