Re-instate Lokayukta officials or face stir: VPP to govt

Shillong, Jan 16: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Tuesday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to re-instate the Lokayukta officials who were fired last month.
Ricky AJ Syngkon, the general secretary of the VPP, wrote a letter to the chief minister expressing his regret for the actions taken recently by his government to impede the operation of the Lokayukta office. The officers in question were terminated from their positions in violation of their appointment contracts and the natural justice principle, the letter said.
He said, “The party would be forced to launch a public movement against such unethical and illegal conduct if you did not act within 24 hours of receiving this letter.”
According to Syngkon, it is regrettable that the action was carried out with a hidden agenda, as reported in the media, undermining the public’s confidence in the Lokayukta’s office.
He also pleaded with the chief minister to promptly restore the dismissed officials to their positions until the end of their terms.
In the meantime, Syngkon demanded in a separate letter to the chief minister that all political appointees from various boards, commissions, and bodies step down.
“I would like to bring to your attention the numerous political appointees that your government has appointed to various boards, commissions, and bodies. It is a well-known fact that these political appointees serve no public purpose other than tolerating needless draining and waste of public resources,” the letter stated.
He added, “When your government has failed to provide the necessary services for the welfare of the people, such appointments are an eyesore to the public.”
Consequently, Syngkon continued, “I therefore implore you, on behalf of the party, to remove all political appointees nominated by your government to various boards/commissions/bodies with immediate effect.”