KSU defends FIR against State govt

SHILLONG, March 6: The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) has defended its FIR against the Meghalaya Government's alleged corruption and 'wasteful' expenditure of public money to the tune of Rs 5.80 crore. In a FIR submitted to the SP, East Khasi Hills district last week, the KSU had accused the Chief Minister, his ministerial colleagues and the IAS officers with indulging in 'wasteful' expenditure of public money and corruption. Urging the SP to investigate the matter, the KSU questioned the expenditure of Rs 5.80 crore by the 'poor servants of the people,' on perks and benefits of office from April 1, 1999 to August 15, 2000. In a clarification issued yesterday, the Meghalaya Government claimed that the expenditure was 'legitimate entitlements as per existing rules and regulations.' The KSU today rejected the clarification saying 'It is a poor attempt to justify the shameless acts of profligacy, gluttony and corruption being indulged in by these worthies ...' If the Government feels that the expenditure is absolutely legitimate, why is it stonewalling a thorough investigation by the police, the KSU wanted to know. Demanding transparency in Government affairs, the KSU press communiqu? sought full details of the expenditure to the last paise. Will the tour diaries and medical bills of the ministers and officers be made public so that the government clarification will be more than clever verbal jugglery, it asked.