KSU files FIR against Meghalaya govt

SHILLONG, February 24: Meghalaya Chief Minister E K Mawlong may have weathered the recent political storm and brought stability to his nearly one-year-old ministry by vanquishing his political opponents, at least for the time being, but he may find it difficult to tackle his non-political yet powerful adversaries in the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) and the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP). Riding the crest of popular support for a regional party government, led by powerful NGOs like the KSU, FKJGP and others, the United Democratic Party (UDP) formed a coalition government in March 1998, but barely three years later, the erstwhile allies of UDP have become its sworn enemies. In an unprecedented move, the KSU yesterday filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the State Government for squandering public money and indulging in corruption, causing new worries for Mawlong. The FIR submitted to the SP, East Khasi Hills District, categorically held Mawlong, his Cabinet colleagues and IAS officers in the State, responsible for incurring "wasteful expenditure" of over Rs 5.87 crore on perks from April, 1999 to August, 2000. "Apart from the salary and other perks and benefits of office, they have gobbled up Rs 37 lakh every month", the FIR alleged urging the SP to initiate criminal proceedings against the Meghalaya government for "mindless embezzlement of public money". Strongly attacking the government, the KSU said "such practices cannot be condoned as it amounted to day-light robbery and had to be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law, else it would amount to legitimizing corruption, abuse of power and profligacy in the name of public services". The FIR was based on the reply of the Chief Minister to a starred question on various expenditures incurred by the Ministers and officers, in the State Assembly during the last Winter session. The expenditure on the Chief Minister and other ministers was Rs 3.41 crore and that of IAS officers Rs 2.45 crore, Mawlong had disclosed then. Around the same time, the FKJGP staged a hunger-strike in front of the Main Secretariat protesting non-fulfilment of its long-pending charter of demands. A spokesman said they are resorting to agitation as the government, instead of listening to their demands, was embroiled in corrupt practices. "We are fed up with promises, we want action", said a banner put up at the site of the hunger-strike. About 20 members of the NGO took part in the strike. Prohibitory orders were clamped and a tight security cordon thrown around the Secretariat supplimented by armoured cars and fire engines, throughout the day yesterday in view of the 'actions' of the KSU and the FKJGP.

 
 
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Subir Ghosh
Notice
The Northeast Vigil website ran from 1999 to 2009. It is not operated or maintained anymore. It has been put up here solely for archival sentiments. This site has over 6,000 news items that are of value to academics, researchers and journalists.

Subir Ghosh