Mawlong assures probe

SHILLONG, April 2: Bowing to Opposition pressures, Meghalaya Chief Minister E K Mawlong today assured the Assembly to probe the alleged corruption charges against the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Nimarson Momin. As soon as the state Assembly assembled today, several Opposition members were on their feet- waving copies of a local Khasi newspaper, to raise a point of order. The Speaker E D Marak told them to do so after the question hour. But when the Opposition members wanted to raise the point of order at the conclusion of the question hour, the Speaker denied them permission saying rules did not permit any discussion without prior notice being served. Agitated Opposition members refused to accept the Speaker's ruling and continued to press him to allow the Opposition to make their submission. T C Lyngdoh (Congress) even charged the Speaker "You are giving protection to corruption." As the mayhem continued, the Chief Minister stood up and said that the issue has been brought to the notice of the government. "Since the members are agitated over the issue, the government will cause an enquiry into the matter." Mawlong's assurance failed to satisfy the Opposition. Former Chief Minister S C Marak pleaded that the Opposition be first allowed to place the matter in the House after which the Chief Minister may reply. Unable to pacify the Opposition, the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes to enable the Government and Opposition leaders to resolve the impasse outside the House. When the House re-assembled, the Speaker asked the Opposition leader DD Lapang to make his submission. Quoting from a local daily, he alleged that the Food and Civil Supplies Minister has been implicated in a corruption case. He also demanded that the minister step down pending an enquiry. Rejecting the demand for resignation of the Minister, the Chief Minister reiterated his earlier assurance to enquire the charges. "Many things are written in newspapers- we have to verify whether the charges are true,", he said. The Khasi daily in a report today alleged that two Members of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council received Rs 25,000 from a supply inspector for getting a transfer stayed. They alleged that the money will be paid to the Food and Civil Supplies Minister. The daily also published a photograph showing the MDC taking money from the supply inspector.