Sangma assures impartial probe, but tainted ministers to continue

Shillong, Nov 8: Embarking on damage control exercise over the CBI revelation of the  manipulation and tampering of the score-sheet of the government primary school assistant teachers’ appointment by ministers and legislators  , Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma assured that the High Level Scrutiny Committee (HLSC) headed by chairman EP Kharbih will not be allowed to be influenced by anyone.

Sangma also felt that it will be wrong to presume that the ministers and MLAs named by the CBI report are “guilty” even as the HLSC inquiry is going on. Speaking to reporters Thursday evening, he said, “Let the committee complete its report and I assure you that whoever is found to be guilty will not be spared.”

Sangma said that the episode of “manipulation and tampering” will not be allowed to colour people’s perception that the future is not good. He said, “The past may have been bad, but the present and future will certainly be good and better.”

Appealing to the people to appreciate the government effort in complying with the Shillong bench of Guahati high court directive, Sangma said, “The government is following the directives of the court in letter and spirit as the HLSC has already been constituted to enquire into the allegations of manipulations and tampering of scoresheets in the appointment of the teachers.”

Answering a query on whether it was right to allow Ampareen Lyngdoh- who has been accused of ordering the tampering as the then education minister-  to continue in the cabinet when the process of inquiry by the HLSC was on, Sangma said the committee has been given term of references in accordance with the directive of the court and assured, “ I would like to dispel the doubts that there will not  be any attempt from the side of the government to dilute the process or exercise of the  high level committee.”

Assuring that the his government is trying to improve the process of selection of candidates for various jobs and bring about transparency, Sangma said the MPSC chairman had been appointed after the search and select committee had identify him. He said, “Even the recruitment of the police are being done in a transparent manners to instill confidence in the people that there will be no manipulation.”

Sangma also felt we should not think that just because something bad had happened in the past, the present and future will not be good. He said, “In fact the present will be good and the future will even be better,” –By Our Reporter