VPP accuses Govt of trying to shield people at the helm of affairs.

“The VPP is of the view that this decision of the Government to prevent CBI from conducting investigation in the State is either to shield some of its members at the helm of affairs or due to some other reasons understood only by those who are playing dirty games at the cost of others,” VPP general secretary Dr Ricky A J Syngkon said in a statement.

He said it must be remembered that senior members of the present Government are from time to time alleged to be hand in gloves with illegal activities such as the extraction and transportation of coal in the state which is in gross violation of the NGT order.

Stating that there was no clear reason given behind the withdrawal of consent for CBI investigation by the government in the state, Syngkon however said what is even more puzzling is that the present ruling combination in Meghalaya, is part and parcel of the NDA Government at the centre.

Except for Mizoram, he said the seven other states who have currently withdrawn consent for CBI investigation are opposition ruled states and these states have construe as the Centre’s misused of Central agencies like the ED and the CBI to target the oppositions  and gain political mileage out of it.

He further stated that the decision of the Government of Meghalaya led by NPP a partner of NDA not to grant consent to CBI to conduct any probe or investigation within the territory of the state is indeed a serious issue.

“The decision is sending a message to the people of the state that there is something hidden and that the government does not want to bring to light all the wrongs while working on an alibi or maybe the CBI which is a ‘premier investigating agency of India’ with a high conviction rate of 70.8% in 2010, 67% in 2011 and 69.83% in 2020 is not competent enough to handle the illegal case/s that are so ingrained in our state,” he added.

Meanwhile, the VPP also expressed its dismay to the appointments of consultants from outside the state in various departments who are paid hefty fees.

“Such decision amounts to demeaning and utter disregard to those officers who have been serving their respective departments for years and who understands the ground reality but deprived of carrying out their task without interference from those who know nothing,” Syngkon said

He said the fees and other non-monetary benefits that these fly by night consultants could have been channelized to pay to school teachers and asha workers who have not been paid their salaries and dues for months even after much devotion in terms of time and efforts.

The VPP leader said that the party fails to understand how the government is able to pay these fly by night consultants?

“On the other hand we hear about the government mentioning from time to time about financial crunch and to overcome it goes out to seek loans even from agencies outside the country at what cost no one knows,” he said.

“It would be prudent on the part of the government to have faith and trust in our own able local human resource and at the same time ensure timely payment to those who deserve and who do not have much alternatives to earn like some others,” Syngkon asserted.

By Our Reporter