VPP to wage war against corruption

SHILLONG, JUNE 1: Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) is all set to wage a war against corruption in the state.

Announcing this after ending his hunger protest here on Thursday, VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said, “Our next step is that we have decided to wage a war against corruption, to wage a war against the unnecessary expenditure of the government which has badly affected the state’s exchequer thereby affecting various sectors in the state.”

He said that the party will shortly write to the state government demanding the immediate removal of the chairmen and co-chairmen of the different bodies which have become a “burden” to the state’s exchequer.

“We will also demand the government to also remove all the consultants (appointed in the different departments), who are being paid with public money without contributing nothing to the state,” Basaiawmoit said while adding that the instead of engaging in wasteful expenditure, the government can utilize this money for addressing the problems faced by the teachers, farmers and others.

Also vowing to put an end to the alleged “backdoor appointments” in government departments, the VPP chief said, “Our protest will not end only with reviewing of the job reservation but to also ensure that there is transparency in the recruitment process in government jobs by ending all backdoor appointments or appointment of only those closed to the people in power. That is our goal.”

He also informed that the VPP will also write to the state government to ensure members of the Meghalaya Public Services Commission (MPSC) and the District Selection Committee (DSC) are not affiliated with any political party.

“The right people should be appointed so that there is transparency and that no one, who is deserving based on merit, is deprived of their rights to get appointed to any post after appearing for examination or interview,” Basaiawmoit said.

According to him, many youths are misguided and are taking the wrong path due to lack of transparency in the recruitment process.

Meanwhile, Basaiawmoit also said that when he was president of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), he used to say had the legislators in the Assembly and the Secretariat take responsibility as leaders towards the indigenous community, the NGOs will not require to come up in the state.

“Also during our election campaigns, I had stated that if the people give their full support, the VPP will ensure that the youths will no longer have to spend time in NGOs but they will concentrate more on their studies and future,” he said while adding “As a party, we have decided to take up issues confronting the indigenous community to ensure our youths can concentrate on their studies and their carreers and to be united under the banner of “Iada la ka Ri” or to protect one’s own land for the future generation.”

By Our Reporter