Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has asked deposed chief minister, T.R. Zeliang to apologize to the people of Nagaland for exhibiting “blatant abuse of power starting with beneficiaries of Chief Minister’s Road Development Fund (CMRDF) mostly being the kith and kin of himself, ministers and parliamentary secretaries.”
NPCC media cell pointed out that the entire process of CMRDF allocation was a sham exercise in addition to T.R. Zeliang’s putting his signature as chief minister on March 8, 2017 even after Dr. Shürhozelie took over as the CM on February 22, 2017.
It also said that the CMO media cell which had desperately issued clarification did not hold any substance. NPCC reminded that as per the notification issued by the State Planning & Coordination department, with the CM as the chairman of the Road Board, proposals exceeding Rs. 50 lakhs were not to be considered.
However, for Peren district two proposals amounting to Rs. 140 lakhs for improvement of approach road to Saijang Rubber farm to Innovative Construction and another Rs. 300 lakhs for repair of hospital approach road at Jalukie town to M/s Hi-Tech Construction owned by T.R. Zeliang’s son were listed, NPCC said.
Moreover, it said unequal distribution was evident with Peren district alone getting three projects amounting to Rs. 490 lakhs out of Rs. 1250 lakhs.
“This goes to show TR Zeliang at his manipulative best to siphon off public funds and blatant nepotism even when deposed from the CMs chair as a result of public uprising,” said NPCC.
Terming it as “most unfortunate” that the deposed chief minister, T.R. Zeliang could readily stoop down to occupy the unconstitutional post of Advisor (Finance) to keep enjoying the spoils of power, NPCC said on the other hand chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie seemed to be “content in abdicating his power and authority just to be in the CM’s chair.”
Therefore, NPCC demanded that the entire process of CMRDF allocation be cancelled and start afresh by giving equal distribution to all districts as per the laid down rules in transparent manner. While demanding chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie to issue a public statement to make it clear whether he had endorsed the dual power centre, NPCC said “his deafening silence will not wish away the misuse of CMs office which is already sullying his image as regional patriarch in nearly five decades of active politics.”