Nagaland Congress criticises State government’s action
Dimapur, December 16 (MExN): Nagaland Congress today criticised the Nagaland State government for its action following the recent allegation of PDS rice scam.
“Complete turnaround arrest of ACAUT leaders while leaving scot free the accused regarded as ‘two prominent stockists’; arrogance of state government to release arrested members despite wide spread public protest; defying public pressure to act on FIR filed first against the accused; and then applying brute force to stifle peaceful public gathering against corruption altogether have amply proven that this opposition less government has literally become modern day monolithic, monopolistic, one party dictatorship that is determined to dictate the entire political, cultural, religious, social and economic lives of every individual or group in Nagaland even to the extent of redefining concept of corruption,” stated a press release from Media Cell, Nagaland Congress.
The party termed it ironical that “the NPF led Government cannot understand the logic that anti-corruption is opposition to corruption (not government) and organized anti-corruption is natural reaction to patronized corruption by the very government people had duly elected to secure the welfare of citizens.”
Referring to the protest in Dimapur, Nagaland Congress further stated “it is ridiculous for government or party (NPF) to defend that there is no corruption warranting such public protest and that some anti corruption groups or individuals are taking law into their hands. Rather it is corrupt government which is misusing the law to shield the like of Tinku Sethi and Nirmal Jain for questionable reasons which will be brought to light sooner or later.”
Meanwhile, Nagaland Congress demanded immediate arrest of the “two prominent stockists,” adding “else how could Government pronounce innocence of these absconding persons before trial.”
It further congratulated ACAUT for exposing the multi-crores PDS scam. The party assured full support to ACAUT and called upon every right thinking anti-corrupt citizen everywhere in the State to rally behind the mega movement. “If a welfare government is willing to sacrifice the public for greed and safety of some human leeches, conscious public must protest not only in Dimapur but all over the State,” it added.
ZTYO condemns high handedness of police
Zunheboto: The Zunheboto Town Youth Organisation (ZTYO) has condemned the high handedness of Dimapur Police, “who used excessive force to disperse the anti-corruption activists (ACAUT) while they were peacefully demonstrating against the Government for looting and diverting the common people's rice under F&CS Department.”
A press statement from ZTYO president, Awoto Yeptho and secretary, Hiloto S further condemned “the lackadaisical attitude of the Government for letting Tinku & Nirmal to roam around scot free even after their illegal activities were caught red handed, meanwhile those voicing out for the rights of common people were arrested on a flimsy ground.” Sheltering of criminals, the organization alleged, “has become a breakfast for government of the day, leading to mushrooming of corrupt activities in all the areas.” ZTYO strongly supported the demands made by ACAUT for CBI probe in the scandal. “The entire youths of Zunheboto strongly back the ACAUT Nagaland team in their fight for justice,” it asserted.
MTYO, MTSU applaud ACAUT for exposing ‘multi-crore corruption’
Medziphema: Medziphema Town Youth Organisation (MTYO) and Medziphema Town Students’ Union (MTSU) have applauded ACAUT for its tireless effort to check corruption which they said is at its peak in Nagaland today. “It was only through the initiative of ACAUT that multi-crore corruption taking place right under the nose of the law enforcing agencies have been exposed in the last few months, viz. the oil scam and the PDS rice scam,” acknowledged the two organisations in a joint press release.
“The rich and affluent are only getting richer through corrupted means, all in connivance with government officials and leaders, at the expense of the general populace who deserve to be the beneficiaries of such schemes,” they lamented.
MTYO and MTSU also extended support to ACAUT Nagaland “for the new revolution against evils that is taking root in the society today.”
“The day may be closer than ever when young Nagas will cease to be denied their constitutional rights and therefore, rise against all sorts of corruption for a visionary Nagaland,” stated the release appended by President Asazo Kuotsu, General Secretary Mhasilevi Kuotsu of MTYO and President Mhasilevi Kuotsu and Advisor Kepe Nakhro of MTSU.
Imposing Section 144 CrPC amounts to abuse of power: NVCO
Kohima: Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) today expressed shock over the imposition of Section 144 CrPC during the ACAUT public rally in Dimapur on December 15 and stated it amounts to abuse of powers vested with the State government.
Addressing the rally, NVCO president Kezhokhoto Savi, who is also convenor of ACAUT Nagaland (legal cell), questioned the statement of the Secretary to the Govt. of Nagaland, Department of Food & Civil Supplies where he said that government appoints stockists to implement National Food Security Act (NFSA), informed a press release from Press & Media Cell, NVCO. This, Savi stated, “means the government has given free hand to the stockists which is in gross violation of National Food Security Act 2013.”
The NVCO president also questioned how many stockists the government has appointed. “Are R.Z. Lotha at Kevijau, M/s Lotha Trading Company at Lhomiti, Tinku Sethi & Nirmal Jain all appointed stockists? If anyone is not stockist then keeping or storing rice at their possession is illegal and has committed a very serious crime stealing public shares,” he added.
Meanwhile, NVCO asked the government why it is “putting so much pressure on exploiting citizens’ rights particularly on PDS scam by totally ignoring the establishment of Lokayukta and State Human Rights Commission in the state.”
Savi also said that as far as Section 144 CrPC is concerned, direction or order can be given to prevent danger to human life, health or safety or disturbances of the public tranquility, or a riot or an affray, “however, in the case of ACAUT rally such ingredient were not available as it was called to conduct a peaceful rally without obstructing the function or business of the citizens in the town.” The imposition of Section 144 Cr PC just because there is a direction to prohibit any form of rally/protest especially during the festive season, he asserted, “is shameful and also amounts to misuse of Section 144 Cr PC and has also created a very bad precedent in the history of Nagaland government.”
