Dimapur, July 17 (MExN): Reacting strongly to accusations that it has been acting on behalf of some agency, ACAUT today stated that it can only conclude that the chronic habit of political parties and NPGs making such accusations is a “deliberately made up propaganda” to mislead the people. “The public are not fools to believe busy-bodies which have lost all credibility,” a press release from the Media Cell ACAUT Nagaland stated.
ACAUT was reacting to yesterday’s NPF Central statement which expressed surprise and disappointment over ACAUT’s rejection of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government to investigate the fuel adulteration case.
“The NPF Central is also reminded that the ACAUT is not an NGO nor would like to behave like one since acting like one would mean that it has been “bought” by the government,” the release maintained.
While stating that it understands the apprehension of repercussion by NPF Central for its Govt. failure, ACAUT maintained that twisting the “black and white” facts is a desperate attempt to pre-empt Govt. failure upon ACAUT in the event that public choose to come to the street.
Further maintaining that its statement on the silence of the Chief Minister and the Government for such long periods would have led to massive street protests and unwarranted situations in other states was reconstructed “with evil design” by NPF central, ACAUT concluded, “It is rather the NPF central who is inciting public to be on the street and Naga public should note it.”
Taking exception to the NPF Central issuing a statement instead of the state government, ACAUT pointed out that it reveals the state government’s inability to defend itself on the fuel adulteration issue “perhaps because the department F&CS responsible of siphoning kerosene is under the Chief Minister”.
ACAUT maintained that if the Government and NPF Central meant what it says and in all sincerity wants to show to the people that it seriously intends to get to the bottom of the fuel adulteration issue then it must demonstrate it by calling in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“The business of fuel adulteration has been going on for quite a while and it’s an open secret to all, it’s just that the issue has now come in the public domain, thus ACAUT would like to remind that unlike other SIT reports and cases in the past which never been under so public scrutiny the outcome of this case will very much determine the credibility of the government, the integrity of the police department and the judiciary, thus any shortage in delivery of justice would be a direct affront to the public who know all too well now,” ACAUT stated.
