CCoFA to go ahead with the bandh on NH-29 even as Nagaland Cabinet declares Oct 17 bandh “illegal”
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 16 (MExN): Co-ordination Committee on Fuel Adulteration (CCoFA) on Sunday said the indefinite highway bandh called on October 17 has nothing to do with the SIT or the charge sheet to be filed by it, as supposed by the Cabinet.
“The bandh has been called because the government failed to call in a CBI enquiry within the 15 days deadline. The CCoFA is not bothered whether the SIT is filing its charge sheet within 3 days, or 10 days or after 1 month,” media cell, CCoFA stated in a press statement.
It pointed out that the SIT cannot satisfactorily bring the case to its logical conclusion because the fuel adulteration issue is not merely confined to the five kingpins. This racket involves virtually the whole of the Food & Civil Supplies Department, the DCs of the districts, and the politicians, it alleged.
Citing instance, CCoFA said “Naga public are not fools to believe that the SIT will dare charge-sheet the portfolio in charges of F&CS department in the last 15-20 years, if indeed they are found culpable. Therefore, to begin with the SIT was formed with its hands tied behind and its integrity already compromised.” This was the very reason the ACAUT had previously rejected the SIT when it was first announced, it added. Appealing the Naga public for solidarity and prayer support, the CCoFA viewed that a CBI investigation should also culminate into complete overhauling or cleansing of the most corrupted F&CS department, which automatically will benefit lakhs of Naga families living from hand to mouth.
The CCoFA also condemned the “confrontational attitude of the state government when instead it should be assisting it.”
“This agitation is a moral battle between the vast majority of helpless citizens on one side and the insensitive government on the other side and indeed the repercussions will be serious. By adopting a confrontational attitude, the government has by default declared that it supports the kingpins and will continue to support corruption,” it went on to add.
CCoFA also announced that apart from NFC Gate, Dillai and Chumoukedima Check Gate, bandh along the entire stretch of NH-29 would be manned by youth volunteers of Zubza, Peducha and Medziphema in their respective jurisdictions.
The law enforcing agencies on their part should have nothing to worry about since the agitation will be peaceful and non-violent, in tune with Gandhian philosophy, the press statement also read.
Govt. declared bandh as ‘illegal’
Even as the CCoFA stood ground to go ahead with the proposed bandh call on October 17, Nagaland State Government on Sunday declared the proposed bandh “illegal.”
A press communiqué issued by Nagaland Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha said since the proposed bandh is going to restrict the movement of essential commodities and services, besides causing inconveniences to the public, the Cabinet, in a meeting on Sunday, declared the proposed bandh illegal.
The communiqué stated that the bandh has been called despite assurance given by the government that the SIT, whose mandate is to comprehensively cover all relevant issues connected with the subject matter as given in the two FIRs lodged with the police in connection with the case, would be submitting the charge sheets in the next ten days. The district administration and police have been directed to take all necessary measures to ensure that “free movement of all vehicles and public is not disrupted in any manner by any group or individuals.” The communiqué also requested the general public not to participate in` the bandh, and give full cooperation to the law enforcement agencies.
As first phase of the agitation, CCoFA had announced that no oil tankers or government vehicles (NL-10) would be allowed to ply along NH-29. However, it said NST buses would be exempted from the purview of the bandh.
The Nagaland State Cabinet on Saturday requested the CCoFA to call off the proposed bandh on national highways while asserting that the SIT had made substantial progress in the fuel adulteration cases and that charge sheets would be filed within the next 10 days.
Govt drivers appeal CCoFA
Meanwhile, a press note from All Nagaland Government Drivers Association (Central Committee) has appealed that during the bandh, the drivers should not face any difficulties if they are compelled to drive during the bandh since they are only performing their duty.
“So if CCoFA has any problem with the government registered vehicles for driving during the bandh, they should consult directly to the officers instead of blaming the driver for going against the bandh,” the press note issued by Milan Raj Banshi, advisor to the drivers’ association informed.
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