Commercial vehicles to keep off Dimapur roads on Oct 4
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 2 (MExN): Commercial vehicles in Dimapur have resolved to go off roads on October 4, 2016 to put pressure on the Nagaland State Government to bring in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for thorough investigation on the fuel adulteration racket as demanded by the Co-ordination Committee on Fuel Adulteration (CCoFA).
In separate press statements issued to the media on Saturday, All Nagaland Taxi Association, (ANTA) Dimapur Unit; Dimapur District Truck Welfare Trade Union (DDTDWTU) and the Dimapur District Pick Up Van Owner and Drivers’ Union (DDPODU) stated that the decision to keep off roads was to show solidarity and support the CCoFA’s demand.
The office of the DDTDWTU requested all its members to desist themselves from plying/driving on October 4 from 6AM to 6PM. It however said the appeal made is not mandatory and binding and purely voluntary.
ANTA Dimapur Unit, on the other hand, directed all the taxi owners and drivers to go off road in the form of “Chaka Bandh.” DDPODU, while expressing solidarity simply stated that it backed the “bandh call.” The Dimapur District Auto Drivers Union (DDADU) has also reportedly convened a meeting on October 3 to decide on the same.
The CCoFA, consisting of various civil society organizations, had served a 15-day ultimatum to the State Government, with effect from September 23, demanding that CBI be brought in for thorough investigation on the fuel adulteration racket and to re-arrest all the alleged fuel adulteration kingpins.
In the event of failure by the State Government to fulfill the demand, the CCoFA had cautioned that the committee would enforce bandh on national highways within the State as it deemed fit.
CCoFA said the committee, formed by a public resolution on September 10, 2016, met the State Chief Secretary on September 23, and submitted a memorandum containing the resolutions adopted on September 10.
Since the ultimatum was served to the State Government, a number of civil organizations and student bodies have issued press statements, reiterating support and reminding the government of the demand. No response has been forthcoming from the government. The 15-day ultimatum will end on October 8, 2016.
On the move behind the demand for CBI to investigate the fuel adulteration racket, a member of ACAUT Nagaland pointed out that the reason was because the “case was falling apart.”
It’s not that we have lost confidence on the SIT constituted to probe into the case, but there are several indications that the case is falling apart,” the member suggested.
Further, there is also apprehension whether the SIT can probe into the angle of diversion of SK Oil without any interference, the ACAUT member stated.
DDCF backs CCoFA demand
Meanwhile, the Dimapur District Citizens Forum (DDCF) has demanded immediate “follow up action” to hand over the fuel adulteration case to the CBI as desired by CCoFA.
“When such an important issue was highlighted by a non-governmental organization, the government should feel ashamed and take up the matter on top priority,” DDCF president, N Joseph Lemtur said in a press statement.
The DDCF also maintained that the petrol pump owners should be held equally accountable, as they had “sublet/leased their outlets to be used for unlawful activities.”
Reaffirming its support to the public resolution adopted on September 10, 2016, the Forum said it would fully support the CCoFA in its follow up actions of National Highway bandh call if the fuel adulteration case is not handed over to the CBI for “greater transparency and justice.”
