Dimapur, March 5 (MExN): Nagaland Congress demands CBI enquiry into various instances of corruption allegedly committed by Nagaland Industries Minister Khekiho Zhimomi in his department.
Unsatisfied from the response given by the minister on various alleged corruption cases, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee slammed as ‘totally false and untenable’ the response of Zhimomi that Nagaland Fruit Processing unit was taken over by him on account of loss. This may be true but under his leadership, why the industries department should be run at loss, a statement from General Secretary Kakheho Sukhalu said. “It shows that there has been a conspiracy so that he could easily take over the unit for his personal benefit. Given that the unit has to be transferred to a private party there should have been total transparency in the matter and that if the decision is taken by the cabinet, there should have been a public tender notice issued so that many young Naga enthusiastic entrepreneurs could be given a chance to compete with each other and get the maximum benefit of the department” it stated.
On the minister’s assertion that he donated 1000 acres of land at Ganeshnagar (Dimapur) the Congress termed it as a tall claim. He ‘had cheated’ when he was minister of industries earlier, the Congress maintained and asserted that he had agreed to sell 1000 acres at market rate (over the prevailing rate).
“When the department started proper survey and measurement it was found that only 500 acres were available. This is nothing but cheating the state government by him as a minister of Industries department the Congress opined.
On the transport subsidy, the minister asked beneficiaries to hand over their passports of account, the Congress further maintained. The cash was drawn by some officers against those passbooks from the NEDFI branch at Dimapur and while disbursing the money, beneficiaries were asked to sign for the full amount in the receipt where as only 50% of the total amount drawn was paid to them, the Congress stated.
“The matter will not end here bit is subjected to further enquiry and investigation by the competent authority to dig out (the) skeletal truth from the wardrobe. The corruption case of the IRB HQ construction at Saijang that involved 49 crores which was inflated by 85% amounting to Rs 77 crores will also come under the scanner of authorized agency” the Congress stated. Over these matters, the Congress demanded CBI enquiry.
