DIMAPUR, NOV 26 (MExN): Citing “rampant embezzlement of public money” by the Neiphiu Rio led DAN government, the Congress party in Nagaland today asked the Governor to immediately dismiss the State government. In a signed memorandum addressed to the Governor, the 16 Congress MLAs appealed for initiating an enquiry into what it termed as “the admitted financial mismanagement and embezzlement” of public money. “The present DAN government led by the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio owes an explanation to the people of Nagaland”, the 16 Congress MLAs stated in the memorandum while drawing attention of the Governor to a news report published in a local daily Nagaland Page on November 15 in which the NPF had demanded the resignation of one of its own member K. Therie who till recently was holding the portfolio of Finance in the present DAN government.
“Though the DAN government has all along denied any financial misdoings on their part, the present revelation by the President NPF himself on the misconduct of his colleague is a clear evidence or their own admission to financial misappropriation”, the memorandum to the Governor stated.
Citing collective responsibility of the government as the essence of a parliamentary democracy, the Congress MLAs therefore stated that instead of playing the blame game, the DAN government should be held collectively responsible for misleading the general public and siphoning public money for their individual benefits.
The Congress stated that the admission by the NPF President of financial misappropriation was “just the tip of the iceberg” on what it termed as “the rampant corruption of nearly three years of DAN government”.
“The recent text book scam and bogus appointments during 2004-2005 are still fresh in the minds of the people of Nagaland”, the Congress MLAs stated.
Recalling that the Congress Legislature Party had demanded for a White Paper on the utilization of the Rs 365 crores given by the Centre to wipe out all liabilities, the memorandum stated that the DAN government coming out with a White Paper in the last Assembly Session was a mere eye wash, which the Congress had out rightly rejected.
