Morung Express News
Kohima | January 9
Making serious allegations of misusing state funds, the Congress party today accused the dismissed NPF-led DAN government of siphoning off more than 400 crore rupees during, i.e. between December 13- 31.
Former CLP leader, I Imkong, addressing the press conference today alleged that former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had withdrawn more than four hundred crore rupees in between December 13-31, when his government was hanging in uncertainty. “Rio should answer how and why this money was siphoned off”, Imkong told the pressmen, asserting this was illegal. He maintained that Rio has withdrawn the money for using during the next assembly election. He demanded that Rio should come out clean by clarifying as to why this money has been withdrawn, Imkong demanded.
Besides, Imkong also alleged that they have discovered a huge scam in the public distribution system. The scam involved about Rs 30 crore per month, he claimed. The Congress also alleged that there has been huge disparity in fund allocation during the regime of the DAN government, and further alleged that the deficit has soared up to whooping Rs 450 crore as on December 31, inspite of the quantum leap in the budgetary allocation.
About the imposition of President’s Rule in the state, Imkong vehemently denied that PR was imposed on the demand of the Congress. “We never demanded for the PR. We demanded the dismissal of DAN government and to stake claim of the majority”, Imkong said.
Instead, Imkong put the blame squarely on the DAN government for imposition of PR in the state. “They (DAN) should not blame us. They should blame themselves”, Imkong reiterated. However, Imkong contented by saying that justice has been delivered, and added that many legal luminaries and the home ministry have termed the speaker’s action of December 13 as unconstitutional. “At the end, government of India has to preserve the rule of law and have done the right thing” he said.
Cong declares list of candidates
Congress has so far cleared the names of its candidates for 40 assembly constituencies for the forthcoming general election.
This was disclosed by its CLP leader, I Imkong, without mentioning the names of the constituencies, today during the press conference.
Informing that the Congress party will release the name of its candidates in batches, the CLP Leader said that the AICC screening committee will meet again on January 14 to clear the names another batch of its candidates.
Asked whether the names of former dissidents NPF legislators are also in the list, Imkong said that the some will be included in the first batch, some in the second batch while some names will be consider for the third declaration. Meanwhile, Congress threw gauntlet at the NPF saying that it has accepted challenge pose by the rival party. Imkong said that the forth coming election will be the acid test of DAN performance in the last 4 years of their regime. “We accept their challenge. We are ready to face the election”, Imkong dared NPF.
