Dimapur, September 15 (MExN): Under-fire Home Minister of Nagaland Imkong Imchen today issued a statement implying “personally” an “opinion” that the case of bogus appointment of teachers in the School Education department should be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He referred to “the top most investigating authority in the country,” to investigate the alleged corruption, but also made clear beforehand that his was just an “opinion” and “personally.”
The minister was responding to the charge of the Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU) that the minister himself is also a name implicated by the Vigilance’s Special Investigation Team probing illegal appointments in the School Education appointment racket. The WSSU had also demanded Imchen’s head, accusing him of complicity and corruption that most of the appointments of teachers were made during his tenure as Nagaland minister for Education.
A brief statement was received from Imchen today. The minister neither clearly denied nor put up any defense against the students’ allegations on the justification that “there are certain norms and decorum in the functioning of a minister in the government and I am to perform within such ambit till such time that I am a minister.” However Imchen said that he – “personally” – is of the “opinion” that “this so-called bogus teachers’ appointment should be investigated by the top most investigating authority in the country.”
The minister explained: “I know I am a minister under oath in the present government and also the restraint involved as minister in the government…In the assembly also this bogus teacher appointment issue was raised by honorable members and replies were made by the concerned minister and honorable chief minister. Even though, I was minister in-charge of School Education during this relevant period i.e. 2006-07, I cannot make reply on behalf of the department unless by the chief minister.” There are certain norms and “decorum”, he explained “in the functioning of a minister in the Government and I am to perform within such ambit till such time that I am a minister.”
He suggested investigations other than by the current State Vigilance’s SIT: “Personally, I am of the opinion that this so-called bogus teachers’ appointment should be investigated by the top most investigating authority in the country, so that culprits are brought to book and transparency of the department and also the accountability of the public servants and government servants are established…”
Imchen also expressed ‘pain’ that he was depicted by “this Sumi students union” as someone championing the cause of tribalism in the Naga society. “This accusation is so painful to me that they should avoid using such languages in future, because I am one person who is basically against tribalism in Naga society and I will be fighting this cause throughout my life and hope that this Sumi students’ union leader will also join together to fight this tribalism in Naga society.”
