Morung Express News
Kohima | March 26
State Industries Minister, Khekiho Zhimomi, has become a sitting duck for the Opposition Congress since day one of the 14th session of the tenth Nagaland Legislative Assembly, for two reasons.
First, for the purchase of 1000 acres of land, on the pretext of industrial development at an undisclosed location of Dimapur. Albeit, the Opposition Congress came short of spelling out the amount involved in the deal, understandably a whooping sum. Their contention was that the area of land, as per the land survey record, is short almost by half in contrast to the Minister’s claim that he had purchased 1000 acres.
Opposition Leader, I Imkong, who initiated debate on Governor’s Address, the other day, grounded the Industry Minister into fidgeting state, amidst the muffled laughter of the members, Secretaries, HoDs and press. Imkong alleged that the Minister had earlier assured the government of acquiring 1000 acres, which supposedly belonged to him, but, when survey was done by the Land Record department, it was not the actual size. Moreover, the Minister was reported to have convinced the government into buying the said land, by claiming that it belongs to him.
When Khekiho replied, he fumbled in his reply, and the answer was lost in incoherent murmurs, and the Opposition gave up.
The second charge of the Opposition Congress was that the CSS Transport Subsidy for entrepreneurs is now entangled in an ‘unholy nexus’ between the NEDFi, Banks and one “Khalid” from Jordan, thus, forcing the entrepreneurs to part certain percentage, about 40-45%. Senior Congress MLA, Chingwang Konyak, and Opposition leader, Imkong, alleged that entrepreneurs were having ‘a hell of time’ while pursuing the said subsidy. When the entrepreneurs could open their account at Mokokchung or Mon or anywhere to cash the amount, the latter were made only to open their account in Dimapur. And, ironically, the entrepreneurs were often made the partner of some ghost beneficiaries, and sanctioned order has to come only on recommendation of one “Khalid”, a Jordanian, alleged the Congress.
This time, the Jordanian was reportedly out of the town, and the beneficiaries are waiting for him in queue for the release of the money!
And the Minister’s reply was the same as above. He beat about the bush trying to buy away the 30 minutes allotted time for Opposition members to deliberate on matters of public important, and the answer was lost again in murmur.
When the leader of the house was asked by the Speaker to comment, the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio reluctantly stood up and said that he will look into the matter.
The banks involved are Federal Bank, SBI (bazaar branch), Vijaya Bank and Allahabad Bank. An amount of Rs 25, 36, 69, 009 has been received for 90% Transport Subsidy since April 2003 till date.
In the last assembly too, Industry Minister came under attack of the Opposition Congress for allegedly allotting the Dimapur Cold Storage to his son. That time too, the Minister’s reply was that his son was the most suitable person as a product of Business School of London.
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