Kohima, July 18 (MExN): Referring to the controversy over the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe the fuel adulteration racket, the NPF Central Youth Wing today stated that instead of participating in the controversy it will be best if all cooperate and work out ways and means on not only how to bring the culprits to book, but also to prevent recurrence of such rackets in future. This statement comes in light of ACAUT Nagaland rejecting the SIT and censuring PHQ and NPF Central for issuing press release on the issue instead of the government.
In a press release issued by its Media Cell, the NPF Youth Wing meanwhile said the efforts of the District Administration and the ACAUT volunteers in unearthing the racket must be appreciated by one.
However, it also stated every right thinking citizen must appreciate the Government setting up the SIT to investigate if adulterated fuel is also being sold in other parts of the State, and to bring the guilty to book without any bias. The SIT must also expedite its findings so as not to prolong the matter thereby giving chance for the guilty to flee, suppress evidences or influence anyone, it added.
The NPF Central Youth Wing further lauded TR Zeliang for setting up the SIT to “bring the guilty to book, stop the malpractice and deliver justice to the people.” The release pointed out that the malpractice has been reported even in the past, and complaints were lodged while some accused were also caught but released on bail or unconditionally. This, it said, must have emboldened the wrong doers and the magnitude of the racket, and the quantum of adulterated fuel being supplied to the outlets has assumed alarming proportions now.
“Where preceding Governments have failed to do, or were unwilling to do, the present Government has taken a bold step and has initiated a move which can only, and should only, reach a logical and satisfactory conclusion. As is often said, credit should be given when due and to who it is due. After all, one should learn not only to accuse, blame or criticise; one should also learn how to appreciate and cooperate at times,” it stated.
The youth wing also said that through the initiative of the Chief Minister, the Government of Nagaland has decided to implement the National Food Security Act in the districts of Kohima and Dimapur by July this year, and to cover the remaining districts of the State by August. With proper implementation of NFSA, pilferage of SK Oil, presently used to adulterate diesel fuel, will be checked and the oil will directly go to the beneficiaries alone, the release stated, adding this will go a long way in checking fuel adulteration in the State.
