DIMAPUR, JUNE 5 (MExN): The allegations made against Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of horse trading by Z.Obed wherein the latter had charged Rio of indulging in horse-trading by allocating money for road development works in the Constituencies of some MLAs has been ridiculed in a statement issued by Kuzholuzo (Azo), Minister Agriculture on behalf of the ten NPF MLAs.
The statement clarified that the said circular which Obed had referred to was issued on the basis of the meeting of the Nagaland Road Board held way back on April 30, 2007, “well before Z. Obed and his cohorts commenced creating nuisance in otherwise peaceful Nagaland”.
“The said meeting was convened to allocate the balance amount of Rs. 420 lakhs (out of the total amount of Rs. 15 crores earmarked under the CMRDF during 2007-08) to the remaining 14 constituencies who had not submitted the proposals for works to be taken up. Since the requirements and demands were too many, the meeting decided to earmark a fixed amount of Rs. 30 lakhs to each constituency of the 10 legislators whom he accused”, Azo stated.
On allegations that these amounts which were actually meant for development were used for “horse trading” purposes to 10 MLAs who had signed undated documents which were later retracted, Azo maintained that out of the 14 MLAs in whose constituencies’ funds were earmarked this time, only three MLAs were signatories of the retracted documents. “Therefore how can Obed allege that the amounts were used to entice the 10 MLAs for horse trading purposes”.
The statement also reminded that the constituency, which Obed represents, has been one of the highest beneficiaries as appreciable funds amounting to Rs. 50 lakhs have been earmarked to improve and develop the roads of Kohima town which is much more than other constituencies.
“Instead of criticizing he should actually be appreciating but since he is completely out of touch with his constituency, the people he represents and all other aspects of governance and public life, he is unaware of what is happening even in his own constituency”, the NPF Minister alleged.
Pointing out that the Chief Minister’s Road Fund is “a unique corpus Fund for application of moneys for quick development of roads in deserving or areas which cannot wait development through routine processes or covered under normal schemes”, Azo claimed that this had brought about visible road development in every district covering 22 divisions all over the state including constituencies of opposition MLAs.
“If allocation of money to MLAs for road development amounts to horse-trading, then all Prime Ministers of India whose Governments have allocated Rs.2 crores to each MP for their Constituency Development every year, should be deemed to have indulged in annual horse-trading. Let Z. Obed first condemn them and then come to Mr. Rio”, the statement informed while also reminding Obed that the earmarked funds of Rs. 75 laks is kept for development purposes for each constituency under LADF. “It appears that, in his tearing hurry, he is losing all senses. Before it is too late he should stop writing all such nuisance just to gain cheap political mileage. He should not continue to demean himself by such wild allegations or utterances”. The NPF Minister pointed out that the people of Nagaland would have expected him to be a “little more understanding of men and matters before he aspires to become something or somebody”. “The only alternative left for him now could be to retire gracefully and honorably from politics and live a peaceful and respectable life”, Azo advised.
It pointed out that Obed is a two times suspended MLA and that he was suspended from the party but was reinstated but the party was compelled to once again suspend him due to his anti-party activities. “Despite this fact, he has the audacity to elect himself as a leader along with other suspended MLAs and also projected himself as a probable Chief Minister. The question the people need to ask is how can a person who has never been heard or seen or spoken on any subject either inside or outside the Assembly be expected to lead the State. Such a scenario is unimaginable and the people should realize themselves”.
Azo also alleged that it under his Ministership, the PHE department was entrapped in open corruption resulting in a scam worth more than 40 crores. The outcome of this scam was the suspension of several officers and staff of the department. This single episode alone speaks volumes of the character and integrity of Obed, the statement went on.
Pointing out that Obed is a former Chief Secretary and it was expected that he will have a certain amount of logic and understanding of the way a government functions. “He is also expected to understand the Parliamentary system of government as he has been serving under such a system for more than 30 years as a bureaucrat. However, his actions and statements in the recent past have given a clear description of the type of person he is and what sort of mentality he has. The people have understood his caliber and it does not need to be elaborated. Everybody now knows that he has made a mockery of himself in the eyes of the Naga public”.
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