Kuzhovesa Soho
Kohima | June 10
Following the failure on the part of the government to fulfill the demands of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) with regard to the latest scandal in the Nagaland Public Service Commission, the NSF today submitted an ultimatum to L Kire, Commissioner & Secretary to Chief Minister, at the official residence of the CM this morning. The ultimatum has yet to receive any response from the CM’s secretariat as the chief minister is out of station.
The ultimatum was appended by NSF president Mutsikhoyo Yhobu and general secretary O. Wati Jamir. The students on May 25 submitted an ultimatum serving 10 days to the government to initiate prompt action against NPSC officials involved in tampering NPSC answer-scripts. However, no action from the government has been forthcoming even after the lapse of the period given. The federation said that the official response from the Chief Secretary on June 3 was an ‘eyewash’ only and vague which doesn’t fulfill the demands of the federation in any manner.
Today’s ultimatum said the nature of the recent NPSC scam requires speedy investigation and disposal. The federation expressed utter dismay and discouragement to see that the investigation appears to have been ‘stuck somewhere’ without any progress. The NSF officials did not rule out compromises being made in the scam given that high-ranking government officials and some sons and daughters of influential public leaders at the helm of affairs, are also involved.
‘Unless an independent judicial inquiry commission is constituted to look into the matter, the tempo of the inquiry will remain static and nothing can come out of the present initiative,’ the NSF observed. The Naga Students’ Federation further demanded total revamp of the NPSC to ensure transparency and accountability in the entire management of the commission. Terming the NPSC institution to be at its lowest ebb and that it needs to wake up from the corruption and manipulation, the NSF said public confidence has to be regained.
‘NPSC products might develop stigma and would not command respect from the general public which will indeed could hamper the overall functioning of the government in all aspects in return,’ the NSF observed.
The federation has reiterated its demand for thorough investigation into the whole murky dealings in the NPSC scandal and exemplary punishment for the culprits. The NSF further demanded setting up an independent judicial inquiry committee to probe the scandal.
Also, invoking the conscience of the parents of those who are involved in the scams, the NSF challenged them to own moral responsibility for the actions of their sons and daughters. The federation also challenged the public leaders who are at the helms of affairs to relinquish their government assignments and positions to ensure dispensation of justice.
The NSF said ‘enough time has been given to the government.’ The federation warned that failure to fulfill the charter of demands within the stipulated period would force the students to resort to agitations and that it would never be held responsible for any eventuality.
Earlier, the NSF president Mutsikhoyo Yhobu addressed students and volunteers in front of NSF office. He said the NPSC has become one of the dirtiest and most corrupted of institution in the state. Calling upon the youngster to be strict vigilant in all their further pursuits, Yhobu assured them that the Federation would leave no stone unturned in the quest for justice. The silent rally which started at 9:00 AM at the NSF office was attended by an approximate number of 5,000 students’ from different colleges and schools. They marched to the CM’s official residence.
