Chozuba, March 5 (MExN): The Village Council Chairmen (VCC) and GBs of Chozuba area on Thursday issued a letter in response to the ultimatum served by the executive members of the 2-lane Sedzu to Dzulha Aggrieved Property Owners’ Association (2-LSDAPOA) on February 24.
In its letter to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Chozuba, the Village Councils and GBs said that they are “compelled to react dutifully” on the ultimatum served to the ADC’s office by 11 executive members of the 2-LSDAPOA, demanding legal action against the VCC, GBs and all government servants involved in the alleged obstruction of RTI.
Appended by 16 VCC and GBs, the letter also lodged a counter complaint against the 11 signatories for “misusing/ abusing RTI to challenge the competent authority of local self government and administration alike.”
“There is no dispute on citizen's right to seek information from public authority on matter relating to public activity. But we cannot remain silent when RTI is being misused and abused by some people with malafide intention…,” the letter read.
“…endless RTI on same issue since April 2019 has created unreasonable harassment and torture to honest officials on duty, thereby affecting every institutional efficacy and efficiency,” the letter said. In view of this, the village authority approached Chizonyi Khusoh and Veku Khusoh in person and reasoned with them not to abuse or hamper with the ongoing mega project.
“Nobody forced either of them to withdraw,” the organization clarified, adding that “they did it on their own volition and action.”
However, two days later, the 11 petitioners served the administration with 20 days ultimatum, naming 17 of the mandated authority as ring leaders of alleged hundreds of mob, the VCCs and GBs said, and termed the move “potentially reactive and explosive in our complex social framework.”
They also welcomed the demand for Enquiry Committee and urged the ADC to ascertain the legal grounds on which the petitioners can serve an ultimatum when both the RTI petitioners had willingly withdrawn the application.
While highlighting that some of the signatories are in-service, the VCC and GBs also questioned “Can serving employees whether in public rally or media openly threat and intimidate government/administration with dire consequences?”
Further alleging that signature of some persons had been forged, the letter urged the administration to “cross-check the signatures of same persons appended in past and present RTl complaint letters and book the culprits on grounds of forgery.”
The letter also added that almost all the RTI supporters are recipients of compensation and questioned whether they can openly threaten and “intimidate the administration and local authorities and physically block road construction with red flag and barrier.”
Reiterating that they have no authority or intention to citizens’ right to information, the VCC and GBs added that they have the authority “to restrain our citizens from misusing/abusing given right…”
They urged the administration not to be cowed down by the tantrum of anti-people, anti-development and anti-establishment, but to handle the matter with firm action.
The VCC and GBs also assured full cooperation to the administration and declared its decision “to stand firm on larger public welfare and development.”
