Shürhozelie under NPCC scrutiny

Morung Express News
November 19

Dimapur: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee today stated that it was compelled to react on the outburst of Shürhozelie, Minister for Higher Education and President NPF, Nagaland in trying to cover his misdeeds in the infamous free text books distribution scam to Government Schools while he was the Minister for School Education. 

A release issued by TL Merry, spokesperson of the NPCC said it was astonishing to note the manner in which the contract for distributing the text-books was given to a firm – Biltek without observing any formalities. “Biltek though not Shürhozelie’s son but it is a firm owned and run by his own son. Thus, the motive behind the deal was to enable a certain firm or rather his own son earn profit,” the release said.  The NPCC further termed as immaterial whether the Deputy Inspectors of Schools raised objections or not while reiterating that gross violation of financial rules and corrupt practice has been indulged in the process. “Assuming the department did not have facilities for transportation, tenders should have been floated as the amount involved was over Rs 1.50 crore and as per financial rule and cognate powers any contract/business transactions amounting more then Rs 50,0000 has to be tendered,” the spokesperson said.  

The supplier has also been alleged of not managing to supply the students with text books even after completion of first terminal examination.

“Those students availing free-text books won’t be able to be at par with the rest of the students if the present policies enforced by Shürhozelie are to be continued, because the transportation of free-text books has been awarded to Biltek for five years,” the NPCC commented.  

The Nagaland Congress is also not satisfied with the explanations given for not printing “Not For Sale” tags on the free text books. It termed as ‘impracticable’ the reason cited by Shürhozelie that books were also meant for private schools. Text books equivalent to total enrolment of students in the Government schools could have been stamped “Not for Sale,” according to the release. 

“Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister, apparently a sensible person sensed corrupt practices and with a view to escape, he took pre-emptive actions by shifting the minister concerned to another port-folio so that it may divert the public attention,” the Congress remarked.   
 



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