Peren, February 26 (MExN): The Northern Zeme Council (NZC) comprising of seven beneficiary villages of RURBAN, namely Punglwa, Gaili, Gaili Namdi, Ngwalwa, Heningkunglwa, Punglwa ‘B’ and Ngwalwa Headquarter, has denounced the complaint lodged by NDPP of 7th Peren A/C against an IAS officer accusing the latter of alluring innocent voters with government schemes.
The complaint letter has charged the officer of canvassing for a particular candidate in Northern Zeme area, which NZC stated is “false, malicious and more like an attempt at character assassination.”
The IAS, it said, “is a respectable, senior government officer who has initiated various developmental activities in Peren district especially in Northern Zeme Area.” He was one among the few people “who took initiative and had sacrificed to successfully implement the RURBAN scheme which has come as the biggest blessing for Northern Zeme Area,” the Council in a press release from its president, Peidaheing Iralu and vice president, Lungbwa Haikube added.
Terming it “very unfortunate” that the “good intention and initiative” of the officer was “politically twisted to tarnish the good image of a sincere officer,” NZC further stated that the IAS officer takes occasional tour to the various beneficiary villages for monitoring and verification of projects under RURBAN scheme.
“It is one such tour which was alleged as canvassing for a particular candidate by ‘alluring innocent voters with government schemes’,” it said.
Meanwhile, Northern Zeme Council clarified that the officer in question “had never visited any village of our area with political intention but with good intention to uplift the socio-economic condition of the people of our area.”
The press release added, “It is very unbecoming and disrespectful that a very senior officer from our community could be targeted in this manner for cheap political gain.”
The Council warned that “no such false allegation shall be tolerated against any officers who are tirelessly working for the welfare and upliftment of Northern Zeme Area.”
Gaili Village
In response to the complaint letter, Gaili Village authorities in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer of Peren clarified that the IAS officer has never visited Gaili village for canvassing or campaigning except on official departmental duty. “The allegation leveled against a very respectable senior officer is very unfortunate and unexpected,” stated the letter appended by Gaili Village Council Chairman Hegapungbe, VDB Secretary Iteibambe Hau, Secretary Hangda, and GB of Gaili Village Rangzeu Haikube. It requested the DC & DEO to look into the matter and take necessary action against the complainant for “defaming the good image” of the officer “who has tirelessly worked for the upliftment of our village.”
Punglwa Village
Meanwhile, Punglwa Village authorities clarified that the IAS officer concerned had visited Punglwa village few weeks back for spot verification of projects under RURBAN scheme. He was also accompanied by subordinate officer from the department where the villagers were highlighted about the various activities under the scheme, said another letter addressed to the DC & DEO of Peren by Punglwa Village Council Chairman Ngaupoi Zeliang, village Head GB, Baswa and VDB Secretary Cusing. Apart from that visit, he had never visited the village for campaigning or canvassing for any candidate, it asserted. Therefore, the letter added, the complaint and allegations leveled against the officer canvassing in Punglwa village for a particular candidate is “totally false and fabricated.”
