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Fighting Corruption or Vindictive Politics?

During its election campaign in Manipur in the early part of 2017, BJP swore to fix accountability for the gross misrule perpetuated in the border state by the Congress, tagging then Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh as the 20 percent CM alleging, he takes that much commission for each and every developmental projects executed in the state during his 15 year rule of Manipur as the Congress’ Chief Minister since 2002. 

Seven months after assuming power, on September 2nd, the BJP led N Biren Singh government registered an FIR for offences of cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust against the former Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh and three former chief secretaries, DS Poonia, PC Lawmkunga and O Nabakishore Singh in a case pertaining to financial irregularities in managing Manipur’s premier construction and employment generating agency, Manipur Development Society, MDS. The misappropriation amounts to Rs.185.79 crore and it is hashtagged as MDS scam now. The FIR came after the state’s Vigilance Department submitted its inquiry report on financial irregularities of MDS acting on a complaint filed by the Planning Department in November 2016.

Others named in the scam are MDS’s former Project Director, Yambem Ningthem Singh and the agency’s Administrative Officer, S Ranjit Singh.

According to the State Vigilance Commission inquiry report, the officials and staff of MDS flaunted established procedures, norms and rules particularly while awarding contract works to agencies and caused a financial liability to the tune of Rs 185.79 crores.

Police source said the FIR lodged would help in establishing how and who were responsible for the procedural lapses, mismanagement, misappropriation and misuse of public fund. Police suspects Yambem Ningthem as responsible for concealing missing documents that the Vigilance inquiry reported in the case of MBs, DPRs, sanction papers of MDS. It is under Ningthem’s tenure as Project Director that the police are investigating for financial irregularities.

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100% reservation in Legislative Assembly for tribal’s

With only few months for the general the Meghalaya People United Front (MUPF) submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer Government of Meghalaya seeking a reservation for all the 60 seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. MPUF in its memorandum also demanded to reserve 100 per cent seats in the Legislative Assembly for tribal’s of Meghalaya.

In the memorandum submitted to the Chief Election Officer recently the MPUF demanded implementation of the Act. Mr Dawanpoimi Laloo president of MPUF said that if the government maintains silence on the matter the MPUF will resort to take legal recourse.

Mr Laloo added that if other states like Arunachal and Mizoram can implement such reservation then why will it be difficult for Meghalaya to do the same.

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UDP not a B team-Bindo

Bindo M. Lanong senior member of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has lashed out to BJP and other political parties for considering UDP a team B player of the Congress. This came after BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh said “the people of the state would like to know from Bindo M Lanong, a team B player of the Congress, as to why he is not questioning the Congress,”

Lanong came back strongly to Mr Shibun Lyngdoh by saying that “the UDP is not team A, B or C of anyone.” “And he better mind his own business and his own party”.

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4th Female Minister in 30 long years 

Mizoram decided to induct a woman minister in the state cabinet, at a time when political parties are working to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament to make it mandatory to reserve 33 per cent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.

The decision to have a woman minister in the state cabinet is historic as Mizoram got its fourth female Legislator after a gap of 30 years. Lalawmpuii Chawngthu a 35 year spinster became the fourth woman in Mizoram to be inducted in the state’s council of ministers since 1987. Lalawmpuii is the daughter of senior Congress leader C. Chawngkunga. She has been active in politics since last 10 years. Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma administered the oath of office to Chawngthu at a function in the Raj Bhavan. Chawngthu, President of the Mizoram Pradesh Youth Congress Committee was elected from Hrangturzo seat in Central Serchhip District in a byelection by a margin of 2,503 votes against her lone rival, Lalduhawma, of the eight-party combine United Democratic Front (UDF). Thanga and Chawngthu were inducted in the council of ministers following the resignation of Labour Minister Lalrinmawia Ralte and Fisheries Minister Buddha Dhan Chakma.