Media Cell, NPCC
The blatant arrogance displayed by Home Minister G Kaito Aye in serving an ultimatum to two senior functionaries of the NPCC who had voiced out his miserable failures as R&B Minister in DAN-II and as Home Minister in DAN-III needs to be condemned by all right thinking citizens. The immaturity and inadequacy of the Home Minister once again stands exposed by his own statement which is purely a denial of substantiated facts and figures that is very much visible on ground. Being in power for the last 11 years based solely on purchased mandate, NPF leaders like the home minister have developed an aversion to criticism and their reaction smacks of dictatorial mindset that threatens the Naga society.
The two Vice Presidents of the NPCC have written on the issue of border imbroglio and the deplorable road conditions across the state not in their personal capacity but as leaders of responsible opposition political party. They had highlighted the issues which needs the urgent attention of the govt but the Home Minister choose to personally lash out and attack the NPCC leaders rather than act upon it to rectify the wrongdoings and set the records straight.
The contention of the Home Minister that the Assam-Nagaland boundary issue was sub-judice in the Supreme Court does not justify the daily harassment faced by Naga’s living near the boundary at the hands of Assam Police who have been firing on the Naga villagers with an intention to kill. The border clashes have become more frequent affair as reported in local dailies with the state govt failing to protect the lives and rights of its citizens. Even on the day of Home Minister’s ultimatum, the local dailies carried out reports of firing by Assam Police on Dikoi village that lasted for over forty minutes. Since the Home Minister keeps reiterating that the state govt had taken appropriate steps for people inhabitating these border areas, the NPCC would like to know as to what appropriate steps the Home Minister had taken to prevent the border tensions.
On the Mukalimi incident, it must be remembered that instead of stepping in to prevent the situation from escalating, the Home Minister himself attempted to pacify the Sumi public on behalf of the erring cadres belonging to NSCN (IM), which further enraged the public to take the path of violent confrontation that led to loss of innocent lives and leaving scores injured with some maimed for life. The total collapse of state govt machinery was glaringly evident when the NPF Working President Huska went on record to publicly question the state govt for not coming to the rescue of the Sumi people or if the state govt had forgotten their tribe. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has steadfastly maintained a deafening silence on the Mukalimi incident much like his new found Godfather Narendra Modi on 2002 Gujarat Riots.
The issue of fund mismanagement under MGNREGA was based on Ladigarh village where funds have been drawn and utilised against beneficiaries who are not listed in electoral roll. Even for those listed in electoral roll, they were not allowed to vote as the polling station remained under the occupation of Assam Police depriving the voters of their democratic rights. The state govt has remained a mute spectator over the whole issue and therefore the Home Minister is answerable to the plight of people from Ladigarh village.
The deplorable conditions of roads that adorn the landscape of the state mirror the achievement of G Kaito Aye as R&B minister in the last govt. His performance as R&B Minister can be summed up by the plight of people from his own district who have been travelling along the stony, muddy and dusty roads connecting Zunheboto for the past 4 years especially after the abandonment of SARDP (NE) road project. The deplorable road conditions are not an overnight happening, but a continuous neglect over the years despite receiving adequate funding for construction and maintenance. Therefore, the former R&B minister cannot escape blame and is solely responsible for the present state of deplorable roads.
Since the Home Minister wants the NPCC leaders to substantiate their allegations particularly in road sector, few examples of his blatant manipulation and duplication are listed for the public to best judge the works which are prime examples of manipulation and duplication.
1. The upgradation of Dimapur to Niuland Road from ODR to MDR for a distance of 28 km was awarded to M/s. National Construction for an amount of Rs. 2883.41 Lakhs (Twenty eight crores, eighty three lakhs and forty one thousand only) on Aug 24, 2010. Time for completion was 18 months. The colossal amount sanctioned for a distance of 28 km which amounted to more than crore per km was not replicated on ground as the work was a case of filling up potholes and black painting the existing metalled road which has worn off within a few months.
2. The blatant duplication of road construction is found on the Zhekiye-Satoi Road which connects the hometown of the Home Minister. The first work order for Rs.1564.79 Lakhs (Fifteen crores sixty four lakhs and seventy nine thousand only) was issued on 11th may 2009 to Vizheto Sumi under the sub, “Allotment of Work for Construction and Improvement of road from Zhekiye to Hokiye via Satoi (Zhekiye to Ghokhuvi-26 km).” Time for completion was within 24 months.
The second work order for Rs. 1410.63 Lakhs (Fourteen crores ten lakhs and sixty three thousand only) was issued on 23rd Nov 2010 to the same contractor under the sub, “Allotment of Work, Improvement of Road from Zhekiye to Satoi-70 Km (from Ghukhuyi – Satoi Administrative Hq-21 km), MDR under NLCPR.” Time for completion was within 24 months.
Since both the work orders under NLCPR were on the same road, the Home Minister as former R&B Minister will have to give explanation for duplication of this work instead of questioning the congress leader’s motive.
The NPCC is of the opinion that it is not necessary to respond Para wise but has relied on substantive issues on which the Home Minister and the NPF govt have faltered badly. In the course of bringing out the hard facts on the functioning of the NPF govt, if the Home Minister who is also the former R&B Minister feels that the NPCC leaders have hurt his personal sentiment by use of some unparliamentary language, the NPCC expresses its regrets and expunges the word “weakest and most corrupt.” However, the NPCC fully concurs and supports the statement of its leaders who have brought out the relevant issues that confronts the people of the state.
