The deputy chief minister’s office (DCMO) has refuted the Western Sumi Hoho’s (WSH) allegation that rampant development activities in the disputed Kiyevi area were being carried out with the direct involvement, help, support and assistance of deputy chief minister Y Patton, along with another senior minister.
Responding to the allegation, DyCM office (DCMO) in a statement clarified that Patton in his official capacity as the ministerin-charge of Home department had on several occasions visited the disputed areas along with other state government officers, during which he had interacted with stakeholders, including leaders of the civil society.
The statement reiterated that the stance of the the deputy chief minister and the state government on the issue had been to maintain status quo, till the matter was brought to an acceptable settlement. It pointed out that instructions to maintain the status quo had been issued by the Home department as well.
Hence, according to the deputy chief minister’s office, Western Sumi Hoho’s allegations were a bolt from the blue for Patton, who felt that a respected and responsible organisation such as the WSH could have ascertained the factual position from him before publishing the same in the media.
The office clarified that Patton, except for his involvement in his official capacity, had no direct or indirect involvement on this matter. The Dy CM’s office said that Patton in his official capacityhad directed the Home department to seek a status report on the issue along with views/comments of the tribal bodies.