Kohima Village Gazetted Officers’ Association (KVGOA) has come out strongly against NPF’s allegation of irregularities in the department at the behest of (RD) principal secretary Lhoubeilatuo Kire .
In a statement issued by its president Er Keviletuo Yiese and secretary Er Medozhazo Rutsa, KVGOA said it was deeply hurt and disturbed by news items appearing in local dailies on April 13 “NPF accuses PDA Government of misusing MGNREGA fund”.
Strongly condemning the character assassination attempt on its former president and bona fide member, the association alleged that Kire, known to be an efficient and upright officer, had been made a scapegoat with certain unfounded serious allegations levelled against him under the guise of attacking the PDA government.
KVGOA wondered how can there be any question of favouritism or nepotism as the principal secretary hailed from Kohima village, but was biased towards Kuda village, one of the oldest settlements in Dimapur with a multi tribe and ethnic composition, as alleged by NPF.
Instead, the association said people should be lauding his efforts for trying to bring much-needed development in Dimapur district, particularly at the village through which one of the main arterial roads passed through (a lifeline for many denizens of Dimapur town), and not just the village in question.
Stating that tarnishing the “good image” of the officer in media with unsubstantiated allegations should be condemned by one and all, the association declared that it firmly stood by its member and cautioned parties, organisations and individuals against resorting to “‘character assassination with false allegations in the future”.
The statement also asked responsible political parties to refrain from setting a “dangerous precedent” of making personal accusations against a serving officer, while attacking their rivals.
While a strong opposition could raise substantiated issues against a government, it was not healthy to level personal attacks against an individual government employee, it added.