Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) has trained its guns on Principal Secretary Lhoubeilatuo Kire by accusing him of instigating various organizations to attack the party for bringing out serious allegations of irregularities in the Rural Development department and the alleged undue favour shown to the village belonging to the official in allocation of VDB funds.
NPF deliberated on the issue of ultimatum served on the party by some organizations at a meeting held at de Oriental Grand, Kohima on Friday. After deliberations, the NPF Legislature Party at its meeting in de Oriental Grande unanimously concluded that the “audacious behaviour” of Kire after NPF’s exposé of “abnormal fund allocation” to a particular village in Dimapur district by NPF’s press bureau through a press release issued on April 12, was “most appalling”.
NPF said the temerity of the officer to rally support from social organizations to the extent of resulting in issuing an ultimatum on the NPF legislature party was also unbecoming of a conduct of a government servant. NPF also accused Kire of having made false claims, through media, that he had taken over charge of RD department only in the first week of April 2018 while available records with the government showed he actually took over charge on March 17, 2018.
NPF also termed it as “very strange” the demand of the officer on the party to substantiate its allegations with proof and evidence that he (Kire) was indulging in corrupt practices like pocketing government fund, misusing department vehicles, office stationery, etc, and threat to take legal recourse in the event of the party’s failure to comply with his demand. Responding to this, the legislators clarified that the NPF had in fact, never raised the above issues at any point of time in public platform or through press statements.
After a thorough deliberation on the issue, the NPF Legislature Party unanimously adopted three resolutions, that included the following: After viewing the ultimatum served on leader of opposition TR Zeliang, the NPF legislators termed it as “unprecedented and unacceptable under democratic and parliamentary norms and procedures”. The meeting unanimously observed that the allegation leveled against the leader of opposition was tantamount to questioning the role of every opposition MLA, inside or outside the Legislative Assembly.
Instead, the NPF legislature demanded that the government of the day initiate stringent action against Kire for his act of indiscipline in violation of service rules and also asked the RD department to come out with facts and figures of MNREGS fund release against each and every village under Dimapur district without further delay.
The meeting was attended by NPF legislature party leader T.R. Zeliang, Imkong L Imchen, Kuzholuzo Neinu, Chotisuh Sazo, Yitachu, Khriehu Liezietsu, Chumben Murry, Dr Ngangshi K Ao, T Torechu, Azheto Zhimomi, BS Nganlang, CL John, Kezhienyi Khalo, Toyang C. Chang, Moatoshi, EE Pangteang, Muthingnyuba Sangtam, N Thongwang Konyak, YM Yollow, Y Vikheho Swu, Amenba Yaden, Keniezhakho Nakhro, Eshak Konyak, Er Picto Shohe, Dr Imtiwapang Aier and Kejong Chang.