NPRAAF has taken up the issue over “backdoor appointments” of various party workers of PDA constituents in the rank of cabinet or ministers of state and also the controversy over appointment of defeated NDPP candidate under 22 Arkakong A/C, as Vigilance Commissioner.
Terming the appointment as a “mockery to the justice system in the state” supposedly to compensate the defeated candidate, NPRAAF through its information and publicity cell urged the PDA government to reconsider its decision. It said the appointment sets a wrong precedence and make people lose faith in the respected anti-corruption office in the state.
NPRAAF opined that the post of Vigilance Commissioner is a top anti-corruption office and so a person appointed to the office should not have any political affinity but one of proven integrity and unimpeachable antecedent.
NPRAAF also informed it has filed RTI on May 7, 2018 asking information about facilities provided to newly appointed non-legislators in the rank of cabinet minister and ministers of state.
NPRAAF said it would await the response to gauge whether the appointments involved Section 21 of IPC so as to initiate legal action.
It expressed disappointment over the appointments and viewed it as misuse of power to appease PDA constituent members instead of working for the welfare of the people. NPRAAF said if the PDA continued with the trend then there was no hope of “change” that was promised during election. It however looked forward to positive pro-people initiatives of PDA in the days to come.
NPRAAF appealed to the PDA government to do away with “illegal backdoor appointment of party workers” in the rank of cabinet and ministers of state so that the cost on the exchequer was put to rest once and for all.
PDR: Meanwhile, a hitherto new group styled as ‘People for Democratic Rights’ (PDR) has also objected to the appointment of ex-NDPP candidate, Mayang Lima as the State Vigilance Commissioner (SVC) and said it would file a PIL if the appointment was not revoked.
In a press note, PDR publicity wing convenor, Albert Lotha said the state government did not follow the prescribed norms for appointing the Vigilance Commissioner. Over and above this, PDR also said that the appointee had contested and lost the election as NDPP candidate and this cast doubts whether he would be able to maintain fairness, be unbiased and remain free from external pressure as he owes allegiance to PDA government.
PDR also said the “resignation” of the appointee from NDPP remain unknown to the public and after the government “suddenly “ appointed him soon after the Model Code of Conduct ended, “has come as a shocker”.
In this regard, PDR has asked the state government to immediately revoke the appointment and select another person with “unblemished social reputation.”