Resignation of Nagaland Minister demanded
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Dimapur, December 08 2014:
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has demanded immediate resignation of Dr Benjongliba Aier, minister for Agriculture, Government of Nagaland for 'abusing' his position to misappropriate funds over hundred crores during his tenure as Mission Director Horticulture Technology Mission � North East (HTM-NE) from Nov 2007 till December 2012 and Director Horticulture from November 2012 before resigning on January 10, 2013 to contest the assembly elections.
NPCC in a press release said today that four days have passed since the State Vigilance Commission and Anti Corruption Cell raided both his official and private residence simultaneously in Kohima on December 4, but the minister is yet to own moral responsibility and resign on his own with the Chief Minister dithering on sacking the minister which has become a trend with the ruling NPF in shielding and rewarding the corrupt.
"Perhaps the raid on a Minister's official residence is the first of its kind in the state and with enough prima facie evidences available against the Minister, it will test the strength and resolve of the State Vigilance Commission to uncover the whole truth and bring the guilty to book," the Nagaland Congress said.
According to NPCC, when the then Home minister of Nagaland Imkong L Imchen resigned immediately on getting caught with illegal arms, banned liquor and unaccounted cash during 2013 assembly elections at Wokha, it is surprising that the Agriculture minister who had blatantly looted the state treasury running into hundred of crores chooses to remain seated in his ministerial position which has become untenable.
The NPCC said it will not tolerate the continued presence of the tainted Agriculture minister in the government.
The NPCC also demanded that the 'tainted' minister should step down on his own to pave way for a fair investigation or else the Chief Minister sack him immediately from the cabinet to atleast restore the credibility of the NPF led DAN government that has become synonymous with corruption and abuse of power for the past 12 years.
"The exposure of corruption cases against Dr Benjongliba presents a priceless opportunity before Chief Minister TR Zeliang to show his mettle as deserving political head of the state by making a marked departure from his predecessor Neiphiu Rio who in over 11 years at the helm protected and rewarded the tainted people who were already criminals in the eyes of law," the NPCC statement said.