CEO clears air on Cong's BJP-SoO outfit nexus slur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 04 2022:
Manipur Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has clarified that release of stipend to SoO groups by the state government is not in violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
With apparent reference to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's contention that the BJP government released huge amount to the SoO groups after enforcement of the election MCC, the clarified that there is no violation of MCC as the beneficiaries of the scheme were already identified and approved before MCC came into force.
In a release, office of the CEO informed that it received complaint of alleged violation of MCC by the state government by releasing stipend to Suspension of Operation (SoO) Groups.
In this regard, CEO requested Home and Finance Department, government of Manipur to submit necessary report for further action.
As per the reports submitted by the departments, the amount of Rs 15.703 crore was released as backlog monthly stipend for SoO groups under KNO and UPF for the months of October, 2020 to September, 2021 at the rate of Rs 6000 per cadre per month for approved strength of 1122 cadres of KNO and 1059 cadres of UPF as part of regular on-going programme since 2008.It further clarified in the report that a sanctioned amount of Rs 1.02 crore was for payment of financial benefits to surrenderees as per revised scheme of surrender-cum-rehabilitation of militants in the North East states and the same is not related to SoO Groups.
Since the beneficiaries of the above scheme were already identified and approved before the announcement of the election and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, there is no violation of the Model Code of Conduct of the election, the CEO maintained.