Credit where credit is due: TDC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 08 2017:
The Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) has said that the Chief Secretary, the DGP and other high ranking officials of the State should be credited for the successful conculsion of the 11th Mani-pur Legislative Assembly election and not the CEO, Additional CEO and Transport Department's Dy Secretary BK Sharma.
Speaking to media persons at the Council's office at MG Avenue, TDC president H Ranjit said, "TDC strongly condemns the actions of CEO Dewangan, Addl CEO RK Dinesh and Transport Department's BK Sharma towards the transporters during the Assembly elections.
They tried to hire vehicles from Assam for use during the election on purpose instead of the State transporters" .
He pointed out that TDC and all the transporters have been serving the public for a long time and have also been providing their service during election ever since 1991 adding that the officials' plan to procure vehi- cles from Assam for the election purposes failed.
"On February 21, this year, the Chief Secretary informed the State's transpor- ters that the team which went to procure vehicles from Assam had failed and the Assam Government had refused to supply any vehicles", he said.
"TDC began supplying vehicles to carry Central paramilitary forces deployed for election, who were stranded at Dimapur due to unavailability of any means of transport", he added.
H Ranjit pointed out that the CEO, Aditional CEO and the Transport Department's Dy Secy did not deserve any credit for the success of the election and instead the Chief Secreatary, DGP and high ranking officials should be appreciated.
He further asked what hidden intentions the three officials had for purposely pushing aside the transporters of the State, who greatly contribute to the State's income by form of taxes, and instead trying to use vehicles from Assam.
"Many State officials went to Guwahati and spent lakhs of rupees trying to find vehicles and even when they did, their vehicles arrived during the final stages of the election", he added.
Ranjit appealed to the Chief Minister who is also in charge of the Transport Department to look into the matter at the earliest and further urged the CM to transfrom the department into a corrution free and efficient one.
He demanded the officials to apologise to TDC for denying the transporters to cast their votes during the election and for mistreating them.
"TDC will also report to the ECI regarding the issue", he added.
Ranjit said, "The authority concerned should provide the transportation charges of the vehicles used by the police department during the election at the earliest.
But TDC will not accept payment through SUGAM system.
The State Government should also take action against the CEO for spending large sum of tax money in the name of hiring charges" .
"Proper action should be taken against BK Sharma", he demanded.