Inquiry committee to probe alleged corruption

SILCHAR, July 17: In view of the charges of alleged corruptions against the Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Council levelled by different bodies of the community and the threat held out by Gopidas Sinha, member of State Linguistic Minorities Development Board and the Chief Advisor of Bishnupriya Manipuri Krishak Sangstha and Bishnupriya Manipuri Unemployed Youths’ Association, to undertake fast unto death, the Minister of Welfare of Plains Tribes and Backward Classes, Rajib Lochan Pegu, has agreed to constitute one-man inquiry committee headed by the divisional commissioner to the Government of Assam, hills and Barak Valley division, to probe and submit its report within three months to the government.

The commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, WPT and BC department, convened a meeting with the office-bearers and members of the Bishnupriya Manipuri bodies to discuss their various demands at Dispur on July 14.It is to be recalled Bishnupriya Manipuri Krishak Sangstha, Bishnupriya Manipuri Unemployed Youths Association, Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha and Bishnupriya Manipuri Sangram Parishad have been raising their voice against the alleged corruptions in the Development Council and pressing for a fair and thorough probe. These bodies have cited specific instances of anomalies and irregularities as well as malpractices.

They have been persistently hammering for the dissolution of the irregularly formed interim committee of the Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Council headed by Kartik Sena Sinha, former MLA, on grounds of questionable utilization of government allotted funds of Rs 2.60 crore during 2010-11 and 2011-12. They have at the same time been clamouring for action against the members of the committee involved in corruption and formation of a new committee of the Development Council. All these demands came up within the ambit of discussions held in the conference hall of the minister, Rajib Lochan Pegu.

The meeting was convened by the commissioner and secretary at the initiative of the Minister, Rajib Lochan Pegu, who chaired the proceedings. It was decided after threadbare discussion and taking serious note of the points raised by Gopidas Sinha and others that the very role of Ex-Chairman Kartik Sena Sinha and other office bearers and members involved in corruption in the utilization of government allotted funds, the inquiry committee would go deeper to unfathom the allegations. After the inquiry committee submitted its report, the present interim committee would be dissolved.

Significantly, it was also resolved that criminal cases would be filed against the committee members if found guilty of corruption and that the government fund would not be released till the inquiry was over and a new committee formed. Regarding another allegation against Kartik Sena Sinha, Ex-Chairman of the Development Council, that he used the designation without any authorization from the government, it was decided to refer the matter to the legal department. After receiving the views of the legal department, criminal case would be filed against the Ex-Chairman. For, it amounted to deceiving the government and the people. After the process of inquiry was over, the formation of new committee would be discussed.

At the discussion were present Minister of WPT and BC, Rajib Lochan Pegu, Commissioner and Secretary of the department, R K Das, Joint Secretary, Director, Jiten Borgoary, Deputy Secretary and In-Charge of Development Council, Dipima Malakar. Gopidas Sinha, member of State Linguistic Minorities Development Board and the Chief Advisor of Bishnupriya Manipuri Krishak Sangstha, Bijoy Sinha (Retd Col), Vice President of the Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha, Shyamal Sinha, advisor of Sangram Parishad, Bijoy Kumar Sinha, President, Krishak Sangstha, Gopesh Sinha, president, Unemployed Youths Association and Krishnadas Sinha, general secretary, Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha, represented their respective bodies.

Gopidas Sinha was to sit on hunger strike till death from Monday in front of the Assembly Secretariat on the opening day of the monsoon session of the legislative House. But, he agreed to reconsider his decision and withdraw the agitation for the time being on the assurance of the Minister of initiating the steps for an inquiry committee and follow up action.