EMN
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 8
THE NPCC demands immediate resignation of Dr Benjongliba Aier, minister for Agriculture for ‘abusing’ his position to misappropriate funds over hundred crores of rupees during his tenure as Mission Director Horticulture Technology Mission – North East (HTM-NE) from November 2007 till Dec ember 2012 and Director Horticulture from November 2012 before resigning on January 10, 2013 to contest the assembly elections.
The NPC in a statement said 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 was 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 NPCC press note added.
It then recalled that when the then Home minister 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 crores chooses to remain seated in his ministerial position which has become untenable.” The NPCC also said it will not tolerate the continued presence of the tainted Agriculture minister in the government. It reiterates its demand that the ‘tainted’ minister should step down on his own to pave way for a fair investigation or else the chief minister sacks 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 note stated.
