Opp leader to CM: Take action against those involved in education scam

Shillong, Nov 5: Demanding that action be taken against those involved in canvassing and “manipulating the marks” in the recruitment of assistant teachers of the government lower primary school, opposition leader and National People’s Party (NPP) leader Conrad K Sangma asked Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to focus on real issue than “shooting the messenger” by directing the government to find out the sources of the leak of the CBI report to the media.

Conrad told reporters Monday, “The entire process of manipulation of marks to remove deserving candidates from the posts is completely “wrong” and “unacceptable.” He said if action is not being taken against those guilty it will be totally incorrect and people would completely lose faith in the entire system.

Conrad demanded that those instrumental in recommending and manipulating of marks to get their candidates the assistant teachers job should be punished as per law.

Conrad criticised the chief minister for ordering the chief secretary to find out how the report of the CBI was leaked to media. He said, “The chief minister approach to the issue is completely wrong as he is giving more important to who has revealed the report to media rather than taking action against those involved in the scam.”

Conrad said the chief minister should instead focus on the real problem rather than buying time in shooting the messenger. He also made it clear chief minister himself is also accountable to the CBI and the way the government is reacting only reflects the working system of the Congress led government in the state.”

Seven ministers and five legislators have been named by the CBI for bending the rules and recommending the selection of their candidates as assistant teachers in the government lower primary school two years ago.

The CBI report named Assembly speaker Charles Pyngrope, deputy speaker Sanbor Shullai, ministers Ampareen Lyngdoh, JA Lyngdoh, AL Hek, Prestone Tyngsong, RC Laloo and five legislators- Sniawbhalang Dhar, RV Lyngdoh, Remington Pyngrope, Limison Sangma and Donkupar Massar of nepotism as they had recommended their candidates for appointment to the post of the assistant teachers.

However the Meghalaya government appealed against the CBI report in the high court and accordingly the court directed the state government to constitute a “high level scrutiny committee” to scrutinize and review the records of candidates who had applied for the posts of lower primary school teachers. The court has further asked that the CBI report should also be taken into consideration.

Speaking about the high level committee Conrad said constituting such a committee will not make sense as people will not have faith in its report as the affected education department is inquiring into its own department.

He, however, felt that the government should rather constitute an independent body to enquire into the matter.” But he felt that there is no need for another committee when such a highest investigating agency CBI has given such a glaring report.- By Our Reporter