Power Minister James Sangma categorically denied allegations of wrongdoing that emerged in a local newspaper report today and instead recommended that a leak inquiry be conducted to find out how “confidential” data found its way into the hands of the press.
The basis for the story published today was supposedly a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that supposedly found irregularities in the implementation of the central government’s Saubhagya Scheme, which aims to provide electricity to all households in the country, within Meghalaya. Such irregularities have culminated in a scam of nearly Rs 150 crores in proportion, the story claimed.
Speaking to the media, Sangma denied any wrongdoings and said leakage of such confidential documents before they were placed before the Assembly amounted to breach of privilege. Interestingly, the spokesperson of his National People’s Party (NPP) called the assertion that the CAG had written such a report as “fake news”.
The minister said that he has therefore instructed his department to initiate an inquiry to find out how such a leak came about.
“The leakage is illegal in nature…This is a serious matter. Any officer who is found guilty of a breach of this magnitude deserves the strictest action,” he added.
However, he refused to address specific allegations made in the newspaper report, all the while saying that his department, which has been under a cloud of suspicion and accusation and counter-accusation in recent months, believes in “transparency and accountability.”
Sangma further stated that an independent inquiry constituted by the state government to look into the whole gamut of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd’s (MeECL) functioning would also look into Saubhagya.
He also attacked the opposition Congress, saying that it has “made noise to stay relevant”. Sangma also refused to entertain the possibility of resigning, as demanded by the Congress, as he had not done anything wrong.
Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh said that he does not remember the CAG report being tabled in the house.
When asked if this was a breach of privilege, Lyngdoh said, “The government should look into it. Nobody has reported anything to me, so I cannot do anything right now. So let the government or the particular department look into it.”
