‘War of words’ between the opposition Congress party and the ruling BJP led government over the issue of forged Cheque Drawal Authority (CDA) is finally reaching catastrophe with some important issues finally unfolding to the public sphere.
First it hints about the probable involvement of Ministers, second it unfolds on how middle men are easily made scapegoats and thirdly it reveals the tendency to spark anger to government employees.
Not bad, the state government authority is not remaining silent to this issue and a person who was involved in the forgery has been detained and investigation is being carried out to punish whoever is responsible in the heinous crime. As according to the spokesperson of the Government of Manipur Th. Bishwajit, the state government will not tolerate any form of financial misappropriation and that no funds using forged cheque were withdrawn. On the other hand when the congress party which brought up the issue said that, hadn’t the congress party revealed about the forgery, the government would have remained quiet.
Well silence, is no good, government’s quick response to the scam is worth appreciation and the role being played by the congress party is also laudable. For sure some people who have been cheating and misappropriating the public money will be behind the bar.
The ‘war of words’ between the ruling and the opposition is now an eye opener to the public on how those in power misappropriated public money.
The case over the forged CDA may be solved but what is more interesting is that, this issue is the opening of the Pandora box.
The forgery committed here is for the Public Works department. The Works Minister, who is also the spokesperson of the BJP led government, had stated that the government had found more case of forgery and 9 more contractors are being questioned over this issue.
Small time cheaters, contractors or sub contractors are sure to face the music. But what is more worrying is – will this case wind up with the punishment of this few people without going on how and what gives these people such a crook mind in misappropriating the public money.
As per government source, the PWD account was exhausted on March 28 this year. Congress said over Rs. 30 crore have been withdrawn from the account after March 28. Funds for payment of salary for the government employees and other non-plan head have been diverted to this account, as alleged by the Congress. If this is what actually happened then those contractors or sub-contractors which are been investigated for the forgery are no different from putting as scape-goat.
A contractor or even top level bureaucrats will not be able to divert fund from non-plan head without the knowledge of Chief Minister, Finance Minister or the concerned Works Minister. The way the fund is being diverted will certainly have some motives which indirectly suggests that those three (mentioned above) in the government are certainly involved.
As this issue is being unfolded, the investigation over this at the level of District police superintendent or say at the level of top police DGP will not be able to drill the whole issue. In case if it is done then no public are going to believe to their findings.
What the BJP and those alliance political partners in the present government should understand is that – Congress had been in power and govern the state for 15 years and they have all experience on what and how things are going on in the government.
Now the ‘war of words’ has already begun and the Congress is not going to make U-turn until it unfolds the truth.
If BJP and its alliance wants to save themselves, it is better that the government constitute an independent enquiry committee headed by at least one retired Judge. The idea of inclusion of an opposition MLA as well as two Journalists, as suggested by the Opposition is also not bad.
