HT Bureau
DIPHU, May 27: The president of the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC), JI Kathar, has stirred controversy with claims that a trip undertaken by BJP leaders of Karbi Anglong to Vietnam cost a staggering Rs 14 crore, allegedly drawn from public funds.
In a press conference held at his residence, Kathar accused the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) of funding the trip with money from the Panchayat and Rural Department (P&RD), igniting outrage over the purported misuse of government resources.
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“It is unfortunate that the KAAC has not been able to fulfill its financial obligations, such as paying the bills of petty tribal contractors and ensuring salaries for teachers and employees of certain departments. Yet, they saw fit to allocate Rs 14 crore from the public exchequer for a lavish trip to Vietnam,” he alleged.
Expressing disbelief at the extravagance, Kathar questioned the necessity of spending such a large sum for the enjoyment of a few individuals.
“These people could have easily funded the trip themselves. Instead, they chose to dip into public funds, disregarding the pressing needs of the community,” he remarked.
Kathar further claimed that the trip undertaken by the chief executive member (CEM), executive members (EMs), and members of Autonomous Council (MACs) among others, occurred shortly after the parliamentary elections in the Diphu constituency.
Kathar also accused the KAAC of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by withdrawing funds during this period, further alleging that the tour yielded no tangible benefits for the region.
“The KAAC by violating the ongoing MCC has withdrawn an amount of Rs 14 crore from P&RD and has used it for an enjoyment tour of Vietnam. The tour has benefited nothing. It was just an enjoyment by the CEM, EMs and MACs,” he stated.
In a scathing attack on Tuliram Ronghang, the CEM of KAAC, Kathar accused him of prioritising personal enjoyment over the welfare of the people.
“While communities struggle with food shortages and homelessness in the aftermath of storms, it is appalling that public funds are squandered on frivolous trips,” Kathar asserted, revealing that complaints have been lodged with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The controversy extends beyond financial mismanagement, with Kathar highlighting systemic issues in the electoral process. He cited instances where indigenous voters faced significant hurdles, including long journeys to polling stations and unjust deletions from voter lists, in contravention of Election Commission guidelines.
