Assam State Govt to Wait for CAG Report

New Delhi, Feb 23 : Faced with the prospect of ordering a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the financial bungling in North Cachar Hills, the State Government in a smart move, today conveyed to the Centre that it first want to wait for the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report before considering handing over the case to the premier investigating agency.

As reported in this newspaper on Monday, the Centre has already asked the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) to go for a thorough audit of the accounts of the NC Hills Autonomous Council. Besides, the Accountant General too has been roped in to carry out audits of the other autonomous councils set up under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Talking to newsmen, Union Home Secretary GK Pillai said that State Chief Secretary PC Sarma called him up today to inform that as CAG has already been ordered to conduct an audit of the account of the NC Hills Autonomous Council, depending upon the finding of the CAG, the State Government would consider ordering a CBI inquiry.

The Union Home Secretary revealed that one of the key areas of the proposed amendments would be to ensure that the accounts of the autonomous councils are audited every year and the audited accounts are made public so as to ensure greater transparency in the functioning and expenditures of the councils.

Yesterday, the Union Home Secretary had said that the Centre was planning to bring certain amendments to the Sixth Schedule and one of the key areas of the proposed amendments would be to ensure that the accounts of the autonomous councils are audited every year.

Meanwhile, the Correspondent, Kanhaiah Bhellary, who broke the story told this newspaper that they stood by the story, which had mentioned the alleged involvement of seven ministers of Gogoi’s council of ministers in the scam running to the tune of Rs 1000 crore.

When asked whether they had received any denial from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), he confirmed, they did, but added that a final decision would be taken by the Editor, whether or not to publish the denial.

Meanwhile, former State BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Ramen Deka on Monday dashed off a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to direct the NIA to file a supplementary chargesheet against the accused persons.

The letter released to the media said that it was shameful that huge amounts of funds meant for development had been siphoned off by unscrupulous people. The Union Government cannot be a silent spectator in this matter, as it was the duty of the Centre to monitor utilisation of funds in the State. The Centre should not brush the NIA’s report under the carpet, the letter said.