NPCC attacks Rio on his property

Kohima, Apr 17: The controversy on the ''office of profit'' has taken a new turn in Nagaland with Opposition Congress alleging that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has amassed property worth several crores beyond his known source of income.

In a press statement here this morning, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president Hokheto Sumi said Mr Rio had acquired movable and immovable property during the last three years which are ''disproportionate to his salary and other benefits'' entitled to him as the Chief Minister.

Substantiating his claim, Mr Sumi pointed out that the purchase of a plot of land at Shoxuvi village under Dimapur district, a building and plot at Dimapur town, a building at Kohima, a multi-storyed building near old Kohima town, a bungalow at Gurgaon, Haryana, Nathu resort at Chumukedima and a school complex at Kohima.

Mr Sumi said, ''The total amount of the cited acquired property runs into crores of rupees and it is a well established fact that the Chief Minister at his discretion diverted Rs four crores in 2005 from Nagaland bamboo mission to Nagaland sports council.'' He said, while Mr Rio is talking of developmental programmes r he is actually talking of his own programmes only.

''The dictatorial style of functioning and exercising absolute authority by Rio is a murder of parliamentary democracy system as it benefits one man alone (Rio),'' it said.

''The Congress party would like to urge the people to rise up against the misrule of Nagaland People Front (NPF)-led 'Democratic Alliance of Nagaland' government under the leadership of Mr Rio'', Mr sumi added.

UNI