Lokayukta in process of being set up in Meghalaya

Shillong, Mar 13: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday said the office of the Lokayukta was in the process of being set up in the state after the opposition NCP slammed the ruling Congress for its failure to do so.

"A vigilance cell under the political department headed by the chief secretary as its chief vigilance commissioner has been created to look into allegations of corruption," the chief minister said.

Speaker Charles Pyngrope said "I spoke through the office of the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to discuss this."

The Speaker called on the Leader of the Opposition Conrad K Sangma and the chief minister to follow it up with the Chief Justice.

"I do not understand why the government is taking so long to appoint the Lokayukta when the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act was passed in 2002," the Leader of the Opposition said earlier.

He said, "While corruption is the driving issue in the country, I cannot understand why the delay here."

PTI