MLA mulls legal action against DSO

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 2 : Kshetrigao AC MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan has said that he will take up legal action against  the Imphal East District Supply Officer (DSO) of CAF & PD and some Government officials over the NFSA rice issue.
The MLA claimed that the Imphal East DSO made some statements which can hurt his prestige by colluding with some Government officials.
Speaking to the media at his residence at Kshetri Awang Leikai today, Noorul Hassan continued that the beneficiaries of NFSA in his Constituency haven't received the rice allocated for them for four months (November 2023 to February 2024).
Appealing to the relevant authorities to release the rice as soon as possible, the MLA added that DSO of Imphal East making unfounded allegations against him over the issue is unfortunate.
Claiming that the DSO was scheming to take political mileage over the issue by colluding with some Government officials, he added that legal action will be taken up against the erring officials.
Saying that the CAF & PD Director and Imphal East DSO accusing him of forcefully lifting rice from FCI godown at Sawombung and asking him to return the rice was unfortunate, the MLA said that it is his responsibility as an MLA to give the benefits of the Government programmes and schemes to the people of his Constituency.
Noorul Hassan further stated that he and some rice agents lifted nine truckloads of rice from the FCI godown  on March 30 which were allocated for the people of Kshetrigao for March under NFSA and the same has been distributed to the beneficiaries.
He said that some officials diverted one truckload of rice meant for Kshetrigao to the FCI godown at Sangaiprou and asked the official to release the rice.
The MLA asserted that it his responsibility to deliver the benefits of Government schemes to the people of his Constituency.
Asking all concerned to refrain from doing politics on rice, Noorul Hassan advised the CAF & PD Director and Imphal DSO to do their job properly.
He then asked the authorities concerned to release the rice for four months (November 2023 to February 2024) as soon as possible.
The MLA also asked when the pending remuneration of Fair Price Shop agents for two years will be released.
Noorul Hassan went on to state that he won't allow anyone to rob the rights of the people of his Constituency as long as he is the MLA.
Claiming that the NFSA rice are available at shops at a rate as high as Rs 2300/2400 per bag, the MLA asked the officials concerned to explain how NFSA rice ended up at private godown and shops.
The MLA said that there is video evidence of NFSA rice being kept/sold at private godowns and shops.
Stating that CAF & PD officials who deliberately ignored his phone call must be suspended, Noorul Hassan asked the officials concerned to stop doing field work from the comfort of their offices.
Withholding the rice of the people is a serious violation  of the Constitutional and democratic right of the people, he asserted and demanded that an investigation must be carried out against the retaining of ration cards of NFSA beneficiaries too in the context of making new cards.