"They are anti-people, anti-development, anti-Konyak": MC
Source: Oken Jeet Sandham - NEPS

Kohima, February 18, 2010(NEPS): The repeated allegations against State Forest Minister MC Konyak that he violated Wildlife Act by allegedly providing guns and bullets to his men for hunting in Singphan Reserved Forest, has now snowballed into a major issue forcing him to take legal course against the allegers.

The Minister, though initially maintained not to reply to those wild allegations hurled against him by some 15 individuals including some Congress functionaries from his Wakching constituency, has now come out openly by serving legal notice to them, seeking public apology within a week for damaging his public image or else face defamation case of damage amounting Rs 10 crore.

Talking to NEPS here on Thursday, the Minister said he was deeply hurt when he was dragged on and on by these so-called 15 individuals including some Congress workers from his area on absolutely baseless allegations.

"These are blatant lies and with the sole aim to tarnish my political and public image," he added.

He said he had not been even in the area where these few Congressmen kept alleging that he was there.

When asked as to why he served legal notice to them, the Minister said despite of his rejoinder, these people continued attacking him with "more and more lies." He was deeply hurt and pained at seeing those wild allegations that they even went to the extent of putting all lies to him that "I was involved in felling of trees in the Singphan Reserved Forest." "So this is too much which I simply cannot pass off and I finally took the decision to take legal course to dig out the hidden face behind these continuous malicious attacks against me," he stated.

Terming as "anti-people, anti-development and anti-Konyak" those who repeatedly played with the pack of lies, Konyak said.

Forest and Environment Minister MC Konyak

"I feel those who have damaged my public image must prove their allegations with facts and figures before God and public.

"For me, I am ready to swear in the name of God and even in my traditional way of swearing that I have never indulged in any crimes as alleged by these people nor will I do anything that my conscience does not permit," he asserted.

Konyak further regretted that their people were yet to realize where "they are standing and what their future holds for them." "We are yet to know that we are lagging much behind than our counterparts in almost all fields," he said.

"And When I sincerely tried to bring various projects and revamp system in our area, some started trying to hamper the progress".

Explaining his personal dealings with publics, Konyak said he had never differentiated his publics on party lines.

"I treat all of them equally whether they are from opposition or ruling," he added saying "I always have soft corner even for members belonging to opposition.

I rather treat them more humbly than my own ruling members".

Konyak said his first and foremost objective, as soon as he was made in-charge of Forest and Environment Minister, was to save the reserved forest from being further "ravaged and ruined".

The forest has vast stretch sharing with Assam.

He said rampant illegal felling of trees and smuggling of timbers was going on from Assam side taking advantage of vast stretch of unfenced areas.

"And in fact, as soon as taking over as Minister of Forest and Environment in March 2008, I straight went to Shingphan Reserved Forest area to examine the feasibility of making it as one of the Wildlife Sanctuary divisions in the State.

This particular Reserved Forest was purchased by the Government in 1929 during British India.

It has 2357 hectares.

Thereafter, the Minister took up various measures to save and develop the ruined reserved forest.

"Out of 17 kms, we have done fencing about 14 kms and the remaining portion will be completed soon," he disclosed.

Konyak further stated his department had already planted particular imported trees of over 5000 in the reserved forest, besides contacting his counterparts to provide animal species to keep them in the Shinghpan Reserved Forest which has recently been declared as a "Wildlife Sanctuary" through a State Gazette.

He also disclosed that his department had taken up to plant variety of fruit plants in the reserved forest that would give not only economic benefits to the villagers but also sustainable feeds to the animals.

He further called upon his people to rather bring up relevant issues for the inertest of the general publics and reiterated that they should change their mindset and develop the "proactive attitude" to catch up with the rest of their counterparts in this fast paced world.

"Because we are legging much behind in almost all areas," he added.

Seeking cooperation from all sections of people in his sincere attempt to save and develop the forest and making it as one of the Wildlife Sanctuaries in the State, the Minister also committed that during his tenure as Minister of Forest and Environment, he would do whatever possible to see that major projects were coming up through various initiatives and departments revamped.