Kohima, March 25: The Opposition Congress today scathingly criticised the Naga People’s Front-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government for “misrule and corruption”.

Opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi lambasted the DAN government for alleged corruption and siphoning off of public money by chief minister Neiphiu Rio and his associates.

Initiating the debate on the governor’s speech today in the Assembly, Yepthomi said corruption had reached its zenith and the Naga people were left to their own fate.

He alleged that funds meant for public welfare had been diverted to the coffers of the chief minister and his ministers and parliamentary secretaries.

The Congress leader questioned why action could not be initiated against the offenders despite several corruption cases, unearthed by agencies like the CBI and special investigation team of the state government.

He alleged that apart from the gross embezzlement of money in the government departments, funds under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, meant for the downtrodden, had also been misappropriated.

Yepthomi submitted several papers to Assembly Speaker Kiyanielie Peseyie as proof to substantiate his charges.

He also questioned Rio why he had refused prosecution sanction to the CBI to arrest former industry and commerce minister Khekiho Zhimomi for his involvement in the Rs 1.23crore scam in the Nagaland Sugar Mill voluntary retirement scheme for 157 employees.

The CBI has named Zhimomi as the main culprit in the embezzlement of funds meant for the retired employees. The sleuths also named two officials of the industry and commerce department besides two militants in the case.

Zhimomi is re-contesting the Rajya Sabha elections for the second time. The poll will take place tomorrow.

However, chief minister Rio said his government would not allow outside agencies to dictate the government.

Yepthomi, while lambasting the state government, also said the case could be settled only if the money was paid to the retired employees or if the prosecution sanction was issued against the culprits.

The Congress had also named Zhimomi for embezzlement of funds under the industry transport subsidy scheme.

The Opposition leader pulled up the state industry and commerce department for what he claimed rampant corruption. Yepthomi said the department had become the “nerve centre” for making false and bogus certificates to avail of funds and siphoning off subsidy schemes.

He also questioned the chief minister why no action was initiated in the coal scam, where the CBI had named one of the senior officials of the state department.