Shillong, Nov 22: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is the main  reason for the current financial crisis in the state, and such is the case throughout the country and throughout the world.

“You need to understand one thing especially during our term from 2020 till today, we have the pandemic and how many months we have to close down all (economic) activities.”

“If you compare, it does not mean that the government does not have funds but even the households themselves don’t have money. Why they don’t have money, is it because of mismanagement, no, it is because of the pandemic,” he stated.

The deputy chief minister was reacting to the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC)’s demand for an independent probe into the alleged financial mess and misappropriation of funds in the state.

He also ruled out the possibility of setting up such an independent inquiry and said, “The annual report of the Auditor General (AG) is always laid on the table of the House. All the details, even one rupee is reflected over there, so that report is complete and final… So whatever amount we spend, be it centrally sponsored schemes, be it the state schemes, everything is reflected in the final report.”

“It (report) is not given by us, not from the Directorate of the state government, it is done by the AG office and then by the Chief Controller of Accounts from Delhi.”

Whether he agrees with the allegation that too many political appointees have contributed to the financial crisis in the state, Tynsong however said, “You can’t help it, this is the system we are doing. Right from day one of our statehood, the system is already in place and we are doing it till today.”