Act against Nijhar, says Youth leader

MIC's disciplinary committee chief KS Nijhar's arbitrary move to issue show-cause letters to seven grassroot leaders has "embarrassed the party and its leaders".

PETALING JAYA: A MIC Youth leader has called on the leadership to initiate action against party disciplinary committee chief KS Nijhar for alleged misuse of power.

The Setiawangsa division Youth chief S Arumugam said MIC president G Palanivel should remove Nijhar immediately as the latter has issued show cause letters to party grassroots leaders, which was later withdrawn by the orders of the party’s central working committee.

He was referring to seven show cause letters issued by Nijhar to grassroots leaders over the past month for acting against interest of the party.

The party’s central working committee at its emergency meeting yesterday rescinded the letters.

“We feel Nijhar took the law in his own hands. He abused power…this is not right. The power given to the disciplinary committee head is vast.

“He has set a very dangerous precedent by issuing show cause letters before discussing it at the central working committee.

“It is a also a real embarrassment for MIC and it leadership. Now we are back tracking…what kind of precedent are we setting.

“The leadership can withdraw the letters but can they rectify the pressure faced by the seven members for the past three weeks?” he asked.

Arumugam said since the party wanted new blood, the disciplinary committee chief position should be given to a young leader who knows the situation on the ground.

“Since the party is also keen to chase out old leaders because of their age, it should put Nijhar first on the list as he is now 77-years-old. In fact he is currently the oldest party leader holding position in the MIC,” he added.

Meanwhile, a central working committee member said Nijhar apologized to all central working committee members at the meeting yesterday for his mistake.

“He said he made a mistake by issuing the letters. The committee members accepted his apology,” said the party leader who declined to be named.

The seven issued the show cause letters were RS Maniam (Kota Rajah division), G Jeyakumar (Gombak division) and M Veloo (Teluk Kemang division), and TH Subra (deputy chairman of Sungai Petani), S Kalimuthu (Tasek Permai Baru branch chairman), S Ramesh Kumar (an ordinary member from Mersing Kiri branch) and M Asojan (the Johor MIC secretary).