IANS
SHILLONG, JANUARY 15
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]eghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Tuesday denied hobnobbing with the breakaway faction of the A’chik National Volunteers Council-B, a rebel outfit operating in the state’s western part, and termed the whole episode a “political conspiracy”
“Dr Mukul Sangma is one among the very few politicians who do not keep any link with militant outfit. It is known to everybody it is known to the people, it is known to the government of India and MHA (ministry of home affairs),” Sangma told journalists at a news conference.“I have maintained that we cannot rule out the alleged politician-militant nexus but in absence of any evidence to substantiate, we cannot legally proceed with any such allegation,” he added.
On Jan 10, the ANVC-B political secretary Ajaju R. Marak had alleged that its chairman Rimpu Marak had a role in ensured Sangma remained chief minister when there was a tussle for power in his previous term.
The ANVC-B is a splinter group of the ANVC which has been observing a tripartite ceasefire with the central and Meghalaya governments for the past nine years.
Denying the allegations, Sangma termed them “malicious and “distasteful”, while saying the “subsequent developments are demonstrative of deep rooted conspiracy to malign the image of chief minister and to create confusion in the minds of the people”.
He claimed that Marak’s open letter to him indicated that “some vested interests have hatched a political conspiracy and penetrated the ANVC-B to further their political plot and conspiracy” against him and his government. “The way the letter is scripted in English and political interpretation within the letter tells more that what meets the eye.”
Reacting to the opposition United Democratic Party to seek an audience with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of opposition in both houses of parliament to demand his dismissal, Sangma advised the UDP not to waste their time as he contended that the prime minister and home ministry will have better information as to which politician have nexus with militant.
UDP spokesman Paul Lyngdoh Monday said Sangma’s alleged nexus with ANVC-B is a national issue since it has far-reaching implications on the fragile political and security scenario in the northeastern region
He also demanded that Sangma should step down to facilitate a fair and impartial probe and also sought a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
