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The Arunachal Pradesh government on Tuesday denied allegations of a nexus between the United Liberation Front of Assom and the state Congress leaders and said it was ready to face any investigation in this regard.
None of the ministers or Congress leaders in Arunachal Pradesh was in any way involved with any banned organisation, Water Resources Minister and government spokesman Tako Dabi said while reacting to the allegation made by a section of the media and the BJP.
Some leaders with vested interest were exploiting the media to settle political scores against the Congress government led by Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, said Dabi.
According to reports, Prabal Neog, commander of ULFA's 28th Battalion and the mastermind behind the massacre of Hindi speaking people in Assam, had named three Arunachal ministers after his arrest in Tezpur on September 17.
Dabi said that the government will launch an investigation to find out those behind the move to sabotage the image of the government.
On a television channel's claim that it had proof of a minister extending support to Neog, Dabi said the government was not aware of it. Denying that the chief minister and other leaders had been summoned to Delhi by the central leadership, he said they were in the capital to demand the creation of two new police battalions and discuss other developmental issues.
It was unfortunate that if a terrorist had the mobile number of a leader, the latter was perceived to have links with militants, said Dabi. Almost all insurgent groups threaten ministers and MLAs, particularly those from Tirap and Changlang districts for extortion, and the issue has been referred to New Delhi on several occasions, he said, adding that this could not be construed as a nexus.
Asked what would happen if any MLA was found to be involved with the militants, Dabi said he would not be deemed fit to be a legislator.
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee also joined the government in condemning the news reports.