Asom CM faces ISI link charges

Guwahati, May 29 (UNI) Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was today charged with the allegation of having links with the Pakistan-backed ISI, while his cabinet colleagues were being targeted for alleged ULFA links.

Claiming that there were ample grounds for believing that Mr Gogoi had accepted money from the ISI, the President of the state unit of Hindu Yuba Chatra Parishad (HYCPA), Brojen Kakoty, said, ''The inaction of the Chief Minister against the ISI instigated violence in the state raises doubt that he has sold out to the ISI.'' Mr Kakoty also referred to the suspected links which former prime ministers Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi had with the CIA and KGB respectively.

''Even Mr Gogoi seems to be following on their lines and sacrificing the welfare of the state for few dollars,'' he added.

Mr Gogoi's cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sharma in a separate press conference earlier had denied any links with the banned ULFA as alleged by few MPs yesterday.

The HYCPA leader pointed out that the state government had done nothing to curb the illegal activities being carried out by the ISI through the Bangladeshi infiltrators, Madarsas and few mosques.

''The Centre also has evidence of the ISI involvement through these channels and yet the state government is silent,'' he said.

''It is mysterious that the state government has refrained from carrying out military raids in places where ISI is suspected to have a strong hold,'' Mr Kakoty added.

The HYCPA also formally announced its merger with the Hindu Yuba Chatra Parishad led by Kailash Mahato, who was also present at today's meet here.

UNI