Twelve Opposition parties in Assam staged a joint protest in Guwahati on Thursday, alleging links between CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Kuki militant groups in Manipur.
Leaders of the 12 parties — Congress, Asom Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dol, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Trinamool Congress, NCP, RJD, JD(U), AAP and Jatiya Dal Assam — raised demand for Sarma’s arrest under the National Security Act for allegedly taking help of Kuki militant groups in the 2017 Assembly elections in Manipur, after which the BJP had formed its first government in the state.
“Sarma is the convener of NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance). If the NEDA convener has links with extremist groups, he is clearly encouraging terrorists to operate in the northeastern states. He should immediately step down as NEDA convener,” said Ripun Bora, Assam Trinamool Congress president.
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