The United Democratic Party (UDP), a key ally in Meghalaya's Congress-led coalition government, Wednesday accused some Congress leaders of hobnobbing with the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), a powerful rebel group in the state.
"The party (UDP) has taken serious note of some of the Congress leaders' complicity with the outlawed GNLA," UDP spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh said.
Arrested GNLA supremo Champion R. Sangma had declared that his outfit would support the Congress party in the assembly elections in five districts of Garo Hills in western Meghalaya.
"The party has decided to take up this illegal activity (GNLA supporting Congress) with Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh," the UDP spokeperson said.
Accusing the Congress-led government for "giving preferential treatment" to Sangma, Lyngdoh said: "The lack of firmness on the part of the government to take tough action against the chief of the terrorist organisation was evidence enough of some Congress leaders' nexus with the GNLA."
However, the Congress Meghalaya state unit has denied negotiating with the GNLA for the next year's assembly elections in the state.
"At no stage it (Congress) had entered into any negotiation on such matter. The Congress is immune to rhetoric aimed at maligning its impeccable time-tested ideals, principles and values," Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee chief D.D.Lapang said.
Sangma, whose outfit is fighting for a separate Garoland in five districts of Garo Hills in western Meghalaya, was arrested July 30 near the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. He was accused of waging a war against India.
"The decision of the GNLA to support the Congress in the state assembly elections to be held in 2013 reflects the desperation of the Congress to come to power at any cost," the opposition National People's Party state unit president W.R. Kharlukhi said.