Mukut Mahanta, KAAC leaders pooh-pooh media reports

From our Correspondent

HOWRAGHAT, Jan 25: Member of Autonomous Council (MAC), Mukut Mahanta, elected to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council from Deopani constituency under BJP banner, has rebuffed all allegations regarding his association with illegal coal mining group.  He pooh-poohed all claims of the media report about carrying out massive illegal coal mining in several areas of Karbi Anglong at a press meet held in presence of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council deputy chairman Ritesh Enghi, Raju Tisso, MAC Ramsing Timung and Prabhat Chandro Taro here at Diphu.

 “The electronic and print media has alleged that I am associated with illegal coal mining syndicate and actively carrying out mining and smuggling at Silonijan locality inside Nimbor reserve forest. This allegation is totally false and baseless. The voice call record which went viral on social media is not mine; this has been done to ruin my political career. I have demanded from the higher authority for investigating the whole issue and to book the culprit,” Mahanta stated.  “I was the first person to raise my voice and inform the State Government on this issue. The voice call that went viral against Mukut Mohanta and Bokajan MLA Dr Numal Momin is under investigation and illegal coal mining in the district was not started by the BJP government but by the Congress government. After the BJP came into power in the district the illegal coal mining in West Karbi Anglong was stopped and this will be done in Karbi Anglong district also,” said Karbi Anglong district BJP president Raton Teron who was present in the meeting.

 “I appeal to all the sections of people of the district not to get baffled by that voice call about coal mining against MAC Mukut Mahanta and Bokajan MLA Dr. Numol Momin. The BJP is only seven months old in the council and we have work to do. Such allegation made by unknown miscreants is intended just to tarnish the image of the BJP,” KAAC deputy chairman Ritesh Enghee said.