Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said allegations that he had engaged with Kuki militants were “baseless”. 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday denied having any links to a Manipur-based Kuki militant outfit. The Congress had demanded Sarma’s arrest under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly taking the help of a Kuki militant group for the 2017 Manipur election.

The controversy played out even as ethnic clashes continued in Manipur between the Meitei and Kuki communities.

Lashing out at the Congress, Himanta Biswa Sarma said the claims made against him by the party were false.

Sarma’s remarks came after Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress President Mira Borthakur Goswami, alleged that a leader of a Kuki militant group had written to Home Minister Amit Shah, that his outfit had ‘helped’ the BJP in the 2017 Manipur assembly polls.

Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah last week demand that Sarma be arrested under the National Security Act (NSA).

“Some baseless allegations have been leveled in recent social media posts on understanding with some UG (underground) leaders of Manipur. It is reiterated that there is no engagement with any such elements,” a statement issued by Sarma said.