Guwahati: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today preferred to keep itself at a distance from former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, saying he is answerable to the people of the state after his indictment by a judicial panel in the "secret killings" case.

AGP president Brindaban Goswami said Mahanta should bear personal responsibility after being indicted by the Justice K N Saikia Commission that probed the killings of over 100 relatives of ULFA militants during 1998-2001. "Justice Saikia has held the then home minister (Mahanta) responsible for the secret killings in the state," Goswami told reporters here. Mahanta, who also held the home portfolio during 1996-2001, has been indicted by the commission and "he is answerable to the people", he said.

"Mahanta is morally responsible and he will have to reply. Moreover, he is no longer in the party and the AGP as a party is not responsible. If any party member is found involved, action would definitely be taken but we are first seeking legal advice on the report," he said. The "secret killings" snowballed into a major poll issue in 2001 when Tarun Gogoi stormed to power.

Mahanta had to quit the AGP, a party he had floated. The commission's report has been placed in the Assembly and those unfortunate incidents cannot be denied, Goswami said. Action should be taken against those indicted and "we are neither supporting nor backing anybody" as alleged by Gogoi, he said. Senior party leaders would meet on November 21 and discuss threadbare the implications and legalities of the commission's report, he said.

Source : PTI