Pradyut Bordoloi

Margherita, March 13: A public meeting organised by the citizens of Margherita constituency today demanded an impartial inquiry into state forest and power minister, Pradyut Bordoloi?s alleged involvement in illegal coal business.

The meeting organised at the Indian Club here was attended by over 1,000 people. Speakers were unequivocal about Bordoloi?s contribution towards the initiation of development projects in the constituency and reposed full faith in the minister.

Bordoloi himself has sought a CBI inquiry into the allegation and has vowed to quit public life if proved guilty.

?He is our popular leader and the entire negative publicity and allegation which has cropped up of late is only a figment of imagination to destroy his public life. This is why we have demanded a high-level inquiry so that everything becomes clear,? said Gopi Sarmah, the president at the meeting.

The meeting also expressed concern over the ?bad name? brought by a section of the media to the place and its people. ?Use of words like ?mafia? is highly objectionable and there should be a judicious use of these sort of words,? said another speaker.

State coal and mines minister G.C. Langthasa also said in the Assembly a few days ago that there is no complaint against Bordoloi regarding his involvement in the ?existent or non-existent illegal coal trade? in this Upper Assam coal town.