AGP (P) chief Prafulla Kumar Mahanta addresses the media at the party’s office in Guwahati on Saturday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, May 24: AGP (Pragatisheel) president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today accused the Tarun Gogoi government of double standards for deciding to launch an auxiliary force of surrendered militants to fight insurgency.

“Gogoi had opposed my government when we were tapping the former militants, but what is his government doing now? Why this dual role?” he asked.

“I believe that opportunities should be given to former militants, but they should be absorbed in other jobs and not in the forces,” he added.

Virtually accusing Gogoi of having links with militants, Mahanta urged the Centre to institute an independent inquiry into the militant-politician nexus to settle allegations and counter-allegations once and for all.

“It is unfortunate that chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who did not find time to visit the North Cachar Hills district even when hundreds of people were killed, is today accusing the Opposition of having links with militants,” he said.

Mahanta alleged that Congress leader and former chief minister late Hiteswar Saikia had accused Gogoi of maintaining links with militants when the latter was a Union minister. He added that some Dima Halam Daogah militants have also confessed that the Congress had used them during the previous polls.

Mahanta also launched a scathing attack on Dispur for failing to check price hike.

The attack comes on the eve of the Gogoi-led coalition celebrating its two years in office at a function to be held at Judges Field tomorrow.