Guwahati, Nov. 26: The BJP today cited the arrest of a former Congress Seva Dal leader in connection with the October 30 serial blasts as an evidence of the Tarun Gogoi government’s “nexus” with extremist and jihadi elements.

The BJP vice-president, Bijoya Chakraborty, accused the ruling Congress of patronising Islamic fundamentalists and terrorist organisations for “vote bank politics” that, she alleged, posed a serious threat to the integrity and security of Assam in particular and the country in general.

Showing some photographs of Bimal Musahary — a former Congress Seval Dal leader recently arrested in the blasts case — where he is seen with Congress leaders Bhumidhar Barman, Haren Das and Nilamoni Sen Deka, Chakraborty alleged that Musahary’s arrests suggested that the Congress could have a hand in the serial blasts.

The pictures shown by the BJP were reportedly taken in 2003.

Rajen Gohain, a BJP MP, alleged that the blast accused was still very close to Barman, the state Congress heavyweight and revenue minister.

“These photographs were irrefutable proof of Congress patronising anti-national elements,” Gohain said.

The BJP leaders alleged that the ruling Congress-led coalition government in Assam was pressuring the investigators in order to put the blame on one particular group and give a clean chit to the jihadis.

Chakraborty said Gogoi must clearly tell the people of the state when the riot-hit indigenous people still languishing at the relief camps in Udalguri and Darrang districts would be able to return home.

Refuting the allegation levelled against her by the Congress (of instigating mob violence at Ganeshguri after the blast), Chakraborty said: “It is false and politically motivated”.

The Congress admitted that Musahary was a member of its Seva Dal but the party maintained that he was expelled in 2005 and since then had no truck either with the party or the state government.