Assam speaker seeks explanation from MLA over criminal links

Assam assembly Speaker Pranab Gogoi on Saturday sought an explanation from Congress legislator Rumi Nath over her alleged links with the kingpin of an inter-state auto lifting racket who was arrested here on Friday.

He sought explanation after police found that racket kingpin Anil Chauhan's vehicle had pasted on it car passes issued by the Assam Legislative Assembly. Assembly officials confirmed that the passes were issued to Chauhan on the recommendation of the MLA.

Chauhan is wanted in states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Meghalaya.

"I was asked by the speaker to send a letter to Rumi Nath, asking her to explain her position. Accordingly, I have sent the letter and fixed April 8 as last date to reply to the letter," said assembly's Principal Secretary G.P. Das.

Rumi Nath, a legislator from Borkhola constituency in Barak Valley, admitted of knowing Chauhan's wife for a long time.

"Chauhan's wife is a Congress member and she approached me for recommendation for the passes and I gave it," she said while expressing her ignorance about what Chauhan does.

Reacting to the incident, Asom Gana Parishad president Atul Bora said: "One should always check the credentials of a person before recommending him or her for passes. It is difficult to believe that she did not know Chauhan."

He demand a high-level probe into the incident.

BJP state unit spokesperson Bijan Mahajan said: "Any MLA, who hobnobs with criminal cannot be above law. The initiative taken by the speaker is a welcome step."