Imphal, February 11: Coming down heavily against the Opposition DPA and the NSCN (IM) today, Works Minister and SPF Govt Spokesman Gaikhangam accused the Opposition DPA of supping with the NSCN (IM) and trying to take political mileage out of the death of an innocent school girl.

Speaking at a public meeting held at Saikot in Churachandpur district today, the Works Minister said that the purpose of linking the names of two Ministers and the Speaker of the State Assembly to the main accused in the killing of Lungnila Elizabeth is nothing but a desperate effort to take political mileage out of the dastardly killing of the school girl.

Accusing the NSCN (IM) of stooping to the lowest level, Gaikhangam said he has no obligation to personally clarify on the allegations raised by the outfit and added that it would be demeaning to stoop to their level.

However the Chief Minister has already set the record straight, he added.

Speaker TN Haokip who presided over the meeting said that the charges levelled against him and the two Ministers by the NSCN (IM) are without basis and foundation.

In a highly emotional tone, the Speaker said that it is beyond his wildest imagination that the Opposition would stoop so low and level the charges against him and two other Ministers on the basis of what a criminal on the run is purported to have said.

He also questioned whether the public would be so naive as to believe that James Kuki alias Letsei Haokip would approach them to provide him shelter.

He also pooh-poohed the story that James Kuki was given some money by him and the two Ministers to disappear.

It is unfortunate that the Opposition should try to take political mileage out of the killing of Elizabeth, said the Speaker and added that the action of the Opposition amounts to insulting the departed soul of Elizabeth.

The opportunistic game played by the Opposition is sure to cast a dark cloud over the political history of Manipur, he observed.

TD Minister Ngamthang Haokip, whose name has also been linked to James Kuki said that the allegations raised by the NSCN (IM) and the Opposition are without any basis and foundation.

Bluntly asking why he, as a Minister, should try to save a man named as an accused in the killing of Lungnila Elizabeth, Haokip said that the allegations raised by the outfit and the Opposition are nothing short of trying to take political mileage out of the dastardly killing of the school girl.