No order issued by MHA refusing permission to Naga CM

New Delhi: The Home Ministry on Monday trashed reports that it has refused permission to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to utilise the helipads of Assam Rifles at Ukhrul and Chandel in Manipur, saying the question of denying permission does not arise at all during elections.
“No order has been issued by the Home Ministry denying permission to utilise the Assam Rifles helipads at Ukhrul and Chandel,” Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry (North-East) Shambhu Singh told reporters here. Singh was referring to reports which suggested that Rio had accused him of not allowing his (Rio’s) helicopter to land in the facilities of the paramilitary force in Manipur.
“I completely refute the allegation. The Home Ministry has nothing to do in such cases during general elections,” he said.
Sources said when the Assam Rifles authorities had written a letter to the Home Ministry a few days back seeking its opinion on the request of Nagaland government to utlise the helipads at Ukhrul and Chandel, the Joint Secretary wrote back to the paramilitary force to approach the Election Commission or its representatives. (PTI)