DEHRA DUN: A section of the ruling Congress MLAs in Uttaranchal have urged Excise Minister T. P. S. Rawat to substantiate his recent remarks that some Ministers and MLAs were linked with the liquor mafia or resign immediately.

Hitting out at the statement, Uttaranchal Pradesh Congress Committee president Harish Rawat said that the Minister had levelled a very serious allegation against his own colleagues. "Mr. T. P. S. Rawat should immediately name the persons involved with the liquor mafia so that appropriate action can be taken," he said.

All-India Congress Committee member Dhirendra Pratap said Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari should order a probe into the allegation as well as earlier allegations that some leaders of various parties had taken funds from the liquor mafia during the last State Assembly elections.

The probe should be short and time-bound and those found guilty should be thrown out of the Cabinet and the party should ensure that such persons are not given a ticket to contest the elections due early next year, he said. Mr. T. P. S. Rawat when contacted said that he had not accused any MLA or Minister during his press conference in Almora.

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