BJP battles coal scandal in Assam, with the chief minister in the dock

'In Assam, civil society groups have long accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government of allowing illegal coal mining to thrive in the state. Now, these allegations could singe Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal himself. In the last week of September, members of the Congress distributed what they claimed were incriminating photographs to journalists. The photographs showed Sonowal with a man named Sunil Kumar Gurung alleged to be involved in illegal mining operations. Gurung had been named in a confidential letter written in February by the director of the state geology and mining directorate to the deputy commissioner of Tinsukia district, flagging the problem of illegal coal mining in the area. Scroll.in has reviewed the letter...'