Agartala, Nov 11 (IANS): The Congress party has decided to boycott Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar over his comments on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But the CPI-M said the Congress was distorting the comments.

According to Congress leaders, Marxist leader Sarkar told a public rally that Manmohan Singh was "a mad person" and his ministers were "corrupt".

"Congress leaders and legislators will boycott the chief minister in all government and non-government programmes until he withdraws the comments or apologises," Congress spokesman Ashok Sinha told reporters Sunday.

The Congress also plans legal action against Sarkar for alleging a nexus between militant groups and the party, Sinha said.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) rejected the allegation.

"People themselves will boycott the Congress in assembly elections. It is now certain that Congress leaders have links with separatist outfits," CPI-M spokesman Gautam Das said.

He said several arrested and surrendered militants had revealed the names of Congress leaders with links to rebel groups.