On Tuesday, the apex court took up the matter but legal arguments against the Governor's decision to swear in a "minority government" taken on Monday remained inconclusive. The Governor had asked Mr Lapang to prove the majority of his government on the floor of the House within ten days.

Appearing on behalf of the NCP-led Alliance before a bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, senior advocates Soli Sorabjee and Arun Jaitley contended that the Governor's move was "illegal and unconstitutional."

"The Governor cannot exercise any discretion when members constituting the majority are physically present before him. He is bound to invite the leader of such an alliance under Article 163 of the Constitution," the petition filed by MPA secretary Conrad K Sangma said referring to Monday's incident when NCP leader PA Sangma paraded 30 MLAs before the Governor.

However, former Chief Minister EK Mawlong, who had also extended support to MPA through a letter of support, could not be present due to his ill health.

According to the petition, the Governor had violated the recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission by inviting the Congress, having only 25 legislators in the 60-member House, to form the government.

The petition also referred to the apex court verdict declaring as null and void the decision of Bihar Governor in the "Nitish Kumar versus Government of India case 2006" when Nitish Kumar moved Supreme Court against the Governor's decision to invite Lalu Prasad Yadav to form the government despite being in the minority.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Shillong Times on Tuesday, MPA Spokesperson Bindo M Lanong claimed that all the 31 legislators belonging to the Alliance were intact.

Downplaying rumours that Congress had convinced some of the legislators in MPA to come to its fold, Mr Lanong said, "We are determined to defeat the Congress government both in the Supreme Court and in the Assembly." (With inputs from Our Reporter and PTI)

The list was handed over by BSF Inspector General (Assam-Meghalaya Frontier) P K Mishra to the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) during the first round of the four-day conference between the two forces at the BSF frontier headquarters here.

"We have given a list of 141 camps of insurgent groups operating in Bangladesh along with the names of 116 rebel leaders and their 198 sympathisers, and asked for help to dismantle the camps," Mishra told PTI.

He said to substantiate its case that ULFA, NSCN(IM) and other rebel groups like PLA, NLFT, UNLF and HNLC were operating from the neighbouring country, the BSF referred to the recent surrenders of some top HNLC and NSCN(IM) cadres, who had confessed to interrogators that their accomplices were in Bangladesh.

The self-styled ULFA 'Commander-in-Chief' Paresh Barua, its Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and HNLC General Secretary Cheristerfield Thangkiew were among those whose names figured in the list, he said.

"We have impressed upon them that many of the insurgents, including Julius Dorphang of HNLC, who surrendered recently, admitted having camps in Bangladesh," the senior BSF official said. "The camps are a threat to India and we asked the BDR to help dismantle them," Mishra said.

While the BDR is learnt to have verbally denied the existence of militant camps, they did not give any official statement. Issues like trans-shipment of arms from across the border, infiltration, cross-border circulation of fake currency and smuggling, adverse possession of land by Bangladesh and expedition of border fencing work also came up for talks. "We have given the locations from where the fake currency is coming and furnished details of the intruders apprehended and smuggled goods seized," Mishra said. (PTI)

With Chief Minister DD Lapang facing a deadline of ten days to prove majority of his government on the floor of the House, the Congress-led alliance's tally now stands at 28, still three short of the magic figure 31.

Meanwhile, all three Independent MLAs will be inducted into Cabinet on Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Congress strategy is to make sure that they do not give the slip, and at the same time send message to the vulnerable ones, if any, to join the bandwagon.

The new alliance with Congress' Charles Pyngrope as chief whip and Independent Abu Taher Mondal as secretary was formed at a meeting at Mr Lapang's residence here on Tuesday, aiming to rope in other regional parties or Independents to survive the floor test.

Two other Independents in the alliance are Limison A Sangma from Tikrikilla and Ismail R Marak from Rongram constituencies.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Lapang said, "We are confident to prove majority within ten days in the House." 

He, however, refused to divulge the names of those legislators who have "expressed willingness to join the MUA".

He also parried a question over the writ petition filed by MPA in the Supreme Court against the Governor's decision to invite him to form the government.

It may be noted that actual strength of MPA and MUA in the House would be known during election of the Speaker which is scheduled before the Assembly session.

SHILLONG: The newly formed Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) has entrusted Chief Minister DD Lapang with the task of negotiating with regional parties ahead of the floor test in the Assembly due next week.

''As there are too many negotiators, the MUA has entrusted Mr Lapang to negotiate with the regional parties to prove the majority on the floor of the House,'' Congress legislator Charles Pyngrope said after on Tuesday evening.

Mr Pyngrope said the Congress was open to have alliance, even with the NCP, already part of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA).

''The door is open to all. We are a secular party and there are no untouchables. We hope to get the support of like-minded parties,'' Mr Pyngrope asserted.

A day after Mr Lapang was sworn in as Chief Minister, the BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress for using the gubernatorial post as a tool to achieve its political interest.

The BJP Meghalaya unit said the party high command had assured the State leadership of taking the issue seriously for restoration of democracy in the State.

The BJP, with one legislator in the 60-member House, is also member of the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance.

''When we had paraded 31 MLAs before him (Governor), what else do we need to prove. He should have invited the MPA (majority) rather than inviting a minority party (Congress),'' BJP legislator AL Hek said.

Mr Hek also informed that he apprised of the dramatic political development in the State to Leader of the Opposition LK Advani, party president Rajnath Singh and national general secretary Arun Jaitley.

The State BJP also criticized the Governor for swearing in Mr Lapang as the Chief Minister and termed it as ''murder of democracy''. (UNI)

SHILLONG: Swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected legislators to the eight Meghalaya Legislative Assembly was held at the temporary Assembly building here on Tuesday.

In the 60-member House, Congress has 25 legislators, NCP 14, UDP 11, HSPDP 2, KHNAM and HSPDP one each and five Independents.

Altogether 57 legislators including Chief Minister DD Lapang took the oath administered by pro tem Speaker Hoping Stone Lyngdoh. However, former Chief Minister EK Mawlong could not make it to the swearing-in ceremony due to illness.

NCP general secretary Purno A Sangma formally returned to the State politics on Tuesday by taking the oath of office and secrecy as an MLA. He resigned from his Lok Sabha membership on Monday.

Former deputy chief ministers Dr Mukul Sangma and Dr Donkupar Roy and lone woman representative in the Assembly Ampareen Lyngdoh were among other prominent MLAs who took the oath on Tuesday.

Election in Baghmara constituency had been postponed to March 22 due to the death of Congress candidate Sengran M Sangma.

After the oath-taking ceremony, the pro tem Speaker adjourned the House sine die.

An FIR was lodged at Mawlai police station on Tuesday in this connection.

Police said the boy has been sent to a juvenile home.

SHILLONG: Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP MLA P A Sangma on Tuesday formally returned to Meghalaya politics as member of the eighth 60-member Assembly for the second time.

In 1988, Mr Sangma returned to Meghalaya politics as the Chief Minister of the Congress-led coalition government, but two years later his government was toppled.

This time, he returned to state politics with a pledge to ensure political and economic development of the state.

Mr Sangma quit as member of the Lok Sabha on Monday.

His second return assumed significance with his two scions James and Conrad K Sangma following his footsteps in the Assembly.

The junior Sangmas' said it was a unique occasion to take oath in the Assembly along with their father.

''Coming to Meghalaya Legislative Assembly after a gap of 20 years is like homecoming to me'', Mr Sangma said, soon after Pro-tem Speaker H S Lyngdoh adjourned the House sine dine.

Eulogising the standard of debates in Meghalaya Assembly over the past years, the senior politician said he wanted the same practices of Parliament be followed in the Meghalaya Assembly, barring members shouting in the well of the House.

''I want even the ministers to participate in the debate on relevant issues in the House for a healthy democracy as at present only the Opposition members are vocal on many issues,'' Mr Sangma stated.

Mr Sangma, who missed the 125-year-old structure that housed the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, which was gutted in January 9, 2001 said, ''We (legislators) have to see that there is a good House for legislators and that the construction of the House should start at the earliest''.

Earlier, soon after the oath taking ceremony, Chief Minister DD Lapang went to Mr Sangma's table in House and congratulated him for his return to state politics. (UNI)

The UPA government’s "Dream Project" Sethusamudram Channel Project estimated to cost the national exchequer Rs. 2,400 crore will come up for hearing before the Supreme Court from April 15. The Centre in a 60-page affidavit has pleaded that the apex court vacates its six-month-old stay order to start expeditious resumption of work on the stalled project. To avoid a controversy akin to the one created by doubting the existence of Ramayan and Lord Ram and their link to Ram Sethu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, the Centre engaged seasoned lawyer Fali S. Nariman to prepare the draft for submission to the court. The Bench comprising CJI K.G. Balakrishnan, and Justices R.V. Raveendran and J.M. Panchal has directed other parties to file their rejoinder to the Centre’s affidavit by then.

As per the draft plan the project to provide a 260 km long, 12 metres deep shipping lane linking the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal to avoid circumnavigating Sri Lanka. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a large section of the Hindu society is opposed to the project on religious grounds. The Director General of Coast Guards, too, has expressed opposition for reasons of security as the project will pose danger to naval establishments in South India. According to experts the economic viability of the project is also doubtful. It is only the DMK pressing for the project to be pushed through in spite of opposition from many quarters.

Conceived by Commander A.D. Taylor in 1860 and given up by the British colonial rulers as economically unviable, it was revived in 1952 when the Government of India appointed the Sir A. Ramasamy Mudaliar Committee to submit a proposal and feasibility report. But no action was taken on the committee’s report. While it remained a dream project of Tamil Nadu politicians, every government at the Centre paid-lip service without moving an inch. The present UPA government, in which the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a major partner, forced its way through by persuading Sonia Gandhi. According to the project under implementation, Adam’s Bridge, a 30 km long chain of seven shoals, hard at the surface with Miocene era limestone beds and soft as it descends till it rests on a bank of sand, that links Dhanushkodi tip of Rameshwaram on the Indian side with Talaimannar in northern Sri Lanka, will have to be cut for the shipping canal to pass through the barrier between the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay.

Legend and epics have it that this causeway was built under the direct supervision of Ram, an incarnation of the Supreme, to rescue his wife, Sita, from the clutches of Ravan in Sri Lanka. Though geography books and world atlas call it Adam’s Bridge, the Hindutva brigade calls it Ramar Sethu and wants it preserved at all costs.

It is their ardent belief that Ramar Sethu is the formation to facilitate Vishnu avatara Maryada Purushottama Sri Rama and his army to cross the Palk Strait, as described in detail in Valmiki Ramayana and other Hindu scriptures. Archaeologists have dated the age of Adam’s Bridge as 1,750,000 years old. Ram was believed to have been born in Ayodhya in Treta yuga, roughly corresponding to the time of formation of Adam’s Bridge. Whether one believes in Ramayana as fact or mythology, the bridge is an ancient heritage and pride of India which deserves to be preserved.

Work on the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project was launched jointly by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, on 2 July 2005 but had floundered while trying to dredge the Adam’s Bridge. Three foreign dredgers had met their Waterloo on its shoals, adding zeal to the faith of the believers in their fight to scuttle the project. The New York-based World Monuments Fund which brings out the World Monuments Watch List of endangered heritage sites has called on the government of India to desist from demolishing Adam’s Bridge. Marilyn Perry, chairperson of the organisation, has said the government could leave the disputed site untouched and make it a tourist attraction by arranging glass-bottom boats to see what is under the shoals.

The slogan raised at a rally in Delhi’s Ram Leela grounds in July 2007 organised by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand of Jyotishpeeth, Om or Rome, may be misplaced, for it is T.R. Baalu, Union Minister for Shipping belonging to the DMK, who is determined to break Adam’s Bridge. Initial opposition to the project came from the fishermen of Rameswaram whose livelihood is threatened by the canal work. On 27 September last year, Ramagopalan, president of Hindu Munnani, submitted a "people’s memorandum" signed by 3.5 million people to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam against the project.

The slogan raised at a rally in Delhi’s Ram Leela grounds in July 2007 organised by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand of Jyotishpeeth, Om or Rome, may be misplaced, for it is T.R. Baalu, Union Minister for Shipping belonging to the DMK, who is determined to break Adam’s Bridge. Initial opposition to the project came from the fishermen of Rameswaram whose livelihood is threatened by the canal work. On 27 September last year, Ramagopalan, president of Hindu Munnani, submitted a "people’s memorandum" signed by 3.5 million people to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam against the project.

The First Bench of the Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani, in a June 2007 judgment observed: "You should not forget or ignore the fact that Ramar Sethu is as holy to the Hindus as the Wailing Wall to the Jews, the Vatican to the Roman Catholics, Mecca to the Muslims and Bodh Gaya to the Buddhists." Declining to grant interim relief to petitioners Ramagopalan of the Hindu Munnani and Dr. Subramanian Swamy of the Janata Party, the Bench left it to the Union Government whether cutting of Ramar Sethu could be postponed till the issues involved in the petitions were finally disposed of by the court. The Bench also sought to know from the Centre if Ramar Sethu could be regarded as a national monument within the meaning of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Protection) Act, 1958. Under this Act, archaeological sites and remains mean any area which contains or is reasonably believed to contain ruins or relics of historical importance which have been in existence for not less than hundred years.

If Ramar Sethu is destroyed it would hurt the religious sentiments of the majority community across the length and breadth of the country. The British colonial rulers had shown greater sensitivity to Hindu sentiments by shelving its proposal to construct a railway bridge between Rameswaram and Talaimannar in 1914 than the UPA government which seems unmoved by the hurt feelings of the majority community.

Even if religious sentiments were left out, Ramar Sethu should not be disturbed on considerations of environment. It acts as a natural barrier between Kerala and Tamil Nadu and protects them from natural calamities. When the 2004 tsunami played havoc on the Tamil Nadu coast, the west coast was spared. Article 51A(f) stipulates that it shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen of India "to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture." Ambika Soni, Union Minister for Culture, has told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question that the government had neither done any archaeological studies regarding the antiquities and heritage value of Ramar Sethu nor any plans for preserving the site. Such nonchalance about a matter which touches religious sentiments of millions of citizens in this country is not only shocking but makes one wonder if she, as the Ram Leela grounds rally echoed, was beholden to Rome than Om.

While the economic value of the Sethusamdram shipping canal is dubious, as merchant marine experts have worked out, the project could still be implemented if only to humour the DMK and keep it content in the UPA by choosing any one of the other five alignments drawn up by experts. The 1998 plan which was cleared by the NDA government in which also the DMK was a partner, provided for digging the canal through a 15 km stretch between Dhanushkodi and Pamban in Rameswaram without demolishing Ramar Sethu. This alignment was also given environmental clearance by NEERI.

Inauguarating Amritha Sethu in Kollam, Kerala, last December, President Kalam said: "When I saw the Amritha Sethu, my memory went back to Ramwawarm. It is said that Ram ordered the construction of the bridge at Dhanushkodi. His Vanara Sena built the bridge in time for Rama’s troops to go to Sri Lanka for waging a war against Ravana. Satellite picture shows that remnants of the bridge still exist between Rameswarm and Sri Lanka."

Justice K.T. Thomas, former Supreme Court judge had said: "In projects like the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal decisions are to be based not only on a study of geological implications; the religious sentiments of the people are also to be taken into account." Justice Krishna Iyer, also a former Supreme Court judge, in a letter to Manmohan Singh cautioned that "our nation will be weaker and may suffer new dangers with American presence in Sethusamudram waters by doing what for centuries have never been considered necessary or feasible or in any manner advantageous to us, the people of India." INAV

The aviation sector in India is poised for a big leap forward in the next five years with nearly 45 to 50 airports being revamped by public and private players. Though the unprecedented expansion has become essential, the present infrastructure is woefully inadequate to handle the growth perceived in the years ahead. But with increased air travel becoming a reality because of reduced fares, the Government has realized the need to give special emphases to this sector through public-private participation.

According to a study by Assocham and Ernst & Young, India would need at least 250 aircraft by 2012. While only 15 million passengers travelled by air in 2003-04, a little more than the number of people who travel by rail in a single day, the figure was almost 75 million in 2005-06 and is expected to reach 100 million by this year end. Similarly, the number of aircrafts in the Indian skies, now about 290, will witness an annual growth rate of 15-20 per cent to keep pace with the increasing demand.

The Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, has anticipated an investment of Rs 100,000 crores in the next five years in fleet acquisition. However, his estimates seem rather modest as Kingfisher alone has ordered for 50 aircraft amounting to Rs 20,000 crores at the last Paris show. Similarly the merged entity of Air India and Indian may buy more planes than the 111 ordered by them last year to cope with increased traffic, both domestic and international. Out of these 68 Boeing jetliners have been ordered for an estimated Rs 35,000 crores. Of these, 25 will be delivered in this fiscal year itself. Indian has also ordered another 43 Airbuses.

It is estimated that even with private airlines giving tough competition, Air India would need substantial more aircrafts as it would have to retire 65 planes over the next three years. These planes would be passed on to the new cargo subsidiary being floated by the public sector airline. Air India has also joined the Lufthansa-led Star Alliance, which will help it to fly to many European destinations from the hub that is to be set up in a European airport shortly.

In fact, with traffic out of India expanding at 25 per cent and Air India estimates it may need more planes by 2011. "Looking at the demand and the passenger growth, the number of additional aircraft needed would be in the region of 60 planes. But this is a very rough estimate", pointed out the Air India chairman, B.V. Thulasidas.

Besides, with the increase in fleets of both Air India and the private players, the need for upgrading the airports is also being looked into. Presently, only 62 domestic and 12 international airports are in active use though the country has over 300 airports and airstrips. It may be mentioned here that except Delhi and Mumbai, no airport is equipped to handle the humongous A 380 of which Kingfisher has ordered five.

The modernization of the Delhi and Mumbai airports, which handle around 40-42 per cent of the total traffic, are already ongoing with an investment of Rs 5316 crores earmarked in the first phase for the Delhi airport and Rs 6130 crores for Mumbai. Both projects are expected to be completed by 2009 and would compare with the best in Asia. The Aviation Ministry has also decided that both Delhi and Mumbai would have more than one airport in future to cope with growing requirement.

Also, expansion and modernization of the existing airports has been a key priority of the Government. While the Government is investing around Rs 12,000 crores in modernizing the airports, current estimates indicate that private investors would pump in Rs 24,000 crores in the coming years.

The modernization of the Delhi and Mumbai airports, which handle around 40-42 per cent of the total traffic, are already ongoing with an investment of Rs 5316 crores earmarked in the first phase for the Delhi airport and Rs 6130 crores for Mumbai. Both projects are expected to be completed by 2009 and would compare with the best in Asia. The Aviation Ministry has also decided that both Delhi and Mumbai would have more than one airport in future to cope with growing requirement.

Regarding the Kolkata airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) finalized its plan for an integrated international-cum-domestic airport at a cost of Rs 17000 crores by 2010. Drawn up by the Aeroport de Paris, the plan for the Kolkata airport would be executed by the AAI and work is expected to start soon. The new modernized airport would have a capacity of 20 million passengers annually, up from the current 5 million and would be capable to handle traffic till 2023-24. Meanwhile the State Government wants the Kolkata airport to have two runways to meet the growing future requirement.

According to records, 70 per cent of the total traffic is concentrated in five airports (Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata apart from Delhi and Mumbai). As such, these airports needed to be expanded and modernized to ease congestion and ensure swift movement of passengers. Apart from these airports, the Committee on Infrastructure, constituted by the Prime Minister last year, approved the modernization and development of all the 35 non-metro airports by the AAI to world class standards at an estimated cost of Rs 4662 crores. .

These airports are spread from the South (Thiruvanthapuram) to the North (Jammu) and from the North East (Imphal) to the West (Rajkot). The land area of these airports ranges from 15 to 1500 acres. Though space has been a major constraint for some of these airports, the AAI has finalized airside plans for 24 of them, which will again be through public-private participation.

Meanwhile the airport city theme is gaining ground with greenfield airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore providing enough scope. Further, the proposed cargo hub at Nagpur may include a special economic zone (SEZ) besides logistics and a township. Hotels, retail space and various entertainment options are being planned for Delhi and Mumbai as well.

In the ultimate analysis, the growth of the aviation sector is crucial to the development of the country and also to the country’s status as a major economic power. With the sector open to the private sector and fares having come down, more and more people would prefer air travel. Thus it is necessary that the time schedule of the airports modernizing work is maintained and completed in time. ---- INFA

Sir,

I would like to place my views about the political merry-go-round doing the rounds. The need of the hour for Meghalaya is stability. Stability can be ensured only when the government is formed by one party or by a group, which consists of two or three parties. The government with large number of small parties will bring instability. Small parties having just one or two legislators should understand that their rightful place is in the Opposition from where they can perform the function of a responsible and just Opposition. The adage too many cooks spoil the broth perfectly describes the situation.

A government, if formed by many political parties will transform the coalition government to a condition government, which will act as a roadblock to development and prosperity and is also harmful to democracy. A stable government and a strong Opposition are the very essence of democracy. One cannot do without the other. A weak government will help the Opposition to adopt the policy of 'opposition for the sake of opposition'. A weak Opposition will butcher democracy in Meghalaya.

The high turnout of voting signifies that people do not want repeat of the post-1998 scenario, where there were six governments in succession and post-2003 situation where there was no Opposition.

This is, however, not to say that minor parties should be denied a chance to form the government. This should be done only as the last resort. The elected representatives should also keep in mind development and uplift of the state irrespective of who forms the government.

Yours etc.,
Brandon Knave
Shillong
Via e-mail

Sir,

The Assembly elections are over and the people of Meghalaya have chosen their representatives. All the elected members have been elected by virtue of their capability to woo the electorate in their own ways and style. They have been elected because the Meghalayans (both tribals and non-tribals) believed them to be capable leaders. The next step is the formation of the government. Four days after the results have been declared the Meghalayans were in for a rude shock!

Some of the leaders, chosen by the people of Meghalaya, have shown that they are not real leaders. Real leaders do not need outsiders to think and act for them. lLeadership quality and instinct is inborn. The Garo, Khasi, Jaintia leaders do not need a Himanta Sarma nor a Rockybul Hussain or for that matter a Pawar or Alva to interfere in the affairs of the State and formation of the government. Can it be that some outsiders still have that perception that the tribals cannot think and take care for themselves or is it that some of the tribal leaders believe that they do not have the capability and the capacity to lead and rule their own tribes that they have to seek the services of the people beyond Khanapara! Such tribals cannot be termed as real leaders but pseudo leaders! Such people are best called 'rangkhynnah' and not 'Rangbah'.

Yours etc.,
Adrian Dkhar,
Shillong
Via e-mail

After electing its senior leader and incumbent I Imkong as new CLP leader, Congress, which fell well short of majority in recent assembly elections, announced it would not stake claim to form the government at this juncture and would prefer to sit in the opposition.

AICC secretary Sidharth Patel told newsmen that Congress will not stake claim to form the government unless the party is sure of comfortable majority and it preferred to sit in opposition.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi appointed Imkong as new CLP leader after the new legislators had yesterday communicated their views and opinions on this issue to her, Pael said.

On the other hand, the leadership of DAN, which claimed the support of 33 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, expected an invitation from Raj Bhavan by Wednesday to form the next government and the swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held immediately.

Earlier, DAN legislature party leader Neiphiu Rio told newsmen that he expected the invitation anytime and was even ready for formation of the full ministry, comprising 12 members, immediately without any problem.

Rio, who had paraded 33 MLAs in front of the Governor on Sunday, on Tuesday fielded all the members of DAN, including four independent MLAs, before mediapersons at his residence in Kohima village in an attempt to set at rest all speculation doing the rounds in the town about the stability of his government. Besides four independents , another independent MLA Kipili Sangtam joined the DAN. (PTI)

However, there was no casualty or injury in the blast with the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) owning responsibility for the attack. Official sources said two militants, who came on a two-wheeler, hurled a bomb at Koijam's residence at Pheijaleitong area. Koijam was fortunately not present at the time of explosion, which took place at 7:10 pm, as he normally stays at the VIP Complex at Babupara area here.

Meanwhile, owning responsibility for the attack, the PREPAK threatened more attacks on MLAs and ministers alleging they were allowing security personnel to "torture, harass and kill innocent civilians." In similar attacks in past two weeks, unidentified ultras had attacked private residences of Congress MLAs Th Debendra, T Mangibabu, I Hemochandra, Govindas Konthiujam and M Manindra. (PTI)

Guwahati: A Hindi-speaking person was killed and 16 others injured while the vehicle of a Polish seismic survey team was damaged in two separate incidents of blasts triggered by militants of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Tuesday.

Police informed that a Hindi-speaking person, Joginder Shah, was killed and 16 others injured, four of them seriously, when a bomb planted by suspected ULFA militants exploded at a daily market in Upper Assam's tea town of Doom Dooma in Tinsukia district at around 4-30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The bomb was planted in a cycle-rickshaw that was stationed near a restaurant in the town. The injured were immediately rushed to hospital. Senior police officials rushed to the spot immediately after the blast and the area was cordoned off.

In another incident at Madhupur village under Barbaruah police station in Dibrugarh district, a vehicle of a Polish seismic survey team, which is engaged by the Oil India Limited, was damaged in a blast that occurred at around 1. 30 pm. The driver of the vehicle was injured.

Police suspected hands of ULFA insurgents in the incident. The OIL authority has remained tight-lipped over the incident. The damaged vehicle was immediately removed from the blast site.

Superintendent of Police SP Saloi told PTI a loud noise was heard from an open deserted spot at around eight pm triggering alarm in the area. Police went to the site and saw a crater, but nothing else was found.

A bomb disposal squad of the CRPF along with the police were investigating. (PTI)

KOHIMA: Irked over the delay in calling the NPF-led DAN to form the Government, supporters of Nagaland People's Front (NPF), particularly the youth, tried to attack the Congress elected members lodged at Hotel Japfu, Kohima at around 11:30 am on Tuesday.

Sources revealed that around 200 NPF youth tried to force into Hotel Japfu, where all the elected members of Congress Party and observers from the All India Congress Committee are lodged. They were holding pieces of firewood and other substances threatening to beat-up the Congress members.

The NPF Youth were also charging that the Congress Party, camping in the hotel, are using underground forces in threatening Independent MLAs to support Congress instead of NPF in forming the Government.

However, on receiving the information, immediate reinforcement of security forces, police and army personnel were rushed to the site to take stock of the situation, besides the security forces deployed at the hotel. The situation was brought under control after the security forces reached the spot.

Meanwhile, the NPF Youth have warned to impose total bandh if the Governor fails to invite the NPF led DAN to form the next Government by tonight itself.

The NSCN(IM) has accused the Congress party in Nagaland of trying to kidnap an Independent candidate, who was elected in the just concluded election.

The NSCN(IM) alleged that a Congress MLA employed a "traitor's gang" to abduct the Independent MLA in an attempt to block the latter from joining the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) camp.

The outfit said that the democratic spirit and the democratic choice to be exercised by the newly elected MLAs' cannot be hijacked.

"But, ironically the Congress party after failing to outdo the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) to form the Government, resorted to the most degrading manner, a crime in the true political term, by desperately trying to block the independent MLAs' from joining the rival camp. This is sheer act of going against people's choice of who should run the State government", alleged the NSCN(IM). (NNN)

As many as 134 people had died, with 26 districts effected, by several waves of flood last year, with 1514 relief camps opened and nearly 200 embankments breached.

Informing this during Question Hour, State Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Bhumidhar Barman added that a loss of Rs 1444.24 crore was incurred in last year's flood, with the Centre approached to release the said amount, that was now under consideration of the Government.

On the amount already sanctioned for flood-hit areas, the minister informed that Rs 17.11 crore has been sanctioned as rehabilitation grant under Calamity Relief Fund (CRF).

Altogether, Rs 327.66 crore had been sanctioned for the State under CRF, of which major expenditures were earmarked for infrastructure and roads and bridges repairing and agriculture department, besides rehabilitation.

The Opposition, however, alleged that the money has not percolated to the effected people and areas.

They also demanded that the Government take measures to repair weak embankments and bridges before the onset of monsoons.

Dr Barman informed the House that a proposal to undertake repairing beforehand was being pursued and also implemented in several areas. (UNI)

Agartala: The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has issued an ultimatum to Governor DN Sahay to immediately take steps to prevent the alleged political atrocities and post-election violence.

A five-member delegation, led by TPCC president Samir Ranjan Barman, met Mr Sahay at Raj Bhawan here on Monday and lodged their complaints while seeking his immediate intervention on the issue.

Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, Mr Barman said, ''We have made it clear to him that unless the violence is stopped immediately, from tomorrow, we shall follow our own path to protect our people.'' He alleged that besides physical torture, CPI (M) supporters had been outraging the modesty of women and life had been disrupted seriously. (UNI)

Agartala: India's second longest running Left Front government, in Tripura, has returned to power thanks mainly to the Communist Party of India-Marxist's (CPI-M) rock-hard organisation.

The state has witnessed unbroken rule by the CPI-M-led Left Front over the last 30 years - except for one term (1988-93) when the Congress formed a government in alliance with the tribal-based Tripura Upajati Juba Samity (TUJS).

With a resounding victory in the Feb 23 elections, the Front has assumed office for a fourth consecutive term, also due to its development agenda and near zero corruption in administration, politics analysts say.

The Front bagged 49 seats (eight more than the 2003 tally) in the 60-member legislature and routed the Congress, which got only 10 seats (three less than in 2003). The Congress partner, the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), managed only one seat.

In a major boost, the CPI-M secured 19 out of 20 seats reserved for tribals.

"Solid organisation, less corruption in all level of administration and zero irregularities in higher level besides continued development are the basic advantage of the Left Front," said Sekhar Datta, a political analyst.

He said: "There is no matching the rural development. Tripura is on the top among the north-eastern states in terms of development and transparency of the government."

According to Election Commission statistics, the vote percentage of the Left Front has never gone down below 47 percent since 1978. Now it got 51.18 percent of the votes cast.

On the contrary, the opposition vote percentage has never crossed 47 percent during the past three decades.

"If at all any 'anti-incumbency factor' prevails, this has been superseded by very less corruption, development, establishment of peace by curbing militancy and a solid party organisation of the ruling parties," said Samiran Roy, another political commentator.

"More discipline, less corruption and better organised are the hallmark of Left parties in Tripura," Roy remarked.

Official statistics revealed that Tripura's per capita annual income was only Rs.534 when it attained statehood in 1972. The figure rose to Rs.24,706 in the last economic survey.

People living below the poverty line came down from 68 percent to 55 percent during the past eight years.

The literacy rate has increased to 81.4 percent in 2005, from 30.98 percent in 1972. The school dropout rate has also come down from 87.29 percent in 1972 to 61.08 percent in 2006.

"Whatever the deficiencies and failures of the Left Front, the opposition parties failed to fulfil the minimum level of people's expectation from them," said Tapas Dey, a former Congress legislator.

Tripura has 527 village councils in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) areas and 513 gram panchayats outside TTAADC areas. The Left governs 90 percent of them.

The politically important 30-seat TTAADC also has been ruled by the Left Front, which has a strong base among the tribals, which constitute one third of the state's 3.5 million population. (IANS)