Besides Dr Roy who took oath as the Chief Minister, six ministers were sworn in at 6.30 pm by Governor Dr SS Sidhu in the presence of former Chief Minister Mr Lapang and several legislators. The six ministers of the Donkupar Cabinet are Dr Adviser Pariong (HSPDP), Conrad K Sangma (NCP), AL Hek (BJP), Paul Lyngdoh (KHNAM), Manas Chaudhuri (Ind) and Donkupar Massar (Ind).

According to MPA sources, the Donkupar ministry will be expanded on Thursday with two Deputy Chief Ministers -- Hoping Stone Lyngdoh (HSPDP) and Timothy Shira (NCP). Former Chief Minister JD Rymbai and Nimarson Momin, both UDP legislators, and EC Boniface Bamon (NCP) will also be included in the enlarged ministry.

The portfolios for all the new ministers are likely to be announced on Thursday, sources said.

In the new dispensation, the post of Chief Minister will be shared by both UDP and NCP for a two-and-a-half-year term each.

Talking to reporters soon after the swearing-in ceremony, the new Chief Minister Dr Roy said MPA would study the manifestos of all political parties and also those of the ruling alliance before coming out with its Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

"Different parties have different manifestos. We will discuss this matter in a day or two before coming out with our own Common Minimum Programme," he said, adding priorities of the new government would be spelt out in due course of time.

Dispelling doubts about the stability of his coalition government, Dr Roy asserted that the MPA Government would complete its full five-year term.

"We have a joint commitment to ensure stability of this government. I don't see why we cannot complete our full five-year term," he said.

Earlier, the Congress-led MUA ministry quit office without going for the trial of strength in the Assembly as the 28-MLA Alliance failed to muster support of three more legislators to survive the floor test.

Mr Lapang submitted his resignation to Governor Dr Sidhu after a meeting of MUA legislators held at his residence in the morning unanimously decided not to face the floor test.

All the 31 MPA legislators, who were present in the House waiting for the floor test, thumped their desks as soon as Pro Tem Speaker Hoping Stone Lyngdoh announced that he had received communication from the Governor on Mr Lapang's resignation.

"As the Chief Minister has resigned, the House does not have any more business and stands adjourned till tomorrow," the Governor said.

Soon after the House was adjourned for the day, MPA legislators Dr Roy, Purno A Sangma, Paul Lyngdoh and AL Hek met the Governor at 11.30 am and formally staked their claim to form the government.

An all-smile former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma said the MPA Government would try to fulfill all the aspirations of the people.

Reacting to Mr Lapang's prediction that the MPA Government would not last even three months, Mr Sangma said the former Chief Minister would have to wait for five years to see his dream of coming back to power come true.

"I am not surprised over this statement of Mr Lapang as it is in the Congress culture to topple non-Congress government," the NCP general secretary said.

Asked if he considered Mr Lapang as his political rival, Mr Sangma said his "political rival is only Sonia Gandhi." "The person who fought with Mrs Gandhi does not have to fight with anyone," he added.

Meanwhile, KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh said MPA would try to give a stable and able government to the people of Meghalaya. "This government would lay special emphasis on certain issues related to overall development of the State," he said.

The Congress members, who were traveling on eight motorcycles, were arrested by police in Jaksongram area of Baghmara town during intensive checking of vehicles in view of the coming election to Baghmara constituency.

When questioned, the arrested said they were Congress workers from Ampati constituency of former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and had been deputed for campaigning in Baghmara. They also admitted that the money found in their possession was supposed to be distributed to voters of Baghmara constituency.

Police are investigating the case. The matter has also been brought to the notice of the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, NCP and other parties have accused Congress of trying to influence the outcome of the by-poll through money power.

SHILLONG: Calling MPA "a bundle of contradictions", outgoing Chief Minister DD Lapang has predicted that the new government would collapse within a few months.

After his resignation as Chief Minister, Mr Lapang on Wednesday told reporters that he decided to step down after failing to muster the required numbers to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

While saying there was an element of instability in the MPA Government, he said, "The NCP-led alliance (MPA) is nothing but a bundle of contradictions. This bundle of contradictions is bound to collapse within a few months."

He claimed that after the collapse of the MPA Government, Congress would be back to power, adding Congress was the only party that could provide a stable and efficient government to the people of the State.

Mr Lapang also slammed the regional parties for "seeing Congress as an untouchable."

Congress with 25 legislators had emerged as the single largest party after the just-concluded Assembly polls.

With the backing of three Independent legislators, Congress forged MUA and formed a minority government.

UNI adds from New Delhi: Meanwhile, the BJP on Wednesday derisively noted the Congress ''embarassment'' in Meghalaya where Mr Lapang failed to prove its majority in the 60 member Legislative Assembly.

"We thought the Congress leadership would have learnt some lessons from its mistakes in Bihar, Jharkhand and Goa but the Congress has proved that it is not ashamed of its repeated embrassments," BJP Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj said at a press conference in Parliament.

She said it was the fourth time that the Congress tried to grab power unscruplously in Meghalaya, after its attempts in Bihar, Jharkhand and Goa, ignoring the claim of majority by other political grouping. "It has to eat a humble pie," she said

In Meghalaya, the NCP-led alliance had claimed majority but it was ignored and Mr Lapang was called to form the government. Mr Lapang, as was evident, failed to prove majority, she noted.

"We will like to caution the UPA government that if it does not restrain from such misadventure the people would teach them a good lesson in the coming Lok Sabha election," Mrs Swaraj said.

The BJP meanwhile, sought the Manmohan Singh government's intervention in Manipur to stop killing of Hindi-speaking People in the state, and ensure a sense of security in them.

She said earlier the Hindi-speaking people were being killed only in Assam. Had the Government taken a decisive action at that time, such events would have not spread to Manipur.

SHILLONG: Ruling out immediate scrapping of the controversial power deals inked by the Congress-led MDA Government in December 2007, Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy on Wednesday said his government would wait for the report of the special committee constituted by the previous government before taking any decision on the issue.

Speaking to reporters at Raj Bhavan here, Dr Roy said the earlier stand of all his coalition partners on the issue of power deals would be jointly discussed and examined by the government while at the same time waiting for the report of the special committee on the matter.

"Since this is a coalition government, we will have to meet and discuss the opinions of all the ruling partners on the issue, besides waiting for the report of the special committee," Dr Roy said.

While declining to comment on the assurance made by most MPA partners, including his party, during the recent Assembly elections to scrap the power deals if they came to power, the Chief Minister said there were legal issues to be looked into before taking such a decision.

"It is not a question of being committed to scrapping the deals or not. There are various details to be discussed and examined," Dr Roy said, while replying to a barrage of questions raised by reporters on the stand of his government on the contentious issue.

Stating that his party was opposed to the power deals signed by the MDA Government since there was no transparency on the issue, Dr Roy said he favoured the concept of joint ventures but added that all power projects should not be handed over to private companies at one go.

UDP, NCP, BJP and KHNAM had made power projects as their main issue against Congress in the recent elections and suggested scrapping of the controversial power deals.

Even NCP leader Purno A Sangma, during his various interactions with the media, had said the power deals would be scrapped if his party came to power.

New Delhi: The Uranium Corp of India Ltd (UCIL) is going ahead with its mining and milling project in West Khasi hills of Meghalaya despite opposition from NGOs, the government said Wednesday.

"UCIL proposes to set up a mine and mill near Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah in the West Khasi Hills district," Prithiviraj Chavan, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, told the Lok Sabha in a written statement.

"Various pre-project activities are being carried out and work for implementing the project will commence only after UGCIL secures all statutory clearances as well as investment approval from the government," Chavan said.

"Uranium Corp will invest nearly Rs.100 crore in the first phase of the project development," he said, adding that a few NGOs and anti-nuclear activists were opposed to uranium mining in Meghalaya. (IANS)

SHILLONG: Congress legislator Charles Pyngrope decided to withdraw from the race for the post of Assembly Speaker hours after the resignation of DD Lapang as Chief Minister on Wednesday.

With Mr Pyngrope pulling out of the fray, MPA nominee Bindo Lanong is set to be elected to the post of Speaker unopposed on Thursday.

Mr Pyngrope said he opted to stay away from the Speaker's election for "harmony of the House."

Echoing the Congress MLA's view, MPCC president OL Nongtdu said his party had also decided to contest the election to the post of Speaker to help maintain goodwill and harmony in the Assembly.

According to sources, Congress does not want to be humiliated again during the Speaker's election after Mr Lapang's resignation as Chief Minister without facing the trial of strength on Wednesday.

In a 59-member House at present, MPA has 31 legislators, while Congress-led MUA has 28 MLAs.

Shillong: A man who likes reading, playing chess and fishing, Dr Donkupar Roy, Meghalaya’s new Chief Minister, has avoided controversy in two decades of his political life.

Dr Roy, 54, who has always maintained a low profile and avoided media glare, is a doctorate in economics from the Shillong-based North Eastern Hill University and worked as a Professor in Synod College, Shillong from 1990 to 1998 before entering politics.

Born on November 10 1954, Dr Roy did his schooling up to Class VI from Ram Krishna Mission School at Shella. After this, he moved to Cherra Presbyterian High School, Sohra and appeared for his matriculation from here.

Elected as a legislator for the fifth consecutive time, Dr Roy, president of United Democratic Party (UDP), first won the election to Shella Assembly constituency bordering Bangladesh as an Independent candidate in 1987.

He was re-elected to the Assembly in 1993 and then joined UDP just before the 1998 State Assembly elections. He retained the Shella seat for the three consecutive time on UDP ticket.

He held several important portfolios, including Health, Education, Finance and Planning Implementation, in the D D Lapang ministry before being elevated to the rank of Deputy Chief Minister

Dr Roy was chosen as the chief ministerial candidate of MPA despite the Alliance having three former Chief Ministers EK Mawlong (UDP), PA Sangma (NCP) and JD Rymbai (UDP).

He is married to Rose Mary Synrem and has four daughters and two sons.

JOWAI: Concerned over traffic congestion in Jowai, Jaintia Hills district Superintendent of Police MK Singh on Tuesday discussed the matter with the local taxi drivers and owners association in a meeting held at his office chamber. The meeting stressed on immediate measures to solve the major problems of the area.

Mr Singh said, "Proper checking would be conducted to minimise traffic congestion and a fine would be impose on local taxis plying without valid documents." Renewal of multi-dimension stickers would be conducted. Taxis without sticker will be treated as per traffic rules, Mr Singh added.

SHILLONG: Two persons -- Thomas Malngiang and Ambru Malngiang -- from Umeit near Umroi, Ri-Bhoi disrict were arrested on Tuesday for raping their own 16-year old sister two weeks ago. In this connection an FIR was lodged at Umiam police station on Tuesday.

According to the police, the two brothers started this shameful act for the first time six months ago. The Malngiang clan has decided to "socially boycott" the two brothers.

SHILLONG: One Motilal Dey, who had gone missing from his residence at RR Colony, Rynjah recently, was found at Mawkyndeng near Mawdian- gdiang on Monday night. The relatives of Mr Dey have expressed their thanks to Mawkyndeng headman Mr Pyngrope for his help in tracing Mr Dey.

JOWAI: One fourteen-year-old girl identified as Teilang Pdang from Tluh village in Jaintia Hills has gone missing since March 15, according to a complaint lodged at Khliehriat Police Station by her family members.

According to the FIR, the family members of the girl suspected that a thirty-year-old Kachari youth had kidnapped the girl to his village in Assam. Sources also informed that the girl was having a love affair with the Kachari youth.

The programme would be launched on March 20 at 10 am at IGNOU Regional Centre..

JOWAI: The Budget Session of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) ended on Wednesday with a total amount of Rs.56, 07, 28000 budget along with supplementary demand of Rs.1.12 crore was passed unanimously in the house.

The 56 crore budget included provision of 1.10 crore for meeting the cost for conducting the General Election to the District Council, 65.68 lakhs for implementation of various forest development scheme and 87 lakhs for bamboo, tea and grapes plantation. Provision of Rs. 4.35 crore was included for construction and maintenance of council buildings, rural roads and others, Rs. 12.75 crore for construction of Lawmusiang market and MDCs hostel and Rs. 3.60 crore for normal development and MDC Scheme.

The house has passed two bills during the session, JHADC, Trading by Non-tribal, Regulation Addaptation Bill 2007 and the JHADC, Members Pension, Third Amendment Bill 2007. The bills would be sent to the Governor for his assent.

The last day of the Budget Session was attended by 28 MDC, former JHADC chairman, E.S Lyngdoh while War Jaintia MDC, B.S Pohlong was absent from the session.

The second mass uprising in Tibet against the Chinese occupation leading to violence has aroused the conscience of the world community from Sydney to Washington. Beijing has deployed army to quell the protest, and according to BBC World at 3 p.m. (IST) on 16 March 46 protesters have been killed, 186 monasteries have been blockaded and Capital Lhasa has turned into a ghost city. The Dalai Lama has demanded the UN to intervene to end what he called "urgent human rights violation" by China in Tibet. The Dalai Lama's statement followed by the government-in-exile demand shows that the Tibetan leadership in India is under pressure from the exile community to stand up to China.

With the war of words between Dharamsala (headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile) and Beijing turning hot as Lhasa burns, the Dalai Lama is now realising the futility of peace talks with the Chinese. Meanwhile the Bush administration has sent two high-profile American visitors-House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Hollywood star Richard Gere to show up in Dharamsala to express solidarity with the Tibetan activists who are trying to turn their protest into global movement against China's "occupation of Tibet". China is determined to crush dissent in any form which would lead to a boycott of the Beijing Olympics scheduled for August by many countries. The Chinese may continue to feel the heat of Tibetans' anger for the next few months.

China's forceful occupation of Tibet in early 1950s leading to mass exodus of people reminds us as the worst kinds of colonial mindset of Beijing. One, it is total integration, second, the so-called the autonomous region is militarily very important as watch tower to peep into southeast and Central Asia. Tibet has been developed as a great military hub and China's strategic nuclear and missile command is located here because in this hilly terrain, in case of a war, it would be difficult to launch retaliatory strikes against the offensive Chinese assets.

In terms of economic development China cannot afford one-eighth of the country's total land area remaining in absolute poverty. But the development strategy is directed at destroying the ancient Tibetan culture and way of life. One hundred twenty one monasteries have been destroyed and monks have been forced to marry Chinese girls, and Chinese settlers have been given special incentives to marry Tibetan girls. In the process Tibet has suffered not only ethnic genocide but also its cultural and religious roots have been destroyed.

History has been forgotten and if the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) regime is willing to welcome back Tibetan exiles from India, Mr. Hao Peng, Deputy Chairman of TAR, minced no words: "Chinese people haven't forgotten that part of history (1959). We have a policy towards Tibetan compatriots overseas. As long as they hold a patriotic attitude towards their homeland, they are welcome back. Even those who've undermined national unity, if they vouch for patriotism are welcome back." And does that include the Dalai Lama? "He is a political exile engaged in separatist activity in the name of religion. His separatist activities have never ceased. He, therefore, lacks the basic foundation to come back," Mr. Hao said, settling the matter once and for all (BBC World report 16 March 2008).

But the development strategy is directed at destroying the ancient Tibetan culture and way of life. One hundred twenty one monasteries have been destroyed and monks have been forced to marry Chinese girls, and Chinese settlers have been given special incentives to marry Tibetan girls. In the process Tibet has suffered not only ethnic genocide but also its cultural and religious roots have been destroyed. History has been forgotten and if the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) regime is willing to welcome back Tibetan exiles from India, Mr. Hao Peng, Deputy Chairman of TAR, minced no words: "Chinese people haven't forgotten that part of history (1959). We have a policy towards Tibetan compatriots overseas. As long as they hold a patriotic attitude towards their homeland, they are welcome back. Even those who've undermined national unity, if they vouch for patriotism are welcome back." And does that include the Dalai Lama? "He is a political exile engaged in separatist activity in the name of religion. His separatist activities have never ceased. He, therefore, lacks the basic foundation to come back," Mr. Hao said, settling the matter once and for all (BBC World report 16 March 2008).

Chinese have developed infrastructure in the region they say is one of China's least developed and poorest. However, for strategic reasons roads have been built to connect different parts of TAR. The government is now encouraging nomads to settle down in state-subsidised dwellings so that their children get access to a better lifestyle with greater exposure to the outside world through education, a facility they cannot avail in their nomadic existence.

And, as the engineering marvel, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, glides into the Lhasa railway station, travelling 30 hours up from Gansu's capital city Lanzhou, through the Gobi desert to the rooftop of the world, one is finally convinced of the extent of Tibet's integration with mainstream China's development.

This Tibet is a crucial part of China's new social and economic fabric, a plan the Chinese government has undertaken in right earnest only in the last five years. Within this short span, Tibet has been linked by road, air, rail and telecommunication, affording it a hitherto unknown access to the outside world. From a single road between Potala Palace and Norbulingka in 1951, the total length of highways in Tibet, including rural roads, stretches up to 41,302 km linking Lhasa with Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, Xinjiang and Nepal. More than 600,000 vehicles today traverse the length and breadth of Tibet.

The Qinghai-Tibet railway has opened up limitless possibilities for the tourism industry all along the majestic route. The once "forbidden zone of flight" over Tibet now has regular traffic between Lhasa and major metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai while Kathmandu provides Tibet with an international connection. With the remotest pastures and settlements linked through telecommunication, Tibet is completely wired today. And no view of the Tibetan grassland or the Gobi desert is complete without electricity poles in the frame-any nature photographer's bane-which actually signal how far and wide power has touched the Tibetan countryside.

Given this infrastructure, tourism has become a natural sunshine sector. Today, there are more than 200 travel companies operating out of Tibet and close to 200 hotels with over 7,500 rooms catering to international tourists. The tourism industry, directly and indirectly, employs around 75,000 Tibetans. Showcasing Tibetan culture is of vital necessity to this project because if local customs and flavours are lost, Tibet would no longer be attractive to those who long to visit the roof of the world to experience that very special Tibetan way of life. In another tourist-friendly move, aware of the restrictions that the special permit currently required to tour Tibet imposes on the average tourist, the Chinese government is now considering doing away with the irritant altogether. All in all, China is getting more comfortable with outsiders visiting its weaker spots.

For local Tibetans, transportation and telecommunication have meant the opening of industries that now complement Tibet's traditional farming and animal husbandry sectors. With increasing modernisation and integration of farming and herding, Tibetans are now being encouraged to produce more than their self-sufficiency limits in a way that they become totally self-reliant. Sketchy statistics suggest that over 1.33 million Tibetan farmers and herdsmen are involved in state-run forestry projects that have greatly enhanced their annual income.

But all these developmental activities have come at the cost of basic freedom which Tibetans cherish. Indians know how British imperialists developed basic infrastructure to perpetuate their rule but could not hold the country in slavery beyond August 15, 1947. But the only difference between the British rulers in India and the Chinese occupation forces in Tibet is that of there is no Mahatma Gandhi in Lhasa to lead Tibetans towards their goal of freedom from China. INAV

For one person to head a party for 10 years can be a matter of pride for him or her, but not for the organisation since it is an unmistakable sign of the dearth of suitable alternatives. Evidently, therefore, Sonia Gandhi’s completion of a decade as the Congress chief is not so much a cause of jubilation as an indictment of the century-old party itself.

By highlighting yet again the indispensability of the Nehru-Gandhi family, her long tenure has confirmed the essential fragility of the organisation. The fear is that if the guiding hand of the dynasty is removed, the Congress will fall apart, as it did under Narasimha Rao when two of its stalwarts – Arjun Singh and N.D. Tiwari – walked out. Similarly, under Sitaram Kesri, the demoralization in the party ranks was so high that Sonia Gandhi had virtually to carry out an internal coup to take charge of the organisation.

True, Sonia Gandhi has also seen desertions, notably of Sharad Pawar and Co. and has failed to woo Mamata Banerjee back into the fold. But her main achievement lies in ensuring that the loyalty quotient acts as an organisational adhesive even if it is inspired by the family rather than the party.

The minus points, however, of such an arrangement is its suffocating impact on the growth of talent. Although Jawaharlal Nehru, too was described as the banyan tree under whose shade nothing grew, his tenure still saw the presence of highly influential Congressmen, whose presence – mainly in the so-called Syndicate – was deemed as an obstacle to her ambitions by Indira Gandhi.

The present-day Congress does not have the faintest resemblance to the party of those days, so much so that it is practically inconceivable to think of a situation where anyone other than Sonia Gandhi – or Rahul Gandhi - can be the chief when she is neither the Congress president nor Prime Minister.

Her stint at the top might have been commended if she was seen to be leading the party from strength to strength, as Indira did in the early Seventies and Rajiv Gandhi in the mid-Eighties. Under Sonia Gandhi, however, there is no sign that the party will ever regain that stature. All that it can hope to do is to be the first among equals among its coalition partners.

But it is a position which ensures that it will follow rather than lead, as has been evident from its inability to push through either the economic reforms or the nuclear deal because of Leftist objections. It also gives the impression that the party is willing to sacrifice its avowed goals for the sake of sticking to power – not an image which brings glory to a party with a glorious record during the freedom movement.

The two achievements for which Sonia Gandhi is usually praised are, first, her success in cobbling together an alliance and then bringing it to victory in 2004. And, secondly, for forsaking the prime ministership and choosing Manmohan Singh for the post.

But more than four years later, neither seems as creditable as it did at the time. For one, it was the BJP which lost in 2004 while all that the Congress did was to pick up the fallen crown of thorns. What is more, some of her new allies, like Ramvilas Paswan, for instance, had no option but to leave the BJP’s company after the Gujarat riots and were, therefore, easy pickings.

Secondly, the "inner voice" which instructed her against becoming the Prime Minister might have been inspired more by practical considerations rather than moral ones since she was aware that the turmoil which the saffron brotherhood would create over a "foreign’ Prime Minister would have been too difficult to handle.

Her real achievement is, of course, in choosing a widely respected man as prime minister and in standing by him through thick and thin. Had she been seen to be lukewarm about Manmohan Singh, the Congress’s tradition of backbiting would have made life extremely difficult for the gentle Sikh. Her dignified behaviour and success in avoiding major controversies have also taken the sting out of the BJP’s and the Sangh parivar’s propaganda on her origin.

She is also apparently not devoid of diplomatic skills, judging from the manner in which she has been able to keep together a ramshackle coalition comprising such basically unreliable characters like M. Karunanidhi with his pro-LTTE sympathies, which have been kept under cover, and Sharad Pawar with his links with Bal Thackeray, which are no longer under a cover. No one can taunt her now about being a housewife, as Jyoti Basu once did.

Her only major mistake was perhaps the abrupt rejection of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s friendly overtures in 2004, which seems odd in retrospect since the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are apparently coming close together again to check the over-ambitious Mayawati. Besides, they were once partners in U.P.

But her main failing is that she seems to be a prisoner of the past. Her economic ideas are more in keeping with Indira Gandhi’s "socialism" than with modern-day market-oriented policies, which are favoured by Manmohan Singh. And on the nuclear deal, too, her position is apparently at variance with the Prime Minister’s.

But, apart from the specifics, it is clear that she lacks a vision. She neither sees the dams and industries as the temples of a new India, as Nehru did. Nor does she talk about a journey into the 21st century, as her husband did. Her preoccupation is more with day-to-day affairs. Perhaps the practical nature of such politics can enable the Congress to remain at the head of a victorious coalition, but it is not inspirational enough to make the party relive its days of glory. (IPA Service)

Sir,

When innocent lives are lost due to criminal negligence of state agencies like the MeSEB, it is to be condemned by one and all. The recent electrocution of two persons -- one a Catholic Sister (nun) and a young maid servant in their own convent kitchen -- due to passing of high voltage through the domestic connection in Mronggre Village near Chibinang under Police Station Phulbari West Garo Hills, is an eye-opener to all the people living in villages through which MeSEB's high tension transmission lines pass through. What happened on that fateful Saturday (15th March), ought never to happen again. As per my information, the high tension cable snapped and fell on the LT line passing below, which in turn carried voltage far higher than the mandatory 240 volts, which started burning all the wires and equipments in all the nearby houses and when the deceased sister attempted to put off the switches, she was instantly electrocuted and the maid servant who went to pull her away, also died in the process. Has the MeSEB or the District administration ordered any enquiry? Are the culprits brought to the book ? Probably not, because the Executive is still in the 'Election mode' and the people's representatives are busy ensuring chairs for themselves. Many similar accidents do occur in the villages, but due to the weak Nokma system in Garo Hills, such incidents go unreported. It invariably happens that the offending officers invariably end up being the victim's own mahari and so no case is registered or no compensation is paid to the victims of such callousness due to the interference of the Mighty Mahari Associations. MeSEB continues to function as before, unaccountable to anyone, supplying power as and when it is convenient and only thinking of increasing the tariff. I hope that in the present case, the MeSEB will be slapped with a case of death due to criminal negligence under Section 304 A of IPC and the authorities who are found negligent in maintenance of high tension transmission lines be punished accordingly.

Yours etc.,
Sebastian,
Tura.
Via e-mail

The AASU Adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharrya said that to start with the students organization would resort to hunger-strike on March 25 next demanding sealing of India-Bangladesh border in Assam sector by March 31 next, upgradation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, and implementation of hitherto ignored clauses of Assam Accord in specific time-frame as per the decision taken in the Prime Minister level tripartite talks held on May 5, 2005.

The AASU leader stated that the students’ organization would launch a vigorous phase of agitation demanding abrogation of Clause 3 (1) (A) and (B) of Citizenship Act that grants go-ahead for providing Indian citizenship to wards of illegal migrants who had come to the state by end of the year 2004.

The ASSU also registered its strong opposition to Assam Sahitya Sabha’s (AAS) advocacy for providing photo identity cards (PICs) to all citizens and illegal migrants living in Assam. The AASU termed the ASS’ demand suicidal for the indigenous people of the state.

The next executive body meeting of the AASU to be held in its headquarter at Guwahati University on March 27 and 28 next will decide the future course of agitation to be undertaken by the organization to press for its demands.

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday demanded the Centre’s intervention to rein in militants in Manipur who have launched a violent drive against Hindi- speaking labourers, killing 15 of them so far.

"The Centre must intervene immediately and effectively to check the violence against Hindi-speaking labourers, particularly those from Bihar. It is the duty of the Union government to ensure protection of the lives and properties of people and given the volatile state of affairs in the northeastern states, its responsibilities are even greater," Kumar told reporters. Condemning the outrage, he said the federal structure of the Indian Constitution provided that people from any state can earn a living in another state.

"Divisive forces are trying to destroy this federal spirit and the Centre must step in to thwart their design," Kumar said, adding those killed in the violence, despite their Bihari origin, were settled in Manipur for several generations. Noting that top officials of Bihar were in touch with their Manipur counterparts on the issue, Kumar said his government would do everything possible to "compensate and rehabilitate the survivors of the carnage". Unidentified militants have killed at least 15 migrant workers in several parts of Manipur since Monday. (PTI)

Imphal: Alarmed by heightened militancy, the Manipur Government has warned that it may re-impose the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Imphal municipal area if the law and order situation did not improve.

The AFSPA (1958) was withdrawn from seven assembly constituencies in municipal area following a series of agitations after the alleged rape and killing of a Manipuri woman Th. Manorama by security personnel in 2004 although the Act is still in force in remaining 53 assembly segments in the state.

"The government may even go to the extent of recommending re-imposition of the AFSPA in the seven assembly segments in the municipal area," Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh said recently.

"If such incidents like the bomb attack on the Manipur assembly continue, there is no guarantee that the APFSA 1958 (which empowers security personnel to 'shoot any suspect even causing to the death') would not be re-imposed in the Imphal municipal area," Sing said.

Official sources say there has been sharp increase in the activities of the different militant groups particularly in four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishenpur and Thoubal in the past some weeks. They say looting, kidnapping for ransom, extortion, killings of persons by militants have shown increase in recent weeks. Manipur was also cut off from the rest of the country for about a week early this month as transporters cancelled all passenger bus services between Manipur and neighbouring states protesting against huge extortion demands by some militants.

Some militant outfits allegedly were demanding between Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per month per shop. Employees of the regional institute of medical science and hospital here including doctors recently had launched a one-day sit-in protest in front of the institute protesting against demands by some militants from the institute. (Official sources said so far eighty persons were killed in Manipur in insurgency-related incidents this year (January (26 persons), February (48 persons) and March (6 persons) till March 12). Meanwhile, various organisations have demanded withdrawal of the AFSPA 1958 saying that there was a violation of human rights in the name of tracking down insurgents. There are several other laws which could be applied to deal with insurgents, they said. Political observers said if the AFSPA was re-imposed in several assembly segments in Imphal area, Manipur may again witness a series of agitations. (Agencies)

Aizawl: The Centre has urged the Mizoram government to surrender the 12 per cent share in the Tuirial hydro power project in order to resume the suspended work even as some groups criticised the state’s share in the project as "too meagre".

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who also holds the Power and Electricity portfolios, said during Question Hour at the Assembly today, ''The Union Power Ministry has asked Mizoram if we would buy the power produced at Rs three per unit, to which I replied in the affirmative because we need power urgently. However, the Centre's insistence to surrender the 12 per cent state share is unacceptable.''

Mr Zoramthanga was replying to Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who said the Centre had received negative response from the state government which prevented the hydel project from being resumed.

Ignoring the Congress Legislators’ uproar, the Chief Minister maintained that the claimed compensation amount on the hydel project was only three per cent of the total cost which was not "too high".

The Congress had alleged that too much compensation was being provided and most of the claimants were allegedly the Chief Minister's relatives, which was the cause of discontinuation of the project.

The original question to this debate was asked by Opposition member Sailothanga Sailo about the plans to convert electric cables in Aizawl city into aerial bunched cables.

The Chief Minister said tenders for supply of accessories were being floated and work would begin soon. He informed that the aerial bunched cables had arrived from manufacturers. The idea had been conceived by the Chief Minister as he was concerned over frequent accidents due to naked wires. (UNI)

Assembly sources informed that Mithi was declared elected after his nomination papers found valid.

Mr. Mithi who filed his papers on Friday after resigning from the post of Puducherry Lt Governor on March 12 last was supported by 43 Congress MLAs, 14 independent and two Arunachal Congress (AC) members who are associate members of the ruling party in a house of 60 with one opposition BJP member. Mr. Mithi had to resign from his assembly seat (Roing) before he assumed office of Lt. Governor of Puducherry on July 19, 2006. He arrived here on Thursday to file nominations. (Agencies)

New Delhi: Four hundred thirty US Air Force pilots and other servicemen are documented to be missing in action over India during World War II and Pentagon in a first of its kind of request wants New Delhi's assistance to help locate them in Arunachal Pradesh.

American servicemen went missing while flying, bombing and transport missions to China and Myanmar from thickly forested areas near the Sino-Indian and Indo-Mynmar border, where allied troops were locked in decisive battles against the Japanese army offensive.

A high level US delegation led by Rear Admiral Donna L Crisp, Commander of the Honolulu-based Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command met Defence Secretary Vijay Singh with the request and later said New Delhi’s reaction was "spontaneous".

"Last recorded signals from these aircraft give these locations and these have been documented in US military records," Crisp, a lady officer, told newsmen here.

The US request comes close on the heels of reports from Arunachal capital Itanagar where locals are have sighted some World War II wreckages in Lohit and Debang valleys.

India is not the only country which the US has approached for a joint hunt for its war heroes. In China, the Americans have been launching such joint missions with Chinese forces since 1994.

An Arunachal guide, Oken Tayang, has claimed in Itanagar that he had spotted wreckages of eight USAF world war II planes and belongings of some of the pilots Missing in Action.

These are the sightings that have brought the Americans here to seek Indian defence ministry's help and cooperation in locating the wreckages and to carry the remain of the dead pilots and other servicemen to their next of kin for burial at home.

Crisp ruled out any prospects of sending joint Indo-US large expeditionary teams to the mountains and forests of Aurnachal Pradesh.

"We want help from the Indian army to tell us how to train our small teams to go to such high altitude terrains" the US Woman Admiral said.

India and US experts plan to have another meeting in the summer before planning to send smaller joint teams to look for the remains of the pilots and other servicemen.

According to US Military estimates, there are 78,000 still missing in action from the world war II, but only 35,000 are deemed recoverable. In addition, US teams carry out similar search missions for over 8,100 missing in Korean war, 1,800 in Vietnam War, 120 in the cold war and a lone serviceman in the Gulf war.

"Our plan of action is to identify the sites and later to send teams which would comprise four to nine people and in some instances anthropologist and explosive experts," Crisp said.

She said the reaction of the Indian team was "very positive".

According to US military records, 90 aircraft are reported to have been lost in the China-Myanmar-India war with about 1,300 personnel missing in action. "But we believe of these only 430 servicemen were lost over India," she said, adding that the first of such joint missions could be launched by late summer. (PTI)