MPCC is all geared up to make the high-profile leader's tour of the poll-bound State a success, specially in Garo and Jaintia Hills where she is scheduled to address election rallies.

HNLC on Friday announced bandh in East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts from 6 am to 6 pm to register its protest against Mrs Gandhi's visit and the Central Government's decision to mine uranium in Meghalaya.

HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw, in a release issued here, said the bandh had been called because "Mrs Gandhi has nothing to offer for the good of the local indigenous population and her visit is only to brainwash the people with her false promises."

He also reiterated that HNLC strongly opposed the decision of the Government of India to "forcibly extract uranium" belonging to local people of Meghalaya.

Congress, however, appears the least bothered about the bandh and hopes to strengthen its poll campaign through Mrs Gandhi in Meghalaya, especially in Garo Hills where NCP is going all out against Congress.

Mrs Gandhi will address a public rally at the MP Stadium, Tura at around 2 pm. Before heading for Tura, she will participate in an election rally at Jowai.

Jaintia Hills DC FR Kharkongor said Mrs Gandhi would arrive at Jowai at 11.20 am and address a public rally at Kiang Nangbah College ground at 11.30 am.

In the runup to the previous Assembly elections, she addressed a public meeting at Resubelpara in Garo Hills. Congress candidate and former Chief Minister Salseng C Marak lost the seat to NCP's Timothy D Shira.

The mood in the MPCC camp seemed to be upbeat ahead of the top Congress leader's visit.

State Congress leaders have gone all out to list out the party's achievements as the leading force in the MDA Government.

Congress leaders from the Centre as well as the State, including Priya Ranjan Das Munshi and MPCC president OL Nongtdu, have projected the surrender of HNLC chairman Julius Dorphang as "a feather in the cap" of the DD Lapang-led Government.

In other words, the top HNLC leader's return to the mainstream has been described as the yardstick for measuring peace and prosperity in the State. Meanwhile, State Police have tightened security measures in Tura ahead of the visit of Mrs Gandhi.

SHILLONG: Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma has once again come under the scanner for allegedly withdrawing an amount of Rs 1, 16, 02, 500 from the MP Local Area development fund after restrictions were announced by the Election Commission.

A few citizens of Garo Hills namely J Sangma from Williamnagar, D Marak from Baghmara and S Momin from Tura have filed a complaint to the Chief Election Commission's office accusing Mr Sangma of "fraudulently withdrawing the money."

A copy of the complaint which alleges that had "fraudulently withdrawn," the amount is available with The Shillong Times.

However, when this scribe recently contacted West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner EP Kharbhih who is also the Returning Officer, said he was still awaiting a report from the Chief Election Officer (CEO).

East Garo Hills DC MR Synrem said the report of the inquiry has been submitted to the CEO.

Mr Sangma, during interactions with scribes in Tura recently, said detailed accounts are available in a souvenir published by him last September. The NCP leader pleaded innocence on the controversy.

As of now all eyes are on the Election Commission to take a stand on the issue. The Election Commission is likely to weigh the merits and demerits of the complaint before announcing any decision.

Incidentally, Mr Sangma has just been cleared of the CD controversy which threatened to dampen the NCP's poll campaign in Meghalaya.

SHILLONG: NCP president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said if his party is voted to power in the coming elections it would invite experts to study in details the merits and demerits of the proposed uranium project and seek to bring out a status report to see if any health hazards would be caused by the uranium mining.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, Mr Pawar said, "Unless local people and NGOs accept the uranium mining project, NCP would not take any decision on this sensitive issue," he said.

He pointed out that the party would be happy to set up raw material-based industries which were environment-friendly and would help create job opportunities for local unemployed youth.

NCP also fully endorses transparency and accountability in all the traditional democratic institutions.

"The party believes in strengthening and empowerment of the traditional democratic institutions. As step towards this objective, we will definitely try to introduce the system of direct funding. This would provide the traditional institutions with an opportunity to utilise human resources from the Centre for local development," Mr Pawar said.

Stating that Meghalaya with a rainfall of 250 to 400 inches had huge potential for rainwater harvesting, the NCP president said the party would try to introduce a new ministry that would deal primarily with development of rainwater harvesting in the State.

"Once rainwater harvesting is in place, it would work wonders for the farming community as water would be abundantly available to them," he said. On NCP's poll prospects, Mr Pawar said his party was confident of winning more seats in the elections.

"In the last elections, we got support in certain areas. This time, however, I can see a change in favour of our party and our effort is to get more seats," he said.

Mr Pawar also claimed that PA Sangma's return to State politics had boosted NCP's chances have brightened in this election. "His (Mr Sangma's) presence in State politics is very much required for a stable government," the Union minister added.

The Congress has today hired Amit Paul of Indian Idol fame to drum up support for them.

''We have got Amit Paul. He is a craze in Meghalaya and for us it is a big bonous,'' said Congress leader and Meghalaya in-charge of Congress Margaret Alva.

Notably it was his son Nikil Alva of Miditech which produce the Indian Idol. ''He will be singing for us both in the Khasi Jaintia hills as well as in Garo Hills,'' said Mrs Alva.

Almost every political party tried to get him but eventually the Miditech connection swung it in favour of Congress.

According to Mrs Alva, he will be singing in at least 4-5 Congress election rallies every day and shall be criss-crossing the state in the next few days as the campaigning is coming to end of March 1. (UNI with inputs from Our Reporter)

SHILLONG: Under fire from NCP and BJP for its alleged failure on almost all fronts, Congress on Friday hit back at its detractors, saying the attack on Congress by NCP leaders Purno A Sangma and Sharad Pawar was "a mere political oratory" and that there was no logic at all why people should vote for BJP.

Talking to newsmen here, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister and senior Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi claimed that Congress had done a lot for development of the State.

"Mr (Purno) Sangma's attack on our party (Congress) may be political, emotional but he cannot disown the contributions made by Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and former Chief Minister Capt. Williamson towards development of the State. Purno Sangma was also with Congress which he left for his personal ambitions," Mr Dasmunshi said.

Addressing an election meeting on Jail Road, the Congress leader said only two BJP candidates were elected to the State Assembly in the last elections.

"There is no logic at all to vote for BJP. The claim made by BJP that it had worked for development of Meghalaya and North-East is a sheer farce," Mr Dasmunshi said, adding, "It (development of the region) was the concept of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, not Atal Behari Vajpayee."

TURA: BJP president Rajnath Singh on Friday called Congress and NCP the "two sides of the same coin" and said his party would ensure that corrupt politicians, no matter how big or powerful he or she was, were put behind bars.

Mr Singh, who was on his maiden visit to Garo Hills to campaign for the party, said both Congress and NCP had failed to work for development to the State, particularly Garo Hills, despite having been in power.

"Since the time of Meghalaya's creation, Congress has ruled the State for a maximum period but failed to deliver the goods to the people. Such a government and party has no right to go and ask for votes in an election," Mr Singh said, while addressing a public meeting at Chapahati Village, Mahendraganj.

Giving a brief account of his arrival in Garo Hills on a special chopper, the former Utter Pradesh Chief Minister said he had seen nothing but dusty and poorly-maintained roads and a neglected countryside.

"So much money for development was pumped into Meghalaya by the then Atal Behari Vajpayee-led NDA Government. Everything had been misappropriated by leaders of Congress and NCP which ruled the State," the BJP president alleged, adding, "There is no difference between Congress and NCP. Both are to blame for this neglect. While Congress is the head, NCP is the tail."

He appealed to the voters to give BJP an opportunity to form the next government for development of Meghalaya.

Incidentally, Chapahati is the birth place of Tura MP Purno A Sangma. It is also from this very place that Mr Sangma's nephew Ismail A Sangma had unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly elections on a BJP ticket.

Expressing the hope that BJP would do well in all the seats where party candidates were being fielded, Mr Singh declared that BJP's priority would be development at the grassroots level and weeding out corruption in high places.

He also lashed out at Congress for branding BJP a communal party.

"Who bifurcated India to  help create Pakistan? It was not us, but Congress," said Mr Rajnath said.

Meanwhile, Mr Singh has demanded strict vigil by Government of India forces and agencies along the India-Bhutan border in the wake of reported Maoists upsurge in the neighbouring country, Our Guwahati Correspondent adds.

The BJP president, while talking to mediaperson here, expressed grave concern over reports about Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) dismantling Maoist rebel camps inside Bhutan and termed it a grave development just across the country's border.

"It will be wise on part of the Government of India to take notice of it and gear up surveillance along the Bhutan border to prevent infiltration of Maoist rebels who will definitely try to sneak into India to escape the heat generated by RBA ahead of the first general election in the Himalayan kingdom in March this year," the BJP chief said.

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal will arrive here on Saturday to campaign for BJP candidates in the State, adds Our Reporter.

The senior Akali Dal leader will campaign for BJP candidates for Mawkhar, Mawprem and Laitumkhrah constituencies and will meet Sikh community leaders here during the visit.

"When I was trying to cool down Mr Nongrum, his PSO slapped me on the face and this forced me to file an FIR against the local MLA," Mr Rani said.

It may be recalled here that Mr Rani had earlier detected through RTI application misappropriation of funds meant for MLA schemes by Mr Nongrum.

Meanwhile, FKJGP's Mairang Circle and KSU's Mairang Circle have strongly condemned the misconduct of the legislator. They have also called upon the district administration to initiate legal action against Mr Nongum.

SHILLONG: East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Bhalang Dhar has informed that the venues for counting of votes for the March 3 Assembly election had been proposed in three places.

The counting venues which, at the same time used as strong rooms are U Tirot Sing Memorial Stadium for Jaiaw, Mawkhar, Laban, Sohryngkham and Nongshken constituencies.

Further, St Anthony’s College will be the centre for counting of votes for Sohiong, Laitumkhrah, Mawprem, Mawlai, Mylleim, Mawsynram, Nongspung and Dienglieng constituencies. The Forest Silviculture Building would be the centre for counting of votes for Nongkrem, Lyngkyrdem and Pynthorumkhrah constituencies.

Separate counting halls had been proposed in the respective counting venues, Mr Dhar said adding that the venues could be changed or altered depending upon the requirement.

While urging all candidates of different political parties to maintain peace and normalcy in campaigning election, Mr Dhar said that each candidates is allowed to spend within 5 lakh for the whole episode of election adding that expenditures is strictly vigil as per Model Code of Conduct.

"Any candidate holding rally, public meeting is allowed on permission only" he said while adding that common platform for candidates are not allowed so as to stem any untoward incident that might crop up at the moment.

SHILLONG: In a major setback to the Congress party, Pynthorumkhrah Block Congress Committee (PBCC) president HB Gurung has resigned from the primary membership of the party on Thursday.

In his letter to MPCC president OL Nongtdu, Mr Gurung has cited personal reasons that led to his resignation.

Mr Gurung who is one of the prominent leaders of the Nepali community especially in Nongmynsong area is likely to join the NCP in the coming few days.

Meanwhile, around 250 plus members from the PBCC has decided to come out of the party to join the NCP.

Earlier, PBCC vice president Brison Nongspung has also resigned from the party.

SHILLONG: The Hynniew-trep National People’s Federation (HNPF) has charged the Congress of not doing anything for the welfare and development of the State and said that party leaders were busy fighting for their chairs.

In a statement issued here, HNPF publicity secretary S Shiliangam said that common people were being neglected by the Congress-led government in the State for the past five years.

"The Congress and its ruling allies have done nothing to solve problems like poverty, rural backwardness and price rise while its leaders are busy fighting for their own selfish interest" the HNPF said.

While calling upon the people to wake up and elect the right kind of leaders to fight for public cause in the March 3 Assembly elections, the HNPF said that the State needed leaders who could perform and not the present breed of corrupt and irresponsible leaders.

SHILLONG: Eleven people, including nine Indians and two Bangladeshis were detained by the Border Security Forces (BSF), when they were trying to enter Indian Territory from Bangladesh, and Bangladeshi Taka 7,702 was also seized from their possession. They were booked under Indian Passport Act.

Meanwhile, in view of the Assembly election in the State, the BSF has established 25 patrol bases in unit areas along the Indo-Bangla border to check infiltration that might disrupt the ensuing election.

SHILLONG : The All Mawlai Forum for Eradication of Corruption (AMFEC) has intensified its attack on Mawlai legislator Process T Sawkmie over alleged misuse of MLA Scheme while it also clarified that it was an independent body to combat against corruption in the constituency.

The organisation which had recently exposed largescale misuse of MLA Scheme by Mr Sawkmie through use of RTI Act, on Friday said that it was surprised at the failure of the legislator to clarify his stand over the findings.

"It is surprising indeed that Mr Sawkmie failed to clarify his stand over RTI findings regarding largescale misuse of fund in purchase of ambulances, Sintex water drums, tarpaulins, CGI sheets and other items since 1998 till date" AMFEC president Ulrich Warjri said.

The AMFEC leader also asked Mr Sawkmie to clarify over his claim regarding the amount spent for distribution of clothes, blankets and umbrellas adding that the people required to know from which scheme the materials were procured, their wholesale rate and name of suppliers.

SHILLONG: Director of Soil and Water Conservation Department, Meghalaya KC Momin was on Friday felicitated by the department for being awarded Gold Medal Award by the Soil Conservation Society of India (SCSI) for his outstanding activities in solving rural problems.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government is gearing up to present its last budget before the general election and there is no doubt that "please-all" is going to be the mantra for this annual accounting ritual.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has made it clear that next year will only be a vote on account, so his last budget speech - at least under the present regime - will be on Feb 29.A peek into the government's mindset as it goes into formulating its last budget has already been given in the endless dilly-dallying over raising fuel prices.Meeting after meeting of the empowered Group of Ministers failed to reach a decision on raising oil product prices even though world crude oil markets reached peaks of around $80 to $90 per barrel over the last year.

The public sector oil companies have had no option but to bear the burden of the losses on sales of petrol, diesel, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and kerosene but the impact was being felt on the bottom-line of these usually cash-rich firms.

Despite the urgency of the matter, the government only this week bit the bullet and decided to raise diesel and petrol prices marginally. But this will only help the oil companies by about Rs.8.4 billion in the current fiscal, a drop in the ocean compared to the total under-recoveries of about Rs.930 billion during 2007-08.

The finance ministry, however, stuck to its guns and did not announce any tax cuts on oil products because this would have affected revenue collections. Though these have been quite buoyant in the current fiscal, North Block knows that large resources are needed to support populist schemes in a pre-election year.

As the instance of the fuel price hike shows, the Congress is pressuring the government to ensure that such potentially unpopular decisions should not be implemented. And the central budget is not just a bland accounting statement. It has always reflected the political mood of the day.

The mood of the Congress right now is to go full throttle for populist schemes that would woo voters in the 2009 elections. In fact, the party has already submitted a pre-budget memorandum urging the finance minister not to stick to the timetable for fiscal discipline laid down by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM).

Achieving the FRBM targets of reducing the fiscal deficit would mean that Chidambaram has to cut back on spiralling expenditure and use the buoyant revenue collections to reduce the fiscal deficit.

The Congress, on the other hand, is arguing that a year or two's delay in implementing the FRBM targets would not make much of a difference. This argument has already been made by the Left parties for quite some time as they have been strongly opposed to the FRBM Act, insisting that it will not allow the government to move forward on higher spending in the social sector. As far as the FRBM is concerned, independent think tank Centre for Budgetary Governance and Accountability has also pointed out that similar legislation in other countries has not been adhered to in many cases.Even developed countries have not been able to achieve such stringent fiscal discipline guidelines because of the need to ensure that developmental expenditure is carried out during the year.

In countries like India, it notes, there is an even more urgent need to ensure that sufficient funds are made available for development especially in areas like health, education and agriculture.

At the same time, both the finance minister and the prime minister have always been careful accountants and are bound to prefer keeping expenditure curbed within FRBM guidelines. Much will thus depend on whether Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi decides to intervene on this ticklish budgetary issue.On some issues, however, the finance minister seems to be on the same page, as it were, with the Congress.

He has already given a pointer to the fact that the social sector, especially health and education, are at the top of his agenda while agriculture also is likely to come in for some attention.

But the fact is that the budget can do little substantial for these sectors, barring announcing large financial allocations for the 2008-09 fiscal.

As far as agriculture is concerned, for instance, most of the key decisions lie with the states. The centre can - and already has - implemented several policies linked to easier credit flows to farmers.It can also provide better facilities to buy inputs like fertiliser and seed and keep subsidy levels high so that these remain affordable for the cultivator. Similarly, it can try to give a boost to irrigation - an area on which action has also been taken in the previous budget.

The health and education sectors have also been paid some attention in the past few years and big initiatives like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan are already being carried out throughout the country.

The question is what the finance minister can do that has not already been done in these sectors.Apart from announcing some new schemes, the big problem here has been implementation of existing programmes. This has been extremely uneven with better-governed states performing well and others failing dismally to meet targets.

The worst performers are what are known as the BIMARU group of states, which include Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. So, apart from launching new schemes in the health and education sectors, the government may quite likely develop a carrot and stick policy, rewarding the better-governed states and cutting back on funds to those notoriously careless about utilising these central funds efficiently.

Agriculture will be high on the agenda for this budget, especially since it provides up to 60 percent employment in the country and rural areas form major vote banks for the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPS) coalition. Farmers' suicides have been continuing unabated, a testimony to the collapse of the credit delivery system. Having to bank on moneylenders, farmers have been resorting to suicides when their crops fail and huge debts mount on their heads. Thus, easier loans for farmers are clearly going to be a priority area for Chidambaram. Corporates may not get major sops, given the fact that industrial growth has been going on track, especially manufacturing.

At the same time, the finance minister would not like to disturb the existing scenario, especially with the stock exchanges having shown such volatility in recent weeks.

He is likely to tread carefully to ensure that core and infrastructure industries continue to perform efficiently and provide sufficient investment to drive the economy to the target of over nine percent growth in the next fiscal.

The fears of recession in the US have also spread a cloud over the Indian bourses, so he is not likely to impose any taxes that could act as a dampener to the corporate sector.

In fact, there could be some sops to export-oriented industries, which have been facing tough times owing to the rising rupee and fears of a global recession.

As for hopes of cuts in personal income tax, these are not likely to fructify given the need for higher funds to finance social sector projects. Income tax collections have literally been booming, but these monies will be needed for both infrastructure and social sector projects. On the other hand, the finance minister could provide some rationalisation that would target specific groups as has been done in the past for women and senior citizens.

The urban middle class, which form the bulk of personal income tax payers, are sadly not much of a target group before the general election, but one can only hope that the finance minister decides to give some rewards for the growing voluntary compliance in paying taxes by this segment.In sum, this is going to be a people-friendly budget, with sights firmly set on the 2009 poll.But from now till the end of the month, Chidambaram will have his work cut out for him negotiating with both the Congress and the Left to ensure that populism does not overwhelm the budget and allow him to maintain the fiscal discipline needed in the long run for the economy. (Sushma Ramachandran is an economic analyst. She can be contacted at sushma.ra-machandran@gmail.com)

Orissa and Chhattisgarh, two heavily Naxalite-infested States have sounded the bugle against the Maoists. Orissa's Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, and his counterpart in Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh, have decided to take the war against terrorism into the enemy's camp and purge their respective States of terrorism. This follows two of the biggest Maoist attacks in both the States. In Orissa, hundreds of armed guerrillas stormed Nayagarh town, barely 90 km from the State capital, Bhubaneswar, over-ran three police stations and two outposts killing 13 police personnel and two civilians on Friday last. Exposing as never before, the complete lack of preparedness of the local police, which left the top brass red-faced. Clearly to redeem its honour and teach the Naxals a stern lesson, the State pulled out all the stops and killed 20 Maoists. Signalling, enough is enough!

In Chhattisgarh too, the State Government gave the Naxalites a taste of their own medicine when 13 Naxalites were killed in two different encounters in the intensely Naxal-infested Bijapur district of Bastar region. That the Chief Minister Raman Singh's Government meant business and had decided not to give any quarter to the Naxals was clear when 13 CRPF battalions were deployed in as many as 11 Naxal-affected areas out of the State's 18 districts with an additional five more battalions to be added soon.

Uttar Pradesh, the State once synonymous with providing India with its Prime Ministers, is all set to regain its primacy with two of its leaders throwing their hats into the Prime Ministerial ring. Namely, BSP supremo and Chief Minister Mayawati and her bete noire and predecessor Samajwadi's Mulayam Singh Yadav. The Dalit Queen has minced no words to announce that her next target is India's Raj Gaddi. Towards that end, she has started criss-crossing the Hindu heartland to garner support for herself and the Party. No matter, that she has already burnt her fingers in the recently-held Gujarat poll where none of her candidates was successful. Now, she is busy making inroads into Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and New Delhi where the State Assembly elections are due later this year. In Rajasthan, Mayawati brazenly donned the robes of the new Quota Queen by promising the Gujjars that she would fulfil their demands for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes if they got her anointed as the Prime Minister.

Importantly, the shrewd BSP supremo has, meanwhile, decided to smoke the peace pipe, (for the time being), with the Congress through a courtesy call on Sonia Gandhi. At the 'power' pow-wow between India's ruling Divas, Mayawati explained there was nothing personal in her anti-Congress campaign. For Sonia too, this has come as a face saver and given her breathing space before the Budget session of Parliament. However, even as the two women serenade each other, Mulayam Singh is all set to play the spoil sport now that the United National Progressive Alliance has formally endorsed the Samajwadi supremo as its Prime Ministerial candidate. The UNPA is "confident" of winning over 100 seats in the next Lok Sabha. Towards that end, all the Front leaders are accompanying Mulayam to address maha rallies across the country to champion the cause of the farmers and cock a snook at those who dismissed them as 'used-up cartridges.'

Tripura may earn the ignominious distinction of sounding the bugle of the beginning of the end of the Congress-Left bonhomie. That the gloves were off was made plain by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi when she called for the ouster of the Left Government while campaigning for her Party in the State. Not only that. She vowed to carry the battle to the strongest Left bastion, West Bengal next, when the Lok Sabha polls are held next year. Mincing no words, Sonia denounced as false all talk of the Congress having a soft spot for the Left. "It is a misnomer," she thundered. It is a moot point if the electorate buys her sob story. As matters stand, regaining Tripura would indeed, be prestigious for the Congress as it has been bereft of power in the State for 15 years. But the challenge is not easy to surmount. All in all, Tripura has received little attention from top Congress leaders!

After politicians, it is the turn of the bureaucrats to take a "corruption" bow in Jharkhand. In a first of sorts, the Crime Investigation Department of the Jharkhand Police has sought the Additional Director's General's permission to prosecute the Chief Secretary, PP Sharma, who has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for fraud, misuse of official authority and criminal conspiracy. Shockingly, cases have been pending against him since 1988 and till recently lay buried under the debries of amnesia. But what is sauce for the goose in Jharkhand is not so for the gander in UP. Shockingly, in Ulta Pulta UP, the State's 'most corrupt officer' Neera Yadav has been given a clean chit. Recall, Yadav had the dubious distinction of being the first IAS officer to be removed as the Chief Secretary of the State by the Supreme Court on grave corruption charges. Clearly each State with varied political hues has its own yardstick for what constitutes corruption!

BSP is synonymous with Mayawati. Come election time, BSP is now all set to become the acronym for Bijli Sadak, Paani in Madhya Pradesh all over again. The Congress has stolen arch enemy BJP's election plank, made it its USP and plans to use it against the Saffron Sangh during the forthcoming State Assembly elections. Hoping to ride back to power on the anti-incumbency wave, the Congress has gone into aggressive mode. Its MP from Guna, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has lambasted the State Government for arresting farmers on charges of power theft. Recall, the BJP won the polls five years ago by riding the crest of popular dissent against the lack of bijli, poor sadaks and no paani. Now it is the Congress' turn to play tit-for-tat!

Darjeeling confirms the good old saying that anything can happen in politics. Time was when the word of Subhas Ghisingh, the Gorkha Supremo and presently caretaker administrator of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), was law. But, incredibly enough, he was not allowed to enter Darjeeling on his return from New Delhi. Activists of the manifestly popular Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) banned his entry into the Hills by setting up barricades and road blocks on all routes leading to Darjeeling from north Bengal. The Morcha wants separate statehood for Darjeeling, whereas Ghisingh is happy with the grant of a Sixth Schedule status to the hills. Recall, that it was none other than Ghisingh who had set the hills ablaze in the mid-eighties with his demand for a separate state comprising hills of Darjeeling. Eventually, the Gorkha National Liberation Front settled for an autonomous Council. (INFA)

Sir,

The report in The Shillong Times dt 19th Feb, 2008 captioned "Misgivings over MLA's Scheme" is simply outrageous. May I enlighten all concerned that the Ardhendu Chaudhuri Charitable Trust (ACCT) is a pure and simple private Trust run almost entirely out of Mr Manas Chaudhuri's salary as an MLA. This Trust is meant for the benefit of economically disadvantaged people. It is further clarified that no MLA fund is being diverted to the Trust as is being suspected by some politically vested interests. The selection of the trustees is a prerogatives and nobody has any locus standi to question its composition.

The ACCT accounts are annually audited and are available for verification with the Income Tax Department, Shillong.

Yours etc.,
A.K. Bhattacharjee,
Secretary,
Ardhendu Chaudhuri Charitable Trust
Shillong-4

Sir

It is a known fact that the Jaintia tribe is one of the three distinct tribes of the state. The recent controversy regarding the Kyndiah family relating to the Khasi Lineage Act, however, confused many youth belonging to the Jaintia tribe --- as to where they stand. The Khasi Lineage Bill is yet to be tabled in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, which was created solely to protect social laws and customs of the tribe inhabiting in the District. Therefore, the general opinion is that it is not relevant for the tribe within the District. Secondly, the Kyndiah title is originally a Jaintia title and the majority of such families are still living in Jaintia Hills district. Being residents in Khasi Hills does not mean that their originality is changed. Therefore, view of scholars and elders is very important at this juncture to dispel doubts.

Yours etc.,
Skhemlang.
Via e-mail

Sir,

I would like to bring to notice of all concerned that the CellOne subscribers of Nongkrem, Laitkor and Smit areas have long been facing severe crisis as far as mobile connectivity is concerned. Ever since the installation of the tower, some pockets of these regions do not receive any signal at all. In fact, subscribers of these areas are yet to understand and enjoy the advantages of a mobile connection. The rental and the other charges of the bills that are sent from the BSNL are in no way less than those of other subscribers of the other regions of Shillong. I fail to understand as to why the BSNL authorities have always neglected these important areas of Shillong. In fact, most people are now thinking of switching their services from the government run BSNL to private services, as has happened in most metros. The CGM should take immediate steps in this regard so as to completely solve this recurring problem. Otherwise he will be very successful in making people believe that the people of Shillong do not deserve the blessings of technological advances.

Yours etc.,
A subscriber
Via e-mail

With three different stages for cultural programs, 800 volunteers, 50000 invitees, dozens of welcome arcades and three district administrations using its all resources, this is certainly the biggest and costliest marriage for the whole North-East.

The groom is Hagrama Mohillary, once the chief of the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) who tormented the region for more than 15 years with killings, bombings and kidnappings in lower Assam.

After the signing of the Bodo Accord, he became the Chief of the BTC and his party BPPF played a crucial role in last assembly election, helping the Congress to form a stable coalition government.

To express his gratitude, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi along with State Health minister Himanta Biswa Sharma will fly in for the reception on Saturday.

''He is the most important man of our government and hence I shall personally go to bless both the bride and groom,'' said Mr Gogoi. But he is both amused and bewildered with massive arrangement.

The actual rituals of the marriage of Mohillary took place today in the traditional Bodo way where no invitees were present. It was completely a close knit affair of relatives. The bride Seuli Brahma was taken to Hagrama Mohillary's house this morning in a cavalcade of 65 vehicles.

''It become big because Bodo people wanted it'' said groom Hagrama Mohillary on Thursday.

Entire Kokrajhar district have ceased to function since yesterday as almost every government official was directly or indirectly involved in the marriage. Almost all the departments are directly involved for the arrangements. Even the markets are also deserted with everyone attending the three day long function.

At the main function on Saturday, Johnny Lever and Zubeen Garg will lead a galaxy of artists from Mumbai and Assam.

There are three different dining halls. Each can accommodate around 6000 people at a time. Billed as the costliest marriage of the region, thousands are likley to go to the actual marriage reception on Saturday only for novelty. (UNI)

From Our Correspondent

Guwahati: The Army shot dead three tribal militants and arrested five others in an operation carried out on Friday morning in a village in Karbi Anglong district of Assam while ULFA militants shot dead two persons at Kakopathar in Tinsukia district on Thursday night.

Army sources said the troops cordoned off a hide-out of the militants at Rongbong Bey village in Karbi Anglong at around 5 a.m. on Friday. The militants taking shelter inside a house opened fire and three of them were killed in the ensuing encounter that lasted for about half an hour.

The slain KLNLF militants were identified as Makhan Terang, San Millick and Girsal Terang. The Army recovered two AK 56 assault rifles, four 12 bore single barrel rifle, 177 rounds of AK 56 ammunition and six magazines, rations and other incriminating documents from the hideout.

Five other KLNLF militants including two lady cadres were arrested from the hideout along with an old couple.

KLNLF is a breakaway faction of the Karbi tribe militant group, United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) which is engaged in peace talks with Government of India. The KLNLF is opposed to the peace process between the UPDS and the Government of India. The KLNLF demands a separate homeland for Karbi tribe.

Earlier, in two separate incidents ULFA militants shot dead two persons including a school teacher at Kakopathar area in Upper Assam's Tinsukia district on Thursday night.

Police informed that a group of suspected ULFA militants had first shot dead a school teacher, Pradip Hazarika, at Sarumesagaon in before killing one more person identified as Bhoren Moran, at Mormethai village in the same area.

In two more incidents of violence on Thursday night, the anti-talks faction of Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel Garlosa) or Black Widow attacked two camps of the rival Dima Halam Daogah faction led by Dilip Nunisa in North Cachar Hill district.

Police informed that, the Black Widow ultras hurled grenade at the truce-time designated camp of the rival group at Kalasan under Maibong Police station of the hill district. The inmates of the DHD camps also retaliated by opening fire.

The Black Widow ultras also opened fire at another newly set up camp of the rival faction near Haflong town in the hill district. The Black Widow is opposed to the ongoing peace-talks between Government of India and the parent DHD faction led by Dilip Nunisa.

Kohima: A total of 218 candidates are in the fray on expiry of withdrawls for the March-5 assembly election in Nagaland, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), C J Panraj said on Friday.

Prominent leaders seeking re-elections include two former chief ministers Neiphiu Rio (NPF) and K L Chishi (Congress). CLP leader I Imkong is seeking reelection from Jamgpetkong connstituency in Mokokchung district against NPF candidate Dr I Longri.

The aspirants represent 12 political parties as well as Independents vying for the 60 assembly seats in the state. (PTI)

The number of seats contested by major parties are Congress-60, NPF-56, BJP-23, RJD-25 and NCP-8, JD(U)-3, JD(S)-4, LJP-3 and Independents-33.

The CEO said as Electronic Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) could be issued only to 43 per cent of the voters, the Election Commission had allowed the electorate to use any of nine other documents for identity. PTI AP PR PS 02221314 DEL NNNN

Kohima: Prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address election rallies in Nagaland according to a senior Congress leader.

AICC general secretary in-charge of Nagaland Margaret Alva told PTI here that the prime minister will visit Kohima on February 27 to address poll meetings. Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will address election rallies at Dimapur and Mokokchung in Nagaland on March one, she said.

Alva on Thursday accompanied by Nagaland Pradesh Congress president Hokheto Sumi and senior leader I Imkong visited border district of Tuensang and met the party candidates there. She also met the party candidates here on Thursday. The Congress is contesting in all the 60 assembly seats in Nagaland where elections will be held on March five. (PTI)

Guwahati: The Assam government on Friday sounded an alert across the state instructing the heatlh department to take precautionary measures and provide medical treatment after 11 persons were admitted to hospital here with Kala Azar symptoms.

Dr P K Bhattacharya, Superintendent of Gauhati Medical College Hospital said eleven persons were admitted on wednesday with Kala Azar symptoms.

Two of the patients were, however, diagnosed to have been suffering from TB-related fever and not kala azar, Dr Bhattacharya said.

Though all the patients had initially agreed to undergo bone marrow test, the only way to confirm the disease, he said some of them left hospital before undergoing tests.

Asserting that there was no cause for panic as the disease was curable and did not spread directly from person to person but by sand fly bite.

Health officials said the fear of Kala Azar outbreak had gripped the state as the patients were from a particular area, Chandrapur-Panikhaiti, of the city.

A team from the Regional Medical Research Centre in Dibrugarh, Upper Assam, were also carrying out investigations here into the suspected cases, the officials said.

Intermittent fever, anaemia, acute weakness and nausea were some of the symptoms of the parasitic disease that effected the liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen.

Kala Azar was considered almost eradicated now though it was a major killer in the last century. (PTI)

Haflong (Assam): Five people, including three policemen, were injured in an attack by Dima Halam Daoga (Black Widow) militants in Assam's North Cachar Hills district this evening, official sources said.

The militants ambushed a convoy of police personnel near Hatikhali under Langting police station injuring three of them and two other passersby.

The militants managed to escape after the attack and senior police and civil officials have rushed to the spot.

The DHD(BW) has unleashed a series of violent activities in the district and has served extortion notes to several companies operating here, including the North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO). Official sources said that DHD(BW) have demanded an amount of Rs two crore from NEEPCO's Kopili power project to be paid by February 28. (PTI)

New Delhi: With assembly elections to Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura being slated to be held over the next fortnight, the Congress on Friday claimed that the UPA government had provided topmost priority to integrate these North-eastern states further into the national mainstream.

AICC spokesman Manish Tewari told mediapersons that the North- eastern region always neglected when non-Congress government was in power at the Centre.

"This is strategically an important and a diverse region of India that is usually not in the focus of the national media," he said, listing out the initiatives of the UPA government in the past 44 months to improve the lives of the people in the region.

"Broadly speaking, the UPA governments policy towards the North- east can be summed up as establishing peace for development. There can be no development without peace and vice-versa."

In this context, he pointed out that the insurgent groups in Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya have entered into agreements with the UPA government to suspend insurgency operations.

This had brought relative succour to the lives of ordinary people.

On the development front, Mr Tewari said the UPA government had implemented a Rs 12, 123 crore project for the improvement of 7,639 kms of National Highways and State roads. Thirty four district headquarters, unconnected so far, would be connected to the National Highways under the aegis of this programme.

A public-private partnership for the construction of a 750 MW Gas based thermal power plant in Tripura was being taken up on a war footing at a cost of Rs 3,900 crores. (UNI)