Speaking at the Republic Day celebrations at Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex here on Saturday, Dr Sidhu said Meghalaya needed to strengthen its infrastructure and harness its power potential for development of the State.

"Strengthening of infrastructure is vital for economic growth. Power is a key element in this regard. The State has hydro-electric power potential worth about 3,000 MW. Only 185.20 MW has been tapped so far," Dr Sidhu said.

Meghalay'a limited hydel potential has also remained unexploited.

Considering these aspects, the State Government has accorded top priority to generation of additional power and augmentation of the power transmission system, he said.

The Acting Governor said construction of the Leshka Hyel Electricity Project in Jaintia Hills was going on well and the project, once completed, would significantly reduce the energy deficit of the State.

Dr Sidhu, however, pointed out that peace and stability was necessary for economic growth and development even as he said the law-and-order situation in the State had remained "stable and under control" for the past few years.

Predicting peaceful elections in the State, the Governor called upon the people to exercise their voting right without fear and favour.

Referring to the problem of insurgency, he said, "We are hopeful of a peaceful settlement with ANVC in Garo Hills, and a similar process will start soon to address the grievances of HNLC in Khasi Hills."

Dr Sidhu praised the government for its successful initiative to promote community-based tourism in Meghalaya.

According to the Governor, the State Government would continue to involve the communities in its effort to develop tourism resources, build capacity and skills and encourage entrepreneurship.

Self-help groups, cooperatives and entrepreneurs from the local community will be encouraged to take part in such areas of the tourism sector as transport, accommodation and others.

He also urged people's support to the government in implementing all development programmes.

"The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act which guarantees 100 days of employment for each rural household in a year has been implemented in five districts of the State, including South Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and Jaintia Hills," Dr Sidhu said, adding East Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts would be covered in the next financial year.

He said the government had taken steps under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (ASS) to improve quality of teaching in the elementary education sector by providing teachers with training on classroom coaching.

Besides the airport at Umroi being on the airport map of the country, a proposal is under way for upgrading the Baljek airport near Tura to a one with facility of ATR 42 type aircraft.

"Promotion of public health is a human right. The State Government has also been laying emphasis on providing intensive and extensive health care facilities in rural areas," Dr Sidhu added.

He hoped that the National Rural Health Mission, under implementation in the State, would bring about significant changes in the health scenario in rural areas.

Meanwhile, the Republic Day passed off smoothly in Shillong city despite the bandh called by HNLC in Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Shops and other business establishments remained closed and vehicles were off the road during the bandh period starting from 6 pm of Friday.

Though thin attendance was reported at the main venue of the celebrations JN Sports Complex, people participated in large numbers in the programmes held in district headquarters and civil sub-divisions.

State Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee on Sunday said the celebrations were peaceful all over the State, including Garo Hills region.

SHILLONG: FKJGP will kick off on February 2 its State-wide anti-government campaign in Chief Minister DD Lapang's constituency Nongpoh as a mark of protest against the Cabinet decision to put on hold the alleged shady power deals rather than have them scrapped as demanded by the public.

FKJGP general secretary Joe Marwein on Sunday said the campaign was aimed at highlighting the corrupt activities of the State Government and making people aware of the need to vote against all the legislators involved in the controversial electricity deals so that other legislators would not repeat the same.

"If the same people come back to power, there is every possibility that they would not hesitate to sell out all our natural resources," Mr Marwein said.

FKJGP has called a public meeting at Nonpoh to chalk out its future programmes to be organised as part of the anti-government campaign in various district headquarters and civil subdivisions.

FKJGP had earlier protested the Cabinet decision and demanded that the deals be scrapped immediately.

Reacting to news reports based on the charge leveled by his rival KHNAM candidate R Kharbuki that Lyngdoh's supporters had distributed utensils to residents of Mawlaingut village in Sohiong constituency on Friday last, he said the allegation was baseless and politically motivated.

He, however, admitted to have held a meeting at Mawlaingut on that day, saying "though there was distribution of any materials as alleged".

Shillong: A high intensity quake measuring over 8 on the Richter scale is due in the North East, if experts are to be believed.

"While it is not possible to specifically predict a quake, but if one goes by the 'Return Period' theory, a major quake is definitely due in the North East, taking into account the Assam quake of 1950 and the Shillong quake in 1897," says Saurav Barua, a senior seismologist at the Assam -based Regional Research Laboratory.

According to the "Return Period" theory, a high intensity quake occurs after a particular period of time. That is, if one considers the gap of around 53 years between the Assam and Shillong quakes, there is every possibility of the occurrence of another major quake now.

Records show the region witnessed at least 16 light intensity quakes that measured over 3 on the Richter scale - in 2007, including some measuring over 4.5, while there were numerous slight intensity jolts.

"There are some fault zones in the Kopili (NC Hills district), Dawki (Meghalaya) and the Indo-Myanmar region which account for the quakes, but until there is a tremor of 6 or above, there are no serious implications," Barua explains.

The region has experienced some of world's worst quakes, be it the Shillong quake or the Assam one, both measuring around 8.5 and reckoned to be two major quakes in human history, both in terms of intensity and destruction.

While not much headway has been made with respect to prediction of an earthquake, a major quake in the region would solve many a mystery and help experts to infer on their years of research.

"In the last 15 years, there were at least five predictions, mentioning the day and place of a possible quake in the region, but all proved wrong," said NC Khound of the Central Seismological Observatory in Shillong.

He said all the predictions were either based on astronomical research or statistical inference, and all proved incorrect.

"When a major quake, which is due in the region, occurs, seismologists and experts dealing on the quakes would find many conclusions and then could establish certain notions regarding the prediction of the calamity," Khound added.

Even as seismologists await a high-intensity quake, Brian E Tucker of the US-based GeoHazards International, in his recent finding, warned that a magnitude 8.3 earthquake striking Shillong might kill 60 times as many people (1,542) as were killed during a similar size quake that hit in 1897.

Seismologists from across the glove congregated in Guwahati to discuss the quake hazards and deliberate on a design for efficient mitigation during a possible calamity. (PTI)

No untoward incidents were reported from any part of the region even as security was tight throughout the State.

In Garo Hills, with the focus being on Tura, the district headquarters, Deputy Commissioner EP Kharbhih unfurled the national tricolour and took the salute before ten impressive marching contingents and a crowd of over three thousand people at the Tura MP Stadium, Dakopgre.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kharbhih, recalled how the Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950, which seeks to secure to all citizens justice, liberty and equality and by which the people of India pledged solemnly to uphold the unity and integrity of the great nation.

The Deputy Commissioner also recalled the contributions and sacrifices made by our freedom fighters from the state, namely Pa Togan Nengminza, U Tirot Singh and U Kiang Nongbah.

The highlights of the celebration was the giving away of certificates for government employees and school students for their outstanding performances. The District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO), Dr (Mrs) Malti K Marak, Treasury officials Linroyed Ch Momin and Jyotirmoi Saha were given achievement certificates. Winners of the essay competition, Ms Babita S Singh (Aeroville School), S Chetri (Rosebud School) and Kamatchi Sangma (Aeroville School) were felicitated.

Shillong: Acting Governor Dr SS Sidhu handed over the Meghalaya Day Awards to the recipients on the occasion of Republic Day celebration at Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex here on Saturday.

Kalseng Ch Sangma was honoured with the U Tirot Sing Award for his contribution to arts and literature, Beningstar Lyngkhoi with the U Kiang Nangbah Award, for his outstanding achievement in the field of sports and Bosco Reach Out, the Pa Togan Sangma Award, for selfless social services.

It may be mentioned that that the awards have been instituted to commemorate the Meghalaya Day on January 21 every year. All the winners received cash award, a citation and certificates.

The Governor also gave away the State Excellence Awards to the State government employees in recognition for their excellent services in their respective departments.

Prominent among the recipients of State Excellence Awards were the Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Claudia A Lyngwa, Finance Department Officers on Special Duty - Mr NC Deb, PWD (Roads) Assistant Engineer Allanvert Challam, SDO (Civil) Amlarem Head Assistant DC Lyngdoh, Home Police Department UD Assistant Venicia Tariang, Resident Commissioner (New Delhi) UD Assistant Balam Singh Thakur.

A BSF statement here said the cattle, worth Rs 20 lakh, were brought from Haryana to be smuggled to Bangladesh.

The smugglers, however, fled to Bangladesh. Last year, the BSF seized 6311 catle worth over Rs 8 crore enroute to the neighbouring country. (PTI)

Anger and anguish. Despair and desperation. Little did one know that India would celebrate its 58th Republic Day riding the crest of these emotions. Forget that India is fast earning the ignominious title of being the world’s rape capital, that killing is the rhetoric of the times, what to speak of the frighteningly ever-widening gap between the filthy rich of Brand India and the depraved garib of Asli Bharat. Standing testimony to a callous, heartless and selfish country.

Epitomised by the worst outbreak of bird flu, the third since 2006. This time it has enveloped West Bengal and spread to neighbouring Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and UP. Even down south Kerala has sounded an alert. "It is horrible," confessed the hapless Bengal Animal Resources Minister. Is this enough? Does it condone and justify the State Government’s delayed action, bad planning and mismanagement?

Think. From 15 December when it surfaced in Margram village, in Birbhum district, till date the State Government is still grappling with the enormity of the crisis and is clueless as to how to proceed. There is no evidence of civic authorities and public health officials attempting cleansing operations on a war-footing. Its culling record of birds is dismal --only four lakhs out of 20 lakhs. To top it all, villagers continue to feast on the dead chickens, their children play with the infected ones and many carry on selling them as it’s a question of their livelihood. Characterised by "chickens die of various diseases, how do I know it’s bird flu?"

The end result? Equipment and necessary tools sent by the Union government to the State to help set up isolation wards, simply gather dust. No one visited the village till 16 January, a month since its outbreak. And those who did had no clue what to do as they were not bird flu experts. A majority of the "health surveyors" were school dropouts with no medical training or experience. They had no testing equipment, not even a thermometer! Exposing the tragic fallacy of India. Spotlighting once again our cavalier and churlish attitude and approach to a crisis. Not just a crisis of character, but of crass casualness, which has become the touchstone of our present-day culture.

Besides, it also demonstrates that the real filth is more administrative and political. The point is not that just a few countries have banned Indian poultry and that airlines are no longer serving chicken but that it highlights the nation’s inability to manage a crisis, dictated by a ki farak painda hai attitude. Many of the CPM leaders were busy attending the Party Conference in Kolkata, rather than overseeing culling operations in their districts.

Evidently, the administrative system has practically collapsed a long time ago --- not only in Margram, West Bengal but almost everywhere. Today, we face an extremely serious situation, socially and environmentally. There’s a total urban and rural breakdown, unpaved roads, collapsing sewage and drainage system and abject poverty. We are at a stage where another crisis threatens.

Scandalously, the Indian Government spends less than one per cent of its GDP on public health care. A National Sample Survey Organisation study of village infrastructure in 2003 found that 54 per cent of villages were more than five km away from the nearest Primary Health Centre and 27 per cent were more than 10 km away. Only 10 per cent had a dispensary and only 20 per cent had a private clinic or a doctor.

According to the WHO, India has a national average of only 45 doctors and 8.9 beds for every 100,000 patients, with the levels far lower in the poorest States. Add to this the reputation of having the highest annual death toll due to tuberculosis, many dying from malaria, dengue and cholera, preventable and treatable diseases.

The country is ranked 127th out of 177 countries in the Human Development Index. According to the Arjun Sengupta report 70 per cent of our population survives on less than Rs 20 a day, living in appalling slum dwellings. Take Maharashtra, India’s financial capital, which is plagued by lack of water and electricity. Its rural people live in densely-populated hamlets in close proximity to fowls and pigs, which they breed as additional food supplements. There is only one doctor for 28 villages with over 20,000 people. When he is away on call all is left to God.

Bird flu is only the latest in a series of reversals in public health hazards. Dengue, chikgunaya, malaria, gastroenteritis is all around. There is resurgence of Kala Azar and there is Japanese encephalitis, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis. Child mortality is on the rise. If a child doesn’t die within five years from birth due to malnutrition and diarrhea, acute respiratory infections will get him later.

The Government can no longer bury its head in the sand. People are sick of hearing the same old refrain: "Don’t panic…The Government is doing everything that is necessary…things are improving". They are tired of their netas going through the yearly ritual of ‘see-touch-go’ visits, of their State Governments knocking the door of the Centre for relief, of money and aid being freely bandied words. Appropriate noises, hollow concerns and instant remedies are made at crisis time. Enough to satisfy everyone’s conscience that they have done their bit for the nation.

Perhaps, it is time for the Government to realise that economic liberalization without reforms in the social sector can become a bane. There are no short cuts possible. It is now imperative that the nation and its netagan rethink strategy and approach to safeguard public health infrastructure, establish fresh priorities, improve public hospitals. To foresee is to govern.

The country’s image cannot be made or unmade by imagery alone. It is time to change the reality. Economic efficiency, social well-being, community upliftment are all different by products of a common collective endeavour. Education and public health are two other areas which have to be attended to on high priority if the nation is to accelerate its economic growth.

Ravaged Bengal has exposed the total collapse of the administrative system and the frailty of our netagan. Remember, all crises are surmountable. What is insurmountable is damned casualness. That is the tragedy of the nation. Resigned to acceptance and lacking the will to fight. How long can this go on? (INFA)

The volatile religious politics in Pakistan is posing a serious threat to the very existence of the Islamic Republic. We have daily news items of extremists’ attacks on security forces deployed to bring some semblance of law and order. The monsters of Taliban and Al Qaida were created by political leadership of Pakistan without realizing that "once you ride a tiger you cannot dismount". The creation of Taliban was intended to have strategic depth in Afghanistan as a satellite state. The situation in Pakistan continues to cause concern not only to Afghanistan and India but also to the major players in the war on terror.

However, the present rulers of Pakistan have been ignoring protestations being made by the concerned countries and, consequently, Islamist forces continue their activities which, apart from Pakistan, also directly impinge on the security of Afghanistan and India. In the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, it is doubly important to examine the reasons behind Pakistan’s covert encouragement of Islamist forces for geostrategic reasons, which is now being realized by even Pakistan’s mentor the United States and its Western allies.

Several recent developments indicate that six years since 9/11 the Washington-led alliance is tired of camouflaging its repeated failures to make a significant headway in normalising and developing Afghanistan and is in its desperation seeking a short-cut to sneak out of its commitment to the fledging republic.

Such a tendency on the part of the alliance would work fine for Pakistan’s interests, as happened when the United States unceremoniously abandoned Afghanistan after the end of the Soviet occupation in the post-1989 period, and effectively allowed Islamabad to set up the fundamentalist Taliban to act as its surrogate in Kabul. For six years since 26 September, 1996 when the Taliban captured Kabul, this Pakistan-led arrangement was firmly in place until the Twin Towers came down in New York City and the war on terror was born.

Roughly for about two years since December 2001 when the Taliban regime was thrown out and the international community gathered around Afghanistan to repair its wounds and restore it to democratic and developmental health, the Taliban and Al Qaida lay disjointed in safe havens in the North-West Frontier Province. All through this period, Pakistan’s carefully manufactured model of strategic depth in Afghanistan lay in tatters, and diplomats and analysts felt that Islamabad had at last given up on the concept.

But Islamabad apparently bade its time and was quick to sense its opportunity in playing its designated role of an ally in the war on terror. An enraged Bush administration is now broadcasting to the world that it has been continuously hoodwinked by Pakistan as far as the anti-Taliban campaign is concerned.

Despite the years and billions of dollars spent in the war on terror, the Taliban has not only grown from strength to strength but has also succeeded in enlarging its presence inside Afghanistan and to some extent in neutralising peace and security and political and economic development in the country. Thus, while Pakistan has ensured that the Taliban become a stronger threat to the democratic Afghan government, it has also succeeded in diverting anti-terror US funds and weapons to gear up for a potential military conflict with India.

Several trends in Afghanistan are now clearly discernible. The most important of these is the success of Pakistan in making a mockery of fulfilling its obligations in the so-called war on terror. It has not merely waged a largely sham military campaign against the Taliban in its south-western border and taken every care to ensure that the Taliban and Al Qaida can operate with complete freedom and facility in the North-West Frontier Province. To the infinite chagrin of Bush administration officials, Pakistan has been plainly cheating on both military exercises and expense reimbursements.

It is significant that Islamabad has not cared to change its course during the last two years or so when Washington first admitted that President Pervez Musharraf had been consistently hoodwinking it by not sincerely going after the Taliban in particular; there were of course spectacular eliminations and arrests of a few senior Al Qaida and Taliban operatives within Pakistan, but Islamabad was patently more sincere about weakening indigenous Islamists (who were political opponents to the Musharraf regime) rather than Afghan Taliban and non-Afghan Al Qaida.

Even in these cases, Islamabad often acted only after repeated prodding by Washington which first detected the presence of these elements in Pakistani territory and passed on the intelligence to Pakistan. An increasingly unhappy US administration seems to be especially piqued over the recent realisation that Islamabad has also short-changed it in reimbursements of claimed inflated campaign expenditure. The administration has since come up with a new disbursement plan earmarking funds for specific jobs, even identifying military equipment and training regimes which should now get the apportioned dollars.

The importance of US funds for Pakistan is evident in the fact that these account for roughly one quarter of its $4 billion military budget. However, the Musharraf regime need not feel despondent just because Washington has only lately got wise to its doctoring of accounts and shifting of military hardware from the war on terror to future sub-continental conflict. The British government has just been caught holding secret parleys with Taliban leaders, and by no means surprisingly, it is now also known that London and Washington are together in this backdoor game of smuggling in the Taliban for a larger role in Afghanistan. (INAV)

Sir,

The NEHU has declared the results of LLB first and second year on December 19 last. In the result, it was mentioned that 'mark sheets will be forwarded to the principal of the respective colleges within 10 days from the date of declaration of result.' Thus, if 10 days are counted from the result day, mark sheets are supposed to reach the college by December 29. As that time vacation goes on, students hoped that they would get the mark sheets in the first week of January. In the meantime, the routine for supplementary examination to be held from January 30 was notified before the students getting their mark sheets. This has caused problems to the students. Finally, the mark sheets reached the Shillong Law College on January 15 and students received the same on the January 17. I would like to ask NEHU - (i) why the delay in sending mark sheets? (ii) who is responsible? and (iii) can the University sense the tension students underwent?

Now, after the delay, another surprising fact is that maximum students who cleared their exams got average marks ranging from 40 to 48 per cent. This means the hard work done by the students during examinations had gone in the bad hands i.e., to such examiner who is least interested to check the answer scripts genuinely. On the other hand, these examiners might have checked the answer scripts just to make extra money and hence the average marking.

My concern is that the hard work of students should go to the best hands i.e., to such examiners who checks the answer scripts genuinely. NEHU should stop sending answer scripts to such examiners who play with the career of students.

Yours etc.,
A concerned guardian
Kudos SBI

Sir,

I am grateful to the staff of SBI Shillong and SBI Laban branch for their prompt action in rectifying the mistake made by an ATM machine. It has come as a pleasant surprise when I approached the ATM section of SBI Shillong -- the officials were not only warm and friendly, but they also showed thorough professionalism.

This kind of friendly and helpful customer relations will, surely uplift SBI here and abroad.

Yours etc.,
M Pyngrope
Shillong (via e-mail)

An Army spokesman informed that Captain SK Chowdhury who was conferred President’s Sena Medal on the occasion of Republic Day on Saturday, was seriously injured during the encounter in Borpathar area and later died while he was being airlifted to Army base hospital in Jorhat. The Army officer received a bullet injury on his chest.

Two ULFA militants also died in the encounter while another was hit by bullet on his leg.

The slain ULFA militants were identified as self-styled sergeant major Chandan Dohotia and corporal Tutu Moran.

Army recovered one AK 47 rifle, two magazines with 100 rounds of live ammunition and five kilograms of explosives from the possession of killed militants.

Guwahati/Agartala: A 17-hour general strike by separatist rebels on Saturday to boycott the 59th Republic Day celebrations failed to impact the northeastern states of Assam, Manipur and Tripura.

Officials said public and private vehicles were plying normally with people participating in the national day celebrations.

Five rebel groups, including the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), had called a 17-hour general strike from 1 a.m. on Saturday to boycott the Republic Day celebrations.

The other groups are the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), fighting for a separate homeland comprising parts of Assam and West Bengal; the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), an umbrella group of several Manipuri rebel groups; the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF); and the Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF).

Assam Governor Ajai Singh unfurled the national flag in the State's main city of Guwahati with an appeal to militants to shun the path of violence.

"The Government has taken enough steps to boost the economy and undertaken various schemes for development of Assam," the governor said in his Republic Day speech.

Despite the boycott call by militants, people turned up for the celebrations.

"It is quite heartening to see people coming to participate in the Republic Day and this shows that militants are losing support among the masses," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

There have been some incidents of violence in Assam in the run-up to the Republic Day with four explosions in which eight people were injured, including one at the western Nalbari town late Friday.

Tripura Governor Dinesh Nandan Sahaya unfurled the national flag at the Assam Rifles ground in Agartala, where the day's main function was held.

"People came out in large numbers across the state to participate in the celebrations defying the boycott call of the militants," police spokesman Nepal Das said.

People also defied a boycott call by rebels in Manipur and Meghalaya.

"Militants must come for talks rather than taking the path of violence," Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said after the Republic Day function. (IANS)

Kohima: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy and two Election Commissioners (EC) will visit Nagaland from January 31 to February 2 to review poll preparations for March 5 Assembly election in the State.

Nagaland, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) CJ Ponraj in a release said on Sunday the CEC and the two ECs would hold separate meetings with representatives of recognised political parties on February 1 here.

The CEO has informed all recognised parties to send not more than five representatives from each party to the meetings. The unrecognised political parties may send their representation, if any, in writing to the CEO Nagaland on or before January 30, the release said.

Meanwhile, the CEO has constituted election committees in each district to oversee the poll arrangements and preparation and to receive complaints on violations of codes of conduct and suggestions from individuals and parties to ensure a free and fair poll in the state.

As usual, the aspirants have so far confined their activities in villages and among clans seeking supports from grassroot level institutions like village councils, gaonburhas, youth and women organisations by holding one-to-one meetings.

Whatever may be the party affiliation of an individual, none in Nagaland can deny the important role the village councils play in the elections.

The election campaign have remained low key as major political parties are besieged with the problem of finalising the list of candidates as there are too many aspirants for many assembly segments.

Congress, which claims to have finalised the list of candidates for 40 out of total 60 seats, has faced a tough time to finalise the names for remaining 20 constituencies.

The Pradesh Congress Committee had a tough time with its party workers and aspirants coming out open against the party's decision to consider names of 19 dissident Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF) legislators who joined Congress after December political development in the state.

In Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) front, it was so far not clear whether NPF and BJP will fight against the Congress together or go alone. As of today, there seems to be friendly fight between NPF and BJP in many constituencies as BJP has already hinted to contest in at least 30 seats.

Besides these three major political contenders in the election, new entrants like RJD, Samata Party and Independents are this time likely to influence the poll and the subsequent formation of the government in Nagaland which is now under the Presidents Rule since January 3 last. (PTI)

Guwahati: A 12-hour economic blockade called by Adivasi protestors disrupted road and train traffic in western Assam on Sunday.

The All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam (AASAA) had called for the blockade to demand the accord of scheduled tribe status to the Adivasi (tea tribe) community.

Vehicular traffic was severely hit by the blockade as vehicles remained off the roads in the Adivasi-dominated western Assam.

Picketers, trying to enforce the blockade at Srirampur check gate in the Assam-West Bengal border were detained by the police, but were released later.

Several trains also got delayed or cancelled following the blockade. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the State so far.

The AASAA leadership threatened to intensify their stir and called for a 1000-hour economic blockade from February 28 if the Government does not accord ST status to the community. (UNI)

The INPT has accepted to contest in 11 ST reserved seats after a hectic negotiation with Tripura Pradesh Alliance Committee on Saturday night in Delhi.

The INPT, which had contested in 18 seats in the last Assembly elections, has been demanding for at least 14 Assembly seats. Finally, the INPT delegation led by its president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl accepted the proposal and left for Agartala.

However, the impasse over seat adjustment with NCP and PDS is yet to be finalised. AICC general secretary Prithviraj Chavan took strong exception over the approach of NCP leader and MLA Animesh Debbarma. But, the Congress is hopeful about the seat adjustment deal with PDS. The party is reportedly convinced by the Congress approach that one seat will be given to it.

The Central Election Committee headed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been struggling to finalise its nominees for the coming elections in Tripura.

The Committee is expected to finalise the list of its candidates by January 28, two-day before commencement of filing of nominations.

"The panel is holding meeting with the Tripura Election committee to finalise the list," a PCC leader said over telephone from Delhi on Sunday.

The Congress is also yet to come out with its manifesto for the elections.

The NFR officials said here on Sunday that the trail journey, which was made yesterday took nearly two and a half hour to arrive at Ambassa covering a stretch of 21 km.

An official of the NF railway said that state had moved one step ahead when they received a clearance certificate from the Commissioner Safety (Railway Board).

However, they were unable to announce the time for the passenger train in the stretch.

''The track is fully prepared and the resumption of the passenger train will be announced after the state election,'' the officials added. The train would stop at two stations -- SK Para and Jwahar Nagar. (UNI)

Guwahati: Assam Government made a call to insurgent groups, including the proscribed United Liberatuion Front of Asom (ULFA), to come forward for talks within the framework of Indian Constitution on the occasion of Republic Day.

Addressing a function in Guwahati, Governor of Assam, Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Kumar Singh stated that despite violence perpetrated by insurgents, the internal security scenario in Assam had been improving during the last, thanks to coordinated anti-insurgency operations under the Unified Command structure by the Army, police and paramilitary forces.

The Governor made an appeal to the insurgent groups to come forward for talks with the Government within the framework of Indian Constitution. "Our doors are always kept open for a dialogue, so that the problem of insurgency is resolved, and peace is restored in the state," he said.

He said Assam Government had laid special emphasis on strengthening the police force by way of modernization, setting up of new police stations and creation of new posts in the force to face the challenged posed to it by insurgents.

An India Reserve Battalion will be raised in the state within March this year.

The Governor rued that a large number of women and children had become innocent victims of insurgency related violence in the State.

Venues of official celebrations of Republic Day in Assam had been shifted from usual venues in several districts of Assam on security reasons in view of the looming threat from the ULFA that had given a call for boycott of the Republic Day celebrations in the state and general strike on the same day.

A group of journalists, writers and noted citizens gathered in the premises of Guwahati Press Club to celebrate Republic Day in a show of defiance to the call for boycott given by the UKLFA and four other militants groups operating in the region.

Unfurling the national Tricolour at the Press Club, senior journalist, D N Chakraborty said the people of the nation must celebrate Republic Day to show respect to martyrs who sacrificed their precious lives to free their motherland from the clutches of colonial rulers.

He made pot shots at the banned ULFA’s ‘violent revolution’ demanding restoration of sovereignty of Assamese people and said that it was an abstract idea in the present context of global economy to demand sovereignty for Assam. He said it was an utopian idea to demand sovereignty for Assam when no country in the world including the US is economically cent per cent independent. He said Assam is hardly resourceful enough to survive as a sovereign nation. He said such demand exposed poverty of wisdom on part of the ULFA leadership. (EoM)