The excise levy on ready-to-eat package foods and instant food mixes like Dosa and idli, energy efficient lamps and leather footwear ranging Rs 250-750 has been halved from 16 to eight per cent. Presenting his third Budget in the UPA Government, Finance Minister Chidambaram stuck to controversial Fringe Benefit and Banking Cash Transaction Taxes but modified FBT to provide some relief to employers.Taking note of the buoyancy in the Stock markets, Chidambaram raised across the board by 25 per cent the Securities Transaction Tax.

The changes in direct taxes are estimated to net an additional Rs 4000 crore a year and those in indirect taxes Rs 2000 crore.The service tax, whose net has been widened to include maintenance and management, registrars, share transfer agents and bankers to an issue, non-print media adds, travel by cruise ships and public relations management services is expected to rake in Rs Rs 34,500 crore a year, almost double that of the current year.

Stepping up allocations by over Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore on UPA eight flagship programmes including employment guarantee act and defence spending by Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 89,000 crore, the budget estimates the plan expenditure of Rs 1,72,728 crore and non-plan expenditure of Rs 3,91,263 crore.With total expenditure pegged at Rs 5,63,991 crore, the revenue collections estimated at Rs 4,03, 465 crore and revenue expenditure at Rs 4,88,192 crore.

Consequently revenue deficit estimated at Rs 84,727 crore, which is 2.1 per cent of GDP. The fiscal deficit is estimated at 1,48,686 crore, which is 3.8 per cent GDP, returning back to adhering to FRBM target of reducing revenue and fiscal deficts by 0.5 and 0.3 per cent of GDP annually.

Providing a number of innonvative measures to boost agriculture and rural development, Chidambaram announced concessional interest of seven per cent for short-term loans taken by farmers for Kharif and Rabi crops. This will cost the exchequer Rs 1700 crore in 2006-07.

Abolishing the one-by-six scheme for madatory filing of income tax returns, Chidambaram recast the provisions relating to savings. Fixed deposits of more than five years in banks will now be brought under section 80C income tax act. He also removed the limit of Rs 10,000 in respect of pension fund contributions under section 80CCC subject to overall ceiling of Rs one Lakh.

In the interest of equity, the rate under minimum alternate tax for corporates has been raised from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent.He also proposed a road map to introduce Goods and Services tax to replace the present excise and service tax from April one 2010. The hike in service tax rate to 12 per cent is a step in that direction, he said.

In line with the promise to bring down customs duty to the ASEAN level, Chidambaram proposed to reduce peak rate for non agricultural products from 15 to 12.5 per cent.The customs duty changes will also bring down the prices of alloy steel and primary and non secondary non-ferrous metals, mineral products, ores and concentrates, refractories, bulk plastics and anti-AIDS and anti-cancer drugs.

However, he levied a four per cent countervailing duty on all imports with some exceptions.With the withdrawal of eight per cent special additional excise duty on small cars and aerated drinks, small hatch back cars and aerated drinks will attract only 16 per cent excise duty.He stepped up allocations for infrastructure development particularly for highway development and power. PTI SUD

While packaged software sold over the counter will attract eight per cent excise duty, DVD, flash and combo drives will be fully exempt from excise.Keeping in mind employment generatino sectors, like textiles, food processing and petroleum, the budget proposed to increase allocation under the technology upgradation fund from Rs 435 crore to Rs 535 crore next year and Rs 189 crore for a scheme for integrated textiles Park.

PM says "growth-oriented" budget : Meanwhile, asserting that the 2006-07 Budget is an ''outstanding'' exercise, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the growth and social justice imperatives and the National Common Mimnimum Programme were taken into consideration to give a fair deal to the growing economy and the commonman.

Reacting to the Budget minutes after Finance Minister P Chidamabaram presented it in Parliament, Dr Singh said the gross tax revenue was going to increase by 20 per cent in three years. ''The GDP ratio will also go up from 9 to 11 per cent.''

''Leave something for the later days,'' Dr Singh told presspersons when asked why the Fringe Benefit tax was not abolished as was widely speculated. He, however, added that the Finance Minister had announced some concession to the business sentiment. He said the budget was an ''excellent combination'' of different factors with the emphasis being laid on infrastructure, social sector, social justice and economic growth.

Minutes after the announcement, Maruti Udyog Managing Director Jagdish Khattar announced a price cut across five models -- 'M800', 'Alto', 'Wagon R', 'Zen' and 'Omni'.

The cut ranged between Rs 12,700 and Rs 25,000, the entry-level M800 prices plunging below Rs 2 lakh. Zen saw the highest cut in prices, with the company slashing its cost by up to Rs 25,000. Not to be left behind, Maruti's key rival Hyundai also slashed the price of its flagship 'Santro' car by as much as Rs 23,000.

Welcoming the Finance Minister's announcement, Hyundai India President B V R Subbu said that it would give a fillip to the small car segment. (Agencies)

New Delhi: India Inc and investment bankers on Tuesday hailed the Government for presenting a 'growth oriented budget,' along with a slew of concessions and slashing peak import duty, even as stock markets shrugged off initial disappointment over increase in transaction tax and closed higher.

Terming the Budget as 'pragmatic', industry chambers and corporate honchos complimented Finance Minister P Chidambaram for bringing in fiscal discipline to curb subsidies, check non-plan expenditure and giving a push to infrastructure which would boost economic growth to 10 per cent in next 2-3 years.

"The industry will be happy as there are no major negatives. It has cut down customs duty and has covered a lot of industries as well," CII chief mentor Tarun Das said.

Major industry bodies CII, FICCI and Assocham welcomed the budget, saying it sets the path for all inclusive growth to step up employment generation, make India a manufacturing hub and improves government's financial position.

"I think the Finance Minister has done a great job in reining in fiscal deficit, which will be 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2006-07," J M Morgan Stanley chairman Nimesh Kampani said.

FICCI president Saroj Poddar said the Budget laid the foundation to achieve 10 per cent growth. "A major positive feature is the clear signal on of a Goods and Services Tax (GST) by 2010. This would integrate the economy and make India a single common market," Poddar said.

However, corporate sector wanted more simplification in the controversial Fringe Benefit Tax and expressed displeasure over the hike in service tax. "The budget should have restrained from raising service tax from 10 per cent to 12 per cent till the GST was brought in," Assocham president Anil Aggarwal said.

The industry lauded Chidambaram for allowing higher FII investments in government securities and corporate debt, as also for permitting domestic mutual funds greater exposure in overseas capital markets.

The reduction in peak customs duty, cut in excise duty on a wide range of items and dereservation of small scale sector was also appreciated, with industry chambers saying the steps would help Indian companies become globally competitive and make the country a global manufacturing hub.

Top CEOs including Bajaj Auto's Rahul Bajaj, ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar, Bharti Tele-Ventures chief Sunil Mittal, Ashok Leyland's R Seshasayee and Ranbaxy CEO Malvinder Singh besides leading bankers including from country's largest State Bank of India and ICICI Bank also lauded the budget.

"Now when the Finance Minister has been given fiscal space, he does not need to look at short term... He (Finance Minister) can plan for longer," Deveshwar said.

Sunil Mittal praised Chidambaram for presenting a "very balanced and remarkable budget, while Rahul Bajaj said with no new taxes it was a big plus for the industry.

However, there were some disappointments relating to specific sectors. Big-size car makers such as General Motors India wanted excise duty cut for higher-end models also. Tobacco majors ITC and Godfrey Phillips took exception to the government singling out cigarettes for higher excise duty.

"Pharma sector has been considered in bits and pieces. Reduction in excise duty on anti-AIDS and anti-cancer drugs is a good step. Removal of Fringe Benefit Tax on free drug samples is welcome," Ranbaxy CEO Malvinder Singh said. (PTI)

The main Opposition BJP on Tuesday slammed the Budget for "ignoring farmers, punishing the middle class and gladdening only the affluent."

"At a time when suicides by farmers have assumed alarming dimensions, a Budget that callously ignores the kisans deserves all round condemnation. It is a Budget that ignores the kisans, punishes the middle class and gladdens only the affluent," Leader of Opposition L K Advani said in a statement here.

The Government's key Left allies on Tuesday criticised the Budget for failing to address several vital problems, especially those faced by the peasantry and the unemployed, but said it broadly followed the thrust of the UPA's National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).

The Left parties also charged the Government with ignoring their suggestions to mobilise resources to meet the gap of about Rs 24,000 crore, as the tax proposals intend to raise only around Rs 6,000 crore compared with the projected expenditure of about Rs 30,000 crore. "The Budget has failed to address many of the vital problems of the common people, particularly the peasantry and the unemployed. But it seems it has been prepared on the basis of concerns of the NCMP", CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here. He said two central problems of the economy -- agrarian crisis and unemployment -- have not been adequately addressed and pointed out that the proposed outlays for agriculture, health, education and employment generation "are low and inadequate for meeting the NCMP goals". (PTI)

During the three-day visit, Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold talks on a substantive broad-based agenda and expectedly sign several agreements covering various areas including agriculture, science and technology and space.

"We have come very close but are not there yet. We have to tie the loose ends before we can have the agreement," Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters here while briefing on Bush's first visit.

Saran, who heads the Indian side in the negotiations with US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns on the July 18 deal, said the two countries have made "considerable progress" but "we still have a short distance to go."

He said the effort of the two countries was "not to leave unfinished business and that "if necessary, we will continue the discussions beyond the visit".

He maintained that there were still "gaps" which needed to be bridged. (PTI)

Raipur: In the worst ever naxal violence in Chhattisgarh, 26 villagers were killed and over 50 injured on Tuesday in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists targeting vehicles carrying people who attended an anti-naxal rally in Dantewada district.

About 60 people, returning in vehicles after the meeting, were abducted by the insurgents folllowing the blast. A total of 35 seriously injured had been airlifted to Bhadrachalam and Khammam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh where three of them succumbed to injuries taking the total deaths to at least 26, Bastar Inspector General of Police Mohammad Vazir Ansari told PTI. The abductees were taken to Orissa after crossing the Sabri river, which divides Chhattisgarh and Orissa, official sources said. Death toll could increase, police said, adding some of the injured also went missing in the jungles fearing further attack from naxals. The naxals stopped five trucks coming from Errabore to Konta carrying 200 people at Dornapal and blew up one of the trucks and set the rest on fire, the sources said.

National Security Guard Commandos have been stationed at Bastar for over a week for anti-naxal operations, police said. (PTI)

Despite the bail, Shahabuddin, arrested in New Delhi in November and currently lodged in Bhagalpur jail, will continue to be in jail as he is yet to get reprieve in five more cases. A case of power theft was registered against the MP with Hussainganj police station of Siwan district after the matter came to light during a raid at his Pratappur house on April 24 last year. (PTI)

Srinagar: Protests erupted in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday against the publication of pictures of playing cards featuring the Holy Kabah in Mecca by a news magazine. Crowds shouting pro-Islam, anti-India and anti-West slogans gathered at the Maisuma neighbourhood in the afternoon. The protesters stopped traffic and closed markets in Maisuma, Karan Nagar and Safakadal.

Police initially tried to chase away the demonstrators, whose numbers swelled to around 2,000 before they were dispersed by a baton charge.Protests also took place in the Nishat area on the banks of the Dal lake.

Authorities have seized all copies of the weekly magazine. "The protesters were explained the position that these inflammatory pictures had been carried by the magazine in its latest issue and the government was exploring the possibility of initiating action against the magazine," an official said.

"I have already spoken to the chief secretary and the government is considering the matter. We have seized all copies of the magazine from news stalls and vendors in Srinagar," the official added. (IANS)

Tips on how to look and what to talk were given to the squad that provides security to the prime minister and visiting dignitaries along with the special protection group (SPG) over a lengthy two-hour briefing Monday evening. These 150 men and women would be posted in close proximity to the US president, who lands here Wednesday evening for a three-day visit.

"You have to look smart in front of the US officials because the whole world would be watching us for three days," said a senior officer while briefing the security personnel.

"Wear your best clothes," he said.

So, the drill read out included wearing dark blazers with light coloured shirts, polishing shoes, a neat hair cut and, in case someone looks closely, clean trimmed nails. Women were given specific instructions too - no slippers, and their best saris with sandals. "Your saris should not be too gaudy," their officer said.

Though getting the look right was important, it was equally crucial to watch every word. According to sources, the officer said: "If somebody asks you a query and if you think answering the question would be outside your brief, then politely reply in English ‘Please speak to my senior officer’. In case you do not know the answer to the query, you must say ‘Sorry, I do not know’."

He added that US security men were "smarter and better trained".

"They would be keeping a close watch on our work so we must do our job well and ensure no complaints are made against us."

The Americans must realise that we are also good at our job, he said. Clearly, while the streets of Delhi get spruced up, its police are getting ready for a similar makeover to get the look just right for the crucial visit. (IANS)

The State Cabinet, which met here on Monday, had kept the decision on Mr Bazeley's extension at abeyance for a fresh deliberation at an MDA meeting slated for a later date. However, having all necessary indications from the coalition partners against the extension of Bazeley's service, the State government named Mr Tiwari as the new Chief Secretary.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the State government said on attaining the superannuating age, Mr Bazeley holding the charge of Chief Secretary, State Vigilance Commissioner, Principal Liaison Commissioner and Chairman of the Meghalaya State Electricity Board, retired with effect from February 28.

The notification further said Mr Tiwari, who is at present the Chairman Administrative Reforms, Additional Chief Secretary in-charge of Public Works, Labour, Sericulture and Weaving, Mining and Geology, would take charge as the Chief Secretary. Mr Tiwari will also function as the State Vigilance Commissioner.

However, the term of Mr Tiwari will be only for one year, as he is due to retire during the early part of next year.Earlier, at a farewell meeting at the Chief Minister's residence, the Ministers recalled the contribution of Mr Bazeley.

Along with the Chairman, Mr Bazeley, Member, Hydro, Mr DP Bhattacharya and Member, Finance, Mr DS Nongbri, of the Meghalaya State Electricity Board, who were earlier given extension, finally retired on Tuesday.

It was on January 31 that the MeSEB first issued a notification to extend the services of these officers, besides the other employees. But due to the code of conduct during the Tura by-election, the order was kept in abeyance. However, on February 22, the MeSEB again issued an order extending the service of Mr Nongbri.

Meanwhile Directors of Agriculture, Industries and Health Services also retired on the same day.

Reactions: Khasi Students' Union president Samuel Jyrwa said the decision of the State government to relieve Mr Bazely from the post of the Chief Secretary as once again proved the strength of the people's voice and compulsion of any government to pay heed to their voice.

Asked what if the State government appointed Mr Bazeley as the MeSEB chairman, Mr Jyrwa said, "This question does not arise now as Mr Bazeley already retired from his service".

Mr Jain who recently held the post as Commissioner and Secretary of Community and Rural Development and Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) after the transfer and posting of Mr Wahlang as the Secretary of Finance and Education.

Mr Wahlang will however formally hand over charge after the forthcoming Assembly session concludes on March 28. The appointments were part of a major reshuffle in the State bureaucratic set up involving senior officials like S Chatterjee, JM Mauskar, WMS Pariat and SS Gupta.

SHILLONG: Suspected United Achik National Front (UANF) militants shot dead one trader at Remrangpara near Dalu in West Garo Hills on Monday night. According to police, the UANF militants shot dead a Bangali trader by forcefully entering his house and firing at him from a point blank range. The incident happened at 11 pm. Police suspect that the trader was killed for failing to pay the amount demanded by the militants.

SHILLONG: The Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) after a meeting with the KSU on Tuesday served a 15-day's ultimatum to the State government for suspending the border fencing works in Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The NGOs threatened agitation if the government failed to stall the works.

Addressing a press conference here after the meeting, CCIB spokesperson GH Kharshanlor said if the State government failed to meet their demand by March 15, the NGOs would launch agitation in Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The NGOs like HNYF, FKJGP and Federal Council of War Mihngi War Jaintia (FCWMWJ) are part of CCIB, while KSU joined them of late in their fight against the border fencing.

The NGOs were demanding that fencing should come up only where no dispute prevails. They even wanted the fencing to be just on the zero line and not within the mandatory 150 yards of actual border. "In all other areas, fencing should be kept in abeyance till a fresh demarcation has been done", Mr Kharshanlor said.

However, despite repeated requests by the NGOs, the fencing was on in Jaintia Hills sector and Mr Kharshanlor alleged that in certain areas, the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) carried out construction leaving more than the stipulated 150 yards of no man's land.

Besides numerous memoranda and reminders to the government, the NGOs repeatedly met the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and also the Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner and JHADC Chief Executive Member on the issue. "But the response was always negative", the CCIB leader said.

"We've been opposing border fencing for the past two years. We are concerned over the loss of cultivable land to Bangladesh if the fencing was done with proper demarcation of the border. But the adamant attitude of the government did not let us achieve our goal."

Mr Kharshanlor said this time the CCIB and the KSU took a very strong decision to fight till their demand was met.

The CCIB and KSU leaders, meanwhile, decided to meet the Jaintia Hills ADM, Mr W Nongsiej, who led an inspection team to Indo-Bangla border in Jaintia Hills on February 21, to inquire about the reports that Mr Nongseij is supposed to submit to the government.

They would also meet the JHADC Chief Executive Member, Mr Moonlight Pariat to inquire about the order issued by him on January 13 to the NBCC for suspending the works for it not having the trading license from the District Council.

SHILLONG: The offer for resignation by the KHADC CEM HS Shylla and the Executive Member (Finance) Mr Ronnie V Lyngdoh over a "grammatical error", as pointed out by the Leader of Oppostion Mr Bindo M Lanong, kept the House livened up on Tuesday with Mr Lanong submitting the names of four persons for interpreting the controversial Section of the KHADC Marriage and Divorce Bill.

Accepting the challenge, Mr Lanong shot a letter to the KHADC chairman, Mr Martamlin Pyrbot, on Tuesday naming four persons, including lawyers Mr Appolos Massar and Mr Hamarsan Sing Thangkhiew, TV reporter Mr David Laitphlang and noted educationist Ms Quinnie Rynjah, to interpret the Section 4 (iii) (b) of the Bill.

The bone of contention is with the wording of the Clause that says: "Though capable of giving a valid consent, has been suffering from mental disorder of such a kind or to such an extent as to be unfit for marriage and the procreation of children". Mr Lanong argued that the sentence should have gone as "though capable of giving a valid consent, has 'not' been suffering.......".

"As I pointed out, 'not' was inadvertently missing in between the word 'has' and 'been' appearing in the first line of the Section, thus not only having a serious grammatical mistake but also upsetting the meaning of the whole paragraph", Mr Lanong said in the letter.

It may be mentioned that Mr Shylla and Mr Lyngdoh on Monday openly challenged Mr Lanong in the House saying that they would resign from their posts if the claim of Mr Lanong regarding the need for insertion of the word 'not' in the Clause was proved right. Mr Lyngdoh went to the extent of demanding experts in English to interpret the ambiguity of the paragraph.

Opposition stages walk out

Meanwhile, the Opposition in KHADC comprising members from UDP and KHNAM staged a walk out from the House for the remark of Mr Shylla regarding their "failure in pointing out a line of action" on the zero hour notice.

Earlier, Mr Lanong raised the issue of harassment by the BSF personnel on local people, including the recent assault on some media persons near Dawki. Most of the Opposition members expressed outrage against the BSF for harassing people and their dereliction of duty.

While expressing strong opposition to the erection of border fencing without consultation with local landowners, the MDCs charged the BSF of being hostile to local people residing along the border. Congress MDC Man Studie Nongrem even alleged that there was a racket of smuggling of coal by Bangladeshis at Borsora as the BSF soldiers were "sharing the profits" instead of chasing out the intruders.

Shillong: The State Government has effected a major reshuffle in the administrative set up soon after the retirement of Chief Secretary P J Bazeley on Tuesday. As per official notification, Principal Secretary to State Legislative Assembly S Chatterjee had been relieved of his functions as Principal Secretary of Tourism, Border Areas Development, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.

Similarly, Principal Secretary to Community and Rural Development, Urban Affairs and Transport J M Mauskar had been entrusted additional post as Principal Secretary to Forest and Environment department. Further, Principal Secretary to Personnel, Revenue etc WMS Pariat had been given additional charge as Principal Secretary Home (Police), Political, Cabinet Affairs and Agriculture Production.

S S Gupta Commissioner and Secretary of Social Welfare, Industries, General Administration etc had been relieved of his functions as Commissioner and Secretary of Social Welfare department. On reversion from central deputation, Y Tsering was appointed as Commissioner and Secretary of Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and would function as Commissioner and Secretary of Social Welfare and Power.

Commissioner and Secretary of Community and Rural Development, Information Technology and Director of C&RD Pankaj Jain has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills district and relieved of his functions as Commissioner and Secretary of Community and Rural Development and MPSC. Former DC of East Khasi Hills, Donald P Wahlang has been transferred and posted as Secretary of Finance and Education.

Mrs MHK Marak, who presently held the post of Secretary of Information and Public Relations, Border Areas Development, Trade and Border Trade had been given additional charge as Secretary to Comunity and Rural Development and also as Director of C&RD.

Secretary to Urban Affairs Department W Lining Lyngdoh had been given additional charge as Secretary of Sericulture and Weaving while Additional Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills Mrs Shella N Marak had been promoted and posted as Trade Adviser and Director of Movements at the Meghalaya House, Kolkata.

Shillong: The Confederation of Ri-Bhoi People (CORP) has strongly objected to the appointment of certain persons belonging to Garo community as headmen in some parts of Ri-Bhoi villages under Hima Mylliem.

In a memorandum submitted to the KHADC CEM H S Shylla, the CORP said that they have received a confirmed information and also a proof document to support their stand to the appointment of certain persons belonging to the Garo community as headmen in some parts of Ri-Bhoi villages under Hima Mylliem.

The CORP said that this kind of incident is unfortunate to have occurred in the Khasi Hills in which persons from other community would become the permanent resident and also the ruler of the Khasi community. "This is kind of incident is very much unacceptable how can a person who does have any knowledge or background on the traditions and culture of the Hynniewtrep Hynniew Skum will come and rule the Khasi community".

"This appointment of the headmen to persons from the Garo community is against the traditions and customs and took away the right to rule by those persons which are recognised by the Sixth Scheduled of the Constitution of India," the CORP said.

The CORP said that people from other community has the right to live in Khasi Hills, but they don't have the right to rule as the chiefdom, headmen and others similar post which is authorised by our forefathers and also recognised by the Constitution of India.

The CORP informed that at present there are 54 Garo headmen in the State and they have also constituted an association known as the Ri-Bhoi Achik Headman Association (RBAHA). The CORP has also called upon the concerned authorities of the Hima Mylliem not to recognised or issue any kind of document related to this matter.

The GSU wanted the DC to make public the auction conducted at the outpost. The Union alleged that public notice was not given for conducting the coal auction while they also said that the same was conducted at 9.30 am before the usual office hours and in the presence of a single party only.

The UJPO placed on record its profound appreciation for the care and concern shown by Mr Bazeley for the problems of the poor, the needy, the jobless and more particularly, people who did not have access to those in places of position and authority.

His open door policy and willingness to patiently listen to the woes and problems of all those who knocked his door, at office as well as at home, and to try his best to help them out, provide succour and hope to dozens of helpless people each day. "Such a people friendly attitude and deposition is not easily seen in people today," the UJPO said.

Mr Bazeley will long be remembered by the people and the down-trodden of the rural areas of Meghalaya.

The Left in India, especially its self-styled torchbearer, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), now seems to have decided that time for its ‘bark’ is over. It needs to be replaced by the ‘bite’ that Comrade Prakash Karat, the CPI(M) general secretary, had promised as the government (in Left opinion) has not only been deviating from the common minimum programme but also started to go against the ‘national interest’. During the recent Kolkata meeting of the Marxist politburo, Comrade Karat thundered: ‘We are prepared to put the government in the dock in Parliament on Iran prior to the March 6 meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency.’

Will this threat from Karat signal the end of the UPA government? ‘Maybe’, he seems to say nonchalantly. For him the key to the survival of the government lies in evolving a ‘consensus’ as defined by him and his party. And, the Left-imposed ‘consensus’ and ‘national interest’ is that India must not ever vote with the US on Iran or any other issue.

The CPI (M) ‘carat’ of silver-mane effectively denounced all notions of narrow patriotism and desi-jingoism by redefining the ‘national interest’ of the country, declaring, apropos of Iran: ‘We will ensure that it is not made possible for the government to take a stand against Iran’s interests’. It is doubtful if in the history of free India any party, secular or communal, functioning within the confines of the country has ever so emphatically championed the ‘national interest’ of another country at the cost of its own. Surely, this is no indication that the comrades have actually turned into votaries of ‘real globalisation’ which will obliterate all physical and political boundaries so that all nations share a common ‘national interest’!

Karat’s ‘bark’ against the alleged Congress links with ‘communal’ outfits was louder, having seen the hitherto invisible tie-up in West Bengal between all the ‘communal’ forces with the single but ‘unholy’ idea of defeating the Left in the coming state assembly election for which, much to the annoyance of the comrades, the Election Commission promises to provide a more level playing field than has been the case in the past. The Left party’s power to sight the indiscernible is a helpful gift that shields their myopia.

While pretending that it would not touch the ‘communal’ forces even with a pair of tongs, the Left, especially the CPI (M), has done a lot to cosy up to what they will normally call communal forces. And here it is not necessary to recall that in the past the CPI (M) has had a fairly comfortable relationship with the BJP when the Janata Party government of Morarji Desai came to power and later when the same party, now christened Janata Dal, rode to power under the stewardship of a ‘Mandal Raja’.

Those past ties between the champions of the proletariat and the upholders of undiluted ‘majorityism’ may be surfacing again. In recent months, the Left has said and done a lot that coincides with the ideas and philosophy of the party of Ram Bhakts and trumpeters of Ayodhya temple. Much of it was repeated at the Kolkata meeting. Maybe, the comrades are secretly hoping to see the communal forces back in power as they find that they apparently share better vibes with them. Take the issue of Iran vote on which the BJP is also making noises against the government stand, albeit less vociferously in keeping with its rediscovered Hindutva roots. That the BJP had to change its tune (set by Brajesh Misra, Vajpayee’s trusted aide and former national security advisor) under RSS diktats is a different thing

So intense is the ‘secular’ urge of the CPI (M) and the Left that they have thought nothing of courting Shia leaders in UP to denounce the government’s stand that Iran should not go nuclear. And the Left’s concern for the nation is even more ‘intense’ because the comrades would not like to see India possess any nuclear arsenal while they would give the last ounce of their blood to ensure that Iran has them, producing enriched uranium of weapons grade on the basis of material and theoretical help illegally bought from the Pakistani AQ Khan network.

The comrades have never explained how is it that voting ‘against’ Iran becomes a serious violation of ‘national interest’ in India when Teheran has been traditionally voting against Delhi and unfailingly berating it at the gatherings of Islamic nations. The comrades cannot be unaware of the fact that the so-called oil pipeline deal with Iran has to overcome two major hurdles at the initial stages: a guarantee of its safety and security in Pakistan and Iran taking a reasonable stand in the matter of fixing the price for the natural gas that India intends to buy from it. Neither of these looks easy to overcome, though it may also be added that Tehran has not said that the pipeline deal depends on India’s stand on its nuclear issue.

Of course, the Indian comrades have no role to play on the issue as they have no leverage with the radicals who rule in Tehran; they have also found that the Generals in Islamabad do not cosy up to comrades anywhere with the exception of China. Don’t ask the comrades about China’s ‘renegade’ stand on Iran! In blasting the UPA government on Iran, the Left is not in the good company of China, allegedly the only Communist country. Who says the Left in India is not ‘independent’?

Being ‘outside’ supporters, the Left has found it expedient to criticise nearly every economic initiative of the government. Two most recent instances relate to the decision to open the retail trade for foreign direct investment and allow private parties to take up the much-delayed modernisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports. On the question of FDI in retail trade, the CPI(M) said at its politburo meeting in Kolkata that it will mobilise all (surely not the Congress) political parties and ‘support the traders and merchants’ organisations in the country. Considering that the bulk of ‘communal’ support comes from merchants and traders should it be seen as the CPI (M) trying to steal the BJP thunder ahead of the assembly poll in West Bengal?

And the programme for modernisation of Kolkata airport? Well, there is a ‘consensus’ among the Left that it is best handed over to a private party. That at least serves the ‘provincial’ interest best, not the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports which together account for more than half the arrivals from foreign countries.

The ‘Dravidian’ parties in Tamil Nadu have enjoyed an enviable equation with the CPI (M) and the other Left parties; they are perceived sometimes as friends and other times as foes. The ones that align with the Left instantly become paragons of secularism and progressive values in the eyes of the comrades. But these Tamil Nadu parties are also prone to confuse the political scene. Normally one of them will sit in the opposition if the other has hitched its bandwagon to the ruling party at the Centre. But this time round the picture is a bit different.

The comrades have calculated that shaking hands with the AIADMK in the coming Tamil Nadu poll will be risky. So they opt for the DMK. This party is an ally and a part of the UPA government and, therefore, can be presumed to support all the ‘anti-people’ polices of the UPA and, hence, is guilty of deviating from the CMP and going against the ‘national interest’.

Oh, but the comrades said in Kolkata that they have been ‘cooperating’ with the DMK. And have been honest enough to say that they are looking to increase their presence riding piggyback on the DMK. To fulfil this noble cause how does it matter that the DMK is part of the group that takes decisions against the ‘national interest’! (Syndicate Features)

I was reluctant in the beginning. But my eldest sister Mohini insisted. The issue being discussed was a visit to our ancestral village Lengti in Karnataka. Not having being to Lengti in almost 14 years, I was a bit hesitant. Not wanting to endure another road journey — the only way to reach the village — I was doing my best to stonewall my determined sister. It's only two and a half hours away, was her contention. I finally gave in. It seemed a shame to come all the way to Karnataka and not make this short journey. I gave in half-heartedly more to please my persistent sister rather than out of any sense of respect to my long gone ancestors.

The dictionary explains the phrase 'to belong' to mean 'to be related or connected or to be rightly or naturally placed and to fit a specified environment, not to be out of place'. For a through and through Delhi girl like me, Lengti could hardly be all of the above even if one accounted for the fact that my father did live there as did his father and his father and so on once upon a time. But life has a way of throwing up surprises and my visit to my village can be termed as the biggest one of my life.

As we approached the last half a kilometre the road had turned from its perfect metallic finish into a dusty, stony mess. But as the physical discomfort grew my emotional comfort seemed to reach a state of inexplicable bliss. The four hours spent with the villagers of all age groups only seemed to add to that incomprehensible state of comfort.

Attachment to the land is often seen as regressive, sentimental and romantic. The tribals of Orissa who resisted a large corporate's attempt to buy land to build a modern plant were seen in this negative light. But anthropologists see the idea of belonging as having a powerful and intangible quality to it. My ability to connect with a village, so far away from Delhi where I have lived, live and work can only be explained by this. As I stood surrounded by the village children it seemed I had come home. It's a homecoming that I want to keep going back to. (By arranegement with The Times of India)

Sir,

The Supreme Court has directed the Central & state governments for compulsory registration of marriages irrespective of religion, caste & creed. Marriages are not recorded in the country properly. The excuses and causes are plenty but the fact remains that there are more broken marriages today than before. Both, the registration of marriages & the Supreme Court's directive on marriages between a non-tribal man & a tribal woman are welcomed by the people of Meghalaya. In the case of Meghalaya, a separate order had to be passed by the Supreme Court for it being the only matrilineal society or state. The 'Khasi Lineage' Act of the KHADC that received the Governor's Assent on Feb 23, 2005, allows a tribal man marrying a non-tribal woman to claim the offspring and start a new 'Jaid' or surname (Tang Jaid). The children in a matrilineal Khasi & Garo Society belong to the women (Wife). Her surname is being passed down to the children. In that way she carries the lineage. A question and a proper definition must be allowed to be put in the Assembly, which will meet from March 17, in regards to the Marriage Act 2005 as well as all the other Bills and Acts passed by the KHADC, viz., (1) The Tribal Lineage Bill 1980. (2) Inheritance of Property 1980 (3) Disqualification of Property 1980 (4) Khasi Social Custom of Lineage 1987-97, and (5) Alienation to self acquired Property 1987 which are related to the Marriage Act.

The Rajya Sabha passed an amendment of The Hindu Succession Act 1950-56, last year allowing the Hindu women to inherit ancestral property.

Yours etc.,
KM Khonglah,
Shillong-3

Sir,

Thanks to the market and political situations which forced the Ministry of Railway, more precisely Lalu Prasad Yadav, to exercise unprecedented restraint as far as the fare in the present Railway Budget is concerned. Firstly, it is Lalu's dwindling popularity itself that obviously contributed to this exciting exercise. He knows pretty well that he has to win back the people's hearts. For this only this time the Railway ministry has come up with a public friendly facilities and services. Again, the entry of new low costing airlines and fierce price wars among themselves cannot be ruled out as a pro-public development which has evidently forced Railway authorities to slash the fares of AC classes. Introduction of fully air-conditioned boggy at cheaper price is welcome move but the nomenclature 'Garib rath' is in bad taste.

Yours etc,
Salil Gewali
Shillong-2
Via e-mail

Sir,

Lalu Yadav has taken a U-turn for betterment by switching to air-conditioned era from his earlier unpractical earthen era of unhygienic kulhars (earthen cups)! Fares of air-conditioned class can be further reduced by abolishing cost of food compulsorily charged with tickets. Many passengers do not wish to take food from a fixed menu either because of their peculiar food-habits or for medical reasons. However facility to sell packaged food-items may be there in air-conditioned classes as well like is system in non air-conditioned classes.

Railway Ministry should approach Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to extend its services till mid-night to specially facilitate large number of passengers from various Rajdhani, Shatabdi and other daytime-journey trains generally approaching New Delhi or Delhi stations around 11 pm.

Yours etc,
Madhu Agrawal
New Delhi

Presenting the Union Budget, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that the total budget allocation for the North Eastern Region is Rs 12,041 crore, which includes Rs 1,350 crore provided by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER).

From the Budget Estimates 2005-06 to Budget Estimates 2006-07, the step up is 18 per cent as indicated in the Budget.There was a mixed reaction to the Union Budget from the MPs from the region. But everybody agreed that the General Budget was better than the Railway Budget as far as the North-East was concerned. Mr Purno A Sangma said that overall it was a good one for the region.

President of North-East Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NECCI) S K Jain said, ''I am disappointed that the Budget has not touched the subject of industrial policy for the North East. The industries in the region are on the verge of closure and we were really expecting a lot from the Budget after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent visit.''

AGP spokesman Jagadish Bhuyan said, ''There is no mention of the word Assam in the budget. The increases of budgetary allocation are normal. Even your House budget gets increased every year. What is new to that? Both the Railway budget and now the general budget has completely exposed how much the Congress cares for Assam.''

BJP spokesman Ashok Singhal said, ''Looking at the Budget, you can make out that Bengal and Tamil Nadu are going to polls with sops for the voters. And for Assam, there is nothing, not even an assurance on the industrial policy. The budget is completely silent on Assam. This is unfortunate.''

Confederation of Indian Industry, North-East, president Abhijeet Barooah also spoke on similar lines. According to him, the 18 per cent rise is good for the North East and would trigger infrastructural development. (UNI)

"The Government wants a CBI probe to unravel the truth behind the incidents", Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

In view of the latest decision, the Government revoked its earlier decision for ordering a judicial probe into the incidents, Gogoi said.The Government stand for a CBI probe assumes significance with Gogoi maintaining that the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) had provoked the villagers of Kakopathar for the violent protests.

He had dared the opposition including the BJP to call for a CBI probe and alleged that parties were not pressing for such a demand fearing that "truth" (of their involvement) would be revealed. The protest and subsequent firing took place at Kakopathar following the death of a suspected ULFA linkman Ajit Mahanta in army custody. (PTI)

According to Kolasib District Additional SP Lalremmuana, these four non-Mizo drivers were released in the jungles of Hailakandi district in Assam on Saturday night by the kidnappers who only managed to make to Jamir village in the same district on Sunday.

"When our police at Vairengte village were informed of their release, the kidnapped victims were told to proceed immediately to Vairengte by any available vehicle without stopping on the way. They reached Vairengte in the evening on Saturday," Lalremmuana said when contacted on Monday over the telephone. (NNN)

Imphal: Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a proscribed militant outfit of Manipur, has issued orders to open fire at anyone who tried to disturb the board examinations.The HSSLC and HSLC examinations are scheduled to begin from March 1 and March 2 respectively.The KYKL, in a statement, said no one should call bandhs during the period and the special task force of 'Operation New Kangleipak' of the organisation had been given orders to open fire on those who tried to disturb examinations.

The militant group urged all officials to perform their duties sincerely and asked that students who resorted to unfair means be expelled for five years.The outfit even warned of capital punishment.Officials said the class X examinations will continue till April 1 while the HSLC examination will conclude on March 27.The organisation had earlier shot at teachers who allegedly did not take action against students who used unfair means. (UNI)

Those arrested said they received the fake notes from one Joseph, who brought it from Diphu in Assam. Joseph demanded Rs one lakh but the gang paid only Rs 50,000 in cash.Investigation was on to bust the entire gang, police added. (UNI)

A spokesperson of the S.S. Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCNK) said guerrilla fighters were engaged in heavy fighting that broke out before dawn on Tuesday with soldiers of the junta in the thickly forested northern Sagaing Division of Myanmar. "We have killed 10 Myanmarese soldiers and we also lost three of our cadres," senior NSCN(K) leader Kughalo Mulatonu told IANS over the phone from somewhere close to the India-Myanmar border.

The rebel leader said between 300 to 400 Myanmarese soldiers demolished one of their bases using mortars and other heavy weapons.At least 12 rebels and an unspecified number of soldiers were wounded in the attacks. (IANS)

Imphal: Violence marked the bandh called in Manipur on Monday to protest against the alleged arrest of a girl by the Thoubal police.

The Joint Action Committee had called a 24-hour general strike in Manipur on Monday in protest against the alleged torture and arrest of the girl, Maibam Naobi. She was allegedly arrested for having an affair with Vikas, a cadre of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), which was involved in the killing of four police personnel at Thoubal Bazar.

The police reported attempts to burn government offices on Monday night. The car of the settlement director was set afire at Imphal earlier in the day.Bandh supporters burnt effigies of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and set ablaze the veterinary office at Imphal east and the Irrigation and Flood Control office at Lamphel.

A large number of organisations have also appealed for the girl's release and demanded action against the police for not issuing an arrest memo and for non-compliance of procedures.

3 militants arrested

Troops of 22 Maratha Light Infantry(MLI) and 33 Assam Rifles (AR) arrested three hard core militants in three incidents during the past 24 hours, an AR official has said. Troops of 22 MLI arrested a Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup cadre on Monday at Thoubal district which led to the arrest of another cadre, sources said.

In another incident, AR personnel arrested a cadre of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) at Thoubal district. They were later handed over to police, sources added. (UNI)

Aizawl: Mizoram Information Minister R Lalthangliana on Tuesday said the State would soon have a Chief Information Commissioner and two State Information Commissioners to make the Right to Information Act (RTI) effective.

Inagurating a three-day multi-media campaign on RTI at Lengpui, the minister said ''The Finance Department has formalised sanctions for the posts of the information commissioners''.

The minister said the State was awaiting a Cabinet approval for establishing the State Information Commission, adding that already 20 departmental appellate authorities, 130 State public information officers and 226 assistant public information officers have been appointed.

The function, chaired by IMPCC chairman and DDK director C Lalrosanga and attended by DFP joint director general Laldingliana Sailo and other government officials, attracted a huge crowd of primary and middle school students and a song and drama troupe from Guwahati. The multi-media campaign will contine at Sairanga and Rangvamual areas tomorrow and the day after.

Tiger census began today in Mizoram along with the rest of the country. Forest officials on Tuesday stated that the tiger census would be carried out in Dampa tiger reserve, Phawngpui national park, Murlen national park and Tawi, Lengteng, Khawnglung, Thorang, Pualreng and Ngengpui wildlife sancturaries. The census would be done in a phased manner and was likely to be completed by next month, officials said. (UNI)