NDTV said it had evidence that a relative of Natwar Singh, had given in writing to the Enforcement Directorate that Sehgal had told him that he was allocated two million of barrels of Iraqi oil in 2001 and a possible "roll over" of one million barrels.

The channel quoted sources to say that the money to Sehgal was routed through his company in Cyprus. When contacted, Sehgal refused to make any comments saying the matter was "sub judice" before the Pathak Inquiry Authority. "I have submitted my reply to the Pathak Inquiry Authority", he said. (PTI)

Taking serious note of circulation in New Zealand media of a letter written by Dogra to Saran in which he accused the Foreign Secretary of "impropriety" and "contravening human rights," the External Affairs Ministry said it would deal with the matter in accordance with its well-established procedures.

"Circulation of such scurrilous material is not becoming of a senior member of the foreign service," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said about the action of the envoy whose recall was ordered in early March but he has still not returned home.

Sources, however, said disciplinary action could be taken against Dogra. Posted in Wellington two years ago, the career diplomat was ordered to return after accusations by the local Indian community that he was "avoiding" them. (PTI)

"The Prime Minister is having mild fever," his media adviser Sanjaya Baru said. He has cancelled all his engagements for this evening including his meeting with visiting US Senators.

Singh had a hectic schedule on Thursday morning beginning with a breakfast meeting with Chief Ministers of six Naxalite-affected states and also attended a meeting on the issue convened by the Home Ministry. (PTI)

The 'aircraft version' of the missile would be integrated in the Sukhoi-30 MKI's, Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller, Research and Development, DRDO, and CEO and MD, BrahMos Aerospace, told reporters here. He said the IAF had asked for the integration of BrahMos into Sukhoi-30 MKIs. (PTI)

MUMBAI: Popular belief says metros are the only place to be to make money, but Deepesh Agarwal, thinks otherwise. Agarwal is the owner of a tiny cyber café in Mount Abu. Mount Abu is not a particularly affluent city—the average earning of the residents here is only about $300 (approx Rs 13,500) a year.

But Agarwal’s monthly earnings match those of white collared executives in the metros—he makes a whopping packet of about $1,500 (approx Rs 67,500) a month. How? In his spare time, Agarwal runs a free software download web site that runs ads by Google Adsense on his homepage. Google Adsense is a program that pays website owners for advertising space. When visitors click on the ads on Agarwal’s website, Google makes profit from the advertisers and in turn, pays a percentage of that profit to people like Agarwal.

But Agarwal is not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people are making similar profits just by starting blogs, forums or other informational sites and getting paid for posting ads on Google’s behalf. Take for instance Jimmy Wadhera in Chandigarh, who despite being grounded for health reasons, earns about $400 (approx Rs 18,000) a month from Adsense.

"Since its launch in 2003, the Google Adsense program has revolutionised web publishing, turning blogs and personal web sites into potentially lucrative ventures," says Mahesh Murthy, CEO of Pinstorm, a search engine marketing firm. The service is easy to join. A blogger or a site owner has to simply fill up an online Adsense form. Google then starts scoring your content and places ads on the site just like the ones that appear next to Google searches.

The ads are contextually matched to content on the web site, so if you are running a blog on gadgets, you would have technology related ads. Anyone with a site is eligible. And there are tons of success stories from around the world—of small online entrepreneurs placing ads on their sites and watching cheques from Google trickle in. (By arrangement with The Times of India)

New Delhi: Calling it the "single biggest internal security challenge," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday suggested setting up of joint unified commands in areas badly hit by Naxalism and dedicated wings of grey hounds on the pattern of Andhra Pradesh to tackle the menace. He also suggested two-pronged strategy of effective police response and socio-economic development of the naxal-affected areas be given high priority.

"It would not be exaggeration to say that the problem of Naxalism is the single biggest internal security challange ever faced by our country," Singh said while addressing a day-long meeting here of Chief Ministers of six states, severely hit by naxalism. He also met Chief Ministers of naxal-hit states at his residence in the morning.

Asking states to consider undertaking joint operations and setting up of joint unified commands in the badly-affeceted core areas, Singh said the police action needed to be backed by liberal surrender and rehabilitation policy. He favoured setting up of a dedicated anti-naxal wings under capable officers on the pattern of grey hounds of Andhra Pradesh.

The Prime Minister also talked about a pro-active approach to deal with the menace saying there should be measures for protecting policemen from undue harassment for actions taken against naxalites. However, he also added that an effective police response does not mean that we need to brutalise the Indian State.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhara Pradesh, Jharkhand, Union Ministers of Home, Tribal Affairs and Panchayti Raj, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, National Security Advisor and senior government officials from Centre and State Governments.

Discussing the overall scenario in the affected states and the increasing intensity of naxal violence, the states unanimously agreed to pursue a long term multi-pronged approach and strategy to combat the naxalite menace simultaneouly on political security and development fronts.

The menace of naxalism was a threat to democracy and there was no place for violence in a democratic set-up, the meeting resolved. Singh expressed concern over the changing character of the naxalism into militarisation with "superior army style organisation, better trained cadres, attacks on large targets through large scale frontal assaults, better coordination and possible external links." "we must recognise that such extremism is a threat to our democracy, our way of life," he said.

Emphasising the need to strengthen the local police on all fronts, Singh said they needed to be "better trained and equipped to face an enemy who is evolving into a major force. We need to improve their weapons, buildings and vehicles. We need to invest heavily in their capabilities." (PTI)

A Bench headed by Justice KG Balakrishnan was informed by the Medical Council of India that a detailed schedule about the counselling will be placed before the court on Monday.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subrahmaniam placed before the Bench the CBI report stating that there were concrete evidence against the 20 students from Chennai for allegedly indulging in unfair means. He informed the court that the those 20 students have been disqualified from the exams and a fresh merit list was being arranged. He said there was suspicion regarding the Delhi centre that no adequate material was found.

Subrahmaniam said that the examination would not be cancelled as irregularities confined to Chennai only. (PTI)

BDR opened fire at Phansidewa in Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district at 10.45 am, Deputy Inspector General, Siliguri subdivision of North Bengal Frontier of BSF, Sandhu told PTI. BSF fired 27 rounds against 300 rounds by the BDR during the hour-long exchange after the Indian border guards told Bangladeshis not to collect boulders from the Mahananda, he said. 

There was no casualty on the Indian side, he said.

On Wednesday night the BSF and the BDR traded fire at Kalsigram village in Mekhliganj area of Cooch Behar district for two and a half hours after the BSF began setting up a temporary border outpost there.

In the afternoon, at a flag meeting between the BSF and BDR on on Wednesday night's firing, the Bangladesh border guards claimed that one Bangladeshi was killed and 17 were injured, including three critically in the exchange of fire, Sandhu said. The BDR, however, said they would not object to the contruction of the BSF outpost at Kalsigram, he said.

On March 28, BDR with two Bangladeshi political leaders had allegedly entered Kalsigram and killed two persons and injured several. The villagers had thereafter requested the BSF to set up a camp at the village. The BSF were putting up a border outpost there yesterday when the BDR opened fire. (PTI)

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pinaka is an area weapon system aimed at supplementing the Army's existing artillery gun with a range beyond 30 km. Its quick reaction time and high rate of fire provides the army an edge during low-intensity war-like situations.

The unguided rocket system put under trial here could be used to neutralise a higher geographical area with its salvo of rockets, the sources said. With a range of 39 km, Pinaka can fire a salvo of 12 rockets within 44 seconds.

One salvo each (12 rockets) fired from a battery of six launchers can neutralise a target area of 3.9 sq km simultaneously. Pinaka can be fitted with a different type of warhead which can make it deadly for the enemy as it has the capability to destroy solid structures and bunkers, sources said. (PTI)

Pune: The Directorate General of Income Tax (Investigation), Pune said, the total seizure of unaccounted assets during the financial year 2005-06, have increased by 110 per cent over the last year and surrender of concealed income increased by 85 per cent.

The Directorate conducted search and seizure actions in 40 groups covering 287 premises, which included diverse economic activities like education, money lending, construction and building materials, manufacturing of steel, terri-towels, rice milling, cable operators, trading in agricultural goods and jewellery.

IT Additonal Director Shishir Agarwal, in a release here Thursday, gave statistical details of searches/surveys. The cases taken up for search and seizure action represents a shift in emphasis towards investigating cases of high tax evasion and cases having social relevance.

In the number of searches, there was a mere increase of 38 per cent, the release said. Searches conducted on assessees based in relatively smaller towns, also yielded good results. (UNI)

Bangalore: In a violence-marred mourning, five persons were killed, including three in police firing and a constable in crowd fury, as Kannada film icon Rajkumar was given a tearful farewell by tens of thousands of people amidst scenes of chaos in an emotionally-charged atmosphere.

As violence flared up before the body of Rajkumar was laid to rest with full state honours, police opened fire leaving two persons dead near Kanteerava Studio complex, the funeral venue, and another before the 10-km long funeral procession began in the afternoon.

A 25-year old constable succumbed to injuries he received in crowd violence and a man died in a stampede near the funeral venue, which was a picture of chaos as frenzied crowds took control of the place and created unruly scenes.

As surging crowds rushed in menacingly, the three sons of Rajkumar, Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar performed the last rites after the police managed to clear the way to faciliate a guard of honour and the rituals.

The funeral procession, which tortuously wound its way, was marred by stone-throwing by a section of crowds which attacked the road-side shops. At many places, police, who appeared outnumbered, were at the receiving end and seen running for cover.

Appeals by Rajkumar's family and police to the people to remain calm and not give vent to their emotions, fell on deaf ears as thousands broke barricades and thronged the funeral site raising, fears of stampede and unnerving the authorities.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who had to return from the funeral venue for security reasons with the situation getting out control, said sufficient policemen could not be mobilised as forces had been sent from the state to neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Kerala for election duty. He, however, defended the police, saying they did their best to maintain law and order in the last two days.

Normal life was thrown out of gear in Bangalore where shops and other commercial establishments, schools, colleges, government offices, courts and private companies did not function. Streets almost wore a deserted look with only some vehicles plying.

Earlier, in a steady stream, thousands of mourners filed past the body of Rajkumar paying their last respect to the legendary actor who had endeared himself to millions of his fans in a five-decade long film career and was an iconic figure adored and revered and looked to as a role model. (PTI)

"There is absolutely no threat of a split in the JD(U). The delegates, MPs and MLAs from Bihar and elsewhere overwhelmingly voted in my favour and anti-defection laws are so stringent that a few disgruntled elements will not not dare to defect" Yadav told PTI from Delhi while reacting to Fernandes' allegation of irregularities in conducting organisational elections.

In a letter faxed to the Election Commission on Wednesday, a day after he suffered a humiliating defeat in the hands of Yadav in the poll in which he could secure just 25 votes, Fernandes is learnt to have alleged that a large number of national council members who participated in the election were appointed without holding proper organisational elections.

Yadav said the party will "suitably reply" if any notice was received from the EC. (PTI)

New Delhi: The CPI(M) on Thursday came out openly in support of the proposed reservation of seats in educational institutions saying the issue of merit stands ignored when admission to higher education can be bought. Observing that a large number of private institutions had a system of capitation fee, party's Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said "what else is this, but a reservation for the rich".

"The only merit involved in this scheme is that of having enough money to literally buy admission. In some cases (quite large in number), private institutions offer seats to NRIs through virtually an auction process. The highest bidder wins," he said in an editorial in the forthcoming issue of CPI(M) organ 'People's Democracy'.

"The complete absence of any consideration of merit in these cases is never questioned. Merit, however, becomes an issue when it comes to providing access to those who have been denied education for centuries."

Criticising the Election Commission for asking the Centre to explain how the annnouncement regarding reservation did not violate the code of conduct, he said "if the follow up action of a constitutional amendment is to be questioned as liable to influence voters, then do not the ongoing rath yatras of Advani and Rajnath Singh, which are rousing communal passions by stridently raising the Ram Mandir issue, also influence voters?" (PTI)

New Delhi: The story of the origin and history of the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the Bhopal women's struggle for relief, as shown in various campaign posters, will now be digitalised and archived for posterity.

Old, decaying and mildewed posters that were an integral part in each of the numerous campaigns fought by Indian women for more than four decades, have been photographed and stored on CD ROM by a publishing house 'Zubaan'.

"We are trying to build up a history of women's movement in India," says Urvashi Bhutalia, of Zubaan who has conceptualised the "Poster Women" project that archives over 15,000 posters from various movements collected from all over India.

A number of milestone campaigns like the Chipko campaign where women hugged trees to prevent them being cut down by industrial loggers, the anti-rape campaign that started in Mathura, the protests against female foeticide, the anti-arrack movement in the south find place in the archive that covers areas such as violence, health, environment religion, literacy and other oppression against women.

Also included are posters on diferent themes such as the use of the goddess form of women as a metaphor, or the marking of special days such as the Women's Day, Dalit day etc. (PTI)

New Delhi: Mohammed Javed, a teenager who single-handedly rescued six children from a devastating fire at Meerut three days ago, succumbed to injuries at the Safdarjang Hospital here on Thursday. Family members alleged that Javed died due to the negligence of doctors. He had sustained over 70 per cent burns in the Monday evening fire at a trade fair in Meerut town of Uttar Pradesh, 80 km from here.

'He was left unattended from Wednesday night when we brought him to hospital,' said Mizaz Ahmed, Javed's father. He said though Javed had died at 6 am., doctors did not disclose the news till 10 am.

'We were promised good medical treatment at the hospital but these people have killed my son,' he said.

He also said the family had not been in favour of bringing Javed here and wanted him to be treated in Meerut but doctors forced him to take the boy to Delhi.

The 18-year-old was a student of Class 12 at Sarvodaya School in east Delhi and had gone to Meerut, his home, after appearing in the board examination. Javed was among the many who were injured when a major fire broke out at the Brand India fair in Victoria Park, Meerut, April 6. Scores of people were killed in the blaze.

Around 29 people were brought to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi after the incident and of them seven succumbed to burn injuries. Doctors said most patients had deep burns along with respiratory problems.

Mizaz said when the fire broke out, Javed managed to come out safe from a burning tented enclosure but went back to help those trapped inside. Anida, his mother, said, 'Javed saw six kids were stuck in one corner of a tent and so he went back inside the burning enclosure to save them. He tore a part of the synthetic cloth that was used to make the outer cover of the tent to make way for the children.'

No one knew then that Javed's presence of mind and exemplary act of bravery would save so many lives but claim his own. (IANS)

Addressing a press conference at his residence, the Chief Minister said that there were more than two dozens power projects worth several crores of rupees including Leskha involving international agencies.

"We need the assistance of Mr Bazeley as he was involved with these projects from the very beginning," Mr Lapang said.

Deputy Chief Minister in charge Power, Dr Donkupar Roy, who also attended the press meet along with Home Minister Mr HDR Lyngdoh, said that the help of Mr Bazeley was sought for the smooth transition of the MeSEB to a corporation by June 9 next.

Dr Roy added that the appointment of Mr Bazeley was due to "necessity" and not the question of capability. Lauding the efforts of Mr Bazeley, the Chief Minister said that during his tenure, the total number of electrified villages rose to 357 from 62 in 2001-2002.

Regarding the recovery of power dues worth Rs 115.29 crore from Assam, Mr Lapang said that ASEB had paid Rs 60.4 crore in October 2005 and further agreed to pay the pending amount by 15 July 2008. Giving another reason for Mr Bazeley's re-appointment, the Chief Minister said that while the number of local suppliers in MeSEB was only 128 prior to Mr Bazeley taking charge as the Chairman, the number increased to 302 during his tenure.

The Chief Minister also asked the NGOs to come out with facts on the wrongdoings of Mr Bazeley before accusing him without any basis. Mr Lapang also urged the NGOs to call off the proposed agitation as this would hamper the progress of the state.

SHILLONG: In their efforts to defend Mr PJ Bazeley's appointment as MeSEB Chairman, Chief Minister DD Lapang and his deputy Dr Donkupar Roy are being isolated by the MDA legislators as no one except the Cabinet ministers have supported the duo on the issue.

Last month, a delegation of MDA legislators comprising Mr RG Lyngdoh, Mr PT Sawkmie, Mr Paul Lyngdoh, Mr Lambor Malngiang, Mr Charles Pyngrope, Mr Prestone Tynsong and others had urged the Chief Minister not to extend the services of Mr Bazeley as the Chairman of MeSEB.

The delegation had also sought a white paper on the issue. Some legislators on Thursday said that Mr Lpang failed to justify Mr Bazeley's return. When contacted a legislator on condition of anonymity said "if the Chief Minister does not want to pay heed to the suggestions of MDA members, nothing can be done than to allow him to face the wrath of the NGOs."

Meanwhile, several MDA legislators held an informal discussion on the reappointment of Mr Bazeley and decided to adopt 'wait and watch' policy for the time being. Some legislators felt that there should have been a MDA meeting to discuss the matter before the Cabinet meeting which took this 'hasty' decision.

SHILLONG: In a bizarre incident one Sumo driver identified as Robi Das (34) of Cantonment area, here died on the spot when a branch of a tree fell on the vehicle he was driving at Nongpoh on Thursday afternoon. A strong wind was blowing in Nongpoh and its adjoining areas at the time of the accident.

Sources said that some passengers of the vehicle were also injured in the mishap. In a separate accident, one Jerius Jyndiaw (30) of New Nongstoin was seriously injured when the Tata Sumo in which he was travelling fell into a ditch at Pariong on Thursday morning.

SHILLONG: The KSU has decided to go ahead with its three-day office picketing from April 18 to protest the state government's move to appoint former State Chief Secretary PJ Bazeley as MeSEB Chairman.

"We have decided to go ahead with the agitation but educational institutions have been exempted from the purview of the picketing," KSU president Samuel Jyrwa said while speaking to The Shillong Times here on Thursday.

The district administration of East Khasi Hills, meanwhile, has promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC banning any obstruction to the movement of people or Government employees from attending their duties as also carrying of arms or lethal weapons and assembly of five or more persons in the entire district.

Meanwhile, three major organisations of the state -- FKJGP, HNYF and SSSS -- will meet here on Saturday to decide their course of action on the issue. The organisations had earlier condemned the move and warned of public agitation till the government withdraws the order. The FKJGP president Mr Emlang Lyttan on Thursday hinted that FKJGP, HNYF and SSSS might extend their support to KSU.

Uranium mining

SHILLONG: The state Government has denied receiving any recommendation from the KHADC regarding uranium mining in the state. Reacting to the KHADC CEM Mr HS Shylla's statement that the Council had submitted its recommendation to Chief Minister DD Lapang in favour of proposed mining project at Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills, the latter on Thursday said that he was unaware of it and came to know about it only through the media reports.

Speaking on similar lines, Mining and Geology Minister Mrs Deborah C Marak preferred a public debate on the issue before "the State government gives its nod to the UCIL to execute the project."

Stating that the government received a proposal from the UCIL to mine uranium at Mawthabah, she informed that no decision was taken in this regard so far.

Meanwhile, the KSU has condemned the decision of KHADC to grant permission to the UCIL for extraction of uranium at Mawthabah. In a statement issued here, the students' body asserted that it would continue to oppose uranium mining in the State adding that Mr Shylla was trying to mislead the people regarding its health hazards "for his own interest".

"Mr Shylla's remark that he would seek the arrest of all those opposed to uranium mining has exposed his foolishness and his dictatorial style of functioning. We are not scared by such intimidation and we will stick to our stand," the KSU said.

It may be mentioned that Mr Shylla, while coming down heavily on both the KSU and MPHRC for opposing uranium mining, on Wednesday said that leaders of both the organisations should be put behind bars for being "anti-development" and "anti-national".

SHILLONG: Toughening its stand against the agitating government doctors, the state government on Thursday derecognised the Meghalaya Medical Service Association (MMSA) with immediate effect. The MMSA has been agitating against allotment of seat to Dr Reena Khonsam for post-graduation at RIMS, Imphal and appointment of a 'junior' doctor as the Director of Health Services.

Issuing the order the Principal Secretary to the Health and Family Welfare department said that the decision to derecognise the doctors' body was taken after it violated provisions of Rule 8, 22, 24 and 25 laid down in the Meghalaya Services Conduct Rules, 1990.

"A show-cause notice has already been issued to the MMSA vide letter No Health 127/2005/2 dated May 10, 2005. Although, the Government has taken a lenient view of the MMSA's explanation with regard to the said letter, it has also issued adequate warning of stringent action to the Association apart from any action considered appropriate by the Government if the former continues to violate the conduct rules," the order said. 

The order also said that in view of the seven-hour hunger strike called by the MMSA on April 11 and the Association's proposal to hold an 'instant' stir which was in complete defiance of the Health department's earlier warning, the State Government was "constrained" to take the decision to derecognise the doctors' body.

Meanwhile, stating that he was yet to receive the order, the MMSA general secretary Dr Aman War said "after receiving the copy of the order we will decide our future course of action but whatever decision was taken earlier, it still stands".

It may be mentioned that a number of houses were either partially or completely devastated in many parts of West Khasi Hills during the cyclone.

Mr Lyngdoh interacted with the residents of the village and assured of all possible help from the Government. He said that assistance to all the affected residents of the village would be provided according to the degree of damage caused by the storm.

He also urged the people to work and cooperate with one another and to work in close harmony especially during such natural calamities. He also handed over monetary aid, which was allotted from the gratuitous fund of the District Administration after a prior assessment was done, to the affected households.

Shillong: With the infamous Pyrdiwah intrusion by BDR completing five years on April 15, villagers of Pyrdiwah have revealed that the BSF in 2001 had failed to take note of the warning given by the residents about the probable BDR incursion.

Mrs Simol Khonglah, who first gave information to the BSF about the BDR presence in the village, brought out new facts on how the BSF could have prevented the intrusion had they taken emergency measures.

She came to know about the plan of BDR to intrude into Pyrdiwah on April 13 from her relative who is staying at Lamapunjee, a Khasi village situated in Bangladesh. "We have informed the BSF personnel at Pyrdiwah about the regrouping of BDR three days prior to the fateful event, but there was no feedback from the Force," said Mrs Khonglah.

In an unprecedented move on April 15 evening, the BDR men surrounded the village and their number swelled to hundreds. "They told us that they are capturing the village since the land belonged to them. They also said the villagers can stay here if they need," recalled Mrs Khonglah.

Former Headman P Nongrum was playing the harmonium when the BDR men descended on the village on that evening. He and his wife, Mashine Khonglah, narrated the incident of intrusion as they witnessed: "Initially, nine BDR men came to the village on April 15 at 7 pm. They said they wanted to go to the nearby BSF camp. Before capturing the camp, they sent signals across asking for more personnel to come. When the number of BDR men swelled upto around 700 along with a large presence of Bangladesh civilians, the villagers had no option than to flee the area."

The 20 BSF men at the Pyrdiwah BOP had to remain under the captivity of the BDR till April 19. BSF IG Shrivastava admitted that the strength of the BSF personnel posted at Pyrdiwah in 2001 was not much.

"We are fully equipped now. The situation is no longer like in 2001. If they come again disregarding our stand, we are ready to tackle them," said the BSF official.

The proposal to construct a 10 km Dawki-Lyngkhat border road near Pyrdiwah has been submitted to the Centre. "The plan and estimate has already been sent to Delhi and we are hoping that the Centre will sanction an amount of Rs 12 crore for the project," he said.

The Union Defence Ministry was urged last year to sanction the road scheme from Dawki to Lyngkhat which also includes Pyrdiwah.

Initially, the scheme was submitted to the Union Surface Transport Ministry. However, as the stretch was having strategic importance in view of the presence of international border, the matter had to be referred to the Ministry of Defence. The proposal was submitted to the Ministry together with the recommendations of the BSF.

The officials in the Border Area Department observe that with the meagre budget of Rs eigth crore per year, the Department has to concentrate on road construction, electrification of border villages and providing drinking water facilities.

Meanwhile, Mr Dkhar said that for the scholarship to be awarded to the students in the border villages, the concerned parents can apply for the same with the Education Department.

The Governor hoped that with Rongali Bihu celebrations, the bond of brotherhood will be strengthened amongst all the communities. He also said that the true Bihu spirit and happiness will usher a new chapter of peace, brotherhood and prosperity.

Shillong: The Court of the Assistant District Judge, Shillong has ordered The Meghalaya Guardian to pay a compensation of Rs 40 lakh to the North Eastern India Trust for Education and Development (NEITED) for publishing "defamatory news item" against the Trust.

According to a statement issued by NEITED Working Chairman, Mr F W Momin, similar fate awaited a leading Khasi daily U Mawphor for publishing malicious reports on the functioning of NEITED and that both criminal and money suit pending against the newspaper "would be decided soon by the Court".

"The action of these newspapers is highly defamatory and has caused considerable damages and irreparable losses to the Trust and has lowered its reputation in the eyes of the common people of Meghalaya in particular and the North East in general," Mr Momin said.

Further, the NEITED official clarified that the legal notices had been served to both the newspapers but "instead of apologising they continued to publish defamatory news items and articles against NEITED and its trustees". He also said that, NEITED had filed criminal and money suits against the two dailies.

The two deacons who will be ordained as priests are Rev. Deacon Cyril S Sangma of Resubelpara and Rev. Deacon Jimberth K Marak of Daram area. Both are to be ordained by Co-adjutor Bishop of Tura Rt Rev Andrew R Marak. Presently Rev. Cyril Sangma is attached to the Mendipather Parish while Rev. Jimberth Marak is with Rabhagre Parish.

Hectic preparations are underway to make the occasion a success and thousands of people along with invitees and priests from different places in the North East are arriving to join in the celebration.

The raid which was led by the organisation's unit president Mr B L Kharbudnah had received appreciation from the villagers even as the organisation warned of strong steps against illicit liquor dealers if they were found indulging in similar activities.

He was reacting to allegation made by the president of Garo Students' Union, Khasi Hills zone, Mr Aldo A Sangma of irregularities in the allotment of ANM seats for the session 2006.

In a statement issued here, the police said that under the supervision of the CID and others, it has been taking every possible step to update the crimes position in the whole states, with particular reference to Shillong City and its other cosmopolitan towns.

The updating has been done in the interests of the general public, the media, non-governmental organisations, voluntary organisations as well as private individuals, by storing the relevant information into the website.

The information include details of missing persons, stolen vehicles and other particulars like medals and awards, roll of honours, comparative crime statistics, comparative crime data and daily crime update. In addition, genuine complaints and constructive suggestions are also entertained.

Chief Minister Mr DD Lapang is either fatally in love with Mr Bazeley or deeply beholden to the former chief secretary. Why else would the Chief Minister flirt with trouble just so he can have Bazeley back in circulation. In a country of over a billion people, dozens of chief secretaries retire every day. If each one were to be re-employed through the revolving door policy what would happen to younger 'babus' who are just as capable and perhaps enjoy a reputation that is far less sullied and in some cases immaculate.

Allegations of corruption have dogged Mr Bazeley all throughout his career but he has remained unfazed mainly because those allegations have never been proved. But how do you prove that a bureaucrat is corrupt when those who pay money under the table 'for services rendered' are the last people to stand up and stick their necks out.

We all remember how one bureaucrat who literally pushed through the infamous Kolkata Meghalaya House deal could not be removed despite his brazen acts of omission and commission. Mr A Som was in fact transferred to Food Corporation of India (FCI) at Guwahati to take up a more lucrative post. The moral of the story here is that if you commit a crime in Meghalaya and you are a bureaucrat, be sure to be rewarded with a better posting. Crime follows punishment only in the case of lesser mortals.

If someone were to ask me what I think of Mr PJ Bazeley, I would say he is smart as a whip, has a ready wit, has facts and figures on his fingertips, is as articulate as Mark Anthony of Julius Caesar fame. He can hold his audience spell-bound including the mandarins in New Delhi's power circuit. But if someone were to ask me if he deserves re-appointment because only he can turn the MeSEB around, I would say 'No'. Mr Bazeley has no track record of having reversed the losses of any public sector undertaking in Meghalaya. He was unable to provide a formula for revamping the Hotel Crowborough project. If Mr Bazeley is so committed to serving the state he should have taken on something tough and maybe even unrewarding like the Meghalaya Transport Corporation or the Meghalaya Electronics Development Corporation (MEDC). Why the MeSEB only?

MeSEB is set to launch many power projects in Meghalaya. You need someone with business management skills with ample experience in the corporate world and hands-on experience in the power sector. The guy should be given a free hand to look at the employment policy of the Board. Such a person will not tolerate ministers wanting favours or back-door appointments for their relatives or wanting cuts from every new deal and a steady flow of income from old on-going projects. But a person with that kind of qualifications alone will be able to make MeSEB an efficient profit making sector, not a milking cow for politicians. Obviously Mr Lapang would not want to relinquish his hold over MeSEB until it reaches its nadir.

Recently, in Thailand, the people have been very agitated by their Prime Minister's propensity to treat the country's assets as his own and to conduct the political and economic affairs of Thailand in a manner where the country suffered immense financial loss but Prime Minister Thaksinawatra's family made huge profits. Meghalaya is not very different from Thailand insofar as the blurring of lines between private gains and public policies are concerned. Chief Minister Lapang has his fingers in several business deals, some overt and others more covert. If Mr Lapang today wants Bazeley back in circulation it would be to safeguard his own business interests, not that of MeSEB or of the people of Meghalaya.

Unfortunately for us but very fortunately for Mr Lapang he seems to have the blessings of the Church and Church elders in all his private and personal endeavour. In their books he is one of the most successful chief ministers. Hence he is rewarded with a double doctorate degree in divinity. It is shameful and pathetic when church leaders instead of correcting their flock decide instead to cavort with dirty politics merely to have a share of the pie. I am referring here to the Bill on private universities which is primarily a church-led project and which some church elders have been pushing with all their might. They succeeded to have the Bill passed because the legislature meekly assented to it without as much as a discussion.

What was the emergency in getting a Bill on private universities pushed through as an ordinance? This new modus operandi has been repeatedly abused by Lapang to short-circuit the legislature. It is undemocratic and it should be opposed by all those who value democracy or its remnants here in Meghalaya. The media has been trying its utmost to alert the average citizen to Mr Lapang's shenanigans of bulldozing all controversial Bills. But legislators have not only allowed the proceedings of the House to be truncated to eight days and to pass the state budget within that period. In so doing they have connived with Lapang and his government to push through many a controversial Bill.

With the exception of one or two, most legislators have not even done their homework. It remains to be seen if the pressure groups who are up in arms, protesting Bazeley's reappointment will allow the chief minister to have his way. After Easter the tug of war will probably begin. We will have to brace ourselves for a series of picketing, bandhs etc in the next few weeks. So far the eloquent Bazeley has remained non-committal. Whether he will take up the job or not is uncertain. But Mr Lapang would hardly have announced Bazeley's appointment without his prior consent. We can safely assume therefore, that the retired bureaucrat will eventually join his new post.

By the same time next year, the present Chief Secretary, Mr SK Tiwari will also have retired. We are told he retires after a year. May we ask what post Mr Lapang will offer Tiwari? The guy is as capable as any other babu we know. Surely he deserves a re-appointment if only to cleanse the system of bad stink. Maybe he could be appointed Chief Vigilance Commissioner with full charge of auditing and test-checking the accounting procedures of the MeSEB.

After all we need some real checks and balances. Only a babu is capable of counter-checking another babu. Others can only blow the whistle from the outside. Mr Tiwari can function as the insider who knows how the system is greased. Should Mr Lapang have his way and Bazeley takes over as the boss of MeSEB then we must all campaign for Mr Tiwari's re-employment. And after that, every bureaucrat who retires must also be brought back in some capacity or the other. Is that a deal Mr Lapang? We hope it is! But deal or no deal once a precedence is set there is no way you can back-track.

Sir,

Divorce has never been so much easier. And probably in this age, what God can't wish, the court now can. Referring to the Supreme Court ruling on 21st March, perhaps like other western countries even in our country a knot of marriage may from now on just snap break on some pretexts. Objectively speaking, sex being the most indispensable and natural binding force and the right of an individual, frigidity could be a very strong ground to call the marriage a dud and thus null and void legally. But, the court has overlooked many other factors. It has virtually ignored that we have spiritual faculties inside us, besides the tangible flesh-faculty as sex, where emotions like love, affection etc play a very subtle role. Again, one could approve and welcome this decree of the court as a permanent yardstick provided the allegation of frigidity or a lack of physical union by a spouse is cent percent true and genuine. But since in this sensually immodest environment of modern age where secret affairs outside the marriage, especially in the high society, are much increasing and keeping a marital vow is becoming like a burden, I tend to doubt that the accusation in whatsoever manner will be made with utter sincerity and piety. One cannot rule out that an unfaithful spouse involved secretly with other person outside marriage may lose all interest with the real partner at home and consequently may invent stories to end the marriage. And this may pave way for more and more unforeseen social complications as witnessed in the west. Furthermore, what I am apprehensive about is, considering the growing indecent culture, within a few more years from now, it would not be an odd instance a husband or wife having extra-marital affairs all too easily and thereby putting the children and other dependants in dire straits. How hard it would be then to pick up the pieces of the marriage on the edge of ruin! And in the same vein, will the court be then forced to add another shocking clause that will permit adultery or so as a necessary evil?

Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali
Via e-mail.

Sir,

In referring to Patricia Mukhim's article "Meghalaya and its Colourful issues" (ST March 13) where she described the recent Assembly Session "the debates were lively, peppered as they were " I would like to remind her, that before the recent Budget Session, all the MLAs and parties belonging to the M.D.A. Government had issued a whip, not to allow any members of the treasury bench to make any anti government speeches or to move any motions or pass any resolutions. With their tongues tied up, the ruling side reduced the sanctity and relevance of this August House, which is the temple of Democracy, into a mere Talking Shop, with useless and meaningless speeches. If this is not an insult to the intellect of the citizens of the State, then what is?

On Mr. Paul Lyngdoh's statement in the House; that the Land Transfer Act needs to be reviewed as far as the genuine permanent Non Tribals of the State are concerned, I would like to point out that Land is the most valuable asset of every community, especially for the indigenous people who have fought countless wars throughout their history to protect that piece of land which they can call "Our Land".

As it is today, we are losing a lot of land to the defence and central establishments besides continuing encroachment by the Assam Government. With the 1991 amendment we are losing land further to the non-tribal owned industries and their educational and religious institutions. How much more land are we willing to lose.

The writers comment that Paul Lyngdoh's statement in the Assembly on the Land Transfer Act in relation to the non tribal, "sounds like the wisdom of Solomon" I leave it to history to be the competent judge.

But before I go any further, first I would like to know, whether this statement is the personal opinion of Mr. Paul Lyngdoh or is it the views and policy of the KHNAM? But the most important factor is, since any further, change in the Land Transfer Act will be a major shift on the state's land policy in favour of the non tribal, as one of the founder members of the KSU and also as a common man, I would also like to know whether this statement has been endorsed by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Khasi Student Union.

Yours etc.
Michale Syiem
Via e-mail

The AGP president, however, skipped the question on whether the party is in touch with the newly formed Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) led by Badaruddin Ajmal and only said that the whole scene would be cleared after the election results were out on May 11.

"I shall not comment on the issue at this moment. But it is a fact that the AGP would form the next Government in Asom with the support of its allies," he said.

He accused the ruling Congress of indulging in various criminal activities during the elections while blaming that "Congress supporters" were responsible for the assault on him and his convoy recently.

Goswami said that the people of the State must a keep close watch on the activities of the Congress Government as the latter may try to misuse its power till the formation of the next Government. He also slammed the statement of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on the operation 'Blue Star' in 1983 and said that the Congress was responsible for the current spell of violence in the State. (NNN)

The Department had decided to send a special medial team to the these districts and has adopted various precautionary measures to prevent spread of the disease. Joint Director of Health JM Bora said dry season was the cause of the outbreak of the disease and admitted that due to lack of surveillance, the disease had spread. (PTI)

Constable Rakesh Batra, 38, of the Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead Head Constable Rampaul Singh, 35, after an angry quarrel over the allocation of duties at Nirbhaypur outpost along the Bangladesh border. Before other troopers could reach the spot, Batra shot himself with his service weapon, officials said.

Both troopers belonged to 74 Battalion of BSF. Singh belonged to Haryana while Batra was a resident of Delhi. Their bodies will be sent to their homes on Friday. BSF officials have ordered an inquiry into the incident, the latest in a series of incidents involving members of the security forces turning their service weapons on their colleagues following arguments.

Most these incidents have involved troopers of the BSF and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and have been blamed on the stress associated with long postings in remote border areas or involvement in counter-insurgency operations. On April 5, a CRPF trooper posted at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence shot dead three colleagues, including his boss, after he was refused leave. (IANS)

Guwahati: The Bansbari Lodge of Manas National Park has been adjudged among the top five jungle retreats in India by a UK based publication, The Independent. The Bansbari Lodge shares the honours wih the Taj Garden Retreat in Tamil Nadu, Oberoi's Vanyavilas in Rajasthan, Nature Heritage Lodge in Madhya Pradesh and the Lake Palace Hotel in Kerala.

The Bansbari Lodge located at the entrance of the Manas National Park is 176 kms from Guwahati. The 16-room lodge, owned by Assam Tourism Department, has been leased out to Assam Bengal Navigation, which has been managing the lodge for the last two years.

Jungle Travel India Pvt Limited director Jahnabi Phookan said here on Thursday that apart from comfortable accommodation, the lodge arranges for elephant rides, rubber boat rides and jeep safari in coordination with the Forest Department.

Earlier this month Assam Bengal Navigation, a sister concern of Jungle Travels India, received the National Tourism Award for introducing India's first long distance river cruise on the Brahmaputra, Mr Phookan said. Since the opening of the lodge two years back, tourist flow to Manas National Park has gone up manifold.

Wing Commander T Rajkhowa (retd), senior manager of the lodge, said village visit, evening tribal dance and traditional Assamese dinner organised by the lodge for groups have been paritcularly popular with foreign tourists, besides, the jungle safari by rubber boats.

The only drawback to reach the World Heritage Site and Tiger Project Reserve is the 20 kms stretch from Barpeta road to the Bansbari lodge, which takes nearly one hour by road, Ms Phookan added. (UNI)