Mr Lapang said that the stretches of the border area, where the fencing was more than 150 yards from the border, needed to be resurveyed. "Many people living in the border will be losing their homes if the fencing is done without proper survey," he said. He also stressed on the strengthening of BSF to control illegal immigration of Bangladeshis into the State.

Regarding the petition sent by Rev PM Basaiwmoit on behalf of the banned HNLC for holding talks with the State government, the Home Minister said the Centre was ready to hold talks with any militant outfit who abjures violence. Mr Lapang also requested Mr Patil to bring an Amendment Bill so that small states can raise the strength of their Cabinets. Mr Lapang also met the UPA chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi and discussed the prevailing law and order situation in the State. But much-talked about reshuffle and expansion of the MDA ministry did find place in the meeting.

Sources said that for the reshuffle, the party has to wait for Mr Oscar Fernandes, AICC(I) General Secretary in charge of Meghalaya, with whom the high command would have consultations.

"Since Mr Fernades is currently out of station the discussion remained inconclusive," a statement from Meghalaya House said after the meeting adding "Mrs Gandhi assured him (Mr Lapang) that after due consultation she would take a decision and will inform him the outcome shortly."

Mrs Gadhi was also appreciative about the role the NECCC played during Asom elections, the party sources said.

Mr Lapang during his stay met several party leaders and Ministers, besides Mrs Gandhi. He also held consultations with the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and DONER, P R Kyndiah on Wednesday night.

"It was a joint decision taken by the IIMs in view of the difficulty in handling the increasing number of applicants. We wanted to introduce the screening at the CAT level itself," IIM Bangalore Director Prof G Prakash Apte said. (PTI)

New Delhi: First snakes and now cats. All kinds of non-human threats are besieging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's sprawling residence here. And anxious not to be caught catnapping on the job, security officials at the august residence have sought the expertise of the Delhi Zoo in tackling the feline menace.

"Though we only deal with wild animals, our experts will try to suggest ways to put an end to the problem," said a zoo official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Senior officials said it was only after stray cats were seen ambling all over 7 Race Course Road - which is actually a complex of four spacious bungalows linked to each other - that they had to press the panic button and ask for help from the zoo officials.

A few months ago, the Prime Ministerial residence had to deal with the menace of non-venomous snakes in the leafy gardens. "Our job is to protect the Prime Minister and we are taking all steps to do our job," said a senior official of SPG (Special protection Group).

Officials said that the snakes that were found in the gardens, which the prime minister uses for his morning walks, were non-venomous wolf snakes. "These snakes have large fangs but are not poisonous," said the zoo official.

The gardens are also home to friendly peacocks who preen and dance in front of photographers and television cameras during major Prime Ministerial events to which the media is invited. (IANS)

Literally stating that its today's directions cannot be treated lightly, a Special Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha ordered the CBI Director to constitute a Special Task Force headed by an officer not below the rank of a Joint Director to carry out the task and submit its report within one month.

The stinging directions from the Bench comes in the wake of widespread criticism in the media and public that many of the officials responsible for the unbriddled growth of illegal and unauthorised structures continue to be in service.

Even if action had been initiated against a handful staff it was done merely as an eyewash. In other words the court conveyed the message that the corrupt officers cannot be let off with mere dismissals but should also be criminally prosecuted. (PTI)

Kolkata: Taking on the Left parties in West Bengal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the UPA Government has taken their support not to remain in power, but to serve the nation on the basis of the CMP.

"It is true the Congress-led UPA Government is taking help from the Left parties, but it not being done to retain the chair, but to serve the nation on the basis of the Common Minimum Programme," Gandhi said at election meetings here.

Claiming that development had taken a backseat during the 29 years of Left Front rule in the State, she said that West Bengal has a debt burden of Rs 90,000 crore while no new capital was coming in. 35,000 factories are closed, lakhs of people are unemployed and tea garden workers are starving, she said.

Expressing unhappiness over law and order, the Congress president said that thousands of people, including Congress workers were killed, while atrocities on women had increased.

"I feel said," she said at a meeting at Park Circus here, winding up her whirlwind campaign, which also took her to Baduria in North 24 Parganas and Mahestala in South Parganas district during the day. She said that the Congress-led government at the Centre had met all demands of the West Bengal government in the areas of education, power, village and urban development.

"At least, during the time of the election there should be proper assessment of the situation. People talk big during election time, but forget it after coming to power. Political leaders should give such promises which they can fulfil," she said in veiled criticism of the Left.

Claiming that the Congress had been undertaking development in the state after Independence, Gandhi said she regretted the present sorry state of affairs. Thousands of villages were yet to be electrified and though West Bengal was second to Kerala in terms of literacy rate, it was now lagging behind, she said. In an obvious reference to the BJP and its ally Trinamool Congress, Gandhi said people should be wary of divisive and communal forces and those with them. (PTI)

"We had served him a notice to appear before the agency soon after he returned to India but then he went to Rishikesh. We would have arrested him if he had not appeared for the questioning in the next few days," said a senior official.

Kumar had contacted the agency on Wednesday and said that he was willing to assist it in investigations, according to CBI officials. The officer’s questioning started around 10 a.m. Kumar faces charges of abetting the flight of a troupe of 15 untrained ‘bhangra’ artistes from Punjab for illegal immigration while he was director-general of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The matter came to light when the troupe sent to Germany by the ICCR disappeared from their hotel in Berlin and did not return. One Shiv Kumar Sharma, who allegedly acted as a middleman and was questioned by the agency earlier, had named Kumar.

"We had questioned Sharma and he had named Kumar to be one of the main conspirators in the case. Since Kumar’s name is in the police complaint, he is also among the offenders for us," officials said.

"The case is very simple but the biggest challenge for us is to collect proper evidence and prove Kumar’s involvement in human trafficking," the official said.

CBI had raided offices and residences of Kumar, Kehkeshan Tyagi, programme officer at ICCR, and two middlemen, Sharma and Har Gulab Singh. The raids were conducted on April 5 in Punjab and Delhi. Senior officials said Kumar and his associates were charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating, misappropriation, forgery for the purpose of cheating and use of forged documents. 

Officials said that Kumar and Sharma had accepted sexual favours from two women who were also part of the troupe. The members of the troupe had performed twice in India before being sent to Berlin where nine of them went missing. (IANS)

New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana on Thursday resigned from the BJP, severing his ties with the party from which he was suspended last month for defiance.The 70-year-old leader, who was associated with the party for over five decades since the days of Jan Sangh told a news conference here that he was upset with senior party leader L K Advani, the architect of the Ayodhya movement, for not building a Ram temple in Ayodhya while being in power for six years.

Also, he claimed he had some "shocking" information about the 1999 hijack of an Indian Airlines aircraft to Kandahar, but did not disclose what it was. Khurana, a former Governor, also attributed his decision to quit the BJP to what he said were some damning "sex scandals" involving party leaders.

Asked to elaborate on the reasons for his resignation, the former Union Minister said he would speak about them next week. "Even the Sanjay Joshi episode will appear a pigmy before the sex scandals that I will unearth next week," he said.

Khurana said he had sent his resignation, addressed to BJP chief Rajnath Singh, to the party office. He also sent its copies to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, RSS chief K S Sudarshan and VHP leader Ashok Singhal. Last year Khurana was briefly suspended for his outbursts against Advani but the action was revoked at the inertvention of Vajpayee. He had of late been backing another expelled leader Uma Bharti.

Khurana, who did not send a copy of his resignation to Advani, kept his options open regarding his future political moves, saying he would make a final decision on whether to join expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti's proposed new party or to launch a third front after a month. A four-time former MP, Khurana, however, said he was holding talks with UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala over his future plans. (PTI)

Four persons, including the hotel owner's son Babloo were also rounded up for questioning, Superintendent of Police Sriniwas Janga Rao told PTI over phone. After recording statements of both parties a challan would be produced in the case in court soon, the SP said. (PTI)

Raipur: Naxalites made an abortive bid to rescue fellow naxals lodged in Narayanpur sub-jail of Bastar region, triggering three landmine blasts in the second such attack on the prison in six days, police said on Thursday. "The landmine blasts were triggered in front and back portion of the Narayanpur sub-jail on Wednesday night, but the Maoists failed to cause any damage to the prison," Narayanpur police sources told PTI by phone.

The naxal attack came hours before Security Advisor to the Chhattisgarh Government, K P S Gill, was to hold a review meeting on Thursday on the naxal menace in Bastar region. "The members of the outlawed CPI(Maoist) are trying to rescue some of their activists, who are members of Benur and Keshkal Dalams and have been housed there on charges of murdering a person at Benur recently," police sources said.

"The naxalites had attacked on Friday and Wednesday to rescue the 26 accused in the Benur case, but the alertness of the security forces foiled their action," they said.

The Maoists triggered the first blast in the front portion of the prison after mistaking a jail guard to be part of a police patrol party, the sources said. They also carried out a second blast late in the night near Narayanpur College to "attract" attention of the police force and after a gap of 15 minutes carried out a third blast at the back side of the prison, police said.

The third blast was carried out to cause damage to the jail building and spring the naxals from prison but they failed to do so, the sources said. "No one is injured in all three blasts nor was the jail building damaged," they said. (PTI)

New Delhi: With private courier companies eating into the revenues of Postal Department, the Government on Thursday sought to give India Posts exclusive rights to carry and deliver letters weighing up to 300 grams.

"The monopoly over a specific part of the letter mail of all descriptions up to a specific weight limit is essential as Department of Post is required to fulfil the Universal Service Obligation, which involves postal coverage to financially non viable areas at affordable rates for the common man," said the Department, which has posted the draft Indian Post Office Amendment Bill, 2006 on its website.

Charging private courier companies of operating only in "creamy" areas and big business centres with the sole motive of earning profits, the DoP justified the move, saying "requirement of keeping a small segment of postal business was exclusive privilege aimed at providing service to deprived class of people."

To address the issue of accountability and transparency, the government proposed setting up of a regulatory body as well as a dispute settlement tribunal.

The draft Bill also proposed levying a fee of up to 10 per cent of revenue of courier companies with a turnover of Rs 25 lakh and more towards USO Fund as also a registration and renewal fee of Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively for small and medium couriers. (PTI)

A search party had seized the mosque in village Akoora in temple township of Mattan, 80 kms from here, after it was fired by the militant from inside the mosque at around 1130 hrs, the sources said. The mosque suffered no damage during the crossfire, the sources said. The deceased militant has been identified as Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, a local affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, a Defence spokesman said.

Deputy Inspector General of police, South Kashmir, Sheikh Owais Ahmad said the search party exercised utmost restraint keeping in view the sanctity of the mosque. The controlled retaliatory fire was followed by teargas shelling by security forces to flush out the hiding militant to avoid any damage to the mosque, he said.

The strategy worked out as the militant came out but continued firing on the security forces beseiging the mosque from outside despite repeated warnings to surrender. The troops fired back and killed him, they said, adding some arms and ammunition were recovered from the deceased. (PTI)

As soon as the House reassembled for the last day of the Budget session, Prakash Pant of BJP claimed that the forest department purchased Jatropha saplings and pesticides worth Rs 2,35 crore while the department claimed that it did not pay any money for the plants. (PTI)

Chennai: You no longer need to look at the pinned-up horoscope of girls and grooms on temple walls or fear the priest and the snoopy aunty next door, who are the traditional go-betweens. The ubiquitous Indian post office will soon be your interface to married bliss.

BharatMatrimony.com Pvt. Ltd, a major matrimony portal in the country, has signed an agreement with the Department of Posts (DoP), under which the portal will provide registration and membership services through the head post offices across the country.The friendly post office will now sell membership scratch cards and registration forms for the portal.

"BharatMatrimony.com will create new happy families through the Department of Posts," said Vatsala Raghu, principal chief postmaster general of Tamil Nadu circle, while launching the BharatMatrimony.com Membership Cards here Thursday.

At first this service will be available only at all the head post offices across the country. The DoP has 22 circles and each circle has head post offices and a nodal office. "All our retail initiatives have a customer centric focus. Our tie-up with the Department of Posts will not only strengthen our retail network but will also add to our credibility", Bharat-Matrimony.com CEO J Murugavel said on the occasion.

A free member of the portal can now become a paid member by purchasing these scratch cards from nearby head post offices. At present, two membership packages, Classic and Classic Super, are available. Both these packages will be for three-month, six-month and nine-month membership period. The Classic will be a basic package and the Classic Super a high-end package.

BharatMatrimony.com was established in 1997. The company has developed expertise and a successful business model to provide world-class matrimony services. It has over 7.5 million members worldwide and offices in the USA, Canada and Dubai. (IANS)

Despite this, the GSU said it would go ahead with its proposed rally to be held on Saturday in Tura. It also invited legislators, political parties, other NGOs and like-minded people of Garo Hills to attend the rally. "However the stand of Governor in having certain clarification is genuine", Mr Sangma said adding that the government did not make it clear from where the Executive Chairman and Principal Director would function. The government should appoint officers of the Board after passing the MBOSE Bill but the appointment was made much earlier - before the Assembly passed the Bill, the GSU leader said. 

It may be mentioned that the Governor had on Wednesday returned the Bill seeking further clarification on the officers to be appointed in the Board's Tura headquarters. The State Assembly on March 24 passed the MBOSE Bill as per the Select Committee recommendations. He pointed out that at present the Executive Chairman of the Board, Mr TTC Marak, who is supposed to function from the main office in Tura, is functioning from the Shillong Regional Office. The GSU recalled that earlier it had demanded the State government to refer the Bill to the President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Meanwhile, KSU president Samuel Jyrwa felt that there were only a few simple queries, which "the State government can easily handle". Expressing faith on the functioning of the State government, Mr Jyrwa said, "The government will not have difficulty in replying to those queries".

Meanwhile, the State government has decided to send a reply to Mr Jacob on Friday. The Chief Minister Mr. DD Lapang, who is camping in New Delhi, told The Shillong Times that the Bill would be sent back to Mr Jacob with the clarifications, which have been sought. 

Mr Lapang said, "It is only a technical matter and there would be no problem (in getting the consent of the Governor)".

The Chief Secretary Mr SK Tiwari said the reply to the Governor's queries would be sent on Friday. "The four questions raised by the Governor are not directly linked to the MBOSE Bill but regarding the functioning of the Board", he said.

Besides, clarifications on the location of operations of the Board's Directors and Principal Directors, the Governor's other queries include the number of vacant posts in the Board, when are they proposing to frame the rules of the Bill.

According to sources, Om Metals moved Gauhati High Court after its tender for supply and installation of radial gates of the main dam of the Leshka project had been rejected. Sources said that the tender value for the work was approximately Rs 20 crore and that rejection of the Company's tender was due to its "bad track record".

The MeSEB officials asserted that the case would not at all affect the progress of the power project even as they said that the work had been allotted to M/s Precision, a Gujarat-based firm. The civil works including installation of turbine and generator besides construction of tunnel and powerhouse are going on in full swing.

Around 30 percent of the work for construction of the main dam had been completed by SEW Construction, Hyderabad. The 2x42 megawatt project had initially been estimated at Rs 363.1 crore, although the cost is likely to go up to Rs 500 crore due to delay in commencing it. The delay according to sources was due to late receipt of environment clearance and work on the project was started in 2004.

Nine injured: Nine persons were seriously injured when a passenger bus dashed against a hill lock at Urmasi near Smit on Thursday. The bus was going to Smit from Shillong when it met with the accident. Among the injured eight were admitted at Shillong Civil Hospital and one at Nazareth Hospital.

SHILLONG: Police on Wednesday evening arrested three persons identified as Aibor Sylliang (brother of surrendered HNLC cadre James Sylliang), Ricky Lyngdoh and Andy Nongrum of Mawlai for creating trouble in New Colony, Laitumkhrah.

SHILLONG: With its three-day office picketing yielding no result with regard to State government revoking its decision of reappointing Mr PJ Bazeley, the Khasi Students' Union hardened its stand and called a 44-hour night road blockade from April 24 to 28. Intensifying its agitation, the KSU on Thursday announced night road blockade everyday from 7 pm to 6 am the next day.

After a meeting to review the outcome of the three-day office picketing that ended on Thursday, the KSU decided to go for road blockade in all the four districts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills. Garo Hills districts have been kept out of this programme.

KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling said the Union was compelled to launch the second phase of its agitation in view of the State government's "adamant attitude" and negative response of Chief Minister DD Lapang in considering its demand.

"The purpose of launching the second phase of agitation is to pressurise the government to backtrack from its decision to reappoint Mr Bazeley and extension of service to the retired government officials, which will act as an impediment to the promotion of the deserving officers and choke the job opportunity in government sector".

Mr Dohling urged the people of the State to extend their solidarity to the KSU in order to persuade the government to revoke its decision.

Meanwhile, the last day of the office picketing called by the KSU on Thursday ended peacefully with 20 percent attendance in State Government Offices even as Central Government offices and banks remained closed. The state Chief Secretary SK Tiwari, however, claimed 30 percent attendance in all the State government offices.

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Mr DD Lapang on Thursday aired serious concern over the agitational path adopted by the KSU on the controversial appointment of Mr PJ Bazeley and made a fervent appeal to the youths not to put the general public at inconvenience.

Talking to The Shillong Times, Mr Lapang said besides creating problems for the common people, the agitation would harm the students the most. He even urged the parents to persuade the students not to resort to agitation and ensure that they concentrate on studies and their career. The Chief Minister also reminded the enraged students that he was always open for talks. "Anytime they can come and have talks with the government to solve their issues rather than adopting the path of agitation," he said. 

Moreover, the GS Road does not belong to any particular State and its blockade would seriously affect the neighbouring states of Asom, Manipur and Mizoram, he said. The students should refrain from blocking the "life line" of so many states, he said. He, however, said that the State government would maintain law and order and would take all measures to ensure that people were not put into serious trouble. In the interest of the state and its people, the students should refrain from holding agitations and roadblocks, he said.

Mr Lapang said that the State cabinet already took a decision with regard to Mr Bazeley's appointment and the same was implemented. When pointed out that two senior Ministers had voiced dissent, Mr Lapang denied the same and said such dissent was only in press reports without any quote from the Ministers.

On the IIM, Mr Lapang said that the party leadership was busy in elections. Once the electioneering process in various states was over, "the foundation stone of the institution would be laid". He also sought to meet Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for the proposed Agriculture University, but the latter was out of station.

On the office of profit issue, Mr Lapang said there was no such case as per the law. Moreover, the State government is preparing a detailed note on the issue. The party high command has also been appraised about the issue, he said.

TURA: Blocks which are alleged to have been involved in fraudulently withdrawing of lakhs of rupees from the Central fund meant for developmental projects stand to get blacklisted by theCentral Government. Once blacklisted, all forms of Central aid, particularly from the Rural Development Ministry, will no longer flow in to the affected block, unless the State Government takes stern action against the corrupt officers and retrieve the money. Each block gets approximately Rs 50 lakh annually for project implementation.

The Tura MP and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma is preparing a strong letter to be submitted to the Centre against Blocks which have been involved in the embezzlement. Each Block is being toured by the MP who is also undertaking a site inspection.

Speaking to The Shillong Times on one of his visits to a block, Mr Sangma termed the misappropriation as "highly shocking". He said, "the manner in which BDOs are withdrawing lakhs of money without implementing the projects is a matter of concern. Its no wonder we continue to be underdeveloped despite regular flow of funds. Had the funds been properly utilised Garo Hills would have been like heaven."

The Tura MP also criticised the State Government for falsely accusing the Centre of neglecting Garo Hills. He said the Centre is pumping in crores of rupees every year for Garo Hills which are distributed among the blocks. "This is misappropriation is a serious matter and I will be submitting a report to New Delhi on the issue. The guilty should not be shielded. Heads must roll," warned Mr Sangma.

The Gambegre Development Block has spent a whopping one lakh sixty thousand for a children’s park at Sandagre village but ironically the land does not belong to it. The park, which is a little over one acre, is fenced with a barbed wire and ten cemented blocks for seating are the only evidence to show that it is a park. A visit to the area revealed that the block went ahead with the fencing without taking into account the decision of the land owner and the villagers who have made known their intention not to part with it to the block.

Shillong: The Meghalaya Indigenous People's Forum (MIPF) is opposed to any measure to speed up alienation of land against the interest of the indigenous people while observing that the people should to be aware of their ancestral rights.

Various organisations of Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills under the leadership of the MIPF recently submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for review of the industrial policy of the Government of India in order to curb the alienation of land which belong to the indigenous people unlike the acquisition of land in the rest of the country where the land belong to the Government.

Citing one instance of land acquisition, MIPF president, Mr W Anthony said that the MeSEB had sought the permission of the Dorbar Shnong, the Syiems and the District Council before acquisition of land for its 24 pending power projects. He, however, questioned that whether the 24 projects be executed by the MeSEB while adding "it appears that this is not to be as the Government is bent on conversion of the MeSEB into a corporation."

"Any assets of any corporation belong solely to it. And so its liability in that case, the whole chunk of the land of the State under any corporation, will be lost to the State of Meghalaya. The Chairman will reign supreme and not the State of Meghalaya nor its people," he said.

Mr Anthony further said the leadership in the past decade had worked hard to consolidate the land and its people. But unfortunately, he said, the leadership of the present decade seemed to forget their heritage and leave everything to chance come what may.

The MIPF also requested the Government to amend the section 4(1) (e) and (f) of the Land Transfer Act for effective control of alienation of Land.

A statement issued here on Thursday said the Party commended the stand taken by the Chairperson of the UPA Sonia Gandhi in resigning from the membership of the Lok Sabha on the issue.

"It is anticipated that the members of the Meghalaya Legislature, who are themselves holding illegal offices of profit, would follow the high moral standards set by her by resigning forthwith from their membership of the State legislature," the NCP said.

If the Election Commission disqualifies those Meghalaya legislators who are holding illegal offices of profit as was done to Jaya Bachchan, the Meghalaya State Assembly may be dissolved and fresh elections called thereby continuing the desirable process of making the political establishment more accountable and transparent, the NCP added.

Shillong: Governor M M Jacob on Thursday said the media have the onerous task of nation building and the continuation of the good work that they have done for the people of the region towards common good of the society.

Inaugurating the two-day first Regional Media Seminar-Cum-Workshop here on Thursday, the Governor said the media had also played a significant role in raising the level of consciousness of opinion makers by highlighting the problems of the region.

"The need of the hour is that all the people of the region retain their identity, yet attain national integration and this is another dimension where journalists have an important role in bringing people into the main stream," Mr Jacob said.

The Governor also suggested for more interaction between journalists of the North East with those in other parts of the country, particularly, southern Indian states.

"In the past I have seen groups of journalists visiting North Eastern region and Shillong sponsored by the PIB of Southern Region. Now efforts should be made for our journalists to visit states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu where members of newspapers and regional electronic media are larger in number. This will certainly promote better understanding and goodwill," the Governor said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Meghalaya Economic Development Council (MEDC), Mr Robert G Lyngdoh said that a journalist should act as a universal soldier who report things as they are. Mr Lyngdoh called upon the journalists not to sensationalise their reports as this may have a negative impact on the readers.

The theme of the seminar is 'Changing Face of the Media in the North East: The Challenges Ahead'. Others who spoke on the occasion included former President of Shillong Press Club, Manas Chaudhari and Member Secretary of North Eastern Council (NEC), Mr PP Srivastava. The seminar is sponsored by NEC and organised by the Shillong Press Club.

In this connection, Mr Kyndiah urged the Chief Minister to submit proposals on the priority basis to the Centre for consideration while asking the Chief Minister to closely monitor and supervise implementation of various schemes for optimal utilisation of funds in the interest of public service. He also highlighted the need to ensure transparency and ensure strict accountability in this regard.

On the establishment of Inter-State Bus Terminal, Mr Kyndiah urged Mr Lapang to get the concept paper prepared in this regard and include in the State's priority list as the terminal would act as the hub of inter-connectivity, especially for the sates of Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya.

The leaders also deliberated upon overall development of Sohra as a major tourist destination, both for the national and international tourists. Adequate and proper infrastructure should be developed for the purpose in order to generate local employment and result in favourable economic spill overs.

The dignitaries also explore the possibility of development of ropeways in the State. The old proposal to connect Shillong Peak area with Umiam Lak area by having a cable car rope way may be revived.

Shillong: The Jaintia Students' Union (JSU) has demanded dismantling of the border fencing already erected at Jaliakhoka in Jaintia Hills in view of opposition by local residents. According to the students' body, the fencing along the Indo-Bangla border of Meghalaya was done 150 yards from the Zero Line.

The JSU along with the Hynniewtrep People Social Organisation (HPSO) leaders held a meeting with the people of the area at Muktapur on Wednesday and discussed the issue at length. The meeting was also attended by the Rangbah Shnongs of several villages and local landowners whose paddy fields fell on either side of the fence.

JSU president Colin Laloo said the meeting was of the view that fencing should be as close as possible to the Zero Line and not 150 yards from the Zero Line. He said that the Union would take up the matter with the Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Mr Frederick Roy Kharkongngor to pursue the matter.

Further, Mr Laloo expressed concern over frequent harassment meted out to the people residing along the border by the BSF personnel and urged the concerned authority especially the district administration to take up the matter with the BSF authorities to ensure that the people were not disturbed.

Shillong: The Hynniewtrep People's Social Organisation (HPSO) Ri-War Mihngi Area has appreciated the State Government including the District Housing Committee for steps taken to rectify the policy relating to distribution of roofing sheets to poor families in rural areas.

In a statement issued here, the organisation said that so far the housing scheme particularly the one related to distribution of roofing sheets had been misused by politicians including supporters of the MLAs of any particular constituency.

"There are complaints that roofing sheets are unevenly distributed in which there are cases where some people are getting more while others are deprived of such schemes" the organisation said.

The people should directly approach the concerned Block Development Officers (BDO) to get the factual information on the scheme and eligibility for the same, it added.

Further, the HPSO informed that eligible beneficiaries should ensure that they were distributed three bands of roofing sheets with each sheet having ten feet length and 6.5 mm width. It also said that any person having doubts or complaints regarding the scheme should contact the organisation for necessary action.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the organisation expressed its gratitude to the State Government particularly the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) East Khasi Hills district for the recent commissioning of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Wahsherkhmut.It also said that the hospital had been lying unutilised for the past seven years.

One of the recurrent themes which HI stresses on is principle-centred leadership. John Haggai, founder of Haggai Institute has written several books expounding the principles of true leadership. In one of his books, "Lead On", Haggai quotes WCH Prentice a leading author and commentator for the Harvard Business Review. Writing on leadership, Prentice says, "too often attempts to analyze leadership tend to fail because the would-be analyst misconceives his task. Instead he studies popularity, power, showmanship or wisdom and confuses that with leadership". Haggai writes about the twelve principles of leadership which he says are fundamental in fulfilling the responsibilities of leadership positions in the most effective way possible.

Haggai's twelve principles include vision, goal-setting, love, humility, self-control, communication, investment, opportunity, energy, staying power, authority and awareness. As President of HI India, Mr Bazeley's responsibilities are manifold. In fact he has taken on a full-time job. His task is to ensure that the above principles outlined by the HI ministry are communicated to as many Christian leaders in this country as is possible. This is no mean task. I am therefore flummoxed as to how the gentleman can also be yearning for a position of equal or greater responsibility in Meghalaya's most crucial public sector - the MeSEB.

What however is more puzzling is Mr Bazeley's utter insensitivity to the public ire that he has stirred and which might take a turn for the worse. A real leader, and a Christian leader at that, should know better when and where he is a misfit. Anyone in his position would have spent time in serious soul-searching as to why the general public would be so loath to have him as the CEO of the MeSEB. It is a different matter that the issue has now taken a communal turn with the Jaintia people seemingly agreeable to have him at the helm of affairs because they claim "he has single-handedly operationalised the Leshka project". This is a blatant lie. MeSEB engineers and past Chairpersons of the Board and the employees had all invested something into the project. Mr Bazeley was fortunate to have come in at the perfect timing - when the pie is cooked and is ready to be distributed.

But such superficial emotions, as emanated from Jaintia Hills are only skin deep. We know how emotions can be manipulated through the grease machine. People and groups can be made to take a stand for or against an issue depending on "what's in it for them".. Those whose vision includes only how much the Leshka is going to benefit a handful of people from one community are no visionaries. They cannot be expected to lead the state or to lead other people. They have no locus standi to call themselves leaders of organizations.

Coming to the confusion that is prevailing in the MDA government (as manifested by the clarion call given by one minister - HDR Lyngdoh for a talk with the KSU, presently spear-heading the anti-Bazeley campaign, even as another minister (Donkupar Roy) publicly maligns the KHNAM, a coalition partner, and derides the KSU for being 'political') and with Lapang nowhere to be seen or heard, one can only surmise that the present government is defunct. All we have are a bunch of selfish businessmen-politician who continue to defend Mr Lapang with a queer bravado, not because they know he is doing what is right, but, because they are afraid of being dropped from the ministry and therefore losing their 'chairs' and with it the ability to manipulate the economics of the state for self-aggrandizement.

Mr Lapang has allegedly been issuing subtle threats to his cabinet colleagues to either support him and his policies or face the ignominy of being dropped from the ministry. He, it appears has told his colleagues to seal their lips and to have no views other than those spouted by his royal highness. Needless to say these colleagues are only too ready to comply. One wonders what is it about being a 'minister' that is so appealing to them if it is not for the profit they make from that ministry.

The public mood in Meghalaya is sullen. We are aware that the state can generate tens of thousands of megawatts of hydro electric power. We are also aware that this means a huge investment either by DoNER or some other stakeholder. Mr Lapang is naturally interested in the megabucks that will come in from wherever. He feels it is crucial to have somebody at in the driving seat who can speed up the deal and not create speed breakers on the road to profit-making.

The question is whether we the public will allow all this profiteering to happen at the cost of the state. Somebody wrote in desperation the other day that the Peoples' Rally against Corruption (PRAC) managed to stall the complete sell-out of Kolkata Meghalaya House in 2001 and wonders why the same organization is not doing anything now. My question is, 'should we always expect somebody else to bell the cat or do the dirty work while we sit on the sidelines and criticize? Why don't all those who feel strongly against the extension of services of Mr Bazeley rally together and form a united front. No government will be able to resist the collective might of the people. What is required is a bit of hard work and exertion to bring people together and to provide them a platform for speaking up.

Governments are petrified of public rallies. But public rallies are the only solid bases for democratic uprisings. They are essential to preserve the tenets of democracy provided they do not turn ugly. Office picketing have limited impact as it only targets government establishments. Rallies help in eliciting public opinion and also in disseminating information about the manner in which government is functioning. They bring out the ugliness that is often hidden from public view. These rallies would be meaningful if people with sufficient knowledge about the current affairs of MeSEB, such as retired chief secretaries and other bureaucrats, are asked to address the gathering.

If the MeSEB had made great strides in the last two years with Mr PJ Bazeley as Chairman (as claimed by Mr DD Lapang), we would not be suffering from a power crisis today. This is a world of networks and grids that can be plugged in to by power deficient states. Of course we have to pay the price but no one would grudge that if electricity is made available. But here we are suffering from four hours of load-shedding daily at prime hours of the day and then at midnight. So what success story does MeSEB have to boast about? Even the books of accounts have been cooked up to show profits. Is this what the Haggai Institute teaches its alumni?

If the KSU agitation is further intensified we will have a series of bandhs and road blockades. There are bound to be confrontations between keepers of the law and the agitators. Will Mr Bazeley still hang on to his ambition at any cost? And will Mr Lapang insist on having his way even if the State burns into cinders? I believe that we must all stop to think and put our heads together and if need be join hands with all the organizations that are seeking to put an end to nepotism and corruption in Meghalaya.

A group of patients recently received bladders grown from their own muscle and bladder cells. Researchers are also said to be growing 20 other tissues including blood vessels, heart, skin, even penile tissues that cause erections. Now come reports that cyborgs, much like those part-human-part-robot superheroes from Robocop, Terminator or Star Trek, may not be the stuff of science fiction for long.

In such bionic beings with electronically powered limbs, the mingling of flesh and titanium is all about the blurring borders between the organic and synthetic. And we can't wait to get there. Researchers at the University of California have developed computer-controlled strap-on robotic legs that make carrying 100-kilogram loads as effortless as carrying tiny tots.

And darn that fright of climbing stairs. Thanks to similar exoskeletons from Japan, hikers are preparing to scale Switzerland's Breithorn Mountain with an unlikely backpack: Men afflicted by paralysis and muscular dystrophy. Don't do a double take on seeing amputees key in data or play a piano. They could be wearing Dextra, a bionic hand created at Rutgers University, which uses existing nerve pathways to control individual computer-driven mechanical fingers with the same dexterity as normal fingers.

A European Union project, called Cyberhand, is further attempting to bring in the sense of touch. People who've lost their light-sensing receptors to degenerative retinal diseases needn't despair. Stanford University's retinal prosthesis, complete with a battery implanted in the eye, a light-sensing chip in the retina, a portable wallet-sized computer processor and goggles fitted with a tiny video camera, could soon help them recognise faces and read.

A German company and the University of Saarland are using a tiny chip in hearing aids to replicate the brain-ear interaction that helps the ear process sounds. Yet, the likes of Finn Bowring won't be impressed. (By arrangement with The Times of India)

Political developments regarding Sardar Sarovar dam across the Narmada in Gujarat, triggered by Medha Patkar’s prolonged fast in New Delhi, stole the headlines from the eagerly-awaited first-phase of the poll in West Bengal on Monday last, and the ongoing process in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry. With the Centre, Patkar and the concerned States, mainly Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, failing to resolve the prolonged dispute, the Supreme Court stepped in to avert the crisis, at least for the time being. Its interim order on Monday rejected the Narmada Andolan’s demand against raising the height of the dam from 110 metres to 121.9 metres but, at the same time, directed the Centre and the concerned States to ensure proper rehabilitation of the oustees.

The States have been asked by the three-Judge Bench, headed by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, to submit a status report within a week and ensure adequate rehabilitation before the next hearing on May 1. If that does not happen, the Court will stop work on raising the height of the dam. The "please all" direction of the Supreme Court led both Patkar and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi too break their fasts, each viewing the Court’s order as "victory" for their respective demands. But the controversy about raising the dam height, has not yet been resolved. The issue, if handled properly, is simple: Proper rehabilitation of thousands of persons displaced by the project which, on completion, would benefit millions of people in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Undoubtedly, the dam with its raised height, already cleared by the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) and okayed by the Supreme Court in 2000, subject to completion of the rehabilitation work, would create a 213-mile reservoir which will submerge 91,000 acres in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Thousands of oustees, mostly tribals, who live in 53 villages in Madhya Pradesh, 33 in Maharashtra and 14 in Gujarat will need to be resettled. So also non-tribal oustees in 140 villages of Madhya Pradesh. All the three States are committed to providing adequate compensations. Yet the three-member Group of Central Ministers (GOM), headed by Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, found the plans "only on paper". This has encouraged the Prime Minister, as he told Insaf, to set up a Rehabilitation and Development Commission at the Centre.

The first round of the five-phase Assembly poll in West Bengal went off peacefully on Monday last in 45 of the 294 constituencies of the State’s three most strife-torn districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. The region is dominated by the CPI (Maoists) who had declared a poll boycott. But the voters defied the call, recording a whopping turnout of over 70 per cent. Some booths recorded 95 per cent polling, thanks to the provision of unprecedented security.

Two helicopters conducted aerial surveillance, especially in the insurgency-hit areas bordering Jharkhand and Bihar. In most of the 7,700 booths, about 3,000 digital cameras were installed and 82 general observers and ten "expenses observers" were deployed. K.J. Rao, erstwhile EC observer for West Bengal and now covering the polls for a TV channel, expects the poll to be the "fairest".

The ruling Left Front has, however, kept up its attack on the Election Commission. The CPM State Secretary Biman Bose has now accused the Commission of having kept the State’s administration "inactive". Nevertheless, the Left Front is upbeat at the end of the first round. Competent Exit Pollsters give it 35 to 40 of the 45 seats for which the election was held on Monday. Biman Bose expects the Front to win more than 39 seats, which it bagged in 2001. Exit poll projections and Left Front expectations do not, however, indicate the same success for the Front in the next four rounds on April 22, 27, May 3 and 5. The three districts that have polled already are known to be Left-dominated .

In Tamil Nadu where the one-day Assembly poll is scheduled for May 8, Chief Minister Jayalalitha and her AIADMK seem to be inching forward in the race for power. Some of the known firebrand Dravidian leaders have declared their backing for her party. After pulling the MDMK supremo Vaiko into her party, the Chief Minister has now worked out a poll understanding with some leading film stars of the South, including Vijaykanth.

She has also reportedly won over the DMK Rajya Sabha member, Sarath Kumar. Despite this set-back, the DMK Chief and former Chief Minister Karunanidhi is confident of regaining power in the State. In his hectic poll campaign across the State, he has claimed a "wave" in the DMK’s favour.

In Kerala, where the first of the three-phase Assembly poll is to be held today April 22, (second and third phases are scheduled for April 29 and May 3) it is a close race between the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress and the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). At one stage, the State CPM stood divided when the Central leadership denied the party veteran V.S. Achuthanandan a ticket. But the situation has changed now that the 82-year-old leader has not only been given a ticket but also virtually projected as the party’s next Chief Minister. Popularly known as "VS", Achuthanandan has been drawing huge crowds, giving the LDF hope of regaining power, in line with the trend of State politics wherein the UDF and the LDF invariably get voted to power alternately.

The BJP and other Opposition parties are increasingly critical of the Election Commission’s decision to hold the Lok Sabha byelection for Rae Bareli at a record-breaking speed. This, they complain, has loaded the dice in favour of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who resigned from the seat on March 23 in the wake of the office-for-profit controversy. The byelection is due to be held on May 8 for which Sonia Gandhi has already filed her nomination on Monday. But the terrible rush for holding the byelection has created a problem for the Opposition, which has been given little time to groom suitable candidates and plan its strategy and tactics.

Uttaranchal is breathing easy once more. Its Chief Minister Narain Dutt Tiwari, "is there to stay" and there is no question of replacing the veteran leader for the time being. Tiwari’s replacement has been talked about several times before too, but the move was taken seriously this time when the CM himself publicly announced a desire to relinquish office.

The ball is now in the High Command’s court, especially since the CM feels exasperated by the New Delhi-encouraged dissidence in the State party. He now awaits a meeting with the Congress President before taking any further step. He will continue only if he has her full confidence and the dissidents are shown their place.---INFA

Sir,

The first quarter of 2006 is dominated by news on Mr PJ Bazeley's extension as the boss of MeSEB, his retirement and his proposed reinduction in the power board. In fact people are fed up with the same stale news. We deserve better things than just Mr Bazeley and MeSEB. We need fresh food for thought and something solid for our growth and development not mudslinging and public quarrels.

If Mr Bazeley's return to the Board is required badly for more than one consideration do it immediately, why delay matters. After all Mr Bazeley is known for his allround abilities and had served the state for the last many years under many Chief Ministers. He was considered the blue-eyed boy in the corridors of power. Many sections are up in arms against his reappointment for reasons made public by them. At least some of their reservations are correct but some are based on assumptions not proven. Why not try him out at least for one year first under close supervision of a high-powered Committee. If he is found fit another year of extension may be considered and if not just terminate his services summarily.

I am keen to suggest that the present stand off between the KSU and the government should be thrashed out at tables and certainly some solutions can be arrived at with an open mind without preconceived fixed ideas. We are very sure that the trio viz: Mr DD Lapang, Dr Donkupar Roy and Mr Bazeley do have common interests in the bid at stake ,so also perhaps the KSU and its mentors, but through discussions good things will certainly emerge.

Now coming to corporatisation of MeSEB, it is a welcome proposition and in fact this should have been done long time back with the changing of times. In fact MeSEB has been and should always be a profit making body, yet it was used as a milch cow by those in the helms of affairs in the Board and in the government and hence, it was always in the red and the government had to come to its rescue every now and than. We understand that the Board, when corporatised, will take up many Hydel Power Projects in the state which are in the pipeline and costing several crores of rupees. Who is not interested in suck prospects and hence this ding dong bell and hulla balloo. Let this issues be wound up immediately and please produce results for the state.

Yours etc,
P Marwein,
Shillong-2.
Via e-mail

Sir,

One wonders why the Indian government is hell bent on rescuing the failed and parasitic monarchy of Nepal from its own people's anger. After all, the situation in Nepal is heading down the same road as that of the Iranian Revolution and the first Russian Revolution of March 1917. In both cases, despotic and despised monarchs were toppled by people's power when the respective Praetorian Guards (the Shah's Army and the Cossacks respectively) refused any longer to go against the people's wishes. The fact that the Nepalese generals pressed (vainly) their commander, General Pyar Jung Thapa, to ask the King to offer concessions, is proof that the RNA is going to do the same. The Nepalese monarchy is doomed. Its record proves that any concessions it might offer will be of a purely temporary nature and a few years on we shall have another similar crisis. The Nepalese people have realised this and decided to put an end to this monarchy. Is it because of the feudals who inhabit India's corridors of power that India is still trying to find a role, however ceremonial, for this king?

Yours etc,
Biswapriya Purkayastha,
Shillong-4
Via e-mail

Guwahati: Fifty-four persons of a marriage party met their watery grave when their bus fell into a pond at Sarupeta in Lower Asom's Barpeta district late Wednesday night, injuring twenty-seven others, including the groom. Barpeta police superintendent Debraj Upadhyay told PTI over phone from the site that bodies of 25 women, 20 men and nine children had been recovered from the deep pond on Thursday.

The bus from Roha near Sorbhog was on its way to the wedding venue at a village near Sarupeta when it skidded off a muddy village road and rolled into the deep pond at around 11 pm, Mr Upadhay said.

The tank is being emptied of water by four water pumps as the police is looking for more bodies with the groom's relatives claiming that there were 80 people on board the bus. The police and CRPF along with local villagers were working continuously to salvage more bodies today, he said. Army personnel from a nearby camp rendered a helping hand last night to fish out the bodies and salvage the bus besides rescuing 25 people including the bridegroom and his mother. (PTI)