The main Opposition BJP expressed its readiness for considering a Bill on the subject for which a Parliament session should be convened. It would not give its views on the legislation unless it saw its contents.

With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh getting into the picture, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi began efforts to evolve a consensus over the issue.

After talks with Left allies and several small parties, he met Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh, who told him that it was in favour of a law to plug loopholes in the law governing office of profit.

On the timing of the session, Advani told Dasmunshi that it was for the government to decide and made it clear that the party was against the ordinance route. Advani's opinion was in variance with that of the BJP chief Rajnath Singh who wanted immediate session.

Dasmunshi said that while recommending adjournment of the Budget Session sine die, the government had assured the presiding officers that it would strive to re-convene the session from May 10 immediately at the conclusion of Assembly elections.

"We will take appropriate step at the appropriate time," he said, adding that government would take a "collective view" after the consultations expected to end tomorrow. "We will be having consultations with parties including Shiv Sena, BJD, JD(S) and the MDMK."

Earlier in the day, the Left parties, whose ten MPs, including the Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, face disqualification petition, forcefully told the government that there was need for a comprehensive amendment of the law for redefining the office of profit.

Sharing their views, Dasmunshi said the Bill should be comprehensive that there was no need for frequent amendments.

The Parliametary Affairs Minister dismissed as baseless speculation that the government had become unstable and that midterm polls were on the cards. (PTI)

Ambani, chairman of Reliance - Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in June 2004 as an independent supported by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party.

Prior to his election to the Rajya Sabha, Ambani had joined the Uttar Pradesh Development Council (UPDC) in an honorary capacity in October 2003 - an advisory role he continues to hold.

"It is my firm view that in public life one must uphold the highest standards of transparency, propriety and ethics and avoid any possibility of controversy, however remote or unlikely," Ambani said in a statement.

"Keeping this in mind, I have decided to tender my resignation from the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect."

Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Suresh Pachouri, Congress MP Jyotindra Scindia and 25 legislators from Madhya Pradesh met Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence and offered to put in their papers but were advised not to do so, Congress sources said.

Pachouri represents Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha while Scindia was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Guna constituency of the state.

Among the legislators who offered to quit are Jamuna Devi, the opposition leader in the Madhya Pradesh assembly, and state Congress chief Subhash Yadav.

The Congress has 38 legislators in the 230-member assembly.

Thousands of emotive supporters rallied for the third day Saturday outside Gandhi's residence here. (Agencies)

Police said the six tribals and five traders who were killed were returning from a market when Maoists triggered the blast. Police suspect the attack was meant to avenge the death of a Maoist leader who was killed in a gun battle earlier Friday.

In another incident at 8 a.m. Saturday, police killed three Maoists in a shootout at Bhairamgarh area, 420 km south of here, in the violence-hit district of Dantewada bordering Andhra Pradesh.

"Three Maoists were killed in the exchange of fire that broke out after the rebels opened fire on a police vehicle. We have recovered the bodies of all the three men," said M.W. Ansari, the inspector general of Bastar Range.

He said extra police force and paramilitary troopers had reached the site to launch a combing operation against the guerrillas who hold sway in Bhairamgarh and the adjoining Bijapur area. (IANS)

'The two leaders emphasised the importance they attach to the civilisational ties between the two countries and the need for further strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the energy sector,' external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said after the talks between the two leaders.

A meeting of the India-Iran Joint Commission would be convened soon to discuss multi-faceted relations between the two countries.

The negotiations on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline were continuing and both sides were confident about positive progress on the multi-billion dollar project, official sources said.

Centuries-old ties between the two countries were also discussed, with both Manmohan Singh and Mashaee, who is also the chairman of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation, upbeat about promoting the common cultural heritage of the two countries.

Mashaee is in India to participate in the Amir Khusro International Seminar being organised by the Jamia Millia University. He is also scheduled to visit cultural centres in Agra, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar. (IANS

On specific information about their movement in Baroli and Chapparchiri area of the district, police arrested Avtar Singh and Karamjit Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police Ropar Surinder Pal Singh Virk said. He said both Avtar Singh and Karamjit Singh used to provide shelter to Bheora, who had recently been arrested by the Delhi Police. Both of them were also used by Bheora to carry ammunition, explosives from one place to other. Around 250 grams of RDX and 11 live cartridges of .30 bore rifle were seized from Avtar and Kamaljit, respectively.

Virk said a case under various sections of the IPC and of the Explosives Substances Act, 1908 had been registered against them at Kharar police station.

The seized explosive and ammunition was part of the consignment sent by Pakistan-based BKI Supremo Wadhawa Singh Babbar to Bheora. (PTI)

He said the incident occurred around 1930 hrs last evening when the girl had gone to the lake along with her boy friend.

While her boy friend went to buy an ice-cream, a gang of seven youth took her forcibly to a deserted place where two of them raped her while the others watched, he added.

When the victim's boy friend returned, he was also assaulted by the gang.

The police later got an anonymous call informing them about the incident and arrested five members of the gang while two of them managed to escape. (UNI)

State Transport Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala launched the first Haryana Roadways bus here with the subscriber truck dialling (STD) and public call offices (PCO) facilities.

The facility was started on the Chandigarh-Delhi route. It is likely to be extended to other routes as well.

Reliance Telecom has set up the PCO facility in the buses. (IANS)

Additional District and Sessions Judge Sneh Prashar passed the sentence against Shaukat Ali on Friday.

According to the prosecution, Ali was arrested by the Haryana Police in September 2005 for illegally staying in the country.

Ali, a resident of Gujranwala, had crossed into India in 1990 by crossing a river at Bilaspur, but was nabbed by the BSF personnel and handed over to the Gurdaspur police in Punjab. (PTI)

The jeep was on its way to Kanpur when it met with the accident last night, police said adding that the injured included five children and two women. (PTI)

The three were moving together in Dholewali area of Loran when an avalanche struck and they got buried, sources said, adding Army personnel later recovered the bodies and handed them over to the civil administration.

The injured man was also rushed to hospital by the troops for treatment, they said. (PTI)

According to police, the explosion took place at around 10 a.m. in Shakarpur in east Delhi.

"Fourteen people, including the shop owner and customers, were injured when the compressor went off accidentally," said police official Mahipal Singh.

"The injured have been admitted to the Lal Bahadur Shastri and Lok Nayak Jayarakash Narayan hospitals. Though the condition of the injured is not very serious, they are under constant supervision of doctors," Singh told IANS. (IANS)

Tura Lok Sabha meber Purno A Sangma, in the meantime has cut short his campaign tour in Assam and is rushing to Tura by a special helicopter flight on Sunday. He called for a meeting with all the non-governmental organisations of Garo Hills including the GSU on the same day.

The arson attack on three government offices, which apparently caught the police department off guard all in the wee hours of Saturday, has raised fears of a backlash.

Besides DIPR office in Tura, two more government offices became target of Friday night's suspected arson attacks.

The entire nine rooms of the DIPR office in the District Council area were completely destroyed as fire quickly spread all around and engulfed everything in the Assam-type building.

Two persons sleeping in the office had a dramatic escape by climbing out of the room’s ventilators as the fire spread.

In a simultaneous attack by arsonists, the District Agriculture Office at Hawakahana was partially damaged while a similar attempt was made to the office of the SDO PWD NH-51 at Dobasipara. Alert chowkiders at the agriculture office managed to extinguish the flames with the help of local residents of the area.

The Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills ordered promulgation of Section 144 CrPC on Saturday morning and prohibited carrying of lathis, arms, missiles and other lethal weapons by members of the public.

The GSU is holding its central executive committee meeting at an undisclosed location on Sunday to chalk out its plan of action beginning from Monday. The student leadership is likely to take a hard-line approach on the entire issue.

The Union acknowledged that feelers have been sent by Tura MP Purno Sangma for a meeting but they are yet to reciprocate till late Saturday night.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner had two separate meetings on Saturday afternoon with the heads of colleges at Tura and a delegation of the Garo Students Union. In his meeting with a three-member GSU delegation, which comprised of its general secretary Manseng A Sangma, additional general secretary Tengsak G Momin and assistant general secretary Elijah Marak, Mr P Sampath Kumar urged the student leaders to see reason and call off their stir in the interest of the student community.

The Deputy Commissioner said the MBOSE examinations (Practicals) were coming to an end only by March 31, while that of NEHU was due to end by April 28.

He cited the example of some students who were stranded at Garobadha on Saturday while trying to enter Tura to appear for their examinations. Due to the closure, no buses plied and the administration had to arrange a vehicle to ferry the students.

Mr Kumar tried to reason out with the student leaders highlighting the changes to the MBOSE Bill, which included the removal of the 'Regional' tag from the Shillong office, inclusion of a Principal Director at Tura, and the decision to have the Board headquarters permanently lodged at Tura.

Meanwhile, no pending works could be cleared by the three district administrations in the run up to March 31 as student volunteers restricted the movement of government employees.

Groups of student volunteers picketed the offices at several places. At Tura, student volunteers forced the closure of the Election Office and the Treasury, besides banks and other government institutions. Similar was the case at Dalu, Baghmara and Williamnagar.

Interestingly, the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) at Dakopgre, Tura had to shutdown in the presence of police personnel on Saturday for the office picketing.

Two party MDCs - Mr Lambor Malngiang and Mr Laptiplang Kharkongor - strongly opposed the Council's move to purchase the Park View Hospital in Fire Brigade.

Addressing a press conference at Shillong Press Club on Saturday, the KHADC members asked the Executive Committee to reveal its source from where the Council mobilised Rs 80 lakh for the project that too at a time when it was struggling to clear the dues of the contractors pending for almost a year.

"We are stunned because of this sudden action of the Council, which still depends on the State government for sanctions. We are confused from where did the money come", the MDCs asked.

Pointing out that the hospitals run by the government were facing difficulties, as they could not provide its patients desired facilities, the MDCs wondered as to how could the Council run the hospital without basic infrastructure.

They indicated that the money, which is used for the purchase of the hospital, could be of Rs 14 crore sanctioned by the UCIL for construction of an 18-metre long road in West Khasi Hills.

The MDCs were sarcastic in saying that the Council wanted to have a hospital for treating those who are sure to suffer due to radiation as uranium mining begins in West Khasi Hills.

"We learnt that the KHADC has already tied up with International Hospital in Guwahati and if this is true then why should the Council alone pay the loan. Even the private hospital which is having partnership with the KHADC should share the burden", the MDCs argued.

Expressing concern over the proposed uranium mining in the State, the MDCs expressed fear that the UCIL would acquire 748 hectares of land and engaged labourers from outside the State and this they felt would result in influx.

"Important issues like this should be brought before the House for discussion. The EC should let us know as how the Council would mop up such a huge money for paying the salaries of the staff and for purchase of hospital equipment to run this".

The KHADC had a deal with NEITED recently to buy the hospital at a cost of Rs 1.10 crore and even made an advance payment of Rs 80 lakh for the purpose.

TURA: Congress legislator from Songsak constituency, Tonsing N Marak, has come under fire from the ANVC for questioning the motives of the outfit and accusing it of extortion in the ongoing session of the Meghalaya Assembly.

Mr Marak had raised a question on the floor of the House wanting to know about the alleged collection of funds by the outfit's members.

Terming the accusations of the Songsak MLA as a figment of his own imagination, the ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sengsrang Sangma accused Mr Marak of failing to do justice to his own constituency and the issue of MBOSE. Arist Sengsrang Sangma denied the outfit's involvement in a fund drive.

"The Songsak MLA has not done anything to help the poor in his own constituency. Due to extreme poverty the villagers are having no option other then to fell timber from the reserve forests. He is only interested in gambling and other such activities," said the ANVC leader.

He also accused the MLA of failing to raise any relevant issues during his last two terms as a representative of Songsak. "

He will have to face our music in the next elections," he warned.

"This shows that our leader does not think about office of profit or personal benefit while dedicating her life and service to the cause of the nation in general and INC in particular", the statement added.He said that the party was behind her with solidarity to follow her example of sacrifice.

In this connection, the Deputy Commissioner Jaintia Hills has urged the village authorities to inform the officers in charge of police stations/outposts located in nearby areas, the Superintendent of Police, Jowai, Magistrate and DC, Jowai in the event of a person(s) branded as 'menshohnoh'.

The East Khasi Hills District Medical and Health Officer organised an outreach camp under the umbrella of National Rural Health Mission at Mawlynnu village under the Sawsymper Raid on Friday. A large number of people turned up to avail the services. The camp was attended by secretary Sawsymper Raid B Kharbani, Rev Dr R G Sohkhia, Dr A S Phanbuh, Dr B Kharkongor, Dr S Rynjah, Dr J Marwein besides others.

CPC meet

The general body meeting of the Central Puja Committee will be held on Sunday at 11.30 am at the Conference Room of Hotel Grace, Jail Road.

The All Meghalaya Grade IV Government Employees Association has expressed gratitude towards the Directorate Health Services (Research Institute), Medical Superintendent of Ganesh Das Hospital and Medical Superintendent R P Chest Hospital for allowing space for holding the meeting of the employees recently. Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Association urged all the employees to enroll themselves with the association.

The advocacy workshop on Prevention and Control of Vector Borne Disease will be held on March 29 at Hotel Polo Tower at 10 am.

The office of the Deputy Commissioner South Garo Hills held a one-day consumer awareness programme at Rongara recently. The chief guest at the programme was the District Planning Officer I D Shira. In his speech, Mr Shira appealed to the public to stay alert and be aware of their rights as consumers and not become victims of ambitious traders and businessmen.

The World Tuberculosis Day was observed at Umsning in Ri Bhoi District on Friday on the theme 'DOTS for all, all for DOTS'.

A large number of people and students from Umsning and nearby areas attended the programme. The programme was organised by the District Tuberculosis Control Society, Ri Bhoi District. A public meeting was held later.

The Deputy Commissioner West Khasi Hills District has promulgated an order under section 144 CrPC instructing coal traders to strictly adhere to the condition as notified earlier that there should be no dumping of coal in residential premises, by the PWD roadsides, in places adjacent to paddy fields or cultivable land and sources of drinking water. In place where coal has been dumped, proper fencing should be constructed. The order comes into force with immediate effect.

"What is in it for America?" That was how the national security adviser, M.K. Narayanan, reacted after the Bush administration proposed the nuclear deal to the Indians at Blair House, the official guest house of the American president, during the visit of the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, to Washington on July 17, 2005. Narayanan was joined in his scepticism about the deal by three other members of the prime minister's delegation, who plainly saw sinister designs behind what the Bush administration was proposing. They were: Anil Kakodkar, secretary, department of atomic energy; G. Madhavan Nair, secretary, department of space; and V. S. Ramamurthy, secretary, department of science and technology.

Kakodkar subsequently went public with his misgivings about the way India was negotiating the follow up to the July 18 agreement. Narayanan quietly continued the quest of truthful answers to his fundamental question about why the Americans were offering India an agreement that threatens to ultimately bury a discriminatory global nuclear non-proliferation regime, which Singh's predecessors have unsuccessfully tried to change for at least four decades.

Narayanan eventually turned out to be the matchmaker between Kakodkar and the foreign secretary, Shyam Saran, in the run up to the New Delhi visit of president George W. Bush, and the midwife for the Indian part of the nuclear bargain in the final 72 hours of negotiations that enabled Singh and Bush to announce an agreement.

But because Narayanan persisted in his questioning of the deal with the doggedness of a sleuth, the Indian government has witnessed an internal intellectual debate on a policy issue, the likes of which it has seldom seen. That debate opened the eyes of many people in the government who had become accustomed to mindlessly saying "Yes" to anything if they sensed that an affirmative answer was what their bosses - civil servants and politicians alike - wanted. In the final analysis, that debate gave Indian negotiators down the line, to the junior-most under secretary, the confidence to say and do the right thing about the nuclear deal. But what really is in the July 18 deal and the subsequent steps for its implementation for America? Even before he could get over his jet-lag from accompanying Bush to south Asia, Nicholas Burns, the under secretary of state for political affairs, the key American negotiator of the deal, began going about the task of selling the deal to the American public and the US Congress. India is a "force for peace, a force for stability", Burns said in the first of his several public appearances. And for a long time, Washington has been looking for partnership with such a force.

Regrettably, India's role as this new force of peace and stability globally is one that is appreciated more abroad than in India: for a variety of reasons, Indians remain even unaware of this role that their country is playing. Quietly with patient work designed to protect New Delhi's strategic stakes in Afghanistan without, in any way, being identified with the Americans, India has emerged as the sixth biggest aid donor to the Afghan people since the overthrow of the Taliban. This year, Indian aid to Afghanistan since the formation of a post-Taliban government touched $600 million.

Rashly or foolishly, Bush made promotion of democracy worldwide the signature theme of his second and final current term at the White House. He devoted a considerable portion of his inaugural address in January last year to this theme and followed up his democratic promises to the world with action that resulted in disastrous consequences for US policy and interests. But India has come to America's rescue and saved Washington's face with an alliance on a global initiative to strengthen democracy.

Together, Singh and Bush contributed $10 million each to a global democracy fund initiated by the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, and together they inaugurated that fund in September last year. Bush cannot partner his friend, General Pervez Musharraf, to showcase democracy. Nor can he partner his ally, Uzbek president Islam Karimov, who butchered unarmed protesters in his country only a few months ago, or for that matter, someone like Egypt's Hosni Mubarak who thinks elections are a mere pretext to legitimise his presidency until death. India is one of the few countries in emerging areas of the world, which can lend respectability to such grand American enterprises.

India will join the United States of America, Britain, Denmark, Sweden and a number of other countries in pledging contributions to a new central emergency response fund at the UN. The fund is a sequel to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and is aimed to ensure an adequate UN response to global disasters. At the Pentagon, it has made a deep impact that when the tsunami occurred, Indian ships were the first to reach not only the affected areas in Sri Lanka, but also those in Indonesia. Those looking for answers to the seeming riddle of American interest in the nuclear deal with India ought to realise that, as Washington searches for new partners in an uncertain world, it will inevitably set its eyes on countries with such capabilities.

When officials, who travelled to New Delhi last year with the US defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, and the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said that America wanted to help in making India a global player; it was difficult to overcome the temptation to scoff at such a suggestion. But Burns said during his second public appearance that India is a nation, which has restricted its power that has vital interest in a stable south Asia and east Asia. It is an interest which intersects with Washington's own priorities in the region.

Already, their commonality of interests has been demonstrated in Indo-US joint efforts of patrolling the Malacca Straits. Indian ships have accompanied Japanese vessels to safety, lending Indian naval power a dimension that extends beyond south Asia and encompasses a global role. Such cooperation will complement what India and the US are together doing in south Asia something that was unimaginable even a few years ago. The two governments are working together to bring stability in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. The nuclear deal has created confidence that is necessary to take such initiatives forward. INAV

The cartoons allegedly mocking the Prophet in Jyllads-Posten of Denmark suggest that none of the many irate Islamic clerics have either seen the cartoons nor know what the Qur'an has to say about portrayals concerning the Prophet. These cartoons are neither very funny nor easy to link with the Prophet who only regarded himself as a mortal messenger.The Qur'an, that was written some 30 years after Mohammad's death, is silent on whether the Prophet should be portrayed or not but it does proclaim the Jewish tradition that there should be no portrayals of any human or living creature lest they might be worshipped as idols. But there have been numerous examples of portraits of Muslim rulers and saints, especially in Persia, that were not treated as a grave insult to the religion. 

The museums in Bukhara, Isfahan, Istanbul, Samarkand and elsewhere have many portraits of the Prophet including one done in the 16th century of Mohammad riding 'Burak', a horse with the face of a beautiful woman for 'meraj' or nocturnal journey to the heavens. There are many paintings and miniatures in illuminated books showing the archangel Gabriel guiding Mohammad to Medina after his flight from Mecca. Turkish Janissaries wore medallions stamped with the Prophet's head for good luck while Persian soldiers had medallions with the head of Ali their Imam. The list goes on.

The Islamic world had been remarkably tolerant in its years of greatness but became increasingly rigid as it lost power to aggressive European nations to become the most priest ridden of religions. All priests have little sense of humour and are quick to take umbrage at any insult to their faith and traditions regardless of whether the insult is real, imagined or just rumoured. Many religious leaders unfortunately use alleged provocations to further purely political agendas. Three months after the cartoons were published, the Muslim Brotherhood protested.

Then a fatwa was issued on a TV channel and most other Muslim organisations followed sheeplike. Sunnis attacked Shias in Pakistan while anti-American sentiments triggered by unrelated events in Afghanistan and Iraq caused damage to American establishments. These vocal fanatics are a tiny minority and do not represent mainstream Muslims in any country. (By arranegement with The Times of India)

Sir,

The New Chief Secretary of Meghalaya has spelt out his trust area for the revival of economy of the State by focusing on the meaningful and viable economic activities, which could possibly generate employment opportunities in the countryside and thus reverse the trend of migration from the village to the urban centres in search of employment. According to his idea much employment could be generated by encouraging the village people of Meghalaya to take up horticulture (ST, March 2) by adoption of value added processing of oranges and pineapple, which have ready market in neighboring countries. Meghalaya produces large quantities of ginger and turmeric, which have large domestic demand. They should be processed for industrial use as well. Floriculture is also another area for revival of Meghalaya rural economy. The Orchids of Meghalaya could easily win international market if scientifically processed for export. Its potentiality is immense.

Japan's agricultural economy has exhibited unprecedented changes in the past fifty years. Only 10.9 percent of Japan's total land is arable compared to Indians 55.9 percent. Major portion of Japan's land, 66.8 percent is forest and woodland. Meghalaya has hardly 10 percent of land, which is arable. Young people in Japan do not want to enter farming as not much good opportunities exist for them to farming on full time basis. 1960's brought about a surge of human migration to urban areas. The government policy during 1070's reduced the outflow by encouraging the building of factories in the traditional farming areas. The construction of these factories led to part time farming as a new way of life in Japan. This might be a model for Meghalaya village economy by diversification of bamboo products and information technology growth centres in rural areas. According to the Chief Secretary, there should be more concentration in bamboo cultivation in Meghalaya with diversification of bamboo Products creating employment opportunities in rural Meghalaya.

An area of rural economy of Meghalaya, which should get the attention of our policy makers, is in the production trade and consumption of Meghalaya's livestock Meat includes beef, pork, poultry, mutton, lamb and goat. Part of development process is changes in taste and preference for food products and shifts from inferior to food considered superior. One of the shifts has involved the substitution of meat for starches. Meat can either be produced domestically by resource reallocation or by import.

The Meghalaya picture of livestock product is dismal. The total requirement at the rate of 201 gram per head was estimated in 1995-96 at 138 thousand tones. The total requirement of eggs based on minimum Nutritional requirement of egg @ 180 eggs per head a year was estimated at 338 million number in 1995-96. But the availabilities produced by the egg production were only 77 million numbers. The total requirement of meat based on minimum Nutritional Requirement @ of 90 grams per head per day was 49 thousand tones, and the availability of meat is only 26.5 thousand tones, (Per capita availability was only 48.21 grams only). The shortage of meat production was 22.5 thousand tons only.

Livestock Census population as per 1992 Census shows that Meghalaya had categories:

1. Total Cattle 6.37 lakhs in number

2. Total Buffaloes 0.34 lakhs in number

3. Total Goats 1.96 lakhs in number

4. Total Sheep 0.23 lakhs in number

5. Total Pigs 2.94 lakhs in number

Meghalaya Livestock products were in 1995-96

i) Milk production 55,400 tones

ii) Meat production

(Special Wise)

a) Pork 7656 tones

b) Beef 16,308 " (Improved form outside the State)

c) Mutton 1,164 "

d) Poultry meat 1,357 " 9000 MT approximately

26,485 "

iii) Total Egg production: 77 Million numbers

It is within the realm of possibilities for creation of employment opportunities in rural sector to absorb the growing population in traditional gainful occupations where farming may be a part time occupation as in Japan.

Yours etc.,
B.Datta Ray
Shillong

The BJP has made illegal migration from Bangladesh its main poll plank and launched a campaign against the ruling Congress for 'keeping a blind eye' to the problem in order to protect its vote bank amongst the immigrants.

The BJP has promised to solve the infiltration problem through '3D' method - detect, delete and deport. Former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu who is campaigning for the party in the State, claimed that illegal migrants from Bangladesh had constituted 30 per cent of the total population in the State.

Both the BJP and the regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) have accused the Congress of sleeping over the burning problem of illegal migration and criticised the latter for formulating the Foreigners (Tribunals for Assam) Order, 2006 in order to bring in the scraped IMDT Act in a new garb to appease its vote bank among immigrants.

Congress leader and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday reacted sharply to the allegation leveled by the BJP and accused the latter of trying to whip up communal passion in the State over the foreigners' issue.

"We are going to move the EC against BJP leader Mr Naidu's statement about illegal immigrants from Bangladesh constituting 30 per cent of the State population. We have found it derogatory to the genuine Indian minority citizens in Assam," Mr Gogoi said daring the BJP to submit a list of illegal immigrants living in Assam.

Mr Gogoi informed that about 28,000 illegal migrants from Bangladesh had been pushed back from Assam during the period from 1985 to 2004. He criticised the AGP for failing to do anything concrete to solve the infiltration from within the ambit of Assam Accord which was signed by the AGP leaders with the Central Government way back in 1985.

"It is my Government which took the initiative to facilitate the first prime minister level tripartite talks on Assam Accord implementation. We have started the process to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of 1951 till March, 1971 to make the process of detection and deportation of illegal migrants easier," Mr Gogoi stated while releasing a 'performance statement' of his tenure here on Saturday.

Former Chief Minister R K Dorendra of the BJP said the MLAs should resign in line with the party President Sonia Gandhi.

Legislative wing leader of the Federal party of Manipur S Ibohal said his party would urge President APJ Abdul Kalam and the Election Commission to disqualify these seven MLAs.

The seven MLAs were Chairman of Pollution Control Board N Biren, Chairman of Planning and Development Authority K Ranjit, Chairman of Loktak Development Agency N Loken, Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Board A Aza, Chairman of Manitron Bijoy Koijam, Chairman of Tribal Development Corporation K Korunthang and Chairman of Programme Implementation Committee Y Mani.

Manipur People's Party (MPP) leader Dr Nimaichand Luwang has also demanded the resignation of the MLAs on moral grounds. (UNI)

However, unfazed by the Congress protest, Chief Minister on Friday read out his speech in the Assembly while he also said that the Left Front Government has been making all out efforts to make the State self-reliant.

Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition, the Chief Minister said that the State Government did not take overdraft during the past eight years which shows the healthy situation of the State's economy.

"Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his last visit had also appreciated the State's fiscal scenario," he said.

Chief Minister also highlighted his Government success in various sectors especially on agriculture.

"Improvements were seen in expansion of irrigation, health care, road connectivity, water supply, fishery and ARD during the past few years," the Chief Minister said.

Citing examples, Mr Sarkar said around 82000 hectares of agricultural land have been covered under irrigation during the past few years. Chief Minister reiterated that his Government is commitment to filling up 3000 posts during the 2006-2007 fiscal year as promised in the Budget speech despite constraint.

The ATSUM said the blockade was called as the Government refused to pay any heed to their demands. Other student bodies have also assured to support the strike.

The ATSUM has demanded a functional office for the Additional Director, Education Department, filling up of vacant posts in all schools and adequate infrastructure in all schools in hilly areas.

The grant-in-aid schools in the hilly areas should be taken over by the Government.

It further demanded special cell for ST/SC students in Manipur University and establishment of a Hill University. The tribal students in Manipur should not be asked to submit income certificate while applying for scholarships, it stated. (UNI)

Responding to the budget discussion, Finance, Planning, Tax & Excise Minister Kalikho Pul, spelt out a four-pronged strategy to attach top priority to health, education, social sector, agriculture and horticulture sector by taking up need-based projects to achieve tangible development.

He said transport, tourism, mining, tax collection would get equal priority for enhancing the revenue collection so that the state government could spend more fund for development under non-plan heads as over 77 per cent of plan head is spent on salary and wages leaving less than 20 per cent only for development, he said. (UNI)