The Government is not even considering the demand of the employees of naitonalised banks, other than SBI, to go for pension instead of contributory pension as it would lead to an burden of Rs 10,000 crore on the exchequer, he said.

The Government had given the option between pension and contributory provident fund to the employees of nationalised banks, but 50 per cent of them had chosen for contributory PF, he said. The ministry is averse to SBI employees' demand as it would trigger similar demands in other banks as well. If employees of SBI continued with their strike, alternatives will have to be looked at, he said.

Meanwhile, the SBI asked its customers to avail of the ATM facility at its associate banks and other banks in the wake of the nation-wide indefinite strike by its employees that continued for the second day today.

In a statement, SBI management said, ''In case of any difficulty experienced at our ATMs, customers may avail of the ATM facility at our associate banks and the banks with whom we have bilateral arrangements-- namely HDFC Bank, UTI Bank, IndusInd Bank, Corporation Bank, Indian Bank, Andhra Bank, Dena Bank, UCO Bank and Punjab National Bank.'' (Agencies)

Ranchi: A one-year-old boy has been charged with stealing electricity in the Jharkhand capital. Officials of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) had last month raided some residences on Ratu Road of Ranchi and lodged police complaints against a dozen people, including one-year-old Harsh Chaudhary.

The board officials also slapped a fine of Rs.4,000 on Harsh whose father Monday filed a petition in Ranchi court seeking anticipatory bail for his son. "How can a one-year-old who depends on others for food and everything steal electricity?" asked Harsh's father. (IANS)

"Government has taken a decision in principle to merge the two airlines. It will be happening in 2006," he told reporters here.

Asked whether a holding company could be set up for the purpose, Patel replied in the negative and said: "It does not work that way. It has to be a merger... one culture, one company". To a question whether the proposed Initial Public Offers (IPOs) of the two carriers would be issued before the merger, he said: "We are considering that. We will know about it and the road forward in the next few months".

The merger proposal would have to be cleared by the Union Cabinet, Patel said, adding the move would turn the combined entity into a mega carrier with about 130 aircraft to take on major global carriers, especially those operating in the region. Experts feel that the merger will give India a competitive edge in the crowded international market - something the country had lacked during the past two decades due to inadequate fleet strength. (Agencies)

Bhubaneswar: After keeping them hostage for 11 days, naxalite Tuesday freed two police officials they had abducted from Ramagiri Udayagiri town on of Orissa, according to reports here. Superintendent of Ramagiri Udayagiri sub-jail Rabi-narayan Sethi and officer in charge of the local police station Ranjan Kumar Mallick are on their way to the town in Gajapati district, the reports said. They said the hostages were handed over to a media team at an undisclosed place in Gajapati district.

The five demands which the naxalites had put forward for the release of the officials were not met by the state government, the reports added. Contacted by a TV news channels, both the freed hostages said they were very happy to be set free.

Both Sethi and Mallick said they had no idea why they were released though the demands of the ultras had not been met. They said they had been treated well by their abductors and were in good health. Sethi and Mallick had been taken hostage by about 300 Maoists who raided the small Ramagiri Udaygiri town in the early hours of March 24 after a gunfight near the Orissa State Armed Police camp in which three policemen and at least two naxalites were killed.

Footages of two hostages held captive in the deep jungles were beamed by two TV channels recently in which a hooded person, described as the leader of the Maoist group Sabyasachi Panda, said the government had not responded to their demands because they had abducted two lower level officials. Had they captured a senior official or the chief minister, the government would have bowed to their demands, he had said.

On March 30, a letter bearing the signatures of the twoabducted officials was sent to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Director General of Police Suchit Das urging for help for their release and for fulfilling the demands of the Maoists.

The letter cited the demands of the Maoists which included, among others, a ban on handing over the state's natural resources to foreign companies, a stop to suppression of the people's movement and displacement in the name of setting up of big industries, withdrawal of all ''false'' cases lodged against the tribal activists and Maoists and for treating the Maoist prisoners languishing in various jails in the state as political prisoners.(UNI)

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition LK Advani Tuesday endorsed Congress President Sonia Gandhi's veiled criticism of the communist parties for "communalising the country's foreign policy" and said both BJP and Congress can make common cause in politics and governance if the ruling party eschews "minorityism".

Referring to a signed article by Gandhi in Congress mouthpiece 'Sandesh' which indirectly criticised the Left parties for the anti-Bush protests, Advani said, "no Indian can disagree with this view. But at the same time, we urge the Congress President and her party to introspect on whether it was wrong to communalise foreign policy, but right to communalise domestic policy."

Advani was addressing a joint press conference with party President Rajnath Singh before embarking on a gruelling five- week twin 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra' beginning April six.

While Advani would commence his sixth Yatra on Ramnavami from Rajkot after offering prayers at the Dwarakadheesh temple and paying homage to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi at his birthplace in Porbander, Singh will hit the road from Bhubaneshwar after paying obeisance to Lord Jagannath at Puri on the same day. Advani said the day Congress party honestly reverses its politics of minorityism, "a firm foundation will have been laid for the two principal national parties in India's bipolar polity - BJP and Congress - to make common cause in a very wide area of politics and governance".

While asserting that the BJP was not against minorities, Advani warned that if unchecked, the "politics of minorityism" will prove a disaster for the Indian nation.

"Far from helping the minorities, it actually undermines their development and well-being," he said. Advani also dismiised apprehensions of violence during the yatra saying, "those who propagate such theories are only interested in creating fear in the minds of the minorities to get their votes."

The Yatra, he said, was "performance of a political party's duty to educate the public on an issue about which it strongly feels".

Asked about the Ayodhya issue over which he had undertaken his first Yatra, Advani said Ram's importance to his life and politics was clear from the fact that the programme was being launched on Ram Navami day. To a question, he said the party was in favour of the construction of the Ram temple either through court order or consensus. "However, if it is done through consensus, it will be permanent and help towards social unity", he said.

Asked about VHP's criticism of his Yatra, he sought to downplay it saying "some people don't agree with a certain viewpoint."

The programme has five-fold message- safeguarding national security, defending national unity, rescuing governance, saving parliamentary democracy and protecting the economic security of the 'Aam Aadmi' (common man), farmers and poor, the BJP President said. (PTI)

New Delhi: Turning down Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's request to her to end her indefinite hunger strike, Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar Tuesday said her agitation would continue till the government makes public its report on the rehabilitation of the families affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project.

Deputed by the Prime Minister, Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, who met Patkar twice Tuesday at the Jantar Mantar, the spot where she has been fasting, and conveyed Singh's request to call off her seven-day long strike.

"The Prime Minister has reaffirmed the government's committment that the rehab-ilitation of project affected families of the Sardar Sarovar Dam is done fully and satisfactorily in consonance with the Supreme Court order," Soz told her.

The Minister said he and his ministerial colleagues Meira Kumar and Prithviraj Chavan would visit the affected families in the project-affected areas and the relief and rehabilitation sites and particularly take note of the areas where rehabilitation has not been done as mentioned in the memorandum given by Patkar.

Patkar accepted a glass of salt water from Soz, but said her fast would continue. Patkar, in a statement, said "the team visiting the affected areas in Madhya Pradesh, Maha-rshtra and Gujarat must make its report public immediately, latest by April 9. Till then, I and my colleagues shall continue our fast." (PTI)

Shimla: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama could soon be the brand ambassador of the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, state Tourism Minister G.S. Bali said here Tuesday. Bali, who met the Dalai Lama late Monday, said: "This matter came up at my meeting with his holiness and he gave his nod."

Bali met the Buddhist leader in Dharamsala town - the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile -, 280 km from here, in the state.  But while the Himachal Pradesh government maintains that the Noble peace prize winner is set to be its brand ambassador, the Tibetan government-in-exile hasn't so far responded on the matter. Sources in the Tibetan government-in-exile confirmed that the matter did come up at the meeting Monday.

"Hoardings and brochures of the Himachal Pradesh tourism department will display pictures of the Dalai Lama urging foreign tourists to visit the hill state," said Bali.

"But naturally the Dalai Lama cannot be a conventional brand ambassador as he is a spiritual leader," he said.

Last year the state received 6.25 million tourists including 250,000 foreign tourists. But it still has a huge potential for more foreign tourists.

"In the course of the meeting, the Dalai Lama also expressed his concern at the deteriorating environment in and around Dharamsala. He said the snows on the overlooking Dhauladhar mountain ranges had considerably decreased in recent years," Bali said.

Bali discussed the need for giving a facelift to Dharamsala town and improve its infrastructure, including roads leading to the Dalai Lama's house. The issue had come up late last month in the state legislative assembly proceedings. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet with the first wave of Tibetan refugees in 1959, after a failed coup against the communist Chinese regime. (IANS)

New Delhi: Overlooking opposition from the Left parties and airport employees, the government today signed two agreements to set up joint venture companies between Airports Authority of India and the GMR and GVK groups to hand over the Delhi and Mumbai airports for modernisation.

"The OMDA and the shareholders agreements have been signed. The JV companies are in place", Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters after signing of the agreements.

The OMDAs (Operations, Maintenance and Development Agreement) and the shareholders agreements were signed by AAI Chief K Ramalingam and AAI Director V D V Prasada Rao in the presence of Patel and Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad.

Even as the agreements were being signed at the Ashoka Hotel here, the employees took out a procession and later staged a demonstration at the Ministry headquarters at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan here. A large posse of police and CISF personnel were present to prevent any untoward incident.

Responding to questions, Patel said the initial deposit of Rs 150 crore each would be paid by the two groups "within a week, following which the process of transition will take place".

Asked whether the concerns of Left parties about the proceedings of Tripartite Committee on airport modernisation were considered, the Minister said:"We have made it clear that the issue of Delhi and Mumbai airports cannot be revisited and there is no room for negotiations on this front".

However, the committee, comprising representatives of the employees, the AAI and the Ministry, would consider all issues concerning the employees' future and the modernisation of other airports, Patel said. The Left parties have been demanding that the tripartite panel consider the issue of modernisation of the two metro airports too.

Patel refused to comment on the case filed by Anil Ambani's Reliance group against the modernisation process in Delhi High Court, but said the court has "permitted us to proceed" with signing of the OMDA and shareholders agreements.

Meanwhile, G V Krishna Reddy, CMD of the GVK group who signed the agreement for the modernisation of Mumbai airport, said: "We have the provisional license to operate the airport". (PTI)

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday emphasised on more financial investment both in private and public sectors and announced to lead an all- party delegation to the Prime Minister to demand special state category for the state. The proposal for according special state category was passed by voice vote in the Assembly after day-long special debate.

During his deliberation, Mr Kumar raised several points in favour of the proposal, saying Bihar lagged far behind on developmental parametres. He discussed the works taken up in the public sectors and assured foolproof security to the private investors.

Mr Kumar promised all required infrastructure, including power and quality roads, and maintained that the atmosphere in the state was not only investor-friendly, but the population density was also favourable. He appealed to the members of the Lower House to work unitedly in getting the special state category to Bihar from the Centre.

The Chief Minister said his government would prepare a viable document showcasing Bihar. (UNI)

New Delhi: Afghan Pre-sident Hamid Karzai will undertake a week-long visit here from April 9 to further consolidate the ties between the two countries. During the trip, he will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a wide range of bilateral issues and regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two leaders are expected to review the progress of reconstruction and developmental projects beng implemented by India in the war-torn country. A BRO jawan working on construction of a key highway in southern Afghanistan along with about 300 other personnel of the force was kidnapped and subsequently killed.

Terrorist violence in Afghanistan has been on the increase recently and accusing fingers have been raised at Pakistan. The US, whose forces are fighting terrorism in the country, has expressed apprehensions that the violence may increase further. The American forces are gradually being replaced by NATO forces.

During the visit, Karzai will visit Hyderabad for a day. On April 12, he will make a three-day trip to Shimla, where he has studied in school days. (PTI)

Lucknow: Pursuing a secular legacy passed over by the last four generations, over 50 Muslim families in the holy city of Varanasi, have been endlessly crafting dazzling crowns for idols of Hindu gods and goddesses, housed in temples across the world.

''Allah ne hume saanse di, pur bhagwan ne roti di'' (While the Almighty brought us in the world, the Hindu gods and goddesses are providing our families with means of subsistence), said Anis Ahmad (40), who owns one the ten units in the snaking alleys of Omkaleshwar, specialising in the art of Zardozi -- creating gaudy crowns and clothes out of Zari.

More than 50 Muslim families, have been engaged in the art of crafting crowns and props for Hindu deities, whose idols are installed in temples across the world, he added.

''None other than Muslims and that too in Varanasi specialise in the craft of making Mukuts for Devi-Devtas,'' said Anis, who has the art transferred as heirloom by at least last four generations.

We get the orders from wholesale dealers in Bulanala area of Varanasi for crowns and other gliterring props like Kawach and Kundal worn by Hindu idols through out the year especially during festivals of Srikrishnajanamasthami and Ramnavami falling on April 6.

The same Hindu dealers, who get orders from across the world, later provide us with necessary raw material including dazzling Zari, glass, silk and precious stones, Anis added. The work on the golden crown, props or even the clothes begins at our unit and it takes two to four days to complete the order depending on the size of the crown.

''The deft fingers of artists in the ten units that provide succour to over 1000 Muslims, can create crowns for Bal to Vikral Roop (child to larger than life form of idols),'' maintained Anis.

The thought was seconded by others involved in the trade including Shoaib and Jiyauddin, who like Anis, were angered by the March 7 blast at the Sankatmochan temple in Varanasi. ''Only the growth of Hinduism through increased numbers temples can provide food to our coming generations... how can one even dream of desecrating the same temples with bloody deeds,'' Anis fumed.

''Bhagwan ke ashirwad se hi humara ghar aabad hai,' said Shoaib.

The families in Omkaleshwar, are not the only ones earning their bread by curving the Hindu deities, but nearly ten more Muslim families in Ausanganj and Chippitola localities have been earning their livelihood by printing ''Ramnami chadars and gumchas'' (scarfs printed with Ram Nam).

''We have been hand printing the scarfs with Ram Naam for the last 50 years and this art has been taught to Muslim artists in other places like Farrukhabad and New Delhi by us only,'' said Asma (50) who heads the family of over 30 in Ausanganj, which has provided the devouts and foreign tourists alike with the Ramnami scarfs in all hues and sizes.

The Muslim families alone have been making this art sell in markets spanning from India to France to US and Australia... We only repose faith in the art of artists from Ausanganj and Chippitola,'' said Avadh Bihari Khanna, a wholesale dealer and exporter of the Ramnami delight. (UNI)

It may be mentioned that three persons, including a father and his two children died in Nongstoin, while another person died in Jatah in East Khasi Hills. With the major cyclonic storm creating havoc in Nongstoin and its adjoining areas, the State Government sanctioned Rs 50,000 to the next kin of those who lost their lives.

During his visit to the cyclone-hit areas, Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh called upon the people of the area to co-operate with the district administration and assist the government in its attempts to provide relief to the affected people. Mr Lyngdoh emphasized that people should extend their helping hand to the government machineries so as to bring the devastated district back to track.

Meanwhile, he said the Civil Hospital, which was badly affected by the storm, would temporarily be housed at the Tuberculosis Hospital in Nongstoin. Mr Lyngdoh was accompanied by Pariong legislator Ms I Lyngdoh, Inspector General of Police BL Buam and West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner KL Tariang.

Meanwhile, the Co-Chairman of the State Resources Mobilisation Commission and Mawlai MLA, Mr PT Sawkmie, urged Chief Minister DD Lapang to extend all possible help to the affected families of cyclone-hit areas of West Khasi Hills. "The government will have to ensure that adequate fund is made available to the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills to enable him to extend immediate financial assistance to the affected people of West Khasi Hills", Mr Sawkmie said.

The public representative from Mawlai even suggested the State government to have a "spot funding policy" to make the Magistrates along with the concerned government officials authorised to make an on the spot inquiry and release required financial aid to the victims of natural calamities without leaving this unfortunate lot at the mercy of God.

According to him, if the amendment proposal gets 2/3 majority in Parliament with the support of BJP, the Constitution can be amended to increase the size of the ministry. "Without BJP's support the Constitution can not be amended," he said adding "after the Assam elections, we will try to ascertain the mind of the BJP regarding the proposed amendment of the Constitution".

TURA: Towing the line of the NSCN factions of Nagaland, the Garo Hills-based militant outfit -- United A'chik National Front (UANF)-- seeking secession of Garo Hills from the mainland India, has set up its own underground government undertaking major changes in its functioning and creating two separate wings, political and military, known as the "Government of the Peoples' Republic of A'chikland" (GPRA) and the "A'chikland Army".

The UANF plans to establish itself as the sole rebel representative of the Garo people in the absence of the other militant group, ANVC, that is presently holding peace parley with the Centre and the State government. The idea behind the creation of two separate wings is apparently taken by the outfit to claim legitimacy for its armed struggle. It has also prepared its own national anthem in Garo.

Giving an indication that it seeks to retrieve the possession of all lands belonging to the Garos since ancient time through an armed struggle, the UANF has constituted a General Assembly that will meet annually to chalk out its plans of action. A National Council comprising fifteen members, appointed by the General Assembly, is to run the organisation for a period of three years.

Documents released to the media by the outfit's chairman Nemos Marak points to the outfit's agenda for complete secession of Garo Hills from mainland India after retrieving all the land belonging to the Garos. To maintain its armed struggle the organisation plans to launch a fund drive for collection of tax in the three districts of Garo Hills.

Although the group has not played any significant role in disruption of the law and order since its formation, remaining restricted to a few select pockets of West Garo Hills, it now appears to be reaching out to the vulnerable sections of the society for recruitment and expansion of its policies in the rural areas. The UANF has prepared a blueprint for the establishment of Peoples' Revolutionary Courts in the rural areas as part of its judicial system to try criminal cases in line with the Maoists of Central India and Nepal.

The "Matgriks" (Warriors/cadres) of the outfit are expected to enforce the diktats of the outfit in the village level under the orders of its area commanders. While the outfit's shadow government is to have a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Speaker for the General Assembly, yet, Nemos Marak will continue to hold sway to the organisation having set himself up as the Chairman with vast powers.

The organisation was earlier created as the Peoples' Liberation Front (PLF) on May 21st 1999. Unable to achieve its goals and following feuds within its top leadership and the ultimate death of its then Chairman, Vincent Sangma, the PLF was disbanded.

In its place was created the UANF in January 21st 2004. The new outfit is known to have close contact with the NDFB and the NSCK-Khaplang faction and has begun to gradually spread its tentacles to the three districts of Garo Hills. It was earlier restricted to the areas of Dalu and Purakhasia border areas. The UANF has been involved in a series of kidnapping cases and was behind the Zikzak incident two years back, when a police armoured carrier was hit by an IED blast.

SHILLONG: The legislator from Garo Hills are yet to decide on their participation in a rally organised by the GSU, Joint Action Committee (GSU) and Lok Sabha MP Purno A Sangma on April 22 at Tura. State Transports Minister Deborah C Marak said neither she nor any other Garo Hills legislator received any formal invitation from the GSU and JAC to attend the rally.

"We will see and decide among the 24 legislators after receiving the invitation from the organisers whether to accept or reject it", Mrs Marak said.

According to the GSU, the purpose of organising the rally is to highlight the MBOSE issue at the backdrop of passing of the MBOSE Bills, 2005 in the just concluded Assembly session. The GSU, however, on its part informed that all the 24 legislators were invited to attend the rally, which plans to discuss all the issues related to Garo Hills vis-à-vis MBOSE issue.

Mrs Marak said although the Garo Hills Legislators Forum (GHLF) formed to resolve the problems arising out of the September 30 shootout ceased to be, "the legislators from Garo Hills are in touch with each other on any issue relating to the problem of Garo Hills".

Our Tura Correspondent adds: Meanwhile, braving an inclement weather over five thousand people participated in a public rally at Williamnagar on Tuesday morning to protest the passing of the MBOSE Amendment Bill by the state Assembly recently. The protestors endorsed the decision of the Garo Hills NGOs to hold a public meeting on April 22 at Tura to chalk out their future course of action against the MDA government in the State.

The leaders, while condemning the MDA Government and the 24 Garo Hills MLAs, called upon Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob to forward the MBOSE Bill to the President of India for his consent. It was also announced at the meeting that a memorandum in this regard was faxed to the Governor on Monday.

Expressing solidarity with the other organisations of Garo Hills on the MBOSE issue, the East Garo Hills organisations decided to attend the Tura rally.

SHILLONG: Be it NGOs, political parties or populist pressure groups - in Meghalaya none seems to concerned about the issue that pinches common men most - price rise and exploitation. Despite the fact that there is an unusual hike in prices of commodities like meat, cooking gas, etc, neither the price-hike issue nor any consumer related matter qualified for having a discussion in the Assembly during its last session.

Though the Union government is putting in aggressive efforts to make the customers aware of their rights, the Jago Grahak Jago crusade has had little impact in Meghalaya. Coupled with price hike, there are numerous cases of cheating by some unscrupulous business establishments.

For instance, a consumer bought a gas cylinder from a dealer in Kench's Trace recently, which lasted only for ten days. To the utter surprise of the consumer, the cylinder was found to be full of water instead of gas.

When a request was made to the gas agency, the consumer was asked to pay for a refill instead of replacement. "They told us that the company, which supplies gas does not take back such cylinders and in this case, the agency can't take responsibility", the consumer said.

"Let's blame it on the company in this case, but what about the home delivery", asked another consumer. The gas agencies here charge its customers the price of a cylinder inclusive of home delivery cost. But not a single customer enjoys free home delivery. They invariably need to pay extra.

Another issue, which the State is faced with, is the alarming price rise of meat. After the bird flu reports hit the headlines, the meat sellers have arbitrarily hiked the prices of mutton, pork, beef and fish without any rhyme and reason. The BJP legislator Mr AL Hek said the government should immediately come up with a mechanism to control inflation. "It is a crime to cheat consumers by taking advantage of their simplicity and compulsion", Mr Hek said.

KSU president Samuel Jyrwa said the union was not able to raise this issue because "there are lots of pressing issues at the present", making it amply clear that price hike is not in the KSU's priority list at present. Playing the blame game, the student president said, "It is the duty of the legislators to raise such issues in the Assembly. Legislators have to be alert".

According to Mr Jyrwa, the failure of the legislators in raising this sort of issues in the Assembly reflects that "unless they, who are not fulfilling their duties as public representatives, are pushed or pressurised, people won't get what they need".

It may be mentioned that several years back, the KSU had raised and spearheaded a movement on consumer rights - especially against price hike. A housewife from Laban said that retailers at times choke the supply line of kerosene and LPG for few days so as to make some extra profits by selling these commodities in the black market. "They sell them at exorbitant rates", she said.

According to a working-woman from Laitumkhrah, the prices of essential commodities in Laitumkhrah are higher than in other localities. "That's why we would rather buy our goods from Laban or Mawlai", she said.

It may be mentioned that earlier a consumer rights body under the leadership of Mr Mac Shira, Ms Ampareen Lyngdoh and Ms Natalie Diengdoh, was formed after the Reliance India Limited tried to change its services from prepaid to post paid. But the organisation ceased to function soon after.

And consequence of this is palpable in the telecommunication sector. One AIRCEL customer from Kench's Trace said more often than not, he gets to make a call from its set owing to congestion. "In fact there is no service at all. Anyone trying to call this number is returned with one response that the mobile number is either 'out of service', 'not responding' or simply 'switched off'", alleged the customer, adding that after suffering for months, he decided to withdraw the SIM.

Chief Secretary SK Tiwari, however, completely surrendered to the situation saying: "there is not much the State government can do about it as the price hike is determined by market factors."

"The government can only take action to control the prices only if it goes out of hand", he said, adding that action could also be taken when there was a deliberate attempt of an individual or group of people to manipulate the market price artificially.

"If the price hike is uniform throughout the country, there is nothing much we can do as price of commodities are governed by market forces", he said.

Addressing a press conference at his chamber on Tuesday, East Khasi Hills police super AR Mawthoh said that the police department embarked upon this idea so as to create awareness among the car and two-wheeler owners in the city about the importance of anti car theft devices.

Mr Mawthoh said, "We are not forcing people to buy these devices, but we will definitely encourage people to use them because these will definitely reduce car-theft cases". He said recent study conducted by the police department showed that vehicles without anti-car theft devices are easy targets.

Meanwhile, he said the police department has worked out a strategy to combat car theft, but we cannot disclose this strategy at this for some reasons. Mr Mawthoh said the hard work put in by the officers and men in uniform, police could make a breakthrough by arrested a hard-core criminal - Altosh Sangma - suspected of being involved car thefts. A country made revolver along with tools used for breaking car locks were seized from him.

Mr Mawthoh said joint efforts are on in neighbouring states to trace the missing vehicles and nab the criminals involved. "We are trying our best to get the car lifters booked under MPDA", he said.

The JCA expressed concern over the matter and felt that if the strike continues, the sufferings of the general public, particularly the salaried class and pensioners will increase manifold. The nation-wide indefinite strike of SBI employees began from April 3 in protest against non-realisation of their demands which include among others pension benefits.

In a statement issued here, the JAC said strong action will be taken against any 'munshi' or person who tries to monopolise the rate. The JAC said that the counters for issuing slip will be set at Jaintia Hills in which the drivers and the munshi must avail the slip before unloading coal. The receipt fees for the drivers is Rs 20 and for the munshi, Rs 30.

The Joint Action Committee comprise members of All Truck Owners' Association, Jaintia Hills Truck Owners' Association, Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners' and Operators' Association and Shillong City Youth Front Organisation Unit, North East Highway Drivers' Help Booth.

Shillong: The Confederation of Ri Bhoi People (CORP), Mawhati, has urged the Health and Family Welfare Minister Sayeedullah Nongrum to look into the forceful occupation of Umtrai PHC by the Gorkha Regiment.

In a letter to the Minister, the CORP said that since January 8, the Jagi Road unit of Gorkha Regiment had forcefully occupied the Public Health Centre of Umtrai Village under Mawhati constituency and had remained their ever since.

"This forceful occupation" by the para-military force of a civil public health centre had caused much hardship to the local people of Umtrai, who frequented the centre for different treatment and medical check-up, the CORP said.

The Confederation further said that due to the presence of a military force in the health centre, there is no place left for the local people to stay in the ward or rooms, for even the staff quarter and kitchen had all be occupied.

"If at all the Gorkha Regiment needs to say at Umtrai village, let them stay anywhere, where the village authority allotted them to put up their temporary shelter and not the PHC, for it would be a great shame to the Department if this civil space is given to the Army," the NGO added.

Protesting the presence of the military and its forceful occupation of a PHC, the CORP urged the minister to take up the matter with the Jagi Road unit of Gorkha Regiment of Nowgong, Assam, who claimed to have their headquarter at Happy Valley, Shillong.

"The unit has to quit the PHC of Umtrai village immediately so that normalcy and tranquility will once again be restored in Umtrai village and the PHC be left to the use of the local people for whose purpose it was created for," the CORP said.

The project was launched by Mr C B Syiem, MDC Nongpoh. He assured full support for the success of the project. Bosco Reach Out, under its project implementing agency, has for the last two decades been working towards bringing about all round and sustainable development in NE (Assam, Meghalaya) through people's participation.

TURA: The Block Development Officer (BDO) of Selsella Block, Dr Roy, has been accused of flouting the norms while appointing persons to the post of Anganwadi workers under his jurisdiction.

Villagers have accused him of by-passing local candidates and selecting an outsider. The villagers of Garodubi village have written to the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, P Sampath Kumar, pointing out the alleged malpractise by the BDO.

The CDPO, ICDS, Selsella recently undertook the selection of Anganwadi workers/helpers for 87 newly created Anganwadi Centres under Selsella Development Block.

In the case of Garodubi Anganwadi Centre as many as four qualified local applicants had submitted applications for the post of Anganwadi worker in which three cleared their written tests and appeared for the interview based on the call letters received.

However, the Chairman of the selection committee, in this case the BDO, rejected all three and selected a non-applicant for the post, one Roushanara Begum of New Bhaitbari for the post of Garodubi centre thereby flouting all rules of the selection process.

"Quickly tell me where is Jharkhand! Is Uttaranchal a name of a river? Do they speak Hindi in Andhra?" A geography tutorial? Questions at a national integration quiz contest? Not at all. This dear reader is the knowledge quotient of most of our new Right Honourables about the States they ‘supposedly’ represent in the Rajya Sabha. Never mind that in the process they have willy nilly converted the Council of States into a House of Moneybags and NRMs --- Non Resident Migrants!

What’s new? It is the best known secret in the corridors of Parliament. Everyone talks about it, not a few lament over the all-round decline of Parliament. Be it quality of leadership, brand of MPs, parliamentary standards and debating skills. Worse, everyone also knows the raison de atre of this sorry state of affairs: the all-pervasive corrupt-criminal nexus and the all-enveloping caste-creed and vote-bank paradigm. Nothing more, nothing less. All willingly abet it.

However, what makes last week’s round of biennial Rajya Sabha polls different is the unabashed hypocrisy in which all merrily continue to indulge. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has joined their ranks. Just read what he said last week at a book release. First, he lamented that many businessmen had entered the Rajya Sabha and raised "the barriers of entry steeply", read money. Then he went on to analyse the decline. The electoral system was skewed in favour of money power and it was not merely an accident that it ruled the roost. His remedy? Bring more professionals into the legislative system.

Brave words, indeed. But Prime Minister how? Given the fact that our politicians are past masters in double-speak and double standards. Wherein there is no correlation between their kathani and karni. A cursory glance at the new entrants to the Council of States exposes the Prime Minister’s double-speak. A dozen sworn loyalists, two industrialists, one power-broker and a sprinkling of "caste-creed" politicians. Shockingly there is only one professional; even he owes his seat not to his professionalism but crass loyalty.

Recall, when the country was agitated over the issue of tainted ministers in the UPA Government, Manmohan Singh then fobbed off criticism by asserting that this was due to "the compulsions of coalition politics" and, at any rate, "the law would take its own course". Why then the anguish now over criminals and murderers buying their ‘MP status’ or the Rajya Sabha becoming a ‘market place’? Look how his own party allowed Lok Sabha losers make a back-door entry into the Rajya Sabha from the States where they had a majority. To the collective sighs of relief.

True, every party is entitled to nominate its candidates for the Rajya Sabha, according to its long-term interests. But in doing so the powers-that-be have not cared much for the basic character of the House and its purpose. That the House was designed mainly to act as a watchdog of the State’s interests at the Centre. The Constitution-makers therefore wanted the House to consist of persons of greater experience and eminence. They, therefore, deliberately opted for indirect election by the State legislatures and fixed a higher minimum age of 30 years for membership of the Rajya Sabha as against 25 for the Lok Sabha. They also provided for the nomination by the President of 12 persons "having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of literature, science, art and social service."

The original concept of the House was spelt out by Sir Gopalaswamy Ayyangar on July 28, 1947 in the Constituent Assembly. The second Chamber, he said, was intended to "give an opportunity, perhaps to seasoned people, who may not be in the thickest of political frame but who might be willing to participate in the debate with an amount of learning and importance which we do not ordinarily associate with the House of the People." Consequently, only persons ordinarily resident in a State were permitted to represent that State in the Council. Unlike in the case of the Lok Sabha, wherein any voter can contest from any constituency in the country.

Tragically, the Rajya Sabha today has failed to evolve a distinct role for itself as the Council of States. Incredibly enough, it spent less time on the Sarkaria Commission report on Centre- State relations than the Lok Sabha. The States’ voice has got lost in the din of the power brokers who strut about like peacocks in the Rajya Sabha kaleidoscope. In fact, a situation has arisen over the past five decades, which was largely unforeseen. Even though records show that a Communist MP, Sadhan Gupta, prophetically expressed the fear in the Lok Sabha on 2 April 1954 that the Rajya Sabha would one day "stunt the voice of the representatives of the People".

What about the Lok Sabha? Its situation is as bad, if not worse. It is increasingly becoming a C&M club, representing criminals, corruption, money, muscle and mafia. Only those with money and muscle power can nowadays hope to become MPs. Or those with the right dynastic genes and lineage, even abhinetas who can send the vote tillers ringing. The result? Crucial laws and budgetary allocations are largely voted by near-empty Houses without any serious debate. Bad laws are enacted and bad precedents established on personal and political considerations.

Questionably, how do we ensure that good educated people, professionals, social activists and intellectuals genuinely interested in serving the nation are able to enter Parliament? At least, have a fair and just shot at it? Given the harsh reality that few among our leaders are serious in bringing about a change in the character and quality of our polity. Arguably, nothing prevents the UPA from stopping corrupt and criminalized elements from entering Parliament. Till then all talk of moneybags, raised barrier entry and professionalism is only talk. Cheap talk.

One way to ensure a qualitative change in leadership is to change the basic criteria of entry into Parliament, as was once considered by the Constituent Assembly. Presently, one has to be an Indian citizen and above 25 years of age to contest an election to the Lok Sabha and 30 years for the Rajya Sabha. The law could be changed to make it mandatory for candidates to have minimum educational qualifications or certificates of being professional, educationally and technically.

Two, the right to recall should be incorporated in the electoral laws as advocated by Loknayak JP. Wherein at the mid-term mark, a referendum is held to decide whether the people’s representative had delivered or whether he needed to be replaced. Or, we could consider the concept of negative voting. Wherein the voter would have the right to negate all candidates as being not good enough to ensure a qualitative change in leadership.

To enable the Rajya Sabha to play a more useful role, instead of a parallel and competing Chamber, its membership could be limited to persons with at least one stint in the State Assembly or in the Lok Sabha. Further, its membership could be limited to no more than two terms. Shockingly, we have had persons merrily enjoying three to four terms of six years each in the Rajya Sabha without ever fighting an election to either the State Assembly or the Lok Sabha.

One could even consider the pragmatic German List system to bring in professionals. Half the members of the German Bundestag are elected directly and half through party lists based on proportionate votes polled by each of the total votes cast. But much depends upon the top leadership across the board and their willingness to be selfless and be a genuine tyagi, as shown by Gandhi.

The Mahatma went all out to nurture and groom an entire second rung of leadership so that there was no vacuum. Leaders like Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, C Rajagopalchari, Govind Ballabh Pant et al. Today, the obverse holds true. One needs to be either a son of a filthy rich, a loyalist or a wheeler-dealer. The Prime Minister could also revive Nehru’s old practice of appointing Parliamentary Secretaries and thereby help train some among our bright youngsters for future Ministerships

In sum, the coming months will decide whether Parliament will make Indian politics more messy and unworkable. Manmohan Singh should realize that there comes a moment of truth and reckoning. One cannot in one breath talk of inducting professionals and blatantly assaulting the basic structure of both the Houses. Parliament surely needs to be put back on the rails. But for that one needs men of sterling character, integrity and selflessness. Enough of hypocrisy! ----INFA

As if the news of the fat pay packets of IIM grads was not bad enough, came the office of profit issue. The quiet smugness of my middle-class home was disturbed. For, my wife suddenly realised that with a take-home salary of Rs 23,000 a month, my post of DIG of police is not much of an office of profit. A discussion on the subject became inevitable. 'Do you know an IIM-Bangalore management graduate has been offered a pay of Rs 86 lakh?' she asked. 'Oh, do not go by those figures. In dollars it is only 1.93 lakh.

Do not forget the guy will have to work in the USA where purchasing power of the dollar is much less', I replied. But who knows better than her what the purchasing power of my salary is? 'Don't try to teach me economics!

I know what is the purchasing power of the peanuts that you get', she said, eyeing me as if I were a middle-aged monkey. I made a vain attempt to recover my self-esteem by saying, 'At least I am not selling sugared water or scented soap as those IIM guys would be doing'. Her scathing retort was quick, 'That's a lot better than selling one's soul as some of your ilk are doing for dirty money'. I gulped down the insult to my worthy brethren quietly thinking the matter would end there. But having gained the advantage she came to the point suggestively, 'You know one of the IIM-A graduates this year is an IPS officer. He has got an offer of Rs 34 lakh and is leaving the job.

How difficult is CAT?' Now that the cat was out of the bag, I had to ward off the looming threat squarely. I replied, 'Oh, it is beyond me, dear. See that fellow was already a chartered accountant before joining the IPS'. The hint was at my modest postgraduation from a lesser-known university. 'What is the harm in trying?' she pressed on. 'No harm! But let's wait for the report of the Sixth Pay Commission, which the PM has promised'. And with these words I got away, for the nonce at least. (By arranegement with The Times of India)

Sir,

Apropos of the reports on recent Assembly session about traffic congestion concerning our MLA's and to engage experts for a new assembly site in Shillong (ST, March 24). Putting religion, caste, communalism and politics aside, why don't our legislators converge on the need of the people instead of pointing fingers at each other, but all the initiatives are blacked by some one or the other opposing it.

Let me remind you one of visionaries who devoted himself to the interest of the people and was the only legislator to raise a question in the House to upgrade Umroi airport into a full-fledged International airport by saying development can only be achieved if we have developed our communication system. I am talking about our (late) Ardhendu Chaudhuri whose works were not complete and suddenly left us for his heavenly abode. (May his soul rest in peace). I hope that our present legislators have the same vision as that of late Chaudhuri. I think we still have the time in hand before it is too late for the Govt. to start deciding about acquiring the land adjoining Umroi airport to enhance it to a full-fledged airport. But it seems that the words of Late Chaudhuri have been forgotten. Who cares? It seems that our legislators have the habit of realizing things only when they go out of hands.

Regarding the concerns of our legislators for a proper site for our new assembly building, I think that our Chief Minister's view was very right to construct the building at the site of new Shillong township for which crores of rupees has been spent to acquire land. According to me, it is the first step towards development of new Shillong and not only that some Govt. offices dealing with general public on daily bases to be shifted to the new township site like DC's officer, D.T.O., Dist. Court, etc., shifting of a few offices to the new site and completion of Bypass will surely ease the of traffic congestion. As of now, Shillong is very crammed and over crowded, especially Barabazar, Police Bazar and Laitumkhrah area.

Yours etc.,
Bradly Pyngrope
Umroi Presbyterian School.

Sir,

Recently I read an article and also a letter to the editor in some language papers, whereby the writer objected strongly to the mining of Uranium in West Khasi Hills. He strongly advocated that it was the will of God that Uranium be kept undisturbed under the Earth. Mining it would bring about hazards to human lives and other biological existence. I do not subscribe to such beliefs and ideas which are not based on reality. Uranium or for that matter any mineral is for human use not for keeping them under show cases in the earth crust which are useful to none. Uranium or any other matter are given by God to mankind for their requirement. I am with antagonists if they are for Uranium for need based not for human greed.

Yours etc,
P. Marweiñ
Shillong
Via e-mail

Repolling in five polling stations under constituencies of Lahowal, Chabua, Karimganj (North) and Patharkandi would be held on Wednesday between 7 am to 4 pm, state Chief Electoral Officer J P Prakash told reporters here. The main reason for the repoll was mechanical failure of the EVMs while in Patharkandi the ballot papers were lost due to an accident. (PTI)

Guwahati: Political parties in Assam are jubilant over the high turn out for the first phase of Assembly polls held in 65 constituencies spread over 14 districts in the State on Monday. The Congress on Tuesday hailed people of Assam as well as all insurgent groups while the Communist Party of India (CPI) congratulated the Election Commission for ensuring a peaceful first phase Assembly polls that witness 68 per cent turn out.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "I give credit to people of Assam and to all insurgent groups for creating a congenial atmosphere for election on Monday."

The militant outfits particularly the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) that is engaged in a sort of nascent peace process with the Central Government, chose to remain neutral during polls. Mr Gogoi said that the State Government had extended all possible help to the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls in the State.

"It was because of the State Government's initiative that over 300 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed for the election," he added.

Veteran CPI leader A B Bardhan, who is in the State for party's electioneering, said the EC had done a commendable job in facilitating free, fair and peaceful election in the first phase.

"People voted and enthusiastically reflecting their determination to see that democratic rule get strengthened. Our party assessment is that there is no possibility of Congress gaining majority in Assam Assembly after the polls. The only alternative that will emerge is the AGP-Left combine," Mr Bardhan said.

The regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have termed the high voters turn out in the first phase as a reflection of people's yearning for a change. Both the parties are gearing up to bolster their electioneering for the second phase to be held in the rest 61 constituencies on April 10 next.

The AGP alleged rigging by the ruling party at least in Jalukbari constituency near here. The AGP spokesman Apurba Bhattacharyya demanded re-polling in that constituency alleged that the sitting Congress MLA, Himata Bishwa Sharma had rigged the election in connivance with a section of State police. Mr Sharma, however, sounded very optimistic about winning with a bigger margin this time. "It would be a cake walk for me as I didn't face any contest at all," he said.

Chief Minister Mr Gogoi asserted that Congress would retain the power and went on to launch attack on the senior BJP leader Mr Pramod Mahajan for daring to point accusing finger to Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi and prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh who happened to be the two most high profile poll campaigners for the ruling party.

UNI adds: Low voter turnout in Bangladeshi-dominated constituencies was recorded in the first phase of Asom Assembly elections with Election Commission asking for important documents as identification.

Our Reporter adds: Former Chief Minister Salseng C Marak and senior Congress leader Atul C Marak attended a public meeting on Monday at Nishangram,under Goalpara, to campaign for the Congress candidate Mr Deven Daimari.

Around 300 attended the meeting. The leaders have asked the voters to vote for the Congress candidate. Rokhoma D Shira who is the president, Dudnoi Block Congress presided over the meeting.

Kailasahar in North Tripura district recorded around 67 mm rainfalls during the past 24-hour. About 10 per cent of the State´s total geographical area witnessed drought-like situation in the past six months, according to Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). An official from the CCWB said the dry spell had dried up about 10 per cent of cultivable land and reduced the ground water level down to about 1.5 meter, taking the water level from 7 meters down to 8.5 meters.

The official observed that the State needs to take immediate measures for water harvesting during the monsoon season to avoid drought like situation in future. It also warned that rampant felling of trees and smuggling of forest produce to Bangladesh has taken its toll on groundwater sources in the State.

Kohima: The emergency session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, convened by Speaker Kiyanilie on Tuesday to discuss the 'office of profit' issue, adjourned sine die barely half and hour into session after the warring DAN Government and the Opposition Congress on Tuesday temporarily buried the hatchet over the issue, heeding the Advocate General's advice to wait for the decision of the Parliament. The House adopted a resolution advising the members to wait till the Parliament reviews the controversial issue during its next sitting scheduled to be held on May 10.

Imphal: Economic blockade called by Zeliangrong Students' Union(ZSU) and Kuki Students' Organisation(KSO) demanding repair of a road connecting Senapati and Tamenglong district, still continued. In order to meet the demands of the people, the State Government is escorting trucks transporting essential commodities on National Highway 39.

About 50 to 100 trucks carrying essential commodities like gas, oil were escorted everyday from Mao in Manipur-Nagaland border areas of NH 39 towards Imphal, the State Government officials said.

Meanwhile, Kasom Khullen Sub-division Development Association of Ukhrul has threatened to start picketing government offices in the sub-division, if the roads were not repaired. The association representatives allged the government has neglected the sub-division and there was no proper health care or transport system. ''We may even resort to road blockade, the organisation warned. (UNI)

The affidavit on the rape case was filed by Human Rights Alert (HRA) based on the findings of a spot inquiry done with other organisations like Hmar Students' Association, Human Rights Law Network and Rongmei Lu Phuam. The alleged victims live in different villages of Churachandpur of Manipur and in Mizoram. (UNI)

Imphal: Manipur's Education Director (Schools), Ch. Jayanta Singh survived an attempt on his life by two unidentified armed persons on Tuesday morning and was admitted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital of Imphal. His condition is stated to be critical.

The incident took place at Keishamthong Moiang Ningthou Leirak at 11.15 am on Tuesday. Eyewitnesses said the Director was targeted by two gunmen while he was traveling in his Ambassador car near his house. The injured official's driver, Nabadip Singh told reporters that while the car was coming out of the official's home, located near the scene of the crime, two unidentified youths were standing by a motorcycle by the roadside.

The two followed the car in the motorcycle for some distance and fired at the official from the backside of the car. About five shots were fired and one bullet hit the official at the upper portion of his backside body. The gunshots shattered the rear windscreen of the car. The gunmen then escaped in the motorcycle, they said.

The injured tried to stop the car, but he did not stop fearing the attackers. He took the injured official first to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Lamphel. The injured was referred to the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, as his condition is said to be serious. The bullet remained lodged inside the body and reports said the official's spinal chord was destroyed. (NNN)