As the proposal that seeks to reserve 27 per cent of seats in Central Universities and the prestigious institutions is likely to go to the Union Cabinet after the coming assembly elections, he also asserted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in the know of things about the proposal.

"The Parliament has passed a law. It is our responsibility to implement it. Beyond this, we do not have a role to play in this," he told reporters.

Asked whether the Prime Minister was not kept in the loop, Mr Singh shot back "very strange. The decision was taken by the Prime Minister in person. Now if they have gone out of the loop, I don't know." "Some people are trying to whip up the issue. I know that," he said without taking any names.

Parliament had passed the Constitution amendment Bill with near unanimity after due deliberations with political parties. The President also gave his assent to the measure, he said. "This is the essence of it", he said. "May be", Singh said when asked about the resentment among sections of students over the proposal which would drastically reduce the seats available for the general category in such institutions.

Official sources said once the Cabinet clears the proposal, the Centre is likely to introduce a Bill in Parliament during the second part of the session beginning May 10. The reservation as per the 104th Constitution amendment in private educational institutions would be implemented in "letter and spirit", they said.

Already some academics have criticised the proposal based on the Mandal formula providing 27 per cent quota for OBCs in Central educational institutions and the IIMs and IITs. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, member-convenor of National Knowledge Commission, has termed as a "distressing development" the move for reservation and sent an e-mail to all Commission members urging them to write to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention in the matter.

If implemented, the new policy would take the overall reservation in the Central government-funded higher education institutions to 49.5 per cent from the present 22.5 per cent (for SC and ST students).

The government's move follows the passage of the 104th amendment to the Constitution which enables the Centre to provide upto 27 per cent reservation and the states according to their need. The 104th Constitution amendment gives the right to the government to take steps that would ensure advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, SCs and STs in private educational institutions as well. (PTI)

The notice is being issued after the ED stumbled upon a letter said to have been written by Singh to former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz introducing Andaleeb Sehgal, a friend of his son Jagat Singh, and recommending him for contracts under the UN-spomsored Oil for Food Programme in Iraq, agency sources said on Friday night. (PTI)

Legal sources said on Friday Attorney General Milon Banerjee has given his opinion to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had sought his views on the oppostion petition to President APJ Abdul Kalam signed by 205 MPs. (PTI)

New Delhi: Toughening its stand, the government on Friday ruled out accepting the striking SBI employees' demands and warned of "stern" action if the stir goes beyond a point, but the staff were equally adamant rejecting pleas for withdraing the agitation.

Making it clear that government would negotiate if employees came with a revised offer, official sources said government was not averse to accepting reasonable demands. However, they warned of "stern" action if the strike goes beyond a point.

The strike by the employees, who are demanding among other things pension to the tune of 50 per cent of their last pay drawn, entered the fifth day on Friday, with no indications of an end to the stalemate.

Saying that the bank has suffered a "huge" loss and shifting business, SBI Chairman A K Purwar made a fresh appeal to the employees to return to work but they rejected it, maintaining that such a course was not possible without any solution to their demands.

However, the sources refused to specify whether taking action would involve invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act against the employees. While the employees maintained that the ball is in the government's court, the sources clarified that the Centre had not received any revised offer on the demand of SBI employees. (PTI)

New Delhi: Commerce Minister Kamal Nath Friday stressed the employment generation potential of the export sector which is currently providing direct and indirect jobs to 16 million people.

Releasing a study, "Towards Employment Oriented Export Strategies: Some Explorations", by leading think-tank Research & Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), the minister said, "In all, merchandise export activity seems to sustain nearly 16 million jobs currently."

The report was released alongside the Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy (2004-09). In his foreword to the report, Kamal Nath says: "It is only with a conscious multi-pronged, multi-dimensional effort that we can address the massive challenge of finding job opportunities for millions of our unemployed youth, and export-oriented production has a huge potential for generating jobs.

"In 2004-05, the export sector is reported to have generated incremental direct employment of 1.4 million over the previous year, bringing the total employment generated by the export sector in India to nine million jobs, corresponding to exports amounting to nearly $80 billion achieved during the year," the minister said.

"This is besides the export-related indirect jobs created through backward linkages and in logistics and related sectors which are estimated to add up to another 6.9 million jobs," he stated.

Referring to the target of doubling exports to $150 billion by 2009-10, the report says the "achievement of this target of exports is likely to generate 13.6 million new jobs (8.16 million direct and 5.46 million indirect) in the economy in the next five years".

"If India is able to exploit export opportunities in labour intensive goods and follow labour intensive modes of production, India's merchandise exports in 2009-10 could reach $165 billion, which would generate 21 million new jobs (directly and indirectly)," the report states. It has identified 12 export sectors: textiles and garments; leather goods; gems and jewellery; cereal exports; horticulture exports; flowers, fruits and vegetables; dairy products; processed foods; toys and sports goods; pharmaceutical industry; automobiles and auto components; consumer electronics and electronic hardware.The international market of toys is dominated by China, which has a 75 percent market share whereas India's share is an appalling 0.4 percent. (IANS)

Rohtak: Tragedy struck Bohar village near here on Friday when seven minor children belonging to Dhanak community (Scheduled caste) were burnt alive when their jhuggi (hut) caught fire. The children, five of them of two brothers, were playing in a jhuggi when fire erupted even as their parents, working as labourers, had gone for harvesting.

The villagers on noticing the blaze at about 10 am put it off before the arrival of the fire brigade from here. The bodies of the seven children aged between two and six years, including four girls, were found in a quilt when the villagers searched the jhuggi after extinguishing the fire. The cause of the fire was not knwon, the villagers told the police and the media which reached the village from here. The bodies have been sent for post mortem in a local hospital, police said.

The children were identified as Vikas (three years), Vinay (six years) and Anu (four years), all three of Mukesh, Muskan (two) and Tanu (three) both daughters of Pawan, who is a brother of Mukesh, Anu (three, daughter of Rohtash) and Ajay (four, sone of Manjit).

Senior Police and Civil officers, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) Subash Yadav, have reached the village. An official spokesman said in Chandigarh in the evening that the cause of the fire has not been known so far and police was still investigating.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has expressed shock at this tragic incident and has sent his heart felt condolences to the members of the breaved family. The Haryana Government has announced a grant of Rs one lakh for the next of kin of the burnt children. (PTI)

Lucknow: Despite shoot-at-sight orders in Aligarh, fresh violence erupted in the Uttar Pradesh district Friday evening that left one person critically injured with a gunshot in a curfew-bound locality. Disclosing this, Uttar Pradesh Principal Home Secretary S.K. Agarwal told reporters that the person received a gunshot while moving out on a road in Sasni Gate area.

Earlier, holding the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police (SSP) responsible for "official lapses", Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav ordered their replacement by new incumbents who were flown by a special aircraft to take over the reins in the riot-affected town.

"Bhuvnesh Kumar has been sent as the new district magistrate and Akhil Kumar as the new district police chief," an official spokesman told reporters at Lucknow. "Two other key officials have also been changed to ensure better management of the situation," he said. "We have intensified patrolling by police as well as paramilitary forces to restore confidence of the people," Akhil Kumar told IANS hours after assuming charge.

"Shoot-at-sight orders will remain in place and curfew will be enforced more strictly until the situation is normal."

Over 100 people have been rounded up by the police in connection with the rioting that erupted over the question of prayers at a Hindu temple on the occasion of Ramnavmi, marking the conclusion of the nine-day Navratra festival. Trouble had erupted Wednesday night when Muslims of an area in downtown Aligarh objected to loudspeakers being used in preparation for the next morning’s prayers at Chamunda Devi temple. However, following the intervention of senior citizens and local officials, things were settled and the use of loudspeakers was stopped.

But on Thursday morning, devotees began using the loudspeakers and violence erupted soon after, officials said. What started with stone throwing between groups of Hindus and Muslims culminated in a free for all with bamboo sticks, steel rods and knives being brandished by both sides.(IANS)

The BSF, State Police, CRPF, Customs and other central agencies met here on Friday for a threadbare discussion on various issues related to trans-border crime - including killing, abduction and cattle lifting - and smuggling of gold and psychotropic drugs, besides pumping of counterfeit notes from Bangladesh.

Several top officials of the five agencies attended the meeting and all of them expressed serious concern over the present situation along the border, despite efforts of BSF, Customs and the State Police forces to counter such menace. Maheshkhola to Himanagar and again Himanagar to Ratacherra in Jaintia Hills are some of the most important areas under the Shillong Sector of BSF where smuggling and other criminal activities are going on in full swing, the sources said.

While having a thorough deliberation on the issue, the meeting laid stress on better information gathering and sharing of intelligence inputs among all the five agencies so that a concerted effort could be made to bring down crime rates in border areas. The meeting was held as per the decision taken at a high-level meeting between the Inspector General of Police (Meghalaya), paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies in Shillong last month.

"The Supreme Court has put restrictions and not a ban on timber felling," a top Forest official said on Friday .

Tress can be marked and felled as per the state working plan under the supervision of the Forest department. The MLFOA had earlier demanded export of timber outside the state to enable the people to earn a better price.

Around 126 doctors did not report to the Health department since 1993 violating the rules of the health department. As per rule, if the doctors, who passed out from the State quota, do not serve in the State, they would have to pay Rs 10 lakh as bond money to the State Health Department.

A Health Department official said that the department already issued show-cause notices to all the doctors, who did not come back to the State since 1993 despite availing all the benefits from the State for completion of their course. The government at least spends Rs 2 to 3 lakh per year to the MBBS students, who are sponsored by the State government. The duration of the course is four and half years.

SHILLONG: What can be seen as a major feet achieved in the health sector, a group of doctors from Shillong successfully removed a five kg tumour from the right shoulder of a patient during an operation on April 4. The patient was carrying this lead for the past ten years.

The 36-year old patient W Pathaw of Bhoirymbong in Ri-Bhoi district underwent a major operation in Shillong Civil Hospital with three doctors from the Orthopaedics department - Dr Valencia Myrboh, Dr NP Laloo and Dr H Sohkhlet - successfully removing the lump before it turned cancerous. The doctors were assisted by anaesthetists Dr Lumlang Buhphang and Dr A Kharjana and two nurses - Ms W Jyrwa and Ms H Khongsit.

SHILLONG: At least six NGOs, including KSU and FKJGP, have reacted sharply to the demand of Nongstoin Youth Congress for removal of the West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Mr KL Tariang for his alleged failure in dispatching relief to the cyclone victims in the district.

Reacting to reports appearing in a section of press, KSU, FKJGP, Western Youth Welfare Organisation (WYWO), Lyngwiar Pyrkhat Thymmai Organisation (LPTO) and West Khasi Hills Youth Federation (WKHYF) said the demand of the NYC was unjust and made to suit their interests.

"The claim of the youth Congress has no iota of truth", the NGO leaders said. In contrary, they claimed the DC was rather prompt in sending an inquiry team for assessment of damage caused due to cyclonic storm.

The NGOs went on defending the DC saying that on April 5 and 6, essential items like rice and CGI sheets were distributed among the affected families, while ex-gratia payment was made to the next kin of those who lost their lives.

The leaders of these organisations are now planning to meet Chief Minister DD Lapang on April 10 with a request not to pay any heed to the NYC demand. The organisation would also request him to speed up relief measures to the victims and also to increase the ex-gratia payment from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh.

SHILLONG: When youths in the State are faced with no-jobs in government sector, some unscrupulous people seem to have engaged themselves in making some money taking advantage of the situation. Police on Thursday evening arrested on Just Kharkongor (50) from Nongrah for his alleged involvement in taking money from some job aspirants promising them suitable placement in government departments.

Not too long ago, police had arrested a person from Shillong after the accused duped a number of people promising them government jobs. The Thursday's arrest comes following the confession of two of his accomplices -Richard Kharkongor of Mawpdang (an employee of the Employment Coaching Cum Guidance Centre for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe) and Sunta Dkhar of Laitkor - arrested earlier.

During the interrogation, Richard Kharkongor and Sunta Dkhar confessed that they impersonated Joint Director and Superintendent of one of the government agencies. They were arrested following an FIR lodge by KSU Tyrsad unit general secretary Casper Mawlong. On Friday, Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate sent them to judicial custody for further interrogation.

In a statement issued here, Mr Shullai said that his recent plea with the Delimitation Commission for inclusion of Lawsohtun under Laban constituency followed the pressure made by the local people of the area while he also claimed that his approach was "practical" and "realistic".

"The people of Lawsohtun area have requested me right from the year I was elected to see that the area which also forms part and parcel of traditional Raid Laban Durbar to be brought under 22-Laban constituency which is convenient to them since Nongkrem is a far flung area and a source of discomfiture to the voters of Lawsohtun" Mr Shullai said in a statement issued here.

"I need no consent from any wing to write or plead with the Delimitation Commission. As a representative, I am duty bound to fight for the good of my people who have faith in me for their welfare" the MDC stated adding that Lawsohtun area fell under the Shillong Master Plan Area of the Urban Development department as per Government notification issued in January 13, 1980.

It may be mentioned that Mr Shullai had requested the Commission for inclusion of Lawsohtun under Laban constituency stating that placing the area under Nongkrem constituency was not convenient to the local populace. However, the demand was opposed by the Durbar Shnong of Lawsohtun which stated that the MDC had not taken the local people and the Durbar into confidence before making such a demand.

TURA: The Garo National Council (GNC) public rally at Tura on Friday came into direct confrontation with the Garo Students' Union (GSU) over the participation of school and college students.

The result was a drastic reduction in the number of student participants at the GNC rally which had been called to demand a separate state for the Garo Hills. The number of participants hovered around the three thousand mark and almost all major schools in the town kept their students away forcing the organisers to ferry in students and elders from outside of Tura town.

Despite the reduced number of participants, the organisers went ahead with the procession through the main thoroughfares of the town before coming to a halt at Williampoint area in Hawakhana for a public meeting that was addressed by the GNC leaders.

Organisers of the rally complained that GSU volunteers had prevented school and college students from attending the rally. They said that a group of volunteers went to different schools in the town asking the heads of institutions not to send their wards to the rally. Endorsing the decision to refrain students from participating, the GSU president Andreas T Sangma said that the decision was taken because the event was staged by a political party.

"Our student community does not indulge in politics so why should be participate. We condemn political parties which try to make use of students for their selfish gains," said Mr Sangma while adding that they are not against the demand for a separate state for the Garos.

Andreas T Sangma also pointed out that participation in political rallies by students would set a bad precedent. "Today it is the GNC, tomorrow it can be the NCP and the Congress which will try and use the students for their political motives. Such a move will send the wrong signal to the people and the Government will not listen to our demands but rather accuse us of political affiliations. We will not allow this to happen," warned the GSU president.

The GSU has also appealed to students not to get swayed by the political parties and to desist from attending their meetings.

Shillong: The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) has urged the Chairman MeSEB to look into the problems related to the installation of static meters in Mawprem locality.

In a letter to the chairman, the KSU Mawprem circle said that it was constrained to note that the Meghalaya State Electricity Board has taken little or no interest with regard to the complications and hardships that the people of the locality are facing due to the ongoing billing complications arising out of the new and partial installation of static meters in the consumers premises in the locality.

The consumers have informed the Union that in spite of their repeated approach for redressed of the problem no favourable response is received from the office till date. The Union reiterated that all static meters installed wherever installation was over must be replaced by the old meters till finalisation on an acceptable implementation on a 100 per cent basis, the KSU said.

The Union said that the consumer who have been billed on a static meters must be allowed to pay on a previous three months average basis prior to installation of static meter, the KSU said. The capable consumers who have paid or forced to pay the bills served on a static meter readings must be adjusted in the forthcoming bills, the Union added.

She informed that Meghalaya is one of the ten States selected for intensified malaria control project (IMCP) under the Global fund for AIDS/Tuberculosis/Malaria (GFATM). She informed that in Meghalaya in the year 2005 there were 16,816 cases of malaria with 41 reported deaths. 

She urged upon the various Government Departments, Paramilitary forces and NGOs to cooperate in containing the disease. She further informed that in Meghalaya there is one case detected of Kala Azar, which is caused by Sand Fly bite.

It may be mentioned that the meeting was organised by the office of the Deputy Director of Health Services (Malaria) and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). The meeting was attended by officials of various government agencies, representative from the Paramilitary forces and various NGOs of the State.

Shillong: Meghalaya DGP W R Marbaniang on Friday stressed on the need to bring about certain amount of awareness among the general masses on car lifting in the city.

Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of the two day exhibition on anti-car theft devices held at Fire Brigade Ground here, Mr Marbaniang said that proper awareness and good anticipation by the masses could play an effective role in controlling the occurrence of car lifting to a certain extent.

He further stated that self-reliant on the part of any individual for their own security is an important aspect on the prevention of crime, adding that the police force is working under enormous constraints and this has "contributed to our inability to be omnipresent at crime scenes".

He said that the police can only assess the crime, but lots depend on a particular individual who owns the property in preventing the crime and also deny the opportunity for any criminals to commit the crime.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Meghalaya Economic Development Council R G Lyngdoh said that it is the duty of the police to control car theft, but it is important on the parts of the public as well to contribute towards the prevention of car lifting. Mr Lyngdoh stressed on the need to stop pointing finger and let us joins hands at least to be a deterrent on this kind of crime.

It may be mentioned that this exhibition is organised by the Meghalaya Police Department in collaboration with the car accessories dealers of the city. Others present on the occasion included SP East Khasi Hills A R Mawthoh, Additional SP M Kharkrang, Additional SP Traffic C Lyngwa and car accessories dealers.

Shillong: A joint rally is being organised by the employees and officers of State Bank of India at its Shillong Centre along with the United Forum of Bank Unions representing all the employees of all Banks and Meghalaya Joint Council of Trade Union and Association on Saturday from 2 pm.

The rally is organised to protest against non-fulfillment of demands for revision of pension of the employees of State Bank of India and to express solidarity with the indefinite strike by the employees of SBI by other organisations, a statement issued here said.

The leadership of the federations appealed to the general public, leaders of political parties, media, the Central trade unions, State Governments and the elected representatives of the people to persuade the Ministry of Finance to initiate discussions or authorise the management of the Bank to do so with a proper brief so that early solution can be found to the current agitation, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya College Teachers' Association has expressed solidarity with the agitating employees and officers of the SBI. A statement issued here said the MCTA extended support to the genuine demands of the striking employees while it also greeted the employees for maintaining unique solidarity and integrity across the country.

The Association also urged upon the Finance Ministry and the SBI management to concede to the just demands of the employees at the earliest so that the normal functioning of the bank may resume soon for the benefit of its customers.

"The stand taken by the authorities concerned betrays the concept of the welfare state, at the behest of the imperialist globalisation and corporatisation phenomena that are acting against the interest of the common people in all sectors," the MCTA statement said while demanding the reversal of this retrograde stand and look into and pay heed to the demands of the people.

At a time when the SBI is on strike, the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd helped to disburse money to those who were affected by the cyclone in and around Nongstoin and other parts of West Khasi Hills. The Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank was able to release money by discounting Government checks drawn on SBI.

UNI adds: In Imphal, the strike affected banking services in Manipur. The State Government and people depend on the 16 branches of SBI for all sorts of financial transactions. Salary of the employees and pensions are also drawn from the SBI branches.

On the last day of his life Mahatama Gandhi wrote a will wanting the Congress party to be dissolved. Alive, he would have destroyed it. Dead, he resurrected it. This partial background should help Indians decide whether it is more important to defeat Ms. Sonia Gandhi or bury the Congress. It may not be possible to achieve the first without realising the second.

How long will the Congress party survive as it is today? Is the Gandhi dynasty capable of injecting a new life to the fossilised party? The desperate attempt by Ms. Sonia Gandhi to emulate her mother-in-law is not paying rich dividends. She is grooming Rahul Gandhi to take charge of the party to give it a new face and dynamism. But Rahul's entry into the political arena is not going to make any difference to the Congress' sagging political fortunes. The Congress should realise that the nation has rejected Ms. Gandhi. There is little hope that the people will heed Rahul's call, either.

As it is, he has little to say. Learning is a slow process. Rahul is yet to familiarise himself with the basics of Indian politics. It would take him years to acquire the wisdom and understanding needed to lead a complex nation like India. The Congress should realise that the Indian democracy has matured and the ground rules have completely changed over the years.

The rise of the BJP as a national force and the emergence of regional parties coupled with the growing aspirations of people, have left no place for dynastic politics of the type which the Congress has been trying to impose on Indian voters. Today, the performance of the party and its leadership are the most important for its success. It requires years of hard work and commitment for any leader to make his mark on the national political scenario. Rahul clearly lacks on this count. It can't be that anyone coming from the Nehru-Gandhi family would just come and sweep the people off the ground.

Rahul Gandhi is being at best treated as a subject of curiosity. Nothing more should be expected of him. It would be extreme naivete to hope that an inexperienced political greenhorn like Rahul Gandhi, who does not understand the diversity of India, could galvanise the electorate at large scale on his debut.

The Indian politics has come of age. Anyone comparing Rahul's entry into the politics with that of Rajiv Gandhi has no understanding of the changes that has taken place in the political scenario during the last two decades. Rajiv Gandhi rode the sympathy wave generated by his mother, Indira Gandhi's tragic assassination. Had it not been so, the first part of his political journey would not have been so smooth. But remember, even though he became prime minister with a thumping majority, he was not able to provide effective governance. The result was there for all to see. Five years later, in 1989, he was voted out of power due to this reason.

If the Congress is hoping for Rahul Gandhi to change its fortunes overnight, then they are ignoring the factors responsible for its marginalisation. These include erosion of their traditional vote-bank and the alienation of the minority community. Today, the minority voters feel that the Congress has cheated them all along. That's why they are supporting regional parties wherever such forces are powerful. There is now a radical shift in the thinking of the minority community.

The Congress also lacks effective leadership. In fact, that is more than anything else is the need of the hour. But it could not be a political novice like Rahul Gandhi. If at all, Rahul wants to emerge as a leader, he should be ready to slog it out for the party for several years and understand the reasons for Congress's downfall.

Today, like his mother, he is totally dependent upon a coterie, which would continue to impress him about his so-called extraordinary appeal, and his ability to sway the masses. The truth is being concealed and distorted. If Rahul allowed himself to fail in the trap of sycophants, he would never be able to see the world with his own eyes. Remember, what the 10 Janpath poll mangers have done. They have taken Rahul to campaign in only those constituencies where the Congress has reasonable chance to succeed. If the Congress wins these seats, the success will be attributed to Rahul. These are the things he would well watch against.

Any analysis of this nature about Rahul emerging as the flag bearer of the Congress is grossly unfortunate to Rahul. He is yet to face the dust and heat of politics. It is tragic that a party like the Congress, which has over 150 years of history behind it, is pinning its hopes on the Nehru-Gandhi family to charter its destiny. Unless, the Congress allows a leader who is commonly accepted to the party and the people alike, the party would not be able to revive itself. India of the 21st century is on the road to evolving as a super power. It has no place to accommodate Congress's dynastic aspiration. Unless the policy makers at 10 Janpath realise this truth, the party could go on rallying behind Rahul Gandhi, but the nation would not accept him.

I was standing by a colourful souvenir shop on Swanston Street in downtown Melbourne watching a didgeridoo player perform his musical magic. Only 165 Australian dollars he exclaimed, for a totally authentic, termite-eaten Australian eucalyptus, crafted painstakingly by skilled Aboriginal craftsmen. Of course I could buy the inexpensive Indonesian variety that was made of bamboo, or cheaper still walk away with a modified PVC tube for $10. I kept eyeing the heavy beauty in front of me, swathed in esoteric Aboriginal insignia. The intricately painted body added to its mystique.

It was serious tourist shopping time, I reminded myself. And after all the son could do well with a change from his usual violin. For what seemed like an hour in the store, I tried out the heavy instrument with no success. All I got out of it were squeaks and hisses; sounds, which the storekeeper immediately pointed out, were coming from my vocal cords and not the lips.

"It's all about circular breathing", he persisted. The lips should flutter, as the breath is forced out in a drone and you breathe in at the same time.

Watching my futile attempts, the storekeeper eventually recommended the expedient technique of filling my mouth with circular breathing. "Or you can blow bubbles like a baby, and try the same things", he added for good measure. Though unsuccessful, I eventually fell for the exotic musical instrument. Thirty hours and two connecting flights later, I lugged the oversized wind instrument, later tucking it carefully for the magic moment to arrive when my son would unwrap it.

It was birthday time and this was my gift to him. The son shrieked for joy or so it seemed as he held it in his hands. I also handed him a didgeridoo audio CD ($25) and a how-to booklet ($15) that explained the rather difficult techniques of fluttering the lips and the art of breathing circularly. For the next few days I could hear some muffled attempts and squawks from his room. Then there were none. Suffice it to say that my son now plays the violin very diligently. (By arranegement with The Times of India)

The first phase of the crucial Assembly poll in Asom on Monday last for 65 of the 126 constituencies ended on a satisfactory note, hopefully setting a happy trend for the second and final round on Monday, April 10. The Election Commission and the State Government, headed by Tarun Gogoi of the Congress, had reason to heave a sigh of relief. The polling went off remarkably peacefully. Despite threats from militant outfits, no violence or untoward incident was reported from anywhere. What is more, Asom kept up its record of being a high-polling State. As against the voter turn-out of 79.2, 74.7, 78.9 and 74.6 per cent in the last four elections, this time 70 per cent voted, braving uninterrupted rain in the first half of the day.

The large voter turn-out clearly shows that the people have voted for peace. For the first time, the dreaded ULFA did not boycott the election, thanks to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who has been working patiently for months to bring the underground outfit to the negotiating table and convince it against boycotting elections. Illegal migration from Bangladesh and insurgency, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives, were the main poll issues. Reflecting the popular mood, ULFA Chief Paresh Barua’s 81-year-old mother "cast her ballot for peace." The poll is the biggest challenge that faces the ruling Congress and Tarun Gogoi, who is confident of retaining power and establishing a record.

Pre-poll rhetoric

The election may also end up raising some basic issues of national import. In their anxiety to retain power, the Congress party’s main campaigners, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party Chief Sonia Gandhi made statements directed mainly at the party’s Muslim votebank. Sonia Gandhi even assured the minority communities (read Muslims, since other minorities hardly exist in Asom) full legal safeguards and protection. Are not such statements, made repeated directly or indirectly, violative of the Model Code of Conduct? Election Code? Was the PM dead serious when he declared that there would be no redrawing of the boundaries in the North-East and no discussion on sovereignty with ULFA? Or was it only electoral rhetoric?

Tamil Nadu’s main Opposition, itching to regain power following the one-day Assembly poll on May 8, has promised a goodie bag in its manifesto – Rs.2 a kg. rice, free colour TVs, gas stoves etc. Alarmingly, however, the party, headed by Karunanidhi, has gone overboard to bag Muslim votes: reservations for the minorities in Government departments and educational institutions. Perhaps this too, is a case of electoral rhetoric, thanks to a surge in Anna-DMK’s fortunes in Tamil Nadu. (Remember, a similar move by the Andhra Pradesh Government last year was struck down by the High Court). Interestingly, the DMK has suddenly decided to work out a poll understanding with the Congress in adjoining Pondicherry, reversing its earlier decision to go it alone.

In West Bengal, where the Election Commission has considerably cleaned up the electoral rolls and phased out polling in five prolonged rounds, starting on April 17 and ending on May 5, the ruling CPM-led Left Front is increasingly getting worked up by the Commission’s firm handling of the polls and its myriad whips. Some senior Left leaders, led by the CPM General Secretary, Prakash Karat, met CEC B.B. Tandon in New Delhi on Monday. They protested against the decision to deploy Central para-military forces on poll duty. Their argument? This was against the Constitution which gives the States the right to manage law and order. Tandon heard the plea but seems to have forgotten about it!

Bihar’s Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, truly faces a Himalayan challenge in his plans to develop the backward State. A White Paper laid on the table of the Assembly by Finance Minister Sushil Modi shows that the State’s finances are in shambles. The 29-page White Paper elaborates how the State was plunged into a financial crisis during the Lalu Yadav-Rabri Devi regime over the last 15 years. During 1991-96, there was zero economic growth in the State, as against 5.4 per cent for the country. In 1994-2002 it was 3.8 per cent as against the national’s average of 6.1 per cent. The State survived alL these years largely on borrowed money. The Nitish Kuamr Government, which took over the reins of office in November last, has now taken up several development projects, which have been highly appreciated not only by the Planning Commission, but also by President Kalam, who has visited the State twice in four months.

The surprise announcement that the Rae Bareli byelection to the Lok Sabha will be held on May 8 has brought great cheer to the Congress. This would enable the party supremo to be back in the Lok Sabha in just 49 days after she resigned her seat on 23 March in the wake of the office-for-profit controversy. Soon after her re-election she is also expected to get back her Chairmanship of the UPA Government’s National Advisory Council. Moreover, the Rae Bareli bypoll is being used by the High Command to kick-off its "Operation U.P." and take advantage of the Congress Chief’s "sacrifice." UP is scheduled to go to the polls for its Assembly early next year.

The timing from the Congress viewpoint could not have been better. U.P’s ruling Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh Yadav, in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh, is in difficulty. So also is the BJP because of its intra-party problems, notwithstanding the fact that the State’s Thakur leader and former Chief Minister Rajnath Singh is now the party President. The anti-SP and anti-BJP trend is reflected in the recent biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha. Former Chief Minister Mayawati’s BSP demonstrated its ever-growing clout by poaching votes of not only the vulnerable BJP but also the Samajwadi Party. The two BSP winners polled 16 more votes for the Rajya Sabha while for the Legislative Council it managed to draw in 31 additional votes. (INFA)

Sir,

The recent announcement by the HRD ministry to increase the seat reservation to nearly 50% in institutions of higher education is unfortunate and condemnable. Higher education must be based solely on merit and not on caste or racial origin. Instead of slowly eliminating reservations, the government is encouraging it, which is unfortunate in independent India. Backward classes in this country are no less competent compared to the general categories. If the backward classes are really to be given a chance for higher education then only financial help must be provided to those in need instead of seat reservations and the same must be provided to the financially poor applicants from the general category as well. Students, parents and responsible citizens must protest this unilateral decision by the government.

Yours etc.,
Dr HS Ranhotra,
Shillong,
Via e-mail

Sir,

It is appropriate that when it comes to revision of pay of the state government employees, questions were raised about the quality and work culture that need to be improved by all. But what about the MDCs /MLAs/Ministers who during the past two years have received several enhancement in the form of revised honorarium, increase in the allotment of MLA schemes, pension, enhancement in the number of casual employees attached to them etc? One can not help to ask these high echelons if they too need to improve their quality of works pertaining to the development of their constituencies in particular and the state in general. Are the developmental schemes meant for the welfare of their constituencies and the people fully or usefully utilised? Or if seventy five percent of the money sanctioned for the schemes goes to their pockets, one never knows due to lack of accountability and transparency on their part. At times, it is really funny when one points fingers at others, failing to realise their own misdemeanor or standard. While in actual fact there are innumerable loopholes in the services of our representatives towards their commitment to the people promised during election campaign. The loopholes are never ending but to cite each one of them is time and space consuming.

Yours etc,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via e-mail

Sir,

Apropos the letter under caption 'Poor BSNL service' (ST, March 23) we have been making attempts to contact the author to know various details regarding his observations, but without any success.

While we would like to inform our valued customers about any scheduled outages, it may not always be possible. There are many reasons for the problems being faced by the customers, which includes frequent optical fibre cut due to digging activities being undertaken by various agencies. Since we come to know about such problems only after such an event has happened, there is no way we can inform our customers in advance.

Since we are keen to improve our performance, we would like to have specific feedback from our customers, so that corrective measures could be taken to their satisfaction. We would request customers to add the following information in all such letters: Their contact numbers (mobile or landline), Area/locality where this quality issue in service is being faced, Date and time on which a specific problem has been encountered by the customer.

This information would help us in analysing the cause of the problem, and also the necessary remedial action could be taken.

Yours etc.
Vimal Wakhlu
GM (Mobile Services), BSNL
Shillong-1

Villagers, numbering about 200 of Kairang Awang Leikai armed with licensed double barrel and single barrel guns and other weapons launched the rescue operation in the morning following information that some armed persons were holding captive some persons abducted by them in the Heingang Hanjin Ching and rescued the duo. A ransom of Rs Seven lakh was demanded from the family. (NNN)

The village leaders have made appeal to the neighbouring villages and the people of Aizawl not to do any harm to the tiger. "We want to protect the tiger and its cubs. We will inform the authorities. We appeal everyone to ensure the safety of the animal," the village council president was quoted as saying. (NNN)