Later, at around 4 pm, when the whole election process came to an end, the abducted persons were set free in Mylliem.

Mr Latho won the election by a slender margin of two votes. While the new syiem got 20 votes, his opponent Mr. Ricky Nelson Syiem got 18 votes.

There were four candidates in the fray, the other two being Mr Siembor Manik Syiem and Mr Thwel Manik Syiem. Mr Thewl was also abducted along with the four myntris, namely, Mr Besterwell Pathaw, Mr Thwikson War Nongjri, Espin Pyrtuh Nongbsap and Rudolph Kharbudnah.

An eyewitness said that some miscreants with arms came to one of the schools in Laitkor where all the supporters of Mr Latho were staying at around 3 am on Friday. The miscreants, who came in a Maruti car and a Tata Sumo, dragged the six people to the vehicles and took them to an unknown destination.

Mr Kharbudnah, however, managed to set himself from the clutches of the miscreants.

Sources said that in reality there are 26 original myntris out of which 23 are elected through act of the KHADC. The Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem appointed two more myntris -- Kynsai Manik Lyngdoh Nongpiur and Heldila Kharsohtun -- from two new clans taking the total to 28. These newly-appointed myntris, however, were not able to cast their votes as their names were not included in the voters' list.

He also said that AICC Secretary in Charge Meghalaya Major (Retd) Mr Ved Prakash will join Mr Fernandes in Delhi. "I want to start the election process from the first week of March and we need to discuss the matter with the central leaders", Mr Nongtdu said.

Further he said the party also needed to prepare the election manifesto in consultation with the central leaders. On the issue of change of leadership, he said that he was not aware whether this would figure in the discussion.

SHILLONG: Concerned over large-scale tree felling in Garo Hills, the Forest Minister MN Mukhim has asked the Forest department to depute senior officers to conduct an on-the- spot inquiry.

"I have asked the concerned department officials to speed up the inquiry related to the reports of tree felling", Mr Mukhim told reporters here on Friday.

The officials were also asked to take preventive measures to check illegal felling of trees.

The Minister admitted that tree felling was a matter of serious concern and due to lack of adequate manpower, the government was not in a position to effectively check tree felling.

Meanwhile, several villagers in West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills have complained that they are not getting the financial assistance to check the bamboo flowering. 

The state government has received Rs 1.71 crore from the Centre to check the bamboo flowering, but the money is yet to reach the beneficiaries in some villages.

Meanwhile, there was also a get together of Congress legislators and senior party men at the residence of the Chief Minister. Mr Rymbai said due to the pre-occupation of many legislators, the attendance was only 45%.

Former Chief Minister DD Lapang had to attend a function in Ri-Bhoi district and Dr Mukul Sangma is still in Delhi attending his ailing mother-in-law.

Reacting to the statement of Mr Shylla, Mr Dohling said that it was important for Mr Shylla to understand that the court was not his second home where the doors were only open to him, adding "the KSU has every right to approach the court in defending itself or it may instead file a case against him for misusing the public fund".

With regard to the misappropriation of the MLA scheme by the Nongkrem MLA, he said that the KSU was on its task to get the details and documents of the scam and if the irregularities are proved, then the union will take its own course of action.

SHILLONG : The alleged irregularities in the execution of the Rs 20 crore Wahkaji-Mawthabah road project will come up for discussion in the budget session of the KHADC which begins on Monday.

MDC of Mawkhar constituency Hardinge L Massar, who filed a RTI on the issue and came up with shocking revelations on the discrepancies concerning the road project, has submitted questionnaires to KHADC Chairman Martamlin Pyrbot on the issue.

"So far I am the only person to have submitted questions on the matter based on the RTI findings. I am sure the ruling side will not be able to reply 75 percent of my questions because it has been caught on the wrong foot ", Mr Massar told The Shillong Times here on Friday.

Mr Massar, a UDP member, however said that he would sit in the Opposition and not join his party colleagues who are presently in the ruling side. He, however, made it clear that there was no rift at all in the UDP over the issue of supporting the Executive Committee led by Mr H S Shylla. He clearly stated that he would not join Mr Shylla as he was opposed to his policy.

Mr Massar said that he had filed a second petition under RTI seeking further information on hume pipes, cement, land acquisition and other details related with the project. He said that "the matter has not ended" and more "exciting information" would come out of the probe.

Further, the UDP member was upset at the KHNAM for "hijacking" his findings for its own objectives adding that he had conveyed his displeasure over the calling of press conference by KHNAM general secretary Erwin K Syiem Sutnga recently on the issue. 

In the meeting he said, "I am not happy with the action of the KHNAM which hijacked the issue which I had first initiated. Today they have apologised to me".

It may be recalled that the furore over the way the KHADC spent the money over the road construction work started after details ferreted out by Mr Massar through use of RTI was flashed in the media. The KHNAM, KSU and MPHRC bent on the removal of Mr Shylla and Executive Member T S Thongni on graft charges had approached District Council Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong and demanded sacking of the duo.

However, Mr Shylla termed the reaction of the KHNAM on the RTI findings as a "camouflage" to cover up the misuse of MLA Scheme by KHNAM legislator from Nongkrem Mr Lambor Malngiang.

Interestingly, the issue was mostly on the expenditure to purchase 120 hume pipes at the cost of Rs 57,44,880. As per the KHADC reply, the cost of each pipe was Rs 47,874. The carriage cost of the 120 hume pipes was put at Rs 22,45,530 which meant that the carriage cost of one hume pipe was Rs 18,712.

Besides, the construction of hume pipes which was put at Rs 12.27 lakh, other expenditures included construction of retaining walls (Rs 10.75 lakh), earth work (Rs 92.44 lakh), construction of three bridges (Rs 10 lakh), consultancy charges (Rs 34.60 lakh), muster roll charges (Rs 5.54 lakh), Bank charges (Rs 285), contingency charges (Rs 3.89 lakh), land compensation (Rs 65.22 lakh) and agency charges since April to December 2006 (Rs 5.45 lakh).

SHILLONG: Police on Friday seized fake currency of Rs 9,000 from a house at Dum Dum, Nongthymmai. The fake currency was seized from a Naga person staying in the house. Police, however, refused to divulge the name of the person.

The price of 'lahi' and other varieties, which were sold at Rs 8 at the beginning of financial year, has gone up to Rs 12 to 13. 

He also admitted that price of onion has gone up sharply and also the price of some pulses since the last one year. Mr Tewari said that the State Government can only prevent hoarding of commodities and the Centre had already issued a direction in this regard.

Stating that only the Centre can initiate action with regard to price hike, Mr Tewari said that the State Government could only protect the weaker section by effectively implementing the PDS system. He also pointed out that the check-gates and other means of extortions have become the major causes for price hike in Shillong compared to the rest of India.

Instructions have been given to DCs not to allow the functioning of illegal check-gates.

SHILLONG : As the controversy continued over the corruption charges against KHADC CEM H S Shylla, the FKJGP on Friday asked the State government to institute immediate inquiry into the matter.

An FKJGP delegation led by general secretary Joe Marwein met District Council Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong here on Friday to discuss the issue while it also pointed out to the Minister the various irregularities committed by the KHADC while executing the road project.

"We are shocked and concerned over the recent findings under the Right to Information Act regarding the utilization of money by the KHADC for the road project. The findings have indicated that the entire execution of the project is full of irregularities which has led to large scale misuse of public money", the FKJGP said in its letter to Mr Tynsong.

The organization also expressed surprise that despite the work costing nearly Rs 20 crore, no consultant was engaged by the KHADC to prepare the project report including financial and technical biddings. It also said that the same was prepared and approved by the KHADC "with the help of a retired SDO of PWD". Speculation also rose on the unbelievable expenditure on the purchase and carriage of hume pipes at very high cost which is much beyond the market rate or the PWD Schedule of Rates. "This has raised eye brows over the fairness of the entire contract", the FKJGP said.

Alleging that the KHADC had not engaged a senior and competent Civil Engineer to oversee the work of such high financial magnitude, the organisation also said that no tenders were floated for the entire contract as per followed norms in all government departments.

Earlier, Mr Tynsong had made it clear that action on the corruption charges against Mr Shylla would be made by next week adding that he is currently examining the matter.

In a letter to the minister, the BJP said that the arbitrary enhancement of the house tax as far as the proposed revision is too high and unimaginable considering the rate of increase of above 500 to 5000 per cent.

The party also perused Section 302 of the MM Act, 1973 and found that only an elected Municipal Board can decide on the revision of the assessment of the holdings in the Shillong Municipality.

The party felt that alternatively the revision could wait will an elected Municipal Boards is in place.

The KHNAM unit has been observing that many schools, institutions, especially those non-government schools, had imposed the schools fees to be paid in one full instalments on in two full instalments during one academic year plus the cost of books to be purchased from schools.

This policy has affected the parents, especially those with lower income.

Shillong: DGP WR Marbaniang informed that the newly inducted 100 women constables in the Police Department would be mainly involved in tackling crimes against women besides performing several duties related to maintenance of law and order and various important operations wherever the Department feels necessary.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the passing out parade of 32 batch recruit constable at the Police Training School (PTS), Mawlai Mawroh on Friday, Mr Marbaniang said after the State witnessed an increase in the crime graph against women in the past few years, the Police Department thought of having a special women's police to tackle crimes related to the fairer sex.

"There is no denial that the induction of the 100 newly women constables to the police ranks would definitely removed one of the major difficulties the Police Department has been facing in tackling crimes against women" Mr Marbaniang said, adding the Police Department had been going through various hardships for not having the service of the required number of women police personnel.

He said that the strength of women police is the State police force has risen upto three per cent with this new induction. He hoped that with the services of the 100 women police personnel, the Department would not spare any sort of crimes against women and deal with the issues in this regard with a firm hand. He disclosed that in the initial stages, a lot of criticisms had surfaced on whether the decision to induct such a large number of women to the Police Department was a good move.

However, the results displayed by the new recruits has proved them wrong and the Police Department takes pride in this regard, he said

"The training which the present newly inducted women police personnel received is totally different from the previous batches of women personnel as the training is more on how to handle the different weapons and also on the field craft" Mr Marbaniang said.

On a lighter vein, the DGP called upon the women police personnel not to rush for marriages, but at most, give their best to the society and the department for at least three years of unhindered policing life. On the occasion, prizes were also awarded to the personnel for their excellence in various disciplines.

Later, Mr Marbaniang handed over the Governor Medals for Gallantry to the 38 police personnel at the investiture ceremony held at the same venue. The prominent police personnel who got the Governor Medals for Gallantry are SP City M Kharkrang and Commandant Ist Battalion Claudia A Lyngwa.

He further informed that four Khasi and Jaintia students and some Garo students were involved in drinking and shouting in the hostel on the night of February 17 and after which there were heated exchanges and fighting among themselves. "Panicked by this incident, the Garo students left the hostel without informing the Institute authority and stern action is being taken against those students who violated the hostel rules," the Principal said.

He also said that the information given by Mr John Leslee K Sangma about the incident in 2006 is baseless and "actually only about 20 to 25 outsiders had come and punished the three Garo students for their misbehaviour in the hostel".

In this regard also, the authority had already taken up the matter with the police just after the incident, the Principal said.

Jowai: The sample of contaminated water from the Wah Lukha in Jaintia Hills has been sent to the State Pollution Board for thorough examination to find out the results that poison the whole river and killed thousands of fishes, the Jaintia Hills District Magistrate, FR Kharkongor informed The Shillong Times here on Friday evening.

Kharkongor also informed that the magisterial inquiry was conducted and he will receive the report within few days.

It may be mentioned that Wah Lukha is one of the most important rivers in Jaintia Hills passing through many villages like Sakri, Lum-Tongseng, Sonapur, Chymplong, Kuliang Borsera, flowing up to Bangladesh. Many people from these villages are earning their livelihood by catching fresh water fishes and sell them to nearby markets and due to contamination of the water, a large number of fishes and riverine life forms have been killed.

The river has also changed its colour, the villagers said.

According to the headman of Sonapur, Saitdring Lamare, the river started changing its colour since Saturday last, starting from Wah Lunar, and a tributary of Wah Lukha. He and along the villagers of the area had earlier alleged that the Cement Manufacturing Company Ltd (Star Cement) was responsible for the poisoning.

They also alleged that the Company had notified to its staff that the plant will remain closed from January 14 to February 16 due to repairing works and claimed that the chemical began to flow to the river since February 16 after the rainfall.

In this regards, the Eastern Narpuh Border Fishing Association has lodged their complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Jaintia Hills. The Fishing Association has also submitted their memorandum to the Chief Executive Member of the JHADC since last year requesting the CEM to direct the company to construct a proper dumping area for disposal the chemical waste product produced from the cement plant.

It may also be mentioned that many rivers in Jaintia Hills District were polluted to an extent that not a single living creatures can live in these rivers.

Lukha so long has not been polluted as a result the river attracted many anglers from almost all parts of the District. But recently the river also has been greatly affected and different variety of Fresh water fishes died including those weighing more that 60 and 70 Kilograms. Rare species like kha-ro, kha Khla, ka tyrsung, kha-Pitha etc were also killed by the chemical.

Even though the people of the areas strongly alleged the Star Cement but only proper testing of the water sample by the technical experts will tells what types of chemical the water contents that lead to the dead of thousands of fishes.

Official sources said that one Ramu Das, working with a coal unit, was picked up by the BSF for illegally possessing the Indian currency.

The horrifying bomb blasts on the Samjhauta Express heading from Delhi to Lahore on Feb 19 is yet another testimony to the persistence of amoral extremist forces that are working overtime to derail the capricious but ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan. By killing 68 innocent passengers on the eve of the visit to New Delhi of Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Khurshid Ahmed Kasuri, the intention could only be to provoke another round of mutual recrimination and perhaps even to induce suspension of the continuing exchange.

In sharp contrast to the reactions after the terrorist attack on parliament and the Mumbai train blasts, it is a matter of relief and a manifestation of sensitive restraint that not only have there been no fingers pointed by India but that both President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, apart from expressing sorrow, have also been quick to reiterate their commitment to continue on the sane path of dialogue. This would no doubt act as an effective check on the hawks within the security establishment on both sides who also look out for any opportunity to pursue their mindless games of one-upmanship.

In this context it is significant that C.Raja Mohan, a senior and obviously well informed political analyst, has thought it fit to reveal a few "open secrets" about the so-called back channel diplomacy also just a couple of days before Kasuri's visit. Writing in the Indian Express of Feb 19 he cites the authority of the Pakistani foreign minister to claim that "significant progress has occurred in the bilateral negotiations on J&K" which "have entered a definitive phase." Raja Mohan then goes on to describe the "broad contours of a settlement" which would seem to be very much on the lines of Musharaff's four-point plan which has, in fact, evoked contradictory responses from different Indian government authorities at least as reported in the media.

This prevarication on Kashmir is, of course, not new amongst the supposedly well-informed advisers in South and North Blocks. Concluding his extremely forthright article Raja Mohan makes a vigorous plea to the prime minister to personally take the initiative, adopt a "big-bang approach", pay an early visit to Islamabad, pressurize both bureaucracies and push through a settlement before "this propitious moment" fades away. There is an almost prophetic suggestion that a major terrorist attack could result in such a setback. The Samjhauta Express nightmare seems to fit the bill.

The intriguing question implicitly raised by Raja Mohan's version is that given the veracity of his revelations about the advanced stage of back channel negotiations, what is constricting the prime minister from taking bolder and firmer steps towards taking Musharraf's outstretched hand. There is no doubt that the latter has little support from his own security establishment and faces virulent opposition from Islamist groups to the peace process for a variety of reasons.

This should provide an even stronger rationale for Manmohan Singh to take the initiative and strengthen the moderate opinion in Pakistan that is equally anxious to find a peaceful but honourable settlement. Understandably, he would have in mind the concern that opposition parties like the BJP and their Hindutva mentors would certainly exploit the terrorism threat in the belief that this would bring electoral advantage in the imminent state assembly elections, particularly those of Uttar Pradesh which would also impact on the forthcoming presidential election. These considerations seem to be the more serious inhibiting factors and might very well determine the timing of any dramatic step forward in resolving the Kashmir conundrum and bringing about normalization in Indo-Pak relations.

It is also crystal clear that the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir must not only be heard but be incorporated in any final settlement between the two countries if it is to be sustainable in the long run. However, there is still considerable vagueness about what would constitute the authentic voice of the people. In truth, there is no single voice that can claim to represent the entire populace or even any one region wholly.

It is, therefore, essential that in order to take the peace process forward, the mainstream political parties as well as the moderate alienated elements all be brought on board. While the National Conference, Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party have in essence come to a common position in terms of open borders, autonomy/self rule and force reductions the Hurriyat, headed by Omer Farooq, is still hesitant to take an open stance even though they must realize that the compulsions within both India and Pakistan cannot allow either country to go much beyond this formulation.

In fact, even this package will not be easy to sell. The Pakistan foreign minister would surely impress these ground realities upon the Hurriyat leaders when they meet him in New Delhi. The latter would be well advised to heed such counsel if they want to save themselves from being marginalized.

If Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Musharraf are able to overcome their respective constraints (and this is an oversized if) and declare an agreement on the basics, it would make the way forward much smoother and take the dialogue to a higher level where specific content can begin to be given to the 'broad contours'.

During our summer holidays, the kids of the large joint family were often rounded up from all parts of our Victorian bungalow, ushered into the living room and seated on a white reed mat for a music lesson.

We couldn't tell whether this was to keep us out from the scorching afternoon sun or to develop in us an appreciation for music. Although it demanded concentration aplenty, it had its rewards.

The excitement began when the gramophone was placed in front of us on the teakwood bureau. Immediately, our subdued protests and mutterings turned to feverish anticipation and excited exchanges.

Before things got out of hand, a stern look and a 'chup' from the gramophone operator, Raju mama, silenced the hall. Raju mama would then place a 78-rpm record on the turntable.

Several pairs of little eyes followed his every move. We knew one of us would get lucky and be picked to crank the machine.

The others had to contend with counting in unison. Finally, he would ask us to listen carefully to the record about to be played. Listen to every word sung. Follow the tune, and do not forget the pauses.

That done, he would ask, 'Are you ready?' The gramophone would then spring the song into action, complete with hisses and crackles.

'Preetam aan milo', began the gravelly, low voice. Just as the voice of the Sindhi singer filled the room, there would be a flutter at the connecting door curtain.

It was the older female members of the family trying to get a view of the performance. They pushed each other and threw furtive glances at the 'angelic' cross-legged assemblage on the mat.

For some reason, this gave them the giggles. We couldn't get distracted by them as Raju mama kept a close eye on all of us, even though he often appeared to be immersed in the song, sometimes even closing eyes and humming a bar or two.

When the last notes of the song died out, mama would make two or three of us repeat the song. Only once the first shadow fell on us through the window and the orange orb disappeared behind the big banyan tree were we allowed to scoot raucously outdoors, the blazing heat and the bittersweet ordeal of the music lesson over, our reward toffees firmly in hand! (By arrangement with The Times of India)

Elections are over in Punjab and the opinion polls give a slight edge to the Akali/BJP combination over the Congress. The position stated earlier may change as the Akali have lost ground in the Malwa area [OBC votes] which was considered their stronghold and we may well see the Akali Dal winning 55=60 seats and the Congress between 45=50 seats which is a very close race. The Uttarakhand situation remains unchanged and whilst the BJP may be ahead of the Congress the BSP/UKD/Independents may well dictate the government formation in the state. The results will be out in a few days but the focus has shifted to the emerging chaos in Uttar Pradesh.

We have confusion in Uttar Pradesh and the Supreme Court judgement in regard to 13 BSP MLA's is being interpreted to dismiss the Mulayam Singh government. Clever and manipulative legal arguments are no substitute for political common sense and I think the Congress party is about to make a 'blunder' unless it is rescued by the CPI[M] and its leader Prakash Karat is perhaps the only politician talking sense on the issue of Article 356. We revive memories of the situation in Jharkhand and Bihar in particular where the Governor was censured for similar acts and on this occasion the President will have to 'think and act' and he may well refuse to sign the document unless he has studied the issue and taken legal opinion. Parliament can be another hurdle and frankly in all this confusion it is the Samajwadi Party which will gain sympathy. The Governor has no credibility and is very much a 'family retainer' bought out of retirement and from the first day has acted in a partisan manner, the Samajwadi Party government from the first day has governed with the help of 'defectors' and the Congress have supported these moves and can claim no 'moral superiority' in this situation and have 'assisted' Mayawati in her cases on the 'Taj' corridor case till the Supreme Court called a halt to this political power play. The reality is that there are no 'innocents' in this episode and as we approach elections and no party is likely to get anywhere near the half way mark the same 'defection' game will start all over again and as I have written earlier we will witness a 'political auction' as numbers will determine alliances and defections based on division of assets. I cannot understand the high media exposure on the issue by the Congress as I don't see any political advantage to them and in a 'Dynastic' situation the loyalists use these occasions for personal placement and there are to many politically 'unemployed' lawyers within the party looking for adjustment. The end result of all this will be a advantage to Mulayam Singh and the Samajwadi Party but the defection game will still take place after the election and everyone will participate in this game of 'musical chairs'

This issue is not a simple one and look at events in Bihar where the charismatic Lalu Yadav with all his 'smart talk' and TV exposure is unable to retrieve lost ground to the JD[U] CM Nitesh Kumar who ranks in the opinion polls as the best Chief Minister after Narender Modi. Lalu Yadav can get anything from the UPA [Rabri Devi just got NSG commando cover] because of his 'numbers' and the Governor in Bihar acted very much in his favor but little worked in his favor and whilst he is a fixture at international forums for his high spirited remarks and his management skills on turning the Railways around he has lost out on his political constituency as he used his political muscle to settle political issues. The Supreme Court verdict was a embarrassment to the UPA and I think a similar situation is brewing in Uttar Pradesh and could well effect the future political patterns in the Coalition structure. I will repeat again that in Uttar Pradesh everyone has contributed to the mess as both the Congress/BJP have assisted both sides directly or indirectly in government formation and defections and whilst all political parties would like Mulayam Singh/Amar Singh to go into political oblivion this may not happen to easily as Mayawati is no 'innocent' and as religion and caste vote banks have solidly settled in there may be little impact at the ballot. The Congress may find it difficult to withdraw after taking the initiative but then 'fools often go where angels fear to tread'!

There is violence in the 'air' in Uttar Pradesh and this is a bad sign as we head into elections.

Security issues are our biggest challenge and we go from one crisis to another without really taking action against 'soft' laws and hesitancy in locating and ejecting illegal immigrants from our borders. We have news coming in off a blast in the Samjauta Express and over 64 are killed and 50 are injured. Shivraj Patil and Lalu Yadav rush to the spot and in lieu of lives lost there will be the usual cash compensation packets and is this going to help in resolving the security threat we face from the ISI and other terrorist units. The situation in Iraq is going from bad to worse and few can predict what is happening on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan but we do know that the Al Qaida is getting stronger and unless we hit at the root of terror activity and destroy the 'sleeper unit' we will simply go from one disaster to another with little more than cash compensation packets. The North East is critical and it is time for strong, punitive action and the 'message' is more important than the action that will follow. Minority appeasement and vote bank politics cannot take precedence over National security.

Sir

If you go to any government office like the Post Office, Telecom Office, etc the most common scenario is that most of the chairs are empty, the only the excuse being "no electricity".

On the 22nd of Feb at 10:30 am, I went to Laitumukhrah Post Office, to pay the telephone bill. But due to the formulation of the new rule, that is, "no electricity, no work between 10am to 12am I could not avail to pay. Interestingly, in the notice board it is mentioned "Telephone bill will be accepted till 1 pm".

Here, I would like to request the authority concerned to kindly do something in this regard.

Yours etc.,
Xyz
Laitumkhrah
Shillong
Via e-mail

Sir,

A lot had been written about Shilpa Shetty's "Racism ordeal" during her Big Brother experience, which she ultimately won -thanks to the sympathy votes from us Indians and from the Brits. The Brits, desperately trying to convey a message that Britain is not a racist country voted for the Indian beauty and she ultimately won the game. We further see the Indian government pitching in with the Tourism ministry to send a formal invitation to Jade Goody to visit India to find out for herself the tolerant Indian culture. Now the question is, are we really a tolerant country as we claim to be? In fact, the reverse is true; we just happen to be one of those countries where 'tolerance' and 'fair treatment' is alien to all. The Government has picked up a bad topic to display an image of goodness and well being to the outside world. Ask any Indian if he has not experienced the 'remarks' that construe to racism or discrimination and he would affirm that he has.

India is a diverse country with regional variations and cultural differences. We all know of the historical hatred prevalent between the south and the north, and we are well aware of the casual attitude with which people from east India are treated elsewhere in India. Bengalis are snubbed as 'Bongs''gora' etc. Further, people from the northeast are collectively clubbed as 'Chinky', 'dog-eaters' to name a few. Now a very important question is, are we, the people from the northeast above racism and discrimination? Do we possess the same sick mentality with our brethren from the plains? The answer is yes. Aren't we simply delighted to label people from the plains and other parts of the country settling down in Shillong and elsewhere as 'Dkhars' , 'Mayanks ' khar-iap' 'muid' 'Vaite' etc .

This anecdote is familiar at working places, academic institutions and other such establishments. Discrimination and racist tendencies do not have any place in this civilized world and needs to be dealt with seriously. Nevertheless, as a nation, we still do not possess the right to preach on 'respect 'and 'equality of brotherhood' to the outside world, as this is something that is still a mirage in this country. The most practical solution would be education and the media -as both play an active role in promoting communal harmony and understanding between communities. As for politics -please keep it out.

Yours etc.,
Phrangsngi Pyrtuh
Via e-mail

Delivering his customary address to the joint sitting of the Parliament on the first day of Budget Session, the President said that special attention had been given for modernisation of police personnel, security forces and intelligence agencies in the region.

"A focused and holistic attempt to deal with the challenges of internal security in the region is yielding dividends," he told the packed Central Hall where MPs from both Houses assembled to hear him.

However, while taking up the internal security measures, the Government will remain focused on overall social, economic and cultural development, the President said.

"The government will assure protection of human rights while maintaining utmost vigil against terrorists and extremist forces in the region," he said.

On development front the President gave details of several special programmes undertaken by the government in the region.

Highway works undertaken by the government including the East-West corridor would remove the physical isolation of the region from the mainland, he said adding, "The government has undertaken Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North-east."

The President also hoped that the region would be able to reap the benefits of "improvement of bilateral relationship" with neighbouring countires like Bhutan, Bangladesh, China and Mynamar.

"The Look East Policy has contributed towards developing the relationship with our ASEAN and East Asian neighbourhood," he said.

Election office sources here said Tamenglong and Chandel districts accounted for 85 per cent, while Churachandpur district recorded 80 per cent polling.

Jiribam sub-division registered 70 per cent turnout. Suspected ultras fired at a polling station in Tamenglong disrupting voting for some time. (UNI)

NEW DELHI: "Airtel wishes you a pleasant stay in Bangladesh. You have logged on to Bangla Link".

This was a message in the official mobile phone of the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs PR Kyndiah, not during his visit to the neighbouring country, but while he was very much in India during his tour to one of the bordering areas in his own State.

As if this was not enough, the company also welcomed the Minister to Bangladesh and extended all assistance when he was very much in India. It went on to give contact numbers of the Indian Embassy in Bangladesh.

"Dear Airtel Delhi Subscriber, AKTEL welcomes you to Bangladesh," the message went on.

What further infuriated the veteran leader from the region was that the village Munishora village in West Khasi Hills and adjoining areas where he got the message earlier this month, from Bangladesh do not have telephone lines leave alone mobiles. This is despite the fact that mobile connections have made phenomenal rise in the region.

Shocked and surprised, Mr Kyndiah who was then accompanied by the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly MM Dango, also an MLA from that area, has shot off a letter to the Union Minister for Telecommunications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran. He demanded that a team of officials from the ministry must visit the areas for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

"This is indeed a very serious matter and can pose serious threat to our internal security as well since this is in an important and sensitive bordering area," the Union Minister said.

Incidentally, the Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh had also mentioned about receiving messages from mobile companies of neighbouring countries in the North East during his tour while there is no mobile or landline network in our part of the border.

"I also had taken an opportunity for issuing necessary direction to all concerned for establishment of telephone facility including mobile telephony in the area," Mr Kyndiah said.

Good communication facilities in the remote and sensitive bordering areas would not only help developmental activities but also bring those isolated people to the mainstream besides removing their hardships.

Agartala: Having failed to find an amicable solution to the vexed Bru refugee problems, the Mizoram Bru Displaced People Forum (MBDPF) has finally launched a week-long sit-in demonstration here on Friday. The movement is aimed to press the demand for amicable settlement of the refugee problems. Hundreds of Forum members joined in the stir to strengthen demand for early repatriation of refugees.

The Forum will wait till March 2 to settle the issue, otherwise it would start an indefinite hunger strike to fulfill their demand, said Elvis Chorkey, president of the Forum on Friday. He said people sheltering in camps in North Tripura District are frustrated with the attitude of the Central and Mizoram Government.

Over 30,000 Bru people had to leave their homes in Mizoram due to ethnic clash in 1997 and since then they are residing there. Six camps were set up to accommodate them.

Last month, a high official of the Ministry of Home Affairs visited the camps and interacted with refugee leaders but nothing has been done to find an amicable solution to the problem, he alleged.

The MBDPF had also submitted a memorandum to the MHA officials to look into the demands of refugee. The demands include repartition of refugee with proper rehabilitation and formation of autonomous district council for Bru people in Mizoram.

Tripura government urged the MHA official to bring a solution to the refugee problem.

Official sources said here that the Mizoram government is not allowing the Bru people to return their territory saying that all of them are not citizen of Mizoram making the problem compound. (OVER)