The government hopes to tide over the deficit by borrowings and also by additional resource mobilisation. The total budget stands at Rs 2,732 crore and power sector has been accorded highest priority.

Presenting the budget, Dr Roy said that the total receipt including that of public accounts is Rs 15,219.82 crore against a corresponding expenditure of Rs 15,204.99 crore. Taking into account the opening deficit of Rs 40.18 crore, there will be a closing deficit of Rs 25.35 crore.

Dr Roy said that in the context of increasing revenue expenditure and the need to support plan expenditure through mobilisation of additional resources, a Resource Mobilisation Committee was constituted in December 2006 to examine the ways and means of generating additional resources through taxes and cesses, widening of tax base, imposition of cess for maintenance of roads and plugging loopholes leading to evasion of taxes.

Dr Roy said the committee is expected to submit the report within three month, adding that the recommendations of the committee will help raise more resources for development. On the important areas, Dr Roy said that the topmost priority is given to power sector with a plan outlay of Rs 303 crore.

In the context of power shortage, there needs to be a paradigm shift in the policy frame work in the power sector. He said the power policy of the State is in the advanced stage, adding that the proposed policy will help explore more power projects by MeSEB, Central Undertakings and suitable private partners.

According to Dr Roy, the increasing cost of power purchase, coupled with the uneconomic sale, price of power is threatening the financial health of the Board.

"The average cost of power sold to MeSEB is Rs 4.64 per unit whereas the average sale price is Rs 2.66 per unit resulting in a per unit loss of Rs 1.98," Dr Roy said.

Dr Roy said the improvement of roads is another area of priority and the plan allocation for the sector is Rs 180 crore. He said the Centre has entrusted the work for four-laning of NH 40 from Jorabat to Umiam to the National Highway Authority of India.

Regarding police department, Dr Roy said that a tentative outlay of Rs 4.5 crore is proposed to be earmarked for the State Police. There is a proposal to set up new police stations and upgrade strategic outposts and beat houses in a phased manner.

On education, Dr said that core monitoring teams have been set up at the state and district levels to ensure improvement in the quality of elementary education. The outlay for education is Rs 129 crore.

Highlighting the need to improve health sector, Dr Roy said that construction and upgradation of new sub centre, PHCs and CHCs will be planned as per norms to increase the coverage of health delivery system. The outlay for the health sector is Rs 75 crore.

Other areas of importance are social welfare, agriculture and horticulture, veterinary and animal husbandry and others. Dr Roy further said that the year 2007-08 would be the first year of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan and third year of the Award of the Twelfth Finance Commission.

An outlay of RS 8,695 crore has been projected to the Planning Commission for the Eleventh Plan. The annual plan size fixed by the Planning Commission stands at Rs 1,120 crore. The non-plan estimate is fixed at Rs 1,549 crore.

The Finance Minister said the State's annual average growth rate has been targetted at 7.3 per cent.

He added that the government's clear cut action plan should have been reflected the budget.

However, he admitted that there is a "small increase" in the budget allocation.

"But the increase will not be sufficient to meet the requirements," Mr Sangma said.

A CCIB meeting between top leaders of KSU, FKJGP, SSSS, HNYF and Federal Council of Ri-War Mihngi and War Jaintia (FCRWMWJ) here on Friday decided to issue "quit notice" to the NBCC and the concerned contractors fencing work is not stopped within the "deadline".

"We will ask the NBCC to leave the State if they fail to meet our demand," CCIB spokesman GH Kharshanlor said.

The NBCC has been continuing activities including earthwork and laying of foundation for erection of border fence in Huroi near Umkiang, Jaintia Hills, he alleged.

The CCIB spokesman also accused the Corporation of openly violating the direction of the State government to keep the fencing work in abeyance till the issue was resolved.

However, he informed that the CCIB is awaiting the response of the State Government on the date for the second visit to Nongjri and Pyrdiwah to assess the problem faced by land owners due to the proposed fencing work.

"The State Government till now has done nothing with regards to our demand for release of pending bills," AMCSA president Dino DG Dympep said here on Friday adding that due to inaction by authorities to settle the issue, most contractors are frustrated and have doubt of getting any payment by March 31.

Stating that the AMCSA would decide its "drastic course of action" at its meeting on March 26 at PWD Barik Compound, Mr Dympep said that the delay of the officials of both Planning and Finance departments to clear the payment had exposed the insincerity of the State government despite its assurances to solve the tangle.

Meanwhile, most of the contractors have threatened to resort to destruction of works executed by them in both PWD and PHE departments in case the authorities fail to clear their bills within this financial year ending on March 31. They have also said that they could no longer wait as their livelihood had been affected.

In the first case, Alloyius Rynjah alias Makoh of Mawlai Nongpdeng was sentenced to two years of simple imprisonment for molesting two minors on May 23, 2004, at Mawlai Nongpdeng.

The fast track court sentenced another person involved in the rape of a 12-years-old girl at Nongsyrngan village near Pynursla on May 30, 2004, to seven-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2000.

Moving a cut motion, Mr Chaudhuri said that since the statehood day on January 21 is a red letter day for the State, there should be some special and innovative programmes on the day.

Highlighting the purpose of Meghalaya Day celebration, Mr Chaudhuri said that the Day is an occasion to remember how the hill state came into being and the people's commitment to the State.

The fruits of sacrifice and unity of the people shown in 1972 should be highlighted in every Meghalaya Day celebrations, he said adding that there is a feeling of fragmentation and suspicion in the minds of the people.

"I also don't find any enthusiasm among the people during the celebrations," Mr Chaudhuri deplored.

According to him, January 21 is also an occasion to re-dedicate ourselves to work for the progress of State.

Mr Chaudhuri also wanted the government to involve more youth in the State during the Meghalaya Day celebrations so that they can showcase their talents. He stressed the need for associating Meghalayan NRIs and those outside the State.

In his reply, Chief Minister DD Lapang agreed with the contentions and said the celebrations of Meghalaya Day should be organized in a more befitting way.

According to him, the Union's agitation is being called off temporarily in response to the Chief Minister's invitation for talks.

Earlier, the constable, Hordor Kharkylliang, attempted suicide by stabbing himself for the fear of being caught, police said.

Police seized his service revolver, suspected to be used in the crime, and three empty cases of .38 ammunition recovered from his house. A case is also registered by the police against the constable.

Replying to a question by Manas Chaudhuri (Ind), C&RD Minister Charles Pyngrope said that the High Court on November 14 directed the State Government to file case against those involved. 

He said that the FIR was filed on March 6 and the final report was awaited. He said that the government had already initiated action against three Block Development Officers - Dr A Roy, MD Sangma and J Lakiang and one NGO, Gambil.

Mr Pyngrope said that the delay in the filing of FIR was because the State had directed for a magisterial inquiry by the Deputy Commissioner and an inquiry by the Anti Corruption Branch of the State Government, which is awaited.

According to Mr Pyngrope, the government is taking necessary steps to ensure that there should not be any further delay in action.

"It is not true that there is laxity in taking action against those involved," Mr Pyngrope said. With regard to taking action against other lower rank officers like project director and engineers involved in the scam, Mr Pyngrope said that necessary action would be taken once the report is completed.

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday reiterated that the internal security situation in once peaceful Meghalaya has deteriorated in the year gone by even while the overall situation in the region has improved.

The Union Home Ministry in its annual report for 2006 revealed that the number of violent incidents in Meghalaya has increased so also the civilians' death toll. On the other hand the number of extremist killed has come down to 20 in 2006 compared to 23 in 2005.

During the last Parliament session, the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil had announced the same thing on the floor of the House. The overall security scenario in the entire North East has improved, the Home Ministry report said.

"The Government is well aware of the sliding situation in some parts of the country including the NE region and has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to tone up internal security in the country," the report said.

Explaining the Centre's policy to deal with internal security, the report said additional battalions of para-military forces were being raised to enhance the strength of law enforcing agencies. Intelligence agencies were being strengthened at the national and state levels.

The Government was keen on removing economic disparities and improving infrastructure. Several steps have been taken for overall improvement of the economic situation in the isolated NE, the report said.

In the insurgency hit NE region the government has also initiated peace process with some of the outfits, which came for talks, the report said. ANVC is one such outfit with which the Government has entered into a ceasefire.

Several steps have been taken for overall improvement of the economic situation in the isolated NE, the report said.

According to Mrs Marak, the meeting focused on malaria prone areas in Garo Hills, Ri-Bhoi and border areas of West Khasi Hills which witnessed maximum number of malaria deaths in the past. The meeting also took stock of the problems faced by doctors and paramedics in dealing with the disease.

"The meeting discussed the steps to prevent malaria in time before it could take a toll on precious lives this summer. We have worked out strategies and steps for better coordination between all health personnel and doctors in rural areas to combat the disease," Mrs Marak said.

The Health Minister also said that administering of anti-malarial drugs, regular spraying of DDT and training of health workers would be taken up in all malaria-prone areas of the State. She also said that district health officials would cover all the Blocks and submit weekly reports to the Health department on action taken by them to deal with the disease.

"I will review the reports block-wise every two months," Mrs Marak said adding that publicity on malaria prevention besides campaign to educate people in rural areas about the disease would be carried out in all the districts so as to remove superstition and discourage people's confidence on quacks.

Stating that problems were being faced by doctors and health workers posted in rural areas due to mobility problem, topography and shortage of manpower in several Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Community Health Centres (CHC).

Mrs Marak, however, maintained that there is "adequate" stock of anti-malaria medicines.

It may be mentioned that hundreds of people in Garo Hills and border areas of West Khasi Hills died of malaria in 2006.

According to official reports, 157 people died during the year due to the disease, which is the highest compared to 41 deaths in 2005.

SHILLONG: Higher and Technical Education Minister Mr RG Lyngdoh said that the State govt is awaiting the report of the survey conducted by NEHU to assess the drop out pattern and its causes in the State.

Replying to a question raised by Mr E K Sangma, (NCP), Mr R G Lyngdoh said that the report would provide information on how the state can prepare a comprehensive plan to improve the learning environment.

This can be done by training untrained teachers, organising orientation programme for teachers, granting of opening permission to schools in rural areas, grant in aid to adhoc schools for qualified science teachers, provision for science equipments, appointment of teachers with B Ed, computer education, bridging infrastructure gap and others, the Minister said.

He also pointed out that Midday meals and free text books are being disbursed to schools students.

The Minister said that there has been a marked improvement in the enrollment of students - lower primary, upper primary, secondary, higher secondary - while comparing the records of enrolment with that of the previous years.

Replying to another supplementary question , Mr Lyngdoh said that monitoring of schools' activities are being done by the Inspector and Deputy Inspector of Schools

Chief Minister DD Lapang said that though there were no officers on contract basis appointed in Delhi, one Mr Sharif Laskar was appointed as Public Relations Secretary to the Chief Minister located in Delhi to assist the Chief Minister. The salary is Rs 4,000 per month.

Replying to questions by Mr PT Sawkmie(MDP), and Mr PM Syiem ( Ind), Mr Lapang said he government will look into the creation of a separate cell in Delhi to have better liaison.

Answering supplementary questions by Manas Chaudhuri (Ind), PT Sawkmie (MDP), TN Marak (Congress) and PM Syiem (Ind), Dr Sangma said that the Nagalbibra thermal power project and the Ganol hydel project would be taken up on a priority basis.

While the Ganol hydel power project is expected to start by the next financial year, the Nangalbibra thermal power project is at the conceptualisation stage as the government is "keeping its options open", Dr Sangma said.

He said that for tapping power, the government was undecided on whether to follow a joint venture or a Public Private Partnership or Independent Power Producers.

Dr Sangma said that with finalisation of the draft power policy and corporatisation of MeSEB, the power scenario could be improved. Giving projected figures worth crores for various upcoming power projects, Dr Sangma said that with the commissioning of the projects, the department could provide adequate power.

To another supplementary, Dr Sangma said that there was no major power project in Garo Hills for the last few years. Dr Sangma reiterated that the government had not messed up the State Power department but admitted that there are constraints. He assured that the government would not waste time for implementation of power projects.

The Power Minister assured the House that steps would be taken to exploit all the potentialities for generating power. Till then, the State will be in a position to draw power from the Grid and Central bodies, he added.

SHILLONG: The Dorbar Shnong Diengiong near Mawdiangdiang has condemned the recent action of Additional District Magistrate T Lyngwa who "forcefully" raided the house and plot of land owned by local resident Mrs Thwintina Mawrie adjacent to NEIGRIHMS hospital. The Durbar Shong has also sought clarification from the authorities on the action of the ADM and his refusal to cooperate with the Durbar Shnong on the matter.

SHILLONG: Fifteen new cave passages were explored by the international cave explorers recently in Jaintia Hills during the 2007 International Caving Expedition organised by the Meghalaya Adventures Association last month.

The team comprised of 1 Austrian, Welsh, Scottish, Swiss, American and Canadian, 4 Germans 15 English and 4 Irish, besides members of the Association.

The exploration focussed on the caving areas of the Shnongrim/Nongkhlieh Ridge near to Shnongrim village, Sutnga Elaka, the Lukha Valley and Semasi Areas to the North East.

SHILLONG: Civil Supplies Minister Mr Martle Mukhim on Friday assured the state assembly that strict monitoring measures will be initiated to plug the loopholes in PDS.

Continuing with his reply to a cut motion moved by Mr Manas Chaudhuri (Ind), Mr Mukhim said that the Department has proposed to introduce an efficient method of monitoring the Public Distribution System in the State.

To extend its services to the citizens effectively, a state-of-art solution called TETRAPDS. (Targetted Efficient Transparent Rationing and Allocation Public Distribution System) developed by NIC team,Kerala was developed for the Department of Food and Civil Supplies. He said there are efforts to create awareness amongst the public consumers on the implementation PDS in the state in collaboration with the National Service Scheme and North Eastern Hill University.

The Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity, Government of India, Regional Office Guwahati has also been asked to arrange publicity campaign for PDS in all the Blocks.

Regarding the proper implementation of PDS, Mr Mukhim said that he would take corrective action to ensure that PDS commodities reach the target group for whom they are meant.

He also assured that names of the monitoring committees will be made available to the legislators. He said revision of ration cards and fresh enumeration of BLP families will also be undertaken by the department. After this assurance, Mr Chaudhuri withdrew the cut motion.

SHILLONG: Higher and technical Education Minister Mr R G Lyngdoh informed the State Assembly on Friday that the state government has approached the West Bengal, Asom and other Northeastern States for tips from their education policy on how to regulate private educational institutions.

Replying to a question by Mr P T Sawmie (MDP), Mr Lyngdoh said that the state government would soon frame an education policy in the lines of West Bengal, Asom and other Northeastern States, soon to regulate the mushrooming of private schools and colleges.

The Education Minister said that having a policy would, besides regulation, take into account the need to have proper service rules of teachers, teachers emolument and infrastructure development.

Replying to a supplementary question by Mr P M Syiem (Ind) on government's intervention on the school fees hike in private institutions, Mr Lyngdoh said that the government is controlling only schools that are availing aid from it.

On the the possibilities of investment in Education sector, Mr Lyngdoh said that investments are welcome but the policy will not deter investment.

Replying to a question raised by Mr Manas Chaudhuri (Ind), the Education Minister said that opening permission for schools by the government is not mandatory.

On private schools that had asked for funds from DONER or NEC, Mr Lyngdoh said the government is just routing the appeal of the private institutions through the state planning department.

SHILLONG: Air India and The Shillong Times RANK and BOLT Awards for 2006 were presented here on Friday at an impressive function held at State Central Library.

Bryan Wahlang, Anthony Bansuklang Khongsit and Mandakini Hazarika were conferred with top honours in recognition of excellence in the field of personal excellence and practicing professionalism.

It may be mentioned that altogether 12 awards were conferred to the students and teachers at the National, State and District level. The RANK award is given to the student achievers while the BOLT is awarded to teachers.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Governor MM Jacob lauded the Air India and The Shillong Times for taking the initiative in recognising excellence in the field of academics.

However, he said that students of this region are better than those in other parts of the country as they are more professional in their attitude and possess excellent communication skill.

Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh who was the Guest of Honour, called upon the students to open their mind to achieve higher goals.

" It is the students who can transform Meghalaya to one of the major power houses of the country which will allow the State to march ahead in all spheres."

On the occasion, Mr Jacob and Mr Lyngdoh also distributed prizes to the various winners. Others who spoke on the occasion included The Shillong Times editor Mr Manas Chaudhuri, General Manager of Air India Mr SK Kolekar and Commercial Manager Mr AK Tirkey.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Donkupar Roy stated that by holding this programme, a respectful tribute is being paid to Mahatma Gandhi who is regarded as the chief inspiration and motive force of the modern day Khadi.

He further said that Gandhi had the welfare of the humble rural folk at the centre of his concern and sought to relief the economic misery of the Indian countryside by advocating the use of the improved charkha and other rudimentary but effective technologies to boost traditional skills and crafts, thereby generating additional employment and income for the villages in a sustainable, eco-friendly manner.

The Sachar Committee Report, a 404 page document, I must confess, has been extremely disappointing, both in its method of analysis and in the way it has collected and presented some dubious statistics. A fundamental fact that has been ignored is that almost 95 per cent of the elite community among the Muslims in India, who largely depended on jobs, went wholesale over to Pakistan following partition in search of better job prospects. Those who stayed back in India were, by and large, the rural community, the self-employed and the service providers. The great majority of them, under the influence of powerful section of Mullahs, kept away from modern education and, in consequence, modern jobs and professions. Thus, the figures for Muslim percentage in government jobs etc. practically started from a zero base. This point should have been mentioned somewhere in the Committee's overall analysis. Its total omission is a serious statistical error.

Then again, the Committee has conveniently ignored the fact that the social and economic position of a community does not necessarily depend on the jobs that its members hold in the Government or in the organized sector. If that had been the case, I am afraid, the position of the Parsees, to take one example, would be extremely backward. What the Sachar Committee's report has ignored completely is the fact that there is a much larger number of self-employed people, tradesmen, service providers among the Muslims who do not necessarily seek government jobs. The fact that those who were left behind after partition, by and large, did not go to the portals of higher education and professional education, nor applied in adequate numbers for government jobs, is a very important factor in making an analysis of the subject that was assigned to the Sachar Committee.

Where it has gone completely wrong is in creating an impression as if the whole educational and economic system in this country had gone out of its way to exclude the Muslims. In actual fact, we have all gone out of our way vis a vis qualified Muslims and have also gone out of our way to give placement to them wherever they would merit selection. There are indeed, some very serious errors on the statistical front. In a seminar held at India International Centre recently on this subject by the Society for Applied Research in Humanities, Prof. A.R. Hashim pointed out that, in looking at the position of the Hindus in general, the Sachar Committee first excluded the Scheduled Castes and the Dalits from the general Hindu community and then compared them with the Muslim community. Now the same Committee has pointed out that the position of the Scheduled Castes and Dalits etc. is little or no different from that of the Muslim community. To exclude such a big chunk from the Hindu community and thereafter compare the residual Hindu community with the Muslims is a serious oversight, if not mischievous.

In the same seminar, another Muslim scholar, Prof. Imtiaz Hussain, also trashed the report on the ground that it has ignored the status of the Muslims in terms of jobs held in all the South Indian States and also in a few other States like Gujarat and West Bengal. He forcefully pointed out that in all the Southern States the Muslims are much better off than what the Sachar Report has made them to be. He questioned the dubious statistics presented by the Sachar Committee in preference to the Census data which definitely shows that the Muslims are better off in many of the States of India than what has been pointed out.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal has also pointed out that the report ignores the position of the Muslim peasantry, who benefited from the State's land reforms programme. Insofar as the organized private sector is concerned, one point which has escaped the Committee's attention is that many of our business organizations are still dominated by the caste system. Consequently, a company dominated by banias generally looks out for banias. In that process also, the Muslim and minorities tend to suffer as much as the people belonging to the other Hindu castes. This need not necessarily be viewed as anti-Muslim bias.

Clearly, Justice Sachar simply chose to ignore the entire available evidence to show that the Muslim community is not doing much better than the other communities, which the Committee has made out to be. He should have taken into account the examples like Azim Premji, Chairman WIPRO, the richest corporate Indian, Habil Khorakiwala of Wockhardt, the CIPRA group or, for that matter, so many industries run very prosperously by the Muslims, the cases of people like Habib Rahman, Chairman ITC Hotels, Israt Hussain a top associate of Ratan Tata and many other such examples. He should also have objectively made a community-wise analysis of the employees of such successful enterprises as Azim Premji's WIPRO. Is merit their main criterion for recruitment? Does this amount to discrimination and anti-Muslim bias a la Sachar Report? Or do successful Muslim industrialists reserve jobs for fellow Muslims irrespective of their merit.

I need not speak of so many leading Muslims who have held high posts in the Government, people like Dr. A.R. Kidwai, Musa Raza, Abid Hussain and many others. Similarly, I wish the Sachar Committee had taken into account all the brass manufacturers and traders of Moradabad, the glass workers of Ferozabad, the textiles operators of Bhiwandi, the carpet makers of Kashmir, the Zari workers of Varanasi and other places. Such examples are galore. Sadly, however, these examples do not find any mention in the Sachar Report which chose to concentrate only on certain levels of Government jobs and worked out the position of the Muslims only on that account.

That is not all. The Committee has not taken into account the overwhelming eminent position occupied by the Muslims in Mumbai's film industry, including the fact that the top actors and actresses are almost 50 per cent Muslims, if not more. Does that smack of discrimination? Even Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has never spoken about this fact or complained about it.

It remains a mystery as to why the Government did not think it appropriate to assign this work to the National Minorities Commission or even to its own Department of Minority Affairs and, instead, chose to appoint a separate committee. Equally mysterious is the fact that without choosing to discuss this matter in the country's sovereign Parliament or allowing for informed debate, the Government has announced that it has accepted all the recommendations of the Sachar Committee. At this stage, an Action Taken Report cannot also be far off.

Neither the Government of India nor the largely Indian nation deserves the accusation by the Sachar Committee that they have been anti-Muslims all these years. The Report has to be held flawed and dismissed as a highly subjective document on this account.

Taken all together, one has to come to the sad conclusion that the Committee has erred both in its analysis and its conclusions. Mr. Justice Rajinder Sachar has been a very respected friend for many many years. But, I am afraid, in this report he has side stepped from the position of a judge and taken on the role of a lawyer who has been assigned a certain brief and has only collected whatever evidence suited that brief!---INFA (The author is a former member Lok Sabha and formerly member-secretary Planning Commission)

This piece will make sense mainly to those to whom poetry makes sense. Ranjit Hoskote tells me that the number of such people is growing. How nice. I can assure you that there are a number of people familiar with the names of the poets I’m about to mention than there were, say, five years ago.

But let's talk, once again, not about who reads poets but who publishes them. Between 1952 and 1982, Nissim Ezekiel brought out seven books of poems.

How many people know that he paid for five of them to be published? Agha Shahid Ali paid for his first two books to be published.

So did Suniti Namjoshi and Meena Alexander. Gopal Honnalgere was not alone in having to pay for practically all his nine books.

My point in mentioning a few names from a long list — it includes me — is not to single them out as pathetic examples of what the public calls "vanity publishing", but to show that such a form of publishing has been vital to the survival and growth of many of our best-known poets.

After all, the marketing possibilities of Indian fiction in English changed after Midnight's Children, but not those, perceptibly, of poetry.

The publishing scene here would be inconceivable and greatly impoverished if poets didn't have to publish themselves. So would the history of Indian poetry in post-Independence India.

It's quite likely, for instance, that Arun Kolatkar's Jejuri, now a New York Review of Books classic, would have remained an uncollected poem-sequence, like The Boatride, available only in anthologies, had not a group of poets formed Clearing House in the mid-seventies.

If my claim sounds bizarre, consider this: Those who gain from this state of affairs, apart from poets, are those who believe that poetry doesn't sell for our big publishers.

The anthologies they publish are filled with work that first saw the light of day in books they rejected as bad investments, but which, when used selectively in anthologies, brought them steady profits.

Isn't it time publishers changed their line from 'Poetry doesn't sell' to 'Poetry doesn't sell but somehow the poetry we publish in our anthologies sells very well indeed?' (By arrangement with The Times of India)

Sir,

Referring to a number of news reports regarding delay in placing of the judicial inquiry reports on the twin massacre at Tura and Williamnagar in Garo Hills in Assembly, the same government was in power almost 18 months ago when the incidents took place. The same government constituted two separate judicial commissions, on public demand, to investigate them. Now the same government is delaying the tabling of those reports in the Assembly against the demand for it coming from various quarters, and against wishes of the people of Garo Hills who have the right to know everything about how and what happened on that fateful day - September 30, 2005. The government has neither come out with any reason for the delay nor given any date for tabling the twin reports. It is again acting as irresponsibly as it did at the time of killings.

The investigation on the most recent killings at Nandigram in West Bengal that took place on March 14, 2007 was handed over to the CBI. The CBI has already submitted its preliminary report to the High Court.

Yours etc.,
M M Sangma,
Via e-mail

Sir,

This is with reference to the "shortcut to KBC contest" conducted by Airtel for its subscribers. In the light of the directive issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ref no. F.No.305-8/2004-QOS ,Dated 3rd May, 2005 ,wherein it has been clearly mentioned and I quote "the Authority in exercise of its power conferred upon it under Section 13 read with Section 11 (1) (b) (i) and (v) of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 and clause 9 and 11 of the Telecommunication Tariff order 1999 ,all the Cellular Mobile Service Providers and Unified Access Service Providers are to publish in all communications/ advertisements relating to premium rate services, the pulse rate/ tariff for the service" , it is apparent Airtel has violated this directive as they have failed to mention the premium rate for this particular contest when sending the details of the contest to subscribers mobile phones. As a result the subscribers come to know about this only at the time of final billing causing much distress. I myself am a victim of this. My bill was excess of Rs 3000 because of the premium charge of Rs 6 being charged for the SMS. In all of Airtel's advertisements, all KBC related SMS/calls are said to be charged at Rs 2.40 and not Rs 6. Even when I called Airtel's customer care to enquire about the rates I was told all KBC related SMS/calls are charged at Rs 2.40.

Yours etc.,
Rosamma Mathew,
Via e-mail

Refuting the allegation leveled by the India Army official, the ULFA stated that the militant group which had already lost over 10,000 of its dedicated cadres in the armed struggle for ‘restoration of sovereignty of Assam’ would not require help of the ISI to continue its struggle against ‘Indian occupational forces’.

The ULFA military spokesman termed the Indian Army allegation ‘fictitious and not based on facts’ and a part of conspiracy by the Army to carry out subversion in the stare and blame the same on the ULFA. The insurgent group warned the people of Assam to remain alert against such design. The ULFA stated that it was still enough to carry on with its struggle on its own and that it was an imaginary idea that it would take help of the ISI. The police suspect that many ISI operatives are in the State threatening peace.