North East - Developments & Debate

[Oracle]

Road network in Arunachal: Rs 69.92 cr sanctioned for upgradation
Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 16 – Trying to keep pace with infrastructure developments across the border in China, the Centre has sanctioned funds worth Rs 69.92 crore for up grade of road network in Arunachal Pradesh.
The money has been sanctioned from the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Fund for taking up development work in four districts of the state, official sources said.

The Ministry Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has also sanctioned Rs 48.5 crore to build additional road projects in Arunachal Pradesh. The Ministry has sanctioned projects worth Rs.196.7 crore for development of roads in Arunachal Pradesh during the current financial year, said sources.

The construction of roads on a massive scale on the Chinese side in neighbouring Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) has sent alarm bells ringing in New Delhi. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), taking note of the developments, has ordered fast tracking of strategic road projects in the State.

Union Minister of DoNER, Bijoy Krishna Handique, said the Centre was committed towards improving roads and communications in the entire North eastern region, which has suffered because of poor infrastructure. "This is a priority for us, he said."

Handique further urged governments in all the eight states in to fast-track sanctioned projects for the greater benefit of people.

"We have also requested the Arunachal Government to expedite these projects in the greater interest of connecting the state with the rest of the country. During this financial year alone, about 80 per cent of NLCPR sanctions for Arunachal Pradesh have gone towards development of roads and bridges," he said.

In the current financial year, about Rs 492.36 crore have been sanctioned for development of road in the eight states of Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim and Tripura.

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[Oracle]

Garo NGO petitions Chidambaram
Correspondent
TURA, Feb 16 – Delhi A'chik Youth Association (DAYA) has submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram recently to resolve the Garo-Rabha conflict permanently.
The delegates also had a brief discussion with Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs in charge of North East about the genesis and the present crisis. They pointed out the major problems which led to the shameful ethnic violence and the slow reaction of Assam police in giving security to the Garo community in Assam.

The Association strongly urged upon the Ministry to immediately release the Garo youths detained in Goalpara jail and to provide adequate security to the students who are yet to appear for board and other exams as well as to the people residing in other cities of the country.

The association also asked the Home Ministry to take stern action against those miscreants who called bandhs during Christmas season and to stop the illegal tax collection by a students union which created a lot of inconvenience to the Garos residing in border areas between Assam and Meghalaya.

DAYA has also urged the concerned Ministry to speed up the repair the road from Shillong to Tura via Nongstoin and to make functional Baljek Airport in Garo Hills. The delegation comprised DAYA president Benny A Sangmaand others.

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[Oracle]

Students set afire school building

IMPHAL, Feb 16 – For the second time in two days, students of a Manipur school tried to set afire their school building in protest against the closure of schools due to the ongoing teachers agitation, official sources said.
The students of Lilong Girls High School at Lilong in Thoubal district tried to set ablaze their school but fire brigade personnel reached the spot in time and saved it, the sources said.

Students had yesterday made a similar attempt when they tried to set afire another school building in the heart of the capital complex in protest against teachers' agitation but timely intervention of firemen saved it. – PTI

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[Oracle]

Blast injures four of family in Goalpara

GUWAHATI, Feb 17 (IANS) - Three children and a woman, from the same family, were injured when a bomb stashed inside a schoolbag in their backyard exploded in Goalpara district Thursday, police said.
The schoolbag was lying in the backyard of the family's home in Goalpara town. On noticing the bag, the family tried opening it, leading to the explosion. Goalpara is about 180 km west of Guwahati.

Preliminary police investigations say some militants might have left the bag in view of stepped up security in the area.

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[Oracle]

Watch group names seven sitting MLAs
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 17 – The Election Watch Group of Assam, a wing of National Election Watch which aims at bringing transparency and accountability from the political parties, has voted against the candidature of seven sitting Members of Assam Legislative Assembly in the forthcoming Assembly election in the State.
The seven MLAs include those with pending criminal cases of serious nature.

The watch group during a press conference today singled out seven MLAs which include independent candidates Kushal Dowari (Thowra) and Siddeque Ahmed (South Karimganj), AIUDF candidates Rasul Haque (Dhubri) and Hazi Salimuddin Barbhuiya (Hailakandi), Asom Gana Parishad candidate Prodip Hazarika (Amguri), Congress candidate Abdur Rashid Mandal (West Goalpara) and independent M Baro (Kalaigaon).

Of the 16 candidates who contested 2006 Assembly elections in the State with criminal records, seven went on to win the elections.

The group informed that in case of all these public representatives, the court has taken cognizance of their offences.

The group also cast serious doubts over the authenticity of assets declaration by the Ministers.

"We want to disseminate information about the candidates in fray to the voters and expect them to make a conscious decision while exercising their franchise," said Tasakduk Ariful Hussain, co-ordinator of Assam Election Watch, while releasing the analysis of criminal and financial details of candidates and MLAs from Assam based on the 2006 Assembly elections.

Hussain also urged the Election Commission to make discourse of source of incomes by public representative mandatory along with the value of their assets.

"The Income Tax department too has a role to play to see it to that public fund is not used for personal growth," Hussain said.

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[Oracle]

WWF volunteers released
Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Feb 17 – Bowing to enormous pressure from security forces and several organisations the anti-talk NDFB finally released the three WWF volunteers from their captivity at Balajan-Tiniali area under Kokrajhar Police Station today around 11.30 am, said SP Kokrajhar, PK Dutta.
According to the SP all the three captives were brought in a Tata Indica by the NDFB cadres and dropped at Balajan-Tiniali about 12 kilometres from Kokrajhar PS and subsequently picked up by a team of police and security personnels. All of them were unharmed and provided medical care, he said.

SP Dutta also revealed that the NDFB (anti talk) had kidnapped the WWF volunteers for ransom only but the incident was most unfortunate and detrimental to the NDFBs stand vis-a-vis peace talks. He cautioned the NDFB cadres to desist from such activities as they had already declared unilateral ceasefire on December 31.SP Dutta also said that NDFB wanted to cover up its act of extortion and abduction by an organisation 'Aronoi' which was non-existent. He said so far he knew NDFB could not succeed in its extorsion bid.

The SP further said that although police were aware of the involvement of NDFB in this case and sure of the whereabouts of the hostages the security forces abstained from striking heavily on NDFB due to the safety of the captives.

The three WWF volunteers released today are Gautam Kishore Sharma, Pranjit Saikia and Sayed Nausad Zaman.

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[Oracle]

YMA to keep watch on Bru repatriation

AIZAWL, Feb 17 – Young Mizo Association (YMA), the apex Mizo body, today said that the organisation would closely watch the repatriation process of Bru refugees from six relief camps in North Tripura district.
Lalchungnunga, president of the central committee of the YMA, said that appropriate action would be taken if Bru refugees who are not bona fide residents of Mizoram were among those repatriated. – PTI

"The YMA would watch and wait till the repatriation process is over," Lalchungnunga said, adding that the YMA has the proof that the Brus left the state in 1997 following orders issued by a Bru organisation.

Meanwhile, Sambhu Singh, joint secretary (NE) of the Union Home Ministry, who visited one of the villages in Mamit where the refugees were resettled, expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the Mizoram government.

Singh said that additional rice allocation for the resettled Bru refugees would be allotted to the state from March.

He added that the repatriation process would be resumed after the fund sanctioned by the Centre for the repatriation expenses is credited in the Mizoram government account. – PTI

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[Oracle]

ATTF splinter group joins NLFT
Correspondent
AGARTALA, Feb 17 – A splinter group of All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) headed by Sachin Debberma has 'reportedly' joined hands with its arch rival National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), most powerful outfit in the State.
Sources confirmed that ATTF had suffered a vertical split over sharing of funds leading to exit of self-styled rebel leader Sachin Debbarma from the outfit about one-and-half month ago. Immediately after the split, the ATTF supremo Ranjit Debbarma had taken shelter in an undisclosed location in Bangladesh to skip the attention of law-enforcement agencies.

According to latest intelligence inputs, a group of 14-15 hardcore cadres of ATTF headed by Sachin Debbarma merged with NLFT to carry on the subversive activities in Tripura. With the 'induction' of defiant rebel leader, the NLFT is believed to have strengthened its grip in some areas.

The outlawed group has already intensified its activities along the unfenced border areas to stall the ongoing border fencing work. The killing of an engineer of a construction company near Vangmoon in North Tripura district, abduction of 11 labourers at Govindabari in Dhalai district are part of the NLFT's game plan to stall the fencing work.

Of late, the security lapses have been augmented by setting up six more Border Outpost (BOPs) in the State's eastern part, said AK Jain, the Inspector General of BSF Tripura Frontier on Thursday.

One more BSF battalion is expected to arrive here by March 31 to ensure full-proof border vigil, he said adding that the fencing work would get expedited after construction of approach near Indo-Bangla border.

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[Payeng]

I visited the Regional Passport office located at Guwahati, Assam a few days back, The RPO-Ghy is responsible for issuing passport for all those who are applying from the North-Eastern states ( 7 states), I was surprise to know that people of Nagaland or Naga can apply for a passport with one year validity only where as for rest of us it seems the to be 10 years.

I was surprised as well as disappointed to know about it,
What might be the reason?
Is it a step child treatment towards people from Nagaland,
or is their any political complicity upon the issue and if so what is it?

As one year validity passport might not be enough a long period for some one to work abroad.


expecting replies ...............

 

[Oracle]

Payeng, 1 year validity applies to all Indians, anywhere in India, if that is a Tatkal Service. Normal passport validity is 10 years.

However, if what you stated is correct, then I guess it's because of the militancy in Nagaland. Having said that, would it not be the same for Manipur, Assam and other terrorism hit states? I actually doubt this information, but it might be true as well.

As about, 1 year validity not enough for someone to work abroad - go to the Indian Mission(Embassy) in that particular country(you can courier your passport too with supporting documents, if needed) and get it renewed before the 1 year period expires. Fast, easy and best of all - no bribe to pay.

 

[Oracle]

Khandu asks for special package for Arunachal

Itanagar, Feb 20 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu today asked the Centre to provide a special financial package to the State for the development of rural areas bordering with China, Myanmar and Bhutan in the backdrop of Chinese claim over the State's territory.
Khandu said as the State has an almost 1,200-km mountainous border with China, and over 540-km porous border with Myanmar and nearly 160-km border with Bhutan, the special package is an imperative.

Speaking during the Statehood Celebration Day here, the Chief Minister stressed the need for a two-pronged strategy for effective border management which includes infrastructure upgradation in the border areas and strengthening of the security apparatus along the actual boundary. "China has been consistently objecting to India's attempts at securing Asian Development Bank or World Bank loans for specific projects in the State," he said.

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[Oracle]

ULFA hardliners' threat to Cong
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 19 – The hard line group of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), headed by commander in chief of the outfit, Paresh Baruah, has issued a veiled threat to target the meetings of the Congress ministers, legislators and leaders in the run up to the elections to the State Assembly.
In a release issued to the media today, in charge of the publicity wing of the ULFA, Arunodoi Dohotiya launched a scathing attack on the Congress and called upon the people of Assam to stay away from the meetings of the Congress ministers, legislators and leaders to distribute freebies "for their own security". He said that the ULFA is always concerned about the safety of the people of Assam and that is why "we have asked the people to stay away from Congress meetings."

The ULFA hardliners said that instead of making serious efforts to resolve the conflicts, the Congress led Government at the Centre tried to indulge in divide and rule politics. The release said that both in 2001 and 2006, the Congress came to power in Assam by playing with the sentiments of the people of Assam. The Congress promised to take action against those involved in secret killings but instead of doing so in ten years, the Congress honoured those involved in preparing the blue print of such killings, the ULFA alleged.

Dohotiya said that the Congress Government indulged in both secret and open killings in last ten years and the party was responsible for division of Assam. The Congress is also responsible for inviting Bangladeshi and other foreign nationals to Assam, the ULFA hardliners alleged.

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[Oracle]

PM for autonomy to ethnic groups
Suryya Kumar Chetia
JORHAT, Feb 19 – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said that the Government is thinking of introducing autonomous districts in the NE region to solve the problems of various indigenous communities. This would be a catalyst to solve the problems of the various insurgent groups demanding their own rights over their specific territories without breaking the national integrity.
Talking to mediapersons here, Dr Singh stated that the ULFA would play a neutral role in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Assam. No leader of the outfit would offer candidature in the ensuing election.

When asked about the peace talks with the ULFA, he said that a friendly relationship is necessary between both the parties to know each other. Now the process is gradually on to create the right atmosphere.

Talking about Majuli, the river island amid the Brahmaputra river throbbing with Satriya culture, the Prime Minister said that he himself took up the initiative for the recognition of the river island as one of the World Heritage Sites. But the State Government could not provide the required information to satisfy the UNESCO in this regard.

He also insisted on road and railway connectivity in the entire NE region. Better connectivity is necessary for the rapid growth of the economy in the region, he opined.

He also affirmed that the Congress would be back in power in Assam for another term as the present Government has been successful in meeting the needs of the common people.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of the second National Institute of Design in the country at Tocklai, Cinnamara here in the presence of Union Minister of DoNER BK Handique and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

In his inaugural speech, Dr Singh said that the need for design intervention for Indian products was first visualised by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

He said, "The development of the North-East has always been one of the priorities of the Government. This unique conglomeration of peoples, races, cultures, languages and religions has also unique needs of design development. The NID at Jorhat should leverage on the traditional craftsmanship of the region and help in giving a new life to the traditional arts and crafts in this area." He added that at the same time the institute would come out with an eco-friendly design for adoption by the people of the North East for modern industrial goods so that the modernisation and preservation of the ecosystem can go hand in hand, he added.

Our Sivasagar Correspondent adds: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, in a significant pre-election offer to the people of Assam, laid the foundation stone of the multi-crore-rupee Assam centre of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology today at Palasani near the historic Sivasagar town. Proposed to be the second institute of its kind in the country after the first one set up at Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, the institute would be a dream come true for the people of the district which did not have any institute worth the name since Independence. The Prime Minister was greeted by about 10,000 people as he landed from an IAF helicopter at the venue.

Addressing the crowd, the Prime Minister said that he had announced his government's intention to set up a Petroeum Technology institute in Assam in August , 2008 as part of fulfilling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's dream of taking the country on to the highway of science and technology. Dr Singh said that the RGIPT would strive to produce world-class human resources in the hydrocarbon sector, found abundantly in the district. The ONGC is at present producing 15 per cent of the country's domestic production of crude oil.

The Prime Minister said that his UPA Government has an enduring commitment to develop Assam and the Assam Gas Cracker Project at Dibrugarh is also a proof of its commitment.

Earlier, S Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, addressed the meeting and thanked the Government of Assam for allocating

the required plot of land within a short time. He said that the RGIPT in Sivasagar is being set up with a capital fund of Rs 148 crore and another endowment fund of Rs 180 crore will be created for the entire project to be completed. He added that the ONGC, GAIL , OIL, BPCL, HPCL and OIL PSUs in the country have jointly contributed to the capital fund and the student enrolment capacity for BSc and MSc inPetroleum Technology would be 630 to be recruited through the AIEEE test.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi thanked the Prime Minister for generously sanctioning the mega project to Assam and said that his government would urge him for financial assistance for another bridge over the Brahmaputra river at Desungmukh. Minister of State for Petroleum RPN Singh offered the vote of thanks.

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[Oracle]

No gun-running in Mizoram: Lal Thanhawla

SHILLONG, Feb 19 (PTI): Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today dismissed reports that his state was being used by gun-runners as a transit to supply arms and explosives to the Northeast militants.
"The state is no longer used by gun-runners. Whosoever is indulging in this has been arrested. Many of them were brought to book," Lal Thanhawla told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

"Earlier, of course it was the free state for gun-running and counterfeit currency business," he admitted.

"Before I took over all these things were happening; culprits were never brought to book. But no militants are there now, and we do not allow them to use our territory - neither from Bangladesh nor from Myanmar," the chief minister said.

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[Tshering22]

PM for autonomy to ethnic groups

Isn't state division bloody well enough? This idiot and his owner Madam will divide the NE's already tribe thinking further to sub-tribes level. The first and foremost thing NE needs is bloody state unity forgetting the tribal mentality like how rest of India's states have matured into; a common state and national sense. Autonomous districts should be a banned word; next Kashmiri mulla-separatists will start asking the same, then all these Thackerays and other nonsense regionalists. It will be a madhouse then.

Those who are of violent tribal thinking should be gunned down and more should be done to integrate the "tribes" into statehoods and national citizens.

No gun-running in Mizoram: Lal Thanhawla

Typical case of going "Aal izz well" eh? Don't you think Oracle? Complete shut out to gun-running with the current administration is simply impossible especially with Burmese forest borders with the state. Thanhawla is simply try to save his kursi.

Khandu asks for special package for Arunachal

The man is right. Not-so-Singh should look into this seriously because this is not about his weak politics but national integrity that has to be maintained. Unless and until AP get a good road development package, IA won't be able to reach fast during war time. AP needs some serious infrastructure. Storages, hospitals, academies and ROADS of all that straight lead to the tip of the Dragon's border.

 

[Oracle]

Isn't state division bloody well enough? This idiot and his owner Madam will divide the NE's already tribe thinking further to sub-tribes level. The first and foremost thing NE needs is bloody state unity forgetting the tribal mentality like how rest of India's states have matured into; a common state and national sense. Autonomous districts should be a banned word; next Kashmiri mulla-separatists will start asking the same, then all these Thackerays and other nonsense regionalists. It will be a madhouse then.

Those who are of violent tribal thinking should be gunned down and more should be done to integrate the "tribes" into statehoods and national citizens.

You're 100% correct. The word Autonomy should be banned from the Indian Constitution. It's political gimmick for votes, nothing else.

Typical case of going "Aal izz well" eh? Don't you think Oracle? Complete shut out to gun-running with the current administration is simply impossible especially with Burmese forest borders with the state. Thanhawla is simply try to save his kursi.

Mizoram is a peacuful State when it comes to terrorism, but yes - it is a hub for transporting arms and ammunition to various NE outfits, Maoists.

The man is right. Not-so-Singh should look into this seriously because this is not about his weak politics but national integrity that has to be maintained. Unless and until AP get a good road development package, IA won't be able to reach fast during war time. AP needs some serious infrastructure. Storages, hospitals, academies and ROADS of all that straight lead to the tip of the Dragon's border.

Agree again!

 

[Oracle]

Maoist bid to foment trouble in State
R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, Feb 20 – The Maoist rebel groups have recently taken a decision to set up their own units in the states of the North East region, particularly Assam and efforts are already on to establish strong foothold in the region by supporting the struggles of the downtrodden sections of the society. The recent arrest of three youths from Assam in a camp of the Maoist rebels in a jungle area bordering Orissa and Jharkhand exposed the fact that an Upper Assam Committee of the Maoists is already active in Assam.
Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Assam Tribune that earlier the Maoists had decided to support the "nationality struggles" in North East and Jammu and Kashmir instead of setting up their own units in those areas and they also went into tactical understanding with some such militant groups. The Maoists signed a memorandum of understanding with the RPF of Manipur about a couple of years back for tactical understanding while, Maoists links with the NSCN (I-M) was also confirmed. Senior Maoist leader Kishenji had also extended support to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in an interview to a Maoist mouthpiece.

But after a number of militant outfits of North East including Assam coming forward to hold talks with the Government of India, the Maoist groups have decided to set up their own networks in the region and formation of the upper Assam committee is a step in that direction. One of those arrested recently has been identified as Aditya Bora of Naharkatia area of Assam and he is a member of the upper Assam committee of the Maoist group. The other two have been identified as Singh Raj Orang and Ashik Sabar, both of Naharkatia area. During questioning by security forces, Aditya said that they went to the Maoist camp to meet senior leader Kishenji, but the security forces have doubts over his claim. Sources said that Kishenji normally does not meet lower level cadres and there are doubts on whether the youths from Assam really came to meet him, sources pointed out.

Sources said that Aditya, a graduate, was earlier arrested by Assam Police for extending support to members of the ULFA, but at that time, he was not a member of the outfit. During questioning, Aditya claimed that the upper Assam committee of the Maoists started an effort to organize the downtrodden sections of the society including the labourers of a few tea gardens. He claimed that he knew a number of political leaders of the state, but he could not substantiate his claim, sources said.

Sources pointed out that the Maoists always start their movement in a systematic way and the armed struggle comes at a much later stage. The Maoists first try to establish their network by organizing the downtrodden sections of society and armed struggle is the last stage of their movement. As existence of an upper Assam committee of the Maoists has been established, the police and security forces will have to keep a very close watch on the situation to prevent the rebels from establishing strong network in Assam and other parts of North East, sources pointed out.

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[Oracle]

NE regional parties forge common front
Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 20 – Major regional parties of the north-eastern States in principle today decided to form a platform named as 'Northeastern Democratic Front' to unitedly take up common issues of the region. The front would unitedly fight election wherever possible. This was disclosed by PA Sangma, former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader.
The parties decided to form the Front in Guwahati soon.

The move shows some positive signs as some of the region's bigger regional parties showed up for a meeting to revive the regional plank.

The meeting, which got under way at Sangma's Aurangzeb Road House around 6.30 pm, was attended by AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary, Opposition leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, AGP leaders Kumar Deepak Das and Biren Baishya, among others. Chief Minister of Nagaland N Rio and Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling and the representatives of People's Party of Arunachal, Manipur People's Party, Trinamool Congress and Mizo National Front and other regional leaders also attended the meeting.

The timing of revival of the regional plank is significant. AGP has this time decided to maintain distance from national parties, mainly the BJP, and opted to join hands with smaller regional parties. The regional party, though, is in a quandary over openly joining hands with the Badruddin Ajmal-led AUDF. Both the parties see a common enemy in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government.

This is Sangma's third attempt at bringing all the regional parties together. In 2009, he had made attempts to revive the defunct North East People's Front after being fed up with the 'dirty tricks of Congress party'. The North East People's Front was launched about seven years ago.

At least 13 non-Congress parties had then joined hands. The parties then included the AGP, BJP, Manipur People's Party, Nagaland People's Front, Bodoland People's Front, PLP, Kamtapur Progressive Party and AUDF, among others. The Front had resolved to work out a unified poll strategy to fight Congress in the 2009 parliamentary elections.

But the move came a cropper after AGP joined hands with BJP and fought the parliamentary poll as alliance partners.

The North East States together have the strength of 25 MPs in the Lok Sabha, out of which14 are from Assam.

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[Oracle]

BJP demands reservation for Nepalis in Sikkim
CORRESPONDENT
GANGTOK, Feb 20 – Sikkim unit BJP president, Padam Chettri has revived the issue of Limboo-Tamang (LT) seat reservation in the State Assembly.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Chettri said the LT community should demand reservation of seats as soon as possible, or else they would be deprived of this right until 2026.

He claimed that Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his government are not in the mood to provide seats to LT community in the Assembly. The LT community is being kept away from their constitutional rights, Chettri alleged.

No special census has been conducted to find out the population of Limboo-Tamang people in Sikkim. That is the first and foremost step towards reservation of the seats, he said. He added that there is no provision of collecting data on LT population in the 2011 Census. However, the caste-wise population is likely to be enumerated after the completion of the data collection process of the census.

He alleged that the SDF Government has not even accepted the Limboo-Tamang population worked out by BJP, by extrapolation of voter list, at 15 per cent entitling them a minimum of five seats in the thirty-two member Assembly, as per Article 332 of the constitution of India.

The Sikkim Limboo-Tamang Tribal Forum seems to have claimed 17 percentage population and 10 seats, based on Article 371 f of the constitution; the same constitutional safeguard protecting the Bhutia-Lepcha (BL) seat reservation in the Assembly.

Chettri mentioned that the case filed by the BJP, regarding the Limboo-Tamang seat reservation is pending in the Supreme Court. On February 14, the Supreme has Court ordered to list the matter on non-miscellaneous days in the week, commencing from August 30.

The BJP feels that there should be reservation of seats for the entire Nepali community of the State as per the Article 371 f, and not only Limboo -Tamang as Scheduled Tribes, he asserted.

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[Oracle]

Arunachal celebrates 25th Statehood Day
CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR, Feb 20 – Acknowledging the pressing needs of building infrastructure in border areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia today assured the State of all possible help from the Centre for all-round development of the land-locked mountainous State.
"Located in the northeastern most tip of the country, Arunachal, also known as the 'Land of the Rising Sun', is the first Indian State to greet the Sun at dawn. We, at the Centre and in Planning Commission, are putting all-out efforts to accelerate the development activities in all border areas of the State," said Dr Ahluwalia while addressing a function that marked the silver jubilee celebrations of Arunachal's Statehood Day at Indira Gandhi Park here.

Coinciding with the 25th Statehood Day celebrations, a three-day 'Festival of Arunachal' has also commenced at the venue which was later declared open by the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman amid thunderous applause from the huge gathering that also included State Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Madan B Lakur, among others.

While admitting that Arunachal especially its remote border areas were yet to see modern developments, Dr Ahluwalia said that the mega developmental package announced at the same ground three years ago by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would be of immense help in that direction.

"It's the responsibility of the government – both at the Centre as well as in the State to speed up the pace of development and ensure developmental fruits reach out to those border areas," said Ahluwalia, who earlier released a festival souvenir.

Further avowing that there will be no dearth of fund from Central Government's end, he said the State Government should endeavour for speedy implementation of the projects and judicious utilisation of the developmental fund.

The Plan panel's deputy chairman also promised to consider the project proposals submitted by the State Government for infrastructure development.

The State Government had earlier submitted several project proposals to the Centre that included providing road connectivity to 22 unconnected administrative centres in border areas, drinking water facilities in remote areas, construction of Trans-Arunachal Power Grid, and maintenance and construction of foot suspension bridges, porter tracks and log bridges in border areas for easy movement of Defence personnel.

Earlier in his speech, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu pleaded the Centre to provide a special financial package to Arunachal Pradesh (which shares about 1,900 km border with China, Myanmar and Bhutan) for speedy infrastructure development in the State to match with developments taking place in other side of the international border.

Citing the Prime Minister's January 31, 2008 commitment – "We will surely provide the required funds for providing drinking water facilities in remote villages and settlements of Arunachal Pradesh", Khandu said, "We have accordingly identified 1087 habitations covering a population of 1,25,655 in the border blocks of the State which should be taken up on an accelerated basis under this project.

"I earnestly request that the project amount of Rs 377.76 crore may be sanctioned to the State over a three year period to execute this important project. The required DPRs have already been submitted to the Planning Commission by my government."

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