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ASSENG/2015/64205

Page 12

Vol. 1

Issue 279

Dibrugarh, Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Price -

Municipal Council in Arunachal all set to get a facelift soon : Pul A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 15

Municipal Council in Arunachal is all set to get a facelift as State Government moots to strengthen the Urban Local Bodies.

Chief Minister Kalikho Pul revealed his plans for the local urban bodies when 30 councillors of Itanagar, Naharlagun and Banderdewa led by Chief Councillor Kipa Kaku and Deputy Chief Councillor Kipa Babu called on him late yesterday evening. Also present in the meeting was Chief Estate Officer and ADM Talo Potom.

particularly the capital region on state government’s high agenda, CM called for a concerted effort from all sundry irrespective of party affiliations, caste, creed, community and religion to make Itanagar region a worthy place to live in and a perfect destination for the visitors. “Our State Capital is the mirror that reflects the actual picture of the entire state. If our state capital is not properly maintained, you all can imagine what kind of impression will the visitors would have for other places of our state?” he questioned while exhorting the councillors to tighten up their belts in ensuring clean and crime free capital zone.

During the 6 hour long meeting, measures for sanitation, cleanliness, beautification and modification of Itanagar urban city was broadly discussed and agreed upon for urgent implementation. He announced that all grants under TFC and FFC meant for urban local bodies would be released in totality.

CM assured to fill up 60 additional manpower to meet the staff shortage of IMC which includes two executive engineers, four assistant engineers, 7 junior engineers apart from ministerial staff like UDC, LDC and computer operator and fourth grade staffs like peons and watchmen.

Keeping cleanliness and sanitation of Arunachal, more

On being informed that around 30 sanitary assistants

ET CAPSULES Barpeta police seized 3.5 lakh Barpeta, Mar 15: Barpeta police today seized 3.5 lakhs while checking at Sonkuchi Colony at Barpeta, Howly Road in Barpeta district. The money was recovered from an Alto (AS-19, 1186) which was carrying from Barpeta road to Barpeta. The checking was held only to prevent the increase of the exchange of money in the coming election. (Correspondent)

PUL’S POOL OF ASSURANCES CM assured to fill up 60 additional manpower to meet the staff shortage of IMC which includes engineers, office staff and fourth grade staffs.

On being informed that around 30 sanitary assistants out of 173 are being used as office attendants, Pul categorically call the IMC to immediately rationalise staff detailing by using them for the purpose they have been appointed for.

Announced to provide Rs. 2 crores for garbage reduction source which would be used as revolving fund.

Atleast 60 public toilets in and around the capital region; separate toilets for ladies and gents with pay and use basis.

CM announced to provide ten mini tipper trucks with hydraulic unloading system immediately while one JCB multi-tasking earth mover would also be procured for the Municipal council.

out of 173 are being used as office attendants, Pul categorically call the IMC to immediately rationalise staff detailing by using them for the purpose they have been appointed for.

He also announced to provide Rs. 2 crores for garbage reduction source which would be used as revolving fund. The municipal council would procure good quality polythene and distribute it to every household of the capital region in nominal prices. Every household will be specifically briefed to use the polythene to gather the waste and throw in the designate garbage dustbins that would be constructed in every ward and sectors. The amount would also be used for generating awareness on health and hygiene through sensitisation programmes in regular intervals. CM asked the councillors to identify suitable places in every sector for construction of RCC dustbins and also directed the concern engineers to prepare estimates for the same.

Chief Minister while underscoring the need for atleast 60

public toilets in and around the capital region, instructed IMC to identify locations and prepare detail estimates for construction of public sanitary toilets in key areas. Giving specifications, Pul advised for constructing separate toilets for ladies and gents with pay and use basis for ensuring clean and sanitised latrines. He asked to incorporate cost of the land in their estimate. He however informed that the project would be taken up in BE 201617.

Responding to the vehicle crisis faced by the IMC to lift the garbage, CM announced to provide ten mini tipper trucks with hydraulic unloading system immediately while one JCB multi-tasking earth mover would also be procured for the Municipal council.

Pul gave a positive nod for dumping ground one each at Karsingsa for covering the areas of Naharlagun-NirjuliBanderdewa and Chimpu for Itanagar.

Contd. on Page 3

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Irked over BJP candidature to ‘controversial’ Bhaskar Sarma, Ulfa (I) warns all concerned to maintain distance ET Correspondent Margherita, Mar 15

After the threat issued by the Ulfa (I) towards all concerned to maintain distance from controversial BJP candidate for the Margherita LAC Bhaskar Sarma, several party leaders today tendered their resignation from various portfolios of the party. In a press release issued to ‘The Eastern Today’, the outfit’s assistant publicity and information secretary self

styled Capt. Arunudoy Asom stated that despite its diktat the BJP gave ticket to Sarma, who was the main architect of the secret killing episode which rocked Assam till April, 2001.

The outfit has warned that, since the BJP did not follow its diktat it should be prepared to face the music now. “We appeal to all concerned to maintain distance from Sarma, otherwise we will not be responsible for any kind of action by

our cadres”, the Ulfa leader said. It might be mentioned that the outfit had been opposing the candidature of Bhaskar Sarma as his name had prominently figured during the secret killing episode, which is considered to be a dark chapter in Assam’s political history. After the resignation of Sanjay Deb, who was a strong ticket aspirant and a senior party leader from Tinsukia district, Contd. on Page 4

Congress declares its first list of candidates for state assembly polls A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 15

After what it seems like endless rounds of consultations, hectic parleys and series of permutation and combinations, the Congress today announced the list of candidates for the Assam assembly election slated to be held in April this year. Taking a calculated step, to check the dissidence that

might take place as a result of leaving out some prospective candidates and a few sitting MLAs, the Congress announced the list only for the first phase of the election which will be held on April 4.

“The list for the second phase will be announced after March 21,” said APCC president Anjan Dutta.

According to sources, in the list for the second phase of the

state election, which will be held on April 11, is likely to leave out several sitting MLAs, and so if the dissidence breaks out to an limit which is much higher than expected, the APCC might change a few names.

The names of the Congress candidate for the first phase of the election are as follows: Pranab Gogoi from Sivasagar, Tarun Gogoi from Titabar, Contd. on Page 4

Ex-paramilitary servicemen staged dharna at SHQ, ITBP, Itanagar

Ceremony

Pistol recovered ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Mar15: A great fall of law and order situation is feared in Lakhimpur prior to State Assembly Poll. As a proof of this fear, an American made pistol with three live cartridge and a pad of ULFA in abandoned condition was rescued in the heart of Laluk today in Lakhimpur District. The name of M Deka Phukan, Finance Secretary of 28 Battalion of the insurgent outfit was scripted in the pad.

(Correspondent)

Ex-paramilitary servicemen staged dharna at SHQ, ITBP, Itanagar A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 15

Along with rest of country, the Ex-Para military servicemen under the banner All India Central Para Military Forces Ex-serviceman Welfare Association state committee, Arunachal Pradesh today staged a sit-in protest before the SHQ, ITBP Khating Hills, Itanagar demanding to full fill its 12 points charter of demands.

The demands includes one rank one pension, separate service & pension rules instead of CCS rule, restoration of pending pension for BSF personnel’s resigned under BSF rule-19, grant of 50 %

pension to pre-2006 pensioners as per supreme court verdict instead of prorate pension, formation of statutory paramilitary welfare board instead of WARB, CSD canteen facilities instead of CPC, war widow status and compassionate appointment, Para military service pay to serving CPMF personnels, similar to MSP (pensonable), extension of organised service status and NFU (non functional upgradation) to group-A officers of CPMF as per Delhi high court verdict.

Speaking to the reporters, President, Alik Bagang said that due to non-fulfilment of above mentioned genuine de-

mands, the ex-servicemen were deprived of their rights especially the widows were suffering untold grievances. ''Even they cannot fulfilled the basic needs of their children’s like school fees and basic amenities. This dharna is not only being held here in Itanagar but in all the district of the state and country as a whole.

We have earlier submitted various memorandums to Prime Minister of India regarding our grievances besides we also submitted a copy of memorandum to the Governor and Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh so atleast our genuine demands may be forwarded for consideration at the centre,'' the president said.

With 130 participants participating in 12 events Arunachal first Paralympics Games gets underway A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 15

cmyk

NEIGRIHMS

(All India Rank - IIT) JEE-Main

(GENERAL CATEGORY)

ASHMITA MAZUMDAR (GENERAL CATEGORY)

Assam CEE Medical

SAURAV SHAKTI BORAH KAUSHIK R. HAZARIKA SAURAV JYOTI BORAH DEEPANKAR D. BHARALI BHANUJYA SAIKIA

Few JEE-Main QUALIFIERS

AYANJYOTI DUTTA KARANJEET GOHAIN (T.MARK:182) (T.MARK:176)

KUNAL ROY (T.MARK:162)

The state’s first ever Paralympics Games, organized by the Arunachal Pradesh Paralympics Association (APPA), began today at Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy with Sport and Youth affairs Secretary Dani Salu officially announcing the event open.

Scheduled to be held from March 15 to 17 last, the event is being held in collaboration with District Administration Capital Complex and state Directorate of Sports.

Starting off the games, Techi Tallar emerged as the winner in the wheelchair race event.

Contd. on Page 3

(All India Rank - JEE Main)

SAURAV S.BORAH (T.MARK:169)

PINGLE NATH (T.MARK:117)

SAGAR RAKSHIT (T.MARK:115)

Total JEE-Main Qualifiers : 55 Nons.

NITUPAN DIHINGIA (T.MARK:161)

SHRYA BORUAH (T.MARK:143)

ANMUN CHETRY (T.MARK:134)

AMLAN JYOTI DUTTA PORITUSH BAILUNG SHUBHAM DUTTA (T.MARK:124) (T.MARK:87) (T.MARK:127)

KAUSHIK HAZARIKA (T.MARK:118)

SANDEEP SONOWAL (T.MARK:82)

Few STAR PERFORMERS IN MEDICAL Total Selection in Medical, 2015 : 12 Nons.

NEIGRIHMS Rank - 8th Assam CEE Med. SR-51

NAMRATA CHAKRABORTY

UPASANA BORKOTOKY (ASSAM CEE Med. SR-181 Sikkim Manipal Medical: 21)

SAURAV S. BORAH (Assam CEE Med. SR-125)

ANSHUMAN GOGOI (Assam CEE Medical State Rank-608)

DIBRUGARH OFFICE : Amolapatty, A. T. Road, Near Natya Mandir, Dibrugarh-1, Assam JORHAT CENTRE : Baruah Chariali, Near UBI Bank Building, 2nd Floor, Jorhat-1, Assam With 130 participants participating in 12 events Arunachal first Paralympics Games gets underway

Phone : 0373- 2320231, 9435031699, 8811003000 cmyk

Margherita, Mar 15: Today in Margherita, a huge crowed of Congress Supporters frm makum pathar have orgainised a welcome ceremony for Mr. Pradyut Bordoloi as he got Ticket for next MLA Election from Margherita assam yestarday.

(Correspondent)

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

PAGE 2

ASTRO FOR YOU Aries Today you will have an eye for beautiful and outlandish things. There is a possibility that you may even contemplate starting a business related to these things.

Taurus No matter how hard you try you may not be able to keep problems and difficulties at bay. You may not be pleased or comfortable doing what has been assigned, or required, and could simply sit sullenly, doing nothing. Do not, therefore, take up anything difficult or complex.

Gemini Today, you are likely to get encouragement and support for your endeavours from all quarters. You have a gift of gab and your ability to dispel tension with even the simplest of your remarks will be put to test. Still, you will rise to the occasion and prove your mettle. Taking good care of your health is important, and you are no exception.

Cancer Lack of support from family members will disable your efforts. Children also disappoint you. Discord or difference of opinion in family is indicated. Beware of neighbours.

Leo You will be filled with extraordinary self-confidence today. You will be able to take firm decisions when it comes to work related issues. You will not face any difficulties in completing your tasks today, and will achieve success.

Virgo Take time off all by yourself and introspect today. New love may just blossom today, and you may even enjoy a nice quiet evening with friends.

Libra Being in charge was never easy, but it’s not for nothing that leaders are made of sterner stuff. As a person in charge, you are expected to give directions in a manner that gets the best efforts out of your juniors.

Scorpio You shall be completely immersed in your routine today. It’s the same old humbug of a day for you. But this exhausting day may transform into an exciting evening – so be prepared to get surprised.

BPF-BJP alliance will form government: Hagrama Mohilary ET Correspodent Kokrajhar, Mar 15: BPF president Hagrama Mohilary, who is also BTC Chief, claimed that his party is going to form government at Dispur in alliance with BJP as common voters are favouring to the alliance.

Mohilary has been campaigning for party candidates in the region and expressed his hopeful of winning in large number on contesting seats.

Mohilary, today campaigned with chartered helicopter for party candidates beginning from Sidli constituency for Chandan Brahma at Tukrajhar,Gossaigaon for Majendra Narzary at Saraibil and Kokrajhar west for Rabiram Narzary at Chitila ground.

Mohilary, in his addressed said that his party has been

party candidate and make healthy integration.

BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary during a meeting with other party leaders in Kokrajhar.

forming next government allaince with BJP, no doubt.

Mohilary claimed.

‘This time we have alliance with saffron party and alliance government is sure’, he said.

‘We are alone fielding in all 16 seats of BTAD region, but in outside of BTAD we are pact with BJP, so this time saffron party is going to win huge number of seats’,

He said that he had campaigned for the BJP candidate in BTAD outside,specially recently took part at a election for Samaguri seat in Nagaon district,where Assam minister Rakibul Hussain is contesting. He said that this time will meet suffered at Samaguri as his party sup-

KSBSS brings out massive rally in Sonari

Aquarius You will inspire and motivate a number of people, and may create a fan following, too. This, however, doesn’t mean that you throw your weight around. Keep a humane and humble approach towards others.

Pisces Conflicts galore will come your way at the workplace today. Keep a calm head over your shoulders and do keep tabs on your tongue. Differences only crop up if there are substantial thought processes involved, and keeping this in mind ought to give you the perspective needed to get ahead.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz)

16-3-16 (WEDNESDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti(Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-15 A.M-Hindi Language Lesson 6-30 A.M-Vidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali(Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi(Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Surar Satsori (Request Programme of Assamese Songs) 1-10 P.M-Troops Programme 2-30 P.M-Western Music 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raaijor Anusthan (Rural Programme) 7-35 P.M-Ujjwal Bhabishyat 9-30 P.M-Kramasha (Serial Novel Reading) 10-00 P.M-Question Hour in Parliament Sd-/H.O.P

Lost & Found I, Miss Aruny Kartek D/o: Ojing Kartek , Village: Bolung, P.O/P.S: Roing, Lower Dibang Valley dist. lost my class X pass certificate bearing R/No: 3110383 and class XII marksheet bearing R/No: 3200084 in Roing Township. Any one finding the documents please let me know on: 9402690215.

Miss Aruny Kartek

ET Correspondent Sonari, Mar 15: The Charaideo district committee of Krishak Sramik Bonua Sangram Samity (KSBSS) took out a huge rally in Sonari today in support of their various demands. Around 1000 members and supporters of the organisation gathered at the Sonari Public Playground at 11 AM and started the rally. The participants under the leadership of Raju Gogoi, general secretary KSBSS marched

through Dhodarali and proceeded towards the DC office raising various slogans. But Sonari police stopped the rally at Bhojo Chariali and took the participants to BPBMHS school playground. There the organisation submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Assam through DC Charaideo. Through the memorandum, the organisation demanded one hundred days assured job for MGNREGA workers, immedi-

ate release of 5.5 months pending salary of the MGNREGA workers of the district, increase the daily wage of MGNREGA workers to Rs.340, proper implementation of Food Security Act, protection of the Dilli, Sapekhati and Abhaypur reserve forest, complete construction work of the half done works of Indira Awas Yogna houses, provide land pattas to local inhabitants along with some other demands.

Systematic voters education and electoral participation program organized in Tinsukia

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights

Advt.

KSBSS brings out massive rally in Sonari. Pic - Mritunjoy Das

Rishu Kalantri Tinsukia, Mar 15: In a bid to motivate voters to excercise their democratic right and create awareness among them, "systematic voters education and electoral participation" titled programme was organized here at district library on Tuesday. The program was presided by deputy commissioner of Tinsukia Puru Gupta and attended by Tinsukia Zila Parishad Vivekananda Phukan, Circle officer cum incharge of Doomdooma LAC Nayan Jyoti Bhagwati, Ad SP Lowhow Dongel besides hundreds of voters, particularly, female.

Emphasizing the need to exercise this very democratic right, deputy commissioner of Tinsukia Puru Gupta said, it has been observed that the polling percentage in town area polling booths are comparatively low despite the fact that town people are much more educated because of multiple awareness mechanism available in towns.

The aim of today's programme

Former MLA Hemendra Nath Brahma,former BTC executive member Derhasat Basumatary were present in the meeting.

Expenditure observer arrives in Kamrup ET Correspondent Rangia, Mar 15: N Balaram, an officer of Indian Revenue Service has arrived in Kamrup, Aminagon today as Election Expenditure Observer for 48 Boko(SC), 49 Chaygaon, 50 Palasbari and 55 Hajo Legislative Assembly Constituencies.

Sagittarius Take it as a piece of advice: tough times don’t last; tough people do. The day has a lot of ups and downs in store for you. However, you are the sailor of stormy seas and would sail through all the troubles easily.

Capricorn You can’t bear the weight of the heavy work load any more. Attentive and observant, you meticulously plan your actions and minimise the chances of errors.

Today, your efforts will not be effectively channelised, but it will not be a bad day, also.

porters will vote for BJP, so this time Hussain’s defeat is sure.

He said that Congress and other parties are not having mass based in the region, so our alliance party have been gaining mass strengths. He said that his party was working all round development of the region since its inception.

He has urged all sections of communities to vote for the

Mohilary also claimed that party nominated in the Rajya Sabha election Mahavir Jain is getting winner from Assam state. He said that Jain will make last laugh on March 22 in the election.

BPF candidate Rabiram Narzary has appealed all section of community to vote for his candidature in the election to pave way healthy welfare of the common masses.

Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary said that BPF party was working to the welfare of common publics through which today publics are seeing good communication as well integration in the region.

The Expenditure Observer took stock of the poll preparedness measures with the District Election Officer, Returning Officers, Expenditure Micro Observers, officials of

Election expenditure Cell, officials of Flying Squad, Static Surveillance and video surveillance at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup.

While interacting with the officials, the Expenditure Observer requested all to strictly follow the guidelines by the officials as well as the intending candidates and cautioned that any violence will be dealt seriously. Expenditure Observer will stay at IIT Guest House and his contact no. is 81350-35161.

SVEEP Cycle and Bike rally at Hajo ET Correspondent Rangia, Mar 15: To create a congenial atmosphere for free, fair and transparent election process and to increase the voters turn out one bike and cycle rally was organized at Hajo today. The rally was organized as a part of SVEEP activities for voter’s awareness.

Anganwadi workers and Ashakormi of the locality participated in the cycle rally while government officials participated in the bike rally with play card, posters and banners highlighting the importance of ethical voting, rights and duties of voters and need of voting.

EVM awareness Camp at Kamrup Systematic voters education and electoral participation program organized in Tinsukia is to create awareness among all voters to exercise our democratic right by casting vote, added Gupta and said, if none of candidates are deserving as per any voter they has the option of NOTA. DC Gupta said, the election commission is trying to increase the percentage of voting to the maximum ie 100 and as part to achieve this percentage several awareness and voters education programmes are carried out. In Lok Sabha election 2014, the percentage of voting had increased consider-

ably.

To involve and aware the youths we have made few students of different degree colleges as campus ambassador to carry forward our message, Gupta said.

Later a rally was taken out in the town. Hundred of female voters participated in the rally carrying posters reading "ethical voting, fare and fearless voting". To make the rally more attractive and visible, voters were carrying colourful gas baloon.

ET Correspondent Rangia, Mar 15: To give the firsthand knowledge of the process of EVM voting, the Kamrup Election District Administration has started mass EVM awareness campaign throughout the District.

As a part of this today EVM awareness programme was held at several places of Chaygaon Legislative Assembly Constituency.

The programme will continue in coming days to cover all areas of the District.

1st Integrated Sivasagar District Three Day Long One Act Play competition at Dergaon ET Correspondent, Dergaon, Mar 15: The 1st integrated Sivsagar district three day long One Act Play competition is to be held at Dergaon from 25 to 27 March. This cultural adventure is organized by Dergaon Regional AASU in association with the people of Dergaon east region.

There have been different event in terms of one act play which are scheduled to be awarded to the winners. The

first prize is of worth rupees 10 thousand for the winner while rupees seven thousand for the runners-up along with many consolation prizes scheduled are to be awarded in the competition.

Party being interested may contact for joining and watching a renoun assamese full phase druma "mon aakasor tora" in the competition by dialing at 9706436578, 9859991381 and 9435448941.

Moghai Oja bota 2016 awarded to three ‘Dhulia’ artists of Assam Bijoy Handique Jorhat, Mar 15: A total of three Assam dhulia artists who were awarded Moghai Oja Bota-2016 had their immense contribution in playing and performing dhol throughout the country and abroad and they were- Ranjan Sarma Bordoloi, Ombarason Borah and Punya Probha Tamuli. All three were awarded at a function organized by Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJPCP) Jorhat unit on the occasion of 18th Death Anniversary of Moghai Oja and a

statue of this great artist was erected near the Jorhat Sadar Police Station and besides the Mahatma Gandhi Road (NaAli) - now named as Moghai Oja Tin-Ali, the statue was inaugurated

by Putul Dutta, the adviser to AJYCP Central Committee here today.

Nowadays artist and singers could be sold for money and could be made a rubber stamp for money, but earlier days Silpi artist cannot be sold or be used, for example like late Moghai Oja and Pratima Pandey they

Three Assam ‘Dhulia’ artists who were awarded Moghai Oja Bota-2016. Pic - Nekib Ahmed

were all legendry artist, a real a artist, a pure artist from heart and soul, whose contributions is still among the masses till today, so we called these artist ‘peoples artist’, said Loknath Goswami, a prominent singer of Assam , who sang the song ‘moghai bula dhulor mat, dhi-niki din-dow…. a popular song on the legendary artist Moghai Oja since 1954.

difficult and very hard to be a artist like Moghai Oja or Pratima Pandey, both were legendry artist of Assam, if they could be at this days and more research work could be done more new findings could be found on the line they tried to high light the culture of the dhol, said Loknath Goswami during his address as the chief guest on the occasion.

It is easy to become a famous artist but it is difficult to become a legendry artist. It is quite

While Narayan Chandra Goswami, the Sattradhikar of Natun Kamalabari Satra of Majuli released the

souviner on the occasion “Regan Daw” while Biraj Talukdar ,the president AJYCP (central committee) and Rana Pratap Baruah, general secretary of AJYCP (central committee) spoke and recalled the contributions of the great legendry artist Moghai Oja who really deserved such a recognition and congratulated Jorhat district AJYCP committee and Putul Dutta the adviser of AJYCP central committee and members from throughout the state of Assam.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

PAGE 3 Changlang District Hospital gets solar power

Arunachal CM Kalikho Pul reaches out to stakeholders in the State seeking their inputs on assigning priority areas A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 15: Arunachal Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today reached out to stakeholders in the State seeking their inputs on assigning priority areas and in coming up with suggestions that the government could incorporate into the planning process.

Changlang District Hospital gets solar power

ET Correspondent Kharsang, Mar 15: 10kw solar power was installed at district hospital Changlang today and said that the cost of the installation is almost 29.5 lacs and henceforth the district hospital will not face any power problems for minor or major medical operations, informed by the source.

The renewable energy to be tapped have been a major agenda of the government for which the North eastern states especially Arunachal Pradesh is most suited. Now

it is to be seen how the project such as this is applied in other regions of the district so to get away with the power shortages. Some of the district headquarter have medical equipment but unable use them effectively due to unabated power cuts.

Similar installation has been erected in the IRBN headquarter in Diyun that supplies uninterrupted power supplies inside their campus. The government should help installed such solar power in various important areas in the district headquarter.

First Phase of Training Concludes in Golaghat ET Correspondent Golaghat, Mar 15: The first phase of training of Presiding and Polling Officers of 95 Golaghat and 96 Khumtai Legislative Assembly Constituencies under Golaghat Electoral District concluded today. The training sessions was held in District Library, Pulibor Girls Poly-technique, East Block, Padumoni and Gomariguri Block where total 912 presiding and Poll-

ing Officers were trained.

Today the first phase of training ended and on March 18 the second phase and on March 21 the third phase of training will be given. After completion of these three phases the fourth and fifth phase of training will be given. This was stated by the supervisor of training cell and Project Director of DRDA Golaghat, Debeswar Bora.

In a letter to key civil society

organizations, functionaries as well as officials in his own government, Pul expressed that even as the government is engaged in the process of scrutinizing and evaluating programmes for formulating policies, it is also a fact that without proactive participation from all stakeholders, arriving at a comprehensive approach to development is not possible.

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 15: Chief Minister Kalikho Pul on Monday offered his heartfelt thanks to the officers and staffs of the state's finance department, noting that their service is highly critical for the welfare of the public. Pul visited the office of the finance department to boost the morale of the employees and to show support for their dedication towards their work. Appealing for their continued support, the chief minister reasoned that "stability of the government's transaction is highly critical, since it affects the overall development of the state." He acknowledged that performance of the employees is directly influenced by their sense of achievement, respect, fair treatment and a sense of camaraderie within the establishment.

"I have worked closely with the finance department for more than 10 years and understand the problems faced by the employees," said the chief minister and assured full cooperation for the wel-

Speaking on the occasion as Guest of Honour Prof. P. K. Panigrahi, Proctor of the university was optimistic

One Day Training programme Inaugurating Chief Guest Prof. Amitava Mitra in Itanagar. that the training would sensitize the participants and opined that human rights signifies that there had been inhuman traumas and that is why Human rights issue is relevant, and in a way its important towards protecting and promoting the core issues of humanity. He also spoke about the right to live and social rights aspects.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the training and the Deputy Registrar Academic Dr. David Pertin while welcoming the gathering delivered a brief account on the conduct and importance of the training. He informed that it is the maiden occasion

fare of the government employees.

Informing on welfare measures taken, he said the state government has released all the bills of the government employees for medical reimbursement, which were kept pending for several years. In addition, he informed that state government has released all the pending salaries of the con-

where RGU in collaboration with the Training Division of NHRC, New Delhi is conducting the important academic programme, with the focus to spread human rights literacy and sensitize people belonging to various sections of society on all aspects relating to human rights.

Assistant Professor and CoCoordinator of the programme Bikash Bage proposed the vote of thanks.

Altogether 143 participants comprising of faculty members and officials of RGU, research scholars, post graduate students and representatives of various NGOs took part in the train-

ing, wherein Prof. Jayadeba Sahoo, Dean, Faculties of Education & Languages,RGU, Advt.

Dani Belo, Deputy Secretary (Law & Judicial),GoAP, Advt. Sunil Mow, Advocate, Gauhati High Court, Itanagar Permanent Bench, Prof.

Maqitul Hussain, Visiting Professor, Dept. of Sociology, RGU, Dr. Jumyir Basar, Associate Professor, AITS, RGU and Gomar Basar, Asstt. Registrar, RGU acted as resource persons and imparted first hand information and expertise on varied topics such as Composition & Functioning of NHRC, SHRCs & Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, etc., Constitutional provisions, Universal declarations, etc., UN Convention, Constitutional provisions & Human Rights, SC/ST issues, Civil Liberties Act, etc., Child labour, Women rights, Bonded Labour issues, etc. and other parameters during the four brainstorming technical sessions, immensely benefiting the participants.

The training also marked a lively interactive session at the end where many queries and doubts were cleared by the panelists followed by distribution of participatory certificates.

With 130 participants participating in 12 events Arunachal first Paralympics Games gets underway Contd. from Page 1

In the boys’ 100 meter race, Tabam Tatak won the race, while Bharat Taruk and Rikto Kayu came in at second and third places. Liter Ori came in at first place in the girls’ 100 meter race, followed by Sindhi Umpo and Bagjam Yangang taking the second and third place. In the men’s 100 meter race category, Thasang Ajay won first place, while Sangha Taruk and Loa Pore came in at

second and third positions.

Speaking on the occasion, Salu said that it was an honor to be a part of this event and congratulated the APPA for their determination in making this dream a reality. He also appealed to the audience to encourage the Paralympics Game.

Informing that around 130 participants have registered for the 12 events, Salu said that the numbers indicate a very positive start, before adding that “we have submitted the entire basic requirement for the participants and are planning to

In particular, the Chief Minister sought specific suggestions from the various key sectors of health, education, law and or-

der, commerce and industry, women’s welfare and empowerment, persons with disabilities, community based organizations and academia, including from the Centre for Development Studies at the Rajiv Gandhi University. Conveying that he would be personally monitoring the feedback process, he said that these suggestions would greatly help in col-

lating a long-term perspective on development in the State.

With this initiative, the Chief Minister has sought to include the various stakeholders in the planning and policy making process and expressed that together we can take Arunachal to greater glory and create a state that becomes an example of equitable and consistent growth.

Stability in government's transaction is critical to development of state, Pul

RGU and NHRC conducted a collaborated One Day Training on Human Rights Itanagar, Mar 15: A one day training on Human Rights was organized by the Rajiv Gandhi University in collaboration with National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi on 15 March, 2016 at mini auditorium at Rono Hills campus with an objective to sensitize and aware the university officials, teachers and students of the university and others.

Inaugurating the training programme as Chief Guest Prof. Amitava Mitra, the Finance Officer i/c and Director, IQAC of RGU in his short speech said that the Human Rights issues started with the history of human society. There are records of so many movements, struggles and wars for rights and equality by peasants, workers, women groups, etc. in the world. The training programme is an outcome of long deliberations and debates in various national and international level meetings on human rights issues. Reformation and understanding are needed in society through such trainings. He also spoke on the human development index.

“With the limited resources that our state has, coupled with a very narrow revenue base, we have to look at new ways to achieve the desired objectives of equitable development of our state”, he said.

create five posts like coach and other staff to support this event in the future."

Taking the opportunity, the APPA also submitted a fivepoint memorandum to Salu, asking for corpus fund for the Umang festival for promotion of cultural activities for disabled people and corpus fund for the Paralympics Games.

The memorandum also included establishment of boys and girls hostel at SLSA Sports Complex, creation of five posts for the games and procurement of sports equipments through the sports fund.

The Paralympics participants had arrived from DonyiPolo School for the Hearing Impaired (DPSHI), Itanagar and various other districts of the state.

A beautiful dance was also presented by students of DPSHI. Among others, Youth Affairs Director D K Dinglow, Cultural Affairs Secretary Sonam Chombay, Director of Sports Tadar Appa and Itanagar DC Sandeep Kumar Singh were also present to encourage the participants.

tingency and casual workers, raised the student's stipend, and enhanced the incentives for health workers.

The idea behind the hike in worker's wages, according to the chief minister, is that while the regular government employee gets travel allowances, dearness allowances, housing facilities, pensions, allowances for servants and medical reimbursements, the contin-

gency and the casual staffs are deprived of all such benefits.

Also, they are deprived of salary hike as implemented from time to time as per the pay commission recommendations, which is made in view of the rise in market rates and the cost of living that the regular employee enjoys, said Pul. The chief minister informed that

the decision to enhance student's stipend has been taken in view of the large dropouts in rural areas, where students from poor family background are totally dependent on stipend for their education.

"Though the student stipend is a meager amount, it means a lot to students from poor economical background," he said and added that "students in rural areas should not be deprived of their basic right to education." "These all welfare measures for students and workers," said the chief minister, "have been taken even though there wasn't any pressure or demands from any quarter. No one came to me with such demands. But on my own I decided to, since I too come from a humble background, and understand their hardships." Pul, therefore, appealed the employees of the finance department not to let the work on government transaction to stop at any cost, since it's the common people who will be affected the most.

BJP National Executive Meeting to be held in Delhi A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 15: The State President, Tai Tagak, National Executive Members, Kiiren Rijiju (MP and MoS Home Affairs) and Tapir Gao (EX-MP), and the Leader of State BJP Legislature Party, Tamiyo Taga to attend Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive Meeting which is scheduled to be held in National Capital New Delhi on Mar 19th to Mar 20th, informed spokesperson of the BJP today in a press statement.

The Hon’ble National President, Amit Shah would preside over and Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and other senior office Bearers would grace the occasion.

The national conclave would be started with the brainstorming meeting of National Office Bearers, State InCharge/ CoIncharge/State President/ State General Secretary (Orgn) across the country.

Municipal Council in Arunachal all set to get a facelift soon : Pul Contd. from Page 1 He assured to provide funds for development of dumping grounds with working out possibilities for solid waste management.

Underscoring the need of burial cum cremation ground for Naharlagun and Itanagar denizens, CM assured to construct approach road to the existing burial cum cremation ground at Nirjuli besides providing boundary wall, lighting system, waiting shed, water supply etc. for the crematorium. He also promised to work out possibilities for installation of electric crematorium facility at the designate place for convenience of general people. Similar burial cum cremation ground at Chimpu,

Itanagar would also be developed with all facilities, CM assured. He asked IMC to prepare detail estimate on an urgent basis.

With ever burgeoning traffic in the capital region which has an average of 45 new vehicles being registered on daily basis, CM emphasised for urgent need of parking place to ease out traffic congestion. The haphazard parking of vehicles along the highway has been attributed as one of the prime reason for traffic jam. He directed IMC to identify suitable locations in key areas of capital region to develop parking buildings.

CM exhorted the councillors to become active partners to development. He sought their support in helping the government by providing information on law and order and

also on encroachment cases in their respective wards and sectors. While informing that the district magistrate has already issued administrative orders for checking rampant earth cutting and dumping muds and construction materials alongside road which apparently decrease the width and creates problems for the commuters, CM asked them to help administration by becoming watchdogs of such mal-practices.

He further called them to assist the government in solving the infamous compensation issue which has been stalling the 4 lane highway project from Itanagar to Banderdewa.

“We have to compromise in some aspects by shedding the selfish attitude and think about the development which is going to benefit all” he emotion-

ally said. “If we have better roads, other developments will automatically follow” Pul added. He further sought the councillors’ support in discouraging the fine system prevalent in the capital region during motor accidents.

CM revealed that Rs. 5 Crore has been released for carpeting and widening of Itanagar –Jullang –Naharlagun road as alternate arrangement for easing out traffic. He said that the road stretch from Governor’s helipad through Door Darshan colony connecting the SP’s office Itanagar would be made functional by constructing retaining wall at eroded portion near ESS Sector, Itanagar. By making one way provision, the capital traffic could be eased out to a great extent, he justified.

Cleanliness cum adventure camp by saint claret NSS Ziro, Mar 15: The NSS units of Saint Claret College held its two day annual camp that consisted of a massive cleanliness drive at Abuliyang Bazaar and an adventure trekking to Dusu Katu.

The Camp was attended by 91 volunteers from BA IV semester along with the program officers and the members of the Bazaar Committee, Hapoli.

Grouping themselves into four batches, the volunteers undertook the cleanliness work at four different corners of the Bazaar, under the guidance of the program officers Mr. Jeremiah Modi and Ms. Withoam Socia and the executive members of the Bazaar Committee. One of the highlights of the drive was clearing the dumping ground where trash had accumulated too long. The elders, which included Narang Doley, Chairman of the ABC, Tamo Tayo, Secretary, Gyati Lampung,

Cleanliness cum adventure camp by saint claret NSS at Zero Chief Advisor, Mihin Dolyang, Secretary of Hapoli Bazaar Committee, and Gaon Buri Mrs. Michi Yapyang, joined hands with the students and greatly appreciated the en-

thusiastic contribution of the students.

The second day was meant for igniting the spirit of adventure and directing the youthful energies to appreciate nature through the means

of trekking to Dusi Katu, some 20 kms away from the township. The eight hour walk to and fro the prestine interiors of the Ziro valley was a soulful education in itself for the Claretines.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

PAGE 4

Himanta addresses BJP election meeting at Morigaon

Himanta Biswa Sarma and Morigaon BJP candidate Rama Kanta Deori for upcoming state assembly election with huge numbers of supporters take part at Padayatra in Morigaon. Pic - UB Photos

ET Correspondent Morigaon, Mar 15: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organized two huge election meetings at Morigaon and Jhargaon in Morigaon district today which were addressed by BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma. Former Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led a padayatra at Morigaon town where thousands of BJP workers took part.

Later, addressing a huge public meeting at Morigaon Bihutoli, Himanta Biswa Sarma allegedly lambasted the Tarun Gogoi led state government for corruption and nepotism during his last

tenure. Criticizing vehemently the local MLA, Morigaon Jon Jonali Boruah, Himanta Biswa said that present Morigaon MLA did nothing during her 15 years tenure and Morigaon remained one of the Backward districts of Assam.

BJP has vision for all round development of every ethnic group of Assam and the party has no communal mission, Sarma added. Addressing the gathering, Rama Kanta Deori, BJP candidate in Morigaon appealed to the people to oust the Cogress from the power in the state which will bring the peace and prosperity .

A dumper runs over a farmer ET Correspondent Dergaon, Mar 15: A dumper coming from the Gelabil River has run over a farmer named Poresh Boruah (37) of Hola buwa gaon. Deceased Poresh Boruah has left his pregnant wife along with a 6 years male baby.

The nearby public blocked the road and demanding that the dumper owner should have to pay immediate compensation on spot along with punishment on the driver who lost driving control

due to alcohol drinks.

The public has not allowed the police to take over the dumper under custody and finally it got the zenith of public violence which emerged to be controlled by a group police and civil administrative officials including the additional superintendent of police of Golaghat district. The main cause of accident is the damage of the pandit hemchandra goswami path which is found heavy busy daily both for business and educational concern.

Utpal Dutta of AGP-BJP Alliance and Mamun Imdadul of AIUDF files Nominations in Lakhimpur ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Mar 15: The MLA candidates of the four LACs of the district are accelerating their political and electoral activities as the day pass by. After the submission of nomination

by Sanmilita Gana Shakti MLA candidate of Lakhimpur LAC yesterday, two other MLA candidates of the district filed their due nominations today.

One of them were Utpal

Dutta, the MLA candidate Lakhimpur LAC from AGP-BJP Alliance and the other is Mamun Imdadul Haque Choudhury, the MLA candidate of Nowboicha LAC from UDIF. Utpal Dutta submitted his nomination to the Returning Officer cum Lakhimpur DC Debeswar Malakar at 1pm amidst a joyous environment created by thou-

24th Sate level National Children’s Science Congress to be held at Dibrugarh University A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Mar 15: 24th Sate level National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) will be organized by district organizing committee of NCSC, Dibrugarh in association with Dibrugarh University during mid of October this year. The decision was made in a meeting held among the representation of ASTEC & State organizing Committee in presence of honorable Vice chancellor and other members of the University on 9th of March at Dibrugarh University.

The Vice Chancellor and Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh also urge to extend full support and plead for all to join hand to host the child scientists, escort teachers, coordinators and scientists to be participated in the event.

The selected child scientist from all the districts of Assam will present their project work based on the focal theme Science Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development and other seven sub themes in the four day long program.

Apart from this, interactive sessions with scientist of national and international repute, Science exhibition, Demonstration of Science Activity, Quiz, exposure of research environment in University, Book-fair, visit to important place etc. will be arranged in parallel.

This program is catalyzed

by DST, Govt. of India nationwide and by ASTEC at state level to build scientific temperament and to motivate the budding children towards issue based basic research in every year.

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Mar 15: A voter awareness and sensitization programme was undertaken by the SVEEP Cell of the Dibrugarh District administration yesterday at the heart of the town in front of the junction mall with active support from members of the Sohum Shoppe.

The purpose of the meeting was to create awareness on ethical and inducement free voting- two new initiatives of the administration were inaugurated on the occasion. The Model Polling Station vehicle displaying all basic

minimum facilities viz. drinking water, toilet, ramp, proper lighting, proper furniture, separate entry and exit and waiting shed was inaugurated. All the members present were enthusiastic and fast hand experience of casting their votes in EVM. The pledge box was introduced to the members of public wherein the sankalp patra or pledge letters on ethical voting was signed and deposited in the box.

The DC M.S Manivannam heighted the importance of ethi-

Election awareness meeting held at Kokrajhar

Briefing the importance of awareness among the voters, Malviya called upon the officers to make necessary steps to create awareness among the masses so that the voters are well aware of

Malviya earlier made a field visit in many parts of the Kokrajhar to get the feel of the public opinion on election.

Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner and District election officer, MP Sarma briefed on the outline of the District election plan and urged all officials present to carry out their assigned duties with outmost sincerity.

Later briefing media persons, the district election officer said the administration is all prepared to hold the election in the three LAC- 28 Gossaigaon, 29 Kokrajhar West and 30 Kokrajhar East in free, fair and peaceful manner. He said the district election officer has directed all parties and officials to obey the model code of conduct.

Imdadul haque Choudhury, the MLA candidate for Nowboicha LAC from All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) also submitted his nomination coming in a huge rally at 3pm.

His popularity in the LAC is seen increasing this compared to past days. It is to be noted that the minority voters of the constituency will play the crucial rule in case of the Poll Result.

Ahead of election, 300 join BJP in Dibrugarh

He said necessary arrangement has been made to hold the election peacefully. He also said security has been tightened, including in border areas of West Bengal and Bhutan. He said he has spoken to his Bhutanese counter for help and cooperation in border areas.

Sarma also said they would be using the Bhutanese SIMs during the election time to be used in shadow areas where Indian SIMs are not accessible. He said they have also urged the Bhutanese counterpart to make the SIMs available.

He said they have urged the Bhutanese counterpart to check sell of liquor so that it does not flow easily in border areas.

Gossaigaon SDO (Civil) Monoj Kumar Baruah, Kokrajhar Additional DC Bhaskar Das were also present in the meeting.

Ankita Dutta from Amguri, Nurjamal Sarkar from Biswanath, Rupak Sarma from Behali, Monika Borah from Gohpur, Arun Phukon from Bokakhat, Ajanta Neog from Golaghat, Bismita Gogoi from Khumtai, Arati Kachari from Dergaon, Rana Goswami from Jorhat, Rajib Lochan Pegu from Majuli, Rupjyoti Kurmi from Mariani, Pallabi Saikia Gogoi from Teok, Debabrat Saikia from Nazira, Suruj Dihingiya from Mahmora, Sarat Borkotoky from Sonari, Susanta Borgohain from Thowra, Bhupen Bora from Bihpuriaa, R.S. Subba from Nauboisa, Joyprakash Das from Lakhimpur, Bharat Narah from Dhakukhana, Sumitra Patir from Dhemaji, Paban Singh Ghatowar from Moran, Prithvi Majhi from Lahowal, Dhruba Gogoi from Duliajan, Chandrakanta Baruah from Dibrugarh, Atuwa Munda from Tingkhang, Pranati Phukan from Naharkatiya, Manilal Gowala from Patharkandi, Kamalakhya dey Purakayastha from Karimganj North, Siddique Ahmed from

ET Correspondent, Barpeta, Mar 15: One six years old girl child was rescued today at Barpeta who fled away from her owner’s house after getting punishment both physically and mentally.

It may be mentioned that one six years girl child Nargis Ahmed have been working in the house of one Shahjahan Ali Ahmed , worker of LIC of Gandhi Nagar, Barpeta, Nargis Ahmed stated that her father’s name is Chand Miya of Kandapara, under Barpeta district and she was about 3 years old her father died and mother went somewhere leaving her alone. That time this Shahjahan Ali Ahmed took her and since then she remained in his house as the maid servant. She does even remember her mother clearly.

The family did not take care of her; rather they did almost all their works by this innocent and unfortunate girl. At last the girl could not bear the physical and mental torture of that family and compelled to flee away from that.

Cong. gives Suruj Dehingia the party ticket

Suruj Dehingia

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Mar 15: Ahead of Assembly election the political parties are doing everything to attract the common people. Today 300 joined in the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) at the Dibrugarh BJP Mandal of-

cal voting and inducement free voting. He also informed about setting up model polling stations across the district and setting up 10 all women PS in the district.

The programme witnessed good response from first time voters, senior citizens and urban crowd.

The programme was attended by the Election awareness Observer Satish Nambudiripad, Additional SP Surait Singh Paneswar, Addl. Deputy Commissioner Anjanav Chaliha, Election Officer Biswajit Phukan, and Assistant Commissioner Mirzana Hussain.

Congress declares its first list of candidates for state assembly polls Contd. from Page 1

all the process of electioneering.

Significantly, no District

BJP leaders were seen with him while submitting the nomination. Only Khirod Kakoty, the Convener of Legal Cell; Ritu Das, the District Vice President of Yuba Marcha, Rana Pegu of ST Marcha, Affilluddin Ahmed and Samsul Hussain, District President and General Secretary of Minority Cell; State Secretary Rose Here Hussain were present with him. On the other hand, Mamun

fice in presence of Dibrugarh MLA Prashanta Phukan. “We are very much sure that we will win the Dibrugarh seat for the third consecutive time,’’ said Prashanta Phukan.

On the other hand, the

congress party has today declared the first list and for Chandrakanta Baruah have got the ticket from Dibrugarh constituency.

“There will be contest between Congress and BJP in Dibrugarh,’’ said Biju Das, a local resident.

Voter awareness programme in Dibrugarh AIUDF opposes AIUDF MLA of

Election awareness meeting held at Kokrajhar

ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, Mar 15: An election awareness meeting involving officials from district administration, sub-divisional and officer in charges and members of various monitoring teams on Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) was held today at Circuit House in Kokrajhar.

SK Malviya, election awareness observer in Kokrajhar attended the meeting and urged the officials to make public awareness in the district to implement the ensuing election in free and fair with increase of polling percentage.

sand supporters who organised a rally to bring him to the DC Office. In an interaction with the Media Persons after the submission of the nomination, the existing MLA expressed his profound confidence of rewinning the seat. "I am always with the mass. The common voters will cast their vote in favour of me''he said.

6 years girl child rescued

Karimganj South, Jamaluddin Ahmed from Badarpur, Gautam Roy from Katlisara, Anamuddin from Hailakandi, Rahul Roy from Algapur, Akhil Ranjan Talukdar from Ratabari , Bithika Dev from Silchar, Anamul Haque Lashkar from Sonai, Girrindra Mallik from Dholai, Ajit Singh from Udarband, Rajdeep Gowala from Lakhipur, Rumi Nath from Borkhola, Ataur Rahman Majar Bhuyan form Katigarah, Nirmalandu Langthasa from Haflong, Klendu Engti from Bokajan, Kharsing Engti from Hauraghat, Bidyasing Ingleng from Diphu, Manash Rangpi from Baithalangsu, Durga Das Boro from Paneri, Jamansingh Bramha from Udalguri, Rafel Kujur from Majbat, Habul Chakraborty from Dhekiajuli, Tanka Bahadur Rai from Borsala, Hiranya Bhuyan from Tezpur, Bhimananda Tanti from Rangapara, Praneshwar Basumatary from Satiya, Sushil Pegu from Jonai, Raju Sahu from Chabuwa, Rajendra Prasad Singh from Tinsukia, Gautam Dhanuwar from Digboi, Pradyut Bordoloi from Margherita, Durga Bhumij from Doomdoma, and Birinchi Neog from Sadiya.

Sarukshetry Ali Hussain Seat

ET Correspondent Barpeta, Mar 15: Taking the selection of AIUDF candidate here at Sarukshetry, the AIUDF opposed his Ali Hussain candidature though he remained as the AIUDF MLA from Sarukshetry constituency.

Today the AIUDF workers made the AIUDF Barpeta district office disorder and allegedly damaged furniture

at Barpeta AIUDF office because of the useless MLA of Saruksetry LAC. Some of the workers of Sarukshetry LAC complain that Abdul Kader who is in the responsibility of Barpeta district now tried to give Ali Hussain party ticket only for money. And some of the AIUDF workers of Sarukshetry LAC broke the office and burnt the effigy of of AIUDF, Barpeta district.

Montu Madhab Gogoi Moran, Mar 15: It will be a new era for the dwellers of Mahmora constituency-told

by Suruj Dehingia over telephone from Delhi to our correspondent that he finally got the ticket from the Congress party. Overall a joyous environment is prevailing in Moran now. He told that the new generation is his strength and he will try his best to upgrade them all.

On the other hand, the previous MLA Sarat Saikia of Congress party decided to contest independently in the constituency.

As the Moran town is attached with four constituency i.e. Mahmora, Moran, Tingkhong and Thowra, the young politicians are representing from each constituency. Ruffel Kujur who is also a dweller of Moran representing from a family of Khowang tea estate will also contest from Majbat LAC.

Irked over BJP candidature to ‘controversial’ Bhaskar Sarma, Ulfa (I) warns all concerned to maintain distance Contd. from Page 1

the party leaders who resigned today are Debnath Boro, President of BJP Tinsukia District ST Morcha Committee, Jitu Bora, Vice President of Tinsukia District BJP Committee, Nabo Dutta, General Secretary of Margherita BJP Block Mandal Committee, Nabo Bora, Vice President of Tinsukia District BJYM Committee, Munna Roy, Vice President of Margherita BJYM Block Mandal Committee, Nabin Borpatra Gohain, Vice President of Margherita BJYM Sadar Mandal Committee, Sanjib Dutta, President of Margherita BJP Sadar Mandal Mazdoor Morcha Committee, Mukut Gogoi, President of Margherita BJP Block Mandal Krishak Morcha Committee, Jyoti Gogoi President of Margherita BJP Sadar Mandal Mahila Morcha Committee, Govinda Shil executive

member of BJP Make in India, Ashman Thapa President of Inthem Gaon Panchayat, Ranjan Dutta Prabhari of 7 Number Ward of Margherita BJP Sadar Mandal Committee, Chand Prasad Jaiswal Prabhari of Khumchai Gaon Panchayat and the also Convenor of Tinsukia District Small Tea Growers Cell, Lalit Sonowal Former BJP President of Inthem Gaon Panchayat, Lalit Konwar President of Margherita BJP Sadar Mandal Kishan Morcha, Pragyan Chakhap Secretary of Tinsukia District BJP ST Morcha Committee, Khamai Gudung Vice President of Margherita BJP Sadar Mandal Committee and Gautam Debnath 117 Number Booth BLA of Margherita. Resigning from the party, Debnath Boro said that they had several times requested to the state party leadership to give the party ticket to a person with a clean image, however, the party did not give any importance to

the opinion aired by the grassroot level party workers and gave the party ticket to the controversial Bhaskar Sarma.

“We are really hurt and hence we took the decision to resign from various portfolios, but not from the primary membership of the party” Boro said. Many other leaders will resign from their respective portfolios very soon.

Meanwhile, reacting to the threat issued by the Ulfa, Sarma told before reporters in Margherita that there is a third force involved in the entire episode. “The state government had constituted 4 commissions to conduct inquiry into the secret killing episode. No commission has summoned me or said that I am guilty.

Therefore, how can anybody name me in the episode”, he said.

The Ulfa must focus upon various problems plaguing Assam rather than threatening me, he said.

REGION

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

Tripura CPM wants control over media by the party

CPI-M Agartala, Mar 15: The CPI-M in Tripura has faced a serious criticism over the decision to impose control over functioning of media, especially the electronic channels functioning at ground level, at the two-day extended session of the state committee.

In the agenda of organizational functioning, it mentioned that party must interfere in the functioning of electronic media at district level besides, going for regular briefing on the issues. The session concluded on Sunday.

Opposition Congress and BJP along with the civil society organisations had criticised the agenda stating that the CPI-M has now opened their hidden agenda which they had been persuading for long time to ensure a committed media.

BJP spokesperson Mrinal Kanti Deb said, “Leftists were never respectful of democracy and they consider the pillars of democracy, like the media, a class enemy. The statement against media in their action manifesto is shameful and instigation the cadres to consolidated attack on media. We condemn it.” Congress president Birajit Sinha criticised the stand of CPIM saying, “This is not only objectionable but also an attempt to destroy the democratic spirit of media functioning.

They must rectify it and seek apology for their misdeed besides, ensuring to change the mindset of the party comrades.” Several intellectuals and civil society organisation condemned it. However, party state secretary Bijan Dhar said the matter is being misinterpreted. He said the meeting had decided to enhance internal democracy in the party functioning, said Dhar adding

the session discussed the resolution adopted in the party plenum held in Kolkata last December and eight broad decisions had been for further strengthening of the party functioning in changing political situation in the country.

“More liberty has been given on debate and discussion, criticism and introspection of each and every party member as well as the functioning of the party to strengthening Leftists’ ideology besides, facilitating the mass line approach of the party,” Dhar said. He pointed out that in the changing political scenario; the CPM has decided to infuse more revolutionary touch to the party to keep it afloat though it is bit difficult to perform in letter and spirit where party is running a government. Dhar further said the meeting also decided to strengthen the party on the principle of democratic centralism, fight against all social evils and maintain peace and tranquility in the state.

As decided in party plenum, the Tripura CPI-M has priorities bringing young faces in the party function to fight against any divisive forces like BJP and RSS, he said adding that instruction had been given to increase party’s campaign on different pro-people planning, implementing massmovement based program, improving quality of the party men as well as to strengthen base.

Supporting the alliance between CPI-M and Congress in West Bengal, Dhar said the main goal is to oust the fascist Trinamool Congress from power and prevent the growth of BJP where Congress was found to be an option to fight against bigger enemy. (Agencies)

Meghalaya Police manual will be amended: Mukul Sangma

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Shillong, Mar 15: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Monday said the state's police manual is under the process of amendment to ensure non-lethal weapons were not used for mob control.

"The police manual has to be amended because it doesn't subscribe to the use of rubber bullets. In fact, the police manual is very scary as it says bullet should not be wasted," Sangma told the Assembly.

He said since the police manual was considered to be "outdated", the process for amendment was already on.

The Chief Minister was replying to queries raised by members on the use of nonlethal weapons such as rubber bullets for mob control.

Sangma also tabled the inquiry report probing into the firing incident at Mookhep in East Jaintia Hills District where two persons were killed in a firing allegedly by the police.

On a question posed by United Democratic Party legislator Paul Lyngdoh on whether the police was equipped with tear gas shells, PA system for crowd dispersal or rubber bullets, the Chief Minister said measures adopted for crowd control by avoiding incidents of firing would be adopted.

He also highlighted on the specifics of raising the special force SF 10 for counter insurgency operation and another unit to deal with mob control. (Agencies)

PAGE 5

CM presents Rs 1, 090-cr deficit budget Shillong, Mar 15: Liquor, petrol and limestone will be more expensive in Meghalaya as the government on Monday levied fresh taxes on them to meet shrinking resources after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned coal mining in the state.

Presenting a Rs 1, 090crore deficit budget for 2016-17 in the state assembly, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma proposed a 10 percent hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) on liquor from 20 percent to 30 percent besides raising the levy on import pass fee and transport fee on alcohol, beer and wine.

The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth pegged at 3.6 per cent.

Sangma, who also holds the finance portfolio, raised VAT on petrol by 22 percent and also withdraw 56 paise per litre rebate on petrol.

The Chief Minister, however, told reporters later that even after the imposition of taxes, liquor and petrol will still be cheaper in Meghalaya compared to Assam.

He also raised the rate of cess on limestone from Rs.40 to Rs.60 per tonne.

The fresh tax proposals on liquor and petrol are aimed to generate additional revenue to meet due to NGT ban on coal mining.

The announcement of the creation of as many as 15 new police stations and formation of fur new Civil Sub-divisions and the same number of new Community and Rural Development blocks were greeted by the members in the House with the thumping of desks as also

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma presenting the Budget

the increase in MLA scheme from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore annually.

Presenting the Budget estimates in the House, the Chief Minister said that the while estimated total receipts stand at R 10,173 crore, the revenue receipts are estimated at Rs 8,981 crore and capital receipts at Rs 1,192 crore. Excluding borrowings and other liabilities, the total receipts are estimated to be Rs 9,013 crore.

As far as expenditure is concerned, the proposed total expenditure is Rs 10,507 crore during 201617, of which revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 8,594 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 1,913 crore. Excluding repayment of loans, the estimated total expenditure is Rs 10,103 crore.

As the expenditure is more than the revenue, the deficit budget stands at Rs 1,090 crore.

However, the interest payment during 2016-17 is estimated at Rs 551 crore and pension payment at Rs 491 crore.

The maximum allocation of funds under the Budget is for Community and Rural Development department with Rs 811.85

crore followed by Education department (Rs 677 crore), Roads and Bridges (Rs 471.80 crore), Health (Rs 470 crore), Agriculture and Horticulture (279.15 crore) and Water Supply and Sanitation (Rs 253 crore) among others.

Later, speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said that though the deficit has increased compared to the Budget of 2015-16 which was Rs 819 crore, he is hopeful that with various initiatives the government would be able to reduce the deficit.

Announcing the tax proposals, the Chief Minister said that this was necessitated in order to meet the challenges occasioned by the shrinking resource base on account of the NGT ban on coal mining and to generate additional resources to the State to meet its multifarious requirements in crucial sectors of the economy.

MLA scheme hiked The Chief Minster also announced hike in the MLA scheme in the Budget.

“The Special Rural Works Programme (SRWP), Special Urban Works

Programmes(SUWP) have played an important role in filling the critical gaps in the rural and urban areas. I propose to increase the present allocation of Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore per Assembly constituency from the next financial year”, the Chief Minister said.

The Chie Minister said that the challenges faced by the State are the revenue shortfall, due to the rippling effect of the restrictions imposed on mining of minerals and reduced transfer than what was projected in the share of central taxes.

“The State was able to keep its fiscal deficit within the comfortable limits of 2 to 3% of GSDP during the years 2009 to 2014. However, during 2014-15, on account of the NGT ban on coal mining in the State, the revised fiscal deficit increased to 3.89%, which was slightly higher than the target of 3%”, the Chief Minister said, adding that the debt GSDP ratio for the same period was at 26.55%, which shows significant improvement over the target of 31.70% set by the 13th Finance Commission in its fiscal road map for the State.

During 2015-16, the debtGSDP ratio was projected at 27.05% and the fiscal deficit at 2.8 % of the GSDP. As per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission and based on the fiscal assessment of the expected performance of the economy during the award period, the State is entitled to share in Central taxes of Rs 4,291 crore.

“However, based on its

BUDGET 2016-17- HIGHLIGHTS VAT on liquor hiked from 20% to 30% More levy on import, and transport pass fees on alcohol, beer, wine Withdrawal of rebate of 56 paise per litre on petrol Hike in VAT on petrol from 20% to 22%.

Cess on limestone hiked from Rs 40 per metric tonne to Rs 60.

15 new police stations Three outposts to be upgraded Four new Civil Sub Divisions Four new C&RD Blocks.

MLA scheme hiked from Rs 1 core to 2 crore current assessment, the Centre has determined the entitlement at Rs 3,668.82 crore only for 2016-17.

This would mean a reduction of Rs 622.18 crore”, the Chief Minister said.

To sustain the growth momentum, the Chief Minister said the government will continue with the strategy of balancing the investment in development sectors without disregarding the commitment to administrative expenditure. “The Government, therefore, is committed to make adequate budgetary provision in 2016-17 to defray additional expenditure on account of creation of SF-10 to tackle law and order, the need to provide necessary infrastructure to the four newly created Districts and for new District Courts on account of separation of the judiciary from the executive, amongst other things”, he said.

The Chief Minister said the Government has taken necessary measures to generate additional revenue by way of increasing the rates of taxes under the Meghalaya

Value Added Tax Act on cigarettes and others, High Speed Diesel (HSD) and other internal combustion oil but excluding petrol. This measure is expected to generate additional revenue of about Rs 18 crore in the current financial year.

With the implementation of the Meghalaya Clinker Cess Act, 2015, the Government has collected an amount of Rs 63.72 lakh till February, 2016 as cess levied and collected from sale of clinker at the rate of Rs 20 per metric tonne, the Chief Minister said.

Mookhep firing: CM assures action against guilty

Manipur government faces another temporary market fiasco

Shillong, Mar 15: While accepting the second report into the police firing incident at Mookhep in East Jaintia Hills which left two dead and several injured on September 24, 2014, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Monday assured the House that follow up action including legal proceedings would be initiated against those involved in the incident.

The Chief Minister was reacting to a demand made by Opposition leader Donkupar Roy and others in the Assembly on Monday, pointing out lapses as per the findings on the part of the district administration and the negligence of the police headquarters which led to the incident.

During the Question Hour, the Chief Minister informed that the report of the first magisterial inquiry was submitted on November 6, 2014 but the same was not accepted by the government since it left several pertinent questions unanswered.

A fresh administrative inquiry was constituted to probe further into the incident and this time, the report was submitted to the government on November 24, 2015.

While the first inquiry was carried out by Additional Deputy Commissioner S.S. Syiemlieh, the second probe was headed by Commissioner and Secretary DP

Wahlang.

He laid the findings of the administrative inquiry on the table of the House in reply to the question posed by Roy. The most important aspect of the findings was that the police, as per the order of the magistrate, ‘fired in the air’ leaving two people dead.

Another observation is that shortage of manpower led to the firing incident and the police headquarters had failed to act in providing manpower even after the matter was taken up by the SP. The report said that genesis of the problem was with the NGT ban on coal mining and transportation and the call of indefinite economic blockade by Movement of Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood (MIPRL) which led to violence on September 23, 2014.

The report said that the police personnel including the SP, East Jaintia Hills were attacked, pelted stones and fired upon during the economic blockade.

On September 24, situation turned worse after the arrest of a volunteer identified as Eibun Siangshai from Wapungskhur village and the angry crowd wanted the police to release him.

As per the findings, a senior police officer (C. Syrti, who was deputy commandant 3rd MLP battalion) had even

suggested to the Deputy Commissioner to free the arrested person to calm down the situation.

When no action was taken, the crowd numbering around 600 started to march along the highway towards Lad Rymbai outpost. The police personnel present were hopelessly outnumbered at Mookhep village. By all estimates, around 15 to 16 police personnel were there to tackle an aggressive crowd of about 600, the findings said.

According to the report, what followed was a tragedy; with mob fury including stone pelting and alleged gun shots from the crowd (no confirmation of this), the police who were outnumbered were forced to take action.

The magistrate present, after assessing the situation, ordered for ‘firing in the air’ to disburse the unruly crowd.

“The police fired in the air at first (as per statement of witness Iaraplang Rymbai) and fled the scene towards Lad Rymbai side. The incident happened between 5.45 to 6 pm on the fateful day and after the firing by the police, chaos ensued and it was found that two people had lost their lives and eight of them were seriously injured,” the findings said.

As per the report, the district administration was fully aware of the likely ramifica-

tions of coal mining ban and the district police had written a number of letters to the police headquarters for deployment of additional force.

“The SP of the district had given ample warning to the police headquarters regarding the shortage of force in the district. A reply from the police headquarters was received on November 19, 2015 simply stating that the matter had been taken up with the ADGP (law and order). What action had been taken up by the police headquarters is not, therefore available with the inquiry officer,” the report said.

During the Question Hour, the Opposition continued to exert pressure on the government to take legal action against all involved in the incident.

Raising a question, Roy said though ample warning was given about the shortage of police personnel, it is a matter of concern that the Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order did not take any action on the matter.

Ardent Basaiawmoit (HSPDP) also pointed out that there were two major lapses, first committed by the district administration and another by the police headquarters.

He wanted to know whether any legal action will be taken against the police officers and the district administration.

To this, the Chief Minister said that the report was accepted by the government and usual follow up action will be initiated.

After Roy wanted to know whether the family of the deceased will be provided employment and also adequate compensation, the Chief Minister said that all follow up action will be taken.

To a question on what the government learned from the incident, the Chief Minister said that the government from time to time, based on similar kind of situation, continues to issue advisories to the district administration.

Move to amend police manual Saleng Sangma (Independent) wanted to know whether instead of shooting with bullets, the government will introduce the use of rubber bullets when police personnel are faced with similar situations.

In reply, the Chief Minister said that in this context, the newly raised SF-10 force has been entrusted with the task of dealing with similar law and order situation besides engaging in anti-insurgency operations.

According to the Chief Minister, there is a need to re-examine and amend the Meghalaya police manual.

“The police manual is very scary as in one section, it is mentioned that bullet should not be wasted and this needs amendment,” the Chief Minister said. (Agencies)

Nagaland Assembly budget session begins Kohima, Mar 15: The five-day budget session of Nagaland Assembly began on Tuesday with the address of the state Governor P B Acharya.

Chief Minister Zeliang made obituary reference on the passing away of Late General (Retd) K V Krishna Rao, former Governor of Nagaland (1984) and Late Purno Agitok Sangma, Former Lok

Sabha Speaker and sitting MP from Meghalaya.

two-minute silence in honour of the departed souls.

Speaker of the House, Chotisuh Sazo made obituary in respect of three former members of the House, which include Late L Nokzenketba, Late Lalkholam Kuki and Late T Sakusangba Aier.

Later, MLA Vikho-o Yhoshu tendered the motion of thanks to the governor for his speech, while MLA Namri Nchang seconded.

Nagaland Assembly

The House observed

Discussion on the governor s address would be taken up on March 17 and 18.

The Government is gearing up for implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), as and when it is introduced, he said, while adding that the concerns of the State Government, with respect to implementation of GST, have been appropriately articulated to the Government of India, through the platform of the Empowered Committee. Trainings and workshops are being conducted for smooth transition to GST in future, he added. (Agencies)

Imphal, Mar 15: The Manipur government may have to close down a new temporary marketing complex here which was built to house women vendors whose shops were damaged in the January 4 earthquake.

Women vendors said customers don't come to the temporary market at B.T. Road which has no parking space and is already surrounded by numerous street vendors.

"What can we sell there if there are no customers," Shakitombi, a woman vendor, told IANS. Leihaobi, another vendor, said the temporary market was illconceived.

"The construction of the temporary market was never announced in advance. We were never taken into confidence," she said.

The market with sitting capacity for 2000 women vendors was inaugurated on Friday by the state's Works Minister K. Ratankumar. He told the vendors to make the best use of the temporary market while the permanent complex is being constructed near the old Assembly complex in the city.

On the day of the inauguration, just four women vendors sold handloom clothes and the following day there was just one vendor.

The temporary arrangement was necessitated after two blocks of Imoinu market were damaged in the January 4 earthquake.

The damage drove the women vendors out but only temporarily. They have since reoccupied the unsafe, quake-damaged building of the Imoinu market.

Imoinu market is part of the Mothers' Market complex, an iconic, 150-year-old market of Imphal.

The state government had engaged experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Roorkee to get advice on whether the damaged buildings could be restored or should be demolished.

The women vendors were seen doing brisk business in the unsafe buildings.

The temporary market fiasco is a repeat of what happened in Thangal market area where too a similar project had to be scrapped midway after the government faced widespread protests led by BJP legislator Khumukcham Joykishan.

(Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

PAGE 6

Naidu pulls up 'shameless' Owaisi over his anti-India rant New Delhi, Mar 15: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said it is extremely unfortunate that some 'shameful' people have expressed their opposition to raising pronational slogans.

Naidu's remark came in the wake of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party ( A I M I M ) chiefAsaduddin Owaisi's rant that he would not

"India is our mother and no one should have objection to pay obeisance to mother.it is the misfortune of the country that some people object to it.

They are shameless.

Some parties are backing such forces, it is unfortunate.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu

There no need to pressurize anyone or there is no need of a law to respect

JNU row: ABVP member issued showcause notice

Kanhaiya Kumar New Delhi, Mar 15 : ABVP member Sourav Sharma, who is the joint secretary of JNUSU, has received a showcause notice by the office of the varsity's chief proctor in connection with the February 9 event in the campus during which 'anti-national' slogans were alleged raised.

Sharma has been asked to appear before the committee and file a response by tomorrow evening.

A high-level internal committee of the JNU has found 21 students guilty of holding a controversial event on the campus last month, which had led to the arrest of JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar

and others.

Last week, the JNU had revoked the suspension of eight students after the highlevel probe panel submitted its report on the February 9 incident.

Besides Kanhaiya Kumar, the eight suspended students include Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Ashutosh, Rama Naga, Anant Kumar, Shweta Raj and Aishwarya Adhikari.

They were suspended on February 12 for their alleged involvement in organising an event to protest the hanging of the parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on his third death anniversary. (ANI)

Newspaper releases email trail after Vijay Mallya denies interview

Vijay Mallya New Delhi, Mar 15: After loans defaulter Vijay Mallya denied giving an interview to The Sunday Guardian, the newspaper on Tuesday released a chain of emails of its interview, purportedly with the former 'King of Good Times.'

In the supposed email interview, Mallya had said it was not the right time for him to return to India.

"I am an Indian to the core. Of course I want to return. But I am not sure I'll get a fair chance to present my side. I've already been branded as criminal. I do not feel the time is right." the newspaper quoted an email, supposedly from Mallya, as saying.

Mallya left India on March 2 and in tweets right after, asserted he is just an 'international businessman' and not an absconder. The liquor baron owes more than Rs 9,000 crores in unpaid loans -- and interest on those loans -- taken for his failed Kingfisher Airlines.

Mallya claimed last night that he never gave the weekend interview to The Sunday Guardian.

"Shocked to see media statements that I gave an interview to Sunday Guardian without verification. I have not given any statement to anyone," Mallya tweeted last night on his official Twitter page.

The newspaper said it stood by its report.

The email trail that the newspaper put online says "Interview for the Sunday Guardian newspaper" in the subject line with an email from the

yesterday said backed his earlier remark and said that he has not violated any law.

"I stand by my statement. Why should I raise such a slogan to prove my loyalty to this country? I have not violated any law," Owaisi told ANI on Monday.

raise slogan of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' to prove his loyalty to the nation.

reporter's 'Proton' email account to a 'Proton' account that's supposedly Mallya's.

"Shocked to see Sunday Guardian's claim that I exchanged mails with them from my proton mail account. Have never heard of proton mail before. Sunday Guardian's claim that I wrote to them from my so called proton mail account to the reporters proton mail account is a total fake," Mallya tweeted on his official Twitter page.

"Never ever had nor do I have a proton mail e-mail account.

As I said earlier, I have never ever heard of proton mail," he added.

The email reply, supposedly from Mallya, begins: "I urge you not to misquote me or twist my words to suit any narrative.

Please use my answers as it is," says Mallya in his reply to the reporter.

Further, Mallya, or somebody, responds to four queries from the newspaper.

The replies mention being victimized and that "big media houses are running a whole lot of lies".

"I don't think it is wise for me to reveal my whereabouts. For now, I want to feel safe," is another reply, purportedly from Mallya, to a question about where he's staying.

When Mallya left the country on March 2, he reportedly managed to do so despite a CBI lookout notice on him and allegedly on a diplomatic passport.

The Congress and the BJP have since been accusing each other of helping Mallya leave the country or get loans.The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Mallya to Mumbai on March 18 as part of its money laundering probe in the alleged default of repayment of a Rs 900 crore loan from IDBI bank

by Kingfisher Airlines.

The liquor baron owes more than Rs 9,000 crores in unpaid loans taken for his failed Kingfisher Airlines. Not just that, he owes interest, too, on those Rs 9,000 crores.

our mother," Naidu told the media here.

An adamant Owaisi had

Owaisi's comments came in wake of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion that the new

generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India.

The RSS chief had earlier said the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India.

Bhagwat's comments came against the backdrop of the row over alleged anti-India sloganeering in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on February 9. (ANI)

Kim warns of impending nuke, rocket tests Seoul, Mar 15: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned of impending tests of a nuclear warhead explosion and ballistic missiles capable of carrying atomic warheads, state media reported today, in an escalation of threats against Seoul and Washington.

The warning came as North Korea said it had made a breakthrough in its pursuit of a long-range missile capable of striking the US mainland.

South Korea says the North has yet to develop a functioning inter-continental ballistic missile.

Kim issued the order for the tests "in a short time," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The KCNA report did not say if Kim gave specific dates for the tests.

It is not clear if the tests would happen soon, given that any tests would likely invite harsher international sanctions after the country was hit by the toughest UN Security Council sanctions in two decades in early March for a nuclear test and longrange rocket launch conducted earlier in 2016.

Some of the North's recent rhetoric was seen intended for a domestic audience to display government strength ahead

of a major meeting of the ruling party in May. In the past, North Korea has typically conducted nuclear tests and rocket launches every three to four years.

Even if the tests happen, analysts in Seoul said the nuclear warhead explosion that Kim referred to will likely be just a test of a warhead containing only a trigger device but lacking plutonium or uranium. They said the North could also launch shorter-range missiles, but not one with an intercontinental range.

Pyongyang, known for its trademark fiery rhetoric in times of tension with the outside world, has been stepping up its threats after Washington and Seoul last week began annual military drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal.

The drills, set to run until late April, are the largest ever.

Last Wednesday, North Korea's main newspaper printed photos of what appeared to be a mockup of nuclear warhead.

State media on Friday quoted Kim as having ordered more nuclear explosion tests but again didn't say when they would occur.

Kim said "a nuclear warhead explosion test and

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un a test-fire of several kinds of ballistic rockets able to carry nuclear warheads will be conducted in a short time to further enhance the reliance of the nuclear-attack capability," KCNA reported.

He made the comments while guiding a successful simulated test of a reentry vehicle, which is needed to return a warhead safely back into the Earth's atmosphere from a long-range missile launch.

Information from secretive, authoritarian North Korea is often impossible to confirm and there is virtually no way to check how genuine its claims are on developing re-entry vehicle technology.

Seoul's Defense Ministry described North Korea's claims as "unilateral," saying the country has not developed re-entry vehicle technology.

Spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said the assessment is based on an analysis of South Korean and US intelligence. He declined to elaborate. Analyst Lee Choon Geun at South Korea's state-funded Science and Technology Policy Institute said the North might put an empty warhead on a rocket and test-fire it to see if the warhead survives the re-entry and detonates as planned.

While the North might test-fire shorter-range missiles with ranges of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) or less, it is unlikely that it would test a rocket with intercontinental range as that would probably have to fly over neighboring countries, said Jin Moo Kim, an analyst at the government-funded Korea Institute for Defense Analysis in Seoul.

Mallya row: Chidambaram corners Vajpayee, puts onus on banks Mumbai, Mar 15 : In an indirect attack on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former finance minister P. Chidambaram came to rescue of the Congress Party over theVijay Mallya episode and said it is the responsibility of the banks to recover the money as they had lent loans of Rs. 9000 crore to the liquor baron.

"I don't know the facts of Mallya's case. It's for the banks, which had given money to take appropriate action," he said yesterday while launching his book Standing Guard - A Year in Opposition.

"In 2002-03, when

P. Chidambaram Shekhar Gupta was the editor of the Indian Express, he ran a series of articles called 'The Great Indian Bank Robbery'.

Just jog the memory and ask the question as to who was the prime minister at that time. No-

body accuses that prime minister of being behind the logs. Therefore, if the banks have lent loan to a person, they are responsible to that," Chidambaramsaid.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sum-

moned the liquor baron to appear before it in Mumbai on March 18 as part of its money laundering probe in the alleged default in payment of Rs 900 crore dues to the IDBI bank by the Kingfisher Airlines.

The government had earlier told the Supreme Court that Mallya had left India on March 2, following which the bench issued notice to him and sought his response within two weeks on pleas filed by a consortium of banks seeking direction for freezing his passport and his presence before the apex court. (ANI)

Goa CM had refused Mallya's b'day party invite Panaji, Mar 15: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has said that he had once turned down an invitation by beleaguered liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya to attend his birthday celebrations in the state.

"He (Mallya) had invited me for his birthday. He had sent his officer who had said there is a room booked for me," Parsekar told reporters here last evening. "I folded my hands and told

him that I am better off in my home," the Chief Minister said. On allowing banks to confiscate Mallya's mansion - Kingfisher Villa - Parsekar said law will take its own course.

"I have heard that he has a property in Goa somewhere. If it is to be attached then law will take its own course," Parsekar said.Under fire over dues running to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore of long-

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar grounded Kingfisher Airlines in unpaid loans and

US confirms death of key Islamic State leader in Syria

interest, Mallya left the country on March 2, triggering a political row with Congress and BJP trading charges.

The Enforcement Directorate(ED) has summoned the liquor baron to appear before it in Mumbai on March 18 as part of its money laundering probe over the alleged default of payment of dues to IDBI bank by Kingfisher Airlines.

US confirms death of key Islamic State leader in Syria

Washington, Mar 15: The US Defense Department on Tuesday confirmed the death of a key Islamic State (IS) leader known as "Omar the Chechen" as a result of injuries sustained during an airstrike conducted in Syria on March 4.

The Pentagon confirmed what until now was only a possibility, because although it had informed that he was a target in the attack, it was not known for certain whether he had died or not, EFE news reported.

The attack also would have killed 12 other jihadi fighters near the town of Al Shadadi, in the Al Hasaka province bordering Turkey.

Known as "Omar the Chechen", Abu Omar alShishani was born in Georgia and served in the armed forces of his country during the short war with Russia in 2008.

"Shishani is a battletested leader with experience who had led IS fighters in numerous engagements in Iraq and Syria," said Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook.

"His potential removal from the battlefield would negatively impact IS' ability to recruit foreign fighters especially those from Chechnya and the Caucasus region - and degrade IS' ability to coordinate attacks and defence of its strongholds like Raqqa, Syria, and Mosul, Iraq," Cook added.

It is believed that Shishani began fighting in rebel brigades of the Syrian civil war in 2012 and that one or two years later he joined the IS, where he held prominent military positions including "minister of war", the Pentagon added.

Delhi HC to hear another sedition plea against Kanhaiya Kumar

Delhi High Court

New Delhi, Mar 15: A petition was filed in the Delhi high court on Tuesday seeking action against JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar on a sedition charge for saying that the Indian Army is responsible for rapes of women in Kashmir.

Justice Pratibha Rani would hear the case postlunch on Tuesday.

"Indian Army is an integral part of the nation and it cannot be alleged that the Army is causing rape with women in Kashmir, which is a serious matter and a clear seditious act" on the part of Kanhaiya Kumar, said Advocate Sugriva Dubey.

"India is a free country but Kanhaiya Kumar and his associates called for a revolution and it was indicated that Kanhaiya is being backed by some Naxalites or Naxal group," said the plea.

Kanhaiya Kumar has sought "azadi" (freedom) for Kashmir, Nagaland and Assam where the government is an elected government voted by the people, said the plea, adding that he and his associates, Anirban Bhattacharya and Umar Khalid, in their speeches have said that their fight for "azadi" would continue.

The plea sought the court's direction for in-

vestigation by the Intelligence Bureau into the issue.Despite giving an undertaking to the court that he would not involve himself in any anti-national activities, Kanhaiya Kumar's 45minute speech after release from jail was probably a total political speech inviting penal provisions for a seditious act.

On March 2, the Delhi high court granted an interim bail to Kanhaiya Kumar, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president who was booked on the charge that he engaged in a n t i - n a t i o n a l sloganeering in a public meeting in February in the university campus.While granting him bail for six months, Justice Pratibha Rani said he will "not participate actively or passively in any activity which may be termed as anti-national".

After his release from bail, on March 8, Kanhaiya Kumar reportedly said in a speech: "No matter how much you try to stop us, we will speak up against human rights violations. We will raise our voice against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act . While we have a lot of respect for our soldiers, we will still talk about the fact that in Kashmir, women are raped by security personnel."

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

Pakistan trying to get more F-16s from US Islamabad, Mar 15: Pakistan is trying to get more F-16s from the US as well as looking towards countries like Russia and France for new aircraft to replace old ones to match India's defence purchases, according to a report.

Jane's Defence Weekly reported this week that Pakistan would seek to purchase ten F-16 additional planes from the United States if the current deal for eight of these fighter jets is successfully concluded.

Dawn quoted the Jane's Defence Weekly that Pakistan wants new 16C/D Block 52 multi-role fighters, which are

equipped with precision strike capability, as it would enhance its capability to reduce collateral damage in the war against terrorists who often hide among civilians.

A "decision in principle has been made to buy 10 more F-16s," a senior Pakistani government official told Jane's, while adding that "the exact timing to place an order is yet to be decided".

He said Pakistan Air Force needed to retire 190 planes by 2020, forcing the country to look for various options.

The official said that the strong resistance it faced in the US Congress for buying a small batch of

Madhesi leaders meet Indian Foreign Secy.

Jaishankar in Nepal

Bangladesh Bank governor quits citing moral responsibility

Kathmandu (Nepal), Mar. 15: Leaders of Nepal's Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) met Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar at Hotel Dwarika's in Kathmandu on Monday.

Foreign Secretary Jaishankar arrived here today to attend the 37th SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in Pokhara, who will host the meeting between March 16 -18 with the ministerial meeting scheduled to be held on March 17.

India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will arrive tomorrow morning for the meet.

Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal leader Ashok Rai, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav, Sadbhawana Party Co-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna, Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chairman Anil Jha, Forum Ganantrik Chairman Raj Kishor Yadav, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party General Secretary Sarbendra Nath Sukla and Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party Spokesperson Keshav Jha were present during an hourlong meeting, reports the Kathmandu Post.

According to reports, Jaishankar at the meeting enquired about the status of Madhesi agitation and recent activities of Madhesi's.

The Kathmandu Post according to their sources said that leaders informed Jaishankar that the Nepal government has not yet addressed their demands.

The leaders even informed that they have issued an ultimatum to the government until mid April to address the same.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar conveyed that India wants to see an early solution to the Madhesi crisis in Nepal and assured that he would raise the concerns during his meetings with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, reports the Kathmandu Post.

The Indian foreign secretary had visited Nepal last year in September as a special envoy to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi two days prior to the historic adoption of new constitution of Nepal. (ANI)

Dhaka, Mar. 15: Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman, who tendered his resignation on Tuesday morning, said that he opted to quit out of moral responsibility over the heist of US$101 million from the central bank's account with the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

Rahman disclosed his opinion at a press conference, hours after submitting his resignation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

As the governor of the central bank, he drew criticism for not inform-

Pakistan trying to get more F-16 aircraft from US

eight planes was "discouraging".

"That's why we are looking at other options too, such as buying them from Russia or France."

The official noted that while French planes were "very expensive,

ing the government for more than a month about the heist which made headlines across the world.

"I am leaving as a hero. I did not want my institution, the Bangladesh Bank, and my country facing any controversy over the issue," the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

On February 4, the hacking took place using information stolen through the malware, which sent a total of 35 transfer orders to the New York Federal Reserve Bank where the Bangladesh

the Russians are not and they are equally good".

Last week, the US Senate rejected a move to shoot down the proposed sale of eight F-16, which is now in its final stages.

On Saturday, the 30-day mandatory period, that

Bank have an account.

The malware not only hacked the system, but also destroyed the system on the computers itself, which are used by the officials to make transfer orders.

With the late disclosure about the matter, the Bangladesh Bank drew displeasure from Hasina, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith and other government officials.

He clarified that it took some time to disclose the matter but it was done according to protocol, adding that the cyber attack

allows Congress to block an arms sale to a foreign country, also passed.

Although some technical details are still being worked out, the deal for these eight aircraft is almost final, the report said.

In September last year, Russia offered to sell Su35 planes to Pakistan, which are among the fifth generation aircraft, it said.

Pakistani officials say that India's defence purchases also influence their search for a matching technology.

India is already working on a plan to replace its current fleet of planes with fifth generation air-

craft by 2020, forcing Pakistan to do the same.

They say that while Pakistan is not looking to match the exact number of planes the Indians have but they would like to maintain a fleet of 350 to 400 aircraft.

Pakistani officials point out that they also have a large-scale defence collaboration with China, "which is a great source of strength" for the country.

The eight planes that Pakistan is buying from the United States include two single-seat F-16Cs and six twin-seat F-16Ds, along with associated equipment - for about $699 million.

Atiur Rahman tendered his resignation on Tuesday

was a very high-tech incident.

Rahman said that nothing was understandable at the first place and this incident has a lot of posi-

tive sides and the crises can be turned into an opportunity.

He demanded proper investigation of the incident. (ANI)

Discussion begins at SAARC meet Pokhara(Nepal), Mar. 15: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Specialized today forwarded four reports for discussion at the 52nd Programming Committee Meeting of the SAARC that began in Pokhara yesterday.

Mani Sharma Bhattarai, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is leading the Nepali

delegation to the meeting, said that reports were submitted by chiefs of SAARC University, SAARC Development Fund, SAARC Arbitration Centre and Regional Standard Organisation, reports the Kathmandu Post.

Nepal, the current chair of the regional bloc, has faced a lot of criticism for inadequate efforts to steer the SAARC's progress.

The earthquakes last year, sustained political standoff in the country and the border blockage are the reasons behind the lack of progress are what the officials say.

Meanwhile, an official said that the mini SAARC summit will discuss all the progress made in the past and will chart out the future roadmap where the grouping needs to be

headed reports the Kathmandu Post.

The official added that there were complaints and grievances among the members about the SAARC's lack lustre progress and focus on how to provide momentum and finalizing the calendar of events, setting the date for the new summit were discussed.

The agenda of education, trade, arbitration and other

aspects of regional cooperation, which would also be discussed by the foreign secretaries and the foreign ministers later, were also discussed.

The programming committee's decision and recommendations will be forwarded to the SAARC Standing Committee involving the foreign secretaries, which begins on Wednesday.(ANI)

Sartaj Aziz to meet Sushma Swaraj on sidelines of SAARC ministerial meet in Nepal

Sartaj Aziz to meet Sushma Swaraj on sidelines of SAARC ministerial meet in Nepal

Islamabad, Mar. 15: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will be meeting India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ministerial meeting in Kathmandu.

Aziz will be meeting other foreign ministers as well on Thursday, where he will extend Sharif's formal invitation to their respective Heads of State for the 19th SAARC Summit, being hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad this year, confirmed Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its official website.

However, there has been no confirmation that New Delhi and Islamabad will discuss anything on the resumption of composite dialogue.

The meeting comes as a major breakthrough as the two sides have been on extremely strained terms since the Pathankot attack earlier this year which had derailed the Foreign Secretary-level talks in Islamabad in January.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi later this month on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

(ANI)

14 more people die in Pakistan's rain-hit areas Peshawar, Mar. 15: At least 14 people, including women and children were killed and several others injured in rain related incidents in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and adjoining tribal areas yesterday.

Six deaths were reported from Khyber Agency, two each from Mardan and Bannu, one each from Malakand, Tank, Chitral and Swat districts reports Dawn.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority

(PDMA) has predicted another rain spell in KP province and flashfloods could be feared in flash floods were feared in Malakand and Hazara divisions from Thursday.

Alerts have been issued to all the districts heads to take precautionary measures and provide immediate relief to the affected people in case of emergency.

No rain forecast has been made for Tuesday, but scattered rain is predicted across the province on Wednesday. (ANI)

UDMF leaders meet Indian Military Operation in Pakistan's Malaysia to deport two Foreign Secretary S Australian journalists over FATA completing soon Jaishankar alleged PM security breach Islamabad, Mar. 15: The ahead and consolidate the ministered Tribal Areas Kathmandu, Mar 15 : The agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) leaders on Tuesday held a meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.

During the meeting held at the Dwarika Hotel in the Capital this morning, Jaishankar inquired about Madhes agitation and recent activities of the Front.

The Front leaders informed Jaishankar that they have given a month ultimatum to the government to address the demands.

Jaishankar said that India was for early solution to the Madhes

issues.

Federal Socialist Forum Nepal leader Ashok Rai, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav and Sadbhawana Party Co-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna among other leaders were present in the meeting.

The Indian Foreign Secretary is scheduled to meet Prime Minsiter KP Sharma Oli and newly elected Nepal Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba today itself.

Jaishankar had arrived in Nepal to attend the SAARC foreign minister level meeting being held in Pokhara.

top brass of thePakistan Army has said that its security forces is about to conclude the military offensive in tribal areas.

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, chairing a corps commanders meeting at the General Headquarters yesterday, called for ensuring that terrorists do not get a foothold in the region again.

"COAS emphasised, as we move towards conclusion of large-scale kinetic operations in Fata, there is a need to look

gains for long-term stability," the Dawn quoted an ISPR statement.

The military operations which began in June 2014 in North Waziristan, also named Zarb-i-Azb, are now in its final phase with troops consolidating control of the Shawal Valley.

Sharif asked his commanders to ensure that terrorists don't get a foothold in the region again.

Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said that while operations in Federally Ad-

(FATA) were drawing to a close, Zarb-i-Azb as a strategy would continue with intensified intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the country targeting terrorist infrastructure, reports the Dawn.

Bajwa added that troops had gained control of all major heights and passes in Shawal and are now engaged in sanitising operations.

As per the figures provided by the army 207 terrorists were killed in Shawal and five soldiers lost their lives in this phase. (ANI)

Myanmar gets its new president and parliament announces prompt continuous session that it will continue its session on Thursday, two days after the presidential election.

Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw Naypyitaw (Myanmar), Mar 15: Myanmar's parliament today elected U Htin Kyaw of the National League for Democracy as President, setting stage for Aung San Suu Kyi's trusted

associate to become Myanmar's first head of government with no military background in more than 50 years.

The parliament in Myanmar today announced

It said that the upcoming session may see newlyelected President U Htin Kyaw seeking approval from the parliament for his proposal plan list of forming a new government in terms of the number of ministries and ministers with their name list.

The proposal is expected to be discussed in the parliament on the next day, reports the Xinhua news agency.

Htin Kyaw of the ruling National League for De-

mocracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won the presidential election Tuesday with the highest number of votes of 360 against two other presidential candidates -- U Myint Swe (213 votes) from the military and U Henry Van Htee Yu (79 votes) from the same party, becoming the country's new president for the next five-year term.

A total of 652 MPs from the two Houses cast their votes in the Union Parliament, chaired by Speaker U Mann Win Khaing Than.

Myanmar ruling party has revealed that the new government, which is to take office at the end of this

month, will cut the number of ministries by merging some of them to one, but will not reduce the number of ministries' employees who will be made use to reinforce other ministries in need.

The party insisted that chief ministers of all 14 regions and states are to be assigned with elected NLD parliament representatives only.

Of the new government cabinet members, the NLD will take up 30- 40 percent only and the rest will come from other parties and outside experts, NLD said before the presidential election. (ANI)

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Mar.15: The Malaysian Government today said that it would soon be deporting two Australian journalists, both reporters, for allegedly breaching security protocol while trying to interview Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Police said Australian journalists Eroglu Levent and Linton Joshua Besser, both working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), were arrested during the weekend after trying to approach Najib for an interview in an event held in Malaysia's Sarawak state on North Borneo.

The two were investigated

for obstructing a public servant while he was discharging his public functions, but prosecutors decided not to charge them, reported official news agency Bernama, citing a police statement.

Instead, the two would be deported, police said.

They were earlier released on police bail after having their statements recorded.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has expressed concern over the arrest.

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, however, insisted that all media must abide by the laws of his country. (ANI)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

Degradation of Values and Corruption Community radio Effective tool of development India became independent on 15 August 1947.Though, after Independence we achieved tremendous success in many fields but still much is needed to be done in order to become a developed nation. StaPhoto: weru.org tistics betrays that after Independence our growth rate has increased from 3% to 9 % .But, still we are facing problems like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment etc. Besides; a major chunk of population living in villages (72%) is still backward. Though the government is spending million of rupees in the name of rural development, but still it's not getting the desired results.

Radio has always been a communication tool in India since times immemorial. Radio, in India is shifting from being a government monopoly to a highlycommercialized broadcasting service. Media advocacy groups say the media needs to be "democratized" simultaneously as it moves away from official control. Privatization and total deregulation is not enough if the media becomes irrelevant to the vast majority of Indians. Now, while the policies are being developed, is the time for non-profit groups, educational and research institutions, cooperatives, women's groups, and development organizations to seize the available opportunities created by liberalizing the electronic media. Among various existing genres of local community media, Community Radio will prove most effective as it can easily cover a wider range of area as well as diversified audience. Besides, experiments with community radio in many parts of India have proved it to be the cheapest and the strongest medium for fulfilling communication gap between the community and the Govt. It has proved to be a vital tool in strengthening the 'Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression' As, the community radio is still evolving it might be possible that in the near future, we will witness its various new forms which will be more superior as well as user friendly. Well whatever the case may be, community radio has proved to be one of the best medium of communication at the grass-root level. Anna FM is India's first campus 'community' radio, launched on 1 February 2004, which is run by Education and Multimedia Research Centre, and all programmes are produced by the students of Media Sciences at Anna University. By 30 November 2008, there were 38 operational community radio stations in the country. Of these, two are run by NGOs and the rest by educational institutions. The first community-based radio station, licensed to an NGO (as distinct from campus-based radio) was launched on 15 October 2008, when 'Sangham Radio' in Pastapur village, Medak district, Andhra Pradesh state, was switched on at 11.00am.

By 9 July 2009, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had issued 'Grant of Permission Agreements' (GOPA) for 51 community radio stations.

In the real sense, community radio plays a pivotal role in making the masses aware about their basic rights and duties. Not only limited to solving problems which a common man faces in his day-to-day life, community radio provides him a strong platform from where he can freely disseminate his ideas among his community members in the best possible manner.

Thus, community radio becomes one of the important instrument in strengthening our 'Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression'. Besides solving social problems as well as entertaining local people, community radio also acts as an intermediary between the Government and the local masses.

Mallya's Troubles Once a star of corporate India Few would believe it now, but Vijay Mallya was once a star of corporate India. Taking charge of United Breweries at 28, when his father died, he swept all who came in his way. He was the star of every corporate gathering, often making late, dramatic entries with an entourage, including - some accounts say - a man who carried his two mobile phones on a silver tray. He owned India's biggest liquor company, a private jet, an Airbus and many other riches. Then in 2005, Vijay Mallya launched Kingfisher, an airline to match his style and flamboyance. At its peak, Kingfisher Airlines was the second largest airline in India in terms of the number of passengers it carried. Meanwhile, Mallya's troubles have only been growing. In February this year, the board of United Spirits Limited asked him to resign as chairman after an internal probe alleged financial irregularities. The man himself, meanwhile, is supposed to be in London after signing a Rs 515 crore sweetheart deal with United Spirits and marking attendance in the Rajya Sabha.

Also as per reports, much before his airline came into being, he reportedly lavished money on the Janata Dals of Ramakrishna Hegde and HD Deve Gowda, the Bharatiya Janata Party of Atal Behari Vajpayee and LK Advani. The allegations of large amounts of money being paid to the legislators of the BJP and and the Deve Gowda rump of the Janata Dal have long done the rounds for his two Rajya Sabha terms.

The Congress may not have allotted him votes, surplus or otherwise, but it does not mean that the Congress and other parties did not benefit from Mallya.

The Rs 9,000 crore Mallya is now found owing to the public sector banks and others is the money he lost on Kingfisher Airlines. As the Indian judiciary and banks efforts to recover Rs 9,000 crore dues from billionaire Vijay Mallya reach a level of desperation, the liquor baron who is estimated to be worth about Rs 7,000 crore has indicated that he may not return to India at all.

Values symbolize the gen- here of petty corruption erally accepted and accept- about a clerk wanting speed able code of human behav- money to move a file or a ior, certain principles and policeman demanding a standards which guide and small bribe for not booking influence the conduct of someone for a traffic ofindividuals and ultimately fence. I have in mind the of the community. The fun- grand and gigantic corrupdamental values of a nation tion which we have reare articulated in its consti- cently witnessed in governtution, the Basic and Para- ments both of developed mount and deLaw of Pranjal Bezborah veloping the Land. counIn India tries in they are encapsulated in the the world like the USA, Preamble of the Constitu- France, Germany, South tion, which are JUSTICE, Korea, Japan, Pakistan and social, economic and po- India, to mention a few. litical; LIBERTY; Corruption has become EQUALITY; and FRA- universal in its reach and TERNITY assuring the spread. dignity of the individual. Now, let us have a formal These values are universal definition of corruption, in nature and are the foun- which is required to keep dation of every civilized tab on the phenomenon. society.

Specifying it as the misuse As one surveys the national of public office for private and international scene one gain seems to help focus on is struck by the cruelest the issue at hand. While paradox of our times, private gain typically connamely that our age that has notes monetary benefit, it witnessed tremendous sci- can also include non-monentific progress and tech- etary benefits such as innological developments creased likelihood of rehas at the same time wit- election and helping nessed unprecedented de- friends and family memcline in ethical and human bers access public revalues. Advances in tech- sources. And further, that nology and science have misuse usually implies the not generated equity nor use of office for illegal acguaranteed human dignity. tivity, but it also broadly Technology can be and has means the misallocation of been used to violate the public funds so as to boost basic human rights of the private gains for the popeople. litico concerned and othThe extent of decline of ers. In sum, the diversion values in a society can be of limited public funds can gauged by the prevalent severely jeopardize such level of corruption. No so- key public policy objecciety has been totally free tives as proactive reduction from corruption. The seeds in the poverty ratio. of corruption were sown in the Garden of Eden when The worst part of corrupAdam is said to have been tion in the society is its acseduced by Eve to have a ceptance by people as bite of the forbidden fruit. something inevitable alHowever, I am not talking most as a way of life. It is

not generally realized that the consequence of corruption is not merely the steep increase in the bank balances of the corrupt public functionaries. Corruption results in the violation of the social and economic rights of the people especially in developing countries like ours. Funds and resources meant for building roads, schools, wells, and hospitals are siphoned off and find their way to secret bank accounts in safe heavens. It is not realized that corrupt officials and beneficiaries of corruption are human right violators.

There is no doubt that we need stringent laws to combat corruption. But more than laws public opinion must be mobilized against the corrupt gentry who should be publicly made aware that they are the scum of society who deserve to be ostracized by all right thinking people. Ultimately change must come from within the people by expressing revulsion to the all pervasive corruption coupled with the determination to restore sound ethical values. We must stop inviting persons who have a well earned reputation for dishonesty to inaugurate schools and hospitals and deliver inaugural lectures. That is sickening. It indicates public acceptance of corrupt persons. People are either too forgiving or are not serious about elimination of corruption.

The reason behind these depressing developments is that we have thrown God out of the window without any adequate and fulfilling replacement. Indeed we are worshiping false Gods. Our most constant worship is

Image for representational purpose (Photo: daryaship) reserved for the God of wealth, the omnipresent and omnipotent God, whose existence and benevolence no confirmed atheist can even deny. Relentless pursuit of fame and fortune has become the Universal Religion. Acquisition of power and position is considered top priorities for success of life, and that is accompanied with making quick and easy fortunes without scruples about the method employed. We have been overtaken by the demon of materialism and are obsessed by the mania for owning things and displaying them to the world. Today the wealthiest man amongst us is the best. What people want to know is how much a person earns, how much he owns. People are not interested in what a person does, how he acts, his character.

The real problem, the deep malaise lies in the fact that there is a collapse of values across the board. It is painful to observe how commercialism has infected the traditional noble professions

of law, medicine and education. Monetary considerations rather than motivation for service are predominant factors. Members of the parliament are supposed to be the servants of the people. Some of them have no qualms about accepting cash for asking questions. We have become cynical, and today we have reached the stage where we know the price of everything and the value of nothing. The sad fact is that we have forgotten elementary values like truth, goodness and beauty. We have banished them from our lives and regard them as silly slogans of foolish and impractical people. And we are paying a price for that banishment.

While talking about measures to be adopted to arrest this calamitous fall in values, it must be realized that the genesis of this malaise is in the hearts and minds of men. It is there that the battle for the restoration of values has to be fought and won because as the Good Book tells us, where your treasure is, there is your

heart also. Therefore our endeavour should be to bring about a qualitative change in the thinking of the people, in their attitude to life and their priorities.

Wealth earned by honest means and the advantages it brings need not be spurned.

Human beings cannot live on love and fresh air. But we must abjure this fatal fascination of wealth and power.

We must instill the message specially in our youth the wealth is not the be all and end all of human existence, that life has worth and dignity when it has something valuable as its object. Noting is of more value than steadfast faith in our ideals based on truth, honesty and goodness. Possession of wealth and kon banega crorepati is not the ultimate yardstick of merit or of good citizenship. The message or the emphasis should be, kon karega desh ki seva not on becoming crorepatis flaunting their wealth.

Pranjal Bezborah is a Professor in the Department of Commerce, Dibrugarh University.

Email id: pranjalbezborah@yahoo.com

Does Obama Care About India?

The Obama administration might not have cared deeply about India, but that's not by design.

Jeffrey Goldberg, writing in the April 2016 issue of The Atlantic, teases out the Obama Doctrine through a series of conversations and interviews with U.S. President Barack Obama spanning several years.

The article is extremely interesting and worth a read because it articulates, for the first time ever, a complete and clear picture of the American president's intellectual premises on foreign policy and the United States' role in the world. There are now many follow-up articles that highlight, discuss, or critique Obama's views or policies in relations to many parts of the world such as Russia, the Middle East, and East Asia, but the careful reader may note one glaring omission: India hardly seems to figure in the Obama Doctrine.

The Atlantic article itself has no direct mentions of the Indian state or relations with India, except for a vague concern of Obama's that climate change could lead to famine and displacement in the Indian subcontinent.

For a president as aware as Obama of the geopolitical calculus in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the strategic consequences of the rise of China in Asia, it is unlikely that he simply neglected to think about the role of a country as large and powerful as India. In short, Obama has neither forgotten nor found the time for India: his relative disinterest in it stems from just that-general indifference.

India is simply not important enough in the Obama view of America's national interests: both its long-term ones in the Asia-Pacific, and the quagmires it constantly gets bogged down in in the Middle East and North Africa.

But this should be no surprise when considering Obama's overall views as well as the trajectory of Indo-American relations, both of which determine that India will always be a secondary American interest. This is not due to any personal antipathy from either end, but a function of the fact that both countries have drastically different interests and priorities.

At the core of the Obama Doc-

Akhilesh Pillalamarri

trine is the assertion that due to the nature of the world, the United States has to be selective in choosing where to engage: "And in order to advance both our security interests and those ideals and values that we care about, we've got to be hardheaded at the same time as we're bighearted, and pick and choose our spots‌." And India is not a spot that has been chosen, in particular, for engagement.

India's diplomatic contributions to important world issues, such as Iran's nuclear program or the Syrian crisis, have been paltry and minimal, even under the more active premiership of Narendra Modi.

Of course, the Indian government cannot be entirely blamed for this, since India's political structure incentivizes focusing on domestic politics.

Seen in this light, the policies of the George W. Bush administration, such as the civil nuclear deal, that sought to build up India as a counterbalance to China were an aberration rather than the rule. The Bush administration failed to appreciate India's commitment to avoiding alliances or seeming as though it was allying

U.S. President Barack Obama with Narendra Modi.

(Photo:Flicker) with any of the other great powers. It can even be argued that the Indian government milked the Bush administration for the nuclear deal without really giving much back strategically.

Of course, the Obama administration has not completely neglected India. It recognizes that India, with its population and economy, could soon potentially be a major player and that India in particular likes to be treated as a global power and fĂŞted on the world stage.

Obama was the special guest for India's 2015 Republic Day Parade, a first for a sitting

American president, and Modi paid a visit to the United States in 2014 where he reportedly "bonded" with Obama.

There are many advocates of stronger Indo-American ties from all major American and Indian political parties, but ultimately the most they are likely to achieve are better trade deals or increased people-to-people and cultural ties.

The limits of the United States really caring about India and its interests are evidenced by the actions of the Obama administration. For example, Obama cut short his Republic

Election without updated NRC Sir, The declaration of election in Assam without finalizing the process of updating the NRC in the state has exposed the futility of the entire exercise. The absence of a correct voters' list puts question on the validity of the election process as well.

Logo of NRC, Assam. (Photo: axomlive)

The NRC once updated is expected to detect and deport illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, who entered the state after 24thMarch, 1971. However, thirty years have passed since the signing of the Assam Accord and yet its implementation is still a distant dream.

Day visit to India to attend the funeral of Saudi King Abdullah in 2015. It is impossible to not draw the message that Saudi Arabia, a country with less than 5 percent of the population of India, is more important to American interests that India.

And sadly for Indian policymakers, there may well be a legitimate basis for this to be the case, because Saudi Arabia, despite its low population and lack of non-petroleum resources, is somehow more intensely involved in global and regional geopolitics than India is.

Ultimately, it is clear that in practice, the Obama Doctrine has a limited place for India, since there is not much the United States can achieve in its relations with India and because there are no pressing security issues that involve India. This is true even with regard to Afghanistan's stability, where the roles of Pakistan, China, and Iran are more vital. Indian policymakers should take note of all this, accept it as a fact without feeling hurt or insulted, and conduct policy accordingly. Courtesy: The Diplomat

Best Letter The best letter of the month in the Letter to the Editor section will be awarded an amount of Rs 200. So please keep writing.

Letters to the editor and articles should be sent to : The Eastern Today Chowkidingee, Near Sankardeva Hospital Mancotta Road, Dibrugarh786003 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Yours sincerely, Web : Himangka Kaushik editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

Since 1971 Assam has been conducting elections without a correct voters' list as rampant infiltration from across the border is a reality. Holding elections without an updated NRC and authentic voters' list is also a violation of the Constitution. The concerned authorities should look into the matter seriously and if possible should try to hold the election after process of updating the NRC is completed.

Dibrugarh

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

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Prospect of Tourism in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh Part III The only hope and wishes for this land-lock citizens are that the 157kms road which had been sanctioned should be constructed without any hurdles, no matter whose firms had taken over the tender to avoid a barefoot walk for complete six days to reach Vijoynagar from Miao subdivision.

The denizens of the Vijoynager would not compromise on the quality of the road in any

manner since they have had enough troubles walking. This very place called Vijoynagar can be reach by helicopter or by government sorties that ply weekly or forthnightly within 45 minutes.

Vijoynagar have many sub blocks in their circles.

The one circle officer posted here is only for namesake, he navigate his officials duty from Miao sub division. The funny thing is that, during important days like

Republic and Indepen- avenues and revenues. dence day, the Lower Divisional Clerk be- Another hotspots are Wo r l d comes the war II hero to unLomhom Tangha m e m o furl the tririal and color in lieu Pangsau of the pass belt in Jairampur Circle Officer.

The place has tremen- circle and Nampong dous tourist destinations circle in Changlang disall over with amazingly trict of Arunachal superb scenic beauty pradesh. The historical that corroborate the place like war memorial claims. Hope the tour- is worth visiting, where ism department would many Americans and take up this circle under Chinese armies had been their ambit to generate laid to rest during World

War II conflicts.

The tourism sector to flourish, the government must streamline the tourist entry and exit points to ensure perennial flow of the tourists into the district.

The Namdapha Tiger Project in Miao circle is another hotspot to be visited for the wildlife lovers. Hullock gibbon, wild cat, Spotted tiger, deer of severals species, and other endangered spe-

cies are found in this wild life sanctuary. It is one of the few important wildlife sanctuary in India for which the world at large is concern about due to presence of endanger species which needs to be protected.

But the bottleneck is that in order to find the tourism sector flourishing, the mindset of the people must be changed, the humbleness would be the real ingredients to be able to adjust with the tourist. Concluded.

Milestone near Pangsau Pass (Photo: changlang)

How The Practice Of Dowry Makes Life Hell The law-keepers on screen For A Bride (And Creates More Social Evils) An extract from a mod- fewer eligible men in the there remains a strict con- led to a decline in having ern Indian ballad: marriage market as a re- trol over her sexuality. too many. Even families We've got a daughter we sult of lower fertility rates The chastity of a woman who do not agree with are willing to sell amongst the richest and is important and is linked dowries will succumb to He is the bargain, the most educated. However, to the reputation and it due to huge societal profit as well; this can be questioned as 'honour' of a family as a pressures and this has reHe's coming to see for there is a huge deficit of whole and, as a result, sulted in dowry becoming himself, so he said women in India. In recent women are married the norm amongst all How she and our money years, the cost of dowry much younger in com- castes, classes and in would look in his bed has risen incomprehensi- parison to other parts of more recent times in many regions of India.

O u r with the the world.

Karina Kaur bly daughter's a rate of infla- The lowest age at which Not only is most bride's graduate, tion.

A marriages take place are family expected to pay he's no cause to moan strong contributing factor in north India and this runs huge dowries, the bride She's a well brought up seems to be the process directly parallel with the herself is expected to girl with no mind of her of modernisation, and the highest rates of dowry move to her marital home own rise of consumerism and also occurring in this re- whilst men remain rooted She speaks English well, capitalism in India. With gion. Interestingly how- in their home in a largely has a fair pretty face the transforming economy ever although the south of secure position. Many inAnd is Five foot four after the Second World India has usually been justices can occur against inches by Lord War, peasant cultivators put on a pedestal for be- a woman if the demands Bhagwan's grace began to prosper and as a ing more socially ad- of high dowries are not Of course she'll be consequence found it vanced, states such as met; some families resort happy, I'll tell you that easier to borrow money Tamil Nadu have come to dowry violence against flat for marriage expenses. under scrutiny over in- the new bride which is She'll have her own The explosive power of creasing demands for rooted in power, and it's home, produce brat after brat, Forget all her youth, as she spins out her life In waddling behind him, a good Indian wife.

And she'll long to have sons; they're boons from above Take it from me that they're proof of God's love And when all her daughters are suitably grown, She'll marry them off as we've done our own - taken from 'Caste as Woman' by Vrinda Nabar (2003) The term dowry can be treated with some ambiguity within Indian culture as its meaning is both contentious and complex.

Image for representational purpose (Photo: ibnlive) Hypothetically, it is a large transfer of wealth made consumerism and the to a daughter at the time need to fund it has con- dowry in recent years. used as a weapon to exof her marriage, but, in re- tributed to the rise in Wealth and status are dis- tract more goods. The ality, that wealth is trans- dowry as a gateway to played through dowry and male and his family are ferred straight to her rapid affluence and con- extravagant marriage cer- the perpetrators of this husband's family. There is sequently this has meant emonies are typically violence and it can be some vagueness as to that the desire to have a funded by the bride's fam- concealed easily as the whether this handover of son is far greater than that ily. As a result, weddings abuse takes place within have become grander as their home. It is not unmoney is to be recognised of having a daughter. as a gift, an early inherit- To a certain extent, in- well as gift giving within common for women to ance or an extortion from creased dowry expenses marriage ceremonies be killed in India as a rethe groom's family. As have arisen out of moder- which is typically one- sult of continued viobrides, women have little nity which has led to a sided - given by the bride's lence. control over how dowry is decline in the appeal of family to that of the The male's family hold a more powerful status in given and spent and are having daughters. This groom. society and are therefore Dowry is not just a onelargely isolated from the trend coincides with the off payment given by the likely to indulge in bribprocess. of prenatal testing bride's family; gifts are ing police officials in orIn educated upper-classes rise technology can de- expected throughout a der to silence any suspidowry has been justified termine thewhich sex of an un- woman's life for her in- cions of violence or muras a compensation to the born which has exacergroom's family, who in- bated the gender gap in laws, for example during der. The term 'bridefestivals, anniversaries burning' often heard in vest in their sons educa- India. tion in order for him to Nevertheless, it would be and other marriages. The popular media refers to earn collectively for his a mistake to categorise enormity of dowry has re- women set alight by the household. Women's con- dowry as having a purely sulted in some households husband and his family tribution, especially in the economic function, for becoming impoverished when new demands afrural north of India is con- high dowry payments can and this has had a huge ter the initial dowry are fined to the household, lim- bring prestige to the impact on skewed sex ra- not met. This form of ited to domestic labour bride's family. Many In- tios in India. Ultimately, murder is on the rise in which is not given the dians argue that in order women are expensive India and is testament to same credibility as waged to secure the happiness commodities and men are the seriousness of the social evil of dowry. labour, although it is and safety of their daugh- to profit.

Women are disadvanequally important to the ters, parents are pretaged even before they High dowry has had adrunning of the house. In- pared to incur higher are born because of such verse consequences for terestingly, even women dowry costs. However, a practice. Many families women as the tradition who do contribute to this, in turn, gives the feel they are liabilities cuts across most castes waged labour are pres- groom's family increassured to pay high dowries. ing power to extort more and classes and, as a re- and, therefore, abort Therefore, largely, the jus- through gendered vio- sult, newlywed brides them. Famously, doctors tifications of dowry as a lence. Research shows face similar experiences, are known to advertise financial mechanism to that in the preparation of regardless of their back- prenatal gender identifisupport the groom's fam- a girl's marriage, she is ground. Dowries can be cation in local papers ily have been challenged. constantly told she was as high as two-thirds of a stating 'Pay Rs. 500 now Arguably there is a 'mar- someone else's property household's assets and and save Rs. 500,000 Courtesy: riage squeeze'; leaving and as a consequence this high cost involved in later'. marrying daughters has Youthkiawaaz

Prakash Jha's Jai Gangaajal sees Priyanka Chopra, currently much in news, as a high-ranking police officer. While finding her depiction rather unconvincing, Shoma A. Chatterji tries to look more critically at the men and women in police force as portrayed in Hindi cinema.

The uniform of the policeman is a structured image and one can easily relate to in daily life. In Hindi cinema, it more or less duplicates the policeman or woman that image.

Add to it some glamour, or notoriety, as the case maybe, and a magnified image reaches the audience in a larger canvas.

Saying that, popular cinema often fails to portray the law-keeper in the proper prospective. Take Prakash Jha's Jai Gangaajal . Priyanka Chopra, known for her commitment to roles, plays a high-ranking police officer. But the star image and charisma of one of the best actresses in Bollywood is spoilt by that image itself and what we see on screen is a Chopra carefully madeup to emphasise a hard jaw line and the obligatory uniform tailored to stress her chiselled figure.

Sometimes the portrayal brings in changes in public perception. Zanjeer changed the face of the mainstream cop in the 70s. For the first time, the angry young man Vijay (Amitabh) in police uniform strode across the screen, holding the audience in thrall with his unsmiling visage, eager-tohit fists and used cuss language , a novel thing at the time. Inspector's methods were unorthodox, both within the police force, as well as against the backdrop of Hindi cinema's policeman stereotype, and thus made history. It was followed by screen images where the honest policeman often threw away his badge, uniform and slugged his rifle on the

shoulder to fight the criminals outside the law when he failed to do this within the system.

Govind Nihalani through Ardh Satya presented Anant Velankar in a film that potrayed with scathing contempt, the policecriminal nexus for the first time. "Anant Velankar could arguably emerge as the most significant character of the '80s because he symbolises the brutalisation of an essentially sensitive man," writes critic Maithili Rao. The angry young cop with distinct, negative traits such as drinking and womanising to a fault, was articulate in Satyameva Jayate featuring Vinod Khanna as the policeman. The cop in this film is angry, brutal, violent, on the edge of disillusionment for his loss of faith in the goodness of human beings. This trend continued through films like Akeyla and Mujrim down to Pratibandh said to have been inspired the LTTE militants with the modus operandi for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

Through 2000 and beyond, policemen have played important roles in many films placing the police force or a single policeman at the centre of the script mainly as perpetrators of violence, reflective of the drama in real life. Examples are Ab Tak Chappan, Shoot Out at Lokhandwalla, Kurukshetra, Sarfarosh, Dus, Dev, Khakee etc.

Prakash Jha's Apaharan and previous Gangaajal and E. Niwas's Shool have taught us, sometimes even at the suggestive level, the downside of the service such as shortage of personnel, wages of policemen, corruption with the political nexus, decay in the force's rank and file and betrayal by the upper echelons where it is either difficult or impossible for an honest policeman to survive let alone rise professionally in the force. In Mumbai alone, the ratio between

police and citizens is 2.6 to 1000 which most likely is worse elsewhere in the country.

The policeman became a true entertainer a la Salman Khan as Chulbul Pandey in Dabangg and its sequel. Dabangg released in September 2010, became the highest opener of all time across India.Chulbul Pandey in all his crude loudness, his

policewoman was as vulnerable to rape as any ordinary woman on the street.

In Khalnayak, Ganga, the police inspector played by Madhuri Dixit is a classic example of how the woman-policeofficer image offers a host of visual variants on the sex appeal of the woman's body. It helps manipulate cinematically,

A still from the film Jai Gangaajal starring Priyanka Chopra (Photo: mages.indianexpress.)

exaggeratedly stylised performance, his pelvis shaking dance numbers with overtly sexual innuendo, his corrupt ways has turned the celluloid policeman on its head in a film that is otherwise spilling over with some of the most gross, gory and bloody scenes of violence seen in recent times.

Pandey is fleshed out as a larger-than-life hero who wears his uniform complimented with his RayBan glassed in great style yet gets wobbly at the knees when he meets the beautiful but strict Rajo. It is still violence where the policeman hero is both perpetrator and victim.

In some recent Bollywood films, we witness the emergence of the woman as a police officer, desperate to be as gritty, as ruthless and as ready to indulge in violent strategies as men, or may be, a bit more. The policewoman in uniform has appeared rarely in films bent of woman as the avenging angel such as Dimple Kapadia in Zakhmi Aurat which was a strong patriarchal statement that claimed that a

Tabu as IGP Meera Deshmukh in Dhrishyam (Photo: bp.blogspot)

a power-reversal symbolised by the different way of cross-dressing in male clothes. The screenplay plays on the sensual and box office image of Madhuri Dixit by writing in her disguise as a nautanki dancer and even performing an item number to save her top officer fiancĂŠ Ram's face! That is where her 'empowerment' begins and ends.

Mardaani has a larger agenda gained through individual fights between one man and one woman in a tussle in who will win.

But in the larger context, Shivani (Rani Mukherji), the police officer nails down the kingpin of child trafficking by having him killed by his own victims.

The aggression and the violence is built up slowly that underlines the credibility of the revenge that spells out professional ethics, excellence of execution and resolution of a seemingly impossible national problem.

Dhrishyam opens a new window to world of women in police uniform in Bollywood. The clash is not only between the hunter - the IGP Meera Deshmukh (Tabu) and the hunted, Vijay Salgaonkar but also between Meera the IGP and Meera the mother. If you read between the lines in one of Tabu's best performances, the conflict between the policewoman and the mother is more intense that takes a toll on the responsibility of Deshpande as police top brass. Does the designation inthe uniform empower her? Not really because the mother overshadows the police chief and the chief resigns before she is dismissed.

Courtesy: Trans World Features (TWF)

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

BUSINESS

PAGE 10

Price of Ford EcoSport slashed by up to Rs 1.12 lakh with immediate effect Kellton Tech hosts Pune, Mar 15: Ford India slashed prices of EcoSport by up to Rs 1.12 lakh, two days after Maruti Suzuki launched its compact SUV Vitara Brezza with price starting at Rs 6.99 lakh.

Applicable with immediate effect, the petrol variants of the Ford EcoSport will be available from Rs 6.68 lakh onwards and the diesel trims starting from Rs 7.28 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), Ford India said in a statement. The company has cut the price of base variant of petrol option of the vehicle by over Rs 53,000 and is now priced at Rs 6.68 lakh, down from Rs 7.22 lakh

KFA employees now to seek help from SC to recover salary dues Mumbai, Mar 15: The labour ministry will soon launch an investigation to check whether there were any anomalies in the provident fund contributions made by Kingfisher Airlines for its employees, Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya said. "We have not examined the issue so far.

I will look into that. We will examine (all the issues)," he said. Beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya, who is facing legal proceedings for allegedly defaulting on loans of over Rs 9,000 crore from various banks, is currently under scanner by multiple agencies, including CBI. An open letter written by women employees of KFA recently alleged that the company did not pay salaries, but kept depositing PF due to fear of action from the authorities. Former Kingfisher Airlines pilot Captain Kedar Wagh said the defunct company owes him Rs 45 lakh towards his salary dues. He further said that many former employees are trying to come under one banner and start a legal battle for their dues. "We will approach the Supreme Court seeking justice.

We have received positive responses from over 900 former employees," Wagh said. Meanwhile, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's apex decision-making body, the Central Board of Trustees, will meet on March 17 to take stock of the situation with regard to the investments the body made into index-linked ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds). According to Dattatreya, the result has not been encouraging for the past three to four months despite signs of optimism in the initial stages. "We (EPFO) have invested approximately Rs 5,000 crore in exchange-traded funds.

For the first six or seven months, returns appeared to be better. After that, for two or three months, we don't see it as encouraging," he said.

He further said that a meeting was held with portfolio managers and other stakeholders last week on the innovative methods to be followed for future investments, but no decision was arrived at. (Agencies)

earlier. The top-end of petrol variant price has also been slashed by Rs 87,000 to Rs 9.45 lakh from earlier Rs 10.32 lakh. Similarly, in the diesel option, the base variant will be cheaper by Rs 1.12 lakh at Rs 7.28 lakh as against Rs 8.41 lakh earlier. The top-end model of the diesel option will see a price cut of Rs 1.12 lakh at Rs 9.75 lakh from Rs 10.87 lakh.

Ford India Executive Director (Marketing, Sales and Service) Anurag Mehrotra said: "Ford EcoSport has always been recognised for its strong value proposition and this

COST REDUCTION Ford India slashed prices of EcoSport by up to Rs 1.12 lakh, two days after Maruti Suzuki launched its compact SUV Vitara Brezza with price starting at Rs 6.99 lakh.

Applicable with immediate effect, the petrol variants of the Ford EcoSport will be available from Rs 6.68 lakh onwards and the diesel trims starting from Rs 7.28 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The company has cut the price of base variant of petrol option of the vehicle by over Rs 53,000 and is now priced at Rs 6.68 lakh, down from Rs 7.22 lakh earlier.

The top-end of petrol variant price has also been slashed by Rs 87,000 to Rs 9.45 lakh from earlier Rs 10.32 lakh.

Today, market leader Maruti Suzuki India had launched its much-awaited compact SUV Vitara Brezza at an introductory price range of Rs 6.99 lakh and Rs 9.68 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), kicking off a price war in the compact SUV segment. In the first two days of launch, MSI has garnered 5,600 bookings.

Similarly, in the diesel option, the base variant will be cheaper by Rs 1.12 lakh at Rs 7.28 lakh as against Rs 8.41 lakh earlier.

The top-end model of the diesel option will see a price cut of Rs 1.12 lakh at Rs 9.75 lakh from Rs 10.87 lakh.

realignment further strengthens that proposition." He further said: "With enhanced value for money proposition, we are extending its appeal across segments, including Rs 6.8 lakh price band which has been growing at 40 percent since 2013." Today, market leader Maruti Suzuki India had launched its much-awaited compact SUV Vitara Brezza at an introductory price range of Rs 6.99 lakh and Rs 9.68 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), kicking off a price war in the compact SUV segment. In the first two days of launch, MSI has garnered 5,600 bookings.

(Agencies)

Business model of India is solid, no obstacle to growth: IMF chief Christine Lagarde New Delhi, Mar 15: A lot of hope is being pinned on India for driving global growth in the coming years with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde saying that India's business model was "solid." She was talking on the concluding day of the threeday IMF conference on Advancing Asia held in New Delhi. "India has a business model that is solid, where it has the scale of market. There is clearly a road for..

I hate to say longer term because it is difficult to define longer term.. But I don't see obstacle to that growth at the moment," said the IMF chief while responding to a query on whether 7% growth rate

and there is creativity at play in an economy that is clearly on road to growth" said Lagarde.

not immune to those but that's what I see as potential downside" said Lagarde.

The IMF head said India also had enough safeguards against current outside risks.

"I am extremely grateful of the fact that IMF has been recognising India, as you have repeatedly described, as the bright spot but I can tell you that in the given global situation, we have our share of problems but there is an increased determination in India to somehow face the challenges and internalise at a faster pace our own reform process so that we can continue to grow," said Finance minister Arun Jaitley. Minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha said it was India's turn to push global growth after the US and China.

(Agencies)

According to her, lower global oil prices have been beneficial for India while it was "mindful" of the spillover impact of the asynchronous monetary policy and was preparing International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde. (Photo: hellenicinsider) to resist it. For her, if at all, there was any potential downside risk it came for was sustainable in the potential for growth. the geopolitical factor. long run. She felt India's There is a growing popu"determination to reform" lation. There is a scale of "There are geopolitical and "scale of market" market. factors in various corners would also work in its of the world but I think favour to grow at the There is determination to they are more acute in fastest rate in the world. reform. There are tech- other places than in this "In other words, there is nological breakthroughs particular region, which is

Income tax return filling made easy with TaxFilingGuru.com ANI New Delhi, Mar 15 : RNS Sourcing Pvt. Ltd has launched its maiden website TaxFilingGuru. com for businesses, individuals and professionals to help them overcome tax related challenges.

The website offers easy and reasonable tax filing solution that allows taxpayers and tax consultants to prepare and file tax returns quickly and easily. "We are excited to launch a one window portal bringing the experts under one roof providing world class professional services to users at very

affordable rates so they can manage their businesses and have solutions to their taxation and financial issues without all the hefty costs," said Founder TaxFilingGuru, RS Arora.

"We believe that this new site will allow our visitors to have a very informative as well as fruitful experience. Our unique concept of providing taxation, legal and financial services to any and every problem by highly seasoned professionals is surely going to aid individuals and companies in

getting over the hassles that they regularly had to face till now," added Arora. Along with providing valuable services related to taxation and financial issues, the website also provides the users with a means to directly get in touch with experienced professionals regarding their taxation and financial issues.

Apart from general taxation and accounting related services, Tax FilingGuru also provides services for intricate and complicated matters like foreign exchange management act (FEMA

matters), search and seizure cases, scrutiny cases and more. It is the first of its kind of portal that offers a large pool of services like filing of tax returns, registrations, corporate and legal services, accounting services, FEMA and other compliance matters, assessments, as well as raising finance for medium and large scale enterprises through debt, equity or venture capital, all handled by well experienced professionals of the respective fields. The newly launched website has a clean, uncluttered

Samsung Galaxy S7 series sold over 100,000 units in first two days Seoul, Mar 15: More for Saturday, which is showcased at a trade fair than 100,000 units of usually a "slow day" in Spain last month, came Samsung Electronics when it comes to sales, with much larger battery Co.`s fared capacities and are waterGalaxy pretty proof and dust-resistant.

Overwhelming support S7 sewell. The phones also sport a ries smartphones were The two latest high-end much improved low-light sold in South Korea smartphone models, first camera with extremely within the first two days of its official launch, data showed. Sales of the Gal- RECORD BREAKING SALE axy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge reached a combined 60,000 on Friday and More than 100,000 units of Samsung Electronics 40,000 on Saturday after Co.`s Galaxy S7 series smartphones were sold in the smartphones hit South South Korea within the first two days of its offiKorean market on Friday, cial launch, data showed.

Yonhap cited the official Sales of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge reached data as showing. a combined 60,000 on Friday and 40,000 on SatThe Galaxy S7 Edge ac- urday after the smartphones hit South Korean counted for some 40 per- market on Friday.The Galaxy S7 Edge accounted cent of the two-day sales, for some 40 percent of the two-day sales. the data added. The initial pace of sales is Sales for Saturday, which is usually a "slow day" roughly on par with de- when it comes to sales, fared pretty well. The two mand generated when the latest high-end smartphone models, first showGalaxy S6 series phones cased at a trade fair in Spain last month, came reached the market last with much larger battery capacities and are wayear. Samsung said sales ter-proof and dust-resistant.

Image for representational purpose only.

(Photo: cdn1.vox-cdn) fast auto focusing. The company, moreover, brought back an expandable memory option that was missing in the Galaxy S6 series.

Samsung expects the Galaxy S7 series to play a decisive role in revitalizing sales as the compan y ` s mobile business division has remained well below its heyday figures.

(Agencies)

modern design, and has been developed using the latest technologies, in which ease of use has been kept as the prime factor so that even people having minimal IT knowledge can use it with utmost ease.

The concept of the website is to directly connect the user with the specialized professional as per the user's selected segment of interest, rather than customer care professionals acting as the point of contact between the user and the professional.

'Drupal Meetup' in Gurgaon

Image for representational purpose only. (Photo: wikimedia) ANI New Delhi, Mar 15: Kellton Tech organized Drupal Meetup on March 12, 2016 in Gurgaon. The one-day event hosted sessions on several intuitive topics including 'Migrating Websites to Drupal', 'Prevention of Hacking' and 'Drupal Eight Render Pipeline'. The audience was exposed to multiple tools, tricks, and techniques to work in the technology.

The Birds of a Feather session turned out to be a great success with an open discussion on 'Importing Content from Multiple Servers', and 'Cache API in Drupal Eight'. The

event was attended by 50 Drupalers."

Kellton Tech is a Drupal Association Supporting and Drupal Association Inaugural Technology Partner. With an experience of over a decade and 100+ Drupal developers, the organization is a pioneer in the industry. Kellton Tech has served to a multitude of sectors including NonProfits, Real Estate, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Healthcare, Retail and Ecommerce, Media, Entertainment and Lifestyle and Travel, Tourism and Hospitality.

Fund-raising planned to be eased by startups

Image for representational purpose only. (Photo: huffingtonpost)

Mumbai, Mar 15: The government is looking at a host of measures to ease fundraising by startups as it plans to make the ecosystem more attractive for them. Sources said that the finance ministry is holding consultations with other agencies about rules related to wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures of companies investing back in India. A number of startups have opted to go overseas and create entities abroad to take advantage of the tax rules there, which they describe as more favourable. Fund-raising, including through possible simplification of the foreign venture capital regulations and the external commercial borrowing regime, are also being looked at. Similarly, there are other areas where

simplifications are expected. For instance, the entire regime for convertible notes is being examined by the government with agencies such as the RBI and Sebi also roped in for consultations, said a source familiar with the deliberations. The sources further said that the government is looking at how to make the rules simpler for receiving deferred consideration and treatment of indemnity escrow that companies have.

It is also examining if there is a need to clarify on taxation of convertible instruments, an issue which had been flagged by startups.

Overall, the idea is to simplify the regime for startups, including certain basic issues such as filing requirements for compliance with FEMA. (Agencies)

February's retail inflation expected to be at normal; raises hopes for rate cut Noida, Mar 15: The fall in the prices of some food items has helped in easing retail inflation. This has raised the expectations of a rate cut from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) next month, according to a report.

Analysts are now expecting RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan to soften the monetary stance after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley retained the fiscal deficit target at 3.5% of GDP in the Budget announced last month, the report said.

The annual spending for the farm sector was increased by 44% by Jaitley for the next fiscal to $5 billion and import curbs were eased to restrain price rises. Consumer prices likely grew 5.6% in February, against 5.69% in January, according to a poll. WPI, which has been

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (Photo:thehindu) on the decline for the last 15 months due to the falling crude prices, is likely to slide further by 0.27% during the month of February. The RBI expects to bring down inflation to 5%

by March 2017.

The depressed global commodity prices and subdued domestic demand have helped in keeping inflation down, which has

opened the opportunity for further monetary easing. Rajan, however, remains worried as services inflation has been sticky since September 2015 which has kept household expectations elevated and pushed up urban wages, said the report. Prices of basics such as education and healthcare services are taking a toll on household budgets. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

Features

PAGE 11

ART AND CULTURE Traditional Dance Forms of Mizoram Mizoram, located in Below listed are the maNorth East India is jor folk and tribal dance sought by tourists for its forms practiced by Mizo serene natural splendor people. and amazing wildlife. *Cheraw However, the tourists Beyond doubt, this is a also find the cultural life major dance form loved of the Mizo by the Mizo people quite Arnab Ghosh people and captivating. verbally it is Despite being referred as converted to Christianity bamboo dance. Earlier for a long time, they have Cheraw dance was retheir cultural roots largely lated to age old Mizoram intact. The residents of rituals but nowadays, Mizoram love indulging there is no such restricin songs and dances on tion. They use long bamvarious events through- boo sticks to perform this out the year. The diverse dance. The dance form Mizoram dance forms involves rhythm and abare really enjoyable and solute precision. In this interesting. These dance dance, men usually sit forms reflect the care- facing one another and free and jubilant spirit of they tap long bamboo Mizo tribes. staves to rhythmic beats.

Girls wearing colorful costumes step out and in between the bamboo beats. The clapping of these bamboos generates a sound which serves as core rhythm of Cheraw dance. In this dance form, various stepping are used imitating nature and wildlife. *Chheih Lam The dance form called Chheih Lam is performed in accompaniment with rice beer. It is performed to denote completion of a day's work. This dance symbolizes spirit of exhilaration and joy. This dance is performed with song which is sung with bamboo tube and drum beats. The dancer is surrounded by people sitting

in a circle around him.

Eventually, the dancer is joined by those circling him. *Sawlakia This is one of the ancient and traditional dances celebrated by people of Mizoram. Sawlakia was performed earlier by them to celebrate winning a war. It recaptures actions of a hero who has won the war. While women and men stand in their places, the hero dances holding shield and sword to the tune of gong beats.

Sarlamkia is a community dance type which is quite similar in form to Sawlakia dance. In this variant, no song is used

Tamla Du, the Festival of Arunachal Pradesh "We lack rituals in this ebrated to showcase the modern world." - Eliza- social, cultural and superbeth McGovern natural beliefs of this tribe.

Arunachal Pradesh, a state Diagru Mishmis tribes belocated at the extreme lieves in the fact that only north-eastern part of In- nature can prevent us the dia houses a h u lot of ethnic m a n tribes and their Moumita Karmakar b e unique culings tures. Festivals like from its violence. So they Torgya and Si-Donyi are offer prayer to gods of naalready very popular, ture, like god of water and however every year, in the earth with the hope that if month of February , satisfied, they would propeople from Arunachal tect their village from any Pradesh celebrate their sort of natural disasters. oldest and most unique This is also the time when festival, Tamladu Festival. new crops are being sown, This festival is celebrated this is why on this day, and in the Lohit district of the Lord Jebmalu too is worstate by its oldest tribes shipped for the welfare of known as the Digaru the new crops, domestic Mishmis. People across animals and the natives of the region come together the village. to celebrate the festival Celebration of Tamladu and merry making. The Being the oldest of all, word 'tamla' means enclo- Tamladu festival spreads sure and 'du' means a the message of unity and ritual, so together the festi- gaiety among all making a val means a ritual that is car- friendly ambience in the ried out in a house in par- place thereby restoring ticular or in a village. their age old ritual. A fest Relevance of this Festival - is arranged wherein people Since the festival is the enthusiastically participate oldest among all, it is cel-

Turnip Farming Introduction of Turnips:The turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable generally grown in temperate climates, tropical and subtropical regions of India for its white, bulbous taproot. The most common type of turnip is coloured in white. This root vegetable belongs to the family of "Brassicaceae" and genus of "Brassica". The small and tender roots are used for culinary purpose where as bigger size turnips are used as animal feed.

Health Benefits of Turnips:- Following are some of the health benefits of Turnips.

Turnips may help in cancer prevention.

Turnips are good for heart health.

Turnips have anti-inflammatory properties.

Turnips are good source of antioxidants.

Turnips support in bone health.

Turnips are good source fiber.

Turnips are good for digestive health.

Turnips aid in weight loss.

Types and Varieties of Turnips in India:- Turnip varieties are categorized in to two main groups.

They are Asiatic or Tropical type & Temperate or European type. These two groups further classified based on root shape, skin and flesh colour. However, the turnip varieties preferred for commercial cultivation.

Climate Requirment for Turnip Farming:- Turnips thrive best in cool and moist climatic conditions.

These root vegetables can be grown even in the areas where summer temperatures are moderate. The optimum temperature range of 10 째C

Tamla Du Festival, a unique festival of Arunachal Pradesh (Photo: farm8.static.flickr) in dance and music.

Tanggong dance is the popular traditional dance that is performed in this festival. The dancers form a queue like bees and keep on thudding all around.

The participants look vibrant in their traditional costumes and jewellery.

The Diagru Mishmis tribes celebrates this festival every year to keep their cul-

ture alive. They arrange the festival with the aim to promote brotherhood and peace among the people.

Above all, the devotion towards nature and such worshipping of Mother Nature is something which we don't see every day, so Northeast India and its people are really extraordinary in their own ways.

Courtesy: Nelive.

but gongs and drums are used to make the beats.

Nowadays, Sarlamkia is used in schools in Mizoram for diverse cultural activities. *Chai lam Chai lam is a festival based dance performed

by Mizo people. In this community dance, women and men stand one after another forming a circle. They hold each other by shoulders and waists. They sing a song in chorus and dance while swinging to its rhythms. The drum and gongs are also used. Chai dance was earlier performed while the dancers drank rice beer. *Par Lam

The famous Cheraw dance of Mizoram (Photo: blob.core) This is one of the newer dance forms the Mizo people have embraced.

In this dance, female dancers wear colorful attire and tuck flowers in

However, well drained sandy loam soils with high in humus are the best for its cultivation.

Very light sandy soils or too heavy soils are not suitable for its cultivation.

Land Preparation in Turnip Farming:- In turnip farming, land preparation would be same as radish farming. Give couple of ploughs to bring the soil to the fine tilth stage and weed free. Supplement the soil with appropriate well rotten farm yard

men play guitars to provide background music to the dance. Courtesy: Nelive.

Methods and Techniques of Tamarind Cultivation Introduction of Tamarind:Tamarind is one of the ingredients that is being used in Indian curries, chutneys, sauces and soups for sweet and sour taste. Tamarind is sweetish and acidic in nature and its pulp has laxative properties. Tender leaves, flowers and seeds are used as vegetables in India.

Tamarind kernel powder is also used in sizing material in leather and textile industry. Tamarind seeds yield fatty oil which is being used in paints and varnishes. Tamarind wood also used for multi-purpose like in tool handles, agricultural tools.

In India, Tamarind is grown in most of the states, but highly producing states are Bihar, Odhisa, Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Health Benefits of Tamarind:Following are some of the health benefits of Tamarind.

Tamarind supports digestive health.

Tamarind is good for heart health Tamarind is a good source of iron, hence good blood circulation.

Tamarind may aid in nerve function Tamarind aids in weight loss

Varieties of Tamarind in India:There are only few varieties available in India. PKM1: This is an early variety which yields about 270 to 300 kg pods/tree with a pulp content of 40%. If the plants are spaced at 10 meter by 10 meter, they produce yield of 25 tonnes of pods /ha. Urigam: This is a local variety having sweet taste and long pods.

Climate Required for Tamarind Farming:- This can survive in any kind of climatic conditions from 0 째C to 46 째C. It grows well in semi arid tropical regions with an average annual rain fall of 5 centimeter to 15 centimeter. This tree also can be grown in heavy rainfall areas provided with good internal soil drainage. Generally the optimum elevation of tamarind is 1000 meter above the mean sea level.

Soil Requirement for Tamarind Farming:- Tamarind trees thrives best in deep loamy and alluvial soils. The best part of it is, this can also be grown in poor soils. Tamarind tolerates the soil pH of 4.5 to 9.0.

Propagation in Tamarind Farming:- Tamarind is propagated through seeds, grafts and

HORTICULTURE

to 16째C is ideal for development of good root texture, best flavour and excellent size. It requires short day lengths and cool climate for better development of roots.

The Asiatic type of turnip tolerates high temperature where as temperate type of turnip thrives well in cool climatic conditions.

Soil Requirement for Turnip Farming:- Turnip vegetable can be cultivated on wide range of soils.

their hair. They dance to the tunes of songs which are sung by themselves.

They also wave their hands while dancing gracefully. A couple of

manure.

Propagation in Turnip Farming:- Turnips are propagated through seeds.

Sowing, Spacing and Planting in Turnip Farming:- The sowing time for Asiatic type of turnips is best from July to Sept where as for Temperate or European type of turnips from Oct to Dec in the plains. In hills regions, the best sowing season is from July to Sept. Generally, Turnip seeds are

sown directly either in ridges or lines prepared during the land preparation. Usually flat beds are used for sowing the turnip seeds. However, in low lying regions or during monsoon, it should be done on ridges. Turnip seeds should be sown on ridges or rows at 30 cm apart while keeping the row-to- row distance of 6 to 7 cm. usually, seeds are sown at 1.5 cm depth and seeds should be mixed with sand for uniform sowing.

In turnip cultivation, seeds can germinate within a week and the success of seed germination is about 90%.

Thinning should be carried out after 2 weeks of germination. The turnip plants should be placed @ 12 to 15 cm within the row.

Manures and Fertilizers in Turnip Farming:- Apply a farmyard manure (FMY) of 25 tonnes/ha as basal dose at the time of land preparation.

The full dose of P & K, half dose of "N" should be applied before sowing

buddlings.

Sowing, Spacing and Planting in Tamarind Farming:- Generally seeds are sown in lines at 25 cm apart on the nursery beds. Seeds usually take a week to germinate and 3 to 4 months old seedlings are transplanted to the main filed. For true type plants, grafting and buddlings are used and they can be raised in polythene bags. Softwood grafting is very successful using about 1 year old rootstocks. The best planting time for tamarind plantation is from June to November. Pits size of 1 meter x 1 meter x meter should be dug at a distance of 10 meter x 10 meter. Farm yard manure of 15 to 20 kg per pit should be applied by incorporating in the top soil. Frequent irrigation is required to establish the plants after seedlings are transplanted to the field.

Manures and Fertilizers in Tamarind Farming:- Generally, It requires good amount of well rotten farm yard manure (FMY) (cow dung or any organic matter) .This can be applied while preparing the soil or land.

Irrigation in Tamarind Farming:- Irrigation should be car-

ried out as soon as the seedlings are transplanted in the main field. Depending on the soil moisture holding capacity, watering should be supplied.

It does not require any water in rainy season. In case of water stagnation, make sure to drain out the water from the soil especially in the beginning of planting stage.

the seeds. The leftover "N" should be applied in 2 split doses with one is at the time of root formation and the 2nd dose at the time of root knobs development. Phosphatic and potassic fertilizers should be applied at 8 cm depth before sowing the seeds. In case of micronutrient deficiency, Spray the 1kg/ha of Micnelf MS24 one or two times based on the requirement.

Irrigation in Turnip Farming:- Irrigation should be carried out as soon as seeds are sown and the frequency of irrigation depends on the soil moisture holding capacity and climate conditions. Generally to maintain optimum moisture, Irrigation should be given at 8 to 10 days intervals.

Mulching also retains good moisture content in the soil apart from preventing weed growth. In rainy season, there is no need of any irrigation. In case of heavy rains or floods, make sure to drain out the water from the soil.

Weed Control in Turnip Farming:- About 3 hoeings can be given to

control the weeds in the turnip plantation. The earthing up should be done during 2nd & 3rd hoeing after the top dressing application of "N" fertilizers for producing quality roots. Total of 3 weeding are required in turnips farming till the harvesting time. Herbicides like Tok E-25 at 2 kg/ha can be used as preemergence application to control the weeds effectively.

Weed Control in Tamarind Farming:- Field should be made weed free in initial stages and this can be achieved by ploughing the land couple of time until it attains the fine tilth stage.

Mulching also can prevent the growth of weeds and prevents the water loss.

Harvesting in Tamarind Farming:- The plants grown from seedlings can start yielding from 8th year where as the plants from grafts and buddlings can start yielding form 4th year. Hand picking or beating with a stick can be practiced as part of harvesting tamarind fruit.

Yield in Tamarind Farming:- An average yield of 30 tonnes of pods/ha can be obtained with good farm management practices.

Harvesting in Turnip Farming:- Turnips will be ready for harvesting when tender roots are uprooted with good size.

Usually, the turnip roots are harvested when they are about 6 to 10 cm in diameter depending on the turnip variety cultivated. If turnips are not harvested in right time, they become tough & fibrous. Harvesting is preferred in the evening.

Yield in Turnip Farming:Yield depends on the variety and soil type, climate conditions along with the farm management practices. In turnips farming, an average yield of 250400 quintals/ha can be obtained.

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

PAGE 12

Black Caps stun India in T20 opener Nagpur, Mar 15: New Zealand stunned India with a 47run win in the opening match of the world T20 at Nagpur today.

Having been restricted to 126 for seven on a slow, turning pitch, New Zealand then routed the favourites for just 79 in 18.1 overs before a disbelieving packed ground.

So New Zealand's lowest total against India was enough to topple the hosts, who only beat their previous lowest T20 score - against Australia in Melbourne in 2008 - by five runs.

And it maintained New Zealand's grip on India in T20 internationals. Today was their fifth win in as many matches against them.

New Zealand's ploy of playing three spinners, Nathan McCullum, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, and omitting the first choice pace trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Mitch McClenaghan, paid off in spades as all three produced key wickets to keep India on the run.

Santner and Sodhi in particular also found prodigious turn which helped undo India's bats-

men, who were unable to make progress on a pitch devoid of pace and grass.

India lost their first three wickets - two to McCullum and one to Santner - for 12 in the first 17 balls of the chase.

Another three fell for four runs in 14 balls, including the key batsman, Virat Kohli.

He was caught behind off legspinner Sodhi's first ball - a beauty which pitched, turned and took a faint edge - for 23 at a point where he was shaping as the batsman who could carry India out of the mire.

Sodhi followed that with a fine diving return catch to dismiss the dangerous Ravi Jadeja, then had Hardik Pandya lbw.

That left captain MS Dhoni as India's one remaining hope.

He managed one thumping six off Sodhi back down the ground before falling to a spectacular catch, diving forward at long on, by Nathan McCullum for 30.

India's best partnership was only 30 for the eighth wicket between Dhoni and Ravi

Kiwis celebrate the fall of an Indian wicket.

Swann believes India can topple favourites Australia at World T20 their key men.

"Spin will be king and India have a host of twirly men - and none better than the mesmerising Ravi Ashwin, who can open the bowling or apply a squeeze in the middle overs. Harbhajan Singh the Turbanator - is back as well," Swann was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Graeme Swann ANI Melbourne, Mar 15 : Former England spinner Graeme Swann has tipped Australia as favourites to win the World Twenty20 but believes that hosts India are the team most likely to topple the Steve Smith-led side in the pinnacle tournament.

In his column for a lead-

ing UK-based daily, Swann, who was part of England's victorious campaign in 2010, said that India will have the benefit of knowing the grounds and conditions better than their opposition.

He also identified India's spin attack led by Ravichandran Ashwin and batting star Virat Kohli as

"Virat Kohli is the bestlooking batsman in the world. Trust me, bowling to him in India is almost unfair on the bowlers. He has every shot, knows all the angles," the 36-yearold added.

Swann also praised India's brilliant fielding on the edge of the 30-yard circle.

India will kickstart their World T20 campaign tonight when they take on New Zealand in Nagpur.

Murray dumped out of Indian Wells Masters ANI Johannesburg, Mar 15 : World number two Andy Murray crashed out of the Indian Wells Masters tournament after suffering a shock defeat to Argentina's Federico Delbonis in the third round on Tuesday.

The two-time Grand Slam champion was beaten 6-4, 46, 7-6 (7/3) by the Argentinean rival in a contest that lasted two hour and 46 minute.

Reflecting on his performance, Murray said that it was a tough match to lose, adding that he committed mistakes when he

Andy Murray went for his shots, Sport24 reported.

Murray was playing in his first ATP Tour tournament

Morgan sympathises for suspended Narine

Eoin Morgan ANI Johannesburg, Mar.15 : England skipper Eoin Morgan has voiced his sympathy for Sunil Narine, who was ruled out of the World T20 after receiving a suspension for a suspect bowling action, saying that he felt bad for the ace West Indies spinner.

The 27-year-old was suspended after he was reported for a suspect bowling action for the second time during an ODI match

against Sri Lanka in November last year.

Ahead of his side's opening World T20 clash against West Indies, Morgan expressed that he was sad to see what Narine was going through at the moment, adding that he did not want to see anyone facing such sort of situation, Sport24 reported.

The left-handed batsman insisted that Narine had been bowling the same way since his debut and that it was quite disappointing to question his bowling action now.

Morgan and Narine had earlier played together for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Narine played a key role in West Indies' victorious T20 campaign in 2012, grabbing three wickets for just nine runs in the final against Sri Lanka.

Ashwin.

Santner ws outstanding, taking four for 11 off his four overs, while Sodhi took three for 18 from his four, and McCullum two for 15 from three.

Fast bowler Adam Milne wrapped up the crushing win by bowling Ashish Nehra, with 11 balls to spare.

Earlier, New Zealand only got to 126 courtesy of a four and six in consecutive deliveries in the final over by wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi.

Martin Guptill struck the first ball of the tournament from offspinner Ashwin for six back down the ground but was unluckily given lbw to the second, attempting a sweep. Replays showed the ball would have flown over the top of the stumps.

New Zealand's batsmen were unable to force the pace against clever Indian bowling.

The only top order batsman who prospered was Corey Anderson, with 34 but even that took him 42 balls. As it transpired it turned out to be a match-winning hand. It gave New Zealand enough runs to

since losing to world number one Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final in January.

Waqar backs embattled Afridi over 'love for India' remark

Waqar Younis ANI Kolkata, Mar 15 : Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis has thrown his support behind under-fire Shahid Afridi after the captain remarked that his team have received more love from Indian fans as compared to their own fans back home.

"I did not find anything controversial in that comment. We should leave that behind rather than talking more about it and catching controversies out of nothing," Waqar told reporters on the eve of their first group stage match against Bangladesh in the World Twenty20.

"We are here to play positive cricket. We are here to beat the teams and focusing on cricket is a better idea," the former pace spearhead added.

The comments which Afridi made after arriving in India drew scathing criticism from some of his countrymen, most notably from former skipper Javed

Miandad.

Miandad slammed the current T20 skipper saying that Afridi should be ashamed of himself for such comments, adding that he was shocked and hurt to hear such remarks from his country's players.

Afridi, however, clarified that he just wanted to send a positive message, insisting that cricket has helped improve strained relations between both the nations many times.

Commenting on the preparation for Bangladesh clash, the head coach called on his side to come out really strong to beat the Asia Cup finalist.

After Bangladesh clash, Pakistan will take on fierce rivals India in their second group stage match three days later at Eden's Garden. The match was initially scheduled to be held in Dharamsala but was moved out to Kolkata due to security concerns.

work with.

Ronchi hit 21 not out off 11 balls while Santner got 18 off 17.

New Zealand had two batsmen run out, Ross Taylor to a brilliant piece of work at the non-strikers end by bowler Suresh Raina, diving and flicking the ball one handed onto the stumps with Taylor just out of his crease.

India's bowlers shared the wickets but there were fine performances from slow-medium Raina, and lively Jasprit Bumrah, both of whom conceded just 15 runs off their four overs, while Ravi Jadeja was the first bowler to demonstrate the amount of spin in the Nagpur pitch.

New Zealand next face Australia in Dharamsala on Friday night (NZT). Amid fears their campaign could be on the back foot from the opening night, New Zealand can now look forward with confidence to the challenges ahead.

India, now under enormous pressure, play Pakistan in Kolkata early on Sunday.

Spears defeat Brahmaputra, Titans Club win by 3 runs Khan scored 26 runs.

Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, March. For Brahmaputra Boys’ 15: Spears Club de- Club, Rishab Jain feated Brahmaputra bagged three wickets Boys’ Club by 94 runs in the Rajanu Bora Second division cricket B-Division Cricket tournament organized for 296 runs in 3 overs.

by Dibrugarh District In reply, Brahmaputra Sports Association at Boys’ Club bundled out DDSA stadium here to- for 61 in 15 overs. Sadik Rahman remained unday. beaten on 11 runs.

Batting first, Spears Sudhir Ramjanu took Club scored 155 for 8 in five wickets for Spears 20 overs. Mohammad Club.

Sadam scored 39 off 36 balls with four bound- In another match, Titans aries and one six. Club beat Young Boys’ Mesfoz Khan contrib- Club by three runs. uted 35 while Rashid Opting to bat, Titans

club all out for 95 in 15 overs. Sajid Khan scored 19 off 26 balls.

For Young Boys’ Club, Rituraj Mondal claimed three wickets for 28 runs in 3 overs. Abhit Ghosh and Mohammad Azad took two wickets each.

Young Boys’ Club all out for 92 in 19.4 overs.

Jayraj Chakraborty scored 36 off 46 balls with two boundaries.

Prasip Shahu claimed three wickets for 12 runs in 3.4 overs.

Namrup Cricket Academy win by 72 runs Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Mar 15 : Namrup Cricket Academy beat Rajgarh Cricket Academy by 72 runs in the Winners Cup cricket tournament organized by Namrup Natilous Club at Namrup Cricket ground in Dibrugarh today.

Opting to bat, Namrup Cricket Academy piled up 169 in 29.4 overs be-

fore being bowled out. all out for 97 in 28 Gautam Konwar scored overs. Rajdeep Gogoi 55 off 74 balls, hitting scored 22 runs.

Winners Cup five boundaries while Viky Ahmed contributed 20 off 35 balls.

For Rajgarh Cricket Academy, Vishal Singh took five wickets.

In reply, Rajgarh Cricket Academy were

For Namrup Cricket Academy, Dhruva Pal took three wickets. Viky Ahmed, Anil Shah and Biswas Singh took two wickets each for Namrup.

Altogether, 14 teams participated in the tournament.

Under-fire Afridi clarifies `love for India` comments ANI Kolkata, Mar 15 : Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has sought to clarify his comments he made after his side's arrival in India for World T20, which attracted severe criticism from some of his countrymen.

The flamboyant allrounder remarked that Pakistani players received more love from Indian fans as compared to their Pakistani counterparts, which drew scathing comments especially from former skipper Javed Miandad.

Afridi, however, clari-

fied that he just wanted to send a positive message, insisting that cricket has helped improve strained relations between both the nations many times.

"I am not just the captain of Pakistan's cricket team I am representing the whole country here," Afridi was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"The one statement I gave recently should be taken as positive. I did not mean to say that someone is dear to me more than Pakistan people. My identity and

Shahid Afridi everything I have belong to Pakistan," the T20 captain said while addressing a press conference after winning a

warm-up match against Sri Lanka.

"I just wanted to say that whenever we are here [in India] we always en-

joy (it). Even if you ask the former greats such was Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan they all will say the same thing. People in India worship cricket and it is like a religion here.

"I just wanted to give a positive message to the world in a diplomatic way that we people love cricket and want to play it but if someone will take it as a negative comment he will draw a negative conclusion too," he added.

Earlier, Miandad said

that Afridi should be ashamed of himself for such comments, adding that he was shocked and hurt to hear such remarks from his country's players.

Pakistan will take on Bangladesh on Wednesday before facing fierce rivals India in the group stage match three days later at the same venue.

Pakistan's match against India was initially scheduled to be held in Dharamsala but was moved out to Kolkata due to security concerns.

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