18th march

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ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. 1

Issue 281

Dibrugarh, Friday, March 18, 2016

AACWA complains against PWD engineers for not adopting e-tendering for above 1 crore works A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 17

The All Arunachal Contractors' Welfare Association (AACWA) today placed a complaint to the state PWD Commissioner against various PWD executive engineers for not adopting the e-tendering process for working amounts that are above Rs 1 crore and demanded that fresh tenders be announced.

Shedding light on the e-tendering process required for works amounting to more than Rs 1 crore, along with submission of EMD amount (electronically) by the Finance Development Commissioner, the AACWA in a complaint letter

to the PWD commissioner alleged the executive engineers of the department of not following procedure and instead inviting manual tender.

The association alleged that manual tenders were invited for construction of Multipurpose Hall under Government Higher secondary School at Koloriang and Sarli circles of Kurung Kumey district by PWD executive engineers of Sangram with tender amount of Rs 3, 49, 32, 771. Other tenders were for Rs 3, 83, 99, 670 by the PWD executive engineers of Mariyang for construction of road under Geku and Katan circle in Upper Siang district, another tender worth Rs 1, 843.39 lakhs for

construction of approach road from CO HQ Dadam to Muktowa-II in Tirap district was invited by PWD executive engineers of Khonsa, while Rs 1, 831.12 lakhs tender was invited by PWD executive engineers of Boleng for construction of road from Yemsing to Mirem (15.00km) up to WBM level.

The association also mentioned that while the mentioned executive engineers have failed to comply with the government policies, PWD executive engineers of Bomdila and Pakke-Kessang are strictly implementing the policies by adopting digitalized facilities by inviting etenders for construction of

road from Nakhu to Ditchik in West Kameng district and improvement/upgrade of PakkeSiejosa-Ithakola road respectively.

Accordingly, AACWA general secretary Nabam Akin HIna, Coordinator tabu guha and assistant general secretary Lindum tarak have requested the office of the PWD Commissioner to immediately halt the tender of those divisions which have been done manually and instead invite fresh tenders by e-tendering within a period of 10 days in the interest of contractors and uniform implementation of government notifications, failing which the association said it would resort to legal help.

Pul urges BRO for Preserve ancient knowledge early completion of and wisdom : Pul Sissiri Bridge A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 17

Chief Minister Kalikho Pul on Wednesday urged the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to complete the RCC Bridge over river Sissiri that connects Roing to Pasighat via AohaliDambuk road at the earliest.

“The bridge is extremely important from the point of view that once completed; it will connect rest of the eastern part

Calling it as his matter of concern, the chief minister requested the BRO officials to accord top priority for the completion of bridge at the earliest possible time.

“During summer, the entire Lower Dibang belt gets cutoff and also frequent bandhs in Assam adds to the communication woes,” Pul said and also requested the BRO to fastrack the work on approach road towards the bridge.

CM Pul during his meeting with DG, BRO. of the state with the state capital via Pasighat,” he informed the BRO delegation who were led by Lt Gen Suresh Sharma, Director General, Border Road.

Pul noted that “there has been inordinate delay in completion of the bridge despite the expiry of earlier scheduled completion time.”

ET CAPSULES CBSE reschedules exams for Assam assembly polls Guwahati, Mar 17: The Central Board of Secondary Education has rescheduled its Class XII board Examination for Sociology, Sanskrit Core and Bengali due to the state assembly election in Assam.

Assistant Secretary of CBSE, regional office Guwahati has informed that the Sociology (039) examination scheduled for April 4 next will be held on April 23, said a government release here today.

The Sanskrit Core (322) and Bengali (105) examinations scheduled for April 11 will now be held on April 26, the release said.

The two-phase assembly elections will be held on April 4 and 11. (Staff Reporter)

Theft in Bank

cmyk

Golaghat, Mar 17: An incident of theft at a bank in Golaghat created sensation in the town today. According to the reports, the Golaghat Branch of United Bank of India was targeted by thieves last night. Thieves entered the branch and damaged the CCTV Set up installed in the bank and then misplaced files and documents. They also broke the locker but could not loot any cash. At last the thieves took two monitors with them. (Correspondent)

Meanwhile, the BRO officials informed that the work on the bridge including on approach road is likely to complete by next March.

They also informed that they would be conducting visit to the bridge site and would inform the state government on the status of the work.

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 17

Page 7

Pages- 12

Assam CM alleges raids on Rakibul Hussain's This is my residence and vehicle as “politically motivated” last elections A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 17

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has alleged the raids conducted by Election Expenditure Observer and Income Tax teams at Cabinet Minister Rakibul Hussain's residence and vehicle were "politically motivated" and aimed at "defaming" the leader and the Congress party.

"The raids at Hussain's house yesterday has exposed the Government of India's attitude towards the Opposition and proves it is politically motivated," Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister said Hussain is not only a senior Cabinet Minister but a top ranking leader of the party and of the minorities, and the raids were conducted in a bid to "defame" him and the Congress.

"We strongly condemn such high-handed attitude of the Centre and will lodge our protest with the appropriate authorities," Gogoi said.

He said the authorities can conduct raid before elections, but proper procedure must be followed which was not done in this particular case. Also, the teams did not find anything objectionable during the raids, he said.

Hussain told reporters that the officials who raided his house yesterday said they had come in connection with com-

In view of the declining population of priests in various tribal communities, Chief Minister Kalikho Pul called on the community cultural bodies to find ways to preserve ancient wisdom and knowledge.

“We have to preserve our culture and traditions for posterity, and it is through priests that we can carry forward it to our next generations,” said the chief minister while speaking to the representatives of the Indigenous Faith & Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) here on Tuesday.

Expressing his anguish over the loss of ancient knowledge and wisdom, Pul said “Preservation of culture is not only about protecting the tangible cultural assets; but it’s also about seeking a deeper connection with ourselves, while appreciating our own culture.”

“The priests are our cultural

storehouse and it is through them we seek spiritual solace. They are our spiritual leader, they are our healer,” he said and added that relevance of priests in modern times cannot be invalidated.

“It is in the chants of the priests, that we find mention of our cultural history and about our ancestors. So we have to find ways through which we can preserve our ancient cultural heritage,” said Pul. The chief minister urged the cultural bodies to create programs, device curriculum and suggest measures through which the knowledge and metaphysical wisdom of the priests can be documented and preserved.

In response, the IFSCAP representatives sought government’s active support in preservation of the institution of priests, without which they fear treasure of ancient knowledge, will be lost forever.

They also suggested on having remunerations for priests as incentives.

Bijoy Handique Jorhat, Mar 17

: Assam CM Tarun Gogoi

“

The raids at Hussain's house yesterday has exposed the Government of India's attitude towards the Opposition and proves it is politically motivated.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 17

ACLP Leader Tarun Gogoi with Cabinet Minister Rakibul Hussain at Guwahati. Pic - UB Photos plaints against his wife. "My wife is not a political person, then why should any raid be conducted against her? But I asked her to cooperate.

The authorities did not find anything," he said. "Entire episode is a political conspiracy and has been done at the behest of a former colleague who recently joined the BJP to defame me and my party," Hussain said.

He said the BJP cannot counter the Congress party on the field so has "stooped so low to defame me" and the good workdone by our government during the last 15 years. "We condemn the use of official machinery for political purpose. We'll definitely win the forthcoming elections," the minister added.

Hussain had yesterday filed

a police complaint against the 'Election Commission Election Expenditure' in this regard.

Hussain had claimed an election commission team was waiting at his house in Panjabari area when he and his wife came there at around 06.30 pmyesterday.

He said the team asked him and his security in another car to get out of their vehicles to conduct searches. "As soon as the Election Expenditure team left, my house was raided by an income tax team. We have never seen income tax raids being conducted during the night, but only in the day time," the minister claimed. The Election Expenditure Observer for Kamrup, Raghabendra Singh, and other officials were contacted but they refused to comment on the raids.

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today said that this election will be his last, and said that he has been able to maintain a good performance all through in the state as the chief minister.

On being asked how he would rate his performance, Gogoi said, "I may not have scored 100 per cent. But I have surely passed in first division (above 60 per cent."

Showing confidence that his party will win a fourth straight term, Gogoi said the candidates list has been prepared to ensure maximum seats for the ruling party.

He said, "We have kept in mind the chance of success of the candidates. We have given tickets to more number of youth and women candidates than any other party in the state."Terming politics a team sport like football, Mr Gogoi said, "The captain and players together form the team. Our team is far superior to that of the opposition's and we will win once again."

(All India Rank - JEE Main)

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

Trishav Bordoloi (16years) a national ranking sub-junior swimmer and a brilliant student from Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, who was a resident of Satish Residency was found dead between the apartments of the Satish Residency whose body was recovered laying within a pool of blood.

Police officials said that, Trishav’s apartment was on the fifth floor of the Satish Residency of Dohabora road. His parents, Prof. Rajiv Bordoloi from the dept. of Physics and Prof Gayatri Chutia Bordoloi, Dept. of Assamese are senior professors at Central College, Jorhat. He was online with his

5.00

Preserve ancient knowledge and wisdom : Pul

National ranking swimmer, guitarist and a brilliant student found dead in Jorhat

“Police and doctor suspected to be a cold blooded murder, several clues and marks were spotted in his body, head, hand and fingers. Police even identified some marks of escaping that has been used by the killer and at this moment it is not clear to say as investigation is on. His laptop, mobile has been taken by the police for investigation” said Amanjeet Kaur, SP of Jorhat.

Price -

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

Trishav Bordoloi found deadbody in Jorhat. Pic - Nekib Ahmed

friend till 4 a.m. this morning.

Police also added that Trishav’s mother was out of station who was on official tour to Guwahati for attending a week long seminar there, as she reached her fifth floor apartment, she found doors opened and Trishav was out and she thought that he might have gone out for morning walk or exercises. Settling her kitchen and clearing the waste material suddenly she that found Trishav lying with blood. Seeing this she shouted and made hue and cry and later the news of Trishav’s dead got spread.

Trihav was a national swimmer who attended three na-

tional camps at Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad along with a god gifted in studies and also was an outstanding cricketer and lead guitarist too.

President of Assam Swimming Society, Samiran Bordoloi also reached Trishav’s residence too bit a tearful farewell for such a talented swimmer who had a bright future in the field of swimming. It was a great lost for swimming fraternity of Jorhat. Same as for his cricketing friends, Jorhat Cricket Academy also bit a tearful farewell to the great upcoming batsman, informed Bhuban Dutta, Secretary of JDSA.

KUNAL ROY (T.MARK:162)

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

Phone : 0373- 2320231, 9435031699, 8811003000 cmyk

Page 12

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

PAGE 2

Bokajan gears up for Assembly Polls BJP, HSDC and NPP candidates files nominations ET Correspondent Bokajan, Mar 17: For the first phase of Assembly polls in 17-Bokajan (ST) Constituency which is scheduled on April 4, a total of three candidate filed their nomination paper for the forthcoming state assembly elections in the SDO(C) of-

fice here on Thursday.

Former Associate Professor of GMC and a BJP candidate, Dr. Numal Momin drove in an open vehicle followed by thousands of cheering supporters, filed his nomination with the Sub Divisional Officer Vikram Dev Sarma late

Dr. Numal Momin drove in an open vehicle followed by thousands of cheering supporters

ASTRO FOR YOU Aries Today you will have to give in to your spouse's demands for improving the environment at home. In your own interest it will be advisable. to hasten the measures needed to be taken and stay focussed on them as you are the one who is guilty of neglect.

Taurus You are likely to confront a turning point in relationships today, foresees Ganesha.

Because you are in need of some compassion and support, you will feel the need to spend time with friends and relatives. Your beloved or better half may bring a change in mood by helping you shed your negative frame of mind.

Gemini You may plan to wash your car, clean your yard and arrange your wardrobe. And you don't trust the housemaid with any of the chores, because no one can clean the house better than you. Personal hygiene will also get your full attention.

Cancer It is a favourable day to engage in household activities, like gardening, cooking or even washing laundry. In the evening, work will be eclipsed by the pleasures of love.

Leo You need to curb down on your expenses. You need to moderate the risks you take on in the share market. It is a good day for financial gains though. You need to understand the value of compromise Virgo Your writing abilities will help you give vent to your emotions without hurting others. You will finish all your incomplete tasks successfully. Ganesha says that you will experience success in everything that you choose to do today.

Libra Of late, you have been very concerned about the health of one of your close friends. Take this day to lay your fears to rest by spending time with that friend.

Work can wait, as today you must prove to yourself, if not to others, that 'a friend in need is a friend indeed'.

Scorpio You may spend a lot of your time brainstorming at your desk. In the evening, however, mental exercises will be substituted for pleasure and fun with friends and family.

Sagittarius For you, appreciation and recognition for the efforts you put in may be delayed, but it's not denied. There's is no point losing heart and getting disappointed. This may only affect your work, instead, wait for a better tomorrow, Capricorn At work, you may love to play the leader, but that makes you accountable, for both the good as well as the poor performance of your subordinates. In all likelihood, you may be held responsible for the poor performance of your team members. But all said and done, you will set high standards for yourself, and a perfect example for others to follow.

Aquarius Your mood will swing by the hour today! Naturally, you leave your friends stumped. But unpredictability does not mean that you take unnecessary risk.

Pisces Just as melting ice caps on faraway mountains can swell the oceans, concerted efforts you make now will have far-reaching beneficial consequences. Do not be disheartened in the face of obstacles and keep soldiering on.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz) Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 18-3-16 (FRIDAY)

5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-30 A.M-Bidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Songs) 8-30 A.M-North East News Bulletin in English 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 12-05 P.M- Live Phone in Surar Satsori 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 Raijor Anusthan (Rural Programme) 7-15 P.M-Chah Sramikar Asor (Tea Garden Programme Programme) 8-00 P.M-Sponsored Programme-Brahmaputra Swasthya Sewa (Sponsored

by BDHL) 10.00 P.M-Classical Music Sd-/H.O.P

Thrusday afternoon.

of the Sub Divisional Officer here on Thursday.

Another candidate of Hills State Demand Council (HSDC)- Jagat Sing Ingti, who won three consecutive assembly elections since 1996, faced a narrow defeat with a sparse vote difference of 16,809 votes in 2011 assembly polls is all set to battle back and filed nomination in office

Daniel G Momin, another candidate of National People's Party (NPP) also filed nominations to bet for the 17 Bokajan (ST Constituency for the first term in the ensuing assembly polls early next month.

Meanwhile, the volunteers and supporters of

BJP candidate files Nomination at Haflong ET Correspondent Haflong, Mar 17 : Accompanied by party-members and supporters, Dima Hasao BJP District president and candidate for 16 (ST) Haflong Assembly constituency B. B Hagjer today filed his nomination papers at the office of the District Returning Office and Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao for the State Assembly polls scheduled for April 4.

After the filing of his nomination, Hagjer addressing the media said

far behind in comparison other places, therefore they want to bring a change in the district by voting in favour of BJP.

B. B Hagjer

since the people of Dima Hasao felt that due to bad administration of the congress, the development of the district is still lagging

Answering the questions of the media persons Hagjer said though all round development would be given priority but there are also some sectors like Road, water supply, education, Health etc also to be given top priority if his party come to power.

Lastly he claimed that he was very much optimistic to win the election.

Congress-I organised a huge bike rally in Bokajan to formally welcome their party candidate and the sitting MLA Klengdun Ingti from Silonijan to the party's office here on Thursday.

Earlier, Ingti was on verge of ticket denial due to some internal party conflicts and likely to file nomination tomorrow (Friday).

from the CPIM party from Dhekiajuli LAC and Nayan Moni Chaudhury contesting from the SUCI from Tezpur LAC filed their nomination papers.

However, Abhijit Hazarika AGP’s central committee secretary who has resigned the party being dissatisfied with the pre-poll alliance with BJP, after filing his nomination paper as Independent candidate, briefing the media here said that the people of Rangapara LAC sought a change through this election as during the congress regime the required development in the area could not be delivered to the people of the LAC due to the rampant corruption by the Congress workers.

There was a big chance to win the seat by AGP as the wave was in favour of the regional party. “But the poll alliance with the saffron

party has collapsed everything, since it has been noticed that the National party has been trying to vanish the existence of the regional party which was a fruition of the six years long Assam agitation.” He alleged adding as he has still a close attachment with the grass root people of the constituency he is standing independently with the support of the common masses of the greater area for a transparent representation in the LAC. Meanwhile, Praneswar Basumatry who came directly from Delhi taking the party ticket accompanied with only three of his political advisers after filing his nomination paper, talking with this correspondent said that he does not prefer the trend of taking out of rally while filing nomination papers. “It is a un necessary

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Mar 17: The N.S.S., D.H.S.K. College wing has organised a Voters Awareness Programme for the Students of the College in collaboration with the Election Commission of India on 16th March 2016 at Shankardev Sabhakakhya.

The Voters Awareness Programme was started with the welcome address by Dr. Biraj Dutta, Programme Officer, N.S.S., D.H.S.K. College wing at 10.00 AM. Dr. S.K. Saikia, Principal, D.H.S. K. College presided over the meeting. The Chief Guest of the Voters Awareness Programme was Mr. Satish N. Pad, IAS, Additional Director

harassment to the supporters or the voters, so I am coming alone and as this task is over today, I will start my campaigning among the voters in my constituency from tomorrow.” He said adding this time he would surely win the seat. He also claimed that he has a good field in his constituency as people know that a lot of developmental works were done though he was MLA only for a single term in Sootea.

“But Padma Hazarika who has joined the BJP betraying AGP from where he sprung politically was MLA in the LAC for long ten years, but people have not witnessed any remarkable development, this account is with the common people and accordingly this time they will give their feed-back to him through EVM.” He maintained.

Darrang to introduce model and women special polling booths ET Correspondent Mangaldai, Mar 17: The Darrang District Election Department has made all arrangements for a free and fair poll in the four Assembly segments in Darrang scheduled in the second phase on April 11. Though the notification for the election in all the four LACs namely 65 Kalaigaon, 66 Sipajhar, 67 Mangaldai (SC) and 68 Dalgaon have been issued on March 15, but on the third day of the notification not a single nomination has been filed before the concerned Returning Officers till this afternoon.

Briefing this before media in his office chamber this afternoon, Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer of Darrang Manoj Kumar informed that till date the flying squad already formed with the constituency magistrates and police have seized a total amount of Rs. 19,58,300.00 in cash but after verification the seized amount was returned to the concerned persons while three numbers of illegal firearms have also been seized.

A total of 1138 numbers of licensed firearms have also been deposited in the concerned police stations he added. Taking serious note on the flourishing business of illegal liquors both the country made and the IMFL, the district administration has taken a strict initiative to

Darrang to introduce model and women special polling booths make a reshuffle in the Excise department here and formed special squads headed by a Magistrate.

Briefing the media persons the Deputy Commissioner said that for the first time the District Election department has made a special arrangement to transform ten numbers of polling stations in the district as model polling stations to provide required facilities like wheel chair, medical facilities for the elderly citizens, expectant mothers, ailing and differently able electorates. These model polling stations are namely Kalaigaon HS School (right and left), Sipajhar BJ Girls High School and Sipajhar Academy, Mangaldai Town High School, Bhebarghat LP

School (left and right) and Mangaldai Collegiate High School, Sailabala High School (right and left) in Kharupetia.

Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar also informed the media that for the first time in Darrang district, the district election department is going to introduce four numbers of All Women Polling Stations where all the polling officials and security persons will be women. The polling stations at Kalaigaon HS School in Kalaigaon LAC, BJ Girls High School in Sipajhar LAC, Bhebarghat LP School in Mangaldai LAC and Sailabala High School at Kharupetia in Dalgaon LAC will be the 'All

Name change Romesh Suren have changed my name to Ramesh Rajwar Mura S/ W/D/o Jibo Suren of Morapat Gaon Dibrugarh. I shall be known as Ramesh Rajwar Mura for all purposes.

Voters Awareness Programme organized by N.S.S., D.H.S.K. College

Seven candidates filed nomination paper today ET Correspondent Tezpur, Mar 17: On the second day of the filing of nomination paper for the Assembly election 2016, altogether seven candidates from various political parties including independent candidates filed their nomination paper before the concerned returning officers at DC office here today. As per the updation regarding the election related matter received from the Election cum DC office here, Praneswar Basumatary, contesting from the Sootea LAC, on a congress ticket, Royal Soren from CPM, Abhijit Hazarika as independent supported by Rangapara Constituency Development Committee and Christopher Dhanwar as Independent candidate to contesting from Rangapara LAC, Benudhar Nath as Independent candidate and Khemraj Chetry contesting

Advt.

Women Polling Stations'- he added. For smooth and effective functioning of the Flying Squads to check the transportation and transaction of unaccounted money and other objectionable materials, the vehicles of the Flying Squads have been fitted with GPS for continuous monitoring by the central monitoring system.

District Development Commissioner Ranjit Kalita, Additional Deputy Commissioners Nara Narayan Nath and Dharmananda Barua, Election Officer Rahul Chandra Das, DIPRO Samar Kalita and Assistant Commissioner Antara Gogoi were also present during this press briefing.

General, Prasar Bharati, Election Observer form Election Commission of India. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Bhaskar Sharma, Protocol Officer, and Mr. Anupam Hazarika.

Mr. Satish N. Pad, in his speech encouraged the new voters to cast their vote without any fear for the success of Indian Democracy. He had also asked the students to enrol their names in the electoral roll if their names are not enlisted in the voter list. After his speech he had interacted with the students of the college.

The meeting was ended with vote of thanks by Dr. Biraj Dutta.

AGP’s former Secretary submits nomination paper ET Correspondent Margherita, Mar 17: Puran Chetry former General Secretary of AGP Margherita District Committee today submitted his nomination form at Margherita Sub Divisional office (Civil) from Asom Gana P a r i s h a d (Ancholiktabadi Mancha) a newly floated political party of Assam.

“I have full faith in regionalism where communal and corporate party like BJP cannot solve the burning problems of Assam, which only regional party can do it. I am sure that in this Assembly Election I will win the Election contest” said Puran Chetry Candidate of AGP (Ancholiktabadi Mancha) from 124 No Margherita LAC. Puran Chetry also alleged that State AGP leaders have no ideology and Principle that is why they have made alliance with BJP at Delhi without taking any consent from any grass root workers and other leaders of AGP.

Trinumul BJP announces its 2nd list ET Correspondent Golaghat, Mar 17: After the alliance of BJPAGP some offended BJP members came out with their own party named Trinumul BJP and announced the list of 9 candidates for the first phase. The Chief Convenor Bishwajit Phukan today announced the second list of candidate from Tezpur as Anupam Baruah, Barpeta as Chanakya Pathak , Dalgaon as Maulana Maasoodur Rahman and Dergaon as Rita Das.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

PAGE 3

National Rolls Purification and Authenticated Programme held at Anjaw Anjaw, Mar 17: A meeting on NERPAP (National Rolls Purification and Authenticated Programme) and and Rationalisation of Polling Station was held in the conference hall of DCcum-DEO Anjaw on 17/3/ 16 and was attended by all EROs and AEROs. Describing the Electoral Roll as basic fool of democracy, Smt. M. Riba, DEO Anjaw asked EROs/AEROs to purify and ensure preparation of 100% error free E/ Roll for thr distt.

The DEO directed to intensify the registration of eligible citizens by identifying a youth icon to generate awareness among the citizen.

She also directed EROs/ AEROs to take up proposal of new Polling Stations as per ECI guidelines, mapping of P/Stations, appointment of BLAs, complaint redressal cell, Traning of BLOs and to ensure (BMFs) in all Polling Stations of the district. Present in the meeting AEROs Sh. N. Borang, Hawai, AERO Caglagam Sh. A. Ratan, AERO Manchal Sh. H. Kri.

Meanwhile, The Krishi Vigyan Kendra Anjaw, a branch of the ICAR RC for NEH Region organized a composite traning on scientific cultivation of Kiwi, Large Cardomom, Mushroom production and vermicomposting technology at Hayuliang on 16th March 2016. Speaking as Chairperson, Deputy Commissioner, Mamta Riba, thanking the ICAR for setting up the KVK at Anjaw, appreciated the commitment of the young dyanamic team of experts working in the border district lead by Dr. Manish Kanwat, Senior Scientist, in bringing innovative changes among the farming community of the district within short span of 1 year since inception. The DC called upon the farmers to supplement the efforts of the Dept. of Horticulture and Dept. of Agriculture in popularizing Cardamom, Ginger and Kiwi in addition to the wealth of native produces like pulses, medicinal plants etc and further innovate through interventions of the KVK. Cooperative integrated farming is the

call of the hour she pointed out. Zilla Parisha d Member Shri a. manyu called upon the participate in the development process wholeheartedly. He also requested the Govt. to provide more schemes in the fields of agri. and allied fieldsin view if it’s demand among villagers Anchal Chairperson Shri C. Tindya speaking on the occasion called upon the farmers to utilize the golden guidance provide by the KVK. Shri B. Towsik, ADC Hayuliang, who has been actively involved in facilitating setting up of the agricultural institution, assured all possible help to both the institute and the farmers in the cause of development. An exhibition of products was organised by the KVK Anjawand planting materials were distributed to participating farmers. The contribution of former SMS (SW&E) late Er Uday Bhandari, Scientist who passed away during discharge of duty, was acknowledged. Anjaw is presently the largest organized producer of large Cardamom in the State.

KVK, Anjaw organises composite training on scientific cultivation of various products ET Correspondent Hawai, Mar 17: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra Anjaw, a branch of the ICAR RC for NEH Region organised a composite training on scientific cultivation of Kiwi,Large Cardamom, Mushroom production and Vermicomposting technology at Hayuliang on 16 th March 2016 .Speaking as Chairperson,Deputy Commissioner Mamata Riba , thanking the ICAR for setting up the KVK at Anjaw , appreciated the commitment of the young dynamic team of experts working in the border district lead by Dr Manish Kanwat , Senior Scientist , in bringing innovative changes among the farming community of the district within short span of 1 year since inception.The Deputy

Commissioner called upon the farmers to supplement the efforts of the Dept . of Horticulture and Dept .of Agriculture in popularising Cardamom , Ginger and Kiwi in addition to the wealth of native produces like pulses , medicinal plants etc and further innovate through interventions of the KVK.Cooperative integrated farming is the call of the hour she pointed out.Zilla Parishad Member Shri A Manyu called upon the participants , consisting of young and old farmers ,SHGs and PRIs to participate in the developement process wholeheartedly.He also requested the Government to provide more schemes in the field of agri and allied fields in view if it's demand among villagers. Anchal Chairperson

Shri C.Tindya speaking on the occasion called upon the farmers to utilise the golden guidance provided by the KVK.Shri B.Towsik ADC Hayuliang ,who has been actively involved in facilitating setting up of the agricultural institution, assured all possible help to both the institute and the farmers in the cause of development. An exhibition of products was organised by the KVK Anjaw and planting materials were distributed to participating farmers.The contribution of former SMS (SW&E) late Er Uday Bhandari , scientist who passed away during discharge of duty ,was acknowledged .Anjaw is presently the largest organised producer of large Cardamom in the state .

3-day Arunachal Paralympics Games concludes successfully participated by all the differently-abled male contestants of the Paralympics, even as the organisers went about preparing for the prize distribution ceremony.

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 17: The three days Paralympics Games organised by Arunachal Pradesh Paralympics Association (APPA) in collaboration with State Directorate of Sports and Capital Complex District Administration concluded today in an impressive valedictory function held at Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy ground, Chimpu.

The jovial atmosphere of the differently-abled school children and citizens were witnessed by Abraham K Techi, Commissioner (RTI) as Chief Guest, Likha Sampu, Deputy Director (SSA) as guest of Honour along with Sandeep Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner (Capital) and Gechi Doke as special invitees, among others.

Earlier in the day, the valedictory session started off with a soothing welcome song from the recipient of scholarship for Ghazal and

Folk Songs, Riee Koyu and Kipa Nikam, both student of Donyi-Polo School for the hearing impaired, before the guests took to the podium to share words of admiration and encouragement.

event and better yet, not allow any politician or political parties to misuse the platform of APPA. On his part, the guest of honour, Likha Sampu impressed upon the differently abled students and citizens to not

Accordingly, Abraham K Techi while exuding pride on being part of the first ever Paralympics held in the state, also appealed on the organising team of APPA to escape the temptation of commercialisation of the

allow doubts and uncertainty to creep in within them and instead claim their rightful place in the society.

Meanwhile, in between the speeches, songs and the dances, a running race was also organised which was

In totality, the events’ awardees in order of merits includes, Liter Ori, Sindi Umpo and Bagjan Yanyang (100 metre race), Kipa Kat, Maming Kipa and Riniya

Girls); Techi Talar, Anand Bagang and Phassang Tatap (100 metre Wheelchair race- Men); Tabom Tatak, Bharat Taruk and Rikto Koyu (100 metre raceBoys); Phassang Ajoy, Sangha Taruk and Loa Pore (100 metre race-Men open); Phassang Sodar, Tarh Tamar and Tabom Tatak (400 metre race-Men open); Loa Pore, Sangha Taruk and Koning Dara (400 metre-50% disabled Men); Tagio Waii, Tame Nunghu and Dapang Tawe (400 metre-70% disabled Men); Phassang Sodar, Tabom Tatak and Bharat Taruk (Long jump-Men); Phassang Sodar, Nabam Nima and Tabom Tatak (Shot put-Men open); Malo Tado, Nacam Nima and Tabom Tatak (Javelin throw- Boys); Nabam Nima, Tabom Tatak and Tajoy Baja (800 metre-

Bayang (400 metre race); Yabom Bui, Liter Ori and Renya Nyicyor (Long Jump-Girls); Kipa Kat, Riniya Bagang and Yape Pao (Long Jump- Women); Liter Ori, Sindi Umpo and Ome Tayeng (Shot put-

Boys open); Tagam Siyum, Tami Nunghu and Kalik Perme (Chess-Men open); Tabom Tatak and Tagia Pagmir (Carrom-Men open) and Kalik Perme and Techi Talar (Arm wrestling-Men open).

Subsequently, in the prize distribution ceremony that ensued, Tabom Tatak ended up with the highest number of prizes under the boys & men category, while Liter Ori dominated the girls’ category. Kipa Kat stood out in the women’s open category while in the lone team match of volleyball, Kurung Kumey and Donyi-Polo School of hearing impaired came in first and second respectively.

WASE with magistrate and police made Heavy hail storm hit raid to illegal IMFL selling shops various locations at Namsai Spl Correspondent Pasighat, Mar 17: As a part of their continued effort to fight against drugs and other social evils in the district, the Women Against Social Evils (WASE) activists along with the coordination of magistrate and police made raids in the various grocery shops in GTC region on Monday evening between 8 to 10.40 pm and seized several bottles of IMFL and beers.

Informing about their raids and seizures, WASE General Secretary Joya Tasung Moyong said that, more than 150 numbers of IMFL bottles were seized during the raid from various grocery shops which were being sold illegally. She also informed that, the most of the shops doesn’t have any valid licenses which need to be checked. WASE team expressed their thankfulness to Magistrate EAC Tajing

Padung and Police led by SI Nani Nama for taking cognizance of the offences and urged both administration and police to take appropriate measures to check such offences in days to come.

Supports from administration and police boosts up our morale and we, from WASE team with its present zeal will continue our fight against drugs and other social evils in the district, added Joya.

ET Correspondent Namsai, Mar 17 : Heavy hail storm hit various locations of Namsai District on 16th March at about 2 -4 pm rendering huge damages to public and private properties. Reports of damages to dwelling houses, plantation crops, tea, and rubber, standing

vegetable gardens and death of livestock due to uprooting and felling of trees are pouring in from villages. Power supply to Namsai from Assam disrupted. Actual loss of properties being assessed by district administration as informed by R.K. Sharma DC Namsai

ET Correspondent Namsai, Mar 17 : After sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein undertook a 3(three) days visit to his home district Namsai wef 14-16th March, 2016. People from all walk of life throng in large numbers to welcome the Deputy Chief Minister who was accompanied by Chow Zingnu Namchoom, MLA Namsai starting from Dirak check gate to Namsai with procession of various cultural troops.

Sri Kalikho Pul and sought cooperation from all to make the state a peaceful and developed placed to live in. Chow Zingnu Namchoom also addressed the huge gathering and specially thanked Chief Minister for inducting Chowna Mein as Dy CM of the state with additional portfolio of PWD, Social welfare, Women & child dev, Tribal affairs, Animal husbandry & veterinary.

New Chief Secretary Deputy Chief Minister calls on the Governor Orientation programme three days visit Namsai

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Mar 17: The new Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Smt Shakuntala Gamlin called on the Governor Shri JP Rajkhowa and the First Lady of the State Smt Rita Rajkhowa at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar on 17th March 2016. It was a courtesy call.

They discussed on various issues of the development and priority sectors in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Governor wished her a successful tenure in the State.

Secretary to Governor Dr. Joram Beda was also present in the meeting.

held at Changlang

New Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Smt Shakuntala Gamlin called on the Governor Shri JP Rajkhowa and the First Lady of the State Smt Rita Rajkhowa at Raj Bhavan

One day Orientation-cum-Trainees Registration Drive Programme at Koloriang Koloriang, Mar 17 : With the conduction of first ever one day Orientation-cum- Trainees Registration Drive Programme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) in collaboration with Border Area Development Programme was held today at Inspection Bungalow (I.B) Parsi parlo the remote border area block of Kurung Kumey District, Arunachal Pradesh. Youths of two blocks (Damin & Parsi parlo) were welcome the Training Programme implemented by the District Administration.

Er. Bamang Chai, i/c District Programme Coordinator, Kurung Kumey District was

highlighted aims and objectives of Skill Development to the youths international Border area blocks especially school drop-out and jobless can take their second chance to Develop skill and make themselves selfemployment, self-relent for their livelihood which can contribution making Central Govt. ‘s slogan “ SKILL INDIA”.

He explains various trades of training programme and scope of it. Also exhorted the youths to registered themselves and be the part of Skill Development programme.

Shri Pawan Kumar Prasad,

Branch Manager, Koloriang also encourage the youths of two blocks, this is good opportunity to Develop Skill and make benefits of the Training programme. If anyone you trained well in particular trades you choice and master of it then money will run after you.

Self –employment business has great scope and bank may be financing accordingly your skill, sincerity and punctuality in doing business. Shri Ngurang Tado, President, Manghi Welfare Society, Sangram, Kurung Kumey District Training provider also spoke on the orientation programme.

ET Correspondent Changlang, Mar 17 : The District Health Society Changlang organized an orientation programme among the members District Task Force for Immunization on switching of tOPV to bOPV and Mission Indradhanush PhaseIII here at Chanlang, today. The Programme was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Shri Wayong Khimhun.

Sensitizing the Chairman and members of DTFI, DRCHO Dr Tope Yomcha informed that the tOPV (trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine) which is currently in use in routine immunization and polio campaigns, contained polio vaccines protecting poliovirus of type 1, 2 and 3. But type2 poliovirus has been eradicated and now bOPV(Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine) protecting poliovirus type-1 and 3 will be used in all the routine immunization and polio campaigns, he added.

He further informed that

shift from tOPV to bOPV will a globally coordinated process.

Briefing on the responsibilities of the concerned MOs during process of switching from tOPV to bOPV, he urged them all to update weekly tOPV stock in the Cold Chain point on the web portal and ensure that ANMs return all tOPV after session before the switch. He asked them to remove all tOPV from cold chain, pack carefully, mark as waste and return to the district hospital for disposal as per guidelines with video recording during the switch adding that it contains dangerous live virus. He cautioned them to ensure no tOPV exists in any facility center after the switch. Every facility center should be certified as tOPV free by the concerned Medical officer, he added.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed his zero tolerance towards any

kind of lackadaisical attitude, if shown by any Medical Officer in disposing tOPV, saying that it may lead innocents to suffer. Referring the poor statistic in performance report he appealed the health workers to take their duties as a privilege for them and perform the duties honestly. “You are blessed people who have been given opportunity to serve the sick and needy people, so do it sincerely,” he added. He suggested them to ensure submission of correct report besides discharging their responsibilities effectively.

DMO, Changlang Dr Karrik Basar asked the concerned MOs to prepare quality Micro-Plan for Mission Indradhanush Phase-III as well as for Routine Immunization for effective result which will be launched shortly.

Showing concern over low performance in MI-II, he cautioned them of appropriate action against non-performing officers.

At Lekang, the home constituency, Chowna Mein was given a public reception at a meeting where Govt employees, PRI leaders, Bazar committee and general public warmly greeted the dignitaries. Similarly at Namsai club, a public reception was convened for felicitation of the Deputy Chief Minister and MLA. While addressing the public the Dy CM outlined the priorities of new Govt under the leadership of Chief Minister

The visiting dignitaries attended a meeting with various NGOs at Golden Pagoda, Tengapani on 16th March convened for the upcoming visit of members of “World Tripitaka Foundation” Thailand lead by its Vice Chairman. It is known that the purpose of the visit of the foundation will be to transcript the holy book “Tripitaka” into Tai language. The team will visit Namsai district wef 12th April to 15th April and also take part in Sangken celebration at various locations.

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BJP candidate and former AASU GS Tapan Kumar Gogoi owns property worth 81 lakhs!

ET Correspondent Sonari, Mar 17: As to how much wealthy is Sonari BJP candidate and former general secretary of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) Tapan Kumar Gogoi? This was the question doing the rounds among the voters and people of Sonari legislative assembly constituency after his name figured prominently as a potential candidate from the BJP for the last few weeks.

The people got the answer today as according to the

affidavit filed by the former influential student union leader he owns agricultural land of 4 bighas, 4 kathas and 8 lechas at Nagahat Kachari gaon. Moreover, he owns a Tata Innova car worth 12.90 lakhs. He has fixed deposit of 20 lakhs and 6, 45,277 in his savings account in State Bank of India (SBI), Sonari. On the other hand, he has 11, 21,643 in his account at UCO bank, Sonari branch and 5, 11,636 in his Assam Grameen Vikash Bank, Borhat branch. Moreover, he owns shares worth Rs.

16,684 of Federal bank.

Again he has 5 LIC policies, the accumulated amount of which is 15, 32,312. He also has gold ornaments weighing 20 grams costing 60,000 and has a bank loan of 6, 61,695. In all according to his affidavit, he owns property worth Rs. 81, 06,277.

He has also declared that he has 4, 21,000 cash in hand. Now, it has become the talking point of the town that how, the former student leader can become the owner of property worth nearly 1 crore.

Two Days Workshop organised for Small Tea Growers

VHAA appeals to major political parties to include issues pertaining to tobacco control in Assam in manifestos A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 17: Voluntary Health Association of Assam (VHAA) has appealed to all the major political parties in the fray for the upcoming assembly polls in the State to include issues pertaining to tobacco control in Assam in their election manifestos.

To prevent initiation of tobacco use amongst children and youths and for reducing the economic burden from tobacco related diseases, the non- profit organization requested all political parties irrespective of their political ideologies to make commitment to the public, ahead of the assembly polls, through their election manifesto to address all issues related to tobacco control, if, given a chance to form the next Government in Assam.

A team of VHAA’s representatives has submitted a writ-

ten representation in this regard to the in-charges of the manifesto committees of ruling Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), regional party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

In the representation the association laid stress on the inclusion some specific core issues pertaining to tobacco control in the election manifestos of the political parties.

These issues are – ·Stringent and sustained enforcement of anti-tobacco law-Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COTPA, 2003) and re-enforcement of the Assam Health Act, 2013 (ban on manufacturing, sale, distribution, consumption and advertisement all forms of smokeless tobacco) · Stringent enforcement of anti-tobacco laws particu-

larly near education institutions (ban on sale of tobacco products under 100 yards radius of any educational institutions under section 6-b of COTPA.) · VAT increase in all forms of tobacco products in upcoming state budget to reduce consumption.

“We request all political parties of the State to address this issue earnestly to safeguard and protect the all the people of Assam, and to do so they should make the subject of tobacco control a mandate in their election manifestos,” said Ruchira Neog, Executive Secretary, VHAA. In the representation submitted to the political parties it was pointed out that according to the study on the, “Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India”

conducted by the Public Health Foundation of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare-the total economic costs attributable to tobacco use in Assam amounted to Rs 541 crores in the year 2011 for persons aged 35-69, of which 47% was direct medical costs and 53% was indirect morbidity costs.

According to recently released Hospital Based Cancer Registry of the Dr. B. Barooah Cancer Institute in the year 2014, 67.1 per cent and 45.9 per cent of all cancers in male and females registered in the institute were related to tobacco use.

Besides, according to Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2010 Assam is a major victim of tobacco abuse with 39% of adults in the State is consuming some form of tobacco - Cigarettes, Bidis& Smokeless (Gutka,

Khaini etc). This is away above national prevalence rate of 34%, whereas 52.6 percent of male and 25.3 percent female in Assam are found to use tobacco in some form or the other. Also, nearly 3,429,867 early deaths are reported alone in Assam every year due to tobacco usage.

Voluntary Health Association of Assam, a premier nonprofit organization working in the field of public health.

For the last few years VHAA has been working concertedly on the issue of tobacco control both through direct intervention initiatives and activities towards making smoke free districts and tobacco free educational institutions, as well as through high level advocacy and campaigning for policy level changes towards tobacco control.

AIUDF, RJD and JD(U) BPF candidate Rabiram, announces grand alliance of Majendra files nominations "secular parties" in Assam Two Days Workshop organised for Small Tea Growers ET Correspondent Golaghat, Mar 17: An NGO named Centre for Education and Communication, New Delhi organised a two day Residential Workshop titled 'Sustainable Livelihood for Small Tea Growers’ at Hotel Lucious recently. In the very programme more than 35 Small Tea Growers of Golaghat, Jorhat and Karbi Anglong took part.

It is to be known that the programme has been running from 2011 and 50,000 beneficiaries have been able to establish themselves.

The programme is running on in

West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. In Assam it began first in Tinsukia district.

The Project Officers namely Sujit Hazarika, Minto Goswami, Pijush Goyari and Shampa Das imparted lectures using Digitech technology on topic Model Society, Book keeping, Record Keeping, Cash Book, Ledger, Leaders and Members, Techniques for Sustaining STG society, TPC, Green Tea Factory, Group Insurance and many more.

An officer of Tea Board named Dr. Debojit Bora discussed

various Tea Board Schemes and policies under 12th Plan for tea growers. This development officer advised the tea growers how to sustain in future and face the adversity situation with ease.

The workshop was arranged in Educative cum re-creative way which was appreciated by all tea growers present. They were given participating certificate by the Centre for Education and Communication.

On 26th and 27th March another seminar will be held on Organic Tea and the small tea growers will be given Training on the same.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar 17: AIUDF, RJD and JD(U) today announced a grand alliance of "secular parties" in Assam and invited Congress to join them to fight BJP in the forthcoming assembly polls.

he said.

"In Assam we want Congress and AGP to join us along with JD(U) and RJD, but AGP went ahead with BJP and Congress did not act, maybe due to certain compulsions," he said.

"We want a grand alliance in Assam of all secular parties on the lines of the recent Bihar polls to fight jointly against BJP and its communal politics," AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal told reporters here.

"We, however, once again invite Congress to join us even now. We are ready to welcome them to the grand alliance so that we can fight against the communal forces which have already taken roots in the state, Ajmal said.

JD(U) general secretary and northeast in-charge Arun Kumar Srivastava said people of Assam were disturbed with BJP and its brand of politics and false promises.

"BJP had earlier given the impression that there is no alternative to the party and its

"We had discussion with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad in this regard and asked Congress to join us in our effort to fight against BJP and prevent the party from finding a foothold in Assam,"

leader Narendra Modi but was defeated badly in Delhi, Bihar and other recent elections," he said.

RJD state convenor Kanak Gogoi urged Congress to join the alliance as "Assam is a secular state and we will not allow BJP to gain a foothold in the state".

AIUDF will contest around 76 seats and announced a list of 19 candidates for the second phase today while a list of 23 candidates for the first phase has been already announced.

Both JD(U) and RJD will contest around 12 seats and they announced a list of five candidates each today.

Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sharad Yadav are scheduled to campaign for the alliance partners for the ensuing polls.

16 candidates file nomination for 7 LACs in Dibrugarh A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Mar 17: With the last day of filing nomination papers for the first phase of assembly election coming to an end on Friday, sixteen candidates have so far filed their papers for the seven assembly constituencies in Dibrugarh district till today. Among the prominent names who filed their nomination today are state tea tribes welfare minister and Tingkhong MLA Atuwa Munda, Chabua Congress MLA Raju Sahu and Dibrugarh BJP legislator Prasanta Phukan.

Atuwa Munda is seeking his fourth win from Tingkhong having won the seat in 1996, 2001 and 2011 while senior congress MLA Raju Sahu is seeking his fourth straight victory from Chabua having won it in 2001, 2006 and 2011. BJP legislator from Dibrugarh

Prasanta Phukan has been victorious in the previous two elections in 2006 and 2011.

The other candidates who have filed their papers so far are: Chakra Gogoi (BJP), Hiranya Baruah (CPI) and Ashok Urang (IND) from Moran, Diganta Phukan (CPI) from Dibrugarh LAC, Rajesh Rajput (CPI) from Lahowal, Teros Gowala (BJP) and Sunil Tanti (CPI-ML) from Duliajan, Bimal Bora (BJP) and Mira Tanti (CPI-ML) from Tingkhong, Naren Sonowal (AGP) and Suresh Deka (CPIML) from Naharkatia and Binod Hazarika (BJP) and Debnath Majhi (CPI-ML) from The BJP MLA from Dibrugarh Prasanta Phukan accompanied by over 5,000 supporters took out a procession from the old Govt Boys', High School play-

Dibrugarh LAC BJP candidate Prasanta Phukan his supporters on way to file his nomination paper to M S Manivannan, D.C at Deputy Commissioner Office, Dibrugarh. Pic - UB Photos ground to the Deputy Commisioner's office to file his nomination papers. The jubiliant supporters chanted slogans of "Vande Mataram", Narendra Modi zindabad",

"BJP zindabad", Prasanta Phukan zindabad" as the pocession passed through the major throughfares of the town.

Talking to reporters before fil-

UPP-Congress alliance would form government at Dispur: UG Brahma ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, Mar 17: “The United Peoples Party and Congress alliance would formed government at Dispur after assembly election” said former Raja Sabha MP and UPP President, Urkhao Gwra Brahma.

Candidate contesting from Kokrajhar east LAC, Pratibha Brahma at Serfanguri on Thursday said that his party is contesting in the assembly election in alliance with Congress party where party is winning in 7-8 seats and common publics in all LACs in BTAD region want good governance and social uplift, that is why in today’s people mandate, UPP is the alternative party among voters.

“NPF party, who has been governing the council since over decades has failed to meet

Pratibha Brahma during speech a meeting at Serfanguri. people’s aspiration and expectation. Common masses in the area were deprived from their right and priorities due to insincerity from the administration” alleged Brahma.

He said that his party was working to the issues of common publics since in its inception and would be continued to dedicate peoples’ welfare so that region could be gained

equal integration among all sections of communities.

“This time UPP and Congress alliance is winning in large number seats across the state and government formation at Dispur is sure” said Brahma and added that the ruling BPF party would face defeat in the election.

UPP candidate for Kokrajhar east Prathibha Brahma while

talking exclusively told that she is getting good response from irrespective of communities in the constituency. She has alleged that sitting MLA Pramila Rani Brahma, who has been elected for five times from this Kokrajhar east LAC, but yet voters are deprived from their right and facilities.

She assured of good governance, corruption free society and women empowerment among society if she voted to power in the constituency.

Atleast 28 member and supporters from BPF, BJP party joined the UPP party in the meeting. The party welcomed and felicitated with traditional Aronai to the newly joined members. BTC MCLA Jyotirindra Brahma, B Sudem, R Daokha, NDFB (P) leaders, UPP leaders were also present in the said meeting.

ing his nomination, Phukan said that the people of the state were fed up of the Congress government misrule and corruption which has plagued the state for past 15 years.

Ashok Urang, who quit the BJP after being denied ticket filed his papers as an Independent candidate from Moran.

Urang who is a tea community leader said:

“Everybody in Assam wants a Paribartan (change) and we are very much confident that under the strong leadership of Sarbananda Sonowal the BJP will come to power with absolute majority. Our alliance with the regional parties will further strengthen our cause,’’ Phukan said.

“The BJP has betrayed me by not giving me the ticket. Earlier, Sarbananda Sonowal, MP Rameshwar Teli and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa had assured me of a ticket from Moran. I have decided to contest from Moran as an Indpendent candidate,’’ said Urang.

Another BJP candidate who is contesting from the Moran assembly seat, Chakra Gogoi said that the moment has come for the people to uproot the corrupt Congress government in the state. Gogoi is pitted against Congress heavyweight Paban Singh Ghatowar.

“The congress government has failed to meet the aspirations and demands of the common people during their 15 years rule. BJP on the other hand assured ST status to the six communities of the state before the election but they have also failed,’’ he added.

Photos of nomination filed of Rabiram Narzary from Kokrajhar west and Majendra Narzary from Gossaigaon in Gossaigaon, on Thursday.

ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, Mar 17: Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) candidates from Kokrajhar west and Gossaigaon LAC, Rabiram Narzary and Majendra Narzary filed their nominations in presence of party leaders and supporters to the Returning Officer of the respective constituencies at Gossaigaon subdivisional (civil) office in Kokrajhar district today.

The Gossaigaon, headquarter of Gossaigaon sub-division of Kokrajhar district broke into a sea of humanity when thousands of people from irrespective of communities took out a procession with Rabiram Narzary and Majendra Narzary when they filed their nomination papers.

The candidates were accompanied by senior BPF party leaders Sabharam Basumatary, Reoreoa Narzihary, BTC executive member Mrithunjay Narzary who went to the SDO (civil) office in Gossaigaon where they ET Correspondent with their candidates who filed their nomination Golaghat, Mar 17: Today will be contesting for the papers. Supporters with

Golaghat MLA files nomination

at DC office the present MLA and PWD Minister Ajanta Neog filed the nomination form Golaghat constituency. Her supporters were busy taking out rally in town and raising slogans in support. It is to be known that Minister Ajanta Neog has already made hatrick of being elected as MLA from the same constituency.

With a huge rally today the supporters of BJP and Congress were found coming

upcoming election from Khumtai and Golaghat.

On the other hand, social worker, Mrinal Saikia too came with huge gathering and filed the form in Khumtai Constituency for upcoming elections. Mr. Saikia contested Lok Sabha Election as BJP candidate, however he was defeated but was somehow able to gather support in few places in last MP Election.

banner, placards shouted slogans in support of both Rabiram and Majendra, the people in the procession claimed that the party candidates would able to win the contest.

Talking to reporters after filing the nomination papers, Rabiram Narzary said that, there is no doubt on his winning in the seat where he is contesting. Irrespective of caste, creed, language and communities are supporting to his candidature in the constituency, Narzary claimed.

He also claimed that winning of party candidates in all 16 contesting seats in BTAD areas are sure and government formation at Dispur is confirmed alliance with BJP-AGP. Majendra Narzary, BPF candidate for Gossaigaon LAC expressing his feeling said that he is going score for another five years tenure from his constituency. He also said that peoples from all sections of communities are favouring his candidature, so his winning is sure, no doubt.

Assam Police seize Rs. 41 lakhs from two persons A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Mar. 17: The Assam Police on Thursday seized Rs. 41 lakhs inGuwahati from two persons.

"We have recovered a total amount of Rs. 41 lakhs

from possession of two people during regular checking. We are currently verifying the source. We have informed the income tax department," Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivekananda Das told ANI. (ANI)

REGION

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

President to attend Khongjom Day in Manipur

President Pranab Mukherjee

Imphal, Mar 17: Confirming that President Pranab Mukherjee will attend Khongjom Day in Manipur on April 23, the union Home Ministry has urged the state government to make the necessary security arrangements, official sources here said.

Khongjom Day is observed in Manipur on April 23 every year to pay tribute to the Manipuris who fell in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.

This is the first time that the president of India will participate in the Khongjom Day celebrations.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had on March 10 personally gone to New Delhi to extend the invitation to President Pranab

Mukherjee to be the chief guest at the Khongjom Day function in Imphal, said the sources.

Rashtrapati Bhavan has sent an acceptance letter informing the chief minister that the president will attend the function, they added.

There are over 50 armed groups in Manipur causing security concern to the union Home Ministry. Most of them declare boycott of the visiting VVIPs and impose 'bandh' (general shutdown), thereby reducing state functions to mere official rituals.

Though Mukherjee had visited Manipur while he was a union minister, this will be for the first time that he is coming to this border state as president. (Agencies)

More security for GTC in Meghalaya Shillong, Mar 17: Security on the 58 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) Happy Valley campus here has been increased as part of an ongoing drive to fortify all defence installations across the country, a defence statement said on Wednesday.

A meeting was organized with the headman of Mawshbuit Village (located next to the campus) to apprise him of the situation and seek his cooperation. The meeting discussed ways of ensuring easy movement of Mawshbuit residents. A

list of village personnel and vehicles will be provided to 58 GTC by the headman, the statement, issued by Group Captain Amit Mahajan, said.

It, however, added that locals put up a blockade outside the Dronacharya Gate of 58 GTC on Wednesday in protest against a routine inspection of vehicles not belonging to the village.

The additional district magistrate, Shillong, and DSP (traffic) reached 58 GTC, discussed ways of resolving the situation and removed the blockade. (Agencies)

GHADC chief moves Guv on nominated MDC Shillong, Mar 17: GHADC Chief Executive Member Denang T Sangma on Wednesday petitioned Governor V. Shanmuganathan urging him to clear the name of Conrad Sangma as the nominated MDC in the district council.

The CEM said as per the rules, the council of ministers of Meghalaya have absolutely no say in the matter of nomination of a person as member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.

He said the power of nominating an MDC lies with the Governor which

is required to be exercised on the advice of the district council and not on the advice of the council of ministers.

He stated that the first meeting of the Executive Committee in GHADC had adopted a resolution to recommend Conrad Sangma as the nominated MDC and since then five months have gone by but Conrad’s name has not been cleared yet. The meeting came after the State cabinet last week recommended Congress member Selma D Shira for the nominated MDC’s post. (Agencies)

PAGE 5

Repeatedly raped minor girl gives birth to child in Tripura Dharmanagar , Mar 17 : A minor girl who allegedly repeatedly raped by her neighour and threatened with release of indecent videos on social media, gave birth to a child in northern Tripura.

The victim, a candidate of class ten board examinations went into labour pain while she was heading from her village towards her exam centre.

The incident took place in Halflong area under Dharmanagar subdivision adjoining to Assam.

"I am a candidate of metric examination and he (alleged rapist) forcefully had done this (raped) six month prior to the death of my father.

His name is Pratap Debnath. I was going for my examination and on the way I went into labour and he brought in a vehicle and admitted me here. He assured that he would accept me along with the child but now he denied," said the victim.

"He threatened that he will release (video) in the

birth to a health child in the Dharmanagar sub-divisional hospital on Tuesday.

A complain has been lodged against the accused in the Dharmanagar police station.

Repeatedly raped minor girl gives birth to child in Tripura net and my reputation will be ruined," she

added.

The minor had given

Later as the accused was trying to flee from the area police arrested and put him behind the bars.

Sub-divisional police officer Dharmanagar Rajdeep Deb said that on the basis of FIR with Dharmanagar police sta-

A ‘homeless’ Chief Minister?

Shillong, Mar 17: In an irony of sorts, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said in Assembly that he may be the only homeless Chief Minister in the entire country.

Sangma made this observation in response to a call attention motion on the beautification of Tura moved by South Tura legislator John Leslee Sangma.

“When I am in Tura, I used to meet a lot of people though I have not constructed any house in Tura. I may be the only homeless Chief Minister in the entire country,” Sangma said.

It may be mentioned that

crorepati, however stated that he owns a 1200 sq ft land for residential building at Ampati purchased in 1992 worth Rs 12 lakh and 1797 sq ft land at Guwahati worth Rs 20 lakh.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma though the Chief Minister claimed that he does not have a house in Tura, he has houses in Nongrim Hills and Ampati.

Moreover, the Chief

Minister is currently residing at an official building worth over Rs 10 crore.

In the affidavit filed prior to the 2013 Assembly elections, Sangma, a

He also owns large acres of non-agricultural land used for teak and arecanut plantations worth Rs 13.5 lakh as per the affidavit.

In the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that the house at Walbakgre locality is being used as a transit point whenever he tours Garo Hills and added that it is difficult to use the house for meet-

ing people as it has only one sitting room.

Earlier, the South Tura Legislator criticized the Chief Minister for not inviting him and other representatives under Tura during the Chief Minister’s meeting to discuss the beautification of Tura.

In reply, the Chief Minister said that the meeting in Tura was impromptu after a delegation of people from Walbakgre locality desired to meet him after submitting a memorandum to discuss various development issues.

(Agencies)

Sons lynch father to death Agartala, Mar 17: Two brothers have beaten up their father to death for reportedly raping their sister and torturing their mother at East Kuchainala Gram Panchayat in Dhalai district.

According to police, after the murder on Tuesday the duo surrendered before the police and were sent to jail. Accused Bijoy Kumar

Malakar and Rajkumar Malakar confessed the crime and stated that their father Rajendra Malakar, a 40-year-old alcoholic, used to torture their mother Sabita and raped their sister.

Irked with such inhuman behavior towards their mother and sister, the brothers made a plan to kill him. Accordingly, they beat him with a stick to death in the presence

of Sabita and her daughter.

In another incident, a youth was arrested on the charge of setting a minor girl on fire for rejecting him at a remote village in Gomati District of south Tripura on Tuesday. He has been produced before a court on Wednesday.

The accused identified as Rahul Das, resident of Dhajanagar area of

CM for skilling students in Edn institutes

Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang for skilling students Kohima, Mar 17: Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang Wednesday asked schools and colleges to start skilling the students, along with academic activities, by tying up with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

He said this while speaking as chief guest at the golden jubilee of Kohima Science College Students’ Union (KSCSU) celebrated with the theme “valuing learning, learning values” at the college premises.

In this regard, the chief minister has assured to extend support in carrying forward the mission of skill development in the state.

On the occasion, Zeliang also lauded KSC of being the second college in Northeast to be accredited A-grade

by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2011.

He urged the college faculty members to work harder in

retaining the A-Grade, where NAAC would be carrying out the second round of assessment during the current year.

Congratulating the college for being conferred autonomous college status by UGC in 2014, Zeliang said if KSC continue to improve, then autonomous status could be the stepping-stone in becoming a science university.

Pointing out that 10 members of Nagaland Legislative Assembly are alumni of KSC, Zeliang said the college has presented itself that government-run institution could before better than private institutions and could even achieve a degree of excellence.

He also complimented KSCSU for being “very disciplined and responsible” students’ union.

Chief minister also reminded the college authorities and students community to maintain the mission statement of

the college, such as- multi dimensional growth of students, equipping with reflective and analytical thinking, preparing for responsible citizenship and becoming agents of social change.

The chief minister also released the jubilee trust.

Earlier, the gathering was enthralled by a special performances by students “how majestic is your name” and “open their eyes” by Impochang Pongen.

Delivering welcome address, KSC principal, Dr. I Anungla Aier announced that the college would be introducing Master of Science (MSc) programme in six disciplines- Physics, Botany, Zoology, Mathematics, Geology and Anthropology from July this year.

“Odyssey” was released by parliamentary higher and technical education, Deo Nukhu.

Alumni who spoke on the occasion included- parliamentary Secretary for agriculture, Dr. Benjongliba Aier, general secretary alumni association, Avelu Rhakho and Dr. N R Newmai.

NSF president, Subenthung Kithan, ANCSU president, Zhoku Thuluo and JSU president, Rokophrezo Rino conveyed greetings to the KSCSU in attaining the milestone.

The commemorative programme was followed by jubilee feast, carnival and concert. (Agencies)

Udaipur, had poured kerosene on the girl and set her ablaze in the evening when she was alone in her house.

Udaipur Women Police Station arrested him based on the complaint of the victim family. According to report, Rahul had proposed her and used to stalk her everyday. She, however, rejected his proposal several times and warned

him to not disturb her.

After being rejected, he took revenge by setting her on her.

Some of her neighbours took her to Gomati District Hospital from where the doctors referred her to Agartala Government Medical College for better treatment with 90 per cent burn injuries and is in a critical condition.

(Agencies)

tion police has registered a case under section 376 of the IPC. "Yesterday the minor victim girl gave birth to a mature baby boy. The complaint is like this that she was raped without her consent.

Immediately after registering the complain we came to know that he was escaping from Dharmanagar area.

Within one hour we could nab him and now he is under custody," said Rajdeep Deb. (ANI)

Govt notifies Marriage Act Shillong, Mar 17: The state government on Wednesday said that it had already notified the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012.

Reacting to the media reports in connection with the proposed demonstration of the president of Mait Shaphrang Movement as a mark of protest against the State Government’s failure to frame the requisite Rules for implementation of the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, 2012, the state government said the rules were framed in 2015.

“The Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Rules, 2015 was notified vide No. ERTS(R) 7/2011/366 dt.

05.10.2015 and published in the Official ( Gazette on 05.10.2015”, an official statement said. Pursuant to this, Registrars of Marriage have also been duly appointed and notified for East and West Khasi Hills districts, East and West Jaintia Hills districts and Mairang and Sohra Civil Sub-Divisions.

Registrars of marriage for the remaining districts and sub-divisions are also being notified in due course, the state added. (Agencies)

Woman shot by militant outfit dies

Woman shot by militant outfit dies

Imphal, Mar 17: The owner of a restaurant who was allegedly shot by militant outfit KCP (Poirei Lup) on February 19 last at Khurai locality in Imphal East district succumbed to her injuries at the RIMS Hospital on Wednesday, the po-

lice said.

Laishram Ongbi Romita (38) was undergoing treatment at the RIMS since Tuesday after she was shot for allegedly defying the earlier instruction of the outfit to shut immoral activities in her restaurant.

Following the incident, she underwent treatment at a private clinic, but was re-admitted at RIMS as her condition deteriorated.

A man and a teenage girl were also shot on that day by cadres belonging to the outfit. (Agencies)

Apartment Ownership Bill tabled in House Shillong, Mar 17: Urban Affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh introduced the Meghalaya Apartment Ownership Bill, 2016 in the Assembly on Wednesday.

The Bill aims to provide

for the ownership of an individual apartment in a building, together with an undivided interest in commo area facilities.

Basically this will indicate management, maintenance, equal responsi-

bilities and contribution for the same for all owners of the apartment.

The Bill also zeroes down on the roles of developers and owners. (Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

PAGE 6

SAARC needs to unleash 'collective strength': Sushma Swaraj Pokhara, Mar 17: India on Thursday pitched for unleashing the "collective strength" of SAARC as external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj underlined the need for a South Asian economic union with greater connectivity and forward movement on pending agreements on rail and motor vehicles.

Swaraj stated that while the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries are doing well individually, they have not been able to unleash their collective strength effectively.

"We have taken some important decisions to integrate our economies through SAFTA and South Asian Trade in Services Agreement.

These need to be developed and consolidated further if we are to achieve a South Asian Economic Union," she said in her address at the

37th SAARC council of ministers meeting here.

Underlining that the South Asian region is hailed today as having the potential to be the front-runner of growth and prosperity and is one of the fastest growing regions of the world, she pointed out that regional integration is lacking.

"The statistics are telling: our region accounts for merely 2 per cent of world trade and 1.7 per cent of world FDI. Our intra-regional trade is less than 6 per cent of our global trade and intra-regional FDI accounts for only 3 per cent of total FDI inflows," she said.

Swaraj said that despite strong growth and huge advances in education, healthcare and rural development, the SAARC region still has the world's largest number of people living below the poverty line.

"We continue to face significant challenges in de-

Bomb scare grounds two flights at IGI airport

Indira Gandhi International ( IGI) airport ANI New Delhi, Mar 17: Two flights have been grounded at the Indira Gandhi International ( IGI) airport here on Thursday due to abomb scare.

The Kathmandu-bound Nepal Airlines flight, which was supposed to take off at 11.30 am, andBhubaneswar-bound Air India flight, scheduled for 11.00 am departure, have

been grounded till security clearance.

The authorities rushed into action after receiving a threat call at around 10.00 am.

All the passengers have been de-boarded from the aircrafts while the security personnel are screening the aircrafts and the baggage.

The flights have been taken to an isolation zone in the airport.

Delhi AIIMS doctor found dead in hostel room ANI New Delhi, Mar 17: In shocking news, a doctor of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was found dead in his hostel room on Thursday.

Doctor Kunal, 34, had not been eating for past three days. His room was bolted from inside.

The doctor, a resident of Bihar, was found dead on his bed and there was no sign of any injury on his body.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in SAARC livering food security, health, nutrition and education to our peoples. All this goes to show that while we are doing well individually, we have not been able to unleash our collective strength effectively. We must think innovatively and find solutions so that we may harness our economic complementarities and

New Delhi, Mar 17: Trustee of 'People for Animals' (PFA) Gauri Maulekhi on Thursday demanded Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Ganesh Joshi's immediate expulsion from the party for allegedly attacking a police horse.

Maulekhi who is also the aide of Union Minister Maneka Gandhi said that a formal complaint has been sent to DGP and SSP of Uttarakhand regarding the same.

"The incident took place in Dehradun in front of Vidhan Sabha. We have complained against it in the Nehru Colony Police Station. This is actually quite shocking that this MLA in presence of thousands of people kept beating the horse while the trained horse kept retracting and broke his leg. It's a highly irresponsible act conducted by a public representative. We

Gauri Maulekhi demand that he should be expelled from the party immediately and should be arrested," Maulekhi told ANI here.

"He (Ganesh Joshi ) should be charged under cruelty towards animal act. Same demand has been expressed by the Union Minister Maneka Gandhi ji, calling it extremely barbaric and cruel," she added.

The Animal right activist further said that a person like him who can hit an animal in such a way can hit anybody with his violent streak.

People for Animal (PFA) had yesterday demanded expulsion of Mussoorie MLA Joshi Reacting to the video showing Joshi hitting the horse, PFA demanded that action be taken

The Dehradun Police on Sunday registered a case against Joshi for beating a police horse, reportedly breaking one of its legs, during a protest against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday for "misuse" of funds. (ANI)

Drug de-addiction center curbs drug menace in Kashmir

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is spreading the virus in much of Latin America and the Caribbean, will likely become increasingly abundant across much of the southern and eastern US as the weather warms, the study said.

"This research can help us anticipate the timing and location of possible Zika virus outbreaks in certain US cities," said lead author of the study Andrew Monaghan from US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

"While there is much we still don't know about the dynamics of Zika virus transmission, understanding where the Aedes aegypti mosquito can survive in the

US and how its abundance fluctuates seasonally may help guide mosquito control efforts and public health preparedness," Monaghan noted.

Summertime weather conditions are favourable for populations of the mosquito along the East Coast as far north as New York City and across the southern tier of the country as far west as Phoenix and Los Angeles, according to specialised computer simulations by the researchers.

Spring and autumnl conditions can support low to moderate populations of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in more southern regions of its US range.

Wintertime weather is too cold for the species outside southern Florida and southern Texas, the study found.

By analyzing travel patterns from countries and territories with Zika outbreaks, the research team further concluded that

US faces major Zika virus outbreak risk in summer cities in southern Florida and impoverished areas in southern Texas may be particularly vulnerable to local virus transmission.

The results were published in the journal PLOS Currents: Outbreaks.

First identified in Uganda in 1947, the Zika virus has moved through tropical regions of the world over the past decade. It was introduced into Brazil last year and spread explosively

sharing Indian scientific and technological progress with the SAARC community," she said.

Swaraj said these include among others a dedicated Satellite for SAARC to support applications in health, education, disaster response, weather forecasting and communications for our people, establishment of a supranational laboratory to combat diseases like TB and AIDS, creation of a SAARC wide Knowledge Network to interlink our students, academic and research communities, and organisation of the first SAARC Annual Disaster Management Exercise.

"Looking ahead, I am confident of your support for a SAARC environment and disaster management centre in India.

Such a Centre can benefit from domain expertise of a large network of specialised Indian institu-

tions experienced in quick response to various natural disasters," she said.

Swaraj said SAARC is about positive synergy that will allow each of its members to achieve their full potential.

"We must recognise that we have common enemies in poverty, illiteracy, terrorism and environmental degradation.

We will need to fight these challenges together since we have a shared history, and a shared destiny. Let us reach for it together," she said.

The Minister also paid tribute to Nepalese people's grit and determination in wake of their resolve to rebuild their lives after the devastating earthquake last year.

The SAARC comprises A f g h a n i s t a n , Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

INLD stages protest outside Punjab Assembly over contentious SYL Bill

against him, and said he had brought a bad name to the party.

The horse was mercilessly beaten during a protest against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday for "misuse" of funds.

Meanwhile, Joshi, who has been booked for beating the horse, cried foul, saying he was nowhere near the animal Indian National Lok Dal rising slogans against when it got injured.

SYL Bill The MLA from Mussorie told ANI that it was an effort to spread misinfor- Chandigarh, Mar 17: In- The bill, which was passed mation and malign his dian National Lok Dal on Monday, is against the (INLD) MLAs from construction of contentious reputation.

US faces major Zika virus outbreak risk in summer: Study

Drug de-addiction center curbs drug menace in Kashmir

Police's Drug de-addiction Centre here.

Kashmir is heading towards the situation where drugs have become the back bone of their economy, like some of the countries across the globe are having. There are a large number of families whose sources of income is drug trafficking.

The police drug de-addiction center in Srinagar is helping to curb this menace by providing treatment to scores of drug addicts. In this center, there is about 30 qualified staff comprising psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, medical officers, counsellors.

portant for us to move forward quickly on pending agreements on rail and motor vehicles. Economic activities, cultural connections and people to people contacts will flow naturally from such connectivity," she said.

The minister asserted that the Indian government has shown its commitment to a

Maneka Gandhi's aide lambasts BJP MLA, calls for his immediate expulsion

New York, Mar 17: The conditions in a number of US cities will become favourable for a possible Zika virus outbreak during peak summner, warns a new research.

ANI Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), Mar 17: The new generation of youth in Kashmir is falling for drugs like Charas, brown sugar, cocaine, cannabis and psychotropic drugs.

One of the main reasons for this is depression which the youth face when they are not getting jobs or are exposed to other family problems.

Figures released by Jammu and Kashmir Police say that out of 16,000 cases of drug patients getting treatment, there are 1800 youths admitted and they have been admitted in Jammu and Kashmir

ensure a conducive environment for rapid growth," she said.

Swaraj said connectivity is central to regional development and will determine how "we meet our goals of growth, employment and prosperity".

"As we seek to overcome basic problems of physical connectivity, it is im-

'neighbourhood first' policy from its very first day in office.

"Our vision of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' is for the whole SAARC region and together, we can create a viable ecosystem of regional integration, cooperation and socioeconomic development," she said adding that together, "we can unlock the latent talent of South Asia".

Swaraj said India is prepared to work within the SAARC community to realise developmental goals.

"Indian Universities remain open for SAARC citizens. We are committed to supporting campus and infrastructure development of the South Asian University that has been established exclusively for the students of the region.

"We have moved forward on unilateral initiatives that we announced at the last Summit for

across Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 20 countries now facing pandemics.

Monaghan, however, stressed that even if Zika establishes a toehold in the mainland United States, it is unlikely to spread as widely as in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is partly because a higher percentage of Americans live and work in air-conditioned and largely sealed homes and offices.

Haryana staged a protest outside the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here on Thursday demanding the withdrawal of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal Land Bill.

Around 19 INLD MLAs raised slogans against the bill, which provides for transfer of proprietary rights back to the land owners free of cost.

According to reports, the bill is an attempt to divest its neighbouring states from getting share from Punjab's river waters.

Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. The Bill was passed hours before the SYL issue was being heard in the Supreme Court.

Hours after the bill was passed, farmers in some villages of Patiala and Ropar districts started taking possession of their land acquired for the construction of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.

They were also seen filling the canal on their own, even though the governor is yet to sign the bill. (ANI)

Delhi HC to hear plea seeking cancellation of Kanhaiya's bail on March 23 ANI New Delhi, Mar 17: The Delhi High Court will hear the plea seeking the cancellation of the interim bail granted to Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar on March 23.

This development comes after the plea was transferred for a hearing before a different bench of the Delhi High Court, after the counsel for the petitioner objected to a "warning" by the bench to his client that he would have to bear costs if the matter was dismissed.

Justice Pratibha Rani, who had granted interim bail to Kumar, asked the counsel whether the petitioner was personally present in the courtroom, and then warned

him that he should be ready to bear costs if the petition were to be dismissed.

Meanwhile, expressing concerns over the High Level Enquiry Committee that has been set up to look into the events of the night of February 9 at the varsity campus, the JNUSU has asserted that they will oppose any disciplinary action based upon the findings of the 'partial and biased' enquiry Following a council meeting yesterday, a resolution was passed by the Students' Union, stating that they have communicated to the JNU administration of how the HLEC has violated the principles of natural justice in the enquiry process and that their concerns were not even addressed.

JNU President Kanhaiya Kumar

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

India, Pakistan vie to house SAARC environment centre Pokhara, Mar 17: India and Pakistan are vying to host the SAARC Environment and Disaster Management Centre, a new body to look into the environment- and disaster-related issues in the region.

During the ongoing 37th SAARC Ministerial Meeting underway in Pokhara, some 200 km west of Kathmandu, the two countries have laid their respective claims to host the headquarters of the proposed body.

Swaraj, Oli discusses political matters, Madhesi issues Pokhara, Mar. 17:Indian External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj and Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma held a one-toone meeting on political matters and reconstruction issues yesterday on the sidelines of the ongoing 37th session of SAARC Council of Ministers' in Pokhara.

PM Oli's Chief Adviser Bishnu Rimal briefed media about the meeting.

In the meeting it is learnt that Swaraj told Oli to expedite talks with the agitating Madhesi parties and find a concrete solution within a month.

It is learnt that the Indian side said it was closely watching the political development in Nepal and if the political mechanism set up under DPM Thapa to review the delineation of the federal boundaries get success or not.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa and Swaraj also met and discussed issues regarding cooperation under the framework of SAARC, Nepal's political situation, as well as reconstruction work. (ANI)

5 militants gunned down in Pakistan Islamabad, Mar 17: At least five militants were killed in clashes with security forces in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Khyber Agency today, an army statement said.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the mouthpiece of the Pakistani army, said in the statement that the militants attacked a checkpost of the security forces in Daroodrab area of Khyber Agency, a semi-autonomous tribal area along Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The troops gave a befitting response and killed five militants in the retaliatory attack, the statement said adding that no casualty was reported among the troops.

The identity of the killed militants was not revealed yet but outlawed groups Lashkar-e-Islam and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were found involved in such attacks on security forces in the past.

The attack happened at a time when the forces are launching an armed offensive "Operation Zarb-e-Azb" in the neighbouring tribal area of North Waziristan to eradicate militancy from the region. The operation has broken the backbone of the militants, according to the ISPR, but they still carry out sporadic attacks on forces and general public whenever chance arises for them. (IANS)

Sources said the matter figured during a brief meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, foreign relations adviser to the Pakistani prime minister, on Thursday morning during a breakfast meeting hosted by Nepal Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa.

Climate change, degradation of environment and recurring natural disasters have taken a toll in the region and the South Asian Association

agreed to set up the centre to meet the environmental challenges in a professional way.

Other interested member-states have dropped their claims to host the regional body, said two diplomats familiar with the development.

The member-states had agreed to merge the SAARC Disaster ManIndia, Pakistan vie to house SAARC environment centre agement Centre, SAARC for Regional Coopera- combat these menaces.

Forest Management Cention (SAARC) member- With this realisation, the tre, Coastal Area Manstates are less prepared to member-states have agement Centre and En-

vironment Centre into the proposed body.

As the issue could not make headway at different levels, it has finally landed at the ministeriallevel meeting. India, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh have expressed the desire to host the headquarters of the proposed body but during several rounds of negotiations, Bhutan and Bangladesh opted out of the race, leaving India and Pakistan in the field.

(PTI)

Military extends full cooperation to Myanmar president Naypyidaw, Mar. 17: Congratulating U Htin Kyaw on becoming the President of Myanmar, the military pledged its cooperation even as it faces questions from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) members for choosing a former general for the post of vice president.

"For stability and peace, unity and development, the Tatmadaw will cooperate (with the new president) in every aspect of future processes," the Myanmar Times quoted

the office of commanderin-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, as saying.

position of first vice president in U Myint Swe.

The NLD welcomed the statement and have full faith that party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was barred by the constitution from assuming the presidency, will be able to manage power-sharing arrangements with the military.

The military holds 25 percent of seats in parliament and has three key ministers as well as the

NLD leader and Nobel laureate Suu Kyi in her first public statement since her trusted longtime aide was elected president by parliament on March 15, said that she was proud of her party for its support to U Htin Kyaw, Myanmar's first non-military head of government since the 1962 military coup.

"I don't know how to properly express thanks

to our people who have long peacefully supported the efforts of the NLD. I believe we can overcome all of the challenges we will have to face along with our people," the Myanmar Times quoted her as saying.

Meanwhile, NLD spokesperson U Zaw Myint Maung said that people should not be too anxious over how the government will cope with a former general despite them holding im-

portant portfolios as first vice president.

"We have no reason to comment on the person selected by the bloc of military representatives.

Our policy is that we will work together with anyone who acts for the good of the country. We need to forget the past, but we need to do better in the future," he said.

He added that at the end of the day it was Suu Kyi who is running the government even if it is headed by the president.

(ANI)

Bangladesh bank printer hacked for heist Dhaka, Mar 17: Hackers, who stole $81 million from Bangladesh's central bank in February, had hacked a key printer that was used to print payment receipts, due to which the theft went undetected for some time, the reported today.

The hacking, which resulted in the resignation and sacking of some top management members of the Bangladesh Bank, began on February 4 at the end of the working week at the bank, when hackers, who apparently managed to get hold of the bank's credentials for its account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Fed), issued instructions for several transactions, The Daily Star reported.

Details of the probe revealed a bank employee

Bangladesh bank printer hacked for heist

who visited the office on February 5, a holiday, found the printer connected to the SWIFT financial messaging company was not functioning and tried to fix the problem but in vain.

He visited again the fol-

lowing day, also a holiday, and attempted to fix the issue but the software connected to the terminal did not respond, instead displayed a message saying "a file is missing or changed".

When he tried to manu-

ally print the confirmation, the printing system did not respond.

Bank sources told EFE news, the bank became aware on February 6 that five of the 35 transfers to accounts in several Asian countries, amount-

ing to $951 million had been validated, resulting in a capital flight of $101 million.

It then tried to contact SWIFT and the Fed to revoke the payments, but failed as it was a bank holiday in the US. Later, in between February 8-9, it sent payment cancellation instructions to recipient banks, managing to recover $20 million from funds transferred to accounts in Sri Lanka, but not the $81 million deposited into accounts in the Philippines.

The greatest bank cyber heist in Bangladesh's history prompted the resignation of Bangladesh Bank chief Atiur Rahman on Tuesday. Former finance ministry secretary Fazle Kabir was named as his replacement on Wednesday. (Agencies)

Prepare for 'final attack': Mullah Mansour gents.

"With the help of God, strong faith and resolve and high morale get ready for the final attack on the enemy," Mansour said in a statement released on Thursday, referring to the war against the Afghan government and foreign troops deployed in the country.

Prepare for 'final attack': Mullah Mansour

Kabul, Mar 17: his fighters to prepare the government seeks to Taliban leader Mullah for a "final attack" in restart peace negotiaMansour has ordered Afghanistan, even as tions with the insur-

Mansour said the Taliban "are united and getting stronger day by day," and described reports on internal power struggles - that surfaced last July after news broke out that the former leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, had died in 2013 - as

Pathankot attack: Pakistani probe team granted visas

Agreement reached on all outstanding issues, Pakistan to start investigation from March 28 Pokhara, (Nepal) Mar 17: Indian has granted visas to members of the Pakistani Special Investigation Team after both the countries have reached an agreement on all outstanding issues and the team will arrive in India on March 28 to start investigations into the Pathankot incident, media reported today.

Briefing the media after a meeting in Nepal, Indian Prime Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan s Foreign Advisor Sartaj Aziz announced that an agreement had been reached on all the outstanding issues.

Pathankot attack was discussed in detail between the two officials and the

agreement to restore peace talks was finally reached.

The meeting was held in Pokhra, Nepal, during the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Conference. Sartaj Aziz also handed the invitation of SAARC Heads of State Conference for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sushma Swaraj on this occasion.

Sartaj Aziz said on this occasion that Pakistan was ready to talk to India on all outstanding issues.

The 19th SAARC Heads of State Conference is expected to be held in Islamabad in September this year.

Pak eyes enhancing bilateral trade during Iran President's visit Karachi, Mar. 17: Pakistan's Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan has directed officials to draft a comprehensive strategy to enhance trade cooperation with Iran ahead of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Islamabad at the end of March.

Islamabad 's potential to strengthen business ties with Tehran has substantially increased following removal of economic sanctions on Iran.

Khan, who was presiding over a meeting, instructed his officials to prepare proposals for Rouhani's visit.

Officials of Ministry of National Food Security and Research, State Bank

of Pakistan (SBP), Federal Board of Revenue, representatives of traders, rice and kinnow associations and two officials of the Iranian Ministry of Trade visiting Pakistan attended the meeting.

Khan's decision to call for a trade proposal may just be another way to mend its trade since a report by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) revealed huge discrepancies in the bilateral trade data available.

The report warned that Pakistan-Iran trade was continuously shrinking for the last five years; while China continued to be Iran's top trading partner. (ANI)

Nepal PM opens SAARC minister-level meet in Pokhara

"enemy propaganda", EFE news reported.

Mansour's statement comes at a time when the government is attempting a revival of dialogue with the insurgents that was truncated with the announcement of Mullah Omar's death.

Presently, the Taliban controls almost onethird of the Afghan territory, the largest area under its control since the fall of the Taliban regime following the US invasion in 2001, according to a recent report by the US appointed watchdog, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli Pokhara, Mar. 17:Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli today inaugurated the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) minister-level meeting at the Pokhara Hotel Grande.

Foreign and external affairs ministers and representatives from all eight countries of the SAARC are attending the meeting.

According to reports, it is learnt that the meeting would dwell on the agendas set by the SAARC Standing Committee for the ministerial meeting and matters concerning regional cooperation.

This morning, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa hosted a

breakfast meeting for SAARC foreign ministers here.

During the meeting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz were seen exchanging pleasantries.

Both leaders were seen sitting next to each other on the breakfast table and talking as other dignitaries and officials joined them.

Later in the day, Swaraj and Aziz will hold talks where the January 2016 Pathankot Air Base terror attack is likely to be raised.

Aziz had told the media earlier that he is ready to discuss anything his Indian counterpart wanted to. (ANI)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Why Obama Got the Fundamentals of American Foreign Policy Right Sustainable Development Need of the hour India is booming and sustainable development becomes increasingly more important: According to a United Nations report, India's population currently encompasses about 1.2 billion people and is expected to grow by another 300 million within Photo: semlep the next couple of decades.

With cities generating two-thirds of the country's economic output, an increasing number of Indians are leaving rural areas to seek employment in cities, relying on an efficient urban infrastructure. By 2030 it is predicted that 68 Indian cities will each have more than one million inhabitants, and six megacities, more than ten million each. The rapid growth of cities causes a large number of challenges, including insufficient power supply, unreliable public transportation systems and limited access to adequate medical treatment. Any Indian urban agglomeration needs an efficient infrastructure and smart city planning that will meet the demands of a growing population. Providing access to healthcare and drinking water, a reliable power supply and public transportation are some of the key elements for sustainable urban development. During the 20th century global economic output multiplied 40-fold and standards of living rose enormously. But this came at a price and was based on unsustainable use of scarce global resources fuels, metals, minerals, timber, water and ecosystem.

By 2050 the world's population will reach nine billion.

It is therefore necessary for the developed and developing countries to act together to meet the challenge of sustainable development. If we do not meet this challenge, we will need the equivalent of two planets to sustain us. Sustainability for us is not a choice to be made but is a precondition for development.

There is both a need and a scope for regional and global cooperation in sustainable development. Some of the areas of common concern are marine and riparian issues, trans-boundary environmental impacts, management of bio-resources, technology sharing and sharing of sustainable development experiences. Efforts must be made, especially by developing countries, to work towards synergizing experiences and raising shared regional concerns as a strong united front in international forums. Mechanisms must be put in place to facilitate such international exchange of domestic and global experiences in sustainable development. There must be mechanisms for monitoring the compliance of countries to their obligations under various environmental agreements. Currently there is a multiplicity of institutions with fragmented responsibilities. A better governance regime is required to ensure cooperation and compliance. Adequate resources and support for education for sustainable development are essential. An understanding must be promoted among key decision makers of the potential of education to promote sustainability, reduce poverty, train people for sustainable livelihoods and catalyze necessary public support for sustainable development initiatives. The empowerment of women and girls must be supported by actions to improve their access to basic and higher education, training and capacity building. The emphasis should be on gender mainstreaming. Greater capacity needs to be built in science and technology through improved collaboration among research institutions, the private sector, NGOs and government. Collaborations and partnerships between and among scientists, government and all stakeholders, on scientific research and development and its widespread application need to be improved.

Elevation to Sainthood Mother Teresa to become saint on September 4 Pope Francis formally approved sainthood for Mother Teresa and set September 4 as the date for her canonisation. The Church defines saints as those believed to have been holy enough during their lives to now be in Heaven and can intercede with God to perform miracles. The move comes 19 years after the death of the Nobel peace laureate who dedicated most of her adult life to working with the poorest of the poor.

Pope Francis, who has made concern for the poor a major plank of his papacy, was known to be keen to make Mother Teresa a saint during the Church's current Holy Year. He had cleared the way in December last for sainthood for the missionary nun, who died on September 5, 1997, aged 87. There was no immediate word from the Vatican on the location of the canonisation ceremony, which is expected to take place in Rome with a thanksgiving ceremony held at a later date in Kolkata where Mother Teresa is buried. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu of Albanian parents in 1910 in what was then part of the Ottoman Empire and is now Macedonia, Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity with about a dozen nuns in the 1950s to help destitute on the streets of Kolkata. A revered figure worldwide, Mother Teresa won the 1979 Nobel peace prize for her work with the poor.

Teresa, who will now be a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church, was beatified by then pope John Paul II in a fast-tracked process in 2003 - the first step towards sainthood\. On December 20, 2015, Pope Francis recognised a second miracle attributed to the Mother in Brazil, where, according to a write-up handed out by the Missionaries of Charity, a man with an incurable bacterial brain infection was cured on December 9, 2008 after his wife prayed to Mother Teresa in a parish church. He was supposed to undergo an emergency operation, but the moment the neurosurgeon entered the operating room, he found the patienct inexplicably awake and without pain. These episodes cleared the way for the Roman Catholic nun to be declared a saint this year.

Meanwhile, at Missionaries of Charity, several wellwishers and volunteers poured in to celebrate the Pope's announcement. Whereas Nuns said the canonisation in Rome will have a special universal significance because of the Mother's popularity. Sister Prema and Archbishop Thomas D'Souza is likely to go to Rome to attend the canonisation.

There is one overriding task that has guided the exercise of American power abroad since 1945.

Ronald Dworkin, the legal philosopher who died in 2013, famously used a metaphor once to explain the core of his thinking on the philosophy of law.

In the context of American common law and constitutional interpretation, Dworkin analoAnkit gized the role of judges as the writers of a "chain novel." The law, per Dworkin, was a collective novel, composed by a sequence of jurists. In his words: "In this enterprise a group of novelists writes a novel seriatim; each novelist in the chain interprets the chapter he has been given in order to write a new chapter, which is then added to what the next novelist receives, and so on."

When reading Jeffrey Goldberg's new article in the April 2016 issue of the Atlantic, which seems to have opened the doors to a public debate measuring the legacy of the Obama administration's foreign policy, I was reminded of Dworkin's metaphor and wondered if it might be a useful way to think about assessing the foreign policy records of U.S. presidents. Critical to Dworkin's metaphor wasn't merely the idea of continuity in the "novel" of law, but jurists had to preserve what he called "narrative coherence" - the idea that law, as interpreted by contemporary judges, had to effectively make sense given what had come before it. The core narrative had to persist, binding judges to interpret and reason about the law within certain bounds, proscribed by their predecessors and, ultimately, the constitution.

American presidents have a similar task when it comes to foreign policy. Even though the challenges they'll face will appear discrete and episodic, there is a fundamental task that has guided the exercise of American power abroad since 1945, which is making sure that the liberal international order that was set up after the Second World War persists unchanged. This is the "narrative" to the story of why American power has mattered.

Whatever a president's failings and regrets regarding how specific crises were handled and mishandled, as long as this fundamental objective isn't lost, we can say that their presidency wasn't a "disaster." In particu-

lar, with the prospect of an outsider like Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders, neither of whom has shown much interest in preserving the liberal international order, potentially on the doorstep of the White House, it may be opportune Panda an moment to take stock of just how critical it has been to have U.S. presidents who recognize the fundamental importance of preserving that order.

To be sure, this mode of evaluation sees the forest for the trees. Like judges in the Dworkinian metaphor, every American president since Harry Truman has succeeded in exercising American power in a way that has, at a minimum, preserved the liberal international order. The better foreign policy presidents have left the world and the United States' place in it better off than when they entered office. Obama, like his twelve predecessors going back to Truman, has accomplished the former with little difficulty. The latter is where, I suspect, there will and should be - greater debate.

Goldberg notes that Obama is fundamentally an admirer of "the foreign-policy realism of President George H.W. Bush and, in particular, of Bush's national-security adviser, Brent Scowcroft." This assertion struck me as particularly noteworthy, given that the Bush saw the United States' emergence out of the Cold War at a moment of triumphalism for the liberal order - what Charles Krauthammer called the "unipolar moment" for the United States. Francis Fukuyama, extrapolating on the consequences of American triumph in the Cold War for political order in the world at large, famously declared the "end of history."

In the quarter century that has elapsed, unipolarity has given way to a fuzzy world of either U.S.-China bipolarity, "weak" unipolarity, or multipolarity, depending on who you ask.

Reading Goldberg's discussion of Obama's realism, it's clear that this president's big takeaway from the Bush 41 years was to avoid over-extension and the over-commitment of U.S. assets to crises that wouldn't matter in the big picture of world order. It's tempt-

ing given present realities for the United States and Obama's "Don't do stupid shit" mantra to brand this president a realist with an instrumentalist understanding of U.S. power, divorced from values, but this only tells part of the story.

At the risk of getting mired in the discussion of what-is-orisn't-realist, I'd aver that Obama is better described as a liberal idealist keenly aware of his place in the broader "novel" of American foreign policy, to return to Dworkin's metaphor.

As he ascended to the presidency, Obama was reminded time and time again - indeed, even by some nice people in Norway who gave him a medal - that his presidency would follow that of George W. Bush's and must avoid repeating that administration's mistakes.

Bush's exercise of American power embodied over-extension, unilateralism, and a values-first, reason-second approach to the world.

The bet Obama campaigned on and then honed throughout his time in office was that a temporary period of military retrenchment, buttressed by diplomacy, would best position his successors to carry on with the central foreign policy project of sustaining the liberal international order that has been so good to American interests. The end of the war in Iraq and the almost irresponsible pace of withdrawal from Afghanistan, whatever their negative short-term effects may have been, were borne of this impulse. Similarly, the administration's pursuit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the nuclear deal with Iran, and diversification of partnerships in Asia speak to Obama's belief in the value of diplomacy.

Obama's record suggests that he's firmly grounded in the liberal tradition in international affairs, favoring internationalism and outreach, but is a realist in his thinking about the exercise of material power, understanding the limits of what American power can accomplish. As a strategist, he is more keenly attuned to costs over strategic end states.

The 'Pivot' As someone who thinks and writes a lot about Asia, I also sense that the origins of the "pivot" to Asia revealed the

US President Barack Obama (Photo: reuters) administration's long-term approach to U.S. foreign policy.

Derailed though it was by unexpected crises in the Middle East and Europe, the pivot, in theory, showed a recognition by the president that the United States wasn't ready to underwrite the international order where it would come under the most stress over the coming generation: in East Asia.

Though China's rise had largely been peaceful up to time the pivot was declared, the administration correctly bet that given China's unsettled interests, in the South and East China Seas, and in Taiwan, for example, friction would soon emerge.

There's much to take issue with in the execution of the pivot.

The administration ended up preferring to describe the initiative as the "rebalance," a less energetic descriptor, lacking the suddenness and energy of what the pivot had implied in 2011, when then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton introduced the initiative in Foreign Policy magazine. Clinton, at the time, wrote that the United States needs to be present in Asia as the future of international order is molded there, in a region encompassing half the world's population: At a time when the region is building a more mature security and economic architecture to promote stability and prosperity, U.S. commitment there is essential. It will help build that architecture and pay dividends for continued American leadership well into this cen-

tury, just as our post-World War II commitment to building a comprehensive and lasting transatlantic network of institutions and relationships has paid off many times over - and continues to do so.

It's interesting to note that Obama echoes some of this in his conversation with Goldberg on why it's so important for the United States and China to get their bilateral relationship right. "If we get that right and China continues on a peaceful rise, then we have a partner that is growing in capability and sharing with us the burdens and responsibilities of maintaining an international order," he says.

With months on the clock on the Obama presidency, it's safe to say that the pivot has delivered modest dividends and challenges for U.S. leadership persist in the Asia-Pacific today. Nevertheless, the framing of the pivot as a grand strategic exercise showed that the administration recognized the fundamental task for American leadership and power. In Asia, Obama saw value in supporting old alliances, fostering new partnerships, and encouraging robust multilateralism all as net positives to buttressing the liberal international order. His successor will have much to be thankful for as he or she will face challenges in the region beyond 2016.

My chosen mode of assessing Obama's success here may employ too generous a yardstick. After all, it basically gives every president for the

last 70-some years a pass, with different degrees of success.

Obama, I think, on balance has been more successful than the running average of presidents. Perhaps he hasn't surpassed Bush 41, his supposed realist idol, but he certainly delivered on avoiding a repeat of Bush 43?s failings. Despite these assessments, Goldberg's piece makes clear that the episodic successes and failures of the administration in Syria, Libya, Ukraine and elsewhere will likely capture a lot of the presidential foreign policy post mortem as we head toward the end of Obama's eight years. Here, the Obama years come off worse.

In the grand strategic view, Obama's foreign policy legacy is greater than the sum of its parts. In his eight years, American leadership has mostly muddled and moseyed its way through challenges and crises, suggesting, to the administration's critics, that the president lacks vision or interest in the proper exercise of American power. But as his predecessors understood (or came to understand by the end of their terms) and as his successor will come to understand, the fundamental objective is supporting the international order that has enabled a period of unprecedented human prosperity, interconnectedness, and relative peace. As he tells Goldberg, "For all of our warts, the United States has clearly been a force for good in the world."

Afghanistan Needs Peace -- and Cash Afghanistan desperately needs continued support, which will be decided at two conferences later in 2016.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Nicholas Haysom briefed the UN Security Council on Afghanistan. He launched his remarks by noting that the country is "being as severely tested as it was in 2015." Afghanistan, Haysom said, faces several challenges: "a contracting economy characterized by low growth and high unemployment; an intensifying insurgency regarded by some as an eroding stalemate; and an increasingly fractious and divided political environment." Most importantly, he said, is progress toward peace: "Afghans want peace; they deserve peace; but most importantly they need peace."

To make matters more stressful, because of Afghanistan's

immense reliance on foreign aid and support, the country's future finances are undetermined-and with its finances unclear, so is the potential for stability. This year, at conferences in Warsaw and Brussels, the international community will once again confront the massive military and fiscal needs of Afghanistan.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in a joint news conference on March 15 with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, said that although the alliance's combat mission had ended, it continued to support the Afghan forces through its train, advise, and assist mission-Resolute Support-as well as with financial support.

Stoltenberg said that decisions on the future of NATO's

Catherine Putz

mission in Afghanistan would be made as the July Warsaw summit approached. As Phillip Walter Wellman noted for Stars and Stripes, "The July summit will focus on securing financial contributions to support Afghan security forces and troop contributions until 2020. The alliance now has commitment from members until 2017."

In Brussels this coming October, the European Union will host the international community and similarly confront the issue of providing ongoing financial support to Afghanistan through 2020.

Haysom called these pending decisions "critical" as Afghanistan relies "on external funding sources for 69 percent of government expenditures."

In his remarks, Haysom acknowledged "that there was a

failure to appreciate the shock [on Afghanistan's economy] of the withdrawal of the international community at the end of 2014." Decisions were made based on the assumption that the country would continue to experience 8 percent growth and successfully exploit its mineral resources. "It is now clear, however, that neither would occur," Haysom said.

But even after noting that previous assumptions bear little resemblance to current realities, Haysom struck an optimistic tone regarding reform measures and regional economic integration schemes: The Government's engagement with its neighbors, bilaterally and through initiatives such as the Heart of Asia process and RECCA, for the purpose of regional economic integration, has begun to bear

fruit, inter alia, with the launch of the TAPI project. These are encouraging but only first steps in a long road towards self-reliance.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline might not, in actuality, be the best project to base prognostications of progress on. Although construction has technically begun in Turkmenistan, many details are shrouded by that country's opaque politics.

Then there's the overarching question of whether it is possible to construct such a massive pipeline through an active warzone.

Haysom and Stoltenberg both had praise for the Afghan security forces, which have had a difficult first year running

Legalizing marital rape

Image for representational purpose (Photo: i1.tribu)

Sir, The raging debate on marital rape in India echoes arguments. While feminist thinkers and some organizations are putting their best efforts to legalize it. The very Concept of marital rape cannot be applied in India as marriage here is treated as a sacrament. The concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, cannot be suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors, including level of education, illiteracy, poverty, myriad social customs and values, religious beliefs, mindset of the society. Moreover the alarming rise in false and fabricated molestation cases and sexual abuse in our country is a matter that the country's lawmakers need to ponder over.

As records speak, 4,641 false molestation cases were filed in 2014 as per NCRB data. Ironically many young men supported strong IPC 354 without prior understanding of the law, which led to IPC 354 being made non-bailable. As per this law, any woman can label a boy as 'molester' without having to undergo a medical examination.

This law was created in such a way that any woman, irrespective of her age, can send any man behind bars by a simple verbal allegation.

Such injustice against boys or men is not new.

Lawmakers are in deep slumber while radical feminist organizations are manipulating the media. This leads to the media showing only incidents of alleged rape/ molestation cases, but they never show any cases in which a man has proved himself innocent after having lost 5 to 7 years of running around in courts. Is there any way out? Yes, it needs awareness and will power of our lawmakers to stop such abuse of law. They must realize that a non-bailable criminal case is not a joke like ordering some pizza. Such false allegations can destroy an innocent, law abiding man's selfesteem, confidence and faith in humanity. Any FIR/complaint on the basis of verbal statement of women which leads to IPC 354 must be made bailable.

The punishment for making false fabricated statements under IPC 182 should also be nonbailable with jail terms without accepting any excuses, is the need of the hour.

Yours etc, Shajid Khan Tangla College,Tangla

point on combat operations.

According to TOLOnews, Haysom noted that the Taliban expanded its reach, temporarily capturing 24 district centers in addition to the brief but pivotal seizure of Kunduz, a provincial capital, last October. "This represents a significant increase compared with 2014," he said "when the Taliban captured only three centers. Even though most district centers were quickly retaken by progovernment forces, several remained under Taliban control for weeks."

Looking ahead, it's clear Afghanistan still needs international support but what isn't clear is how much the international community can maintain the will to keep propping up the Afghan state.

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 Web : editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

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The Achievements Of These Indian Athletes Are Incredible, And Yet We Barely Know Of Them We as Indians may not be awardee, parathlete repthe most athletics crazy resenting India as a javcountry but the names of elin thrower. His world athletic legends like P.T. record is for the longest Usha and Milkha Singh javelin throw ever by a would definitely be famil- man with a single funciar to all. These were In- tional arm. His left arm dian athis amletic legputated ends that Denzil Albuquerque b e l o w c a m e the elwithin a whisker of win- bow, and with his single ning an Olympic medal able arm he has raised for the country. But ever the tricolour and brought since they missed out on to India what no other their Olympic medal, In- able-bodied Indian has in dia has eternally awaited an athletic track and field one in track and field event - a world record events. and an individual OlymCould it be faintly possible pic gold. though that our collective To put this in perspective, eyes and minds have except for a solitary overlooked a gold medal? bronze way back in 1952, Not any gold medal, but India had nothing to show an Olympic gold medal for itself in the form of an that was won by setting individual Olympic medal a world record. It could right up to 1996. This come as a surprise that bronze was converted to an Indian athlete has held gold only in 2008 by a world record for over Abhinav Bindra, and still 11 years and counting, remains the solitary Inand his gold medal win- dian gold for an individual ning feat had come about Olympic event. Comin the Olympic games at pared to this, Murlikant Athens, 2004. The record Petkar had won India a still stands, untouched and gold medal way back in unbroken. the 1972 Paralympics, This world record holder with a world record time and Olympic gold medal- in 50 metres freestyle ist is Devendra Jhajharia, swimming. Devendra a Padma Shri, Arjuna won his gold at Athens,

2004. Thus, statistically India's parathletes are out doing their able bodied contemporaries and doing so in a style of their own, by setting world records.

As luck would have it, Devendra's javelin throw event was subsequently excluded from the Olympics after Athens 2004.

He lost out during his prime years as an athlete and went into oblivion without participating in Olympic or other noteworthy international events. He is now in his mid-thirties and attempting a comeback to reclaim the gold in the Rio Olympics, 2016, where his event has been included once again. Although well past his prime and subsequent to a protracted layoff, he has secured a silver medal at the recently concluded IPC Athletics World Championships at Doha, Qatar and the Asian Games, 2015. The world championships are to athletic track and field events what a world cup is to any other sport.

Another medal came India's way at these World Championships. A silver medal with an

Asian record by Amit Kumar Saroha, in the club throw event. In this event, a club (a miniature baseball bat) is flung by quadriplegic participants, in a wheelchair that is tightly secured to the ground. Amit was rendered a quadriplegic, after a cervical spinal injury, with minimal function in the upper extremities and shoulders, and no muscular function below the shoulders. This minimal function allows him to barely get a grip on the club and fling it away. But what make his achievement even more remarkable are the circumstances in which he won the country a medal. The event was played in the scorching heat of the Arabian Gulf nearing mid-afternoon. He was running a fever in excess of 101 degrees Fahrenheit for three days including the day of the event and had a cut on the fingers of his gripping hand.

That's some performance in adversity!

Girisha H. Nagarajagowda is another Indian who successfully leapt, on a single able foot, to win a silver

above their limiting disabilities. They do not view themselves as disabled or differently-abled or whatever you may call them.

Their eyes do not focus on what's missing. Their minds utilise what's there.

They live life the only way they know how to. They love to indulge in the same pleasures as the rest of the world. They are extremely proud of the fact that they are representing their nation, and hope for opportunities and support in their efforts. It is they who truly live the thought: 'Impossible is Nothing'.

Girisha H. Nagarajegowda. Image credit: Reuters/Stefan Wermuth. medal in the last edition of the Olympics in London. There are many other proud participants of the Indian contingent who attempt to conquer their disabilities in the hope of winning an Olympic medal for the nation.

The story isn't only about those that have succeeded in bringing India medals, for this is sport and your performance might not be up to the mark on a given day of competition.

If It Really Cares, Why Doesn't The Govt. Just Take This Simple Step To Curb Tobacco Use? Among other budget an- of value-added tax nouncements, the Fi- (VAT). If tobacco prodnance Minister an- ucts are more expensive nounced a 10-15 percent in some states, it's behike in cigarette excise cause the respective duty in India on the 29th state government is levyof February. ing higher VAT. However, M r . t h e MinisManjusha Chatterjee e x ter, you cise must know that tobacco tax is very important bekills 10 lakh Indians ev- cause is helps to push up ery year and one-fourth the final consumer price of India is currently us- of the tobacco product ing tobacco is some form and makes in more exor the other.Bidis, or pensive for people to buy. hand rolled, indigenous cigarettes and chewed Contrary to this, the reforms of tobacco are far cent study has found that more popular than cigarettes. Most bidi manufacturing takes place in appalling conditions by poor women and child labourers. Therefore, a nominal increase, that too in cigarette taxes alone, can by no means counter India's devastating tobacco use situation.

Economic prudence warrants that the best way to reduce demand is by raising prices. So, in the case of tobacco, the more unaffordable the products are, the easier it is to counter consumption.

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the world's only public health treaty) also recommends tobacco taxation as the most costeffective way to fight tobacco use, provided there is simple tax administration and taxes account for at least 70% of the retail price of tobacco products.

Early in February, the issue of tobacco taxation was blazing in Indian media. Findings of a landmark study on the affordability of tobacco products in India commissioned by India's Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) were in the news. Tobacco in India is taxed by the central government, in the form of excise, and by the state governments, in the form

bidis and smokeless tobacco and cigarettes were no less affordable in 2014 than in 2008. This is because although per capita income in India has risen, tobacco taxes have not caught up.

The Virtue Of Simplicity India does have an immensely complicated multi-tier tax structure and clearly treats cigarette, bidi and smokeless tobacco taxation differently. In fact, cigarettes are differently taxed on lengths and filters. This diversity makes tax ad-

are among the highest in the world, making it a haven for illegal tobacco products. The front group accounts legal cigarette smoking in India to be 11% of total consumption, attributing the remaining 89% to other tobacco products and illegal cigarettes and of no concern to them.

These unaccredited statistics are only meant to create confusion. While tackling illicit trade is important, uniform taxation of tobacco products is

Image for representational purpose (Photo: cdn.youthkiawaaz.) prices of tobacco products in India have not risen sharply over time, making them cheaper than essential food items like wheat and pulses. In other words, both current excise and valueadded tax (VAT) on tobacco products have been inefficient in pushing up prices of tobacco products and rendering them unaffordable.

This news corroborates the findings of the 2015 WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, which notes that tobacco taxes in India continue to be well below the FCTC recommendations, particularly in the case of

ministrative very difficult and tax evasion easy since tobacco manufacturers direct products towards illicit trade or introduce new products. Unfortunately, bidis have majorly remained outside the tax net, even though earlier studies have shown that higher taxes on both cigarettes and bidis will lead to a decrease in tobacco consumption and an increase in government revenue.

Within a day of the new study's release, a cigarette industry front group in India released a fierce reaction to the report, claiming it to be dated and misinforming policy makers.

The statement claims that cigarette prices in India

critical.

A cursory reading of two of India's major cigarette companies' 2014-15 annual reports also points to staunch dissent and falsified commentary on tobacco taxation policies in India. It seems one of them undertook an 'analysis' of the same WHO Report to find that cigarettes taxes in India are among the highest in the world.

However, what is more disturbing to read is this: the commentary states that "the company continues to engage with the concerned authorities, both at the Central Government and State level, highlighting the need for

moderation in tax rates on cigarettes to maximise the revenue potential from the tobacco sector, arrest the growth of the illegal segment and protect the interest of the Indian tobacco farmer."

The tobacco industry's lobbying prowess is well known globally, but to read about their blatant submission to such nefarious activities on official statements is terrifying.

Similarly, the annual report of another major cigarette company for 2014-15 laments the strict regulatory environment and skewed nature of taxation on cigarettes and boasts of new outreach strategies.

It claims to be responding to the higher taxes by "aiming for steady growth through balanced brand portfolio, consumer engagement programs, quicker response to environmental changes and data-driven decision making process."They also hope to offer increasingly superior products at multiple price points, which are affordable to various sections of society and improve consumer satisfaction with their brands through quality and innovation, using the latest techniques in consumer research, R&D and manufacturing excellence.

The general debate around a Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime that can levy a uniform and high tax on all tobacco products as 'demerit goods' augurs well for the country's economy.

All tobacco products must be equally and highly taxed to accrue public health benefit. At the same time, we have to be alert about official declarations by cigarette companies describing new engagement strategies to lure customers in the wake of higher taxes.

Courtesy: youthkiawaaz

The feats accomplished at these athletic events include high jumps nearing six feet on a single foot; physically disabled athletes sprinting across a track of hundred metres in under ten seconds; a blind athlete running at full pace towards the point of a leap for a long jump, trying to gain every millimetre on the footboard without fouling out; quadriplegics and paraplegics using every ounce of energy derived

from their body while seated in a wheelchair; athletes using their minimally functional hands to grip an object but unable to grip a congratulatory handshake, unable to see the shine and lustre of a gold medal, but sensing its weight around their neck and the thunderous applause in the background.

It isn't the story about Indians versus the world or about winning their respective competitions. It is the story of athletes, who rise

Let us stand up and salute their achievements and rally our support and best wishes towards these athletes, especially the Indian contingent, for the upcoming Rio Olympics 2016.

Let us send an encouraging and affectionate message to these athletes that they are never alone in their quest for victory, in sporting terms or otherwise.

The nation and the world supports their endeavour and would always cherish their triumphs. Let us challenge ourselves to 'Being Human'.

Courtesy: youthkiawaaz

Is The Govt. Hiding A Potential Nuclear Accident At Gujarat's Kakrapar Plant?

Image for representational purpose (Photo: cdn.youthkiawaaz) Though Central government agencies have underplayed the seriousness of the accident that happened at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station on Friday (March 11), an expert feels the leakage at the site might be large and would continue in the coming days.

In a post on a website, A Gopalakrishnan, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), says, "The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)'s officials have no clue as to where exactly the Primary Heat Transport (PHT) leak is located and how big is the rate of irradiated heavy water that is leaking into the reactor containment.

However, some reports indicate that the containment has been vented to the atmosphere at least once, if not more times, which I suspect indicates a tendency for pressure build up in that closed space due to the release of hot heavy water and steam into the containment housing.

If this is true, the leak is not small, but moderately large, and is still continu-

ing."

He clarifies that his understanding is based on the little information gathered from authentic as well as unauthentic sources as the government has not released the full details of the incident.

"What Kakrapar Unit-1 is undergoing is a small Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) in progress. It is most likely that one or more pressure tubes (PT) in the reactor (which contains the fuel bundles) have cracked open, leaking hot primary system heavy-water coolant into the containment housing," writes Gopalakrishnan.

According to him, when the government says that the reactor cooling has been maintained, it means that supply of heavy water or light water from the storage tanks of the emergency cooling systems is stable. While it may perhaps ensure bulk coolant temperatures in the PHT system to be well under control, it could still mean fuel centerline temperatures in the channel which may have a breach that could be quite high, he explains.

As the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Lim-

ited (NPCIL) and AERB do not yet know the location of the leak and also how to initiate actions to stop it, the seriousness of the accident and the potential high risks to the plant and personnel in the near vicinity are yet to be assessed.

Highlighting the need for extra precaution, Gopalakrishnan says there are possibilities that agencies like NPCIL and AERB, having built more than 20 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in recent years, may have become overconfident and relaxed their strict adherence to the Aging Management Program, which might have been the reason for the current accident.

Emphasising the need for authentic information, he argues that the public needs to know more and, therefore, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and its subordinate organizations need to promptly release status reports on the progressing safety incident which could affect their lives, to alleviate their concerns and anxieties. Courtesy: Down to Earth.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

BUSINESS

Creta production to be increased to 13,000 units by Hyundai to cut waiting period Pune, Mar 17: Hyundai Motor India is increasing production of its SUV Creta by 30 percent to 13,000 units a month to reduce the waiting period as bookings of the vehicle cross one lakh milestone within 8 months of its launch in the country.

"To reduce the waiting period, we are increasing Creta production by 30 percent to total of 13,000 units of which 10,000 units will be allocated for the domestic market," Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Managing Director & CEO YK Koo said in a statement.

HMIL had launched Creta in India in July last year

Rs 50,000 crore might be borrowed

by Maharashtra to complete ongoing irrigation projects Mumbai, Mar 17: Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said the BJP-led state government may borrow Rs 50,000 crore soon to complete the ongoing irrigation projects. Speaking to media persons, Mahajan said his department had spent its last year's allocation of Rs 7,200 crore to create 48,000 Ha land irrigation capacity.

"But this amount is not sufficient as we have incomplete projects worth Rs 90,000 crore and hence we have decided to prioritise the completion of last-mile projects (where 75% work is complete)," Mahajan said.

His department is considering borrowing Rs 50,000 crore to complete all such projects, he said, adding "we will get a loan at a cheap interest rate". However, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, who also took part in the interaction, said the government's intention was to stop all other projects and only focus on last-mile ones.

As to getting loans at a cheap rate, Chavan said fluctuations in currency exchange rates affect the interest amount and it eventually rises. Chavan also criticised the government for changing the name of Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP) to Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). During the Congress-led UPA, Rs 1,500 crore had been allocated to Maharashtra alone, but Finance Minister Arun Jaitley provided only Rs 5,700 crore for PMKSY for the whole country in his budget, Chavan said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should use his influence with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and get an allocation of least Rs 1 lakh crore for agriculture and irrigation needs of Maharashtra, he said. (Agencies)

Contraction in gold's February imports 29.5% to $1.39 bn Chennai, Mar 17: After a sharp rise in January, gold imports in February declined 29.49 percent to USD 1.39 billion, which is expected to keep a lid on the country's current account deficit (CAD). The sliding prices of the yellow metal in both global and domestic markets are seen as a contributory factor for the plunge. Gold imports stood at USD 1.98 billion in February 2015. The contraction in imports helped narrow trade deficit at USD 6.54 billion last month as against USD 6.74 billion in the year-ago period. India is the largest importer of gold in the world and the imports mainly cater to the demand of the jewellery industry. In JulySeptember of the current fiscal, CAD rose to USD 8.2 billion, or 1.6 percent of GDP, from 1.2 percent, or USD 6.1 billion in the AprilJune quarter. (Agencies)

TO MEET GROWING DEMANDS

Image for graphical representation only. (Photo: indiacarnews) and since then has received five lakh inquiries for the SUV. The company has delivered 56,000 units of the model till date. Creta is available in three engine options of 1.6 litre and 1.4

litre in diesel, and 1.6 litre in petrol. "We thank our customers for the tremendous response with the record fastest one lakh bookings in 8 months. Like in the do-

Hyundai Motor India is increasing production of its SUV Creta by 30 percent to 13,000 units a month to reduce the waiting period as bookings of the vehicle cross one lakh milestone within 8 months of its launch in the country.

HMIL thanked their customers for the tremendous response with the record fastest one lakh bookings in 8 months. Like in the domestic market, Creta has generated great response in global markets with more than 28,000 orders.

HMIL had launched Creta in India in July last year and since then has received five lakh inquiries for the SUV. The company has delivered 56,000 units of the model till date. Creta is available in three engine options of 1.6 litre and 1.4 litre in diesel, and 1.6 litre in petrol.

With Creta, HMIL has strengthened its position in the SUV segment in India and has demonstrated excellence of 'Made in India' products as per global standards, the company said. Besides domestic market, the SUV has received good response in global markets such as Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

mestic market, Creta has generated great response in global markets with more than 28,000 orders," Koo said.

With Creta, HMIL has strengthened its position in the SUV segment in India and has demonstrated excellence of 'Made in India' products as per global standards, the company said. Besides domestic market, the SUV has received good response in global markets such as Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, the company said. "Hyundai will continue to maintain its leadership position in the export market with the strong sales of Creta," it added. (Agencies)

By 2020 Fashion & lifestyle to become Rs 3,94,000 crore market Mumbai, Mar 17: Indian fashion and lifestyle market is set to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% over the next five years to reach Rs 3,94,000 crore from the currently estimated Rs 2,21,000 crore, said an A T Kearney survey. According to Debashish Mukherjee, head - consumer and retail, A T Kearney India, apparel that constitutes 57.2% pie in the overall market now will grow to 59.9% by 2020 while footwear will see a decline from 34% to 26.1% in the same period.

"Accessories market share that includes apparel accessories, bags, wallets, belts, fashion jewellery, time wear and eyewear would grow from 8.8% to 14% in the next five years," he said at the twoday India Fashion Forum

(IFF) 2016 currently on in Mumbai.

According to Mukherjee, while men's apparel currently dominates the space, it is the women's apparel category that is set to grow at a faster rate and will equal the men's wear segment this year.

"The fashion and lifestyle segment is witnessing a paradigm shift with women's apparel expected to match men's apparel at par in terms of 37% market share each in 2016. Keeping this trend in mind, the organised retailers need to pay more attention to women consumers as India is one of the few or possibly the only country where the share of men's apparel is higher than that of women's and that is changing," he said. Cap-

rather than pure play online retailer, said the survey.

Retailers need to customise their brand and product offerings across different regions and city tiers. Their overall strategy for each brand needs to be reflected in the brand assortment choices made at a store level, said the survey.

Image for graphical representation only. (Photo: previews.123rf) turing the disruption, leading lifestyle players are able to identify the 'white' spaces or create new play areas in the market to carve out space for themselves. "Segments like kidswear, ethnic, that were once 'white' spaces, are now well penetrated

by players like Gini &Jony, FabIndia, Biba, etc," he said. While online shopping preference by Indian consumers is clearly seen on the higher side at 62% compared to global consumers at 54%, the same is more in travel, air-ticketing and flash sale,

Connected consumers in India have a clear preference for online shopping, says the survey, adding that this cannot be ignored anymore. While the global percentage (of respondents who prefer to shop online) stands at 54%, India's share stands at 62%.The survey also said that there is a strong potential for fashion brands to expand their reach and gain scale in India.

(Agencies)

Pulses weighing about 65 lakhs tonnes need to be imported this year: Paswan

Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (Photo: thehindu)

Gurgaon, Mar 17: India needs to import 65 lakh tonnes of pulses this year to meet the domestic shortfall, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today and assured that the

government will not allow prices to rise in any circumstances. Noting that the country did not produce enough pulses in 2015, there was a demand for around 215 lakh tonnes

of pulses. The country produced around 170 lakh tonnes while 45 lakh tonnes were imported, he added.

"This year we will require 65 lakh tonnes of pulses to be imported," the Minister said during the Question Hour in Lok Sabha. The country has imported 55.5 lakh tonnes of pulses till March 1 of this fiscal as against 45.8 lakh tonnes in the entire previous fiscal. Pulses imports are largely done by the private players. Pulses production is estimated at 17.33 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (JulyJune) while demand is pegged at 23.66 million

tonnes. Paswan said the government would not allow the prices of pulses to go up under any circumstances and stringent action would be taken if that happens. "This year, under no circumstances we will allow the prices of pulses go up. If it happens, we will take stringent action," he said, adding action would be taken to ensure that no hoarding takes place.

"We have been taking action against hoarders. We have asked all states to take necessary action so that no hoarding take place anywhere," he said. The prices of pulses had surged to about Rs 220 per kg but has softened in recent weeks to Rs

Samsung Galaxy S7 sold at a fake price phone's Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset is estimated to cost $62, camera module comes at around $14 while the overall assembly charge is around $6. It states that Galaxy S7's total bill

would not exceed $255.

The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 is constructed with 3D glass and metal and is water and dust resistance. It can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes in a meter and a half of water. (Agencies)

OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

Image for graphical representation only. (Photo: cdn2.vox-cdn)

New Delhi, Mar 17: Samsung has recently launched its much anticipated flagship smartphones Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in India. The Galaxy S7 is priced at Rs 48,900 for 32GB version while Galaxy S7 Edge is available at a price of Rs 56,900 (32GB). However, a report, quoting market analyst IHS, said that the ac-

tual price of the phone roughly comes at approximately Rs 15,750. This price is exclusive of "costs related to software research, R&D, marketing, distribution among other taxes and charges" it said.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 runs on an Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz Quad), 64 bit processor and has a 4GB RAM. As per the IHS report, the

Samsung has recently launched its much anticipated flagship smartphones Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in India. The Galaxy S7 is priced at Rs 48,900 for 32GB version while Galaxy S7 Edge is available at a price of Rs 56,900 (32GB). However, a report, quoting market analyst IHS, said that the actual price of the phone roughly comes at approximately Rs 15,750.

This price is exclusive of "costs related to software research, R&D, marketing, distribution among other taxes and charges".

The Samsung Galaxy S7 runs on an Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz Quad), 64 bit processor and has a 4GB RAM.

150-160 per kg after government took several steps like creating buffer stock and imports through stateowned MMTC. There have been incidents when importers buy pulses cheap abroad but store in the ports of that country and brings to India only when the prices are high, he said. According to Paswan, except pulses, prices of no other item like rice and sugar, have gone up.

Though prices of items like tomato and onion have risen, that is temporary. He said price trends and availability of select essential food items are monitored on a regular basis at the highest level, including by a Committee of Secretaries. (Agencies)

PAGE 10

Aviation firm Fly By Wire to be acquired

by Zee

Image for graphical representation only. (Photo: static12.insales) Mumbai, Mar 17: Media firm Zee Entertainment Enterprises said it will fully acquire aviation firm Fly By Wire for a total consideration of Rs 61.25 crore. In a BSE filing, Zee Entertainment Enterprises said "the Board of Directors of the company... has approved in-principle an acquisition of 100 per cent equity stake in Fly

By Wire International Pvt Ltd, Bangalore (FBW)."

Fly By Wire International provides aircraft charter services which own/operates one Bombardier Challenger 605 aircraft.

On the reasons for investment, Zee said: "Subsequent to sale of the smaller aircraft owned by the company, the company has been chartering the aircraft from FBW on

an exclusive basis. In order to save costs and for ensuring better operational efficiency, it is considered expedient to own the aircraft by acquiring 100 per cent equity stake in FBW." On cost of acquisition, it said: "In addition to the consideration of Rs 2.75 crore payable for entire stake in FBW, target entity also has an outstanding bank loan of Rs 58.50 crore availed earlier by FBW for financing the said aircraft."

Initially the company will acquire 49 per cent stake in FBW and balance 51 per cent will be acquired within five days of receipt of approval from Ministry of Civil Aviation. The process is expected to be completed by mid July, the company said. (Agencies)

Yes Bank on the way of becoming more digitalized from Q1FY17

Yes Bank's head of retail and business banking, Pralay Mondal. (Photo: media2.intoday) Kolkata, Mar 17: Yes Bank is initiating a major retail push next quarter with new digital products and entry into credit card business. Yes Bank's head of retail and business banking, Pralay Mondal, has said the bank is on the verge of a major push into digital banking with a host of new services. The bank would also launch its credit cards in the first quarter of FY17 he said.

One of the new products also includes the bank's app. Its interface is that of a feature-rich application, but can work without data connection on the mobile platform and work even in

feature phones. Earlier, the bank had partnered UltraCash Technologies to launch payments processing through sound waves.

According to Ritesh Pai, head of Yes Bank's digital banking, the strategy is not just to launch applications but to provide a seamless user interface.

To launch this new service Yes Money, the bank has tied up with Taisys India an arm of a Taiwanese company that has developed a 'SIM sleeve' which authenticates transactions by way of a thin physical cover on the mobile SIM. (Agencies)

CarDekho appoints former Yatra.com official for new initiatives ANI New Delhi, Mar 17: India's leading online automobile marketplace, CarDekho announced appointment of Pawan Chawla as Head-Information Technology to handle new initiatives. A former employee with Yatra.com, Chawla is well-versed with the IT industry. Having worked for over 15+ years in the field of IT and ITES, Pawan holds indepth experience of various IT functions such as consultancy, strategy, infrastructure, planning and execution, software application development, maintenance of software projects, management training, defining processes, manpower planning and staffing and management. He has also been associated with Yatra.com, Bertelsmann Marketing and American

Home Mortgage Servicing, heading their IT infrastructure in the past.

Speaking on the appointment Amit Jain, CEO and co-founder, CarDekho commented, "Pawan brings over a decade of experience in the field of IT-related services across several industries. We are confident that his extensive, in-depth experience will play a vital role as CarDekho continues to script its ongoing success story." "CarDekho, in a very short span of time, has established itself as an industry leader and innovation pioneer. Joining on board such a rapidly growing, next-generation organization will allow me to grow both personally and professionally. I aim to leverage my knowledge and expertise to support CarDekho's continued growth by delivering

a robust, seamless and state-of-the-art IT infrastructure," added Pawan added.

He was named 'Cyber Security Strategist of The Year 2014-15' and 'Best Cyber Security Implementer of the Year 2014-15' by the CSO Forum, and has also won the 'Business Impact Award 2014-15' for successfully Implementing Enterprise Wide Security and Data Protection Policy. Pawan's appointment comes close on the heels of the recent appointment of ex-Zomato CFO Umesh Hora signalling the company's efforts to build a strong leadership team. By bringing industry experts onboard, CarDekho is looking to synergize the deep knowledge of their respective verticals into an integrated effort to drive its business goals ahead.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Features

PAGE 11

TRAVEL & TOURISM Stones tell tales in Meghalaya's naturecrafted Ever Living Museum Stones have tales to tell. little Kyntiewbor once But they need the right returned home with a interpreter and the right clutch of glittering stones ambience to - like he had collected from the Kyntiewbor War and his caves. That was in 1964.

Ever Living Museum in Kyntiewbor never Meghalaya. looked back since in his One of Northeast India's pursuit of stones and eight states, Meghalaya natural artifacts. He i s found mostly Teiborlang T Kharsyntiew his inhablove ited by three matrilineal in the caves and rivers, ethnic communities - and his first real caving Garo, Jaintia and Khasi. expedition was at age 13.

In Khasi belief, caves are By the time Bah War dungeons where only joined the state's Public midgets and fairies live Health and Engineering to lure humans away. Ex- department (PHE) as an ploring these caves was engineer, he was a cave thus taboo, particularly and river expert. He for children. regularly took part in expeditions under the banAt 10, Kyntiewbor was ner of Meghalaya Adventoo curious to heed his turers' Association. grandmother's advice to One of his assignments avoid the caves in his vil- of laying a water pipeline lage Wahlong below from the caves of Phud Sohra - local name for Khongpong to Nongnah Cherrapunjee - and close village - led to the disto the India-Bangladesh covery of a 3.2 km cave border. The labyrinthine system during an expedisubterranean world of tion with a US team. the caves fascinated him. After his retirement as chief engineer from the Every trip to the 'dun- PHE department, Bah geons of fairies' guaran- War began showcasing teed a scolding from his his vast collection of grandmother.

She stones, art and other changed her mind when artefacts in his private

Ever Living Museum.

The museum was opened to the public in April 2015.

Sited 9 km from the heart of Meghalaya capital Shillong, the museum at Mawshbuit is set on 5 acres of land near the famous Sweet Falls. The exhibits are the result of Bah War's painstaking collection over more than 30 years.

Within weeks of its opening, the museum recorded 2,000 visitors who paid Rs 50 each to get in. "It is not about the money," Bah War insists.

Regular visitors like Moses Kharbithai, assistant professor at Assam University, agree. The attraction of the very place and the time Bah War gives to his visitors attract people to the museum, he says.

The museum is set in a garden surrounded by tress of pears, plums and other wild fruits. The garden has some 100 varieties of orchids and wild flowers and 25 varieties of ferns. But how did the

museum get 'Ever Living' as its name? "It is because nature is forever; respecting and preserving nature is what the museum is all about," Bah War says.

Something that deeply concerns him is the pressure on caves and rivers due to unregulated coal and limestone mining.

"Caves can generate more and lasting revenue and income than mining.

Coal and limestone do bring quick money, but they will get exhausted one day and make saving the caves and the environment an exercise in futility," he says.

One part of the museum exhibits 619 works of art and artefacts that range from tribal jewelleries, household implements, baskets of different communities, war tools, dresses and musical instruments, stamps and coins (that date back to the Sher Shah Suri and Mughal eras) and more than 150 photographs of rivers, houses, people and festivals.

Prominent among the ex-

hibits is the Garo metallic bowl with inscription of animals that Bah War claimed is 320 years old.

There is also a 50-yearold indigenous pressure cooker from the village of Mawnai in West Khasi Hills district.

The other part is dedicated to 30 types of stones collected from across Meghalaya and elsewhere on earth. Apart from stone-age tools, sand-weathering rocs, granite and flint stones, the exhibits include sea shells, natural magnets, iron ore and copper ore.

Gemstones such as blue topaz and quartz, crystals and amber find space too.

Equally impressive is the collection of 11 ammonite fossils that include eggs and plant fossils.

Bah War is reluctant to disclose the source of his natural artefacts, as he feels the places - if identified - would be looted in no time.

Outside the museum, a massive stone in an open hut is "a rock with a sculpted boat". The stone

Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram In Mizoram, you can find a proximity to Bangladesh lot of places with amazing border and presence of exnatural beauty and serenity. otic wildlife species, several The north eastern state also anti poaching camps have has some wildlife zones that been set up inside the recan leave any tourist en- serve. ticed. One such example is When and how to visit the beautiful and pictur- The Dampa Tiger Reserve esque Dampa has pleasant Tiger Reserve. Arnab Ghosh and warm cliSpread over an area of 550 mate. However, at higher alsq km in Mamit district of titudes inside the area temwest Mizoram, it is situated perature takes a significant along border of Bangladesh drop. It is ideal to visit the and India. Encircled by place between the months hills, it has turned out to be November and February. one of safe natural havens Dampa is about 135 kilomefor the big cat species along ters from Mizoram's capital with other mammals and Aizawl. The capital city is primates in the North east. linked with Kolkata and Nuances of Dampa Tiger Guwahati through flights.

Lengpui Airport is about 70 Reserve Dampa Tiger Reserve was km from the park. The set up in 1985 and at the nearmost rail station is beginning it was a sanctu- Silchar. It is also possible to ary. The Tiger conservation reach Aizawl through started in 1994. Around the NH54. Cars can be hired reserve area, there are about from both Silchar and 10 tribal villages. It has an Aizawl. Mizoram State undulating and hilly terrain. Transport's buses connect You will also come across Silchar with Aizawl. deep valleys, salt licks and At the Tiger Reserve, there jungle streams. Owing to its are a couple of rest houses

Dampa Tiger Reserve (Photo: d2847ql9t214mi) that have cooking facilities.

However, it is better you carry your stuffs for staying in comfort. Medications and insect repellants should also be brought by visitors. You also need to procure permits from the Ministry of External Affairs to visit the area.

Flora and Fauna At the Dampa Tiger Reserve you will find a variety of vegetation. You will get to see a mix of semi-evergreen, tropical evergreen and tropical moist deciduous vegetations here. The

abundance of exotic orchids and ferns keep nature loving visitors engrossed. At higher altitudes, natural grasslands can be seen. Inside the core area, bamboo forests are seen in abundance.

In core section of the reserve, the feline species reside and there are 6 variants- leopard, tiger, clouded leopard, Asiatic golden cat, marble cat and leopard cat.

Apart from the tigers, the area is also home to a wide range of primates and mam-

mals. The monkeys like common langur, Rhesus macaque and Phayre's leaf monkey are seen a lot. It is also enticing to spot the endangered hoolock gibbons from time to time. For some animal lovers discovering pug marks of a tiger is no less enthralling. Apart from these, animals like wild boar, wild dog, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, giant flying squirrel are also found in this sanctuary.

Reptiles like the king cobra and a variety of lizards have also been spotted in the region.

While enjoying the lush vegetation and seeing the wild animals, you will be amazed by the chirping of birds residing in the reserve.

Dampa Tiger Reserve is home to birds like the Great Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Crested serpent eagle, Greyfaced Woodpecker, Black-breasted Quail and Jungle Bushquail etc. Courtesy: Nelive.

Five must visit Cafes in Shillong The dreamy little town of Shillong is known for its restaurants, local eateries and Cafes. Spending a quiet time with freshly brewed coffee is one of the dearest pleasures of life. Also special is quality time with friends with something to nibble. Or maybe that little time carved out from a busy schedule to spend quality time with someone special! A good cafe caters to all these moments. A Cafe with an appealing decor, a mesmerizing ambience and a good platter is what many look for.

Here we list some of the top Cafes of Shillong and hope you

share your experience the city, Police Bazar, with us.

Bread Cafe is located Cafe Shillongopposite to hotel BroadLocated at way. A favourite for all Laitumkhrah, Cafe age groups, Bread Cafe Shillong is a cozy and is popular for its cakes warm place with great and variety of coffee. food and of course live Even eggless cakes are music. available The ambiPaulami Dutta h e r e . ence and While the crowd are of course shopping around Police plus points. There is live Bazar one could just music to spice up your drop into this cafe and evenings and local chose from sandwiches, bands play great music. cakes, pizzas or just a The food and the ser- coffee. vice are good too and Swish Cafethis could just be your Located near Beat kind of place after a House, Laitumkhrah , hectic day or on a lazy Swish Cafe is the first weekend.

Cafe to have come up in Bread cafeShillong. Since then the Located at the heart of place has only grown on

its lovers and one would love to go there time and again with friends.

Popular with young crowds, the Cafe could be your place to just sit with a cup of coffee and chat with your group of friends or even have a quiet time all by yourself and nibble on something.

Little Chef CafeThis cafe is situated at Police Point, Laitumkhrah and is undoubtedly a cool hangout in Shillong. The pricing is reasonable and this is your place if you have a sweet tooth.

The place might not be fancy, but the ambience and the warmth of the

staff makes would make you want to visit the place again.

MunchiesLocated near Don Bosco, Laitumkhrah, this is a big attraction for college students.

The place is also strategically located and the youngsters can just hang out here, without also worrying much about the cost. The cafe offers a wide range of cuisine.

But Munchies is not your place if you are looking for a glitzy cafe.

The place is buzzing with the energy of youth.

It is definitely your place if you just want to relive the days of your college.

Courtesy: Nelive.

Kyntiewbor War and his Ever Living Museum in Meghalaya (Photo: nezine)

was discovered in 1978 in Ri-Bhoi but left there, and it was only last year (after almost 30 years) that he was able to transport it to his museum.

Bah War joined the PHE department because it gave him the opportunity to travel across Meghalaya and pursue his hobby. By the time of his retirement, he had travelled to some 100 villages in the state, many of them in the Garo Hills where he served for six year and Ri-Bhoi district.

He mixed work with collecting stones and artefacts over two de-

cades.

Abigail, a research scholar from Manipur at NEHU's Department of Anthropology, says the museum is a treasure trove for students and researchers, more so as Bah War acts as the guide to explain the origin and history of each item on display.

Bah War hopes to form a society with financial support from the NEC so that he can expand the museum to accommodate numerous exhibits lying in his possession.

"The Meghalaya government, Archaeological

Survey of India and Anthropological Survey of India need to chip in too for verifying, dating and documenting the collections," Abigail says.

(Bah is a Khasi honorific for an elderly male, NEHU expands to North Eastern Hill University and NEC to North Eastern Council).

( Teiborlang T Kharsyntiew teaches at the Department of International Relations, Sikkim University, Gangtok ) Courtesy: Nezine.

Into the Depths of Burachapori Situated at the southern wildlife sanctuary vine. The sun rising banks of Brahmaputra, mainly consists of grass- amidst the tress and fog, Laokhowa Burachapori lands along with wet- takes one to a state of Wildlife Sanctuary in lands and different ripar- tranquility. This is a speSonitpur district of ian forests. One would cial attraction of this parfind it ticular sanctuary as one Assam u n d e r Nibir Akash Baruah difficult gets a firsthand experito be- ence of this feeling unNagaon wildlife division is a lieve that until mid like in many national place oozing with rich 1980's, it was a grazing parks and sanctuaries as flora and fauna. How- ground for one horned the accommodation is ever, very few people rhinos as the population generally located in the know of its high ecologi- of the unicorns were outskirts. Even though cal importance and as a about 70 to 80. But ram- we were awakened by result it has not received pant poaching had de- the chirping of birds , we its due recognition yet. stroyed the entire popu- were not able to sight Nibir Akash Baruah, a lation. Apart from this many birds during our nature enthusiast, shares his experience of this wonderful sanctuary and the neglect it has faced in the past.

The serenity and the touch of Mother Nature often leave you with a blissful feeling, a feeling which enables you to survive in this mechanical and concrete world.

Wishing to be immersed in the beauty of nature, I along with my friend decided to visit the Blissful Burachapori (Photo: media-cdn) Laokhowa Burachapori Wildlife sanctuary. Ini- the sanctuary holds tre- trek in the jungle nor tially, we found it diffi- mendous significance as were we able to view any cult to locate the inspec- it works as an animal animals. But of course tion bungalow of the for- corridor for Kaziranga except Bhola, who is a est. After wandering in national park. Recently young wild buffalo resthe forest for some time, the importance of the cued from the floods ocwe eventually managed. sanctuary has increased curred in Kaziranga and Situated in the southern as under IRV (Indian now translocated to banks of Brahmaputra Rhino Vision) there is a Burachapori, we found the 110 square km plan to translocate few him grazing him in a forLaokhowa Burachapori rhinos in the sanctuary. est camp. wildlife Sanctuary is lo- Speaking of the time we Even though Burachapori cated in Sonitpur district spent in the jungle, it is a beautiful place it is under Nagaon wildlife was a magical experi- regrettable that not many division. Tezpur, the ence. The thrill of being people visit this place. nearest town is located in the wild, the inspec- The Government should at about 40 kilometers tion bungalow (the only take adequate measures from the sanctuary and accommodation) where to preserve such places national highway 37 is we stayed is located ab- from exploitation as it only 19 kilometers away. solutely in the middle of holds tremendous tourIt is unfortunate that de- the jungle. And if one's ism potential. Lastly, spite of its high ecologi- luck favors, they can get preservation is only poscal importance people to view the wild animals sible if people are made and rich flora and fauna roaming in the com- aware of such places and people are not aware pound itself. Nights are it is here that we need the about the jungle. beautiful in Burachapori full support of the GovLaokhowa Burachapori and the mornings are di- ernment. Courtesy: Northeast today.

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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, MARCH 18

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Buoyant Indian eves geared up for Friends Club defeat Brahmaputra World T20 clash against Pakistan boys’, Moran win

ANI New Delhi, Mar.17 : Indian women's skipper Mithali Raj on Thursday admitted that her side are brimming with confidence after their thumping victory over Bangladesh in World T20 opener, adding that they are absolutely prepared to face fierce rivals Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi on Saturday.

The 33-year-old, however, admitted that she was aware of the pressure generated around the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan.

"The team looks very confident and they are looking forward to the next game in the group stage. Pakistan we are playing the day after and I am quite aware of the pressure generated around the

Indian women's skipper Mithali Raj game. The men and women are playing the same opponent and since we are playing in the capital. It is even more a bigger game for all of us," Raj told ANI here.

Reflecting on her side's performance in the opening match, Raj said she was

quite satisfied with the contribution made by the batting line-up, adding that she hopes that they would maintain their momentum in the upcoming group clashes as well.

"I happy with the fact that batters all of them have

chipped in whether it is Harman, Vellaswamy Vanitha or Veda Krishnamurthy .So, it is always important out of five batters, three or four of them have to score on a particular day to post a good total against any side," she added.

Raj, who smacked a quickfire 35-ball 42 against Bangladesh, insisted that she would try to provide strong start to her side so that the middle-order batsmen can capitalize and accelerate the innings.

is what we had intended and executed against Bangladesh.

I hope I continue my pairing with Vanitha to give that kind of start to the team," said Raj. Earlier, the Indian bowling unit stepped up the attack after Harmanpreet Kaur's blistering knock to help the hosts kick start their World T20 campaign with a thumping 72-run win over Bangladesh in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

"I am quite happy with the fact that I gave a good start to the team because when you open the innings in the T20 against any side you need to get good start in the first six overs so that the middle-order can take the rhythm from there. And that

Harmanpreet provided the thrust in the middle overs, scoring a brisk 40 off just 29 balls and was well supported

by Veda Krishnamurthy (36 off 24 balls) as India made a daunting 163 runs for five in their stipulated 20 overs, the highest T20 target posted by the Indian eves.

Sports Reporter and one six.

Dibrugarh, Mar 17: For Brahmaputra boys’ Friends Club defeated Club, Krishna Das, Brahmaputra boys’ Ashish Das, Rajiv Das Club by 115 runs in the and Asif Sharma took second one a division B-Division Cricket piece. cricket In reply, tournament organized Brahmaputra were all

by Dibrugarh District out for 33 in 9.2 overs.

Sports Association at Rama Kumar took three DDSA stadium here to- for 3 in 2 overs for day.

Friends Club Batting first, Friends Club piled up 148 for 6 in 15 overs. Biraj Jodshi smashed 42 off 23 balls, hitting five boundaries and two sixes. Rama Kumar scored 33 off 26 balls with one boundary

In another match, Moran Alpine won by 70 runs against Tinkonia boys’ Club.

Electing to bat, Moran scored 178 for 5 in 20 overs. Macline Gogoi scored unbeaten 56 off

32 balls with five boundaries and one six.

Rintu Ahom contributed 35 off 37 balls with six boundaries and Rahul Chutiya scored 32 runs.

Rajiv Rahaman claimed three wickets for 27 runs in 3 overs for Tinkonia boys’.

In runs chase, Tinkonia boys’ were all out for 45 off 18.3 overs. Indra Thapa scored 19 off 15 balls with one four and one six.

Rajiv Das bagged three wickets for 10 runs in 4 overs.

Barca reach CL quarters with 5-1 Watson wants to remind Simmons likens record-breaking Kiwis of Australia's Cup aggregate win over Arsenal Gayle to Viv Richards in their second leg roundof-16 at Camp Nou, courtesy of goals from Neymar, Lionel Messi and a Luis Suarez stunner.

Brazilian striker Neymar extended the lead of the Catalan giants and effectively brought an end to the contest in the 18th minute, the Mirror reported.

Barcelona reach CL quarters ANI London, Mar 17 : Defending champions Barcelona continued their rich vein of form as they advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after com-

prehensively defeating Arsenal 5-1 on aggregate .

Barca held a 2-0 advantage heading into the game and then went on to claim a thumping 3-1 win over Arsene Wenger's side

Arsenal pulled one back through Mohamed Elneny before Luis Suarez scored a goal with a superb scissor-kick and Messi added a third with a sumptuous dink over David Ospina.

With the win, Barca have extended their unbeaten run to 38 games and this was their 10th consecutive Champions League win at the Camp Nou.

Steve-O recalls three-hour drug spree with Mike Tyson ANI Melbourne, Mar. 17 : SteveO recently revealed that his descent into drug abuse included a three-hour drug spree in a bathroom with Mike Tyson.

The former 'Jackass' star said in a recent interview with the GQ magazine, "I've done f***ing cocaine with Mike Tyson," reports News.com.au.

He added that he spent three hours locked in a bathroom with the 49-year-old boxer.

The 41-year-old reality star recalled Tyson opening the door and asking whether he had any cocaine with him after he crashed a party at the Hollywood Hills.

Steve-O told Tyson he had a

Mike Tyson bunch so they locked themselves in the bathroom.

He also recalled what he said to Tyson in the interview, "I said to him, my exact words, 'You know, Mike, I don't

Becks feels 'physically ill' without kids ANI London, Mar. 17 : The retired soccer heartthrob David Beckham proves to be a darling father.

In a recent interview, the 40year-old soccer legend said that he feels " physically ill" when he has to leave his children and go for work, especially after retirement from the field, reports the Mirror.

Beckham, who has four kids Brooklyn of 16, Romeo of 13, Cruz of 10, and Harper of four, with wife Victoria, admits that he has still not got grip of balancing work and family as he loves being around the latter.

Though he retired in 2013, the soccer heart-throb even admitted that he misses his

David Beckham sport every day and sill considers a return to the game.

"I don't know whether it's the athlete in me, or the passion I have for the game: I always think that I can step back on the field and play..." he said.

have a racist bone in my body, but I like to consider myself a n*****'" However, Steve-O doesn't see Tyson much in the present.

dominance

Shane Watson ANI Melbourne, Mar 17 : Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has expressed that his side will be fully prepared in their bid to remind New Zealand of their superior record against them at major tournaments.

Australia's dominance is clearly evident in the sense that they have won 11 of their 15 games against New Zealand in the two major global 50over competitions - the World Cup and Champions Trophy.

The trans-Tasman opponents are set to renew their rivalry when they will take on each other in the group stage match on Friday in the World Twenty20 in Dharamsala.

"Look there's no doubt that the Kiwis always play very well and they always punch above their weight (in global tournaments), and they've been playing

very good cricket especially over the last couple of years," Watson was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"But knowing the history I've had playing against the Kiwis, we've always played very well against them.

"There's still quite a few people, players, who are still there in that New Zealand team who know that history and have been involved in the history as well.

"So we'll certainly be letting them know of that because they're going to have to be at their absolute best to beat us," the veteran all-rounder added.

The pressure on Australia has increased after New Zealand pulled off a stunning win over tournament favourites and hosts India in the opening group match in Nagpur on Tuesday.

ANI Mumbai, Mar 17 : West Indies coach Phil Simmons has lavished praise on Chris Gayle, comparing the destructive southpaw to batting great Viv Richards after his blistering knock helped the Caribbean side open the World Twenty20 campaign on a winning note.

Gayle became the first batsman to score two hundreds in the World T20 after blasting an unbeaten 100 off 48 balls as West Indies eased past England by six wickets in the group stage match in Mumbai on Wednesday.

In addition, the 36-year-old batsman surpassed former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for hitting most number of sixes in the T20 format.

West Indies chased down the target of 183 with 11 balls to spare which reasserted their sta-

West Indies coach Phil Simmons tus as one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament.

"To destroy an attack like that, I think the only person in my time that I would put him with is Sir Vivian because Sir Vivian used to go out there and destroy attacks like that so I think he is up

there with Sir Viv in the way he tears apart attacks," Simmons told reporters while addressing a postmatch press conference.

West Indies will next take on defending champions Sri Lanka at M. Chinnnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Djokovic cruises, Nadal survives scare at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic ANI Johannesburg, Mar 17 : World number one Novak Djokovic and Spanish maestro Rafael Nadal produced

contrasting performances to advance to the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Masters on Thursday.

The Serbian defending

champion defeated Spanish rival Feliciano Lopez 63, 6-3 in the fourth round, while Nadal overcame a gutsy challenge from German teenager Alexander Zverev in a three-set thriller to set up a quarterfinal clash against Kei Nishikori, Sport24 reported.

Djokovic and Nadal will face each other in a mouthwatering semifinal clash if they are able to beat their respective opponents in the quarterfinals .

Meanwhile, French Open champion Stan Wawrinka was sent crashing out of Indian Wells in the fourth round by David Goffin.

World T20: 'Host' India not allowing Pak officials to watch matches, alleges Islamabad ANI Islamabad, Mar. 17 : 'T20 World Cup host India is not allowing officials to travel and be present at venues where the Pakistan cricket team is playing,' alleged Pakistan Government sources.

Hitting out at New Delhi for not allowing travel permits to five Pakistani High Commission officials, Islamabad said that the figure of 19 government officials given

by India is misleading.

The sources also said that Pakistan has never hosted such an event so the question of reciprocity doesn't even arise.

New Delhi had earlier appeared to relent on Thursday by stating that it had approved the travel of 19 Pakistan High Commission officials and was prepared to consider more such requests.

The remarks by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup came even as Indian

Office and a demarche was issued over denying permission to Delhibased Pakistan diplomats to travel to Kolkata to witness cricket matches being played by the Pakistan team.

Pakistan cricket team Deputy High Commissioner to Islamabad J P

Singh was called in by the Pakistan Foreign

The Pakistan High Commission had applied for 34 officials to watch four matches and so far only 10 officials have been given permission.

The Indian Government had on Tuesday denied

a travel permit to five Pakistani officials, who had applied for visit to India to watch the World Twenty 20 matches.

According to sources, the five officials, whose travel permit has been denied, are working for Pakistan's spy agency ISI. The ruling dispensation at the Centre, however, cleared travel permits for two Pakistani High Commission officials and their families.

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