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ASSENG/2015/64205
Vol. 1
Issue 169
Making East Asia Summits Meaningful
Dibrugarh, Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Rahul targets PM, says Cong stands with farmers, oppressed
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ULFA leaders released
“Ahead of the state election, the peace process will be a major poll prank and all the political parties are eager to catch on this sentiment.”
A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 23
In a significant development, two ULFA leaders Lakhi Goswami and Babul Goswami, who were with ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia at the Dhaka jail, has been released today. The duo, who were body guard of Chetia at Dhaka, has been released after 17 long years, and today they returned to their home. They were also arrested in Bangladesh along with Chetia.
Sabita Devi, a senior researcher
Contd. on Page 4
ET CAPSULES Six injured Rangia, Nov 23: At least six persons were injured seriously following a road accident that occurred at Goroimari under Police Station Chhaygaon in Kamrup district last night. According to the police, a van carrying cattle collided head on with a ‘Swift Desire’ injuring six passengers in the car. The passengers were admitted in Goroimari Primary Health center and then shifted to GMCH. Police seized both the vehicles. (Correspondent)
Poll expert Guwahati, Nov 23: Prashant Kishor, the man behind Modi's 2014 Lok Sabha campaign, has been approached by various political parties after he emerged as a key architect of the spectacular victory of Nitish-Lalu duo in Bihar. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Assam Congress will hire Prashant Kishor for Assam assembly election to be held in 2016. (Correspondent)
Arunachal Governor funds post treatment Itanagar, Nov 23: The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh JP Rajkhowa granted a sum of Rs. 60,000.00 (Rupees Sixty Thousand) only from his Discretionary Grant towards post treatment of Baby Archim, from Jong, a remote village in Anjaw District, for her liver transplantation surgery, which was done on 11th November 2015 at Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi. On being approached by Muskan Welfare Society, the Governor immediately granted the amount and wished her speedy recovery. (Bureau)
Gogoi attacks centre, demands immediate release of 20,000 crore kept pending against oil royalty A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 23
In a scathing attack on the Union government, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today demanded that the Centre cleared pending funds to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore due to the state, failing which he threatened to carry out a demonstration during the Winter Session in Parliament. "I will wait for next 15-20 days. If nothing happens and we do not get the money, then I will go and give a demonstration in
Parliament," Gogoi said at a press conference at Guwahati today. The chief minister said he would hold the protest during the Parliament's forthcoming Winter Session, which will begin from November 26 and continue till December 23. "Assam is supposed to get around Rs 20,000 crore in total from the Centre under various heads and dues. This amount accumulated since the last 8-10 years," Gogoi said. He regretted that though he had met and gave presentations to
Jammu, Nov 23 In an unfortunate incident, a helicopter ferrying pilgrims from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to Katra crashed on Monday, killing all seven people aboard. Helicopter ferrying 6 pilgrims, woman pilot crashes near Katra Related Video Helicopter ferrying 6 pilgrims,
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Reiterating his demand for Assam Governor PB Acharya's removal, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said the incumbent "does not know how to maintain his dignity" as the Constitutional head. Acharya's reported statement that "Hindustan is only
(NEIIPP). "I will go on fighting for the interest of Assam. I will continue my fight till the Special Category Status and NEIIPP are restored," Gogoi said. The Chief Minister also refuted various Central Ministers' claims that the state is getting adequate funds. "Let there be an open discussion between me and any central minister over fund allocation issue. Please come to Doordarshan and discuss. We will talk with proofs. Let the people know who is telling the truth," he added.
TET teachers protest ET Correspondent Jorhat, Nov 23
TET teachers of Elementary Teachers’ Association today staged dharna in front of the Jorhat DC court to demanding fulfillment of their demands which they have been facing since years after joining. The demands are include regularization of their jobs, filling up the posts lying vacant in the Education department as well as in the district, informed the secretary of the association here today.
BJP JAC continues protests demanding Arunachal CM to step down A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Nov 23
Nearly one thousand people took part in a peace rally organized by the Jan Andolan Committee BJP branch today starting at Nirjuli and culminating at IG Park, Itanagar. The rally was part of the ongoing demand of the party for the Chief Minister to step down “owing to several financial mismanagement”. The rally was led by JAC chairman Tame Passang and leader of the opposition
Exposing the ISIS-Indian link, intelligence sources on
for Hindus" and his subsequent clarification saying Indian Muslims are "free to go Pakistan" exposes his communal mindset as well as of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, Gogoi said. "He (Acharya) does not know how to maintain his dignity. Governor's office is a very prestigious office. Contd. on Page 4
Monday revealed that six Indians who were fighting for the dreaded terror network group have died. A total of 23 Indians have so far joined the ISIS
of which six have reportedly been killed in different incidents. Among the six Indians who are reported to have died after joining the IS are: Athif Vaseem Mohammad (Adilabad, Telangana), Mohammad Umar Subhan (Bangalore, Karnataka), Maulana Abdul Kadir Sultan Armar (Bhatkal, Karnataka), Saheem Farooque Tanki (Thane, Maharashtra), Faiz Masood (Bangalore, Karnataka) and Mohammad Sajid alias Bada Sajid (Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh). Contd. on Page 4
ET Corresondent Lakhimpur, Nov 23
Naba Doley, the MLA of Dhakuakhona, who recently resigned from Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with a host of forty thousand supporters along with him. These supporters, according to a reliable source, con-
ET Bureau Itanagar, Nov 23
Against the backdrop of Supreme Court dismissing a special review petition on Chakma-Hajong issue, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today said the state government would file
a curative petition. Tuki in a statement said, "We are not against the grant of Indian citizenship to the Chakma Hajong refugees, but opposed to their permanent settlement in Arunachal Pradesh and the exemption of Inner Line Permit". He pointed out that this had been a long-pending issue on
Prices of exorbitantlypriced orthopaedic implants are expected to come down by 40-50%, with a government body suggesting-for the first time ever-price caps to make them more affordable for patients. Contd. on Page 4
Hip and knee surgeries are out of reach for over 80% of affected patients thanks to the steep cost of implants. Knee implants cost between Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh, while hip implants range from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh.
which many political decisions were taken in the past."Also, the collective sentiments of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, especially that of the organisations that are agitating for the interests of the state have to be given careful consideration as per the provisions of the law," he said.
Chow Bilaseng Namchoom Nampong, Nov 23
The upasampada (ordinance) of two monks marked the end of 8th Sacred Kathina Civara Dana cum Acharya Kanto Poi at a small hilly town along the Indo-Myanmar border, Rima Village under RimaPutok Circle of Nampong, Changlang district on November 22. The 8th Sacred Kathina Civara Dana cum Acharya Kanto Poi with a motto of “All Buddhist Sects under one Umbrella” was celebrated at Asoka Vihara, Rima Village from November 20 to 22. Contd. on Page 3
firmed their joining the party by submitting the copy of their signatures. On this occasion, a joining meeting, which was chaired by Rao Gajendra Singh, the President of Lakhimpur District BJP was held at the Public Playground of Dhakuakhona with thousands of people in attendance. Participating in the meeting in the meeting, Sarbananda Sonowal, the newly appointed
President of Assam State BJP welcomed him to the party. Being overwhelmed at the sight, he reacted that the meeting venue turned into the Mahakumbha Mela with the support of people who gathered there. In his speech, he declared establishment of the Dissangmukh Tekeliputa connecting bridge over the river Brahmaputra and introduction of the Majuli-DhakuakhonaChichiKolghar train very soon. He slammed the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi as “he has done nothing to develop the flood affected Dhakuakhona LAC”. On the other hand, Himanta Biswa Sarmah, the new BJP leader criticised “the Bharat Narah-Rani Narah couple who comprehensively failed to render public service with regard to the betterment of the people of Dhakuakhona”. Contd. on Page 4
GOOD NEWS FOR ORTHO PATIENTS Prices of exorbitantly-priced orthopaedic implants are expected to come down by 4050%, with a government body suggesting-for the first time ever-price caps to make them more affordable for patients.
Contd. on Page 3
Monk ordinance marks end of 8th Sacred Kathina Civara Dana cum Acharya Kanto Poi
Ortho implants may become cheaper by 50% Mumbai, Nov 23
Arunachal. I wonder why the media here is not concerned about the public grievances.” He went on to say that corruption is well rooted right from the grassroots level up to the Chief Secretary level. He said it is not only at the ministers’ level. “We don’t see any changes or development here despite the central govt. giving money to the State regularly. We appealed to all the MLAs saying that the Govt.
Arunachal to file curative petition on Chakma-Hajong issue
ISIS says Indians not good enough as 6 out of 23 fighters from India are dead
PTI New Delhi, Nov 23
BJP MLA Tamiyo Taga. While addressing the protestors, Tamiyo Taga blamed the media for not giving proper coverage to BJP news and their allegations against the Govt. Taga said to the public that what all happened in the assembly including issues raised by the BJP never came out in the media. He said, “The print media in Arunachal is so much anti-opposition. They publish only the statement of the ministers. They have not done any justice to the people of
Dhakuakhona AGP MLA joins BJP along with forty thousand supporters
Contd. on Page 4
Assam Governor does not know how to maintain dignity: Tarun Gogoi A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 23
the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Union Finance Minister urging them to release the state's due as soon as possible, but "nothing happened so far". The major chunk of the due amount comprises oil royalty, which stands at over Rs 10,000 crore, from the PSU firms, Gogoi said. He also accused the Centre of neglecting the North East and Assam by withdrawing the Special Category Status and suspending the North East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy
Helicopter crash kills six Vaishno Devi pilgrims
Lachit Divas to be observed by AAHSU Tinsukia, Nov 23. All Assam Hindu Students Union is going to celebrate Lachit Divas on Tuesday to remember his legacy. A colourful rally would be taken out at 11 am in the morning which will be followed by an open meeting at district library. (Correspondent)
Pages- 12
Bangladesh to sign MoU with India for 100MW of power
ULFA leader Anup Chetia remanded to 14 days judicial custody by court ULFA leader Golap Baruah alias Anup Chetia was today remanded to 14 days judicial custody by the special judicial magistrate CBI, Assam, after the end of his five-day CBI custody. Speaking to the media after this development, Chetia's advocate Bijon Mahajan said that the ULFA leader was sent to judicial custody and will be produced before court on December 5.He will be lodged in Guwahati Central Jail, Mahajan said.
5.00
Six Things You Can Do With Coffee - After You've Finished Drinking It
Page 8
A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 23
Price -
The National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), a government body under the ministry of health and family welfare asked to look into ways to make medical devices affordable, has suggested ceiling prices in its report submitted to the drug pricing regulator NPPA.
According to official sources, price regulation on cardiac stents and implants is expected to be discussed when the department of pharmaceuticals meets medical device manufacturers and health ministry officials.
Assam innovator Uddhab Bharali shortlisted for prestigious NASA Technology Award
ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Nov 23
The US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shortlisted Assamese innovator Uddhab Bharali for its prestigious NASA Technology Award. Bharali has also been nominated for the World Technology Award 2012 given by World Technology Network. Based in North Lakhimpur town in north-eastern Assam, Bharali has 39 universal patents to his name. But the 45-yearold innovator is best known for his mini pomegranate deseeder. "I am among the 26 innovators from across the globe to have qualified for the NASA award," Bharali said from his hometown. Contd. on Page 4
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Raj Communications Near SBI bank Changlang
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DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Marriage party humiliated at Kaliabhomora toll gate, removal of the gate demanded Shambhu Boro Tezpur, Nov 23: A sensational situation prevailed here following an incident of attack upon a marriage party coming from Guwahati six mile at Kaliabhomora toll gate this morning at around 7.15 am. According to the victim marriage party which was on its way to Tezpur Kolibari taking the bride from Guwahati six mile area were stopped at the toll gate and asked to pay tax. The marriage party was told that some unscrupulous people in nexus with some politically influenced people have been running the toll gate illegally and hence the
marriage party denied to pay the tax following which the tax collectors got infuriated and attacked the members of the marriage party. However, the marriage party somehow managed to escape from the attackers. Meanwhile, people living in the vicinity of the toll gate alleged that the Koliabhumura bridge toll gate has irked all the motorists passing by as it is “an unauthorized act going on over the years”. “It has been noticed that there are no toll bridges in Assam except the Kaliabhomora Bridge. It has become a matter of concern that the Government has
imposed toll collections on the Kaliabhomora Bridge for cars, mini trucks, buses and trucks etc. at Sulung toll collection gate which does not come under any norms.” People alleged. It may be mentioned that the rate of collection of tolls from cars, buses and trucks were very nominal earlier based on which the Government collected a huge amount without creating any problem. But later on, the PWD has allotted the Sulung gate on lease following which the rate of collection of toll has also increased. Frequent harassment to the owners of cars
and trucks meted out by the toll collectors of late has become a serious problem. Even in some cases they have been demanding additional money, public alleged. In the recent past though toll collectors were arrested on charges of allegedly harassing the public in the name collecting toll money at the gate, presently it is becoming more irksome for the common people and the motorists. “In view of the situation we urge the Government to look into the problem and demand immediate removal of such system of collecting tolls.” A local asserted.
Bihar Assembly session to commence from November 30 Patna, Nov 23: The Nitish Kumar cabinet today decided to call winter session of the Legislative Assembly from November 30. The state cabinet in its first meeting this evening recommended convening session of the Legislative Assembly from November 30 to December 8, Principal Secretary of Cabinet Coordination department Amir Subhani told
reporters. He said the session of the Legislative Council will commence from December 3 and would end on December 8. Giving details, he said that on the first two days - November 30 and December 1 - the newlyelected MLAs would take oath. On December 2, the new Speaker of the Legislative Assembly would be elected. Chief Minister
Responsibilities allotted to the Executive members of NC Hills Autonomous Council ET Correspondent Haflong, Nov 23: The chief executive member of North Cachar Hills Autonomous council today allocated their subjects to the members of its executive committee. This was done under the rules of 31(1) of the Assam Autonomous districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules 1951. Fifteen members were provided subjects ranging from DRDA, Education, PWD, PHE etc etc. The members who will be in charge of the various subjects are as follows: r Niranjan Hojai, Chief Executive Member- DRDA, Medical including health & family welfare, Land Reforms, Land Revenue, GAD, Taxation, Finance, Personnel, Appointment, Council PWD, Industries & other subjects, specifically not allotted to other executive members r Prakanta Warisa, Executive Member - Education and Parliamentary Affairs r L Hiima Keivom, Executive Member - Water Resources, Town & Country Planning, DIPRO r Athlong Lienthang, Executive Member - Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Dairy r Debolal Gorlosa, Executive Member - PWD Rocks & Building r Ranu Langthasa, Executive Member - PHE rThaisodao Thaosen, Executive Member -Food & Civil Supplies, Co-Operation, Sports and Youth Welfare r Ihuing Pame, Executive Member - Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Market and Excise r Suanthangjem Hrangkhol, Executive Member -Sericulture, UDP, Fishery r Flaming Rupsi Shylla, Executive Member -Soil Conservation r Laltlansang Hmar, Executive Member -Agriculture r Hailangkambe Kuame, Executive Member - Forest r Biswajit Daulagupu, Executive Member -Irrrigation r Amendu Hojai, Executive Member -Social Welfare & ICDS r Samuel Changsan, Executive Member - Handloom & Textile, Council Transport
Nitish Kumar's close confidante Vijay Chaudhary is pitted as front-runner for the post of Speaker. Chaudhary, who was number two minister in the outgoing JD(U) government did not take oath as minister yesterday which indicates his chance of becoming Speaker. On December 3, Governor Ram Nath Kovind would address the
joint session of the two Houses. There will be no session on December 4 and 5. The House would debate Governor's address on December 7 on which the government would reply on the last day of the session on December 8, Subhani said. The state cabinet also authorized the CM on appointment of Advocate General. (Agencies)
AASAA suspends education secretary ET Correspondent Margherita, Nov 23: All Adivashi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) Tinsukia District Committee President Mathias Dhaan and Secretary Ramanus Lakra have suspended Jakub Kanduar AASAA Tinsukia District Committee Education Secretary and also the incharge of Digboi AASAA adhoc Committee
Secretary on account of “unconstitutional activities”. On November 21, an executive meeting of AASAA was held at Digboi where it was ascertained that Jakub Kunduar was involved in “unconstitutional activities” and has close connection with some political party leaders and it has maligned the image of AASAA, said Ramanus Lakra.
AJYCP Sivasagar unit strike for Bangladesi issue at Sivasagar infront of DC court on today . Pic - Firuz Ahmed
NJCA disappointed over 7th CPC recommendations ET Bureau New Delhi, Nov 23: Expressing disappointment over the “adverse and retrograde” recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission submitted to the Government on November 19, 2015, the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) of Central Government Employees in a meeting held on November 20, 2015 resolved to fight back by observing ‘Black Day’ by holding massive demonstration, wearing black badges all over the country on November 27, 2015. In a release, NJCA said, “The Seventh Pay Commission while giving a bonanza to the higher level officers has completely ignored the low paid employees.” Adding that while the wage revision for the employees of PSUs and Banks, etc. take place once in five years, the Central Government Employees have to wait for a long time of 10 years for wage revision. Meanwhile, NJCA appealed to the Central Government Employees to be prepared for more serious action programmes.
Members of Chatra Mukti Sangram Samiti burn the effigy of Assam Governor P B Acharya at Dibrugarh for his alleged controversial communal remarks. Pic- UB Photos
Land Acquisition Bill opposed
List of hospitals in Dibrugarh with contact details & phone numbers, Assam
ET Correspondent Margherita, Nov 23: Expressing opposition to the Land Acquisition Bill, Assam State CPI(ML) member Subra Jyoti Bardhan today criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA Government at the Centre. Subra Jyoti Bardhan in this connection said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come only to make profit for the Corporate sector and that is why they are trying to pass the Land Acquisition Bill in both Houses. Farmers of our country shall get united and boycott this Land Acquisition Bill through democratic means.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the ‘Red Carpet’ for the Corporate sector so that they can make huge profit at the cost of the farmers and general masses of the country, he said adding that the Land Acquisition Bill is a curse on the farmers of the country.
Aditya Diagnostics & Hospitals Bordoloi Avenue, Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786005 Phone Numbers: 0373 - 2302219, 2302225
G M Hospital AMC Road, Jalan Nagar Dibrugarh - 786 005
Brahmaputra Diagnostics & Hospital Near Indian AirLines City Office Paltan Bazar Dibrugarh - 786 005
Shrishti Hospital & Research Centre Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786 005 Phone: 0373 - 2300024, 2302099
Archana Trauma & Orthopaedics Hospital Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh - 786 005 Phone: 0373 - 2302100, 2302099
Assam Medical College
Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2302872, 2302051
Aastha Hospital Graham Bazar, A.T. Road Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2322547
Sanjivani Diagnostic & Hospital Paltan Bazar, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2303448, 2303458, 2301904
Sankardev Hospital Mancotta Road, Chowkidinghee Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2327717, 2327715, 2326960
Jalan Nagar, Dibrugarh - 786 002 List of Phones numbers: Emergency Room : 0373 - 2300627 Labour Room: 0373 - 2300022 Drug Deaddiction Centre: 0373 - 2302952 Community Medicine: 0373 - 2302994 RIA Centre: 0373 - 2302093
Dr. Pawan Bajaj's Skin Clinic Paltan Bazar, Opposite Aditya Hospital Dibrugarh
Dr Damani's Nursing Home Near Circuit House, Dibrugarh Phone: 0373 - 2300928, 2302873
ASTRO FOR YOU If you’re looking to get married, buy the ring today. But before you take the leap, weigh all the pros and cons carefully. All in all, this may be a day filled with activities related to your relationship and by the time the day ends, you may be on cloud nine! You will be feeling listless, lazy and out of sorts today, and will tend to ignore and neglect important tasks scheduled for the day. Guard against this tendency as you could miss out on opportunities that others could then benefit from. That way, you will surely lose out professionally, particularly if you are in business. This aside, the day promises to be an eventful and fruitful one. Today will be a day filled with a lot of festivity, you still need to guard against getting carried away. You will spend the day socialising with friends and family. You might end up neglecting your household duties in organizing some function or picnic. A hectic day, combined with domestic pressure will make you exhausted. You feel a heavy burden on mind and heart. Don’t be too emotional. Take care not to pass domestic burdens on to your career or business, and thereby mar your capacity and efficiency. The desire and passion for learning is a life-long quest. It may be that you love to learn, but dissipating the knowledge you have acquired is equally important. So on this day, it is through teaching that you shall learn just how fascinating and frustrating children can be. Give them time and space and you shall find yourself filled with pride as they scale greater heights. Ganesha believes that now is the time to master some extracurricular activities. You will start off on a long, arduous path to success. Some tough work will play a vital role in your progress. Don’t cut corners, and your labours will pay rich dividends and you will reap due rewards. Some opportunities are best left alone as they involve too much risk. Today will be a lucky day for you. You may receive some financial gain. There will be some good news about your children’s progress. This is the right time to invest in business. For financial investors and share brokers this period is beneficial, so make the most of it. Today, there are chances that you would be disturbed by continuous flow of negative thoughts in your mind. Try to divert your mind and look for positive people or friends who would cheer you up. Understanding needy people and living up to their expectations would bring some respite to your disrupted mind. The rewards of hard labour will be sweet, so start off by unwinding with some fun today. Quality time being spent with friends and family is on the cards. All in all, a fun day. You are in hot water, but do not lose hope during these turbulent times. Maintain a calm head over your shoulders and deal with the problems. Also, do not jump to conclusions or be argumentative with the people around you, as you may end up being at the losing end. You will not need a reason to party today. Be it the news of a friend getting married or you buying a new car, you are in a mood to celebrate life like anything! Apart from this, you will have a smooth sailing through out the day. If you are a businessman or a professional, you will move one step closer to your target. A day of mixed fortunes awaits you, where taking risks could prove to be your undoing, or provide you with handsome returns. This is because you could come out on top by treading cautiously, but uncalculated risks will probably throw your calculations out of gear. Your success rate is unlikely to be too high; hence it may be a tough day for you. However, it will end on a promising note.
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
24-11-15 (TUESDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-50 A.M-Tokari Geet 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali(Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi(Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Radio Report on Dibrugarh Book Fair 12-15 P.M-Teachers' Broadcast 12-45 P.M-Sponsored Programme-"Ei Path Hoise Bikashor" 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 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 7-15 P.M-Chah Shramikar Aasor 8-00 P.M-Bijnan Jeuti (Science Magazine Programme)-1.Talk-"Udbhidor Poribeshgata Boishishtya" by Debojit Phukan, 2.Bijnan Barta by Sailendramohan Das 9-30 P.M-Sahitya Kanan (Literary Magazine Programme) 10-00 P.M-Classical Music Sd-/H.O.P
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DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
State NCP counters BJP’s “sensitive” statement A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Nov 23: The State Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today argued that BJP’s move for impeachment motion against the Speaker Nabam Rebia at this movement is not genuine. In a release, the party said, “How BJP can file impeachment motion against the Speaker when the disqualification case of MLAs is under sub judice. It is nothing but just countering the impeachment motion filed against the Deputy Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thungdok by the MLAs for his dissident activities against the Chief Minister Nabam Tuki which was against upholding the dignity of the statutory body of the legislative assembly.” The State NCP is of the opinion that the position of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is not one of enormous power but it is certainly of dignity and prestige. “The Speaker acts as neutral umpire between the ruling party and the opposition. Deputy speaker T Norbu’s open dissidence activities against sitting Chief Minister violated all
laid down rules and regulations of the statutory body of the legislative assembly and he deserved impeachment motion. This is the biggest blunder committed by the Deputy Speaker which will remain as a negative mark in the political history of Arunachal Pradesh,” the party said. “Opposition leader Tamiyo Taga should use his conscience before issuing sensitive statement while the Tarasso incident is born out of border disputes between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It is known that militant outfits are involved in the Tarasso firing case with the aim to create misunderstanding between the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. No doubt the Govt. of Assam handed over the case to CBI from police department for further investigation. Yet, Tamiyo Taga’s stated that Speaker Nabam Rebia is involved in the Tarasso firing case.” State NCP President Gicho Kabak said strongly reacting to Taga’s “meaningless and provocative” allegation against the
Speaker and termed it antiArunachal. “Tamiyo Taga deserves condemnation from every Arunachalee and excommunication from the land of Arunachal Pradesh. Being Arunachalee, we cannot tolerate such unwanted statement. It is doubted that Tamiyo Taga might have been instigated by an outfit to create law and order problems at Tarasso circle under Papum Pare District in the Assam-Arunachal border with the view to defame local MLA Nabam Rebia. There may be preplanned political conspiracy behind the Tarasso firing case on the part of the opposition leader to defame and topple the Tuki led Congress Govt. in the state. The central and state Govt. intelligence agency should put him under intelligence radar in connection with the Tarasso firing case. Since the case is under the active investigation by the CBI, let the law takes its own course of action,” Kabak futher added.
Log drum installed, food festival inaugurated
ET Correspondent Khonsa, Nov 23: To the delight of the Noctes of Deomali area, the old and badly damaged log drum (Thaam) at Deomali Rangsomhum was replaced by a new log drum on 21st November amidst a huge gathering. The new log drum was
felled and carved out from a huge tree by the public of Deomali representing all the sections of the people. Dressed in traditional attires, the Nocte youths of the entire Deomali brought the new log drum from the jungles and installed ceremonially at the Rangsomhum. All
the Noctes have appreciated the organisers. In the meantime, the ADC N. Wangsu and Col. B.B. Pun, CO 1st Assam Rifles inaugurated the 60-odd food stalls at Khonsa on 22nd November as part of the Nocte Chalo Loku celebrations at Khonsa.
Dc inaugurates shopping complex
Khonsa, Nov 23: Tirap Deputy Commissioner Ravi Jha inaugurated the "lamaty Complex" at Khonsa market on 23rd November in presence of the proprietor Ngampay Lamaty, HoDs and Public leaders. The DC appreciated the effort of Lamaty which would go a long
way to mitigate the problems of the shoppers and hoped that henceforth the people of the district would be able to buy their daily needs and other durables without necessary going down to Assam every time. Earlier, he went around the new complex and ap-
preciated the shops and the articles sold in the shops. Needless to mention that this newly established complex will not only cater to the needs of Tirap district but also Longding district. All the public of Tirap and the residents of Khonsa have appreciated Lamaty. (DIRPO)
Vodafone expands 3G coverage to Changlang A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Nov 23: Vodafone India, the country's second-largest telco, expanded its mobile broadband coverage across the Northeast by launching 3G services in Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh Monday. It is the first private operator to provide 3G coverage in this remote region. Announcing the network expansion in Changlang, Alok Verma, Business Head – Assam & North East, Vodafone India, said the company is fully equipped to provide superior connectivity and service experience through our Superfast 3G offering in the area. "We are the first private telecom operator to launch services in Changlang and with this expansion, Vodafone's cov-
erage caters to more than 70 % of the population in Assam & North East, he said. Vodafone India also introduced a '3G Experience Card' free of cost for Changlang customers to experience faster, smarter and better speeds and superior connectivity of Vodafone 3G services. This is a one-time experience card which offers free 30 MB 3G data. The 3G Experience Card comes with validity of one day, and is available at all leading Vodafone Stores, Mini stores and multi-brand retail outlets across the region. Vodafone India has been rolling out its own 3G network in a phased manner across Assam & North East Circle. In addition to Changlang, it has also recently announced the launch of its
own 3G services in Jorhat & Guwahati in Assam, Itanagar, Bomdila, Tawang, Along, Basar, Bhalukpong, Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh and Kohima & Dimapur in Nagaland. In Assam & North East Circle, Vodafone operates in seven states spanning across more than 17,300 approximately towns and villages, diverse in landscape, culture and language. With over 4800 cell sites, more than 69,000 distribution touch-points and with over 310 retail touch points for customer service in the circle, Vodafone has a robust network and retail presence. Together, the company's distribution network caters to overall subscriber base of 4.7 million in Assam & North East Circle.
3-day long APCRCWW Silver Jubilee Celebrations conclude, Kiren Rijiju calls for concerted effort to fight terrorism
A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Nov 23: The three-day ‘Silver Jubilee Year’ celebrations of the Arunachal Pradesh Christian Revival Church Women Wing (APCRCWW) concluded today. Attending the Sunday jubilee service, Union Minister of State for Home, Govt. of India Kiren Rijiju wished each and every believer the jubilee blessings and praised the people for leading a disciplined life with positive approach and mindset. He opined that with the advent of Christianity, it has brought many good things in the Arunachal society. “A kind of renaissance against many social evils, poverty and illiteracy was ignited.” Mentioning about the world terrorism as a threat to all mankind cutting across caste, creed, race and religions, he called for a joint fight against terrorism. Without mincing any word he said although many leading governments across the globe and also the Govt. of India are united and are up against terrorism globally with weapons, the role of religious leaders and especially Christian leaders with religious values, word of love and tolerance is very pivotal. “The church leaders and especially the pioneers
have a greater role to play for global peace, as they have the charisma to share divine love, peace and can convince the believers with the essence of Christian values of loving one another, loving and respecting neighbours even enemies and brethrens of other religions. This is the crucial hour when we need to tolerate each other more and embrace each other. We should not misinterpret the beauty of religion. Today north east India is infested with insurgency and terrorism, there are bandhs and strikes, dharnas and killings every now and then and therefore we as an inhabitant of this beautiful region need to introspect and retrospect where the things has gone wrong,” the minister said. While reminding that Christians in Arunachal were persecuted earlier, he claimed that the spirit of secularism is flourishing and prevailed in the nation and ‘therefore each and every citizen has the right to practice whichever faith one likes’, but at the same time he stressed that one should remain connected with their own cultural root as well. He also donated a sum of Rs. Two lakhs towards the jubilee celebration fund. Earlier, APCRCC General Secretary Evan. Tai Ete in his
brief speech informed about the achievements of the organization and also highlighted the problems being faced by the churches in few districts of the state and urged the government for earnest interventions while urging the gathering for more tolerance. Later, the
faithful to God and love for one another, while Rev. Dr. Nyakdo Tasar as speaker on the 21st evening stressed on reconciling with God and mankind and to further the carrying forward of the divine responsibility with renewed strength and sacrifices. Moasenla Aier from Pillars Women Ministry Nagaland in her two deliberations spoke on the values of women in the building of a family, church and society. She urged the women to build themselves in Godly foundation with beauty and strength and developing an insightful mindset and to be the inspiration for many as a role model. Earlier, on the second day, the celebration witnessed outpouring of the heavenly blessings as invoked by veteran Rev. Nabam Sango and many received blessings and deliverances. The five services were chaired by Evan. Techi Martha Khyoda, Evan. Ibom Taipodia,
included artistic presentations by youth and women groups from all the districts of the state of Arunachal. More than fifteen thousand delegates and believers and leaders from various districts and capital complex of the state, and neighbouring Assam, Nagaland, and as far from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttaranchal included among others the former minister Bida Taku, former APCRCC presidents Rev. Takeng Taggu, Evan. Tapang Tamut, Tapyam Pada, Motum Koyu, Sama Dodum, Rev. Toko Loma besides many panchayat leaders, public leaders, church leaders, youth and women leaders, govt. officers, student leaders and prominent members have participated and witnessed the 3 days long celebrations. The senior pastors of twelve prayer centres spread across various districts of Arunachal were the prayer warriors of the celebration.
jubilee organizing committee member Dr. David Pertin led the felicitation of the chief guest for his recent conferment of United Nations coveted title of Disaster Risk Reduction Champion for the Asia Region on 17th November, a first by an Indian to be conferred with. Three scholarly speakers of the celebrations Rev. Dr. Ayang Sor spoke on the essence of being
Evan. Racho Minu Taku, Evan. Martha Riram Paktung and Evan. Jungie Mossang Bushel. The Organising chairperson Bengia Dipti Tadar, APCRCC President Tarh Kama, Adviser APCRCWW Aijoni Nabam also spoke on the occasion while vote of thanks was proposed by organising Secretary Evan. Gumde Riba. The colorful programme
The jubilee choir team from Changlang district Christian revival church council and worshipers from APCRCC’s Salvation Singers echoed the air and enthralled the audience with beautiful songs of hymns, praise and worship. The closing day of the celebration marked offering collection for downtrodden and needy section of the society.
Non-political Bordumsa Development Forum constituted Laxman Sharma Bordumsa, Nov 23: Bordumsa Development Forum was constituted here recently during a meeting held for the purpose at Singpho Cultural and Heritage Centre, Bordumsa. Non-political in nature and secular in outlook, the newly constituted body is to be steered by Wakhet Mainong Singpho and Boham Bo as the President and General Secretary re-
spectively towards its cherished goals, thus establishing its socio-economic significance for the development of the locality on multi-dimensional fronts, as claimed. According to Mainong Singpho, a representative of Singpho Development Society, the much needed secular forum was constituted in a general meeting held to this effect which was chaired by Ongla Umbon the President
of Singpho Youth Organisation (SYO) Bordumsa in the presence of representatives of various likeminded communities including the Singpho, Tangsa, Nockte, Tea-tribes, Khamti and Sonowal Kachari to ensure development of various rural pockets and combating the various forms of evils in the localities. Meanwhile, further adding to the objective of
Bordumsa Development Forum (BDF), Mr Singpho stated, “The body aims to deal with all the malaise afflicting our circle, this forum is non political, non communal organisation wherein all aboriginal communities such as Singphos, Noctes, Khamti, Tangsas, Sonawal Kochari, and Adivashi are stakeholders.” As such this forum is to serve for the overall development of the area.
BJP JAC continues protests demanding Arunachal CM to step down Contd. from Page 1
will collapse only when the majority of the MLAs staged a protest against it. We appealed to them to leave the Govt. and to support us and now step by step every MLA has come out from the Govt. and Nabam Tuki led Govt. has
been reduced to minority. There is no constitutional right for a minority Govt. to run the State. We are going to request the Governor to pressure the Govt. to call for a special session in the assembly and ask Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to prove his majority.” He mocked the Chief Minister for
attending the swearing in ceremony of the Bihar Chief Minister recently and said, “He is jobless now and the Congress is very desperate because there are only nine Congress MLAs in the whole country and five are in Northeast. So the Chief Minister is trying his level best to save the party here. And we
will not allow this and we will eliminate the Congress party from Arunachal also”. JAC chairman also addressed the public and said that corruption is the main enemy to fight against. He asked the people to support the party and continue to fight against the ruling govt.
Job Mela consultative meeting held Khonsa, Nov 23: Consultative Meeting with PRIs on Job-Mela was held at ADC office premise to discuss implementation of the Chief Minister’s Skill Development Scheme under the chairmanship of N. Wangsu, ADC. Addressing the PRIs, P. Arangham DDI briefed on the procedure and objective of the Job Mela-cum-Skill Development Awareness and Trainees Selection Rally-2015, which is scheduled to be organized at District Industries Centre Khonsa on 14th December, 2015. N. Wangsu, ADC Khonsa asked the PRIs to take active role in spreading the message to village level and enable the educated unemployed youth to attend the programme and avail the benefits of the scheme. Panchayat leaders have also assured to publicize the news at grassroots level under their jurisdiction for larger benefit. (DIPRO)
Monk ordinance marks end of 8th Sacred Kathina Civara Dana cum Acharya Kanto Poi Contd. from Page 1 The Deputy Commissioner of Changlang dist W. Khimhun and ZPC Marina Kenglang attended the religious event as chief guest and guest of honour respectively along with a host of dignitaries that included ADC Jairampur Kento Riba, Director IPR CM Longphong, DDSE Changlang H Loyi, SDO Nampong K Tikhak, ZPM Jairmapur T Longri former DC CS Jeinow, former ADC W Tikhak, former Director AIR CM Manloi and many monks from Assam, Singapore and Myanmar. Thousands of Theravada Buddhists and other Buddhist sects from neighboring places with Myanmarese nationals from Pangsau Pass attended the 3-
day religious event with great devotion and enthusiasm. The specialty of the 3 day event was the offering of overnight weaved robes by womenfolk with offering of other materials to express their gratitude to Bhikkhu Sanghas. The weaving of the robes that started in evening ended early in next morning. The ordeal for weaving the robe lasted for more than 11 hours. Terming his visit to Rima village as most memorable, the DC W Khimhun expressed his gratefulness to the celebration committee for making him part of the most auspicious occasion. Referring to the teachings of Lord Buddha on non-violence and peace, he called upon all to have compassionate feeling for nature and wildlife and termed Buddha’s philosophy
and description as all encompass. Khimhun said, “As people around the globe are engaged in war and killing each other, intolerance for other religions over the days has risen; the teachings of Buddha becomes more relevant and of utmost importance in today’s time for peace and non violence.” He urged all to do good for others and practice teachings of Buddha practically in life. Speaking about the memorandum submitted on construction of boundary wall around Ashoka Vihara by the celebration committee, the DC committed to providing all possible assistance beginning from this year onward. ZPC Marina Kenglang termed the Buddhist religion as one of the most prominent religions along with other major religions in the
world and said that Buddha is known by all for his liberal thinking with non violence and world peace being the central point. India during the time of cold-war, policies framed and adopted were in accordance to the teaching of Buddha which led India towards the path of developed nation, said Kenglang. Requesting the celebration committee, Kenglang urged more exposure of women at national and international level workshops on Buddhism and to encourage people of the area to offer prayers using their own local dialects. Delivering his discourse, headmonk of Namsai Paryati Sassana Buddha Vihara Venerable Bhikkhu Aggadhamma highlighted on the significance of conducting such auspicious
occasion in the area and to follow the eightfold path of the Buddha. Others who spoke included a Senior Teacher from Assam Gouri Bhadra Shyam, Former Director AIR CM Manlai and former ADC W Tikhak. The event also included chanting for world peace by all Bhikkhu Sangha. Other attraction of the day included Khamsin-thom-tra (manglacharan), Tripitika pathana chanting, hoisting of world Buddhist flag, Dhamma discourse, colourful procession, opening of kathina civara weaving centre, quiz competition on life of Buddha, colourful cultural programme, illumination of candle, A n e k k a c h a (Buddhabhisheka), acceptance of Pancha-sila (Dhamma Savanang) and releasing of hot air balloon.
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DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Rijiju advocates mindset change to explore Arunachal tourism ET Bureau Itanagar, Nov 23: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju advocated a change in mindset of the people to explore the tourism potential of the North-East, including Arunachal Pradesh. Addressing the inaugural session of the three-day Bomdila Festival-2015, which showcases the unique cultural mosaic of Arunachal, Rijiju said, "People from rest of India are keen to visit NE region but get scared to visit for the negative impact of insurgency." Though communication and infrastructure facilities pose problems, what is needed is behavioural change of the people, particularly tour operators to attract tourists," the Union Minister of State for Home said. He advocated creating mass awareness on how to treat the visitors, what to show them, acquaint them with high altitude problems and send them back to their respective places working "as our brand ambassador". "Tourism is known as the
Helicopter crash kills six Vaishno Devi pilgrims Contd. from Page 1
woman pilot crashes near Katra Subscribe To Zee News on The Himalayan Heli Services helicopter crashed in Reasi district at 12.55 pm. Chopper services have been suspended for the time being, said Danish Rana, Inspector General of Police, Jammu. Rana added that weather on ground was fine at the time of the incident.
HOW TO GIVE NE TOURISM A SHOT IN THE ARM Ø Changing mindset of
the people to explore the tourism potential of the North-East, including Arunachal Pradesh. ØPeople from rest of India are keen to visit NE region but get scared due to the negative impact of insurgency. ØThough communication ØTo give a boost to tour-
and infrastructure facilities pose problems, what is needed is behavioural change of the people, particularly tour operators to attract tourists.
ØMass awareness must be ØWhile the International
created on how to treat the visitors, what to show them, acquaint them with high altitude problems and send them back to their respective places working "as NE brand ambassador". largest industry in the world," he said and called for steps for the tourism sec-
“Instead, they exploited the simple people of the constituency,” he alleged. Mahendra Singh, the Natinal General Secretary of BJP appealed to the people of the constituency to welcome a change with the party. Besides, Chatia MLA Padma Hajarika, Phani sarmah, State BJP President Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Tapan Gogoi etc. delivered speech at the meet-
Tourism festival at Tawang should continue, the Buddha Mohatsava at Bomdila should be revived and the indigenous festival should be celebrated at different locations on rotation basis. tor to take up to benefit the masses by generating revenue and employment. The
42 Assam Rifles conduct health camp at Rima Nampong, Nov 23: Taking the opportunity of the religious event of the 8th Sacred Kathina Civara Dana cum Acharya Kanto Poi in Rima Village, the 42 Assam Rifles with the motto of bringing better health care system to the downtrodden people in need of better health facility in the area under supervision of Dr S Sharma organized the medical assistance camp on November 22. A total of more than 50 patients availed the benefit of the medical assistance camp. Speaking about providing medical assistance in the area, Major C Ranade of the Assam Rifles camped at Nampong said
Dhakuakhona AGP MLA joins BJP along with forty thousand supporters Contd. from Page 1
ism activities, including adventure and culture, Centre would sanction Rs 150 crore to state's tourism sector, including West Kameng by next month.
Centre releases over Rs 516 crore monthly to the state government, he informed responding to the charge of financial crisis. Rijiju added Union MoS (Finance) Jayant Sinha during his recent Itanagar visit had "discovered" there was no dearth of fund but the state lacked in fund allocation and project implementation. "I have plans to travel along the Bhalukpong-Baisakhi road to assess if the BRO has fulfilled its promise or not," he said, adding project for building all border villages, including smallest village of the state will be approved soon. The sooner the state government submits the DPR for roads, the quicker it would be approved, he added. "I have evolved a blueprint for the NE. The border trade with Bleting (Bhutan) and Pangsau Pass (Myanmar) would be introduced soon," he informed. “I will travel from Bhalukpong up to Tawang to see whether Bor-
ing. Naba Doley expressed that he joined the party as per the suggestions and advice of the voters of his constituency. He would work for the greater good of BJP. It is came to be known that 215 local AGP leaders, 3 committees of Nagar Somity, 4 ZPC leader, 21 GP committees 26 Regional Body joined BJP along with him. Meanwhile, the Dhakuakhona District body of AGP today burnt the effigy of Naba Doley terming him as traitor and betrayer.
AJYCP for ILP in Assam ET Correspondent Jorhat, Nov 23: The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) today staged dharna and shouted slogans in front of their district headquarters office beside the Mitha Pukhuri road against permitting illegal foreigners to settle in India and to pressurize the state government for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) as “it has become more essential for the state of Assam due to the fact that it has become the dumping ground,” informed Putul Dutta, adviser AJYCP here today. Putul Dutta, who was one of the picketers said, “Though it’s too late we AJYCP has been fighting, debating and crying in the greater interest of the Assamese society and now we will not rest until and unless ILP is implemented in the state.” The AJYCP leader further stated that when states like Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram, have ILP while Manipur is on the verge of implementation, why not in Assam. In the greater interest of Assamese society, the next generation, ILP is becoming more and more essential. AJYCP further urged the people of Assam to cooperate especially the media in highlighting the issues.
that such religious events attract large number of people from far flung areas
of the districts who rarely get benefits from such medical camps and hardly
At present, there are no controls on steeply-priced medical devices like cardiac stents and orthopaedic implants, giving rise to fleecing of consumers. Hip and knee surgeries are out of reach for over 80% of affected patients thanks to the steep cost of implants. Knee implants cost between Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh, while hip implants range from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh. The National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), a government body under the ministry of health and
family welfare asked to look into ways to make medical devices affordable, has suggested ceiling prices in its report submitted to the drug pricing regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), sources said. According to official sources, price regulation on cardiac stents and implants is expected to be discussed when the department of pharmaceuticals meets medical device manufacturers and health ministry officials. The sources say that important packaging and labelling changes-including declaring the maximum re-
come out of their places to avail the benefits. “It feels great to take the opportunity of the religious event which draws so many people at one place and to provide them with health facility,” he added. Pointing to poor health system in the area, Ranade wants the downtrodden people to avail the health camp facilities for free whenever put up by Assam Rifles so that as many lives of the poor people as possible are saved. The camp was organized to also generate awareness on different health issues in the area and to help all to keep themselves healthy, he informed. (DIPR)
ISIS says Indians not good enough as 6 out of 23 fighters from India are dead Contd. from Page 1
In August, 17 youths who intended to leave India to join the IS were stopped by intelligence agencies and police forces. The youths hailed from Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and other states, media reports had said. Twitter accounts of known IS sympathisers had reported the deaths of two other Indians in Syria earlier in July. They were identified only by their pseudonyms, Abu Talha and Abu Muhammad. The intelligence report further said that there is information that foreign fighters of Chinese, Indian, Nigerian and Pakistani origin are housed together and are monitored closely by the ISIS, PTI reported. Notably, the dreaded terrorist
group ISIS does not consider South Asian Muslims, including Indians, good enough to fight in conflict zone of Iraq and Syria and treated as inferior than Arab fighters but often tricks them and push into suicide attacks. According to an intelligence report prepared by foreign agencies and shared with Indian agencies, fighters from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh as well as certain countries like Nigeria and Sudan are considered inferior to Arab fighters. Also Read: 'Major Indian cities put on high alert following intelligence inputs about strike by al Qaeda' There appears to be clear hierarchy wherein the Arab fighters are preferred as officer cadre and provided better arms and ammunition,
Ortho implants may become cheaper by 50% Contd. from Page 1
der Road Organization has kept its promise to bring changes in condition of road for traveling," Rijiju added. The Centre would not distinguish on party line for the development of people which should be accountable, he said, urging to draw his attention for any lacuna in the Central government. "I cannot give my MP fund to every house but I will give it to every circle and areas for developmental activities. What I require is only cooperation from concerned authority and public," Rijiju pointed out. Elaborating on the tourism activities, including adventure and culture, Rijiju said the Centre would sanction Rs 150 crore to state's tourism sector, including West Kameng by next month. He announced to arrange annual fund for this festival from next year. The minister suggested while the International Tourism festival at Tawang should continue the Buddha Mohatsava at Bomdila be revived and the indigenous festival be celebrated at different locations on rotation basis.
tail price (MRP), as well as the per unit price on the pack-could be made mandatory to start with. Nearly 80% of the high-end devices, including cardiac stents and implants, are mainly import driven, while the domestic industry manufactures disposables and medical supplies. Over the last few years, there have been complaints about overcharging, with regulators investigating cases where patients have coughed up almost three to four times the landed cost (price at which these are imported) for certain devices like
stents. Since these devices are imported, their prices are already high, and go up further with the duties levied on them. There are concerns as there is a huge gap between the imported price of stents and implants, and the price charged to patients. The cost to patient gets inflated as these are sold by the company at a margin to distributors, and further to hospitals, who levy a "handling surcharge", which is also not fixed, resulting in huge treatment expenses for patients. (Agencies)
equipment, accommodation and salaries. "The fighters from South Asia are usually housed in groups in small barracks and are paid less than the Arab fighters and are provided inferior equipment," the input says. Hence, there is a clear trust deficit between the dominant Arab fighters from other nationalities, who are mostly attracted to ISIS through its sophisticated propaganda techniques on the Internet. There is also information, the intelligence input suggests, that the ISIS considers Islam, as it is practised in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh .., as apostate and a departure from the original teachings of Quran and Hadith, which makes them less motivated towards Salafist Jihad.
Indoor Stadium in Golaghat ET Correspondent Golaghat, Nov 23: At theIndoor Stadium Golaghat Hemoprova Girls’ College, an Indoor Stadium will be inaugurated by Minister Ajanta Neog on November 24 at 11 am. Principal Dr Bonti Rani Gogoi has invited attendance at the same function.
Police personnel browse through books at on going 9th Dibrugarh Book Fair 2015 at Chowkidinghee play ground, Dibrugarh. Pic - UB Photos
State level media launch of Introduction of Inactivated Polio held ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Nov 23: The state level media launch of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) and sharing of Mission Indradhanush – Strengthening Routine Immunization (RI), Phase 2 in Assam was held today at hotel Lily in Guwahati with a day long program of media workshop. It is noteworthy that the Government of Assam is set to introduce Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine in the last week of November of this year in the state with the primary purpose of providing immunity against polio virus and reduce the risk of Vaccine Associated Paralytic Poliomyelitis (VAPP). “For successful launch of the vaccine it is important to sensitise media persons as media can play a crucial role in creating an informed discourse on the beneficial health aspects of Routine
Immunisation. There is a need to capacitate the media community and provide updated and accurate information on RI. In this regard the Directorate of Health Services (Family Welfare) organised the media workshop with the support of UNICEF from 9.30 am.” The event organizers informed. The workshop provided an in-depth and up-todate technical and medical knowledge about all aspects of IPV and RI presenting a wider perspective of their importance in the overall sphere of public health, initiating debate on incorrect media practices and felicitating dialogue with state and district health officials and independent experts. The program began with the speech of Dr Atul Gogoi Joint Director, UIP, Assam followed by welcome note by Tehseen Alam, Communication Officer, UNICEF.
In the technical session, Dr Manisha Chawla, Health Specialist UNICEF, Assam presented overview of Routine Immunisation in India and Assam and briefed Introduction to Inactivated Polio Virus. Then, Dr Arup Deka, WHO, State Surveillance Medical Officer rendered a presentation on Operational Guidelines on IPV. Dr Atul Gogoi Joint Director,UIP, Assam shared the progress of Mission Indradhanush, Phase 2 in Assam while Dr Garima Saikia discussed on frequently asked questions by media. Teresa Rehman, the Managing Editor of the magazine The Thumb Print took part in the session on Health Journalism reporting. The workshop concluded with discussion by UNICEF on Adverse Effects following Immunisation.
ULFA leader Anup Chetia remanded to 14 days judicial custody by court Contd. from Page 1
48-year-old Chetia was arrested by CBI under RC (Regular Case) No. 4(S)/ 1988 in connection with a murder in Golaghat (Assam). He was produced in the SJM CBI court on November 18 which remanded him in CBI custody for five days. At the end of the CBI remand, Chetia was produced before the court
today amidst tight security. The ULFA general secretary was brought to Guwahati on Monday morning reportedly from Delhi and was directly taken from the airport here to Assam police special branch headquarters at Kahilipara before being produced in the court at 4pm. Political analysts sees it as a progressive step by both the central and the state government ahead of the state elections in Assam
slated to be held in April next year, as it will be a big boost for the peace process which both governments are pushing for. “Ahead of the state election, the peace process will be a major poll prank and all the political parties are eager to catch on this sentiment,” said Sabita Devi, a senior researcher of the Guwhati based think tank, the Centre for Environment, Social and Policy Research.
Assam Governor does not know how to maintain dignity: Tarun Gogoi Contd. from Page 1
I have worked with Governors appointed during earlier NDA regime also, but never saw such a person. They all worked with dignity," Gogoi told reporters in Guwahati. "Appointment of such persons as Governor and such statements will disintegrate the country and affect the unity. He is playing divisive politics," he added. The Chief Minister also attacked Acharya by saying that the way he is functioning, it is contradictory to Modi's claim of
'Team India' spirit and federalism. "He (Acharya) is just an acting Governor. No permanent Governor has been appointed so far for a long time. He is just behaving like an RSS Pracharak. He should not be appointed in an important state like Assam. "He should be removed immediately...You (Centre) appoint anyone who can hold the dignity of the post," Gogoi said. On Sunday, Gogoi had demanded that the Centre should appoint a 'permanent' Governor for the state by replacing Acharya, who is holding additional charge
along with Nagaland. Talking about Bihar polls and subsequent change in guard at BJP's Assam unit, he said it is a clear indication that the party is "losing its ground" in the state going for Assembly polls next year. "BJP will be defeated in Assam. I will defeat them. They are trying to divide everyone. They are taking people from Congress, AGP, extremists, surrendered militants and many other groups. They are scared, so they are behaving like this," Gogoi said.
Assam innovator Uddhab Bharali shortlisted for prestigious NASA Technology Award Contd. from Page 1
"I have qualified for developing the mini pomegranate de-seeder, which has become very popular in the United States." The machine, exported to the US and Turkey, separates the outer cover and thin inner membrane of a pomegranate without damaging the seeds. It has a capacity of de-seeding 50-
55 kg of pomegranates per hour. Bharali said NASA briefed him about the system involved in deciding the winners. "Out of the 26 who have qualified, 10 would be given the award through online voting. Getting requisite votes is secondary; qualifying for the award is recognition as an international innovator," he added. The nomination for the World Technology Award, on the other hand, is for the
mini CTC tea plant that Bharali had designed. Small enough to be set up in a 14ft by 20ft space, his tea plant follows all established procedures of massive tea producing machines and can produce up to 100 kg of tea per day with a power intake of only 2KW. Bharali began innovating in 1988, and his first device was a polythene filmmaking unit. He has since innovated 98 engineering devices.
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REGION
DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Inadequate gas supply delays Tripura Thermal plant Agartala, Nov 23: Failure on the part of authorities concerned to ensure adequate and regular supply of gas as well as technical glitches have led to an inordinate delay in the commissioning of the state-run NEEPCO's second biggest thermal power project in northeast India and resulted in huge losses to it. While a senior official of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) blamed the government-owned ONGC's failure to ensure adequate supply of gas for the delay that was causing NEEPCO a loss of Rs.6 crore per month, an official of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation said technical problems and interruptions on the part of NEEPCO were to blame for the situation. NEEPCO - a mini-ratna company under the union power ministry - had begun to commission the Rs.950 crore (nearly $150 million) power plant in western Tripura's Monarchak, 70 km south of Tripura capital Agartala, more than 13 years ago. The project's foundation stone was laid in March 2002 by
Ban on the sale and export of Turmeric Aizawl, Nov 23: Mizoram Health and Family Welfare department has banned the sale and import of reddish turmeric powder from neighbouring Myanmar after the State Public Health Laboratory found the powder "unsafe". State Commissioner of Food Safety Dr K. Ropari recently issued a notification banning the turmeric powder, locally called 'Aisen'. The notification said the 'Aisen' sample was sent to the State Public Health Laboratory in Guwahati where it was found that the turmeric powder is unsafe. The colour used in manufacture of the 'Aisen' was in violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations, 2011, the notification said, adding that it was found to be substandard. While turmeric powder is generally called 'Aieng' in the local dialect, this particular product is called 'Aisen' due to reddish hues and widely used in hotels, restaurants and also at homes. (Agencies)
Embee Fortune 2 project coming next year Gangtok, Nov 23: The Embee Lifespace LLP, based in Siliguri, has launched a real estate project to cater to middle and lower middle class people with houses. "The present real estate scenario has flats for upper or high society being constructed. We thought of catering to middle class and lower middle class people with houses as no builders thought of making because of their belief in profitability. Our motto is to provide quality not profitability," said Embee Lifespace director Vineet Bansal. We have worked hard and achieved 100 successful bookings, said Basnal. The company has felicitated those who purchases its flats and provided Alto cars and bikes to the selected buyers. We will be launching our next project Embee Fortune 2 in coming year. (Agencies)
Suresh Prabhu, the then power minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. The environmentfriendly project was originally slated to be commissioned in 2005. Now, plans are afoot to commission it in 2017. "Conceived in 2000 with an initial installed capacity of 500 MW, the power plant's capacity was reduced to 280 MW in 200304 after ONGC reduced its gas allocation by half," NEEPCO General Manager (Electrical) Samar Ranjan
Biswas told the media. "The ONGC further slashed the gas allocation in 2008, forcing NEEPCO to further scale down the plant's installed capacity to 101 MW. Now, the ONGC says it will begin supplying gas on a regular basis from March next year. Earlier, on countless occasions, the ONGC failed to keep its promises," said Biswas, who heads the project. "The commissioning has now been rescheduled to March 2017, provided the ONGC begins
supplying gas," the NEEPCO official added. Biswas said the ONGC began supplying gas to the NEEPCO power plant in February on an experimental basis but subsequently stopped supply. On the other hand, ONGC Executive Director and Tripura asset manager S.C. Soni said the corporation was ready to provide 0.4 million standard cubic metre per day (MSCMPD) gas to NEEPCO "but they must assure us the gas supply
would be taken uninterruptedly". Otherwise, Soni pointed out, there would be a technical glitch in the supply and the ONGC would suffer losses. "NEEPCO wanted 0.5 MSCMPD gas but are able to receive only 0.2 to 0.3 MSCMPD due to technical problems; there are frequent interruptions also, leading to losses to the ONGC. We will be ready to supply 0.5 MSCMPD gas by the middle of 2016," Soni told the media over phone. The ONGC official said, "We have asked NEEPCO to tell us about their exact gas requirement. We understand their constraints. But all these problems must be resolved across the table and not talking to the media. ONGC's top officials are sincerely trying to resolve the issue." Tripura Power Minister Manik Dey, who visited the NEEPCO plant recently, expressed deep anguish over the delay in kick-starting the project. "The long-awaited project, if commissioned in scheduled time, would resolve the power crisis in the northeast region and
can even supply electricity to other parts of the country," he said. Designed by US-based General Electric Company, the plant's turbines have been supplied by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. The plant would generate 62 MW electricity through gas turbine and 39 MW through steam turbine. Credited with installation of several power projects in the northeastern states, NEEPCO - owned by the government of India and having its headquarters in Meghalaya capital Shillong - also plans to generate at least 1,500 MW power from solar and wind energy in the next five years. Meanwhile, the ONGC has set up a 726-MW power project in Tripura's Palatana, 60 km from here, to meet the electricity crisis of the northeastern states. The Indian government has announced the supply of 100 MW power to Bangladesh. Work is going on to set up transmission lines to link the Tripura power grid to the Comilla power grid in eastern Bangladesh. (Agencies)
Consultative meet on co-existence concludes Imphal, Nov 23: The three day consultative cum cultural programme on 'peaceful co-existence among indigenous people of Manipur' held at GM Hall under the aegis of AMKIL, EECHAL and NIPCO concluded today. Speaking at the gathering, Angam Zatung said that people of Manipur have been living together since time immemorial and they would carry on this past legacy to the future. At one point of time, an artificial wall of segregation was created following proselytization of a large section of plain people into Hinduism. Although this wall of segregation has been vanishing day by day, people of Manipur still need a social reformation. All sections of people must follow the dictum, "Let us forget and forgive", Zatung said. "There should be no room for negative thinking and we should give up the habit of making irresponsible statements on public platforms",
Candle being lit at GM Hall to mark the consultative meeting he asserted. KIM president Thangkhosei Haokip said that all issues pertaining to Manipur and its people should be resolved within the State and no room should be given for external forces to interfere in the internal affairs of Manipur. The proposal to resolve the internal issues of Manipur at Delhi needs a serious rethinking, he added. The unfortunate incidents that took place at Moreh and
Churachandpur in the course and after the ILPS movement were really tragic. There was a strong suspicion that the some external hand was involved in the two incidents. At the same time, all sections of people should stop making provocative statements against any community, added Thangkhosei Haokip. Meaningful peaceful co-existence can be achieved only when the smallest communities do not
feel any sense of insecurity, said Thangkhosei Haokip. Ibemcha Leima reminded that Manipur has a very long history and throughout history all the indigenous communities of Manipur were living in peace and harmony. Following proselytization into Hinduism followed by British colonialism and ultimately Manipur's merger with the Indian Union, some external forces have been following policies of exploi-
tation and subjugation. The consultative meet was specifically organised to bring together all the ethnic communities with a spirit of "lets forget and forgive" so that all the indigenous communities can safeguard their identities, culture and traditions and at the same time, stand united against all external forces. The gathering culminated with presentation of traditional dance and music of different ethnic groups. AMKIL president Phanjoubam Sakhi Leima, EECHAL president T Ibemhal Leima, NIPCO president M Medun Maring, senior citizen RV Mingthing, Kuki Inpi Manipur president Thangkhosei Haokip, Konthoujam Mamang Tribal Development Committee chairman Sana Gangmei, Hill Tribal Literary Union Manipur general secretary Angam Zatung and former Editor Ema Leibak Md BM Rashid Ali attended the closing function as presidium members. (Agencies)
NSCN (IM) welcomes 'home comers' Dimapur, Nov 23: The Joint Council Meeting at CHQ, Hebron on November 20 welcomed the homecoming of 36 cadres from different groups who were holding important position in various capacities. The NSCN (IM) appreciated their "timely realization in the hopelessness in following leaders who doesn't carry any tangible political agenda for the Nagas" and their wisdom to join the Naga national mainstream. The NSCN (IM) believed
that those who are still at large would soon realize the futility in fighting the cause which their leaders had already betrayed. Stating that the doors of NSCN are widely open for any Naga who is desirous of strengthening the national mainstream, it hoped that the homecoming of 36 leaders today from different group would surely uplift the national movement. It further wished them the best in their service for Naga nation. (Agencies)
Mamata invites Nitish and Kejriwal Kolkata, Nov 23: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has invited her Bihar and Delhi counterparts Nitish Kumar and Arvind Kejriwal to the Bengal Global Business Summit here on January 7 next year. "Nitish Kumar and Arvind Kejriwal have been invited to Bengal Global Business Summit not because they are leaders of political parties, but as chief executives (chief ministers) of their states," Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said. The invite by Banerjee comes just days after she attended the swearing-in ceremony of Nitish Kumar in Patna, which was attended by Kejriwal as well. The TMC leadership had termed Banerjee's attending the ceremony as a "mark of protest against authoritarian attitude of the Centre" and effort to "strengthen the federal structure" in the country. Kumar, also a top JD(U) leader and
Banerjee had spoken over phone after the Bihar assembly elections results were announced. Kumar had thanked Banerjee for supporting the grand alliance in Bihar in its fight against BJP. Banerjee had also congratulated Kumar over Twitter and termed the victory of the Grand Alliance as "the defeat of intolerance". JD(U) leadership had also extended its support to Banerjee in her fight against BJP and had said that along with AAP and TMC it would fight to strengthen cooperative federalism in the country. (Agencies)
M'laya Govt yet to submit priority list, NEC delays funds Shillong, Nov 23: The State government is yet to submit the priority list to NEC for the year 2015-16 for release of funds for execution of several projects in Meghalaya. An official with the North Eastern Council said that early submission of priority list will help to release funds thereby accelerating development. Besides Meghalaya, Assam is another state which is yet to submit the priority list of projects whereas rest of the Northeastern states were prompt in sending the list to avail the funds, the official added. Sources said that after Ramnganing Muivah took over as the NEC Secretary, there are efforts on his part to
revamp the functioning of the Council. Earlier, soon after taking over in September this year, Muivah had stressed the need on the part of the Centre for more fund allocation to the NEC, which is considered as the nodal agency for economic and social development of the North East. After assuming charge, Muivah had also pointed out that for the entire North East region comprising eight states, the budget allocated by the Centre was a meager Rs.700 crore. He had stressed the need to ask for more funds after ensuring full utilization of the budget allocated for the Council. (Agencies)
Youth Association accuses Tamang Development of excluding community members Gangtok, Nov 23: A day after accusation of corruption labelled by a senior Tamang Development board member Mr. Kamal Ghising against the Chairman Sanjay Ghising and Chief Advisor Neera Lopchan, yesterday Tamang Youth Association (TYA), Darjeeling sub-division committee has also accused the TD board of not including community members and discriminating against Tamangs from Darjeeling and Kurseong. Speaking to the Press, TYA Darjeeling President Mr. Anand Lama stated that, "even after a year of forma-
tion of the TD board, the Chairman Sanjay Moktan has continued to work in a very shady manner and has been unable to bring together the community members… there is no transparency in the operations and functions of TD board." Mr. Lama stated, "such is the label of high-handedness that the homes that are supposed to be built for community members are not being done according to the list prepared and approved for in the TDCB meeting… in fact far more houses have been sanctioned for Kalimpong, and not many
for Darjeeling and Kurseong." Speaking further on discrimination, Mr. Lama added, "even in the TD board executive committee which takes all the decisions, there is no board member from Darjeeling… as a result the poor people from Tamang community here are deprived of the facilities they are supposed to get… there is no one in the board to speak for them…" Accusing Mr. Sanjay Moktan of running the TD board to suit his own personal needs, Mr. Lama said, "TD board was formed to conserve and promote
Tamang language, dresses, culture and traditions… but today Sanjay Moktan is running the board like his personal property… with the 1st round of allocation for building homes, instead of giving money, TD board distributed building materials alone… and poor people were forced to build homes with just the given materials… how can anyone build a home without employing people who know how to build homes - masons, carpenters, electrician, plumbers - all require money… where would the poor people get money to pay?" (Agencies)
Members of CPI (ML) Liberation staged protest against price rise and others issues in Silchar. Pic - UB Photos
Myanmar delegates warmly welcomed Moreh, Nov 23: U Khing Muang, MLA, Sagaing Region and different teams of Myanmar participating in the Manipur Sangai Festival 2015 were welcomed by the IndoMyanmar Friendship Chamber of Commerce, on Sunday. A team of 28 Meitei delegates from Mandalay first arrived at Moreh at around 12 noon. Another team of 27 delegates led by U Khing Muang, MLA, Sagaing Region arrived at Moreh at 2 pm. Both the teams were heartily welcomed
by Seiboi Haokip, secretary, Indo-Myanmar Friendship Chamber of Commerce, Moreh at the custom office of Moreh. U Hla Maung, chairman, Myanmar Indian Border Trade Chamber of Commerce, Tamu and U Teko, general secretary, Myanmar Indian Border Trade Chamber of Commerce, Tamu were also part of the visiting team. Meitei delegates from Mandalay were welcomed by AMUCO at Moreh Trade Centre. Womenfolk of Tali road, Moreh Ward
No 6 also presented gifts to the delegates. The Meitei delegates said that their wish to visit Manipur at least once in their lifetime have come true. They also said that the team will visit and offer prayer at Shree Govindajee Temple. Ph Deban Sharma, vice president, AMUCO expressed dissatisfaction over the State Government's alleged negligence to welcome the delegates from Myanmar. To welcome the delegates, a social service was also organised
along Thoubal Kiyam Ta n g j e n g - T h o u b a l Wangbal road by Thoubal Municipal Council Ward No 8 Councillor S Ranbir, Thoubal fire services and former Assistant Director of SAI K Mikhel. The team from Myanmar was escorted from Moreh to Imphal by vice president of AMUCO, Ph Deban later in the evening where they were accorded a warm welcome. AMUCO has appealed to the people to welcome all the foreign dignitaries during the Sangai Festival. (Agencies)
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
BJP even fooling 'Lord Ram' in the name of Ram Mandir, says Shukla Saharanpur, Nov. 23 : Congressleader Rajiv Shukla on Monday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was fooling the people and Lord Ram by not taking the Ram Mandir issue forward."The BJP is fooling the people in the name of Ram Mandir. One person says yes and then another then says no. Whenever they come to power they do not do anything. They are fooling evenLord Ram," Shukla told ANI.Shukla was reacting to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that the Ram Mandir would be a tribute to former
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Ashok Singhal, who expired last week from health related complications."We have to make serious attempts to accomplish the Ram
Temple and that will be a true tribute to him. Ashokji's spirit will guide us in this task," Bhagwat had said at a condolence meeting for Singhal yesterday. (ANI)
PM Modi leaves for Singapore on final leg of two-nation visit
Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 23 : After a successful three-day visit in Malaysia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday departed for the final leg of his tour to Singapore.Trade, urban and skill development, defence co-operation and cyber security will be high on his agenda during the 2-day visit to Singapore.The Prime Minister will deliver a lecture today where his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong and
some other prominent leaders are expected to be present.He will have a series of engagements tomorrow, including with the country's President Tony Tan Keng Yam and the Prime Minister.The two Prime Ministers will sign the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership to elevate bilateral relations and will also unveil a commemorative stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic rela-
President's son helps accident victim New Delhi, Nov 23: President Pranab Mukherjee's son and MP Abhijit Mukherjee today helped an accident victim in Burdwan district to reach hospital and later arranged for her quick shifting to another hospital, district officials said. Sumita Paul, a middle aged woman, was pillion riding on her son Arghya's motorbike on the way from her Burdwan town home to a temple in Guskara when the two-wheeler hit a hump and she fell down at a place near Oregram. She was not wearing any helmet, they said. Paul was lying unconscious and blood was oozing out of her fractured skull. Her son was at a loss as the spot was almost deserted. Mukherjee, the MP from Jangipur in Murshidabad district, was going along the road and found Paul and Arghya. He took Paul to Guskara hospital in his car and, as her condition was serious, she was referred to Burdwan Medi-
cal College and Hospital, the officials said. Mukerjee arranged for an ambulance and sent her to the referral hospital. He also rang up District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan and asked him to see that she gets proper treatment. After knowing that Arghya was not carrying much cash, Mukherjee gave him some money before continuing his way to Bolpur where he was going to visit an ailing relative. Mukherjee said, "I had done nothing special. It was the duty of a human being. Anyone else would have done the same." Arghya was unable to find words to thank the Congress MP. "If Abhijit babu was not there, I don't know what would have happened. One thing is certain that my mother's treatment would get delayed," he said. His mother was later referred to a Kolkata hospital as her condition deteriorated. (Agencies)
DA case hearing against Amma adjourned till Jan. 8 Bangaluru, Nov. 23: The hearing on Karnataka Government's appeal against the High Court verdict acquitting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case has been adjourned till January 8.The Chief Minister had been charged with amassing assets worth Rs. 66 crore disproportionate to her income during the 90s.The Karnataka High Court had acquitted Jayalalithaa of all the charges in May, paving way for her return as the Chief Minister following a threeweek incarceration in jail.The High Court had said her illegal wealth comprised only eight percent of her known sources of income, well within the permissible limit of 10 percent.The Karnataka Government had moved the top court on June 23, calling her acquittal 'a farce'. (ANI)
tions between two countries.Prime Minister Modi will lay a wreath at the Indian National Army memorial marker and visit Institute of Technical Education which is involved in skill development.He will also address the India-Singapore Economic Convention, besides interacting with CEOs of Singapore to focus on the investment opportunities in India.Before wrapping up his visit, the Prime Minister will address the Indian diaspora in Singapore as around 3 lakh 50,000 ethnic Indians stay there, which is about 9.1 percent of resident population of the country. Following his twoday trip in Singapore, he will return to India on Wednesday night ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament which is set to begin on November 26. (ANI)
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Rahul targets PM, says Cong stands with farmers, oppressed Saharanpur, Nov 23: Rahul Gandhi today took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his foreign trips, saying while the PM was busy flying abroad Congress stood with farmers and labourers even as he launched a 'padayatra' to highlight the plight of sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh.He also took a dig at Modi's 'achche din' slogan, asking where have those promised good days gone, saying Congress good days will come once farmers, labourers and the poor felt good."When Narendra Modi is flying to England, Rahul Gandhi is standing here amongst you in your fields. I want to tell you that we are with you. Congress is standing with you and will
die and keep standing with you," he said, addressing the farmers ahead of starting his 'padayatra'. Rahul, who was seen standing next to controversial Congress MLA Imran Masood, who was jailed in March last year for his hate speech against Modi, said, "We don't want such an India where the poor, farmers and oppressed are unhappy. We don't want a suit-buit government. We want that India should be of the poor, labourers and small people."Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, he said, "When Lok Sabha elections were held a lot of people supported Narendra Modi. He claimed that he will change India. He does not even remember his own
slogan of 'achche din ayenge'. When we talk of 'achche din' people laugh across the country. Where are those good days?"."He travels abroad, flies to London, Singapore, America, but good days have not come. In India, 'achche din' will only come when farmers, labourers, poor, dalits, tribals will have good
days. Only then will good days come for Congress," he said.Talking about Uttar Pradesh, he asked chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to come forward and keep up to his promise of bringing a change in the state by resolving the farmers' issue of their pending payments of sugarcane and restarting the sugar
India-Malaysia agree to hold Defence Secretary level meeting Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 23 : Aimed at enhancing defence exchanges between the two countries, India and Malaysia have agreed to convene a Defence Secretary/Secretary General level meeting .A joint statement issued by the two sides after delegation-level talks welcomed the outcome of the joint exercises 'Harimau Shakti' and suggested to upgrade the exercises to company level, and subsequently to t r i - s e r v i c e s exercises.Both sides have also agreed to set up the SU-30 Forum for cooperation in training, maintenance, technical support and safety-related issues.India and Malaysia further agreed to promote joint collaboration on projects of mutual interest in the defence sector including in
the areas of defence equipment and industry, research, training and capacity building.Both sides have also agreed to institute annual talks between the Heads of the Indian Coast Guards and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency including during Head of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM).The two
nations agreed to establish mechanism for sharing of information, including for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief (HADR) and white shipping.Both sides have agreed to establish linkages between the Centre for UN Peacekeeping of India (CUNPK) and Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre (MPC).India and Malay-
sia strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and called upon all States to reject terrorism and bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice. In this context, they welcomed the ongoing cooperation between the two countries on counter terrorism and agreed to further enhance cooperation in this direction.They have also agreed to continue sharing of information and best practices to address the challenges posed by terrorism, and other traditional and non-traditional threats.Both sides have also agreed to discuss further with a view to conclude the signing of the MoU on Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners, which act as an important humanitarian gesture towards sentenced prisoners. (ANI)
Not in race for 2019 polls: Kejriwal NewDelhi, Nov 23; Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal today claimed that the party is not in the race for 2019 elections and asked its members not to run after polls even as he indicated that the party could get a Delhilike opportunity in Punjab."We are not here for power politics. People ask if AAP is in race for 2019. We are not in any race. Delhi's win was miraculous. We just have to keep working hard and honestly. Don't run after elections. All indications are that you are going to get the same opportunity
in Punjab," he said in his address at AAP's National Council meeting.The meeting where the party is expected to elect its new members of the National Executive, the second highest decisionmaking body of the party, began here today amid protests outside the venue by AAP members who claimed that they were not invited for the meet.Asserting that the party's main aim was to tackle corruption, Kejriwal claimed his was the first government to sack a Minister for involvement in graft."We had two aims in the be-
ginning - tackling corruption and bringing Janlokpal and Swaraj. In the last 10 months, we have worked so hard, I can challenge, Sheila (Dikshit) government did not do in
15 years. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi had the entire nation at his disposal, even he did not do."Let's talk about corruption first. There is no such instance in the past that a govern-
ment sacked its own Minister found involved in corruption. We see how governments keep brushing corruption cases under the carpet, especially against their Ministers."But in the case of our govt, nobody knew about it. Someone had sent a clip on WhatsApp. We saw it and felt that the Minister was involved. We analysed it and summoned the Minister and confronted him. He confessed and we sacked him in a press conference in an hour," he said. (Agencies)
mills."Akhilesh Yadavji, you claimed to belong to the new generation and promised to change Uttar Pradesh. You still have oneand-a-half years time to change Uttar Pradesh. Go amidst farmers and resolve the sugarcane issue, give money to farmers, start the shut sugar mills and provide jobs to youth," he said.The Congress vice president also highlighted how the farmers were not welcome in banks that laid a red carpet for the rich and how the Congress-led UPA waived off Rs 70,000 of farmers' loans.He said the government launched the world's biggest job scheme in MNREGA that provided guaranteed jobs to the poor and gave crores of money in the hands of the poor. (Agencies)
Seven killed as chopper carrying Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrim's crashes Jammu, Nov. 23: In a tragic incident, seven people have been killed as a chopper carrying Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrims crashed here on in Katra. Seven pilgrims including the pilot of the chopper were killed in the crash.The helicopter which belonged to the Himalayan Heli service company, reportedly caught fire after it crashed. Vaishno Devi is one of the major pilgrim centres of India, where thousands of devotees come to offer prayers. (ANI)
Five members of marriage party killed, 25 injured in mishap Kozhikode, Nov 23: Five members of a marriage party were killed and 25 others injured when a bus carrying them collided with a lorry at Ikarappadi, about 20 km from here, early Monday morning.The deceased included two minor children, aged 13 and 10, police said.While four passengers died on the spot, another passed away in Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where all the injured were admitted, they said.The mishap occurred when the bus tried to overtake the lorry, swerved to avoid an oncoming car and rammed into the rear of the truck, police said.The passengers, all from Mattanur in Kannur district, were returning from Salem in Tamil Nadu after attending a wedding, they said. (Agencies)
Nepal will request India to airlift medicines when needed New Delhi, Nov. 23 : Nepal ambassador to India Deep Upadhya, on Monday said that the country would request the Indian Government to airlift medicines to Nepal if need be, as parts of the country are reeling from an acute shortage of essential supplies."The US had also offered to help as far as medical supplies are concerned. And if need be, we will request the Indian government for it," Upadhya said in an exclusive interview to
ANI here."There are around 6,000 trucks stranded at Birgunj. If we reroute those trucks especially for hospital and petroleum supplies, then there probably will be no need for airlifts. These trucks can take a route from where there is no bloackade," he added.Upadhya asserted that there are problems in production of petroleum, adding that even schools and hospitals are closed in many areas.The Nepal Government had
been informed about the shortage of medicines and petroleum, he added."Around 2,000 cargo trucks should ideally go from India to Nepal and it was very much going. Since Madhesi protests started, the number of trucks reduced to 1100-1200," the Nepalese ambassador said.The Madhesis and other minority communities in Nepal have been protesting against the newly adopted constitution of Nepal.High level
talks are being held to resolve the issues around the constitution, accord-
ing to the Nepalese envoy."There are ups and downs between India and Pakistan which have to be resolved. We can neither change our neighbours nor geographical terrain," he added.At least four people were killed in clashes between the Nepalese security forces and protesters in several parts of the eastern and central Tarai yesterday. Tarai is a region already reeling under an acute
shortage of essential supplies.At least 50 people, including nine security personnel have been killed in protests against the new constitution. Earlier, a 19year-old student from Darbhanga in Bihar was killed after Nepal police opened fire near the border to prevent Madhesi protesters from retaking a bridge that demarcates the Raxaul-Birgunj border between the two countries. (ANI)
DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
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NEIGHBOURS
Final Myanmar results show Aung San Suu Kyi's party won 77% of seats Yangon, Nov 23: Aung San Suu Kyi's party won 77% of seats in Myanmar's landmark polls this month, according to final results released by the election commission.Myanmar voted on November 8 but results took days to arrive in the capital from remote corners of the country, wending their way from villages in dense jungle and townships in several regions beset by active conflict.Election workers carried ballots by foot from some mountainous areas and then loaded them into helicopters that were used to transport the
sealed boxes to the capital Naypyitaw where the official Union Election Commission would count them.So cut-off are some villages in northern Myanmar that their inhabitants have more contact with their Chinese neighbours than with the central government.Five days after the polls and Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party had won a majority in parliament, ending half a century of dominance by the military. But votes from 11 constituencies in the northern Kachin State were only counted late last week, finally allowing
Nepal to clear protesters from India border Kathmandu, Nov 23: The Nepalese government has decided to clear the Indo-Nepal border points and highway off protesters who have been blocking them for months, it was announced today. This will be part of a special security plan to tackle the increasing violence in the southern plains of the country, home ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal said. "The government has decided to clear the Indo-Nepal border points and highway that have been blocked by the protesters through special security strategies," he said."The government has decided to clear the Indo-Nepal border points and highway that have been blocked by the protesters through special security strategies," he said."The government has decided to clear the Indo-Nepal border points and highway that have been blocked by the protesters through special security strategies," he said."We will jointly deploy the Nepal Police,
Armed Police Force and National Investigation Bureau in the volatile area to bring the situation under control."The minority Madhesi community has been obstructing the border points with India and blocking the Mahendra highway, which links Kathmandu with the eastern Terai plains.They are demanding amendments in the delineation of federal provinces in the recently p r o m u l g a t e d constitution.On Sunday, a meeting of the Central Security Committee headed by Home Minister Shakti Basnet decided to take stringent measures to jointly mobilise the security agencies.The decision comes after the deaths of three protesters during police firing on Sunday in Terai district.Nepal is reeling under a severe crisis following three months of strikes and protests by Madhesis. Kathmandu has accused New Delhi of imposing an unofficial blockade on the border. India denies the charge. (Agencies)
6.2 magnitude quake rocks Pakistan, tremors felt in north India, Afghanistan and Tajikistan Islamabad, Nov 23:The US Geological Survey is reporting that a magnitude 5.9 earthquake has hit northeastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan and Tajikistan. There were no immediate reports of casualties.The earthquake was most strongly felt in Pakistan, a 6.2-magnitude quake shook Karachi and north-western areas of the country though there were no reports of casualties. The magnitude was recorded at 6.2 on the Richter scale by Pakistan Meteorological Department while the US Geological Survey (USGS) puts it at 5.9.The epicentre of the quake was 86 kilometres deep and located somewhere in the border area of Afghanistan and Tajikistan.It was felt in most of areas of KhyberPakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces.The quake was felt in Muree, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Jehlum,
Sialkot, Vihari, Sahiwal, Kasur, Sargodha, Bhakkar and Shaikhupura. The tremors also rocked Peshawar, Mansehra, Shangla, Swat, Nowshehra, Dirbala and adjoining areas. Panicgripped people came out of their houses to take shelter in open especially in KhyberPakhtunkhwa province where strong tremor was felt . According to local media, several houses were damaged in Swat valley. There were no reports of casualties so far.Sunday's earthquake comes nearly a month after a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake jolted Pakistan and northeastern Afghanistan on October 26, killing nearly 300 people. Its depth was measured at 57.4 miles (92.4 kilometers).The quake was felt across northern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and in northern parts of India. (Agencies)
the commission to announce the results for all 1150 contested seats.The NLD won 887 seats, or 77.1%, providing Suu Kyi with a majority in both houses of parliament. The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Develop-
ment Party won only 117 or 10% of the seats and the army reserves a quarter of all seats in parliament.Although Aung San Suu Kyi is banned from the presidency under an armydrafted constitution, her
party will now be able to push through legislation, form a government and handpick a president. Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent years under house arrest, has said that a triumph for the NLD would place her "above the president".The new members of parliament will not take their seats until February. They will then appoint a president. Suu Kyi has not signalled who she will choose as her president, although it is likely to be a loyal ally.The 70year-old Nobel peace prize winner has invited the army chief and current President Thein Sein
to discuss a national reconciliation government she wants to form. Last week, she met with Myanmar's influential parliamentary speaker and former general Shwe Mann.There are concerns over a smooth change of leadership in the next few months. In 1990, the NLD also won an election but the generals annulled the result, imprisoned her colleagues and placed her under house arrest.But the military and its allies in government have repeatedly and publicly stated they will abide the results. (Agencies)
At Least 100 Dead In Landslide at Myanmar Jade Mine Yangon, Nov 23:At least 100 bodies have been recovered and rescue workers in northern Myanmar are pulling more bodies from the rubble today, two days after a massive landslide near a jade mine.Media reports while friends and family have identified some of the bodies, stacks of unidentified bodies wrapped in blue tarp remain. Nilar Myint, a local township administrator, said about the recovery of bodies: "It's not ending. It's still ongoing. Local people in town are getting angry, because there are just too many bodies."Officials say at least 100 people are still missing after the collapse.Authorities had said earlier that the dead were miners picking
through the waste and tailings for a piece of jade to sell. However, authorities say the collapse occurred when many of the miners were sleeping.Tin Swe Myint, head of the Hpakant Township Administration Department said, "We just don't know how many people exactly were buried since we don't have any data on people living there." He described the area where the landslide happened as "just a slum" with "workers living in makeshift tents."Hpakant is in Kachin state, located about 950 kilometers northeast of Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city, and home to some of the world's highest-quality jade.Global Witness, an organization that investigates the misuse of revenue
from natural resources, put the value of Myanmar's jade production as high as $31 billion in 2014. The group says "This figure equates to nearly half of the entire country's GDP, and over 46 times national spending on health, yet the local population sees little benefit."According to Global Witness, Myanmar's
jade trade is "secretly controlled by networks of military elites, drug lords and crony companies" tied to the country's "darkest days of junta rule.""Their legacy to local people is a dystopian wasteland in which scores of people at a time are buried alive in landslides," Mike Davis of Global Witness said. (Agencies)
Kabir said.Chowdhury had been convicted on of charges of torture, rape and genocide during the 1971 war, while Mujahid was found guilty on charges of genocide, conspiracy in killing intellectuals, torture and abduction."We have noted with deep concern and anguish the unfortunate executions of the Bangladesh National Party Leader, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mujahid," Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said in a statement.The spokesman said Pakistan also took
notice of the international community's reaction to the flawed trials in Bangladesh related to the events of 1971.Jamaat-eIslami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party say the trials were politically motivated. Bangaldeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has denied the allegations, but acknowledged that she faced international pressure for trying opposition figures for war crimes. Human Rights Watch said the tribunal allowed the prosecution to call 41 witnesses, while Chowdhury's defense was limited to four witnesses. The New Yorkbased group said Mujahid was sentenced to death for instigating his subordinates to commit abuses, although no subordinates testified or were identified.Khalilullah said there is a need for reconciliation in Bangladesh in accordance with the spirit of the Bangladesh-India-Paki-
stan agreement of April 9, 1974, which he said calls for a forward-looking approach in matters relating to 1971.The spokesman addressed hope that such an action would foster goodwill and harmony.Minister for Interior Nisar Ali Khan, meanwhile, said that people of Pakistan and Bangladesh wanted to promote brotherly relations and move forward by forgetting bitterness of the past. Pakistan, the minister said, was very much in the know that which forces were stopping people of the two countries from getting closer to each other. Being a Pakistani, he said, he had the feelings that whatever was happening in Bangladesh, it was in violation of international laws.He expressed astonishment that why the world especially international human rights organizations were silent over the 'murder of justice'. (Agencies)
5.2-magnitude quake jolts northwest China
Beijing, Nov 23: A moderate 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit northwest China's Qinghai Province today.The earthquake struck the Qilian County of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai at 5:02 am, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC).No casualties have been reported. The epicentre was located at the Arik Township. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers. Many people living in the county seat
of Qilian have stayed outdoors after feeling strong jolt, according to the local publicity department.So far, no casualties have been reported.The county has sent a team to the epicenter to learn the damage after the quake .Qilian County is located at the middle section of the Qilian Mountains with an average altitude of 3,100 metres.Having a population of about 50,000, it is a major tourist and livestock farming-based county in Qianghai. (Agencies)
Former LTTE member found dead near home Colombo, Nov 23: A former LTTE member, who was rehabilitated and released into society, was found dead near his home in Mannar. We e r a s in g h a m Dhanapalasingham, aged 40, was working as a fishermen when he was found dead near his home on Saturday.The
police said that his body was found hanging from a swing tied to a tree near a tent close to his house. A person who had gone to take him for fishing had found him dead.Initial investigations have found that the man may have committed suicide. (Agencies)
Indian fishermen claim were attacked by navy Pakistan perturbed by Bangladesh executions
Islamabad, Nov 23: Pakistan is deeply disturbed by the executions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader and Jamaate-Islami secretary-general, who were both charged with 1971 war crimes, the Foreign Office said on Sunday. Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaate-Islami Secretary-General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were 'hanged together, at the same time' at 12:55 am (local time) at Dhaka Central Jail in the nation's capital, Senior Jail Superintendent Jahangir
Dhaka braces for national unrest Dhaka, Nov 23:Bangladesh has strengthened security nationwide after hanging two top opposition leaders for war crimes during the 1971 war to break away from Pakistan .Thousands of extra police and border guards were deployed in Dhaka and other major cities and towns yesterday on the eve of a general strike called to protest against the executions.Supporters of the ruling Awami League meanwhile greeted the executions of Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury by holding street parties and doling out sweets to
children.Bangladesh has been roiled by violence for much of the last three years since a domestic tribunal began delivering its verdicts on opposition figures accused of orchestrating massacres during the 1971 war.A total of 18 people have been convicted but only two had been sent to the gallows before Mujahid and Chowdhury were hanged shortly before 1am yesterday.While the other three were members of the largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Chowdhury was a senior figure in the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).Jamaat, banned from contesting last year's general election, said the executions
were part of a strategy "aimed at eliminating" its leadership. The BNP also accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of presiding over a politically motivated killing, which was carried out only hours after BNP leader Khaleda Zia returned from a lengthy stay in London.Some of the tightest security measures were in force in the hometowns of the two executed men, whose funerals were held y e s t e r d a y morning.Hundreds of police were deployed outside the central city of Faridpur, where Mujahid was buried soon after daybreak. Reinforcements were also sent to Chowdhury's hometown of
Raojan in the south-east. Mujahid, 67, Jamaat's official No. 2, was sentenced for war crimes such as the killing of top intellectuals. Chowdhury, 66, was convicted over atrocities including genocide. Although international rights groups have criticised the trials as unfair; the government says they are vital for Bangladesh to confront its traumatic birth. Relatives of war victims celebrated the hangings. But both men's families said they maintained their innocence to the end, denying they sought clemency in what would have amounted to an admission of guilt. (Agencies)
Colombo, Nov 23 :A 5 0 - y e a r - o l d Rameswaram fisherman suffered a head injury and many others lost their fishing nets and other paraphernalia when the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly attacked them with iron balls and bottles and cut their nets when they were fishing on the high seas on Saturday nightA couple of days after arresting 14 Rameswaram fishermen with their three
While his colleagues managed to duck, he was hit by an iron ball on the forehead and suffered a deep cut.His colleagues tried to stop the bleeding by applying coffee powder and a piece of dhoti. They could not immediately return to the shore for medical aid as they had to retrieve the net, he said.On reaching the shores around 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, Varghis was given first aid at the government hospital in
trawlers on charges of poaching, the Lankan Navy stepped up the offensive and attacked the fishermen after warning them to cut the fishing nets and retreat.A Varghis (50), who set in a trawler with three others on Saturday morning from the Rameswaram jetty, was fishing about 27 nautical miles north of the jetty when Sri Lankan Navy personnel descended in the area around midnight and started attacking them.He was trying to cut the fishing net to return fast, when the navy personnel attacked them with iron balls, which are used to drop nets, stones and bottles, Varghis said.
Rameswaram and admitted to the Government District headquarters hospital here. His condition was stable, hospital sources said.A native of Colachel in Kanyakumari district, Varghis, a class IX drop out, had been in fishing in the island for nearly three decades. This was his first encounter with the Navy, he said. Many other fishermen lost expensive fishing nets, he said. After the Sri Lankan Navy threatened them, the fishermen cut the nets with wooden planks to retrieve them later, but the naval personnel cut the nets from the plank ends causing a huge loss, he said. (Agencies)
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DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Making East Asia Summits Meaningful Yet to overcome NE power shortage High hopes rest on Tripura Power Project As per reports, there has been failure on the part of authorities concerned to ensure adequate and regular supply of gas with technical glitches further leading to an inordinate delay in the commissioning of the staterun NEEPCO's second biggest thermal power project in northeast India and resulting in huge losses in the process. While officials of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) blamed the government-owned ONGC in connection with the failure to ensure adequate supply of gas and for the delay that was causing NEEPCO to lose Rs.6 crore per month, technical problems and interruptions on the part of NEEPCO are actually to blame for the unwanted situation. NEEPCO - a mini-ratna company under the union power ministry - had begun to commission the Rs. 950 crore (nearly $150 million) power plant in western Tripura's Monarchak, 70 km south of Tripura capital Agartala, more than 13 years ago. The project's foundation stone was laid in March 2002 by Suresh Prabhu, the then power minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. The environment-friendly project was originally slated to be commissioned in 2005. Now, plans are afoot to commission it in 2017. Conceived in 2000 with an initial installed capacity of 500 MW, the power plant's capacity was reduced to 280 MW in 2003-04 after ONGC reduced its gas allocation by half. The ONGC further slashed the gas allocation in 2008, forcing NEEPCO to further scale down the plant's installed capacity to 101 MW. Now, the ONGC says it will begin supplying gas on a regular basis from March next year. Earlier, on countless occasions, the ONGC failed to keep its promises. Meanwhile, the commissioning has now been rescheduled to March 2017, provided the ONGC begins supplying gas. NEEPCO wanted 0.5 MSCMPD gas but are able to receive only 0.2 to 0.3 MSCMPD due to technical problems; there are frequent interruptions also, leading to losses for the ONGC. And in addition, it will be ready to supply 0.5 MSCMPD gas by the middle of 2016. However, the long-awaited project, if commissioned within the scheduled time, stands to resolve the power crisis in the northeast region and can even supply electricity to other parts of the country. Designed by USbased General Electric Company, the plant's turbines have been supplied by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. The plant would generate 62 MW electricity through gas turbine and 39 MW through steam turbine. Credited with installation of several power projects in the northeastern states, NEEPCO - owned by the government of India and having its headquarters in Meghalaya capital Shillong - also plans to generate at least 1,500 MW power from solar and wind energy in the next five years. Meanwhile, the ONGC has set up a 726-MW power project in Tripura's Palatana, 60 km from here, to meet the electricity crisis of the northeastern states. The Indian government has announced the supply of 100 MW power to Bangladesh. Work is going on to set up transmission lines to link the Tripura power grid to the Comilla power grid in eastern Bangladesh.
Tackling terrorism funding India freezes accounts of over 3 dozen suspect entities As per global anti-financial terror body Financial Action Task Force (FATF), India has frozen assets worth Euro 3 lakh (over Rs 2.12 crore) of over three dozen entities on charges of terrorist financing and money laundering of illicit funds. The body has conducted a mid-session review of various countries and economic powers of the world in the wake of the increased activities of dreaded terrorist group, ISIS, around the globe. The banned group has been held responsible for the recent terror attacks in Paris that killed 129 people. As part of India's initiative against suspect funds and those related to terrorism, the FATF report said the country has frozen assets to the tune of Euro 3 lakh belonging to 37 entities till August 15 this year. India is a full-member of this reputed global body, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), along with other nations like the US, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In light of the growing threat of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and other terrorist groups, the FATF has taken a renewed focus on the global threat of terrorist financing and terrorism and conducted a fact-finding initiative to determine whether all jurisdictions in the global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing network have implemented key measures to cut off terrorism-related financial flows, in accordance with the FATF recommendations. "This report sets out the results of that exercise," a report prepared in this regard for the perusal by G20 leaders said. The G20 nations, including India being represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Turkey's Antayla, had resolved to seek urgent and united global efforts to combat terrorism as the gruesome Paris attacks, war in Syria and the fight against Islamic State militants overshadowed the deliberations at the Summit. The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 and it is mandated to set global protocols and standards to combat money laundering and other financial crimes with direct ramifications to terrorist acts across the globe. In related findings for India, the FATF in a report brought out last month, chronicled the use of banking channels to fund the activities of the banned terror group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). The group has carried out many attacks and killings in India including in the Kashmir Valley. The global body, quoting official submissions made by Indian investigators to it, reveals that HM raised over Rs 80 crore in the last eight years for furthering terror activities in India. Further, an ongoing investigation in India alleges that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) has been receiving funds originating from Pakistan through different channels in support of its terrorist activities in India. HM is claimed to be actively involved in furthering terrorist activities in India and has raised over INR 800 million within the past eight years. This group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by India, US and the European Union.
Taking the events out of their diplomatic straitjackets could produce unexpected opportunities. Emanuel Pastreich The recent trilateral summit with Korea, China and Japan was a success. Not only did the leaders of the region's three economic powerhouses sit down for a serious discussion, they also agreed to hold another summit next year, perhaps in Tokyo in May. There are so many important issues in the world that require the collaboration of these three powers, from trade and investment, to North Korea's nuclear program and climate change. We must make sure that this trilateral summit remains "sustainable" into the future and that it will be held regularly regardless of differences of opinion. Furthermore, the trilateral summit should not be billed simply as an exclusive event for high-ranking diplomats, but rather as an ongoing dialogue among the citizens of each nation. The summit must be innovative and creative, employing culture and personal exchange to build closer relations between participants. But
even more essential is that the summit be transformative. We often assume that diplomacy is a ritualistic interaction between static and unchanging groups who work out a compromise that meets their unchanging interests. But there are moments in which one can achieve a meeting of minds, wherein the players are transformed by the process and come out of the event seeing the world, and each other, differently. Despite the enormous bureaucracies involved, it would be naive to assume that one summit can effect a profound change. Nevertheless, I would suggest that there are certain symbolic and substantial steps that can be made that will set a new tone for these talks and create a positive cycle. When Pope Francis visited Washington D.C. in September, he surprised everyone by having lunch with a group of homeless people rather than with the politicians he was originally scheduled to
meet. That deeply impressed observers and changed the tone for all subsequent discussions. I wonder whether the three heads of state could visit a school for autistic children in Seoul and spend a few hours talking and playing with them. The value of a meeting like that would be multifaceted. Not only would the general public be inspired to see world leaders taking the time to talk with young people who face challenges in society, but the leaders themselves would be taken out of their negotiations for a short time and put together with young people for whom human kindness is the common language. That experience could bring a new humane quality to their discussions. Diplomatic events are often split between formal negotiations and preordained events in which participants must engage in strenuous work, and down time when they can go for a walk, or play tennis. But perhaps we can create another possible space for the interac-
tions between the three leaders. Could we create a meeting in which they discuss the challenges that their countries face with each other, not as part of a negotiation, but rather as a sincere intellectual exchange whose purpose is improving the lives of their people? Creating a space in which leaders are intellectually engaged, and interacting with each other, but are not playing a formal role can build a deeper relationship among them. Triggering a bit of intellectual curiosity through an exchange can do much to transform the
rest of the meetings. Finally, we should not underestimate the potential of musicians and artists to transform the discussion. Summits follow strict rituals and protocol that make it impossible to think outside of the box. But introduce musicians or painters into the room and suddenly things can take a different turn. Artists should be right there with the heads of state, engaging them in conversations, or suggesting creative ways of looking at the issues that not only will break down the barriers between the leaders, but will also suggest new avenues.
Comedy is especially helpful as a way to encourage a more flexible and creative solution to a problem. Perhaps the motto for the trilateral summit could be management guru Peter Drucker's famous line: "Don't solve problems - pursue opportunities." If we just focus on problems, and how to solve them, then all we see are problems. But if we brainstorm about new opportunities and potential, the excitement and the optimism generated in that process can transform the problems into something more manageable, or even into a unexpected opportunities.
The importance of log drum in nocte society Since the time immemorial the log drum has been playing very vital role in shaping the Nocte society. It was originated with the genesis of Nocte Society and people. The log drum covers momentous position in shaping the Nocte Society. It is
Teson Abo the portentous thing which has been marking an indelible marks of customary laws in Nocte society. It's incumbency in traditional village council of Nocte society is perennial and efficacious. The calligraphic and hieroglyphic works of log drum are copious in functioning of traditional village council of every
Nocte village. It's mellifluous musical sounds have been deeply rooted with the time immemorial customs of Nocte society. For the Nocte society the log drum has been more than a musical instrument. It's euphonious musical sounds have been codes of conduct for traditional village councils of all Nocte villages. During the time of head-hunting the log drums were prayed as premonition or omen messages to alert and shield the village and people from being attacked and annihilated by the rival village and people. During the days of head-hunting the log drums were like a protective escutcheons for every Nocte village and
people. They played the triple roles of sentries, minders and vigilance. Their triumphant and vaporous sounds were
played by intrepid and brave head-hunters after being invincible for their rivals in battle fields. During the head-
hunting days the log drum had vigorous sound of tenacity in an ambience of Nokte Society. The log drum with
it's fecundate and ingenious sounds amalgamates the Nocte Society and people under the consolidated wing of oneness. Since the genesis of Nokte society the log drum has been conscientious force in coalescing the People and society under it's luscious sound of concatenation. As the massages of expediency and exhilaration the rapturous and fructified sounds of log drum have been playing by Nocte people in village social or community work. The great ancestors of Nocte were aficionados of the log drum. The jovial and jubilant sounds of log drum always make every festival of Nocte community more lucrative and exuberance.
Whither Akhil's Mission
Sir, In the beginning, when Akhil Gogoi came to the limelight as the so called messiah of the proletarian class, people of the state were under the impression that this angry young man would perform won-
ders for emancipation of the poor. But gradually, we could see that his mission, 'Krishak Mukti Sangram' was put on the backburner and he started laying his hand on every issue, political and apolitical. With full blessings of the chief-minister, when the then Agriculture minister Nilamani Sen Deka started siphoning off money meant for the poor framers of the state to his personal coffers, there was not much reaction from this so called messiah. Thereafter, Nilamani's successor with additional portfolios like 'Rural Development' started showing his charisma without giving a thought for developing the condition of the rural people, and yet the KMSS leader remained conspicuously silent. People became skeptical, thinking that there might be a tacit understanding with the minister. Our question is, if he is a messiah of the poor, particularly those living in the rural areas under BPL, seeing the colossal irregularities prevailing in DRDA, he should have moved heaven and earth to ensure justice to the poor. In Guwahati or other main urban areas like Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Jorhat, Nagaon to name a few, we will find that most of the palatial buildings belong to the corrupt officials of Police, Forest, DRDA, Water-Resource, Irrigation, Public-Health, Agriculture, Excise, Sale-Tax and some 'Big-guns' of ACS and IAS cadres. Why does not the messiah raise his voice? This man however could stoop to
low, to flout the order of the Hon'ble Guwahati High Court and with his army could let loose a reign of terror to destroy government properties in Kaziranga. What displeases us is his dogmatic notion to save even the nationals with dubious nationality.
Yours etc. Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh
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d e Six Things You Can Do With Coffee - After You've Finished Drinking It
DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Rhodri Jenkins Many of us depend on coffee to fuel our early morning meetings, midafternoon slumps or allnight study sessions. These days, the words "coffee" and "fuel" are half-jokingly synonymous. More than 9m tonnes of the bean are produced annually around the world and, once we brew it, an awful lot of waste is created. The vast majority ends up in landfill. Researchers in South Korea, however, have discovered a way of using waste coffee grounds as a fuel in a far more literal sense. In a study in Nanotechnology, they report using coffee waste to produce a carbon material full of small pores which increase the surface area, known as "activated" carbon. This new material is capable of absorbing and storing methane and hydrogen,
both of which can be used as fuels. While the ability to store these fuels from such a cheap material is a great step towards making this technology more viable, it also provides an environmental advantage: methane is a harmful greenhouse gas. This is by no means the only use for waste coffee grounds. As a relatively pure and essentially free waste stream, scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs have looked into various ways of putting it to use. Burn Coffee For LowCost Fuel For a few years now, NestlĂŠ has been using waste coffee grounds from its instant soluble coffee production asthermal fuel. It currently uses coffee to cook the food it produces in more than 20 factories globally, displacing more than 800,000 tons of coffee grounds each year that would other-
wise go to landfill. In a more specific enterprise, the London-based company Bio-bean is trying to turn waste from local instant coffee producers (nearly 200,000 tonnes in London and south-east England alone) into biomass pellets for power generation, as well as residential heating using trendy biomass burners. These beans burn more cleanly and contain 50% more energy than traditional wood pellets. However unlike NestlĂŠ, Bio-bean first removes oil from the coffee, which brings us to our second point. Turn Coffee Into Liquid Fuel Like most plant seeds, the coffee bean contains a significant amount of oil which can either be squeezed out or chemically extracted. It can then be converted into biodiesel, a liquid with similar properties to that of regular diesel. My own research found
coffee-derived biodiesel wasn't affected by where the coffee was grown, the type of bean or how it was brewed. This is a great plus as it means the coffee-derived fuel will give off a predictable and consistent amount of energy when burnt. Coffee grounds can also be fermented to produce ethanol or subject to extreme heat and pressure in order to create bio-oil, a material similar to crude oil. Both processes, however, are expensive. Biodiesel is the only fuel that seems to be viable on a larger scale, hence Bio-beans's endeavours to commercialise it. It's Full Of Valuable Chemicals Coffee contains a number of chemicals that, when isolated and purified, can serve very specific uses. Examples include chlorogenic acid, a food additive that slightly lowers blood pressure; trigonelline,
which helps prevent and treat diabetes and central nervous system diseases; polyhydroxyalkanoates, which are used to make bioplastics; and a wide range of antioxidants which can be used in healthcare or added to fuel and lubricants to lengthen their lifetimes. Compost Coffee? Coffee grounds are rich
in nitrogen, a vital nutrient for plant growth. This is known by a number of coffee shops which will provide their used coffee to customers who request it. It reduces their waste, and might be tipped into organic, caffeine-infused fruit and veg. What barista could say no to that? Soaking Up Heavy
Metals Waste coffee is even effective at soaking up harmful "heavy metals" such as chromium, copper, nickel or lead which often leak out of chemical plants, farms or factories and cause significant damage. In specific lab conditions waste coffee has been reported to remove up to 91% of
heavy metal ions from solution - a good example of potential environmental benefits. Coffee Goes HighTech? Most complex of all, researchers have investigated using coffee to make supercapacitors electrical stores capable of holding more power and more charge cycles than traditional batteries. Ultra-thin porous carbon nanosheets have been produced with good electrical properties. Whether it's used at home as garden compost, in lab for research or even in industrial fuel production, there are clearly lots of uses for waste coffee. This huge variety could potentially be a negative thing. After all, how do you decide what to do with something so versatile? One thing is for sure, however. We certainly shouldn't be throwing it away.
Stateless child born every 10 Chunky Bollywood minutes: United Nations Shoma A. Chatterji city (Bareilly?) to a male
The UNHCR report highlights consequences such as children being deprived of medical care, education and future access to employment. Being born with no nationality can cause children irreparable harm, the United Nations said on Monday, estimating that a stateless child is born every 10 minutes, notably as a consequence of armed conflict. "In the short time that children get to be children, statelessness can set in stone grave problems that will haunt them throughout their childhoods and sentence them to a life of discrimination, frustration and despair," UN refugee agency chief Antonio Guterres said in a new report. The UNHCR report highlights consequences such as children being deprived of medical care,education and future access to employment. "In countries hosting the 20 largest stateless populations, at least 70,000 stateless children are born each year" -- or
one about every 10 minutes, said the UNHCR, which is aiming to eliminate statelessness by 2024. The report, to be launched by Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, notes that in 30 countries national documentation is required to access basic medical treatment, while in 20 countries stateless children cannot even be vaccinated. The problem is particularly severe among refugees affected by conflict, the report said. In Syria, children can acquire nationality only through their fathers, but the four-year civil war has forced more than four million people to flee the country and left 25% of refugee families fatherless. Women who fled Syria while pregnant told UN interviewers that their hopes of one day returning home with their families could be crushed without a birth certificate to prove that their children are Syrian. The UN agency pro-
posed several measures to eliminate the scourge of statelessness, including the reform of discriminatory laws that prevent mothers from passing on nationality to their children. Children should also automatically become nationals of the country where they are born, UNHCR further said. The report identified discrimination as the main cause of statelessness, pointing to 20 countries where nationality can be
denied on the basis of ethnicity, race or religion. In some countries, laws prohibiting such discrimination are ignored in practise, such as the Dominican Republic where people of Haitian descent have often been denied Dominican citizenship, UNHCR said. Globally, "several million children are watching their childhoods slip away without the sense of belonging and protection that comes with a nationality," the report said.
Indians rank 10th globally in spending on hotels, says survey
India ranks among the top 10 countries whose travellers have spent the most onhotels during international trips in the first half of this year, a recent surveyreleased by leading global online hotel booking portal Hotels.com has revealed. As per the survey, Indians, on an average, spent about Rs 9,351 per night, thereby taking the 10th
position on hotel expenses. Travellers from Argentina took the first place at Rs 10,456 a night, followed by travellers from the USA at Rs 10,330 a night and then Switzerland at Rs 10,238 a night. The Hotel Price Index is a regular report on hotel prices in major destinations across the world. The latest edition also
revealed that the Swiss spent the most on hotel rooms at home, averaging Rs12,088 a night. Travellers from Singapore came in second at Rs9,298 and Norway third at Rs 9,004 with respect to holidaying domestically. When it came to spending on hotel rooms domestically, Indians ranked fourth in getting
the best value accommodation with an average payment of Rs 5,346 a night. The Malaysians paid the least for domestic travel with an average of Rs 3,645 per night. Travellers from Thailand came next at Rs 4,502 a night, while those from Russia stood third at Rs 5,063. The survey report was drafted after an analysis of 32 countries - 29 countries paid more for travel abroad than at home with some showing a significant gap between the two amounts. Only three countries paid more at home than abroad with the Swiss showing the highest difference, spending Rs1,850 more domestically than abroad. Singaporeans followed with a difference of Rs 1,326 and then travellers from Denmark with a difference of Rs 82.
Gunga Jumna (1961) was one of the biggest box office hits of the year. It was produced by Dilip Kumar who portrayed the dual role of twin brothers and directed by Nitin Bose who migrated from New Theatres to Mumbai in the 1940s. One song that remains immortalised is dhundo dhundo re saajana more kaan ka bala sung and danced by Vyjayanthimala . The lyrics were by Shakeel Badayuni and the music was by Naushad, both milestone creators in their respective fields. The song was picturised on Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala in a playful scene of love and teasing following their nuptial night. Dhanno (Vyjayantimala) suddenly discovers that one of her danglers is missing. She takes off the other one, dangles it and begins to dance. A little later, we discover the missing earring stuck to Dilip Kumar's kurta, but the two are oblivious. It carries a sensual and erotic suggestion on the nuptial night with the bed strewn with dried up flowers. Both Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala won the Best Actor Awards from Filmfare for their work in the film. Jhumka Gira Re from Mera Saaya (1966) with lyrics penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and sung by Asha Bhosle to music composed by Madan Mohan is lipsynched by a gypsy girl performing to an audience on the streets of a
crowd. Her costume and jewellery, designed by Bhanu Athaiya, fit into the scheme of a gypsy performer with doubleentendre lyrics that could mean several things - literal, metaphorical and suggestive. This reverses the kaan ka bala metaphor to now shift to a public performer away from the mainstream. The use of the word 'bajaar' in the second line, meaning 'market' makes the connection obvious. Bindiya chamkegi, chudi khankegi from Do Raaste (1969) is a romantic song picturised on the hit pair Mumtaz and Rajesh Khanna under the directorial baton of Raj Khosla whose sense of music, songs and their picturisation remain carved in cinema history. The picturisation of the song composed by Lakshmikant-Pyarelal on lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi and sung by Lata Mangeshkar throws up a model lesson on how song-dance numbers should be ideally picturised. Mumtaz wore a bright orange sari with lots of flowers in her hair and was decked generously in silver jewellery. She tried to divert the attention of the hero studying on the terrace and managed to seduce the camera with her underplayed sensuality. At one point, the hero bites an ear-ring she is wearing but she seems not to pay attention. The camera has experimented with innovative angles to shoot the lady in closeup, in mid-shots, through the hole where the rest of
the screen is black and so on. The lyrics are rich with meaning. At once place, she sings - maine muhabbat kee hai, ghulami nahi kee maine which is eloquent in its feminist stance within a very patriarchal backdrop. The song thus reaches far beyond the ornaments and make-up such as payaliya, kanganaand kajara used in the same song. The musical interludes filled with brilliant beats compliment the lyrics without dominating them. Teri Bindiya Re from Abhimaan (1973) has survived the onslaughts of time, globalization and post-modern cinema. It is a love song picturised on Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan in the film after they have just married. The lyrics by Gulzar use the words "bindiya", "nindiya" "gehna", "kangana" and "angana" apparently as a rhyming strategy but listened to closely, it enlarges the horizons of the literal and ritualistic significance of the ornaments to embrace a lifeview of togetherness and love. The bride says that while her 'bindiya" will steal his 'nindiya'(sleep), she considers him her 'gehna" - composite jewellery and rejoices in the thought of being part of his angana (metaphorical compound of the home they will make together). Enriched with the beautiful music of S.D. Burman with the magic voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi, this song is an ideal example of how cinema can and has used jewellery - an everyday marker of womanhood to mean much more than what it means in real life.
Sreedevi dances to the song number mere haathon mein nau nau chooriyan hai in Chandni (1989) to lyrics by Anand Bakshi and music by the Shiv-Hari duo at a sangeet ceremony for a cousin's marriage where men are not allowed. Wearing a pink ghaghra-choli-odhni filled with zardozi and decked in heavy jewellery, she places the focus on the colourful bangles in her hand which, unlike the rest of the gold she wears, includes cheaper bangles of plastic, This is purely an ingredient for entertainment with a dance number by Sreedevi put in to raise the box office value of the film. There is a romantic teaser in that the hero (Rishi Kapoor) tries to smuggle himself in by covering his head with a towel and pleads with other women when caught to let him stay just to ogle at the girl he is falling in love with. These song numbers and many more provide a cultural map to our past because much of this jewellery has changed in significance and in use and has broadened to include an increased consumer base across the world. Rings of different kinds are now inserted in the belly button, on the chin, and tattoos are used in place of jewellery by girls, and often boys, in a global world where culturespecific and gender-centric connotations that jewellery once held are slowly but steadily fading away. Historically however, they will continue to enrich the history of cinema and its socio-cultural significance now and in the future. Courtesy: Trans world Feature
BUSINESS Bangladesh to sign MoU with India for 100MW of power
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DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Agartala, Nov 23: Bangladesh and India will sign an agreement for 100 MW power from Tripura's 726 mg MW gas-fired thermal power project at Palatana in Gomati district, a senior state official said. "Bangladesh and India would ink an agreement for dispatch of 100 MW power from Palatana project on November 27 in Delhi. It (the agreement) would also decide about the tariff rate of power," Technical Director of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL), M K
Chowdhury said. He said, a two-day technical meeting between the two countries concluded here to review the progress of works for drawing the 47 km long 400 kv high tension wire from Suryamaninagar power sub-station here to Comilla in Bangladesh for transportation of power. Chowdhury said, the neighbouring country has opted for getting the power on it's victory day on December 16 and it is presumed that power would be transmitted on that day adding that the works for drawing the
transmission line is near completion. He said the transmission line would be put to live for testing from December 10-15. Machines of the Palatana project were transhipped from Kolkata to Agartala by using the Bangladesh Waterways route and the Ashuganj river port on Meghna in the neighbouring country's Brahmanbaria district, about 52 km from here. India had earlier announced to provide 100 MW power to Bangladesh from Palatana project. (Agencies)
POWER AGREEMENT HIGHLIGHTS Bangladesh and India will sign an agreement for 100 MW power from Tripura's 726 mg MW gas-fired thermal power project at Palatana in Gomati district. Bangladesh and India would ink an agreement for dispatch of 100 MW power from Palatana project on November 27 in Delhi.
Banks, road min dispute over rise in costs New Delhi, Nov 23: Just when road construction seemed to be getting back on track, a confrontation is building up between the lenders and the transport and highways ministry over funding of projects where costs have gone up substantially. Some of the lenders are threatening to stop financing for the projects where the cost escalation is more than 20% unless the developers get an allclear from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Lenders blame the government for delays, which in several cases have resulted in cost escalation of as much as 75-80%. But recent statements by officials in the transport ministry and a letter to the finance ministry, blaming banks and financial institutions for "over-financing", have triggered the latest row. The issue is now being taken up by the Indian Banks' Association to arrive at a common stand. The government has for long believed that banks were lending more than the total project cost, but the lenders have countered it by saying that the higher cost was due to
delays as well as the designs suggested by NHAI being flawed. Bankers said the issue had come up in September when senior government officers had raised it during a meeting convened by transport minister Nitin Gadkari and some of the lenders had suggested that in case of a difference in the project cost, NHAI should be asked to re-
confirm or reappraise the project before hey finance it. But Gadkari had suggested that this could
delay financing and only in cases where the gap was more than 20%, a third-party appraisal could be done. The minister's concerns stem from the act that NHAI takes at least our months to clear any changes in the design or cost. The lenders pointed out that the ministry had raised the same issue in 201112 as well and hen it was decided that developers
were free to innovate and choose newer technology for design and construction of Design Build Fi-
nance Operate Transfer (DBFOT) projects. Ministry sources countered it by saying that as early as our years ago, the red flag had been raised as the lenders stood at risk in case of sanctions beyond the approved project cost. An analysis by the ministry had shown that in 66 projects, the funding was 39% more than the project cost estimated by NHAI. Bankers said that there were multiple reasons for cost escalation. To begin with, in several cases, projects were awarded without the entire land acquisition being completed and this resulted in delays. Similarly, approvals for construction of rail over bridges, for instance, have to be obtained by the government, which rarely does it. This delays the process further. Then, there are design flaws, which are corrected through additions to what was originally suggested. "But if the government believes that there is a problem, we will stick to the rule book and not lend if the cost goes up. Let NHAI clear it first," said a senior bank executive. (Agencies)
Air India raises Rs 7,000 Cr by selling 9 Dreamliners Indore, Nov 23: Adopting the sale and lease-back route, debtridden Air India has raised almost Rs 7,000 crore by selling nine of its 21 Dreamliners to a Singapore-based leasor and then leasing the planes from it. Earlier, AI had sold and leased back 12 Dreamliners. About Rs 6,000 crore raised from this deal will be used to reduce the airline's aircraft purchase loans. AI has a combined aircraft purchase and working capital loan of Rs
40,000 crore, apart from accumulated losses of Rs 30,000 crore. These nine planes had joined AI fleet between March 2014 and this June. AI had fixed a reserve price of not less than $123 million for planes acquired in 2015 and $120 million for the aircraft inducted in the fleet during 2014. Meanwhile, AI has some more good news from the Dreamliner front. This aircraft had started joining the airline from September,
2012. But it could not land in winter dense fog in either Delhi or the European cities it operates to for the last three winters. This time, however, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has certified AI's Boeing 787 (dreamliner) to operate using instrument landing system (ILS). The aircraft can now land using up to category 3B of ILS, which means till visibility is about 100 metres. A senior DGCA official said the regulator has asked the
Airports Authority of India (AAI) to implement its promise of converting three airports near Delhi - Jaipur, Lucknow and Amritsar - into Cat III airports so that planes can land there in dense fog. "AAI first said these airports will be ready for Cat III by October 30 and then said the work will happen by November 10. However, both these deadlines have passed and we have asked them to hurry as fog season is not far off now," said the official. The regulator is going to call a meeting of all stakeholders in Delhi on Tuesday to examine the preparedness of airlines and airports for aircraft movement during fog this winter. The fog season usually lasts from December 15 to February 15. Meanwhile, the DGCA has certified the Airbus fleet of Vistara and AirAsia India to operate using Category II ILS, which means they can land in shallow fog this winter. (Agencies)
Zee to venture into theatre production All set to launch 10 plays together
The transmission line would be put to live for testing from December 10-15. Machines of the Palatana project were transhipped from Kolkata to Agartala by using the Bangladesh Waterways route and the Ashuganj river port on Meghna in the neighbouring country's Brahmanbaria district, about 52 km from here.
India had earlier announced to provide 100 MW power to Bangladesh from Palatana project.
Help from web hosting vendor sought by Sebi for Sahara docs
New Delhi, Nov 23: In the high-profile Sahara case, Sebi is looking for a server hosting vendor for providing electronic data storage and web access services for a database of 20 crore scanned pages. The total volume of this data is 70 terabytes. In the long-running case, Sahara group was asked by the Supreme Court in August 2012 to submit all documents and deposit investors' money
with Sebi for refund purpose. Sebi was mandated by the court to examine the documents submitted by Sahara, whose chief Subrata Roy is in Tihar Jail for over 18 months, to ascertain their genuineness and make refund to investors. Sebi has been inviting refund applications from investors through various platforms, including newspapers and its own website. (Agencies)
Mumbai, Nov 23: Zee Theatre, the new content vertical of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, has become the first Indian media and entertainment firm to foray into theatre production and will start rolling out plays from December 25, a top company official has said. The new vertical will partner with renowned playwrights and theatre stalwarts to produce over 100 plays in the next three years. "We have produced almost 16 plays now, the digital and live show rollout will happen on December 25 and broad-
cast rollout will happen in early 2016," said Zee Entertainment Enterprises Chief Creative - Special Projects, Shailja Kejriwal. She added that they will launch at least 10 plays together on the digital platform and add a play every two weeks, while on the television, it probably would be a weekly feature. Ms. Kejriwal said Zee will leverage its ability to make theatre available across multiple platforms such as Internet, mobile, DTH, television, inflight, screenings at multiplexes in addition to the existing on-ground performances. (Agencies)
Gold bond scheme loses sheen due to high price
FPIs high inflow in the cap markets triggers $1bn sell-off New Delhi, Nov 23: Overseas investors have pulled out more than $1 billion from the Indian capital markets since the beginning of the month due to lacklustre quarterly earnings and concerns over a possible rate hike by the US Federal Reserve. The sell-off came after Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) inflow in the capital markets (equity and debt) had hit a seven-month high in October. As per the data compiled by the deposi-
tories, net outflow in equities stood at Rs 5,713 crore between November 2-19, while it was Rs 2,565 crore from debt, translating into a total of Rs 8,278 crore ($1.3 billion). Earlier, FPIs had made a net investment of Rs 22,350 crore last month, making it the highest investment by investors since March, when they had poured in Rs 20,723 crore into the Indian market. (Agencies)
A MAJOR PULLOUT Overseas investors have pulled out more than $1 billion from the Indian capital markets. The sell-off came after FPI inflow in the capital markets (equity and debt) had hit a seven-month high in October.
As per the data compiled by the depositories, net outflow in equities stood at Rs 5,713 crore between November 2-19, while it was Rs 2,565 crore from debt, translating into a total of Rs 8,278 crore ($1.3 billion).
Mumbai, Nov 23: The government's much-touted sovereign gold bond scheme has failed to find favour with the public, if the final amount of about Rs 150 crore is any indication, say bankers, who also blamed the high issue price as the biggest damper. Public sector bankers also attributed many market holidays and affinity of the public towards physical gold for the subdued demand for the ambitious sovereign gold bond scheme, the maiden such offering by the government so far. Although, the Reserve Bank has not formally disclosed the overall funds collected under the scheme, bankers pegged it at around Rs 150 crore. "The primary reason for this lower-than-expected collection is the higher issue price. The RBI had set it at Rs 2,684 a gram, whereas the market price was lower. Why should somebody buy at higher price," said a senior banker
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from a state-run bank. He said his bank was targeting around Rs 50 crore from the scheme but could only collect one-tenth of it. Market experts agreed, saying 45% premium on the market price is not acceptable to a buyer, therefore the dismal demand. "In our country, people like to worship physical gold on Dhanteras, which is an auspicious day to buy the precious metal. We cannot resist ourselves from buying gold," said another public sector bank official. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on November 5, had launched three ambitious schemes to reduce the physical demand for gold and fish out 20,000 tonnes of the precious metal worth $800 billion lying idle with households. Modi launched the maiden sovereign gold bond, gold monetization and the Indian gold coin scheme with much fanfare. The first tranche of sovereign gold bond scheme was open for subscription from November 5-20. (Agencies)
DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Features
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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE BLACK TEA BAGS A LOT OF BENEFITS Winters are around the corner which means that longer nights, shorter and lazy days spent with woollies and warm comforters lie ahead. This also means increased consumption of hot beverages like tea and coffee. Even though, tea and coffee are the global beverages for mornings and winter season, tea is usually agreed upon as be-
ing the healthier of the two. But, what if we told you that tea in black form is a healthier option than normal tea? If you're already a black tea drinker, then you're actually consuming a cup of health! And for those who are not, this is definitely your cup of tea! Listed below are a few points on why black tea is good for you, espe-
cially in the coming winter months! 1. Good for skin: A major health benefit of black tea is that it can help you acquire healthy skin. The antioxidants can help you keep acne at bay. However, too much of black tea may cause harm to the skin rather than helping it. 2. Good for hair: Black Tea can also be good for your hair. Just like it supports skin health, black tea can enhance your overall hair health as well. 3. Prevents Parkinson's: Black tea may also be helpful in reducing the risk of Parkinson's disease, particularly among smokers. To reduce the risk of the disease, men are required to consume
between 421 and 2,716 milligrams of caffeine every day whereas in women, the risk of Parkinson's seems to be reduced regardless of how much black tea is consumed on a daily basis. 4. Digestion issues: Black tea has tannins and other useful chemicals in abundance that help in soothing the digestive system. The anti-inflammatory qualities of black tea are very effective in curing digestive disorders. 5. Diarrhea: The tannins in black tea have wonderful healing effect on intestinal disorders. It offers quick benefits and therefore, diarrhea patients are often advised to sip on black tea for maximum ben-
Make your heart smile with `healthy` choco pills There's a new chocolate in town, which is healthy, calorie-free, and no fun at all. A new research has introduced chocolate in a pill. The cocoa extract in the nutritional supplement, which includes the compound flavanols, is said to improve blood circulation and help keep a healthy heart, the Independent reports. Sweet makers are making more of these supplements with the extract flavanols, while the world's leading manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa, Barry Callebaut is planning to release flavanols pills. These pills have already been approved by European health authorities who have agreed that they help the health of the heart. Callebaut, which supplies the chocolate for Magnum ice-creams, has said it will team up with French nutrition supplement maker Naturex to produce and sell an extract of
flavanols. Mars's website claims that if their own capsule containing flavanols, called CocoaVia is taken daily, it promotes good health as they encourage blood flow. EU food safety officials have said that 200 milligrams of cocoa flavanols does improve the flow of bloody circu-
lation. In order to get 200 milligrams of flavanols, people would need to eat roughly two dark chocolate bars. This would mean consuming about 350 calories and 20 grams of fat. Or four bars of milk chocolate, which would mean around 900 calories and 50 grams of fat, says
Mars. The pills allow people to get a larger amount of flavanols, without the added calories and fat that makes chocolate so unhealthy. CocoaVia has been available in America since 2010, and has led to smaller companies launching their own copy version of the supplement. (ANI)
The Underrated Majuli Mask Craft of Assam Arnab Ghosh Assam, the north eastern hill state blessed with awesome wildlife and natural beauty, is also known for its heritage and cultural nuances. Artisans in Assam create amazing handicraft using natural materials like clay, bamboo and wood. The masks, called Mukhas in Assam form an integral part of Handicrafts in the state. The tribal people use these masks mostly during festivals and special occasions. They create the masks resembling mythological characters and popular deities, in most instances. The masks of Majuli Island Assam is a land of natural diversity and within its territory you get majestic, lush tea gardens and it also has the biggest river island of the world, namely Majuli.
Located in the Brahmaputra River, Majuli island remains a large tourist draw in Assam for its natural bounty. However, the island is also home to the ancient and impressive mask handicraft tradition of Assam. The masks made by artisans living in Majuli
these masks is they are quite lightweight, despite large dimensions. Based on size and material used in making a mask, it may take a week to a fortnight before it is ready for use. Earlier the artisans used chemical dyes but they are resorting to vegetable based colors owing to increas-
Island are sourced from natural materials. A bamboo piece is used as the main frame and after the basic structure is formed, clay layers are applied followed by application of paints on top. One unique feature of
ing environment awareness drives. The heritage and struggle for sustenance The Majuli Island has served as the hub of Vaishnav cultural heritage in Assam and its role behind development of mask handicraft is im-
mense. Since the 16th century, the art of mask making has thrived in the river island. To cope with tourist demand for masks with smaller sizes, the artists have adjusted their work pattern over time. The Chamaguri Sattra in this island is famous for traditional mask-making craft, though veteran artists rue the lack of interest in younger generations. Revival of interest In the past, the masks were largely used in Assam's traditional theatre form involving historical and mythological characters. However, this kept the awareness about these masks pretty much within the periphery of state. In recent time, efforts of the state government and different organizations have helped in making it popular across India. This has resulted in interested students hailing from various states heading to Majuli to learn the craft. (Agencies)
efits. 6. Cancer: The powerful antioxidants of black tea can help reduce the risk of many different cancers. Regular consumption of black tea lowers the risks of developing cancers of the stomach, colon, lungs, ovaries and the breasts. However, consuming tea alone won't help much. It can only support appropriate cancer treatment. 7. High cholesterol: Studies reveal that consumption of black tea on a regular basis can reduce bad cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart strokes and fatal attacks. Sip on black tea for improved cholesterol levels. 8. Healthy heart: Consumption of black
tea regularly by heart patients can even help them repair the coronary artery dysfunctions. Therefore, people who drink black tea everyday have a decreased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in future.
9. Asthma: Asthmatic conditions are often relieved by hot and brewed liquids. Black tea tops the list as it helps in expanding the air passage, thus allowing patients to breathe more easily. 10. Good for brain:
Black tea offers less amount of caffeine which promotes blood flow in the brain without any side effects to the heart. The moderate amount of caffeine in black tea supports mental focus and enhances concentration.
Traditional Beverages Of The North East Arnab Ghosh The cuisine of the North eastern states of India is absolutely enthralling. The use of regional herbs, tangy spices and their unique process of cooking make tourists amazed. However, the regional beverages made in these states are no less enticing! In every state, you are likely to come across unique beverages-alcoholic and otherwise. Your exploration of North Eastern cuisine will remain incomplete unless you taste these beverages, at least once. S e k h m a i Yu(Manipur) Each state of the North East has its own variations of Rice beer but the taste and flavor of Yu is mind blowing. The Yu, made in Sekhmai town of Manipur is much sought after owing to its flavor. It has even drawn comparison with Japanese Sake. Distilled from special type of fermented rice it has low alcohol quotient. Despite some government bans on sale, it is available in the town in evening. Tongba/ Chhang (Sikkim) The Channg or Tongba
is a popular drink in Sikkim. It is made using whole grain millet which is cooked and then fermented. It is also dried for a long time before the beverage can be prepared. The fermented mallet is stored in bamboo tumbler and then boiled water is added in it. Using bamboo straw, you can sip the drink. No social occasion in Sikkim is complete without its consumption. It is also called the 'Hot Beer'. The alcohol quotient is below 10 percent in it. Zutho (Nagaland) Naga people are fond of using rice in their cuisine alongside various types of meat and they also make beverage using rice. In Nagaland- you
will find mainly 3 types of rice beer, namelyDzutse, Ruhi and Zutho. Of the trio- Zutho is possibly the most popular. The taste is somewhat sour and the beverage also has a fruity aroma. Different Naga tribes prepare the fermented rice beer a little differently than others but the taste never fails to amaze. It is served in bamboo made glasses. Zawlaidi (Mizoram) If you have penchant for fruit based beverages, Zawlaidi- found in Mizoram will fit your bill the best. Made with Mizoram grapes-this is a local wine. Zawlaidi costs much less than other wines sold in the state. The alcohol percent stands at 11 to 14
percent. Usage of oak wood in the grape brewing reduces sourness and improves the flavor of the wine. Chuwarak(Tripura) This is one type of Whiskey made in Tripura. It is used with plenty of raw materials including rice, jackfruit and pineapple. Local ingredients like Tokhiseleng leaves and Thakotor leaves are also used to make it. It is more like a distilled variant of alcohol. Kiad (Meghalaya) As you explore the beautiful and picturesque regions in Khasi, Garo and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya- you are bound to notice the locals sipping a regional beverage. It is KiadMeghalaya's own take on rice beer! Served in bamboo tumbler, the locals use a piece of charcoal to ensure the tart, sweet drink has the desired balance of alcohol. The amount of distillation varies from one region to another. Lao Paani (Assam) Assamese tribes make a wide range of alcoholic beverages. However, the popularity of Lao Paania type of rice beer, is undeniable. This indigenously prepared drink is made with subtle variations in many regions of the hilly state. Rice is soaked into water to turn into beer. The tribes also use regional herbs and varieties of banana to add flavor to the beverage. (Agencies)
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"We ended up as runners up in the 5th Sultan of Johor Cup which made it an even bigger win as we were hungry for the podium position. The support was immense and we felt we were playing in our own backyard. We only have to look forward from here and keep giving such excellent performances." Harendra Singh
DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
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KCFC sweep aside Jukhi FC 1st Wangnia Pongte Memorial Football Tournament ET Correspondent Changlang, Nov 23: Kantang circle Football Club (KCFC) defeated Jukhi FC 3-0 in today’s match of the 1st Wangnia Pongte Memorial Football Tournament
at Changlang. The match marked the beginning of the knockouts. KCFC started the match on an aggressive frame of mind and were rewarded with two early goals as they caught their opposi-
tion off guard. The first goal came in the 10th minute, when Asam Tangha scored from close range. The lead was doubled by Tangha, five minutes later in the 15th minute when he managed to
break through the opposition defence and scored with a volley. Jukhi FC created some chances, but their strikers were off target. KCFC added their third goal after halftime in the
49th minute courtesy Chommon Khimhun's fantastic left footer from outside the penalty box. Tomorrow, NFC Miao will lock horns with Changlang football Club(B)
Results Kantang circle Football Club (KCFC) defeated Jukhi FC
3-0
Today’s Match NFC Miao Vs Changlang football Club(B)
Romai Tea Estate win Sports Correspondent Dibrugarh, Nov 23: Romai Tea Estate overcame Moud Tea Estate via tiebreaker 6-5 in the Arun Jalan memorial prize money inter-garden running trophy football tournament here at Mokalbari Tea Estate playground in Dibrugarh. The regulation time ended in a 0-0 draw although both teams tried their best to break the dealock. For Romai Tea Estate, Amit Urang, Ghana Karmarkar, Ravi Bawri, Bablu Gowala, Prakash Tanti and Hinu Bawari converted their spot kicks while
for Moud Tea Estate, Manud Urang, Shiv Munda, Bidhalal Gowala, Bhuden Tanti and Mohen found the back of the net. The tournament is organized by Mokalbari Kanoi Tea estate in association with Dibrugarh District Sports Association. Altogether, 22 teams have taken part in the tournament. Tomorrow, Tamulbari Tea Estate will play Silakoti Tea Estate in the second round. The referees for today’s match are – Babli Choudhury, Rituporno Konowar, Debojit Gohain, Pradeep Saikia.
28th Junior Boys National Tug of War Championship 2015 from Nov 25
Tezpore Besimari emerge champs Tapas Samaddar Rangia, Nov 23: Tezpore Besimari Football Club defeated Bako Football XI 2-0 in the final to win the Rangia Duhi All Assam Day-Night Football Competition along with a cash prize. The day-night competition was held at Rangia Dhuhi Madrassa playground. The football tournament was organised
by Dhuhi Anchalik Sports Association. In all, 10 teams took part in the competition. The final match was inaugurated by Naresh Kalita, Editor Niyamia Barta and exMinister Nurul Hussain. The trophy and cash prizes were given away by the guests. A cultural programme was also presented.
Baksa, Goalpara, Sivasagar move into third round Sachindra Mohan Dev Sub-Junior Football Tournament 2015 ET Correspondent Jorhat, Nov 23: Baksa, Goalpara, Sivasagar moved into the third round of the Sachindra Mohan Dev SubJunior Football Tournament 2015 played at Mariani here today. In the first match played between Salbari Baksa versus Lakhipur Cachar, Salbari defeated Lakhimpur 2-1. In the second match, Goalpara thrashed Tamulpur 4-0. Right from the word ‘go’ Goalpara boys started dominating the proceedings finding the back of the net in the 12th minute, 26th
minute, 49th minute and the 68th minute. In the third match played between Sivasagar Boys and Golaghat Boys, Golaghat Boys drew first blood in the 30th minute while soon after Sivasagar Boys managed to find the equalizer. The regulation time ended tied at 1-1 when the referee called for tie-breaker. Sivasagar netted five while Golaghat four with Sivasagar winning 5-4 at the end. Tuesday’s matches would be played between Titabor versus Chirang and Bongaigaon versus Nalbari.
ET Correspondent Golaghat, Nov 23: Tug of War Association of Assam and Golaghat District are collaboratively organizing the 28th Junior Boys National Tug Of War Championship under 19 years and 17th Sub Junior Boys under 17 years for the first time at the Golaghat Stadium. The players from far off places were seen arriving today. Registration and weighing among other processes will begin tomorrow. The opening ceremony will be held on 25th November which Mr Anowarul Haque DC Golaghat shall attend as
chief guest along with other dignitaries including All India Sports Journalist Association GS Subudh Malla Barua, Dr Ajit Boruah among others. The matches will start on 25th and conclude on 27th November. The final match and closing ceremony will be held on 27th November at 3 pm. On behalf of the organizing committee, President Dinesh Gogoi, Working President Purna Rajkhowa, Joint Secretary Porikhit Dutta and Manowar Hussain have asked the sports lover to mark their presence at the event.
ET Special Coverage Chalo Loku Festival in Deomali Log drum installed ceremoniously at Rangsoam Hum Teson Abo Deomali, Nov 23
A huge crowd gathered at Deomali's Rangsoam Hum on 21st November 2015 on the occasion of the i n s t a l l a t i o n programme of a log drum (Thaam). The ceremonious installation programme of log drum (thaam) was made remarkable with the ardent participation of Ex-minister Wangpha Lowang, PRI members, public sevarnts from different governmental departments, intellectuals, distinguished public leaders and well wishers. The portentous and resplendent musical instrument log drum so called "Thaam" by Nocte dialogue was installed according to the time immemorial ritualistic Nocte customary law. The pulchritudinous traditional dance troupes from different villages of Deomali area were also invited to make the programme more memorable and elegant. Local MLA Mr Wangki Lowang and prominent public leader Mr Arun Namati have been patrons of the log drum installation.
‘Euphoria’ to be released on Nov 25 Teson Abo Deomali, Nov 23 ‘Euphoria’ an audio album of contemporary Nocte songs is going to be released on 25th November 2015 on the auspicious occasion of
Chalo Loku-2015. The renowned singer of Tirap Dr. Vineeta Dowerah, upcoming talented singer from Tirap Mr. Manlang Agi and well known singer from Upper Assam Mr.
Nibin Basant have lent their voices in this much awaited Nocte audio album. There are twelve numbers of beautiful romantic as well as festival songs scored with the prom-
ise of creating much euphoria amongst the Loku Lovers. The VNM PRODUCTIONS presents this bouquet of songs to all the people of Tirap District.
Local food festival Teson Abo Deomali, Nov 23 As on 21st November 2015, a local food fes-
tival has been going on at Deomali town general stadium. It has been organised by Chalo
Loku Festival Celebration Committee for the first time ever. Different self help groups,
women's organisations and groups are selling locally-based scrumptious cuisines.
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