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ASSENG/2015/64205

Page 6

Vol. 1

Issue 301

Dibrugarh, Friday, April 8, 2016

Price -

5.00

Pages- 12

Page 3

Congress hits back at PPA-BJP government “BJP wants to bring against overdraft of around Rs. 500 crores dictatorship in Assam” The congress party of Arunachal Pradesh hit back at the PPA-BJP government in Arunachal against overdraft of around Rs. 500 crores and demanded white paper from Kalikho Pul lead government.

“Kalikho pul himself shouted and called several press conferences against the overdraft of Nabam Tuki’s government and now the overdraft is higher than the one of the earlier government, what happen now when Pul himself is the finance and chief minister at the same time, questioned Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).

Yesterday, Finance Commissioner, Ashish Kudra issued a letter to the General Manager of State Bank of India Itanagar that only the salary bills are to be cleared. “In view of the declining cash balance, it has been decided no cheque issued prior April 1

ET CAPSULES Administration bans fishing in Golaghat Golaghat, Apr 7: Golaghat District Fishery Development Officer has imposed ban and restrictions on fishing and use of fishing nets in Golaghat from April 1 to July 31. Fishing in Meen Mahals in the district is restricted for this period due to the breeding season of fishes of different species. Anyone who break this restriction and ban will be booked as per the Fishery Act and will have to pay penalty of upto Rs 5000. (Correspondent)

Businessman dies of electric shock Tinsukia, April 7: Sensation prevailed in this business town on Thursday after an elderly businessman died due to an electric shock. The deceased, identified as, Prasanna Dutta who was at his newly build home at Bordoloi Nagar in Tinsukia town at the time of the incident.

According to sources, the victim’s wife, a retired officer of Oil India Limited and two electrician were at the same place during the incident. The deceased had gone to fit a bulb and where he got electric shock, as a result he died on the spot, added source.

The couple had built a new duplex home, however, they were living at Bordubi as they were yet to shift in the new house. (Spl correspondent.)

2016 shall be entertained either in treasury or in the bank for clearance” said the letter.

“Any violation shall be viewed seriously and message may be conveyed to all treasury officers and sub treasury officers and branch managers of SBI. APCC alleged that all big shots of PPA and BJP party have already drawn their bills in advance. And now the small contractors and others are in trouble. All the ministers and MLAs of BJP and PPA are not ready now to take the development funds to their respective constituencies because their voters will know and they will not be able to pocket the fund, APCC further alleged.

Meanwhile, The All Arunachal Contractors Welfare Association (AACWA) vehemently condemned the state finance department for issuance of such kind of notification for stopping passing of any bills of contractors payment at various treasury offices

APCC AND AACWA ON PUL Finance Commissioner, Ashish Kudra issued a letter to the General Manager of State Bank of India Itanagar that only the salary bills are to be cleared.

APCC alleged that all big shots of PPA and BJP party have already drawn their bills in advance.

APCC demands white papers and wants Governor to interfere

No cheque issued prior April 1 2016 shall be entertained either in treasury or in the bank for clearance

All Arunachal Contractors Welfare Association warns of civil disobedience against the Pul Govt and wants Governor to declare financial emergency

and demand Kalikho Pul led PPA and BJP government to immediately recall the notification as most of the petty and genuine contractors are yet to get their payments from concerned department.

orders from concerned departments. If payments of bills of contractors’ are not release, there may be civil disobedience against the present government” stated a press release from the Association.

“Most of the contractors have taken loan from banks and from private party on interest rate of 10% pm for immediate execution of works immediately after getting work

APCC further alleged that lots of cheques have been issued in advance for construction of retaining walls, but they could not locate the site for the construction and still hunting

for the already constructed retaining wall in state capital.

“Will concerned dept. officers take risk for this, questioned APCC. “Almost all the development fund is pumped only in Itanagar”, added APCC. Last year, Pul had alleged that the Tuki government has kept all money in civil deposit.

Now the Congress party is asking hysterically whether he has withdrawn the money from civil deposit. If so, where has the fund been utilized and how much fund of the previous financial year has got lapsed, hit back the Congress.

The congress party demands J.P.Rajkhowa, the Governor to ask report from this government as he had done earlier with the previous govt.In the meantime, AACWA, urged the Governor to immediately intervene and if state exchequer has reached a zero balance then he should recommend for president rules under state financial emergency.

Diyun administration takes measure to shun discrepancies arising out of informal bifurcation of Chakma and Hajong villages A Staff Reporter Diyun, Apr 7

The recently joined Extra Assistant Commissioner of Diyun, Tagam Mibang reminded all the Head Goan Burahs (HGBs) and Goan Burahs (GBs) of Diyun circle to strictly perform the law and order duties as per the Assam Frontier (Administration of Justice Regulation), 1945 in the matter of village administration and to aid the police and administration as warranted by the law. Taking various preventive measures to sustain peace and smooth functioning of the villages, he called all the stakeholders to streamline proper system to avoid discrepancies and problem arising out of informal bifurcation of existing villages among the Chakma and Hajong communities.

In the peace cum co-ordination meeting held on 3rd April last under the chairmanship of the EAC, attended by all the heads of Govt departments, PRI members, Ex PRI leaders, HGBs, GBs, headmen, public leaders, representatives of civil

welfare societies resolved to maintain transparency and strict adherence to the guidelines in functioning of the Panchayat Raj Institution and other developmental activities.

To further avoid problems arising out of parallel functioning of HGBs and GBs vis-a vis village headman among Chakma and Hajong Community, the meeting has determined to streamline efficient guidelines for functioning.

The people of Diyun and the administration in the meeting declared the unfortunate incident of 29th March’ 2016 as an isolated incident of law and order and not related to any specific community.

The meeting also have welcomed the one man inquiry committee instituted by the government to inquire into the incident of 29th March’ 2016.

The investigation officer, ADC of Jairampur, Kento Riba is in Diyun and has started the investigation.

Since, complete normalcy

DIYUN EAC IN ACTION All GBs to strictly follow Assam Frontier (Administration of Justice Regulation), 1945 Immediate streamline to avoid problems arising out of informal bifurcation of Chakma and Hajong villages Creation of system for smooth parallel functioning of

GBs and Chakma and Hajong village headmen Declared the unfortunate incident of 29th March’ 2016 as an isolated incident of law and order and not related to any specific community Appealed to the people within the state and outside to stop false, provocative and negative

restored at the place, it was appealed to the people within the state and outside to stop false, provocative and negative reporting about the incident in print/electronic and social media.

The past repeated incidents of attacks and assaults upon the local administrative officers at the place and destruction of the precious public properties was

reporting about the 29th March incident in print/ electronic and social media To promote rule of law, proactive cooperation, social harmony and peace to take the people belonging to 13 diverse communities under Diyun Circle towards new era of development and progress

vehemently condemned and the huge gathering took pledge in the name of God and the Mother Earth of Diyun to obey, maintain and promote rule of law, proactive cooperation, social harmony and peace to take the people belonging to 13 diverse communities under Diyun Circle towards new era of development and progress.

Chowna Mein urged the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to lift population criteria in releasing grant A Staff Reporter New Delhi, Apr 7

Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein, today urged the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India to lift the population criteria to release fund while requesting the government to release the grants in time to mitigate the various needs of the tribal communities of the state. He assured that the state government would summit various projects in the sectors for which the funds are released. He also requested the Ministry to establish a Tribal Research Institute in Arunachal Pradesh as well as to allot funds for Eklavya Model Residential School at the earliest.

cmyk

Contd. on Page 3

ENHANCEMENT FOR TRIBAL AND EMPOWERMENT IN AP Funds for Eklavya Model Residential School To release the grants in time To look into the issue of salary and remuneration in the field of skill development

Deputy CM, Chowna Mein at the Conference, organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi

“Along with population and geographical area, performance of the state will also be given weightage for fund allocation” : Jual Oram, Minister for Tribal Affairs

AICC President Sonia Gandhi waves to the crowd during her poll rally at Jhargaon in Jagiroad. Pic - UB Photos Juthika Das Barpeta, Apr 7

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to bring dictatorship in Assam and said that the ruling party at the Centre has done nothing to improve the plight of the people of the state.

"The BJP wants to bring dictatorship in Assam. Modi ji and his leaders are making all kind of promises here but they have not highlighted their achieve-

ment in these two years at the Centre," Gandhi said in rally here.

She said that the Congress is the only party that takes along all communities without any discrimination.

Gandhi added that Prime Minister Modi talks of peace and development when he is on visits abroad but maintains silence at home when his colleagues make hate statements.

She also accused the ruling dispensation of favouring big

businessmen and corporate.

"What have they done for small businessmen? They have only increased the burden of tax on them," she added.

In Assam, campaigning for the second phase of polls has been intensified. Polling will be held on April 11 in 61 seats in Lower and Central Assam.

The first phase of Assam Assembly elections across 65 constituencies was peaceful with a voter turnout of 70 percent.

Double murder rocks Pengri in Tinsukia district Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Apr 7

In a horrifying incident, a father and daughter-in-law were murdered late on Wednesday night around half a km from their home at 2 No Naloni village under Pengri police station in Tinsukia district. The dead body of the duo identified as Suni Gorh (65) and Lakhimoni Gorh (18) was found in a pool of blood with their hands tied behind.

However, Debaru Gorh, son of Sunit Gorh escaped the attack with some injuries.

Accordingly to sources, 3 to 4 unidentified persons on Wednesday mid-night reached the victim’s house and kidnapped them after putting tape around their mouth. When the trio was being taken Debaru Gorh somehow managed to escape and narrated the entire incident to police. However, nei-

ther the people behind the incident nor the motive behind the murder has been clear. Even the murder weapon, suspected to be a sharp weapon, is yet to be recovered.

A manhunt has been launched by the police today and two persons have been arrested so far as informed by the Superintendent of Tinsukia police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanto. An FIR under section 302 IPC has been registered.

ULFA c-in-c Paresh Baruah might soon join the peace process: Anup Chetia Sorif Mohommod Lakuwa, Apr 7

The general secretary of protalk ULFA faction Anup Chetia today made a startling revelation that ULFA c-in-c Paresh Baruah might soon join the peace process. "His presence is most essential with us to keep the dreams of several thousands of ULFA martyrs (Swahids) who sacrificed their lives for the common purpose with the aim and objective of the ULFA then.

Contd. on Page 4

ULFA leaders paying tribute towards their martyrs.

New DC vows to complete the Lohit Bridge by April or May Bishnu Rana Tezu, Apr 7

Contemplating to execute all incomplete ongoing projects in letter & spirit, Danish Ashraf, IAS as new DC Lohit vows to give top precedence during an interaction with this correspondent at his office to Health & Education together with basic water, power and road connectivity which the district in fact is craving for. He further promised to pursue in completing the Bridge in the month of April or May before the onset of monsoon which has failed several deadline of completion as assured earlier.

When enquired about his

previous work place, the DC revealed that he worked in Chandigarh to developed it to a ‘Smart Chandigarh’ which will be replicated to ‘Hamara Lohit’ under Cell Phone apps as an first hand information about the Lohit district at a glance in a finger tips.

While appreciating the beauty of Lohit and simultaneously concerning over the tardy progress of ongoing Lohit Bridge, Advance Landing Ground and 132 KV line, the Ashraf said that the sleepy town adorned with natural beauty needs much to be done in infrastructure facets. “My preference would be also to harness Agriculture & Horticulture as the area has tremendously scope. With little effort we can

produce bumper if proper guidance and training is imparted”, he hopes. Citing his beginning of career as new DC Lohit, he further assured to put his utmost effort for the holistic development of the district and would proved himself to stood up to the satisfaction of the citizen.

A young IAS officer of 2011 batch AGMUT cadre, Danish Ashraf has taken charge as the new Deputy Commissioner of Lohit district in replacing Tamiyo Tatak who has been transferred to Joint Secretary Sports & Youths Affairs Itanagar. He took charge on Friday April 1 last. Ashraf was earlier served as ADC in Chandigarh.

cmyk

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Apr 7

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

PAGE 2 ASTRO FOR YOU Aries Think positive today and watch the world around you changing. Regardless of how difficult things may seem, Ganesha advises you to take it without getting upset. If you set your mind to something, you can do it. You have the Midas touch today, so it is a good time to introduce a new strategy.

Taurus Today is a perfect day to relax and enjoy your health. However, precaution should be the buzzword while dealing in money matters. You may develop a new interest in jewellers, artists, bankers and orators. Dinner will be laced with all the deserving delicacies of a hearty meal.

Gemini It is a good day for you to participate in cultural events and group activities, predicts Ganesha. You are likely to be an important part of some convention or joint venture, but don’t get too bogged down by it. In the evening, you may take a fancy to fine arts, such as drawing or classical music.

Cancer Do not to be sentimental or hasty. Try to handle things deftly instead of dodging bad episodes or turning a blind eye to them. You will give priority to domestic and private life instead of career or business aspects.

Leo Your children’s health may be a cause of concern today. The best way to put your and your family’s fears to rest would be by paying a quick visit to the doctor. As always, kids remain a surprise package of delights; the happiness of your children shall double your joy as a parent.

Virgo Expenditures will be like oil spills– wasteful and dirty. But cosmic energies and positivity are gathering wind today, and you should do well to make full use of them in your personal and professional life.

Libra Nothing overshadows your love for your children today. And love is precisely what drives you incessantly to give them the best possible of everything. Be it special classes for that extra edge in education, or a visit to a holy place to seek divine blessing, you will do it all today. And spending time with children isn’t all — you may end up taking a small but sweet trip in the evening.

Scorpio It’s the same old rut today. Nothing new, nothing exciting. People from the opposite sex, however, may bring you out of the routine and try to enliven your spirits.

Sagittarius Those around you will be impressed by the leader in you. You are the general and others will rally at your call to arms. And all the while, you swing your sword and make your way to the top, defying all odds. Do not forget to let people have their own time and space.

This will not only help you progress, but will boost their morale too.

Capricorn Despite repeated failures, very few realise that the key to success is in having the patience of a saint. Vexation invariably leads to an outburst which, in turn, can ruin your reputation and future prospects in innumerable ways. Today, keep your calm and smile back even if faced with an adverse situation. Doing as directed may help you overcome troubles and take the right decisions.

Aquarius 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 throughout the day. If you are a businessman or a professional, you will move one step closer to your target.

Pisces For those in the creative fields of marketing or advertising, today is an extraordinary opportunity to tweak your marketing mix into bringing in maximum profits with bare minimum efforts. Your health interests will also take priority now, and you will find yourself spending more time in the gym.

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

Women’s staged protest seeking immediate arrest of Murderers Vinod Kumar Singh Dhemaji, Apr 7: Around thousands of women today blocked the road leading to Arunachal Pradesh connecting NH-15 from Akajan passing through Silapathar town in front of Silapathar police station under Dhemaji District, demanding arrest of the culprit involved in murder case of Jharna Das. On April 1, suddenly some miscreants entered Jharna Das’s house by diging the mud from back side of his house, on the day her husband Badal Das went to the house of his daughter who was married to pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. Two of

Women block the road leading to Arunachal Pradesh connecting NH-15 from Akajan passing through Silapathar town in front of Silapathar. Pic - Vinod Kumar Singh

his sons were also in Pasighat and doing business. Taking the advantage, the goons finding 57 years old lady alone in the house

the village came to know about the incident and informed the police. Dhemaji SP visited the spot with sniffer dog for investiga-

Representatives of political World Health Day observed in Dhemaji parties is one platform Mayukh Goswami Mangaldai Apr 7: “ Is there any special political strategy for second phase of poll ? ” , “ Is there any mention in the election manifest of your party to solve the unemployment problem of Darrang ?” , “ How long people of Darrang are to be in the risk of consuming drinking water with high percentage of Arsenic ?” , “Why former MLA s like Dr Zoii Nath Sarma and Binanda Kr Saikia who have allegedly been failed miserably in the development of Sipajhar, are yet again been offered party tickets ?” . These were the few questions raised by members of different non political and public organizations of Darrang district before the representatives of the three major political parties Congress, BJP and AIUDF in the open interactive programme called “Janamancha” organized by the news service section of Doordarshan , Guwahati on Wednesday at NatyaMandir .

The one hour long

programme first of its kind covered on DD News prime time( 7 pm to 8 pm) was represented by Debobrat Dutta , President Darrang Congress Committee as representative from the ruling Congress , Nilima Devi , Secretary Asom Pradesh BJP from the saffron party and Omar Ali , Vice President AIUDF , Yuva Marcha , Darrang as the representative of the AIUDF .

The programme conducted

by Rajiv Lochan Borthakur in a fare and impartial manner also witnessed several other questions related to alleged illegal commission centric implementation of government developmental projects , major corruption charge against the Darrang Zila Parishad led by AIUDF , no measures for proper preservation or development of historical water bodies in Mangaldai town viz. Borpukhuri and Bega river , efforts of a section of political parties for religious polarization of common voters and non inclusion of the issue related to

tribal belt and block in the vision document of BJP among others . Many persons including renowned writer and retired college teacher Idris Ali , veteran women leader and president of Darrang District Mahila Samiti Rani Devi , state awardee retired teacher Kiron Saikia Bora , state level leader of AJYCP , Bhabesh Kakoti , senior journalist Bhargab Kr Das, president of Mangaldai Nagarik Sanstha- Prasanna Bora , general secretary of AAMSU Ainuddin Ahmed , Nilotpal Boro of ABSU ,Bhakatpara Ancholik , Khagen Saharia , president Darrang Drug Dealers’ , Association and Lokeswar Nath , the young editor of a Duni based fortnightly news magazine participated in the interactions.

Meanwhile failure of the BPF to send its representative even after confirmation in respond invitations and several follow up telephonic reminders by the organizers has strongly been criticized by the public present in the unique election programme.

World Health Day observed in Dhemaji Vinod Kr. Singh Dhemaji, April 7: Along with other part of the state and world, students and teachers of a school in a remote village of Dhemaji District, Amguri Tribal High School under Sissiborgaon Circle of Dhemaji district nearly 15 km away from district headquarter, which is not easily accessible by road communication, observed world health day with day long programme. On the occasion health check up camp for students was organised

during which Dr Sunmoni Bhuyan along with his medical team of Amguri state dispensary conducted the programme.

After the medical check up, a meeting was organised in which head master of the school Sushil Gohain along with teachers intimated the student about importance of the day, awareness among the growing up youth was created on healthy life, and were also informed about this year them of the day Beat Diabetes.

Make in India programme is mere slogan, Cong to oppose GST : Sonia Gandhi

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 8-4-16 (FRIDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-30 A.M-Bidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Songs) 8-30 A.M-North East News Bulletin in English 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 12-05 P.M- Live Phone in Surar Satsori 1-10 P.M-Troops Programme 2-30 P.M-Western Music 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raijor Anusthan (Rural Programme) 7-15 P.M-Chah Sramikar Asor (Tea Garden Programme Programme) 8-00 P.M-Sponsored Programme-Brahmaputra Swasthya Sewa (Sponsored by BDHL) 9-16 P.M-Barerahaniya Sd-/H.O.P

Dalim Phukan Morigaon , Apr 7: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's " Make in India" programme as a mere slogan which won't do nothing for the backward states of Assam and the NE. Addressing a huge election rally at Jhargaon near Jagiroad in Morigaon district today, the AICC President said that Narendra Modi's government is non functional about the burning problems of Assam like flood and Make in India slogan here in Assam is meaningless where people are groaning under backwardness due to the flood and other communication problems. The land Acquisition Bill may be used for the interest of the capitalists by the BJP which will be opposed by the Congress, Mrs. Gandhi added.

Referring to GST Bill

The huge crowd which attended AICC President Sonia Gandhi’s election rally at Jagiroad (inset) Mrs. Gandhi addressing the rally. Pic - UB Photos which is pending in Parliament, Mrs. Gandhi said that capitalist BJP want to implement the bill in different way for which several backward states like Assam will suffer and people will have to pay exorbitant taxes

World Health Day observed at Guwahati Press Club A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Apr 7: The city based Dispur Hospitals today organized a free diabetes screening and a Hepatitis-B vaccination camp to observe the World Health Day at Guwahati Press Club. Nearly hundred media persons participated in the program where over 50 scribes took the first dose of Hepatitis-B vaccine (in addition to 15 second dose recipients).

It may be mentioned that the diabetes has been growing at an alarming rate in India primarily because of unhealthy eating habit, stress and lack of physical activities. Of course, the diabetes is treatable and it can be kept under control to prevent more complications. This year's them of the Health Day is also related to fight Diabetes.

murdered her and took away valuable jewelry and others.

According to source, on the next day morning, people of

tion. Police officer till now failed to nab the culprit.

On Thursday women’s staged blocked for the arrest of the culprits involved in the murder. Police have registered a case at Silapathar police station case number 80/16 u/s380/ 302 dt - 2/4/2016.

The officer in charge of Silapathar police station sought ten days time for proper investigation and he assured the people that they would nab the culprits very soon who have committed the crime. Later, protesters submitted a memorandum to Officer in charge of Silapathar.

for it. Congress will oppose all anti-people measures including the introduction of GST bill, Sonia Gandhi said.

Referring to the so-called change what is uttered by

BJP, Gandhi said that complete negative change is mooted by BJP. But her party want to develop the state as is done by CM Tarun Gogoi during his 15 years tenure.

Mrs. Gandhi also appealed

to the people to vote for Congress candidates Bibekananda Doley, Jon Jonali Boruah and Dr Nazrul Islam. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, APCC President Anjan Datta also addressed the gathering.

BSF seizes 461 cattle heads from Dhubri-Cooch Behar

"As the main goal of this year's World Health Day campaign is to increase awareness about the rise in diabetes and its staggering burden & consequences on low & middle income countries, we have organized the program to support the mission to prevent diabetes in our country," said Ujjal Saikia of Dispur Hospitals Private Limited.

World Health Day observed at Guwahati Press Club. Pic - ET Photo

Today's health camp at press club, where over 65 media persons took different doses of Hepatitis-B vaccine, was conducted by staff nurses Anjali Bhuyan, Ghunusa Deuri and Jamina Lahong. Another camp to administer the second dose of Hepatitis-B vaccine (for over 50 first dose recipients) shall be organized on 7 May 2016 to complete the process.

BSF seizes 461 cattle heads from Dhubri-Cooch Behar A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Apr 7 : Troops of Border Security Force deployed under Guwahati Frontier in Dhubri and Cooch Behar have seized large numbers of cattle heads meant for smuggling to Bangladesh on the inter-

vening night of 6th /7th April 2016.

Behar district of West Bengal.

461 cattle heads worth approximately Rs. 35,84,100/- were seized from the Indo Bangladesh border in Dhubri, Assam and the adjacent Cooch

BSF troops are always alert to issue of trans-border crimes and illegal infiltration and are making all out efforts to prevent commission of illegal crimes.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

PAGE 3

Centre assures consideration of Arunachal CM’s request to retain three strategic roads with BRO A Staff Reporter New Delhi, April 7: Chief Minister Kalikho Pul met the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and requested for retention of three strategic roads of Joram-Koloriang (158km), Anini-Meka (235km) and Demwe-Hawai (165km) with Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

These three strategic roads were handed over to the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which were earlier constructed and maintained by the BRO. Underlying the importance of these strategic roads, CM said it serve as defence roads. In the event of natural calamities or any law and order issues, BRO with its adequate manpower, machineries and dedicated line of communication was better equipped to handle the situation.

The minister assured to consider the request of the CM, however, appealed the state government to monitor the works of the BRO and to ensure that local people and local contractors are also economically benefitted from the work.

KALIKHO PUL’s REQUESTS to UNION MINISTER FOR ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS Retention of three strategic roads of Joram-Koloriang (158km), Anini-Meka (235km) and DemweHawai (165km) with Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

On proposed widening of the existing 2-lane to 4-lane of the Itanagar-Banderdewa section of NH-415, CM requested to keep necessary budget provision in the current financial year.

To ease traffic between Itanagar and Naharlagun, the CM mentioned that the proposal includes a flyover over Naharlagun saying that the road serves as a critical lifeline between the two cities.

He also requested the minister for maintenance of this stretch of road since during monsoon it gets worn down and in several places due to landslides in Kharsingsa

Mukut Mithi hints at retiring from active politics

Jiko Linggi Roing, Apr 7: Addressing an awareness programme on 'Pradhan Manntir Fasal Bima Yojana' at KVK Balek on Sunday, current member of Rajya Sabha, Mukut Mithi hinted that he is steadily pulling himself away from active politics .

we planted around twenty one thousand cardamom saplings in hills near Bhismaknagar', senior Mithi said disclosing his steady foray into agriculture and horticulture activities while revealing his distancing from active politics.

He cited the reason for his steady political retirement out of active politics as his 'old age'. Addressing the farmers on the occasion, senior Mithi said that agriculture and horticulture activities were now replacing politics as his focal point of involvement in his day to day activities.

He also assured the farmers that he will urge the state government to implement the agricultural insurance scheme as soon as possible.

The Parliamentarian felt that the scheme should have covered the current Kharif crops, but felt that the situation was unlikely.

'My wife is into agriculture, she cultivates mustard. We are already into tea gardening. We are also into cardamom cultivation. Recently,

Deputy commissioner, Ravi Dhawan, Project Director, KVK Roing, Dr. TJ Ramesha along with scores of farmers were attending the awareness programme.

Budget provision for proposed widening of the existing 2-lane to 4-lane of the Itanagar-Banderdewa section of NH-415

Arunachal CM with Nitin Gadkari in Delhi area; the entire roads are washed away. Appealing fervently for funds, the CM said the road is the only lifeline of the capital city to which the Minister agreed to help and also for widening of highway to 4-lane road.

The CM further requested for an East-West Industrial Corridor Highway (431km), which will traverse along the border fringe of Assam-Arunachal boundary. For that the government is taking all measures to ensure land availability, the CM informed.

Includes a flyover over Naharlagun To ease traffic between Itanagar and Naharlagun An East-West Industrial Corridor Highway (431km), which will traverse along the border fringe of Assam-Arunachal boundary Re-posting of Regional Officer (MoRTH) back at Arunachal

6 houses gutted down in Itanagar, one dead

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Apr 7: A devastating fire broke out at around 2.45 am today in CII Sector, Itanagar gutting down six barrack-style houses and resulting in the death of one Tachu Lida, aged around 40 years.

On receiving a call for distress at around 3 am, the Itanagar Fire Station sent its fire tending tanker but was faced with technical

glitches. When the second tanker arrived, the fire tenders were assaulted by a resident and were forced to flee from the scene. The fire was finally contained when the third fire tending tanker arrived and worked without any obstacles.

OC in-charge SI P Baruah informed that five to six LPG cylinders burst in the fire and caused the fire to spread rapidly.

Leaving aside Tachu Lida, all occupants of the barrackstyle houses managed to escape the blaze. However, the victims were unable to recover any items from their houses.

SI Baruah said that investigations are on to ascertain the cause of the fire, and they are looking at it from all angles as there was heavy rainfall at around that time.

He said this highway would enable people from Arunachal to avoid travelling to Assam to travel in one’s own state. Every time a blockade or social tension in Assam, travellers from Arunachal has to face lots of hardship, said the CM. The minister was also requested for re-posting of Regional Officer (MoRTH) back at Arunachal. CM appealing for the same said the shifting of RO office to Assam defeats the very purpose of close monitoring of projects under PM package.

Stating that the funds allocation under Central Road Funds (CRF) are guided by accrual and bank of sanction, the CM said the existing criteria did not cater huge funding required for several projects. He requested for increase in allocation of funds under CRF as special case for Arunachal since it has large geographical area.

ET Bureau Pasighat, Apr 7: As monsoon approaches, East Siang District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Thursday held a meeting with the officers of various government departments to review preparations ahead of the southwest monsoon season.

Reviewing the progress for the disaster management in the district, DC cum DDMA Isha Khosla has called upon the officials concerned of the district to take all possible steps before arrival of the monsoon to deal with any eventuality.

Since incidents caused by natural disaster are unpredictable, better coordination among dif-

ferent departments/agencies involved in disaster management must be established, she said. All the preparations must be completed on time to deal with incidents like landslides, heavy rainfall, cloudbursts during monsoon season ahead and officers can act and rush to the incident site with men and machineries to handle disaster like situation, she added.

As a precautionary measure, she directed District DM Officer to identify sensitive and hypersensitive places and to update contact numbers of all the officials concerned and public representatives to be kept at the disaster control room so that they may be contacted easily in case of any

emergency like situation arises.

Khosla also directed the district health department to ensure proper arrangements of medicines and necessary health care facilities in all hospital and health centres.

She categorically instructed the Dy. Director of Food and Civil Supply to store adequate food items for Mebo and adjacent villages and EE Power to take all preventive and appropriate steps during in view of the monsoon season ahead.

The DDMA directed the Municipal council and Urban Development department to remove silt from the drains of the township ahead of the rainy season.

On the red letter day of the School, five important personalities of the school; Mrs. Monmaya Urang, Mr. Ashok Thapa, Mr. Habil Bagh, Mrs. Manju Mirdha and Miss Serophina Kandulna were felicitated by the Chief Guest R K Sharma, Guest of Honours, C.T.Mein & C.Z Namchoom and Chief Patron of the school Chowna Mein. As a symbol of remembrance and to add to the

solemnity of the occasion ‘Silver Jubilee Souvenir’ was also released together by the entire distinguished guest.

While delivering his speech, the Chief Guest of the function, R K Sharma, DC Namsai informed the gathering that the institution has been rendering tremendous and yeoman service to the society in this remotest part of the country by providing a highvalue based quality education.

He appreciated the endeavour and role of former MLA Namsai Sati Mein, presently the principal of the school, who with her idea of bringing up the institution has been enabling the students to foresee their future through this school.

Former M.L.A & Principal of the school, Sati Mein, in her inaugural address, presented a brief profile of Tiny Tots School, and expressed her deep sense of gratitude to the past and present teachers for their contribution towards providing value-based quality education and developing personalities by imparting ideals of academic excellence, sense of discipline and high moral and ethical values and to cater to the educational needs of the students of this remote part of the country.

ET Bureau New Delhi, April 7: Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today requested the NHPC Ltd not to confine their CSR activities to projectaffected areas only. The CM in a meeting with the Chairman & Managing Director, NHPC Ltd sent a clear message that you are here for welfare of the people and not merely concerned with your own project and adding that the welfare activities should benefit the people whoever are in need.

Informing that state government had accorded priority to health and education, the CM requested the NHPC to focus on health and sanitation facilities in schools.

He informed that in his meeting held with the Prime Minister of India on Friday, he had requested the centre for enhance-

ment of fund from the existing Rs.12, 000 to Rs.40, 000 per unit of Individual House Hold Latrine (IHHL), to which the Prime Minister has agreed.

Also informing on the state’s plan to develop small hydropower projects, he enquired if NHPC could help in this sector.

NHPC informed that the company has provision of Rs. 50000 for construction of toilet facilities. On developing small hydro projects, NHPC said they could help develop it but have to execute starting from survey investigation to commissioning of the project.

The meeting also discussed on pending NHPC projects in Tawang and Lower Dibang Valley to which the CM assured full support and cooperation.

Condolence ACTION REQUIRED message from the Governor ET Bureau Itanagar, Apr 7: Governor of Arunachal Pradesh JP Rajkhowa along with First Lady Rita Rajkhowa has condoled the sudden demise of late Kamla Advani, wife of BJP leader, Lal Krishna Advani.

The Governor in his letter to L K Advani said, "I am deeply grieved to know about the sudden demise of your beloved wife Smt. Kamla Advani Ji, on 6th April 2016 at the AIIMs, New Delhi, due to some illness. Her passing- away has surely shaken you, all the most because of the life-long selfless love and support she had been extending to you, throughout your eventful political career and service to the nation. She was indeed a solid pillar of strength for you, all along". " I, on behalf of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, my wife Smt. Rita Rajkhowa convey our profound, heartfelt condolence to you and all other members of bereaved family and pray to the Almighty for eternal peace of the departed soul in Vaikuntha", said the Governor.

DDMA reviews Tiny Tots School preparations ahead of completes 25 years Southwest monsoon ET Correspondent Namsai, Apr 7: Colourful procession taken out by the Tiny Tots School Namsai and releasing of pigeons & balloons as a symbol of peace & love marked the Silver Jubilee Celebration in Namsai dist. The Tiny Tots school which is a primary English medium residential cum day school had a humble beginning with 25 boarders and 25 day scholars has completed 25 glorious years after its foundation in 1991 celebrated the Silver Jubilee Celebration in a grand manner on April 3 last. The Deputy Commissioner of Namsai R. K. Sharma graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The Parliamentary Secretaries Shri Chow Tewa Mein and Chow Zignu Namchoom were also present as the Guests of Honour among other distinguished guest on the day.

CM Kalikho Pul requests NHPC to extend CSR activities beyond project-affected areas

Young talents of the school showcased many entertaining performance which was applauded by one and all. On the theme of ‘Right to Education’ was also displayed by the teaching staff and students which also won tremendous applause from the audience. Pass out pupils of the school, Ms. Shabnam Hussain, Ms. Rabia Begum, Babul Deb and Tushar Sonar shared their views and experiences on being the students of the Tiny Tots School. Mr. Rajesh Marbaniangone, teachers of this premier institution also shared his views.

Among others to speak on the occasion were Parliamentary Secretaries Shri Chow Tewa Mein and Chow Zignu Namchoom. Mr. Ashok Kerketta presented the vote of thanks.

Earlier on April 2, Chief Patron of the school Chowna Mein, the Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated the exhibition of distant past photo gallery, child arts and crafts put up by the little tots of the school amidst presence of huge gathering. The DCM highlighted briefly on the history of the school and congratulated the staff and present teaching fraternity for their immense contribution towards making the school reached to this historic feat.

This ATM at Diyun is out of order for more than a couple of months now causing inconveinance to the people of Diyun and its adjoining areas.

Pic - Rabi Shankar Chakma

Chowna Mein urged the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to lift population criteria in releasing grant Contd. from Page 1 He pushed the Ministry to give special attention to Arunachal Pradesh considering that it is a comparatively young state and has cent percent tribal population. Mein, who also holds the portfolio of Social Justice and Empowerment, was speaking in the Conference, organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi to evolve strategies for overall development of tribal communities.

Mein agreed that the cultural diversity of our country requires special measures to be taken up for the tribal communities. He said that the remote border areas in the state needs to be developed in particular, in sectors like health, education, agriculture among others to stop mass immigration to the capital complex, thereby ensuring the overall development of the state.

In the field of skill development, he urged the ministry to look into the issue of salary and remuneration. He informed that the students, after taking the necessary training, comes to big cities to work only to return to their home state because of financial crunch.

Mein later informed the gathering of various achievements of

the state in different sectors, particularly in Agriculture and horticulture.

Earlier Jual Oram, Minister for Tribal Affairs, while speaking in the occasion, said that although the literacy rate and health of the tribal communities has increased considerably in the last few decades, it is still low when compared to the rest of the country. He asked for suggestions regarding the up gradation of Eklavya Model Residential School till graduation level in order to ensure that students complete their education. Oram also mentioned that soon, along with population and geographical area, performance of the state will also be given weightage for fund allocation.

Tao Tabin, Director, Social Justice and Empowerment also attended the event.

The conference while ensuring sustainable tribal development, provided a platform to seek active participation and involvement of all the stake holders for evolving a regular feedback mechanism in respect of policies, programmes, schemes and initiatives of Ministry and exchange ideas for ensuring good governance for the tribal population and its overall development in the country.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

PAGE 4

Bike-truck accident in Itanagar, 2 injured

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Apr 7: A motorbike collided with a truck here, at around 5.30 am to-

EVMs in Strong Room at Titabor, Majuli Bijoy Handique Jorhat, April 7: Strong Rooms in Jorhat kept high alert especially in Majuli and Titabor subdivisions as EVMs contains the results for the parties.

Extra forces along with Assam Police commandos have been kept tight vigil till May 19th. In Majuli, EVMs have been kept in the strong rooms within the premises of the Majuli Sub-Division Office while in Titabor, EVMs have been kept in the strong room within the premises of SDO (civil), Titabor while on the other hand faith for three LAC candidates are kept at Jorhat Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School amidst tight security, informed administrative sources here.

day, injuring the bike rider grievously and the pillion rider with minor injuries.

According to Itanagar Po-

According to eyewitnesses, outraged with the accident, a few people know to the injured attempted to break the windshield of the truck with a dao (machete) and also tried to burn down the truck. However, the police personnel present on the spot, along with bystanders managed to stop them from setting the truck on fire.

The motorbike riders, identified as Tagru Taka and Anam Moya are currently admitted at Rama Krishna Mission Hospital and are out of danger, said the SI, while also informing that the truck driver has not been lice Station SI P Baruah, the found. truck was taking a turn The owner of the truck has when the bike collided into also not arrived to inquire of the incident, he added. it.

NEW TIME...

A Young girls and boy performing a Bihu dance practices for the ensuing Rangali Bihu festival in Dibrugarh .

Pic - UB Photos

KNP authority all set to welcome Administration imposes Cr. PC 144 over Prince and Princess of England catching & selling of brood fishes in Jorhat Bijoy Handique Jorhat, April 7: Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is gearing to welcome and host Prince of England.

Both Prince and Princess of England to stay one night in Kaziranga National Park on April 13, informed, KNP official sources here.

On the other hand, all government guest houses, tour-

ist lodges, resorts were booked for high profile guest in the land of one horn rhino including several number of endangered species that exist at Kaziranga National Park. The Prince and Princess will take jeep safari from Bagori Range to Kahora and will spent the night at IORA Resort which is at the bank of river Diffolo.

The Prince and the Princess will also visit the Kaziranga Discovery Centre, then will visit in Wildlife Trust of India, the centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Cure to see the undergoing elephant clinic, which has been sponsored by the Global Friends of Elephant, after that both the guest will visit the nearby tea garden,

Hatikhuli Organic, where they will witness the process of making organic tea, which owns by TATA Amalgamated Group.

KNP authorities and administration are passing hectic time giving finishing touch all throughout the streets, roads including the National Highway that leads into the Sanctuary, informed M Ali, Director of KNP.

ET Correspondent Jorhat, April 7: As serious impact looms large throughout the district for large scale illegal fishing and selling of brood fishes and fingerlings on environment and also on sustainable development of fish production, as a result the Jorhat district administration prohibits catching and selling of brood fishes and fingerlings by promulgating Cr. PC 144 in the district, informed the Deputy

Commissioner, Solanki Vishal Basant here today..

The order also prohibits the use of fishing nets like Borjaal, Mahajaal, Langijaal, Fanshijaal etc. or any type of net with meshes less than 7cm/ 14cm during breeding season from 1st April to 15th July, inclusive in any proclaimed fisheries or any water bodies of Jorhat district.

Further, as per Rule 23 (A) of

Assam Fisheries Rules, catching and selling of brood fishes are prohibited, particularly Rou, Bahu, Mrigal, Mali, Borali, Hol, Haal, Chital, Kharia, Pithia, Gharia and Kunhi during their breeding season.

Any violation of this order will lead to penalties such as cancellation of lease, trial under IPC 188, imposition of fine to an extent of Rs. 5000 under Rule 41 of Fishery Act.

ULFA c-in-c Paresh K-DAC rally for mass awareness Security forces apprehends two hardcore militants Baruah might soon join the of disabled voters at Palasbari peace process: Anup Chetia Contd. from Page 1

He said today is the great day and we are very lucky to be here to celebrate the 37th Foundation Day here at Lakuwa, as on this day we had form ULFA at the historic Rangghar Bakori", Chetia said. With an objective to free Assam from 'the colonial hands of the Indian government' ULFA was born on April 7, 1979.

During the 37th Foundation Day which was celebrated in a big way for the first time in presence of General Secretary Anup Chetia along with pro-talk ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, general secretary Anup Chetia, Mrinal Hazarika, senior ULFA leader, NDFB (R) chairman Ranjan Doimari, NDFB (P) chairman Dhiren Boro, NSCN leader Amo Wangling, few KPLT leaders

among members from the martyrs family of ULFA were present during the day long celebration at Lakuwa under Sivasagar district here today.

The Chairman of the NDFB (P) Dhiren Boro during his address blamed the Union government for dividing NDFB into two groups and ULFA which is also divided into two groups now. Senior NSCN leader Amo Wangling spoke about old age relation between Assam and Nagaland which was very much different from now. He was happy to be present on the day’s occasion to meet all his old friends, whom he used to meet frequently, before.

Earlier, swahid tarpan was paid to the martyrs of ULFA as family members over hundred cadres who gave their lives were present during the celebration.

ET Correspondent Rangia, Apr 7: Eminent film personality Kapil Bora ceremonially flagged off the Mass Awareness Rally at Palashbari on April 7 organised by the Kamrup Disability Assistance Centre (K- DAC) which is an initiative under ‘THE MYVOTE CAMPAIGN’ of Kamrup Election District Administration. The rally was organized in order to spread the message of the need to exercise the ‘right to vote’ by all member of the society irrespective of one’s physical disability.

Eminent film personality Kapil Bora in presence of Kamrup DC Vinod Seshan and South Kamrup DC R P Baruah flagging off the K-DAC rally under THE MYVOTE CAMPAIGN, Kamrup for voter awareness at Palashbari. Pix by UB Photos

Participating in the rally actor Kapil Bora appreciated the initiative taken by the Kamrup Election District for making arrangement in polling stations to facilitate the voters with disability. Kapil also applauded the initiative taken under ‘THE MYVOTE CAMAPIGN, KAMRUP” for creating awareness regarding mass participation of voters on the day of poll for making the democracy strong.

Earlier, DC and DEO of Kamrup Vinod Seshan in his speech elaborately highlighted the special initiatives taken in Kamrup to facilitate the voters

with disability in casting their votes in Polling Stations. He also informed basic needs like ramp facilities and wheel chairs at polling stations have been made besides providing Braille brochures for visually impaired, preference to disabled voters, special volunteers for polling booths etc. have been taken in Kamrup District.

The rally was also addressed

by DC of South Kamrup Rajib Prakash Baruah, Circle Officer of Palashbari Pankaj Chakrabarty, Ambassador of K-DAC and Executive Director of Sishu Sarathi Arman

Doomdooma Marwari Yuva Manch members took oath to work for the welfare of society

Manoj Kumar Ojha Doomdooma , Apr 7 : The oath taking ceremony of the newly formed executive committee of Doomdooma Marwari Yuva Manch (MYM) concluded on Tuesday evening at Marwari Panchayati Bhawan which is located near Gandhi Murti Doomdooma .

In the ceremony which was organized in the evening , the newly elected President of MYM Bhawani Mandhania , Secretary Vishal Patowary , treasurer Rounak Agarwal , vice President Piyush Modi and Ravi Goyal , assistant secretary Ankush Modi and Harsh Behiwal and the executive committee members of the committee took oath .

Amit Chamaria , Deepak

Patowari , Mukesh Jaju , Nishit Agarwal , Rakesh Agarwal and Nirmal Bazari are those among the newly elected members of MYM .

The meeting was presided over by Rajkumar Ginoria and Gitendra Periwal while the program was anchored by Sunil Tayal and he put forward the work and deeds of last year .

In the ceremony vice President Sandeep Agarwal of MYM ( A ) , reasonal joint minister Ajay Trivedi , Manoj Rasiwasia of Mission- 5 , former President Manoj Bansal and Raj Kumar Modi graced the occasion as chief guest .

In the meeting advocate Mahavir Agarwal and many other speakers put forward their thoughts and ideas .

In the meeting . the secretary of Panchayati Bhawan Mahavir Modi , the President of maharaja Agrasen Sewa Samiti Dinesh Goyal , Marwari Women Committee , Marwari Sunderland Samiti , Parshuram Renuka Sewa Samiti , Akhil Bhartiya Marwari Sammelan , reasonal members and journalist Pittal Chand Mittal were facilitated with Phulam Gamosa in the program .

The reasonal members admired the work and deeds of MYM and wish for its glorious future . The Doomdooma branch assured for a 70 members and a branch of MYM in Sadiya . Much emphasis was given on eye donation posthumously in the meeting.

Ali. Disabled voters of the locality besides students, government officials and NGO members participated in the rally.

The rally started from the Palashbari Circle office and concluded at Bijoynagar Bazar Tiniali . Later, members of the K-DAC (Kamrup Disability Assistance Centre) visited several nearby villages to interact with the villagers to spread the message.

In this connection an exhibition was also held in collaboration with GVM at the Palashbari Circle Office complex on the process of evolution of election.

ET Bureau Rangia/Kokrajhar, Apr 7: Based on specific information, Army and Kokrajhar police launched a joint operation in general area of Kachugaonin Kokrajhar district in the wee hours of 7 Apr. During the operation one hardcore National Democratic Front of Bodoland(S) terrorist was apprehended and identified as Raju Mushahary @ Rajesh Mushahary. He is a 35th batch NDFB(S) terrorist, trained in Arunachal Pradesh. He was actively involved in extortion, arms peddling, recruitment of terrorists and providing logistic support to the banned terrorist organisation. One 7.65mm Pistol with magazine, few live rounds of ammunition and one hand grenade was recovered from the individual.

In the other case, the In-

Security forces apprehends two hardcore militants

dian Army launched a joint search operation with Dhubri police in the afternoon of 6 Apr in general area of Rupsi near Basbari in Dhubri district. On further inputs of the terrorist, the joint team established a mobile check post (MCP) on road RupsiBasbari and apprehended one Muslim Tiger Force of Assam terrorist , who was identified as Mohd Sahidul Islam Miah.One 7.65 mm Pistol, few live rounds, MTFA demand notes, an Alto car and

other warlike stores were recovered from the individual. The apprehended terrorist was carrying out extortion's in the area on a regular basis.

The Army is carrying out extensive area domination both by day and night to avert any mishap which may occur in the run up to elections and this apprehension ahead of the upcoming polls is a major boost in the effort towards the peaceful conduct of elections.

Awareness for differently able voters of Darrang.

Lowest turn out 83 polling stations still a challenge Mayukh Goswami Mangaldai, Apr 7 : " Aaha 11 Aprilat Moi Vote Diboloi Haju . Apuni Haju ne ?" .

Now a days these type of few words seem to be vibrating any where in Darrang district -whether it is the lips of popular film actress Gayatri Mahanta in whatsapp video , characters of puppet shows , fixed loud speakers of the I &PR department , T-shirts of the differently able voters or the bikers . With just only a few days left for the second phase of election in four assembly segments of Darrang election district , voters awareness activities are stated to be intensified by the election department.

This time they has made special arrangements for differently able voters and about 400 of them have already been identified . Talking to this correspondent Rahul Ch Das , Election Officer , Mangaldai informed that they are very much committed to ensure the polling of such voters for which necessary directions to all BLOs for arrangement of transpor-

maximum voters participation and ethical voting including a very short social media compatible short film " Vote Dane Anibo Jowar" directed by young director Biswajit Deka and puppet show titled "Vote Diba Jao Jo" scripted in local colloquial and directed by Dhiren Deka have already under taken .

tation facilities to the polling stations , wheel chairs in the polling stations , preference in voters queue etc have been issued . On the other hand under SVEEP , an awareness rally for such voters has been organized in association with a local NGO Ashajyoti at B.J.Valika High School , Sipajhar on Wednesday where around 70 differently able voters both male and female assembled . Ranjit Kalita , District Development Commissioner , Darrang , Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati ,

Additional Deputy Commissioner and Rahul Ch Das , Election Officer , Mangaldai while addressing the voters urged them to exercise their democratic rights without any hesitation and fear . They also assured them of all sorts of help for ensuring their poll. Each participant of the rally earlier provided a T-shirt printed with awareness slogan - " I am ready to vote.

Are you ready to vote on April 11."

Meanwhile as a part of

SVEEP a bike rally of more than fifty bikers from Mangaldai to Kharupetia has been organized this afternoon which was flagged off

by Deputy Commissioner , Darrang , Manoj Kumar .

Similarly , a torch procession was taken out in Mangaldai on Tuesday evening in association with several local socio cultural literary organizations campus ambassador of the district Rupsikha Saloi . It may mentioned here that a series of innovative cultural and literary activities on

However challenges are not it yet over for the authority as they have to adopt very sincere effort to increase the participation of electorates especially in few polling stations including 513 No Kamargaon LP school under Sipajhar LAC which recorded an average poll percentage of only 38.64 , No 202 Baralakhaity LP school (Right) 52.20 % under Mangaldai , 69.22% in No.46 Madligaon LP school (Left) under Kalaigaon and No 100 Dalgaon HS school (Right) with 70.44% poll along with other 79 polling stations in the district identified as the ten percent lowest voters turn out polling stations in last Lok-Sabha election .

REGION

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

PAGE 5

UNLF claims 'NIT situation to be solved through negotiation' responsibility of grenade attack Agartala, April 7: Union Minister Ram Shankar Katheria today said the student unrest at Srinagar's National Institute of Technology (NIT) needs to be solved through negotiation.

"It was reported that there was confrontation between two groups of students at Srinagar NIT and it needs to be solved through negotiation," he told reporters here.

Tension started brewing inside the NIT campus, located on the banks of the famous Dal lake, last week after India lost to West Indies in the semi-

UNLF claims responsibility of grenade attack

Imphal, April 7: The proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) on Thursday claimed responsibility of yesterday's hand grenade blast at the residential premises of of the incumbent chairperson of Imphal Municipal Corporation.

In a statement issued to the media, UNLF said the blast was carried out

by a team of its armed wing.

However, UNLF claimed that the persons who were captured and assaulted by locals following the blast were not associated with them.

Meanwhile, the condition of one of the two suspects is stated to be in a critical condition, hospital authorities said.

(Agencies)

Tripura Assembly Passes Bill To Effect 15% Hike In MLA Salary

final in the T-20 cricket tournament prompting some local students to rejoice and burst crackers.

This was protested by outstation students resulting in clashes.

Since March 31 night, the situation inside the campus has been volatile and the authorities had posted personnel from Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB). The local police was manning the main gate of the institute.

The developments prompted the NIT authorities to close the campus on Saturday, but

them, was heckled and pushed around resulting in a mild lathicharge in which four students sustained injuries.

During his maiden visit to Tripura, the Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, inaugurated the newly constructed Golden Jubilee Knowledge Centre at the NIT Agartala campus.

In his inaugural speech, Katheria said the Institute should be equipped with more modern technologies and students should get faster internet connectivity.

Katheria said Prime Minister Narendra was very keen on development of the North-East and has asked the ministers to visit the region to understand its problems.

More initiative for development of the region would be taken, he assured.

"Development in Tripura with Manik Sarkar as the Chief Minister is not visible and the law and order situation in the state is also not good. We want law and order situation to improve here," Katheria added. (Agencies)

Tripura hikes salaries, allowances of ministers

Assembly panel for rules amendment

Agartala, April 7: Tripura Assembly on Wednesday hiked the salaries, allowances, pension and other benefits of Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition, Chief Whip and MLAs by 15 per cent.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Tapan Chakraborty tabled an Amendment Bill regarding the salaries, allowances, pension and other benefits of Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition, Chief Whip and MLAs seeking the nod of the House.

The treasury and the opposition members sup-

Union Minister Ram Shankar Katheria reopened it on Monday.

Last evening, the outstation students tried to march out of the campus

Tripura hikes salaries, allowances of ministers

ported the bill.

With this, salary of the Chief Minister has been increased to Rs 26,315 per month while salaries of ministers went up to Rs 25,890 per month.

The Speaker's salary has gone up to Rs 25,990 per

month while the Deputy Speaker will draw Rs 25,255 per month, according to the bill.

Salaries of Leader of Opposition Member and Chief Whip have been increased to Rs 25,890 per month while salaries

saying they wanted to return to their homes.

A senior police official, who attempted to pacify

of MLAs have been hiked to Rs 24,200 per month.

Apart from hike in the salaries, allowances of Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition, Chief Whip and MLAs have also been increased.

The bill mentioned that the price index has substantially gone up and due to the price hike of all essential commodities and paid services, the existing quantum of the salari e s , a l l o w ances, pension and other benefits of Ministers, S p e a k e r, Deputy S p e a k e r, Leader of Opposition, Chief Whip and

MLAs are required to be proportionately enhanced.

Due to financial constraints, the Bill limits the proposal to a modest rise of 15 per cent over the existing rate of their salaries, allowances and other benefits except TA/ DA, it mentioned.

The government now will have to bear an annual expenditure of Rs 34.97 lakh approximately to implement the rise in salaries, pension and other benefits to Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition, Chief Whip and MLAs. (Agencies)

Anything can happen in M’laya: Opp Minister of parliamentary affairs Tapan Chakraborty Agartala, April 7: The basic monthly salary of Tripura MLAs and ministers is all set to go up by 15 per cent besides hike in allowances, pension and other benefits with the assembly on Wednesday approving a bill to effect the increase considering rising cost of living.

As per provisions of the bill, basic salary of the Chief Minister has increased from Rs 22,368 to Rs 26,315 per month while salaries of Ministers, the Speaker, the government Chief Whip and the Leader of the Opposition have been hiked from Rs 22,008 to Rs 25,890 per month.

The basic salary of the Deputy Speaker has been hiked from Rs 21,467 to Rs 25,255 per month.

The salaries of MLAs have been hiked to Rs 24,210 per month.

Minister of parliamentary

affairs Tapan Chakraborty stated that MLAs will be receiving around Rs 40,000 per month, including all allowances, as they have not been provided with other logistics and regular expenses to cover expenses incurred for local area development, transportation and office maintenance.

Chakraborty also said the price index has gone up substantially and existing salaries, allowances, pension and other benefits of public representatives need to be proportionately enhanced.

“Due to financial constraints, the bill limits the proposal to a modest rise of 15% over the existing rate except for TA/DA,” he said, adding that the government will have to bear an annual expenditure of Rs 34.97 lakh to put this into effect.

(Agencies)

E Khasi Hills DC takes stock of storm aftermath Shillong, April 7: The deputy commissioner and chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, East Khasi Hills, PS Dkhar, met the incident response team at his office here on Wednesday to review and supervise the response undertaken in the aftermath of the storm which swept across the Nongmensong, Mynlynrei, Umpling, Pynthorumkhrah and Nongpathaw areas in and around the city on Tuesday. A day after the storm, though, the city saw a clear, sunny sky.

"The deputy commissioner appealed to the officers to prioritize medical aid, food, shelter and

drinking water.

He has further requested the block development officers to coordinate the relief activities," an official statement released by the DC's office said.

About 500 people were affected by the storm. At least seven persons sustained minor injuries and were immediately shifted to hospitals for medical attention, officials said.

An emergency operation centre has been established in Shillong and tollfree calls may be made to 1077 or the landline number - 0364-2502094 - for any queries, the DC said.

(Agencies)

Shillong, April 7: After the senior BJP leader Nalin Kohli prediction that the Congress-led government in Meghalaya may not complete its full term, the Opposition parties have indicated that anything can happen in Meghalaya, while the Congress asked the BJP not to meddle in the affairs of the state.

“Kohli should mind his own business and just by visiting Shillong for one day he cannot say that there has been no development in Meghalaya,” MPCC working president and Cabinet Minister Deborah Marak said.

According to Marak, it is the Congress which brought development to Meghalaya and even gave a separate state.

“What is BJP’s contribution towards development of Meghalaya,” she

asked.

Marak, however, downplayed the question on internal bickering within Congress by terming it as “rumour.”

On other hand, Opposition leader in the State Assembly Donkupar Roy said that it was very difficult to predict anything in Meghalaya politics.

“Infighting within Congress has been going on for a long time,” he said adding “there is a 50-50 chance as far as the survival of Mukul Sangmaled coalition government is concerned.”

“We are not interested in any political game,” he said.

On the other hand, NPP Chief Conrad Sangma asserted that there are differences within the Congress and it is clear that MLAs and party workers are unhappy with current dispensa-

Cabinet Minister Deborah Marak tion.

“With the kind of situation going on in the country, rank and file and MLAs of the party may feel that time has come to quit Congress,” he said.

The BJP leader Kohli

Relief ops on Shillong, April 7: The State government will compensate those 197 families which were affected by Tuesday’s thunder squall even as relief efforts continued on Wednesday.

“Compensation will be paid to the victims,” informed PS Dkhar, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, here on Wednesday.

Stating that the amount of compensation will vary as it depended on the extent of damage, he said, “Compensation amount will be fixed on the basis of the assessment report to be provided by the Block Development Officer (BDO).”

Dkhar, who is also the Chairman of District Disaster Management

Authority, East Khasi Hills, met the Incident Response Team on Wednesday to review and supervise the response activities.

He directed the officers concerned to provide medical aid, food, shelter and drinking water on priority basis and has requested BDOs concern to coordinate the relief activities on a real time basis and to take prompt actions.

Meanwhile, Additional District Magistrate I Majaw told reporters that teams have been dispatched to distribute dry ration to the people and the District Administration co-ordinate with the local traditional heads.

The worst affected areas are Mawlynrei,

U m p l i n g , Nongmynsong as well as parts of Pynthor and Nongpathaw.

The total number of families affected was 197.

On being asked if the people are taking shelter in the makeshift places, he said that the affected families were provided tarpaulin to arrange temporary shelters.

Parts of the city were in shambles on Tuesday when thunder squall, with a wind speed of 60 kmph wrecked havoc in certain areas of Nongmynsong, Umpling, Pynthorbah and Nongpathaw. At least 12 people, including children, were injured in the nature’s fury. (Agencies)

while asserting that things are not in good condition in Meghalaya Congress had made it clear that the BJP will have no role in toppling the Congress government in Meghalaya.

The statement of the BJP senior leader assumes significance as two Congress-led state Governments — Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh — had already been toppled. (Agencies)

Nagaland CM Stresses Need to Use Space Technology Tools in Governance Kohima, April 7: Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang has said that use of space technology based tools and applications would give boost and encouragement to various departments of the state government in day to day governance as well as in delivery of public utility services and development to the people of the state.

Speaking as a chief guest at the closing function of the state level meet on promoting use of space technology and applications in governance and development t held at capital convention center, Kohima , Zeilang said that Nagaland has made much progress in various space technology applications such as GIS, Remote sensing, Photogrammetry, and Location Based Services (LBS), state wide GIS & IT based projects in the field of health, education, disaster management, vehicle tracking, e-learning, 3D Terrain Modeling, natural resource & land use mappings, weather reports and forecasting etc, which were being carried out in col-

Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang laboration with various National Organizations. He said at present the storage of many important data and information, including books and libraries were being shifted to the cloud for easy accessibility to internet. He opined that the geographical isolation and remoteness of the North East region would soon become a thing of the past through better development and use of space technology.

The meet was organized by the Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre jointly with the Indian Space research organization (ISRO) and North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC). (Agencies)

Shillong, April 7: The Rules Committee of the Assembly has favoured amendment to the Assembly rules regarding the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries.

The Assembly Speaker AT Mondal chaired the meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday.

A clause in the Assembly rules had equated the Parliamentary Secretary with a Minister whereas the Act passed by the Assembly in 2005 related to Parliamentary Secretaries (The Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous provisions) Act, 2005 had only maintained that their rank and status will be that of a Minister of State.

The Procedure and Conduct of Business in Meghalaya Legislative Assembly under the title Definitions (h) says “Minister means a member of the council of ministers, a Minister of State, a Deputy Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary”.

Mondal on Wednesday admitted that the Assembly Rules should have been corrected soon after the Act of 2005 related to the Parliamentary Secretaries came into existence.

He indicated that there is a need to amend the rules and the findings of the Committee will be placed in the House in the next Session for approval.

“There will be more meetings before we finalize the matter”, Mondal said.

During the meeting chaired by the Speaker on Tuesday, legislators Metbah Lyngdoh and Remington Pyngrope who are members of the Committee attended the meeting, while two other members, Martin Danggo and Ngaitlang Dhar were out of station. (Agencies)

GHADC EC strength up Shillong, April 7: The NPP-led Executive Committee of GHADC has received a boost when the independent MDC from Balachanda, Sofiur Rahman, who was earlier supporting Congress, joined the ruling fold.

With this, the strength of ruling Garo Hills People’s Alliance has risen to 16 in the House of 29 whereas the Opposition has only13 members.

Informing this, the GHADC CEM Denang Sangma said that Rahman extended support to the NPP-led without any pre-condition.

Earlier, Rahman had expressed concern over the debate on the participation of non- tribals in GHADC polls which ultimately compelled him to join the NPP fold.

(Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

PAGE 6

Didi will destroy Bengal: PM Modi Madarihat (West Bengal), Apr. 7 : Raking up the recent episode of an under construction flyover collapsing in North Kolkata's Girish Park area, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday training his guns on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and alleged that it was an 'act of fraud'.

Prime Minister Modi stated that the TMC chief was busy putting the blame on the Left instead of trying to help the victims when the Vivekananda Bride in North Kolkata.

"When the bridge collapsed, they said it's an act of God. This is not act of God.this is an act of fraud. God has sent a

message that the bridge collapsed and gradually she will destroy the whole of Bengal.

Bengal's glory won't return until it is being freed from the two (TMC and Left)," he said.

Prime Minister Modi also taunted Mamata for her close ties with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

"When the government calls a meeting to discuss important issues, Mamata Banerjee does not attend that meeting.

But whenever she comes to Delhi, she definitely meets Sonia ji. I cannot understand this relation.When Didi comes to Delhi, she definitely seeks the blessings of Sonia ji," Prime Min-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi ister Modi said while addressing a rally here.

"Instead of 'Maa, Maati, Manush', the people only heard 'killing' and 'money' in the last five years. In the name of tea

gardens, this government is doing politics with the companies," he added.

Prime Minister Modi alleged that neither the Left nor Mamata Banerjee-led TMC Gov-

ernment talk about development and only trade charges of rape, corruption and violence on each other.

"Bengal has seen dangerous images of the Left and the Trinamool Congress. Bengal was strong, powerful and glorious.

But now, the Left, the Congress and now the Trinamool have destroyed Bengal. Neither the Left nor the Trinamool can save your future," he said.

Promising to work for the poor, Prime Minister Modi said intruders from Bangladesh will have to leave Bengal as the youth deserves employment.

The polling for the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections took

place on April 4.

The poll percentage for the first phase of the assembly election was 80.92 percent.

The second part of the first phase of polling will take place on April 11.

While Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is battling the joint salvo of the unofficial Left-Congress alliance, the BJP too is looking to make a dent in the region.

Polling for the second phase will be held on April 17, the third phase on April 21, fourth on April 25 and the fifth and six phases on April 30 and May 5 respectively.

The counting of votes will take place on May 19. (ANI)

Banks reject Mallya's Congress targets Centre for ignoring ICIJ's repayment proposal investigations against Raman Singh's son

Vijay Mallya New Delhi, April. 7 : A consortium of 17 Public Service Units (PSU) banks including the State Bank of India (SBI), which had approached the Supreme Court against liquor baron Vijay Mallya, on Thursday rejected his repayment proposal.

Rejecting Mallya's proposal to pay Rs 4,000 crores by September, the consortium of banks told the apex court that they have rejected it after 'full consideration'.

The banks also told the Supreme Court that they received a modified proposal last evening from Mallya which they rejected.

The Kingfisher Airlines has now sought two weeks time from the apex court for a new proposal.

The apex court has asked the liquor baron to disclose his assets and the assets belonging to his wife and children. He has been asked to file his response by April 21.

The court has also asked Mallya to deposit a substantial amount with the court to prove his bona fides. It has also asked Mallya's lawyers to inform as to when he is coming back to India.

The matter will be next heard on April 26.

The Enforcement Directorate had on April 2 issued fresh summons to Mallya, asking him to appear before April 9.

Mallya, who is wanted by the law enforcing agencies for a default of over Rs. 9, 000 crores, today did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate after he sought an extension up to May. The Enforcement Directorate had earlier issued summons to Mallya for "personal appearance" on March 18 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Following Mallya's request seeking extension, the Enforcement Directorate last week issued a fresh summons to the liquor baron, asking him to appear before it on April 2 in the money laundering case.

Mallya, who is currently in the United Kingdom and is being sought out in India over charges of money laundering, claimed that the banks gave him loans after evaluating all aspects and asserted that he is not trying to evade the law enforcement agencies but is on a personal visit. (ANI)

250 Syrians missing after IS attack east of Damascus:residents AFP Damascus, Apr 7 : Around 250 Syrian civilians are feared kidnapped after an attack by the Islamic State jihadist group on a cement factory east of Damascus, residents said today.

"We haven't been able to reach our family members since noon on Monday after an attack by Daesh on the factory," said a resident of the town of Dmeir, 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Damascus, using the Arabic acronym for IS. "We have no information about where they are," the resident added.

An administrator at the plant said 250 employees had been unreachable

since Monday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "dozens" of staff were believed to have been seized

by IS from the cement factory and taken to an unknown location.

The Badiyah cement factory lies outside Dmeir, which has seen fierce fighting in recent days as government forces have shelled IS positions inside the town.

The Observatory said 18 civilians were killed in government shelling of the town.

A Syrian security source told AFP that IS fighters had also tried to seize the nearby Dmeir airbase and power plant from the government but had failed.

New Delhi, Apr.7 : The Congress Party on Thursday trained its guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre after the sensational leak of the Panama Papers, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government has ignored the investigations of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) that alleges fraud holding of off-shore assets

by Raman Singh's son.

Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP-led Centre ignored the investigations of the ICIJ for last one year that alleges serious fraud holding of off-shore assets and money laundering in off-shore accounts through fictitious companies by Abhishek Singh, Member of Parliament from Rajanandgaon (Chhattisgarh), son of the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.

"In response to the 'Panama Papers' investigated by the International

Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the government has set up a Multi Group Agency to investigate the matter further.

While, the structure, domain, reach and authority of this agency is unclear the announcement is disappointing and inadequate," the Congress leader said.

"The Indian list of tax evaders who have invested their ill-gotten wealth in Panama are known friends, well-wishers and ambassadors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Global activity on the Panama Papers and public outcry has forced the NDA Government to act. But this is selective action as another investigation done by the ICIJ on Abhishek Singh," he added.

"We demand that the role of Dr. Raman Singh and Abhishek Singh must be probed in a timely manner without any favour. The time to ignore these allegations and brazen them out is over. When this is-

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh sue was raised by the Congress leadership in Chhattisgarh, the only answer from Abhishek Singh was that he has no foreign bank accounts. He was intentionally vague by not mentioning any investments in form of shareholdings in a company. These companies can then own assets or whatever," he further said.

Senior advocate, Prashant Bhushan, had last year accused Abhishek Singh of having undisclosed for-

Shilpa Mittal is leading his life normally where as our lives will never get back to normal," she added.

Shilpa expressed her disappointment over the fact that it is so easy for someone with money to get bail and walk free.

"A challan is issued of 1,000 rupees and that's it.

We are standing there like fools thinking that we will get justice. The police is standing there, they say nothing is in there purview, all of them have been bribed. I have been

AI's maiden flight from Delhi reaches Vienna Vienna (Austria), April.

7 : Air India's maiden flight from New Delhi reached Vienna today.

The direct flight from New Delhi to Vienna was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute and the disembarking passengers were greeted at the Vienna International Airport on arrival.

The inaugural flight to New Delhi, AI-154, has received an overwhelming response with almost full bookings.

Air India, with code share arrangements with Aus-

trian Airlines, will offer connections to more than 25 European destinations.

Currently on the Europe Network, Air India presently connects seven European destinations in five countries which include UK-London and Birmingham; GermanyFrankfurt; France-Paris; Italy- Rome and Milan and Russia- Moscow.

This non-stop service will operate thrice a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays with a B787 aircraft. (ANI)

'Nervous' Clinton not qualified to be president: Sanders eign accounts.

"If you don't have foreign a c c t s @CGAbhishekSingh, who is Abhishak Singh whose accounts show your dad Raman Singh's add? Will PM investigate?

As per ICIJ website, Abhishek Singh with add of Raman Medical Store at CM Raman Singh's residence has foreign a c c t s ! h t t p : / / offshoreleaks.icij.org/ nodes/68510," Bhushan had tweeted. (ANI)

Civil Lines hit-and-run case: Victim's family demands justice New Delhi, Apr. 7 : Expressing disappointment with the deteriorating law and order situation, the grieved family members of a business executive, who was killed by a speeding Mercedes car in North Delhi's posh Civil Lines area, demanded justice.

"I have been somewhere convinced by the system that I have to fight for 10 to 15 years in order to get justice. I am unable to comprehend that why ten years. You have the CCTV footage, we have all evidences...You catch hold of the parents, who sent a driver instead of their son and ridiculed the entire system. I am not able to understand why is no one cross questioning the people, who are guilty," the victim's sister Shilpa Mittal told ANI here today.

"Photograph of that boy's father should be shown, the society should shame him. In two days, the boy will turn into an adult you should make his photographs public. The culprit

AI's maiden flight from Delhi reaches Vienna

told a lot of money has been spent already. There is no investigation happening, there is no progress," she added.

Hemraj Sharma, the victim's father, called for strict laws to ensure that such incidents do not take place in the future.

"All the loop holes should be plucked out of the law system, mere debating will not help. The police did not take any action in the first 24 hours of the incident," he added.

The incident took place at

around 8.45 p.m. on April 4 when the victim, Sidharth Sharma, was crossing the road near Ludlow Castle School when a Mercedes hit him.

Sharma, the marketing head of a multinational enterprise, was flung several feet into the air and landed at least 15 metres away, severely injured. Sharma was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The police have impounded the car and tracked the owner, a businessman who resides in Civil Lines area.

A case of rash driving and causing death by negligence has been registered at the Civil Linespolice station.

The Class 12 student, who was allegedly driving the Mercedes, was arrested under laws for underage offenders but later released on bail.

The teen was on a night out with six friends.

(ANI)

Washington, Apr. 7 : Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has said that his fellow democrat Hillary Clinton was not qualified to be the president, adding a sharp rhetoric in the Democratic primary.

"Secretary Clinton appears to be getting a little bit nervous. And she has been saying lately that she thinks that I am 'not qualified' to be president.

Well, let me, let me just say in response to Secretary Clinton: I don't believe that she is qualified, if she is, through her super PAC, taking tens of millions of dollars in special interest funds. I don't think that you are qualified if you get $15 million from Wall Street through your super PAC, "CNN quoted him as saying while addressing a crowd in Philadelphia yesterday.

Clinton's campaign spokesperson Brian Fallon responded quickly on Twitter. " Hillary Clinton did not say Bernie Sanders was 'not qualified.' But he has now - absurdly - said it about her. This is a new low," Fallon tweeted.

When asked by MSNBC on Wednesday morning whether she thought Sanders was 'ready to be the president', Clinton replied, "I think he hadn't done his homework and he'd been talking for more than a year about doing things that he obviously hadn't really stud-

ied or understood, and that does raise a lot of questions. Really what that goes to is for voters to ask themselves can he deliver what he's talking about."

Both democrats are engaging in heated battle trying to secure the Democratic Presidential nominee.

Both have been engaging in heated war of words lately and will be soon clashing toward the New York primary later this month, A recent survey by the Quinnipiac poll of New York Democrats finds Clinton beating Sanders 54 percent to 42 percent.

That survey came out several days before Sanders won the Wisconsin primary.

Despite, Sanders winning seven of the last eight Democratic contests, Clinton still has a command lead among the delegates.

New York is an important symbolic contest for both Clinton and Sanders.

Vermont senator was born in the Empire State, and New York City has been at the center of the national political battle over income inequality, one of a signature issue for him. Clinton had also represented the state in the Senate and her campaign headquarters is based in Brooklyn.

Meanwhile, both candidates will face off in a debate in New York on April 14, hosted by CNN and NY1. (ANI)

Holocaust survivor sues Israeli airline over gender bias Jerusalem, Apr 7 : An 82-year-old Holocaust survivor is suing Israel's national airline over what she says is a seating policy that discriminates against women.

Renee Rabinowitz says an El Al flight attendant

asked her to move from her seat next to an ultraOrthodox man on a flight from Newark to Tel Aviv last year. She says the man requested she move because sitting next to her would violate Jewish law.

The Israel Religious Action Center, an advocacy group representing Rabinowitz, says El Al violated an Israeli ban on gender discrimination in the provision of public services.

Court documents pro-

vided by the group say Rabinowitz felt humiliated by having to move because she is a woman.

She is seeking USD 17,000 in damages.

El Al said Thursday it will respond to the claims in court. (AP)

Bernie Sanders

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

Secular activist killed for criticizing Islamism in Bangladesh Dhaka, April.7 : In the latest in a series of killings ofsecular activists and bloggers in the country, Bangladeshi law student Nazimuddin Samad, who had posted against Islamism on hisFacebook page, was murdered yesterday.

The 28 year-old was on the list of 84 atheist bloggers that a group of radical Islamists drew up and sent to Bangladesh's Interior Ministry.

"At least four assailants hacked Nazimuddin

China's manufacturing sector to see higher standards Beijing, April 7: China has vowed to improve standards and quality in equipment manufacturing.

The promise is the latest move in the ambitious "Made in China 2025" program, which aims to develop the country into a powerhouse of high-end manufacturing.

China will aim to bring over 90 percent of domestic standards in key manufacturing areas up to international levels by 2020, up from the current 70 percent, said a statement issued Wednesday after a State Council conference chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.

Research and development of major industry norms in robotics, rolling stock, agricultural machinery and sophisticated medical devices should be accelerated, said the statement.

"We will formulate high standards to spur the upgrade of 'made in China' goods," Li said at the meeting.

For years, China has served as the "world factory," churning out merchandise ranging from smartphones to diapers for consumers around the globe. But the country's manufacturers still have not mastered core high-end production technology and face a huge gap with industry leaders from Germany and the United States.

As a consequence, shoppers fly abroad to purchase consumer goods such as heated toilet seats, and cross-border e-commerce has become wildly popular.

The manufacturing of automobiles, numerical control machines and other major industrial products still depends on foreign technology.

A national plan, "Made in China 2025," was unveiled in May 2015 to address the problem and build the country into a manufacturing power within ten years.

"We should work to improve consumer confidence in domestic production, enhance manufacturing quality and efficiency and increase the global competitiveness of Chinese companies," Li said.

Ning Jiajun, member of the Experts Committee of the State Information Center, described formulating high-level manufacturing standards as a precondition for China to realize the goal. "The failure of industry and technological norms to develop with the times is common in quite a few sectors in China. This has become a major bottleneck for industrial upgrades."

The process of lifting the standards, which can be tough and costly, is indispensable for the country's shift from rough manufacturing to more value-added production, Ning said.

Analysts expect the new resolution to propel the standardization of core technologies in multiple fields and help lay the foundation for supply-side reform.

The government should toughen supervision to create a fair environment and advocate "the spirit of the craftsman" among manufacturers, Li said.

Samad's head with a machete on Wednesday night. As he fell down, one of them shot him with a pistol from close range. He died on the spot," the Guardian quoted Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Syed Nurul Islam as saying to a foreign media.

Islam said that it was a case of targeted killing and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, adding that the police were investigating

Secular activist killed for criticizing Islamism in Bangladesh

whether Samad was murdered for his writing.

The Dhaka Tribune reports that assailants

shouted Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) as they attacked Samad on a busy road near Dhaka's Jagannath University.

Samad was critical of state religion in the Bangladeshi Constitution and had expressed his views on Facebook.

"Evolution is a scientific truth. Religion and race are invention of the savage and uncivil people," he posted.

Meanwhile, Samad's school friend Wafi Chowdhury said that

Samad had deactivated his Facebook account about a month ago at the request of his family "But I remember him telling me he would come back on Facebook soon with a grin," the Guardian quoted him as saying.

At least four atheist bloggers and a secular publisher were killed by suspected Islamist militants in 2015 in the Muslim majority country. (ANI)

Landslides cut Gilgit-Baltistan from Pak, 100 dead Islamabad, Apr 7 : The Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been cut off from the remaining country due to several landslides triggered by massive rains that has killed over 100 people so far.

The heavy rains which started at the weekend were still battering the northern mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and PoK, triggering several landslides and blocking Pakistan's vital land-link with China.

The strategic Karakoram Highway (KKH), which links Kashghar in Xinjiang with Gilgit and Abbottabad through the

Khunjerab Pass, has been damaged at more than 50 places from Gojal to Besham, leaving hundreds of commuters and over 50 foreign tourists stranded.

The roads leading to Skardu, Astore and Ghizer are also blocked, resulting in shortage of food items and fuel.

Over 70 people have died so far in the GilgitBaltistan region and more than 30 in the neighbouring KP province due to rains which lasted for over 48 hours and damaged hydro-power projects that supply electricity to Gilgit town and elsewhere.

According to army's

Frontier Works Organisation's (FWO) Colonel Amjad Wali, a main bridge on the KKH has also got damaged and efforts are underway to make it fit for travel.

He said some 200 metres of roads in Kohistan in KP have been completely washed away by landslides and over 20 people are still trapped under the rubble.

As many as 25 people, including 13 women, have died in the Kandia area of Kohistan because of a giant boulder falling on a house. Hundreds of houses have been washed away and communication have been knocked out across much of the region.

Reports suggest that the stranded passengers in Kohistan, Diamer, Nagar and Hunza, and over a dozen foreign tourists in scenic Nelum valley, have not been able to get food as shops have run out of supplies.

Many passengers are crossing over huge boulders and mud on foot, risking their lives to reach their destinations.

"I am stuck in Hunza as roads are blocked," said Amin Beg, a resident of Gojal.

"There is no light and also no signs of immediate restoration of roads.

Children and women are also among the stranded people," he told the paper.

"The situation is getting worse with every passing day but authorities and political administration are nowhere to be seen.

We are waiting for government to come forward but so far there is a complete silence," said another local.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the Gilgit- Baltistan Minister for Works Muhammad Iqbal said the floods and landslides have damaged the power houses, causing suspension of power supply.

"The government has sent a request to army for helicopters so that patients and foreigners can be flown out," he added.

(PTI)

12 militants killed in Pak's Kurram check-post attack

Militants killed in Pak's check-post attack Peshawar, April. 7 : At least 16 Afghanistanbased militants were killed in a fierce exchange of gun battlewith the security forces on a check-post in Pakistan'sKurram tribal region on Thursday.

The security forces retaliated after being attacked by themilitants, forcing them to retreat, reports Dawn.

During a subsequent search operation, the security forces also recovered the bodies of 12 attackers from the area.

Kurram Tribal Agency is one of the most sensitive tribal areas located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and it borders three Afghan provinces.

At one point, it was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border.

It is adjacent to North Waziristan region where the operation Zarb-i-Azb is in progress against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and other militant groups. (ANI)

Pakistani military launches new offensive following Lahore bombing

Lanka vital for China as Pak's security 'calamitous': media Beijing, April 7: Sri Lanka is of great importance to China's strategic interests in the Indian Ocean as Pakistan cannot provide a strong foothold due to its "calamitous state" of security, state media here said today, underlining Beijing's concern in this regard for the first time.

"Currently, the Chinafunded constructions in Pakistan cannot serve as a strong foothold for China, given the calamitous state of Pakistan's security," said one of the two articles in the staterun Global Times coinciding with the visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe here.

"Sri Lanka can be of great importance for China in the security stra-

tegic layout in Indian Ocean. It will not only provide security assurances for nearby navigation channels, but will also promote the 21st Maritime Silk Road," it said.

India has not yet endorsed the MSR due to concerns over its potential for China to take dominant role in Indian Ocean.

Besides a foothold in Sri Lanka, China looks to gain access to the Indian Ocean through its USD 46 billion economic corridor with Pakistan connecting its Xinjiang with the strategic Gwadar port in Arabian Sea. Gwadar location also provides an opening to the Indian Ocean.

Blaming India for stalling of the USD 1.5 bil-

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe with Chinese President lion Colombo Port City project which was kept on hold by the present Maithripala Sirisena government for a year, the report said "apart from partisan politics in Sri Lanka, pressure from India has also been playing a crucial role in sus-

pending the project".

"New Delhi is often biased when viewing Chinese investment in South Asia. New Delhi's anxiety stems from its suspicion that China is making an attempt to contain India.

Despite the fact that neither Beijing's investment

to Sri Lanka nor the latter's economic development will do any harm to India, New Delhi is still obsessed with the idea that China might create a military encirclement around India," it said.

"The argument within the country over being proIndia or pro-China might gradually calm down along with Wickramasinghe's China tour," it said.

The report also said, "New Delhi does have a huge influence on Colombo, yet the relationship between Sri Lanka and China has not infringed on India's interests. Colombo is now well aware that neither pro-India nor pro-China is the appropriate policy, and the best option is to keep a good relationship with all major powers."

China, Myanmar pledge to further develop traditional friendship

China, Myanmar pledge to further develop traditional friendship

Nay Pyi Taw, April 7: China and Myanmar pledged here Wednesday to further develop traditional friendship and deepen cooperation between the two countries.

While meeting with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi first conveyed him the greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Myanmar has achieved

the smooth transfer of the government and the Chinese leadership entrusted me with visiting this country at the first moment, highlighting the importance China attaches to the new government of Myanmar."

China hopes and believes that Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy will sincerely cooperate and join hands with all parties to open up a new future for

the country, the Chinese foreign minister said.

China will always pursue good neighbourly policy toward Myanmar and is willing to develop the traditional friendly relations with Myanmar's new government, strengthen the high-level exchanges, boost political trust and further deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, wang said.

The two countries, which are joined by rivers and mountains and complementary in economy, are natural cooperation partners, and China, based on Myanmar's actual development requirements, is willing to dovetail its own development strategies with those of Myanmar and actively exploit the further cooperation in the sectors of people's livelihood, production capacity and in-

frastructure, the Chinese foreign minister said.

China is also willing to paly a positive role in pushing the peace talks in northern Myanmar in accordance with the country's desire, Wang added.

For his part, Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw asked Wang to convey his good wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping. " Myanmar is highly appreciated that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to me soon after I was elected as the president and the Chinese foreign minister visited Myanmar immediately after the formation of the new government which showed China's support for Myanmar's new government," the president said.

"The good proposals on boosting pragmatic cooperation between the two countries put for-

ward by the Chinese foreign minister demonstrated China's willingness to further develop relations with Myanmar."

The new government of Myanmar now has a lot of work to do in developing economy and improving people's livelihood, and the two countries have a great potential for cooperation, the president said.

Myanmar's new government is willing to work together with China to promote good relations between the countries, deepen cooperation in all fields, strengthen communication and collaboration in regional and international affairs, he said.

Myanmar is also willing to continue cooperation with China so as to maintain peace and stability at the border areas between the two sides, the president added.

Pak military launches new offensive following Lahore bombing

Islamabad, April 7: The Pakistani military in coordination with law enforcement agencies launched a new offensive in southern Punjab, officials announced Wednesday, weeks after a suicide bomber killed more than 70 people in Lahore.

"Coordinated operations are underway against terrorists and hardened criminals," read a military statement.

The statement also included images of military helicopters hovering over the plains of Punjab and paramilitary troops loading ammunition into trucks and preparing for an operation.

The offensive comes after a Taliban suicide bomber killed 73 people in a popular Lahore park on Easter day. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, the Taliban faction that carried out the bombing, said Christians were the target of the attack.

The incident illuminated festering extremism in

Punjab, the home province of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and provincial authorities said they would launch a crackdown against militant groups in the province long considered a bastion of the establishment.

Christians make up an estimated 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 20 crore people and have long faced discrimination.

Twin suicide attacks against churches in Lahore killed 17 people in March last year, sparking two days of rioting by thousands of Christians.

The country is still scarred by a Taliban assault on a Peshawar school in 2014 that killed 150 people, mostly children.

A military operation targeting insurgents was stepped up in response.

Last year the death toll from militant attacks was the lowest since the Pakistani Taliban was formed in 2007.

261 Indian, 15 Iranian fishermen convicted by Pak court Karachi, April. 7 : At least 261 Indian and 15 Iranian were sentenced by a judicial magistrate for a period they have already spent in detention for fishing inside the Pakistani territorial waters in Arabian Sea. Judicial Magistrate (West), Salman Amjad Siddiqui, directed the authorities concerned to make arrangements for their repatriation.

The court convicted the fishermen after they entered a guilty plea while co-accused Ismail Elahi Bux, who was arrested along with the Iranian fishermen in February, pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was a Pakistani.

In addition, the Judicial Magistrate (West) also imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000 on each convict and ordered that they would have to undergo an additional 15-day imprisonment in case of default.

The fishermen were detained and their boats seized by the Maritime Security Agency after being found fishing inside the Pakistani territorial waters in Arabian Sea in separate actions that took place between November 2015 and March 2016.

Cases under Sections 3/4 of the Foreigners Act and 3/9 of the Fisheries Act were registered against them at the Docks Police Station. (ANI)

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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

Why India's Upset About Obama's PostNuclear Security Summit Remarks The Panama Papers U.S. President Barack Obama hints at the nuclear uncertainties between India and Pakistan, upsetting India.

Yet another a great scandal

In the past few days, hundreds (if not thousands) of media reports have linked the Panamanian wealth management firm Mossack Fonseca to a series of financial crimes. The massive Photo: indiatoday.intoday "Panama Papers" leak documents the firm's involvement in facilitating activities that may constitute fraud, money laundering, and theft, including by officials at the highest levels of governments worldwide. But the real scandal is that most of what Mossack Fonseca and the rest of the wealth-management industry do is perfectly legal.

The reverberations of the Panama Papers bombshell are being felt in India recently and it reveals that 500 Indians were linked to the offshore haven. A huge leak of documents has lifted the lid on how the rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth. The files were leaked from one of the world's most secretive companies, a Panamanian law firm called Mossack Fonseca. The list boasts a touch of Bollywood glamour with veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, a former Miss World, featuring on it. Rai Bachchan has said the report is "totally untrue." Property tycoons Singh and Gehlaut have said that full disclosures were made to the relevant authorities and they have not flouted any laws.

Some of the activity uncovered in the Panama Papers will turn out to be illegal. But if past is prologue, then the majority of what we learn from the leak will merely be embarrassing for those exposed-showing them to be opportunistic and perhaps unethical, but not criminal. And that is why many of the people named in the documents are unlikely to see the inside of a courtroom concerning the services that Mossack Fonseca provided to them: not because they have the power now to quash prosecutions (with some notable exceptions!), but because some time ago they had the power to hire expert advisers who carefully designed their tax-avoidance (or law-avoidance) strategies.

Panama Papers, as they are being called now, have shown how the rich and influential across the world have been using foreign tax havens to evade billions in tax payments. The investigation details how shell companies were floated by politicians and celebrities to avoid paying taxes. More than 100 media groups were involved in the investigation and it is described as one of the largest such probes in history. Some of the media groups involved in the investigation include The Indian Express (India), The Guardian and BBC (UK), Columbia University and Miami Herald (USA), Vedemosti (Russia), Le Monde (France), El Confidencial (Spain), ABC Four Corners (Australia), CBC/Radio (Canada), Daily Monitor (Uganda) and La Nación (Argentina).

Global warming Save our Earth Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth's climate. There is great debate among many people, and sometimes in the news, on whether global warming is real (some call it a hoax). But climate scientists looking at the data and facts agree the planet is warming.

While many view the effects of global warming to be more substantial and more rapidly occurring than others do, the scientific consensus on climatic changes related to global warming is that the average temperature of the Earth has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 °C over the past 100 years. The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture, and other human activities, are believed to be the primary sources of the global warming that has occurred over the past 50 years. Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate carrying out global warming research have recently predicted that average global temperatures could increase between 1.4 and 5.8 °C by the year 2100. Changes resulting from global warming may include rising sea levels due to the melting of the polar ice caps, as well as an increase in occurrence and severity of storms and other severe weather events. The global average surface temperature rose 0.6 to 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.1 to 1.6° F) between 1906 and 2005, and the rate of temperature increase has nearly doubled in the last 50 years. Temperatures are certain to go up further.

What has scientists concerned now is that over the past 250 years, humans have been artificially raising the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at an ever-increasing rate, mostly by burning fossil fuels, but also from cutting down carbon-absorbing forests. Since the Industrial Revolution began in about 1750, carbon dioxide levels have increased nearly 38 percent as of 2009 and methane levels have increased 148 percent.

Though the achievements made by mankind during the last couple of decades are just incredible. The developments, innovations, inventions, have made man's life so easier that most of his comfort comes with a switch of a button in this ultra modern world. But while achieving all this man has totally ignored the most important aspect that is, nature, due to which most of these comforts are possible. Global warming has various serious implications both on the ecological balance as well as human health. It is always said that more practical, serious and innovative solutions are needed to solve the problem of global warming. Development is sometimes the cause of Global warming. But development at any point cannot be stopped.

So it is the duty of every citizen of the world to think twice before using any natural resources.

For India, the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), which wrapped up in Washington, DC, last week, was meant to be an opportunity for it to demonstrate its bona fides as a responsible stakeholder to the global community. However, a seemingly off-the-cuff comment by U.S. Presi- Ankit dent Barack Obama, the NSS host, has New Delhi upset. At a press conference following the conclusion of the NSS, Obama cited India alongside Pakistan as an "area where I think we'd need to see progress." Specifically, he said the challenge was to ensure that "Pakistan and India, that subcontinent, … as they develop military doctrines, that they are not continually moving in the wrong direction."

The Indian foreign ministry immediately protested.

"Yes, we have seen those remarks. There seems to be a lack of understanding of India's defense posture," Vikas Swarup, the ministry's spokesperson said. "Since the context was the Nuclear Security Summit, the President's own remark that 'expanding nuclear arsenals in some countries, with more small tactical nuclear weapons which could be at greater risk of theft' sums up the focus of global concern," Swarup said, referring obliquely to Pakistan, without mentioning names. Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is currently the fastest growing in the world and the country is developing tactical nuclear

weapons for battlefield use.

There are several reasons why Obama's remarks would upset India. First, Obama commits the sin of lumping India and Pakistan together. The Indian government deeply resents any attempts to equate its nuclear security and nuclear docPanda trine with that of Pakistan's.

Additionally, some observers point to Obama's statement as evidence of continued 'hyphenation' of India and Pakistan in U.S. strategic thinking. Until the second Bush administration, U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy generally saw India as inextricably linked to Pakistan. Following the Bush administration's overtures to India in the 2000s, including a major civil nuclear cooperation deal, the United States 'de-hyphenated' India and Pakistan, but Indian observers remain sensitive to any hints of a return to that status quo ante.

Despite negative reactions in India, Obama's remarks get an interesting view of strategic stability in South Asia. The reference to "military doctrines" suggests that Obama sees recent conventional and nuclear moves in the IndiaPakistan relationship as detrimental. On the Indian side, Obama is ostensibly referring to India's as-yetunofficial 'Cold Start' doctrine, under which conventional forces would conduct coordinated offensive operations in Pakistani territory to stave off nuclear retaliation. On the Paki-

stani side, Obama is no doubt referring to Islamabad's intent to deploy battlefield tactical nuclear weapons, which U.S. observers have long cited as a cause for concern. Last fall, for the first time, senior Pakistani officials clarified the conditions under which Pakistan would use low-yield nuclear weapons against India, citing India's Cold Start as criteria.

Obama's remarks correctly note that as matters stand, there are significant uncertainties about how conventional and nuclear developments Indian and Pakistani military planning affect the nuclear escalation ladder between the two neighbors and rivals. Worrying about wartime nuclear use in South Asia isn't unreasonable. India and Pakistan have fought four wars since their independence, one of which was fought after both had come out as nuclear weapon states. While grounded analytical approaches to understanding the conflict escalation framework between India and Pakistan exist, the introduction of low-yield battlefield nuclear weapons and coordinated conventional offensive maneuvers introduces uncertainty.

Indian frustration over Obama's remarks likely refers to what New Delhi sees as the U.S. president's lack of understanding of the impetus for India developing Cold Start in the first place. Assessments of India's conventional mobilization speed in the wake of major terrorist attacks-

Logo of Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) (Photo: static1.squarespace) notably, the 2001 attack

by Jaish-e-Mohammed militants on the Indian parliament-suggested a need for New Delhi to seriously pursue a proactive strategy, speeding up mobilization times to proffer conventional retaliation after provocative terrorist attacks. Though India ultimately reacted with restraint, the 2008 Mumbai attacks reinforced this idea. As I mentioned before, Cold Start remains unofficial and its existence has been denied by Indian officials repeatedly.

India is likely further frustrated by the public airing of differences by the U.S. president over its military choices. As a non-party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and a declared nuclear weapons state, India has faced special scrutiny from international observers on issues of nuclear security and continues to remain outside important organizations, including the

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). As the 2008 U.S.India civil nuclear agreement and other similar agreements with other states since then have suggested, New Delhi has largely succeeded in carving out a unique position for itself as a "normal" nuclear country, despite being outside the rubric of the NPT. Though concerns persist about India's progress on nuclear materials security, New Delhi is highly sensitive to insinuations that it is an irresponsible nuclear weapons state.

Pakistan, while no doubt unhappy, meanwhile, appears unsurprised by Obama's remark that it is moving in the "wrong direction" with its decision to rapidly expand its nuclear stockpiles and adopt lowyield weapons. Islamabad and Washington have discussed their differences over this issue directly. For example, last November, when Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Raheel

Sharif visited Washington, DC, and met with senior State and Defense Department officials, the two sides addressed these questions. The idea of a "nuclear deal" for Pakistan-one that would place conditions on the scope of its nuclear programsurged in popularity in Washington last fall. (It has since lost steam.)

The uneasy rivalry between India and Pakistan has mostly simmered for the past 15 years, but the risk of it rising to a boil isn't an unthinkable contingency. Obama is right that South Asia is a nuclear tinderbox, but his diagnosis of the problem identifies the symptoms instead of the disease. Ultimately, to walk back from the brink, the United States should be focusing on policies that can help reel in Pakistan's use of sub-conventional warfare and cross-border terrorism. And that's just for starters. Courtesy: The Diplomat

Art of gobbling up Yamuna floodplain It is often easy to miss the target if you don't know what you are shooting at.

This is how key environmental issues are often mismanaged. Today let me discuss issues that have been troubling me for the past many months. My provocation to write is Sunita the huge fuss (rightly so) about how Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a respected spiritual guru, is constructing a mammoth structure, although socalled temporary, on the floodplain of the Yamuna.

Environmentalists are up in arms, saying this will cause irreversible damage because the soil has been compacted, birds have disappeared and the floodplain has been destroyed.

By the time you read this, the grandiose event is over and the National Green Tribunal, which is listening to the appeal, has decided

to take a meek view of the situation-after much deliberation and an acceptance of the damage to the floodplain, it has imposed a small fine on the organisers and laid down conditions for remediation, which may or may not happen.

Earlier, the Narain same battle played out over the construction of a big temple and then a multi-storey residential complex built for the Commonwealth Games athletes. These were lost.

More recently, it has raged over a bus depot called Millennium. In this case, a court-and the Delhi government-have ordered closure and the buses will now be parked in far-flung areas where land is available.

This means there will be dead mileage. This when the cost of fuel is making public transport unviable.

I would still argue that re-

moval of this one symbol of bad planning will not save Delhi's floodplain.

Why do I say this? The brutal fact is that the floodplain is still not delineated in the land-use plan of the city. In the previous master plan of the city, the river zone area (called zone O) was identified as 9,700 hectares (ha), of which 1,600 ha is under water and the rest-a massive area of 8,100 ha-is considered to be mostly dry. However, over the years, a number of planned and unplanned developments have been undertaken in this zone, including massive residential areas with hundreds of thousands of inhabitants. It has, therefore, been agreed in principle that the zone should be planned and an acceptable land-use plan put in place. But this process is not complete and given the disagreements over what needs to be done

on floodplains it will probably remain in a grey area.

This suits many people. It allows for illegal takeover by land mafia till nothing is left.

There is yet another problem. Why should a city that is so hungry for land keep over 8,100 ha of its prime area under an activity that nobody can really figure out? It is, therefore, important to understand both the recharge functions of a floodplain and its value as a flood-mitigation zone.

This value can be realised only when the city sees the benefits it gets. This is why Delhi must link its flood zone management to its water supply. A proportion of drinking water must come from this zone. Delhi must also begin to use this zone for water storage, which, in turn, will help in managing pollution. It must be functional. Otherwise, all the hue and cry

cannot prevent the floodplain from being gobbled up.

It is also important that the plan for floodplain delineates the area through proper mapping on the ground and that this area is secured. This will mean taking tough decisions to leave out what is already gone in densely populated areas.

This is always the most difficult of all tasks and nobody wants to bell the cat because accepting that a part of the land has been lost means accepting illegal encroachments have happened. This is something bureaucrats are loath to do.

And public activists make their task easier by screaming foul. Status quo remains.

The land mafia celebrates.

It also means preparing a plan of what is acceptable use. It cannot be do nothing.

It means setting aside land for the river, for ecology, for parks and even identifying

The Election Commission And Unruly Politicians

The Election Commission of India Office, Delhi (Photo: s3.india)

Sir, Attention of the entire world is cast on the Election commission of India. The commission enjoys autonomy and with the power entrusted to it, conducted all the elections - be it general or Mid-term or whatsoever in a flawless way. Of late, it is observed that many political parties are flouting the code of conduct of the election with impunity. We have also observed that the commission this time appear to be a bit passive on certain instances. The commission, meanwhile warns some of the candidates for infringing the ethical line of the code of conduct seeking explanation from them.

Lakhs of rupees carried stealthily with the sole purpose of distribution amongst the voters have been detected en route.

But it remains to be seen what action the commission has initiated against the likes of Goutam Roy, Bharat Narah, Rupak Sarma and some others like Dr. Ardhendu Kr. Dey who have been caught

red handed distributing money among the voters. What is more, with a tacit intention of disturbing the existing sweet communal harmony, Dr. Dey in a show of over smartness and to win over a section of voters of a particular community instigate them insisting on 50:50 division of Assam. Susmita Dev's recent comments on Sarbananda Sonowal smack of her poor sense. Such shallow remarks might tear apart the fabric of communal harmony. When the responsible persons behave in an insensitive way being blind folded by his/her craze for power, we the people of Assam wait with avidity to see what action the commission is initiating against Dr. Dey and Ms. Dev for their inflammatory speech.

land which can be used for public utilities that are nondestructive like a bus depot. It will mean that functions that are clearly a travesty of ecological use, like the Art of Living function, will not be allowed.

But taking this call is even tougher because the credibility of public institutions is low.

So, such a plan will not be made. Instead, now that the floodplain has been cleared and a huge installation allowed, it is now going to be viewed as real estate. The permissible land-use, which is recreational, could be easily misused. In this place a giant mall or something similar can be built.

It will be the death of the floodplain, one way or another. So, it is time we chose the right target.

This one we must not miss.

Courtesy: DTE

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

So please keep writing.

Letters to the editor and articles should be sent to : The Eastern Today Chowkidingee, Near Sankardeva Hospital Mancotta Road, Dibrugarh786003 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Yours etc.

Web : Ashok Bordoloi editor . e asterntoday@gmail. com Dibrugarh

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Why I Find The Current Political Atmosphere 'Unfavourable' (But Students Give Me Hope) In this era, when job and so that they may get into education crises are at a politics. peak, people are hardly CPIM General Secretary able to think and analyse. Sitaram Yechury says, It is indeed an "The Modi government is unfavourable atmosphere slowly trying to create an which has taken shape in Emergency-like situation.

India since the coming of They are trying to break BJP to power in 2014. The the communal harmony of R S S t h e backed Mohammad Arsalan country governb y m e n t pitching has no doubt a huge and one religion against other massive partisan nation- and one community wide. But it's facing huge against another." After criticism over it's Hindutva around forty years since image from many sections the Emergency, it may be of the country. argued that the country is The JP Andolan (1975-77) facing the same crisis in India was one phase in again.

Independent India which BJP's campaign in the produced many prominent 2014 Lok Sabha elections leaders in our country in- was indeed well organised. cluding two Chief Minis- The Congress didn't perters of Bihar. The Emer- form very well during its gency era saw Indian poli- rule and like any other tics take a dramatic turn, party was met with strong as several new parties epithets in the whole counemerged after it including try. The 2G scam, the BJP. Many of them Coalgate scam, Adarsh upheld ideas of socialism. Housing Society scam, It appeared that a revolu- price hikes and so on tion had taken place and played their part in soiling the country that would Congress' image. Some take shape would be a may even claim that the modern, developed and silence of the then PM powerful India. This also Manmohan Singh, or provided a platform to the maybe the puerile candiRSS to highjack or per- dature for the projected haps make their own party Congress Prime Minister

were reasons for the loss.

But popular slogans (like 'Har har Modi, ghar ghar Modi', 'Congress Mukt Bharat' etc.), polarisation politics, Hindu radicalisation and the Ram Mandir issue were used to defeat the Congress as well.

Narendra Modi took the opportunity to fill the leadership crisis by using beautiful slogans to win over poor people who saw him as a ray of hope.

Words like 'Sabka saath, sabka vikas', 'Har har Modi, ghar ghar Modi', were strong slogans which caught the imagination of young minds, farmers and the toiling poor of the country. The masses of the country saw a ray of hope.

After winning with an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha in 2014 and forming a robust government, things did not turn out to be so positive. People started wondering whether the promised fifteen lakh rupees would be debited to their bank accounts. There were other issues as well such as the alleged unemployment among the youth, the beheading of an Indian sol-

dier and so on which negatively affected the government's image.

When the government couldn't manage that, it appears that some of their affiliates started creating new issues to make people forget the government's false promises. There were several controversies like 'Ghar wapsi', 'Love jihad', asking people to go to Pakistan etc.

When this didn't work, the government backed by the RSS began, as some people feel, targeting Scheduled Caste people all over the country. Many public intellectuals returned their awards in protest against the 'fascist' tendencies of the ruling dispensation.

It was going well for the government until the suicide of HCU's Dalit student Rohith Vemula. Some have called it an 'institutional murder'. Rohith's suicide in January 2016 led to massive criticism of the government, especially when letters of communication from HRD Minister Smriti Irani to HCU-VC Appa Rao and a local MP of Hyderabad were discovered. This led to huge outrage and mass protests

Reuters/Anindito Mukherjee all over the country. Students of prominent universities including AMU, JNU, AU etc. came out on the roads to protest.

Smriti Irani was already under fire from students leading the 'Occupy UGC' movement, who were protesting the scrapping of the non-NET fellowship that is granted to research scholars. In all these protests, JNU students played an active role. A couple of students including JNUSU

Find Out How A Broken Car Almost Ruined Dhoni's Career Before It Even Started (And More) Back in January 2001, a our 20-year-old protago- incidence from that quick-fire centuries and full strength Australian nist and played for the match wherein he handed a 50, all against PakiTeam, riding on the East Zone at Agartala Sachin a bottle during the stan-A, including a ton in record success of 15 con- that time. And just a few drinks break. This was the Finals of the tournasecutive Test wins, toured months later he even the only interaction he ment to help the Indian India raring to go for the went on to make his Test could manage with his team win the tourna'Final Frontier'. Neither and ODI debut. But what hero. Of course, then nei- ment. Being the top Indian players nor the about Chhotu Bhaiyaa's ther of them knew that scorer, Dhoni was selectors were willing to friend? Well, that 'un- exactly ten years in the awarded the Man of the leave any stone unturned lucky' young man is now future Dhoni will captain Series. The Triangular in shaping ironically Sachin along with the series was televised, and up for 'The Ameya Ranade hailed as a rest of Team India.

Chhotu Bhaiyya even reSeries' and 'luckiest' Deep Dasgupta remained corded Mahi's innings on the Duleep Trophy Tour- captain of Indian by the first choice keeper his old VCR so as to nament. Cricketing stars some sections of the me- batsman for East Zone watch it with his friend like Tendulkar, Dravid, dia and people in general. the next couple of years when he returned.

Laxman, Srinath, Prasad Considering the crisis of denying Dhoni further It was only after estabhad all turned up for cru- wicketkeepers in the In- opportunity (he already lishing himself as a hard cial preparations. Their dian team back in the had bleak chances to hitting batsman and a only hope - Australians days, it would have been make it big playing with useful wicket-keeper in had never won a series relatively easy for Bihar Cricket Associa- the domestic circuit that in India since 1969!

Mahendra Singh Dhoni to tion). It was only when he finally made his ODI Far from this tumultuous make his debut for the Pranab Roy, former na- debut late 2004. Considenvironment, Chhotu Bhaiyya, a sports goods shop owner in a small and lazy town where nothing exciting ever happens, received a phone call from a friend in Kolkata congratulating him for his friend's selection in the East Zone team for the ongoing Duleep Trophy Tournament.

The twist in the story, of course, was that nobody, not even the player himself, knew about this miraculous selection. Some said that it was bureaucratic negligence of state Cricket Association while some blamed it on conspiracy - one can't really be sure. Anyhow, the promising 20-year-old cricketer had no time to speculate or celebrate for he was left with just India's cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni smiles during a news confer20 hours to join the East ence in Mumbai, India. (Photo: cdn.youthkiawaaz) Zone cricket team in Kolkata from where he national team if he could tional selector, put his own ered to be the fastest would then board a flight have made it to Agartala reputation, sleep and rela- runner between the to Agartala with the rest that time. tions with other selectors wickets, he was run out of the team and stand Instead, he joined the at stake to push Dhoni into on the first ball he faced against the South Zone. team as the 12th man in the East Zone team in the in international cricket.

The last train going to Pune against team West 2003-2004 season that Easily amongst the Kolkata had already left Zone led by Sachin things seemed to move smartest wicketkeepers town. Chhotu Bhaiyya Tendulkar. Sachin and forward. in the world, he was not promptly hired a car for Kambli scored massive If not flamboyant, then able to grab even a single an overnight journey to centuries that time to with steady perfor- catch in his first match. get his friend to his des- crush East Zone by an mances Dhoni went on An explosive batsman, tiny. But fate had other innings and a mountain of cementing the faith he was able to gather plans or maybe it's the runs. Dhoni was a huge showed in him and earned only 19 runs in 3 duty of cars rented from fan of Tendulkar and had himself a spot in India-A matches from that sesleepy towns to break a life-size poster of him Team bound to Nairobi ries. But within a year he down in the middle of the besides his bed. He for the 50 over Triangu- took the cricketing world road. The journey had to dreamt of one day play- lar Series featuring by storm, scoring a blisbe abandoned that night. ing with or against Kenya and Pakistan-A tering 148 off 124 balls Deep Dasgupta replaced Sachin. Dhoni recalls an sides. Dhoni scored two against Pakistan and

then breaking the World Record of Gilchrist's 172 runs as highest ODI score by a Wicket Keeper when he scored 183 against Sri Lanka.

From there he catapulted himself in the international arena grabbing Test berth, T20 Captainship, Inaugural T20 World Cup, ODI Captainship, Test Captainship, ODI World Cup, one after the other.

He surely had his limitations with batting outside the subcontinent, especially in Tests. The lack of technique to bat in conditions where the ball seams, swings, bounces and does all kinds of unIndian things lead the bowlers to capitalize it against him. As a captain, he has faced some embarrassing losses in International Test series where the conditions were not suitable to Indian bowlers and was often criticized for his defensive captainship. But let us judge his character by his ability to rise above the weaknesses and failures in this fiercely competitive sport. Today he stands as one of the best WicketKeeper batsman India has ever produced winning the most number of ICC trophies as an Indian captain.

I feel surprised when people attribute these achievements to his 'luck'. Where does one buy that stuff? Or does someone gift it to you? Or does one manufacture it on their own with the hard work that remains visible to very few? This wonderful cricketer has made his way into the Indian side against all obstacles, defying all odds and emerged as someone who will be admired and adored for generations.

This Midas has 'smithed' his way, toiled with heavy hammers and hot bellows, to yield the gold that sparkles so bright that what commoners get to see is only the 'Touch'!

C o u r t e s y : Youthkiawaaz

president Kanahiya Kumar were arrested in connection with so-called 'antinational' slogans being chanted. The government machinery tried all possible measures from physical violence to legal ways of suppression to subdue the students and break their resolve. But, that led to another debacle.

The sedition law that comes under Section 124A of the IPC, a legacy of our colonial past, is be-

ing used by our government today. It was used against the students. The law was introduced in the year 1870 under the British Raj to prevent Indians from going against the state. Victims of this law include Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and many other prominent freedom fighters. Now, at this juncture, it feels like we're back in colonial times.

Meanwhile, a foul debate

in the country has started over who is a 'nationalist' or an 'anti-national'.

It's high time that we got rid of such laws which have no place in a democracy. In this era, when the world is busy making satellites, discovering previously unknown things about the universe and so on, such pointless debates seem like a travesty.

After the JNU row, the students' movement has again risen to prominence and have caused a stir in the country. Young leaders are coming out from colleges and universities.

The media seems to be coming back on the right track and civilians appear to be getting to know the reality. This shows that India is now combatting fascism and moving towards revolutionary change. Let's hope that the new drift, unlike 1977, may bring out potential leaders who could fulfil the idea of India dreamt by Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sukhdev, Ashfaqullah and all other prominent freedom fighters who suffered under the British and gave up their life for our freedom. Courtesy: Youthkiawaaz

"Is Quality Education The Birth Right Of Only Those Who Belong To Privileged Classes?"

Education, formal or infor- to a child belonging to an ciaries of such programmes? mal, has been the privilege elite family. The only differ- This persistent problem of the higher caste and class ence is that they don't have needs to be tackled astutely since time immemorial. After the opportunity nor the with teachers being motiall, how could one forget needed platform to express vated to teach English in a Ekalavya and Shambuka! themselves. In short, social sincere manner despite the I was not surprised when my status is the deterrent that language's secondary status helper, the thirty-year-old thwarts their dreams of as- in a multi-lingual nation like p i r i n g ours.

Maheshwari, a class It's Many civil society Sujatha Balakrishnan big. a huge organisations are working eight barrier towards the realization of drop out, told me that both her for students who are in- "leave no one behind", by sons insisted on going to an structed in regional lan- working with government English medium school. The guages to compete with chil- schools, but it is also the two of them were presently dren from English medium duty of governing bodies to ensure that every child from living with their grandpar- schools. ents in a village in Tamil It rather shocked me on the the lowest strata of society Nadu and studying in a gov- first day at school to see stu- is provided the space to be ernment school. She said, dents write their names in conversant in English. Right "Akka, they say that they Kannada on English text- To Education is a great way also want to learn to read, books. I strongly believe that of including children in priwrite and talk in English, but the language of every state vate schools, but what is the I cannot afford sending two children to a private school as the fees are beyond my reach."

There are many parents, like Maheshwari, from the lower strata of society struggling to send their children to private schools with their meager income, hoping that their child will be groomed to become an Englishspeaking citizen one day!

I feel ashamed and sorry for a situation such as this.

There are government schools with amazing infraImage for representational purpose (Photo: structure and qualified staff, cdn.youthkiawaaz) but English is an alien language in these precincts.

English as a language is un- is its pride and that it must percentage? doubtedly a burden left be- be nurtured, but at the same Education is the fundamenhind by the British on the time, we need to remember tal right of every child as is fragile shoulders of the that English is the link lan- promised by the 2010 Act, struggling millions in third guage which will help stu- but it does not guarantee world nations. Nevertheless, dents in connecting with the 'quality' education. The education ministry in every state it is a language that is cru- rest of the world. cial to connect and progress. The aim of any English should seriously consider As a teacher and counselor, teaching programme should the option of a well devised I have always wondered if be to prepare children to be Bilingual curriculum, as the quality education is the birth fairly conversant in the lan- human brain is wired to learn right of only those who be- guage and to be able to com- a language at an early age. long to privileged classes. municate with others when It has cognitive, social, Every child (poor or rich) they leave school. We are not emotional and professional deserves quality education. expecting Shakespearean advantages. If the texts are Unfortunately, this seems English, but something in vernacular languages, like a far-fetched dream in In- which equips them to be ac- then a couple of lessons cepted as an 'equal' in the can be discussed in Endia as of now. glish helping students to As part of the education ini- world outside. tiative of the NGO I'm work- My question to government acquire proficiency in both. ing for, I have been involved run schools is "Why do En- This small leap forward will in teaching children at a glish teachers not take an make children equal partgovernment school in North interest in teaching the lan- ners in the journey of learnBangalore for the past seven guage better?" Lack of moti- ing. This will also address years. The enthusiasm, in- vation seems to soar high in the issues of nurturing the volvement, and curiosity to these schools. If I'm right, the heritage of regional lanlearn is the same in all these teachers draw state govern- guages and providing necchildren. Is it then not crimi- ment salaries. Some even essary support to learn a nal to confine intelligence have done certified courses foreign one. Balancing and creativity to only those at the British Council! such a situation needs a lot Courses are conducted to of brainstorming by the who can afford it?

The IQ or merit of a child improve English speaking Education Ministry and bifrom an unprivileged back- skills for teachers. Why then lingual experts. Courtesy: ground is in no way inferior are children not the benefi- Youthkiawaaz

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

BUSINESS

New tractor range unveiled by Mahindra Hyderabad, Apr 7: Mahindra & Mahindra rolled out Yuvo, its new range of tractors in the 3045 HP segment with an eye on consolidating the market leadership position.

Unveiling the five models, manufactured at the Zaheerabad plant near Hyderabad, senior executives led by Executive Director Pawan Goenka said with this the Far Equipment Sector has tractors in the 30-57 HP segment.

In October 2014, M&M had launched Nuvo range of tractors for the 50-plus HP segment. The company foresaw opportunities next in the sub-30 HP tractor segment, he added. For Yuvo, built on

a new platform and developed with various features based on customer survey, the company had invested Rs.300 crore, while the investment on Nuvo, made at the Nagpur plant, was Rs.250 crore. Yuvo range, priced (ex-showroom) between Rs.4.99 lakh - Rs.6.49 lakh, will be available in 15 states. The features include a 12F+3R full constant-mesh gearbox and the vehicle can be used across more than 30 different farming applications. Noting that it will serve diverse needs of farmers - from land preparation to harvesting as well as post-harvesting requirements - the company said the tractor range

FARMER'S NEW FRIEND Mahindra & Mahindra rolled out Yuvo, its new range of tractors in the 30-45 HP segment with an eye on consolidating the market leadership position.

The features include a 12F+3R full constantmesh gearbox and the vehicle can be used across more than 30 different farming applications. has been developed at Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai. Farm Equipment and Two Wheeler

Noting that it will serve diverse needs of farmers from land preparation to harvesting as well as postharvesting requirements the company said the tractor range has been developed at Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai.

It is expected that with this the Far Equipment Sector has tractors in the 30-57 HP segment. In October 2014, M&M had launched Nuvo range of tractors for the 50-plus HP segment.

Yuvo range, priced (exshowroom) between Rs.4.99 lakh - Rs.6.49 lakh, will be available in 15 states.

The cost of ownership of Yuvo tractors, which are priced about 3-4 per cent higher compared to the competition, would be less as the service interval is 400 hour thus reducing visits to the service station.

Division of M&M Rajesh Jejurikar said "launch of YUVO will further strengthen our position in

the tractor market." The new product was put through 140,000 hours of lab and field testing across

12 states, he said. The cost of ownership of Yuvo tractors, which are priced about 3-4 per cent higher compared to the competition, would be less as the service interval is 400 hour thus reducing visits to the service station. According to Mr. Goenka, adequate capacity is available at the Zaheerabad plant - 140 tractors a day - and that could be scaled up by operating one more shift. Mr. Jejurikar said the industry expected a 10 per cent growth this fiscal as the monsoon was expected to be good and in the backdrop of the Union government's emphasis on pushing growth in agriculture. (Agencies)

Exporters' inputs asked

by Govt. to check decline

Scheme to promote entrepreneurship amongst Dalits launched Modi

New Delhi, Apr 7: Commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently discussed with exporters the measures to curb the decline of outbound shipments, and sought their inputs on issues plaguing the sector to improve ease of doing business. India's merchandise exports contracted for the 15th month in a row in February amid tepid global demand and a volatile global currency market. During the meeting, exporters demanded incentives to reverse the trend and requested the government to provide better market access.

Some of the other issues flagged by exporters include non-tariff barriers of other countries, currency volatility, special economic zones, problems in dealing with customs authorities and service tax.

"The issue was mainly to check the downward trend of exports. We have requested the Commerce Ministry to at least add some markets where there is better scope where the decline is not so much...

Commerce secretary has assured that they (government) will certainly look into all the issues," Federation of Indian Export Organisation President S C Ralhan said. "We have requested that the interest subvention be extended to merchant exporters because they buy from MSME manufacturers," he told reporters on the sidelines of an interaction between representatives of export promotion councils (EPCs) and Commerce Ministry. The previous meeting was held on February 2. (Agencies)

provide two such loans - to a Dalit or SC/ST person and a woman. The Prime Minister said the scheme, which was announced during his Independence Day speech last year, is being unveiled on April 5 to mark the birth anniversary of Congress Dalit Leader Babu Jagjivan Ram. "Whatever one's party or ideology may be, we want to remember those who have lived and toiled for the nation. As agriculture minister, Babu Jagjivan Ram did a lot to usher in the green revolution. During the 1971 war, which we won, very few people would know that he was the defence minister," he said. Mr. Modi's remarks and his choice of venue to unveil this scheme assumes significance in view of the upcoming assembly elections in five states where the Dalit and other backward class votes could be critical.

Uttar Pradesh, which

Panama criticized by OECD for no info exchange Mumbai, Apr 7: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international thinktank, which is spearheading the G20 initiatives to achieve greater tax transparency, has issued a strong statement against Panama's intent to not adhere to common reporting standards for the widely endorsed automatic exchange of information (AEOI) initiative.

"Panama is the last major holdout that continues to allow funds to be hidden offshore from tax and law enforcement authorities," says a statement from Angel Gurria, OECD's secretary general. This statement has been issued in the backdrop of the Panama papers revelation which shows how several rich and powerful individuals incorporated companies in Panama, which offered them a masked identity and tax benefits. The common reporting standard reduces the possibility of tax evasion. It provides for exchange of financial account information with the tax authorities in the account holder's country of residence. Participating jurisdictions that implement AEOI send and receive preagreed information each year, without having to send a specific request to officials of other countries. (Agencies)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: images.indianexpress) New Delhi, Apr 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently unveiled the 'Stand-up India' scheme to promote entrepreneurship among women, scheduled castes and tribes by enabling them secure easier loans and said this could be an engine of job creation for the youth. "Dalits and poor people, if given an opportunity, can bring in various reforms in the country. That's my vision for Stand-up India…This

scheme is going to transform the lives of Dalit and tribal communities," Mr. Modi said while introducing the scheme in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Under the scheme, SC/ST and women entrepreneurs will be provided loans of between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore for setting up new enterprises. Mr. Modi said this will help in creating 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs throughout the country as every bank branch will be required to

goes to polls early next year, has the highest Dalit population among all states. The prime minister said the scheme aims to empower every Indian and enable them to stand on their feet. It seeks to convert "job-seekers into job-creators." In an indirect jibe at Mr.Vijay Mallya, who is currently facing charges of wilful default on bank loans, the prime minister said people have tried to find ways to run away after borrowing money from banks "but the poor of the country, whom we had asked to open zero balance accounts… have put in a total of over Rs.35,000

crore with accounts opened under PMJDY." Mr. Modi also distributed 5,100 e-rickshaws under the scheme and 151 women were among those whoreceived the vehicles. "E-rickshaws will be given to those who do not own rickshaws. Beneficiaries of this will be the poor," he said. This will also benefit the environment, he said pointing out that India spends billions on importing oil while these rickshaws will run on batteries charged using solar power. These e-rickshaws have been distributed for use in Delhi-NCR region. (Agencies)

"Dalits and poor people, if given an opportunity, can bring in various reforms in the country. That's my vision for Stand-up India…This scheme is going to transform the lives of Dalit and tribal communities." Narendra Modi

Significant uptrend registered by India's private sector activity in March New Delhi, Apr 7: Private sector activity in the country registered a significant uptrend and surged to a 37-month high in March, driven by a marked increase in new business orders, a monthly survey said. The Nikkei India Composite PMI Output Index, which maps both manufacturing and services sectors, climbed from 51.2 in February to a 37-month high of 54.3 last month.

The growth of manufacturing production also gained strength, therefore contributing to a marked expansion in the private sector output. Meanwhile, the Nikkei Services Business Activity index rose

from 51.4 in February to 54.3 in March -- its jointhighest level since June 2014. A reading above 50 indicates expansion while a one below this level means contraction.

"March PMI surveys signalled a reassuringly robust end to the financial year for the Indian economy, with sharper increases in new business spurring activity growth in both the manufacturing and service sectors," Pollyanna De Lima, economist at Markit, which compiles the survey, said. The survey noted that despite solid upturns in new business and output, the trend in employment re-

Image for representational purpose only. (Photo: thumbs.dreamstime) mained subdued. "One disappointment, however, is the trend in employment, which showed little change through much of 2015-16," Lima said add-

ing that barring mild increase in hiring seen among service providers during July, it was a broadly stagnant labour market for the past two

years.

Going forward, Indian services companies remain optimistic that activity will increase further over the coming 12 months. On prices, Lima said input costs across the private sector rose at the quickest rate in three months and charge inflation likewise accelerated, suggesting headline inflation may pickup in coming months.

Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday cut the key interest rate by 0.25% and introduced a host of measures to smoothen liquidity supply so that banks can lend to productive sectors and indicated accommodative stance going ahead.

(Agencies)

JK Tyre writes off Haridwar plant investment Kolkata, Apr 7: It's been a hard bargain for JK Tyre, which had earlier acquired BK Birla Groupowned Kesoram Industries' tyre plant at Haridwar. Within six months of acquiring the truck and bus tyre plant from Kesoram, JK Tyre is writing off significant portion of its investment in the project. The share capital of the subsidiary, Cavendish Industries, that houses the plant is being written down from a little over Rs 700 crore to just over Rs 50 crore, according to filing done by the company with authorities. The issued and paid up number of shares would now get reduced from 70,00,50,000 shares of face value Rs 10

each to 5,00,03,571 of Rs 10 each. A year back diversified entity Kesoram transfered its tyre manufacturing unit at Laksar to subsidiary Cavendish Ind on a slump sale basis for a consideration of Rs 2,195 crore and recorded an exceptional income of Rs 409.20 crore. Subsequently in September, it entered into a pact with JK Tyre & Industries and JK Asia Pacific Pte to sell its investment in the subsidiary for Rs 2,200 crore. Writing down its investment within six months of the deal indicates efforts of JK Tyre to clean up losses suffered by Kesoram because of inordinate delay in executing the project.

Companies usually write

off share capital to write off losses suffered in businesses, accountants said. Kesoram's Board in FY10 had approved expansion of capacity to produce truck and bus radial tyres by 85 tonne day at Haridwar involving capital outlay of Rs 350 crore, which was supposed to get executed

by March 2011. The deadline for completion of the project was pushed back every year, initially to second quarter of FY12 and then to beyond FY15, thereby incurring huge cost overrun and debt burden, forcing the company to go for his disinvestment. JK Tyre is now expected to revive the project using its ex-

PAGE 10

45% jump in sales in JanMarch period posted by Jaguar Land Rover

Image for representational purpose only. (Photo: cusu.org) Mumbai, Apr 7: The Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover registered a growth of 45% in its sales in the January to March 2016 quarter on the back of strong demand for its recent launches like the Discovery Sport and the Jaguar XE. The company said that it sold over 1,000 units in the period. The carmaker in January said that it had achieved record global sales figures in 2015. The manufacturer sold 4,87,065 vehicles its highest ever yet and a 5% jump from 2014 figures.

Commenting on the strong sales figures, Rohit Suri, President, JLR said, "The All-New Jaguar XE,

which we introduced in the Indian market in February 2016 in petrol derivatives, has received a tremendous response.

Also, the demand for Model Year 2016 Jaguar XJ, Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport continues to be extremely robust."

The company's Jaguar portfolio in India consists of the F-Type, the locallymanufactured XF, XJ and the all-new XE. Its Land Rover product range consists of the flagship Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, the Discovery 4, New Discovery Sport and the new Range Rover Evoque. (Agencies)

New Bonneville T120 unveiled by Triumph Pune, Apr 7: British superbike maker Triumph Motorcycles launched an updated version of its 'Bonneville T120' model in India priced at Rs 8.7 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The model comes with an all-new 1200cc high torque Bonneville engine and a new chassis and suspension for refined all day riding, the company said. "The original Bonneville T120 has enjoyed a great legacy and character amongst its loyalists. We are sure the

Indian customers will take it to the new, modern yet authentic T120 with absolute zeal and pride. "It comes with real pedigree, presence and performance yet retains its class," Triumph Motorcycles India Managing Director Vimal Sumbly said in a statement. The bike comes with various features like anti-lock braking system, heated grips setting, rider mode setting, service indicator, USB charge socket and engine immobiliser, among others. (Agencies)

As RBI cuts rates, home and auto loans to get cheaper Mumbai, Apr 7: Banks are expected to reduce home, car and personal loan rates after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday cut its lending rates to banks. Leading banks said that they would make retail loans cheaper. RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said that he expects loan rates to fall by 0.5% in 4-5 months. The central bank cut the rate at which it lends money to banks by 0.25% in its first monetary policy review of 2016-17, the first after a pause of six months. Banks are also expected to come out with fixed-loan products to lock in customers at a particular rate for a fixed period. Ever since the rate-easing cycle was unleashed by the RBI in April 2015, the central bank has cut lending rates by 1.5%, but banks have reduced lending rates by 0.7%, cit-

ing high cost of retail deposits. The RBI governor said in a press conference: "We expect banks to cut lending rates by up to 0.5% in the next five months as cost of deposits fall." Bankers, meanwhile, said that rates will start falling within a month after they bring down deposit rates. With the first quarter being a lean season for loans, banks will be tempted to reduce rates and attract customers, especially retail borrowers taking home and car loans. Rajiv Anand, group executive & head, retail banking at Axis Bank, said: "We will review our deposit and lending rates in a month. Our deposit rates will be revised first and then lending rates."

Some banks like IDBI said that in line with the falling cost of borrowing, the bank will reduce its lending rates. (Agencies)

CHEAPER LOANS Banks are expected to reduce home, car and personal loan rates after the RBI on Tuesday cut its lending rates to banks. Leading banks said that they would make retail loans cheaper.

Image for representational purpose only. (Photo: content.indiainfoline) pertise gained in turning around its earlier acquisition of a tyre facility at Tornel in Mexico. "The transaction is a reflection of the inherent strength of the company in undertak-

ing acquisitions with turnaround potential and successfully delivering results to all the stakeholders in the business," JK Tyre had said during signing of the deal. (Agencies)

The central bank cut the rate at which it lends money to banks by 0.25% in its first monetary policy review of 2016-17, the first after a pause of six months.

Ever since the rate-easing cycle was unleashed by the RBI in April 2015, the central bank has cut lending rates by 1.5%, but banks have reduced lending rates by 0.7%, citing high cost of retail deposits.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

Features

PAGE 11

TRAVEL & TOURISM Madan Kamdev: Unearthing the Amazing Legend of Ancient Kamrup Assam is a fascinating Hindu Gods and Goddestination for history en- desses, and a great variety thusiasts around the globe. of wonderful archaeologiThere are some amazing cal objects reflecting the places in Assam which extraordinary artistic abound in numerous an- works performed by the cient e x monupert Sujit Ranjan Kashyap ments sculpand an tors extraordinary variety of during the Pala Regime in rare archaeological ob- ancient Kamrup. jects throwing light on According to the Hindu Assam's amazing mytho- mythology, Lord Shiva, in logical stories as well as a spurt of fury, burnt the mystic legends uniquely. God of Love Madan or Madan Kamdev Archaeo- Kamdeva into ashes with logical site, which is situ- the power of his wrathful ated atop the Diwangiri third eye. From the mythoHills near the small town logical point of view, it is of Baihata Chariali in believed that Kamdeva Kamrup district, is one of was reborn here and such places being known united with his consort as the most remarkable Rati Devi. Due to the retourist spot of Assam. birth of Kamdeva, the Located around 40 km name of the state became from Guwahati, Madan Kamrup.

Although, Kamdev's is full of Kamrup is currently a disunadultered beauty. It's in- trict of Assam, the entire credible range of exca- State of Assam was vated archaeological re- known as Kamrup in ansources includes ancient cient times. The partly rumonuments, rock-cut ined sculptures here has a sculptures, idols of some great significance as it de-

picts the intense love story of Kamdeva and Rati Devi.

Right below the Madan Kamdev Temple the river Madankuri flows in the east and towards the north, just beneath the Diwangiri hills, there is a vast stretch of swampy land which has the chain of Gopeswar hills from the north to the west. The scenic beauty of Gopeswar hills immensely attracts nature lovers.

Assamese historians and archaeological experts believe that the ruins of the Madan Kamdev Temple dates back to 10th and 12th Century A.D. when Pala Dynasty ruled ancient Kamrup. The name of the temple was also mentioned in the Journal titled "Asiatic Society of Bengal" (1885), which was written by the then British Captain Mr. Deltion.

In fact, the erotic sculptures engraved in the walls of the Madan Kamdev

Temple came to be known as the "Khajuraho of Assam". But, most of the monuments and rock-cut sculptures showcasing erotic scenes are not allowed to be displayed here. Highly erotic monuments have been hidden in some secret place by the Temple Committee Staff.

However, carved images and wonderful sculptures seen in the main temple throw light on the volumes of the grandeur of Assam's remarkable architecture of the Medieval Era. Initially, archaeologists of Assam differed on the issue of when and who built these magnificent temples atop the Diwangiri Hills.

But, among them the opinion of Dr. Pradeep Sharma, the Assistant Director of the Archaeological Directorate of Assam seems logical and evidential from the historical point of view. According to him, ruins of at least 15 ancient temples were

Amazing place which abound an extraordinary variety of rare archaeological objects (Photo: northeasttoday ) found during the 1977 excavation works conducted by the State Archaeological Department of Assam around the famous Silsako Bridge (the word 'Silsako' means a bridge made of stone in Assamese) of North Guwahati- the historical bridge which was badly destroyed in the devastating earthquake

that had rocked Assam in 1897 causing huge loss of human lives and properties in the state.

As a result of the massive excavation works in 1977, the ruins of the main Madan kamdev Temple as well as 12 other huge and small temples were discovered. Moreover, a wide variety of decorative

architectural pieces of rock-cut sculptures, monuments, idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, and some other wonderful archaeological objects were unearthed. All these unearthed goods showcase the prosperity and might of the ancient Pala Regime.

The ruins of the temples are

now scattered over a secluded place spreading over a stretch of 500 meters area.

The embraced idols of Goddess Uma (another name of Goddess Parvatithe wife of Lord Shiva) and Maheswar (the another name of Lord Shiva) carved on the stones medieval temples are found here. The main statues among there are that of the Sun, lion, buffalo, Lord Ganesha, Lord Vidyadhar and etc. can be seen here.

Besides various statues of animals, statues of six headed Lord Bhairava, six headed Lord Vishnu, fourhanded Lord Shiva, Goddess Saraswati, Apsara (also known as the "Dancing Queen of the Heaven"), Kalpavriksha and many more were unearthed here at the time of massive excavation works in 1977. All these statues and other excavated archaeological resources are today one of the prime sources of major tourist attraction of Assam.

Courtesy: Northeasttoday.

Where stones speak - Discover a treasure trove Kachari Ruins of rock carvings and stone images in Tripura Compared to the number of thusiasts, it has,however, one less than a crore. There Melais held at Unakoti domestic and international done little to preserve is a common lore that binds where thousands of pilgrims tourists received by other theprecious rock carvings these jumble of rock from within and outside the Indian States, Tripura's and stone images that its images.It is believed that State gather. share is certainly negligible. forefathers have left behind, when Lord Shiva was going Location: Unakoti is180 km Nestled in a corner of north- perhaps due to lack of funds to Kashi along with one north of Tripura capital east India, it, however, is a and skilled hands. Not just crore gods and goddesses, Agartala. It is 8 km from treasure trove waiting to be the rock he made a night halt at this Kailashahar. discovcarvings, forested location. Shiva Accommodation: Unakoti ered by Sujit Chakraborty t h e asked all the gods and god- Tourist Lodge in travel enU d a i p u r desses to wake up before Kailashahar;Juri Tourist thusiasts. This largely hid- palace too is in need of ur- sunrise and proceed for Lodge and Uttarmegh Tourden land, ruled by a num- gent attention.

Kashi, in present-day Uttar ist Lodge in the adjoining ber of kings for several hun- Of late though, the State Pradesh. town Dharmanagar. dred years, deserves a visit Tourism Department has However, in the morning, How to reach: From for many reasons, one be- taken up aRs 1.41 crore except Shiva himself, no Agartala to Kailashahar by ing its rich art of rock carv- project to give a facelift to one else could get up very bus or by train up to ings and stone images.

Unakoti in northern Tripura, early.So Shiva set out for Kumarghatfollowed by a Some of the rock carvings the most precious of sites Kashi alone, cursing the half an hour journey by taxi and stone images in Tripura for rock carvings and stone others to become stone im- to Kailashahar. go back to the seventh images in the State. ages. The reason why Deotamura century,if not earlier. Trav- Those interested in taking a Unakotionce had stone im- Deotamura or Devatamura elling through the Statecan peek at Tripua's rock carv- ages that numberedjust one is famous for its rock carvmake one come face to face ings can start their discov- less than a crore. ings panels done on a steep with several such art and architectural marvels, also dating from the eight to the 15th centuries.

Despite their enormous archaeological value, the negligence of the State authorities and the Archaeological Survey of India -- the prime agency for preservation of our heritage, is palpable.

Add to it natural factors likeearthquakes, rains, etc. over the centuries, and what you get now are heaps of stones scattered all over these sites. Yet, whatever has remained is valuable, not just from the point of attracting tourists but also for the study of art history in Tripura.

Tripura's royal dynasty, which controlled it for 517 The largest rock carvings and stone images in Unakoti (Photo: nezine) years through 184 kings, had been known for their ery trail from Unakoti itself. These carvings are located mountain wall facing River passion for art and culture, They can thereafter visit at a picturesque forest area Gomati, Tripura's main and with green vegetation all river that flows to a reflection of which could Deotamura be seen in the rock carving Pilak.Below are a few around which add to the neighbouring Bangladesh sites.Also in architectural guidelines, tips and specific overall beauty. The images and merges with Meghna. splendours like the majes- notes on the sites put to- found at Unakoti are of two There are huge carved imtic Udaipur Palace. King gether for a comfortable trip types -- rock-carved figures ages of Shiva, Vishnu, K a r t i k a , Krishna Kishore Manikya of a heritage hardly heard. and stone images.

Among the rock carvings, MahisasurMardiniDurga Bahadur (1748-1783) Unakoti shifted the Capital from The largest rock carvings the central Shiva head and and other gods and godUdaipur in southern Tripura and stone images are in a gigantic Ganesha figure desses here. This is also to PuranHabeli in 1760. In Unakoti in Kailashahar in deserve special mention. called Chabimura. These 1838, he shifted the Capital northern Tripura. According The Shiva head, known as images date back to 14th yet again, this time 10 kms to historians, Unakoti's rock UnakotiswaraKalBhairava, and 15th centuries. northeast of PuranHabeii, to carvings and stone images is about 30 feet high. It in- This peak of gods is an exare ofa 'Shaiba' (Saivite) pil- cludes an embroidered tensive hill range situated Agartala.

At the end of the 517-year grimage and dates back to headdress which itself is 10 on a bifurcation of the rule by the royal dynasty, 7th to 9th Centuries or a feet high. On each side of BaramuraMountain beTripura joined the Indian little earlier. The splendid the headdress of Shiva tween Udaipur and Union on October 15, 1949, rock carvings, murals with stands two full size female Amarpur sub-divisions unas per an agreement signed their primitive beauty and figures -- one of them is der Gomati district. This

by KanchanPrabha Devi, waterfalls have been attract- Durga on a lion. In addition, site has remained a place of ing historians, scholars, and three enormous images of interest for researchers and the then regent queen.

Though the erstwhile royal researchers besides a hand- Nandi are found half buried archaeologists because of the panels of rock sculptures family is still prominent in ful of tourists from across in the ground.

Every April, a fair popularly carved out of high rocky the State, and still comes the country and abroad. across as art and culture en- The word 'unakoti' means known as Ashokastami walls.They depict the re-

gional style of rock carving and are marked by ethnic elements of the local areas inhabited by both tribals and non-tribals.

However, lack of preservation of these panels is beginning to take a toll on them. Former senior bureaucrat, writer and tourism specialist Subhash Das says over 35 percent of these have been damaged during the last five-six decades.

Location: Deotamura is 80 km northeast of Agartala and 15 km from the Amarpur sub-divisional town.

Accommodation: Sagarika tourist lodge;Raima tourist lodge and Jatanbari guest house at Jatanbari and Amarpur tourist lodge in Amarpur.

How to reach:From Agartala to Amarpur by taxi or bus and then by a hired boat.

Pilak Pilak in southern Tripura, adjoining Bangladesh, is a prominent site of a civilization which flourished fromthe 8th to the 12th Centuries. It was a cradle of culture of heterodox creeds and sects representing Hinduism -- Shiva, Surya, Vaishnavi and Buddhism -Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana, which bear testimony to the peaceful coexistence of the two cultures.

The important places in Pilak are ShyamSundarTilla, Deb Bari, ThakuraniTilla, BalirPathar, Basudev Bari and SagarDeba. The art form and style followed in the making of the images and in the sculptures appear to have remote resemblance to the sculptural and architectural style of the Palas and Guptas of Bengal. The influence of Arakan (in Myanmar) and local style is discernable in the form and style of Pilak images and sculpture.The moulded terracotta plaques bear resemblance to moulded plaques recovered from Paharpur and Mainamati.

The Buddhist Complex here may be assigned a date between 9th and 10th Century A.D. However, a number of rock cuts and terracotta plaques lie scattered in various places of the area under Santir Bazar sub-division in

the South Tripura district.

Unlike some other sites, ASI has taken several steps to protect the sculptures found in Pilak though. During excavation in the late sixties, ASI found brick built stupas.

It has plans to do some more excavation to unearth the hidden cultural heritage of the neighbouring area.

It may be presumed that the extensive plains of Tripura were under the control of several dynasties who ruled Eastern Bengal and Samatata in the ancient period. Some of these rulers were Buddhists while the others were Hindus. Most of these rulers had their capitals near this region. The ancient kingdom of Pattikera had its capital in Comilla region and Pilak is not very far from Comilla in eastern Bangladesh.

The ancient mounds of this area, situated in low lying areas, are now being largely converted into agricultural fields and homestead lands.

Fortunately, a few mounds have survived. Many antiquities including stone and metal sculptures, terracotta plaques and sealing and coins have come to light from these mounds. The adjoining Belonia sub-division, now the district headquarters of South Tripura district, was contiguous to the southern part of the erstwhile Chakla-Rosnabad, a zamindari region of the former Tripura kings, now in Bangladesh.

Pilak and nearby areas are regarded as places of concentration of the Magh tribes who are Buddhist by religion.Buddhist tourists from Southeast Asia and Japan often visit the place. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama visited it in 2007.

Location: Pilak is 115 km south of Agartala and 66 km from Gomati district headquarters Udaipur.

Nearest Town: Santir Bazar (19 km), Jolaibari (2 km), Belonia (25 km) and Sabroom (40 km).

Accommodation: Pilak Tourist Lodge (Jolaibari); PilakPantha Niwas (Bagafa) and Manu Yatriniwas (Manu Bazar). ( The author is a senior journalist based in Agartala and can be reached at agt.sujit@gmail.com )Courtesy: Nezine.

Nagaland besides having A visit to this wonderful a rich cultural heritage and place would not only take magnificent scenic places, you to a bygone era but is also home to the beau- also reveal many facts tiful Kachari Ruins. A visit about the Kacharis that to the commercial hub of made Dimapur their home Nagaland is incomplete there. without witnessing the How to Reach By Air: glory of the ruins of the There is an airport in Dimapur which is linked to Kachari civilization.

With a history that dates three other cities of India. back to the 10th century, The airlines which are in the Kachari Ruins are a set service to Dimapur are Air Indiao f mono- Sanghamitra Goswami IC,Go Busil i t h rock ruins located in ness, Air India, Jet AirDimapur, Nagaland. ways, Indigo, Jetlite, KingDimapur the then ancient fisher, Kingfisher Red, Kachari capital is one of Spice Jet. the crucial sites of mega- By train: Dimapur has a lithic culture and most of railway station and it is the rocks there gives a well linked with most of peek into the various as- the big cities in India mak-

The ruins of KachariS (Photo: dimapur.nic )

pects of the Kachari civilization.

The Kachari Ruins is basically a series of mushroom domed pillars which were created by the Dimasa Kachari Kingdom, which ruled here before the Ahom invasion into the territory during the 13th Century AD. The beauty of the Kachari Ruins lay in its unique assortment of the mushroom domed pillars, of which some are still standing tall with dignity, while others lay scattered amidst a crumpled heap.

Though their origin and purpose is yet to be known, some historians believe that a game similar to chess was played there with the mushroom dooms. Though the Kacharis are predominantly Non-Aryan with elaborate rituals and the cult of fertility, there are evidences of a touch of Hindu influence on most of them.

ing it a very convenient destination to travel.

Nearby Places to Visit Diezephe Craft Village: Diezephe village is very famous for its handicraft and handlooms.

Chumukedima: Chumukedima is an old village popular for numerous waterfalls.

Zoological Park: It has a wide range of flora and fauna along with being a conservation center for the whole northern region of India.

Best Time to Visit: Though Kachari Ruins can be visited throughout the year, it is during the spring and summer season that the place becomes all the more scenic.

Where to Stay: Though there are a number of hotels, lodges and home stays in Dimapur, some of the fine ones are: Hotel Tragopan, Hotel Acacia, Hotel Jal Mahal, Dimapur tourist Lodge.

Courtesy: Northeasttoday.

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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, APRIL 8

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Hussey, Watson congratulate CPL Ramiz believes Sarfraz can captain Sammy on stadium honour take leaf out of Dhoni's book

ANI Barbados, Apr.07 : Australia's Zouks-bound duo for this year's Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Michael Hussey and Shane Watson, have sent messages of congratulations to West Indies team captain Darren Sammy following the announcement that the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia will be renamed as the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.

Hussey, who averaged 37.94 in 38 T20 internationals for Australia and who is one of the most respected and charismatic leaders in world cricket, said: "To win a world title for your country is the ultimate accolade and I would like to offer my con-

Darren Sammy gratulations to fellow Zouks man Darren Sammy, coach Phil Simmons and the West Indies team on their win last weekend in the ICC World T20.

"With the government now

Azhar believes `newlyappointed` Sarfraz has brilliant cricketing mind

Pakistan ODI skipper Azhar Ali ANI Karachi, April.7 : Pakistan ODI skipper Azhar Ali has showered praise on newly-appointed T20 captain Sarfraz Ahmed, saying the wicketkeeper-batsman has a brilliant cricketing brain and experience to deliver good results for the team.

Sarfraz, who succeeded struggling all-rounder Shahid Afridi to command the national team on Tuesday, described his new responsibility as the 'biggest honour'.

Wishing luck to Sarfraz for his new responsibility, Azhar believes that the former would be able to attract support from the entire team, which still need to im-

prove on their skills.

Reflecting on Pakistan's early exit from the recently-concluded World T20, Azhar admitted that his side had promised a lot but didn't manage to produce desired result, the Express Tribune reported.

Sarfraz had captained the Pakistan Under-19 team towards the World Cup glory in 2006 and had also led the national side towards a 2-1 ODI series win over Zimbabwe in the absence of Azhar last year.

However, Sarfraz's T20I captaincy debut will have to wait till September 7, when Pakistan will take on England at Old Trafford for a oneoff match.

marking this historic achievement with the renaming of the Beausejour Cricket Ground, it indicates once more to the world the high love and esteem that the West Indies has for their local heroes.

Congrats to Darren on this incredible accolade in his home nation.

"It is clear to see that West Indies cricket is on the ascendency, after the performances of the Under19's and Women's teams, and they are to be commended for their performances over the last few weeks. I just can't wait to be a part of the action this summer with the Zouks. It promises to be the biggest and best CPL yet!"

Watson, who was named in the ICC T20 Team of the Tournament and retired from the international arena as the number one all-rounder in the T20 rankings after a string of outstanding displays for Australia, added: "I knew when I first signed up for

CPL how passionate the West Indies public are, but to receive this news about the St Lucia government's decision to re-name the national stadium in honour of one of their favourite sporting sons is a huge thing, especially for someone so young who has so much top level cricket ahead of him.

"Darren is a great leader and a true champion in all regards, and I know how passionate he is about the Zouks. He deserves this accolade for the manner he has led the West Indies team and this is an honour for all time. It really excites me about being a part of CPL 2016 and I can't wait to step out on the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium this summer."

ANI London, April.7 : Midfielder Luis Fernandinho smashed a decisive goal as Manchester City settled with a 2-2 draw against Paris Saint Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie at Parc des Princes.

Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne gave the visitors an early lead by netting a goal in the 38th minute but Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalized the score for the PSG just three minutes later, the Guardian reported.

In the second half, Adrien Rabiot put the hosts in lead again before Fernandinho smashed the

Players of Manchester city second goal for City in the 72nd minute to put them in driver's seat ahead of the second leg.

City have now taken ad-

vantage over PSG as they have nabbed two away goals. The two sides will play their second leg at the Etihad Stadium on April 13.

a leaf out of his Indian counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni's book.

Sarfraz succeeded struggling all-rounder Shahid Afridi to command the national team on Tuesday fol-

ANI Karachi, Apr.7 : Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has considered the team's disastrous exit from the recently-concluded World T20 in India as a `collective failure`, saying it will be unfair to blame an individual for the team's dismal performance.

Pakistan were crashed out of the prestigious tournament after suffering three successive defeats against arch-rivals and hosts India, New Zealand and Australia in the group stages.

Backing Shahid Afridi's decision to step down as the T20 skipper, Haffeez insisted that any step taken with the intention of improving things should be supported.

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez The 35-year-old also appraised the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to appoint Sarfraz Ahmed as the new captain and said that the entire team would support him in a bid to take the team back on track, the Dawn reported.

Besides Afridi, head

coach Waqar Younis also resigned from his post while the Pakistan selection committee was also dissolved.

However, Sarfraz's T20I captaincy debut will have to wait till September 7, when Pakistan will take on England at Old Trafford for a one-off match.

Aussies to play pink-ball Tests against Proteas, Pak Joel Paris withdraws from

australia test team ANI Johannesburg, April.7 : Cricket Australia has confirmed they will host two more day-night Tests against Pakistan and South Africa after the in-

augural pink-ball Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last year received huge success.

Australia, which is likely to finalise its international and domestic

schedules for the 201617 season later this month, will first face South Africa under lights in Adelaide before playing against Pakistan at the Gabba, Sport24 reported.

Australia will start their series against South Africa with a Test at the WACA Stadium in Perth in November followed by a Test at Hobart, before eventually playing a day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Meanwhile, Australia will begin their series against Pakistan with the pink-ball Test in Brisbane followed by matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

rankings

Zinedine Zidane return leg as they still hold a genuine chance to take the game in their favour.

"We have 90 more minutes to try and achieve our objective.

We need to be united and continue what we have been do-

ANI Karachi, Apr 7 : Former Pakistan captain and renowned commentator Ramiz Raja believes that newly-appointed T20 skipper Sarfraz Ahmed can take

Fernandinho provides Man City Pakistan's World T20 debacle `a edge over PSG in CL quarters collective failure`, says Hafeez

Argentina dethrone Disappointed Zidane hopes for Real's revival post Wolfsburg rout Belgium at top of FIFA ANI London, Apr.7 : Furious with his side's defeat against Wolfsburg in the Champions League, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said he was disappointed with the match, but believes that the side can still turn the things around for themselves.

"I'm not happy with how the game went, especially the first half," Zidane said.

Wolfsburg defender Ricardo Rodriguez and midfielder Maximilian Arnold struck a goal each as the hosts swept aside Real 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League clash at Volkswagen Arena.

Admitting that Real failed to play with full intensity from the start, Zidane said that his side have to evaluate their mistakes and think about the

Sarfraz Ahmed

lowing Pakistan's early exit from the World Twenty20.

Ramiz said that Sarfraz was a natural choice for T20 captain and suggested that the 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman could learn a lot from 'class wicket-keeper' Dhoni, the Dawn reported.

The former captain opined that Sarfraz should also be handed over the captaincy of the Test side when Misbah-ul-Haq announces his expected retirement after the England series in July.

Dhoni has catapulted India to great heights over the last decade, leading his side to the No.1 Test rankings for 18 months starting December 2009, winning the 50over World Cup in 2011 and the World Twenty20 on his captaincy debut in 2007.

ing," the Frenchman was quoted as saying by goal.com.

The two sides will now play their second leg of the quarterfinal at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 13.

ANI Johannesburg, Apr.7 : Argentina have replaced Belgium from the top position in the latest FIFA rankings, while Copa America champions Chile moved up to an all-time high of third place.

Argentina regained the numero uno spot on the back of three straight wins in 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Sport24 reported.

Meanwhile, world champions Germany are

placed fifth behind Colombia, who moved up four places from eighth in the list.

The top 10 teams in the latest FIFA rankings are as follows: 1. Argentina 2. Belgium (-1) 3. Chile (+2) 4. Colombia (+4) 5. Germany (-1) 6. Spain (-3) 7. Brazil (-1) 8. Portugal (-1) 9. Uruguay (+2) 10. England (-1).

IPL with shin injury

Indian Premier League ( IPL) ANI New Delhi, Apr.7 : Australian fast bowler Joel Paris has been ruled out of

this year's ninth edition of the Indian Premier League ( IPL) after suffering from shin injury.

Paris was about to make his debut this season with Delhi Daredevils, which purchased the left-arm swing bowler for Rs. 30 lakhs, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The 23-year-old, who made his ODI debut during the home series against India in January, suffered the injury during a Sheffield Shield match against South Australia in Perth last month.

Paris scalped 35 Sheffield Shield wickets at an average of 19.57 during the 2015-16 season. He also bagged ten wickets in the Matador Cup one-day competition.

`Retiring` Pacquiao vows to wrap up with bang ANI Johannesburg, April.7 : Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, who has not competed since his last year's defeat against American rival Floyd Mayweather, has vowed to sign off his career in style when he takes on Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Talking about his farewell bout, the 37-year-old said he is looking forward to win the fight convincingly, adding that it was a part of his legacy, Sport24 reported.

Insisting that he still had a killer instinct, Pacquiao admitted that he was still passionate about boxing and believes his long absence from the ring had made him hungrier to win.

Pacquiao, who had earlier

Manny Pacquiao refused to rule out a possible return in boxing ring, would call curtains to his illustrious career in order to concentrate on politics, where he is seeking to win a senate

seat in May elections in Philippines.

Pacquiao has won 57 fights and lost only six bouts in his professional career of more than 20 years.

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