Free ULFA leaders for peace talks

GUWAHATI, Dec 31: United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has said that his outfit is ready to hold negotiations with the government if its jailed leaders are released to pave the way for peace talks.

“I have met Arabinda Rajkhowa and other leaders in the prison and they told me they were ready for peace talks, but made it clear that negotiations can be held only if they are released from jail,” Lachit Bordoloi, a member of the ULFA-constituted People’s Consultative Group (PCG), said today.

Rajkhowa and Baruah joined four other ULFA leaders already at the Guwahati jail — self-styled foreign secretary Sashadhar Choudhury, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, vice-president Pradeep Gogoi and publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary.

“The ULFA leadership want a respectable settlement to the insurgency problem and expects the government to create a congenial atmosphere for peace talks,” said Bordoloi. Similar views were echoed by Rajkhowa’s wife Kaveri Kachari.

The government on its part is undecided on granting parole to the arrested ULFA leaders after the bitter experience in 1991 when New Delhi granted parole to the outfit’s general secretary Anup Chetia in the interest of peace talks but jumped it and escaped to Bangladesh.

Arrested ULFA publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary also said peace talks between the government and the outfit could not be successful unless a proper environment was created for dialogue on the ULFA issue.

“Peace talks cannot be held with ULFA leaders in jail. They have to be free and an environment should be created for dialogue,” said Daimary when he was taken to Guwahati Medical College Hospital for a check-up yesterday. Making a swipe at PCG member Lachit Bordoloi, Daimary said PCG had not been entrusted with the task of taking the peace process forward. “We doubt Lachit Bordoloi’s enthusiasm for peace talks,” said the ULFA publicity secretary. THE SENTINEL

Dr Mukul Sangma today denied the opposition allegation

SHILLONG, Dec 31: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today denied the Opposition allegation that the MUA Cabinet had approved two power deals with private firms before Christmas and New Year holidays to stay clear of protests from the public.

Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly and NCP MLA Conrad Sangma today severely criticized the Congress-led MUA Government for reportedly giving clearance for execution of the Kynshi Stage-I and Stage-II power projects by private companies. Conrad said it was a hasty decision taken in the absence of most of the Cabinet ministers.

Dr Sangma, also the Power Minister, hit back at the the Opposition Leader, saying majority of the Cabinet ministers were present in the meeting which decided to hand over the power projects to two private companies.

“The government is expected to do things expeditiously and address issues according to the nature of the emergency,” said the Deputy Chief Minister, adding, “The government could not go on a holiday as suggested by the Leader of the Opposition”.

“We applied due diligence before deciding on the projects. While going ahead with some projects we have kept some in abeyance for a dialogue with some quarters that have expressed reservations about certain projects,” said Dr Sangma.

Making a swipe at the previous MPA Government in which the NCP was a major partner, the minister said, “The style of functioning of the present government is different from that of the former government which could not take a decision during its entire tenure.”

“The endeavour of the government is to use all available resources to generate revenue and create avenues for employment for the youth,” said Dr Sangma. THE SENTINEL

An Indian Century?

That this century, of which only a decade has gone by, could be defined by what India would think and do is not a hope unfounded. The celebrated Wall Street Journal has called 2000-2009 a decade ‘‘that was India’s’’ and predicted that the country’s ability to make the success of the last 10 years the norm across regions and industries ‘‘could well pave the way for an Indian century’’. Referring to the Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll earlier last month when ‘‘a plurality went as far as to say the US will be surpassed by China in 20 years as the world’s top power’’, the US daily said that India could ‘‘hardly be far behind, given its population projected to exceed China and its democratic form of government’’. While India’s swelling population, with the concomitant problems of paucity of resources to cater to the needs of all sections of society and consequent poverty, is a huge discredit and deterrence to its stride, democracy is indeed an asset on which the edifice of New India could be erected. However, this democracy must evolve meaningfully and rid itself of the many viruses plaguing it.

What are India’s present strengths? They are mainly the democratic system of governance; economic resilience; entrepreneurship excellence at the global level; IT-savvy population and software expertise; scientific and technological edge as proven by breakthrough research in many a frontier area and space missions in recent times; and the soft power — be it culture, cinema or yoga — that the country is capable of wielding globally and influencing nations across the world. But of all, what has revolutionized India in the global view of things is its pragmatic package of economic reforms that has paved the way for the country’s business brains to go global and set a precedent for others to emulate. They are now role models for both the developed and the developing economies. As Indian companies spread their wings and take over foreign institutions, they are celebrated globally — which was unthinkable even a decade back. However, as they say, all that glitters is not gold. Just as economic reforms and free-market economy have benefited and empowered a class of people, they have pushed another class — a huge majority — further into the abyss of poverty and backwardness. The reality is that the chasm between the rich (for whom the reforms are a godsend) and the poor (who have suffered the reforms) has only increased, thereby only widening the existing disparity. Therefore, to think that India could be a superpower — and the world’s top power — by the end of this century might well be to think of only a small section of society that would flourish as none before and change the whole international politico-economic discourse, overlooking the millions who would be far worse than they are now! Yet, there are reasons to believe what the Wall Street Journal has pointed to — an Indian century in the making. But as and when it happens, it must be in totality for it to be meaningful. Democracy is our advantage, and democratization of development is the best mantra to soar to the top and for all to celebrate the country. The only worry is whether criminalization of politics would ever allow that to take place. THE SENTINEL

New Year greetings from Hagrama Mohilary and others

KOKRAJHAR, Dec 31: The chief of BTC Hagrama Mohilary today conveyed his New Year greetings to the people of BTC region in particular and the State as a whole. He hoped that the New Year will bring a message of peace and integrity among all section of the society. He also called upon all to shun violence in the region and join hands for peace and development forgetting the past.

On the other hand, the MP Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary who is also the president of the World Bodo National Conference Durbar (WBNCD) greeted the people of the world on the occasion of New Year 2010 and at the same time he appealed to make sincere endeavour to contribute as possible as their capability in the matter of strengthening the bond of unity, solidarity, fraternity and mutual understanding by the way of creating congenial atmosphere to help instill confidence in the minds of the people belonging to all community. He also hoped that the New Year will bring peace, normalcy and amity to the human society as a whole. THE SENTINEL

The All Assam University Workers’ Association pay revision

JORHAT, Dec 31: The All Assam University Workers’ Association has demanded that the Governor constitute a combined pay committee without further delay so that a pay revision of non-teaching staff in universities can be formulated at the earliest, a press release said. The association had in 2008 sought the constitution of the committee through a memorandum but till date nothing has been done. The process of pay revision of Rs 4.5 lakh State Government employees has already begun, but due to the delay in the constitution of the committee more than 5,000 non-teaching staff will be deprived of a higher pay structure, the release said. THE SENTINEL

ULFA leaders’ night-long meeting in jail

GUWAHATI, Dec 27: Six arrested top leaders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, spent Saturday night in a huddle in the Guwahati Central Jail probably discussing strategies, officials revealed.

After a Guwahati court yesterday remanded ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Baruah to judicial custody, the two leaders shared the same prison cell with four other senior members of the outfit already lodged in the jail.

The four are: ULFA vice-president Pradeep Gogoi, self-styled foreign secretary Sashadhar Choudhury, finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika and publicity chief Mithinga Daimary.

According to Guwahati jail sources, the six separatist leaders shared the same cell and spent the better part of the night in a huddle — all of them looked at ease and comfortable. They kept talking animatedly.

Some felt that it was probably a government strategy to allow the six ULFA leaders to meet inside the jail.

The prosecution did not slap any fresh charges against Rajkhowa and Baruah while being produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate on Saturday, paving the way for judicial remand.

“Surely all the six of them would get an opportunity to share their views and this could help in devising future strategies,” said Lachit Bordoloi, a rights leader and a member of the ULFA-constituted People’s Consultative Group (PCG). The group was formed in 2005 to explore possibilities of peace talks with the government.

ULFA cultural secretary Pranati Deka, wife of Chitraban Hazarika, is also in the Guwahati jail since 2003 although she wouldn’t get a chance to catch up with the other six leaders as her cell is separate from that of the male prisoners.

“Whether or not the six leaders would be able to take a decision for peace talks is another matter, but definitely they would be able to exchange views and take stock of the situation,” said Bijon Mahajan, legal counsel of Rajkhowa and Baruah. “After all we want peace and for bringing peace I feel this is a very positive endeavour on the part of the government to have allowed Rajkhowa and Baruah to be sent to jail.” THE SENTINEL

Will NRC be updated in Assam?

GUWAHATI, Dec 27: How long will the State Government and the Centre flip-flop on the issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC) update? More often than not, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi claims the credit for the beginning of NRC update work in the State under his government, but the Chief Minister cannot say when the task will be completed. The tripartite talks held on May 5, 2005 in New Delhi involving the Centre represented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Assam Government represented by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) leaders had decided to update the NRC in Assam within two years, i.e. by September, 2007. Four years have elapsed, but the main work on NRC update has not started as yet.

Sources said various hurdles may crop up when the government will go to the field and interact with people on NRC update. The works done so far in this regard are preliminary in nature.

Replying to a question from AGP MLA Alaka Sarma, Assam Accord Implementation Minister Bhumidhar Barman told the Assam Assembly in its recent session that NRC update works would be completed by March 31, 2010. However, as things stand, the State Government will fail to meet the deadline this time also.

The third party to the May 5, 2005 tripartite talks, AASU, also seems to have basked in the satisfaction over the Centre’s decision to update the NRC in the State. The AASU has not been putting pressure on the Centre for NRC update the way it should have been.

Political pundits in the State say that the State Government may resort to a poll gimmick with the NRC update issue yet again. It is still fresh in the minds of the people of Assam that before the 2006 Assembly polls in the State, the State Government had created the separate Directorate for NRC update by giving additional responsibilities for it to some officials of the Home and Political departments. The reality in the NRC directorate is that it has less than ten employees. Surprisingly, for about two months, it has been working without any director. Will the government be able to meet the March 31, 2010 deadline? Does the AASU know that the NRC Directorate has been without a director for about two months? THE SENTINEL

2nd International Trade Festival at Maniram Dewan Trade Centre here from December 29

GUWAHATI, Dec 27: Kaziranga Multipurpose Women’s Society (KMWS) will organize the 2nd International Trade Festival at Maniram Dewan Trade Centre here from December 29.

About 350 stalls would be set up at the festival by foreign countries like Thailand, Bhutan, Bangla- desh and Kenya and leading entrepreneurs of the region. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will attend the inaugural function as the chief guest, said KMWS secretary Doli Bora at a press conference here today. THE SENTINEL

Deori Council accused of fund scam

GUWAHATI, Dec 27: Assam Deori Shwayatta Shasita Gana Parishad (ADSSGP) has demanded that the State Government should hold election to the Deori Autonomous Council (DAC) and immediately conduct an investigation into the alleged misuse of Council funds.

ADSSGP secretary general Nitya Deori, through a statement issued here today, asked Tribal Development Minister Pramila Rani Brahma to order a probe into the misuse of funds sanctioned for the Council by the government since its formation on March 5 2005.

Deori alleged that the nine-member Executive Committee of the DAC was involved in misappropriation of funds meant for various development schemes for the Deori community.

He asked the State Government to make public how much money was sanctioned and utilized for development of the Deori people.

Deori accused DAC of distributing poor quality potato, tin (roofing) sheets, seedlings, etc in the Council areas. He also expressed surprise at the fact that only Rs 2 lakh had been spent on the 30-bed Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Hospital.

The ADSSGP leader said a 20-member full-fledged Executive Committee of the DAC should be formed through early election.

Deori demanded that elections to the Deori, Rabha, Mising and Tiwa autonomous councils be held in February next year. THE SENTINEL

Church of God celebrtaes silver jubilee

SHILLONG, Dec 27: The Church of God, Umsaw Sohiong in East Khasi Hills District has celebrated its silver jubilee.

The believers of the Church of God started the celebrations on December 26 by unveiling the silver jubilee stone on the church premises followed by services.

Unveiling of the stone was done by Rev. NS Iangrai in the presence of Rev. GS Lyngdoh and church members.

Addressing the services, Rev. Iangrai asked the believers to remain loyal to their faith.

“I believe that through this church many souls will be saved from the temptations of this world,” said Rev. Iangrai.

The Church of God, Umsaw was started by Suin Jana, the first believer of the church. The church has completed 25 years of its glorious existence. THE SENTINEL

Entertainment event opposed

SHILLONG, Dec 27: Concerned about public nuisance, traffic jams, road accidents, etc that normally take place on the eve of the New Year, the Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) has opposed organizing the proposed Musical Fiesta at Orchid Lake, Umiam on December 31.

The Vibgyor Entertainment is supposed to organize the Musical Fiesta.

RBYF president BB Makdoh said, “The Musical Fiesta should not be organized at Orchid Lake because the purpose of the show is to entertain people. In the past, problems like accidents and traffic jams were experienced by the public in the highways during such events.” A section of the people and leaders of different organizations are also opposing the Musical Fiesta. THE SENTINEL

We want unity : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi

JORHAT, Dec 27: Participating the 30th biennial meet of Deuri Sahitya Sabha (DSS) as chief guest in the open session Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that, the ethnic tribes of Assam should maintain the unity and integrity among the groups for their keen interest of development. Only the unity among the tribes would help us to achieve the goals of all round development in the State. Therefore, the ethnic tribes of Assam should try to maintain the unity instead of division in the State. Gogoi also said that, his Government is always worried over the dilemmas plagued by the ethnic groups. “We have taken up various measures like publication of textbooks including tribal languages and formation of autonomous bodies for the interest of tribal groups,” he added. Gogoi also announced rupees two lakh for DSS and rupees five lakh for the construction of a Deuri cultural centre in his speech.

The 30th biennial conference of Deuri Sahitya Sabha (DSS) gets under way at Abison Deuri Kshetra, upper Deuri, Jorhat with a three-day long programme beginning from December 25. More than five thousand people of Deuri community from various quarters of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will grace with their presence in the conference. Deuri Sahitya Sabha president Nripen Deuri presided over the meet held on the occasion.

Earlier, the programme was started with the hoisting of flag by DSS president Nripen Deuri followed by smriti tarpan by prominent litterateur Chandrasing Deuri. Jorhat Deputy Commissioner LS Changsan inaugurated the cultural function took out with traditional gaiety. Two souvenirs titled- Chigachi and Midku were also released in the programme. Noteworthy, the opulence beauty of the traditional culture and customs of the tribal community increased the fascination of the conference. THE SENTINEL

Power of KAAC not surrendered: Engti

HOWRAGHAT, Dec 27: Regarding the surrendered of autonomy power in the Karbi Anglong autonomous district a chaotic situation is rising in the minds of common people in the hill district since past couple of months. The mouth to mouth spreading news of the ‘surrender of autonomy power’ is basically confusing the hill community Karbi people. Moreover, clarifying the ongoing rumour on ‘surrender of autonomy power’, the Assam Hills Area Minister (HAD), Kharsing Engti on Sunday renounced on the non surrender of autonomy power of the Karbi Anglong autonomous district. Engti while addressing the Congress rally held at Dokmoka Shildharampur clearly said that neither autonomy power is surrendered nor power of KAAC has been seized by the State Government. It is nothing but a false propaganda of the opposition parties. Finding no political issue, the opposition parties are attempting to mislead common Karbi people as well as the non Karbi people of the of the district. Spreading such rumour and baseless issue they (opposition parties) are hopping to get political mileage, the HAD Minister Engti added. On the other hand, speaking on the controversial occurred among the people on the newly issue of land patta in the rural and town areas, Engti clarified that no new land policy has been implemented by the KAAC. Here people have nothing to worry. State Government will never allow KAAC to implement such unfair and anti non Karbi new land policy in the district. Whatever, new land patta issued to the landlords by the KAAC is similar with the other districts of the State and all the adopted land policy is completely implemented as per Assam Land Act, Engti reiterated. Meanwhile, Minister Engti urged the public not to keep confidence on the false fabricated propaganda of the opposition parties. During the meeting some prosthetic materials under Social Welfare Department, piggery under Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department distributed to several SHGs. Besides, numbers of raincoats under the scheme of MLA LAD were distributed to the farmers. During the Congress workers’ rally, KAAC EMs, comprising Bidyasing Rongpi, Premala Beypi, Sing Teron and former MLA Babu Rongpi also attended and addressed the rally. THE SENTINEL

Adventure camp: X-mass gift from Army to students

MANGALDAI, Dec 27: For 23 students, mostly belonging to the weaker section of society drawn from four schools of Udalguri district in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), the ‘Men in Olive Green’ appeared as the “Santa Claus” who offered them a unique Christmas gift. These 23 students of Tangla High School, Panery HS School, Udalguri HS School and Sainik Vidyalaya, Hattigorh got a rare opportunity to take part in a four-day-long adventure camp. They were very happy to get the opportunity to visit the Orang National Park (ONP), the only habitat of one-horned rhinos on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra. Their fascination knew no bound as it was their first time to make a visit to the Park as well as to undertake trekking inside the jungles and to enjoy the elephant safari.

The overwhelmed students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the “Santa Claus” — 315 Field Regiment (KARGIL) of the Red Horns Division operating in parts of Udalguri and Darrang districts — for offering them such a unique Christmas gift as part of its Operation Sadbhavana. The five-day adventure camp included a host of activities, which helped the students to broaden their mindset through interaction and enlighten them about the spirit of adventure. The students were taught about wildlife conservation by the authorities of ONP. They also involved themselves in activities like trekking and elephant safari. The children were taught about various jungle survival skills and application of first aid. In addition, other co-curricular activities such as painting competition, campfire and entertainment programmes were also conducted for the students. The children also visited various historical places at Tezpur and Orchidarium at the Orang National Park. Mention may be made that Commander of 21 Mountain (Artillery) Brigade Brigadier K Ravi Prasad and Udalguri Deputy Commissioner Suttumali Subbaiah Meenaxi Sundaram earlier jointly flagged off the adventure camp. An equipment display for the children was organized on the occasion wherein the children were shown various weapons and equipment currently in use with the Army. In addition, the children were acquainted with the various prospects of joining the Army. THE SENTINEL

Artistes from Northeast stage plays on ‘peace and violence’

JORHAT/GUWAHATI, Dec 27: Theatre artistes from various parts of Northeast came together on one platform recently to stage plays based on the theme ‘peace and violence’ in Assam.

The two-day theatre event, which attracted four drama troupes from Manipur, Assam and Tripura, was held at the district library at Jorhat.

The programme was organized by a cultural organization REPLICA from Jorhat.

On the first day of the event, a play Shamnadaba Mami directed by H Tomba from Manipur was staged.

The play was based on Irom Sharmila Devi, a human rights crusader from the State martyr Chitaranjan.Attainment of unity and peace was the central theme of the play.

Theatres group from Tripura, Assam and Manipur has come together to work on this festival. It is like an improvization. This is not the final one. It will developed and continue from this improvisation,” said H Tomba, director of the Manipuri Play.

Another play Sacrifice, an adaptation of a famous Rabindranath Tagore’s book, was performed by a troupe from Tripura.

The Guwahati troupe also presented their play, which highlighted how the trauma caused by violence in the region is affecting younger generations who have taken to drugs, hooliganism and robbery. “The drama was very good. The concept was very clear and perfect in relation to the present context. The message I got is that in order to step up against the violence and dominating powers, the steps we have to take is that we have to be united and adopt non-violence,” said Sulha, an audience. The plays captivated the hearts and minds of the Jorhat audience with their meaningful themes and performances by the artistes. Such efforts by theatrical groups will certainly spread the message that people of Northeast are hoping for ie an end to violence and normalcy in the region. (Agencies)

In Arunachal, CRPF jawans attack civilians on Christmas eve

CRPF jawans attack civilians on Christmas eve

Staff Reporter

ROING, Dec 27: Life in the township of Roing, headquarters of Lower Dibang Valley, literally came to a standstill when a group of CRPF personnel went berserk and assaulted anyone they could lay hands upon in the Upper Market area on Christmas eve.

About 30 personnel of the D/186 Company of the CRPF, most of them in plain clothes, armed with rifles, hockey sticks and cricket bats, barged out of their base camp and attacked bystanders in the market place. A young college student sustained serious injuries and has been referred to a hospital for treatment.

A students’ union leader, Jimpo Linggi, who was an eyewitness to the violence, told The Sentinel that at about 4.15 pm on December 25 about 30 CRPF personnel rushed out of their base camp and attacked civilians and damaged parked vehicles.

A case has been registered against one Ashwini Kumar, a CRPF jawan, who is being held responsible for the battering in midst of the market area.

The officials in the CRPF base camp when contacted accused some civilian ‘miscreants’ of attacking a jawan first while he was booking a ticket for the bus. It is reported that they have also filed a counter case for assault on the CRPF personnel.

Taking to this correspondent, CRPF Assistant Commandant BK Shyam Nivas said that a separate departmental inquiry had been initiated against the jawans involved in the attack, and if proved, appropriate disciplinary action extending to termination of job would be initiated. He also gave the assurance of cooperating with the administration and the police in their investigation into the case registered against the CRPF personnel.

Condemning the incident, the All Idu Mishmi Students’ Union (AIMSU) yesterday held a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the town, which went off peacefully with no reports of law-and-order problem. Submitting an ultimatum to the administration, the Union demanded immediate arrest of the CRPF personnel involved in the attack and termination of their services. It also demanded for shifting the CRPF base camp from the district headquarters. Further, a written apology in all leading print media from the Commanding Officer of the Company was sought for the unruly behaviour of the jawans.

The Union further accused the CRPF jawans of discriminatory behaviour in selectively frisking and singling out local indigenous people while on duty. At a meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, it reminded the administration of all such complaints lodged earlier against the paramilitary force. An earlier case of ill-treatment meted out to villagers of Koronu was also brought to the notice of the administration. The CRPF personnel are alleged to have taken away the prized possession of hunted skulls of wild animals, which is traditionally decorated in a tribal house.

Admitting such excesses, Superintendent of Police T Kargya said that decorating a house with skulls of wild animals is a tradition in this part of the world, and the CRPF personnel must learn to respect the local culture.

Sensing the rising anger in the people for the continued disregard to local sentiments, the district police head said: “We will take action and you control your emotion.”

Public displeasure and anger was also displayed by local panchayat leaders during the meeting for the December 25 attack. Condemning the incident, Lower Dibang Valley Zilla Chairperson Chiliko Meto warned of starting public agitations if the authority failed to book the culprits. Unequivocally, Roing Anchal Chairperson Amme Linggi and Roing ZPM Namo Linggi also expressed their words of condemnation.

Meanwhile, taking cognizance of the volatile situation, Assistant Commandant Nivas informed that they have halted deployment of CRPF personnel for patrolling the town and will confine within the camp till the situation calls for.

He expressed disappointment on the way CRPF was engaged in assisting the civil administration and lamented that they were being unjustifiably made party to conflicting opinions and existing political differences in the town. This came to light when he said that he was confused with the situation with certain section of people demanding continued deployment of troops while other for their evacuation. He also said how the government was failing even to provide the CRPF decent a accommodation. The revelation by the CRPF official exposes the inefficiency of State police in handling the law-and-order situation in the district and how it is heavily dependent on Central forces. Though initially deployed in the district for counter-insurgency operation in Anpum and Pagalam areas, the responsibility for maintaining peace in the town has been entirely wrested upon CRPF.

“It does not make us feel proud to be patrolling in sabji bazaars when we are trained for extreme and difficult situations,” Nivas added. THE SENTINEL

Chinese Milestone

With the inauguration of the world’s fastest train link between the modern cities of Guangzhou and Wuhan at an incredible average speed of 350 km per hour, China has proved to the world the kind of technology marvel it is capable of producing. The super-high-speed train reduces the 1,069-km journey to a three-hour thrilling ride and cuts the previous journey by more than seven-and-a-half hours. The train can go up to 394 km per hour, thus becoming the fastest train in operation in the world. What is amazing is that the project has been completed in just four years — an impossibility by Indian standard. It forms part of China’s ambitious plan to expand its high-speed rail network. Its target is to increase the national rail network from the current 86,000 km to 120,000 km. Once the goal is accomplished, China’s will be the most extensive rail network next only to the United States. Beijing’s other rail target is to build as many as 42 high-speed lines in the next two years. That leaves India way behind in terms of rail infrastructure (given also the fact that we do not have any high-speed train at all), just as China has outwitted India in so many other technology areas. If there is anything that India should — and must — learn from China, it is that country’s professionalism. But perhaps ‘democracy’ is India’s deterrent, for authoritarian China can compel its citizens to slog for hours together without a murmur of protest. THE SENTINEL

ULFA leaders to be produced in court today

GUWAHATI, Dec 25: ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, ‘deputy c-in-c’ Raju Baruah and ‘sergeant major’ Raja Bora will be produced in camp court in Guwahati tomorrow. THE SENTINEL

Tarun Gogoi, Himanta Biswa Sarma have cheated employees: AGP

GUWAHATI, Dec 25: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today came down heavily on the State Government for ‘‘cheating’’ the State Government employees on pay revision and ‘‘misleading’’ the State Assembly on the issue, thereby ‘‘lowering the dignity’’ of the august House.

Talking to newsmen in Guwahati today, AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said: “Over the past few years, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had been assuring the State Government employees of paying them at least a rupee more in their salary package than their Central Government counterparts, but while approving the Sixth Assam Pay Commission recommendations, the Cabinet led by him forgot that assurance. The revised salary of State Government employees approved by the Government is much less than that of their Central Government counterparts.”

“When the Opposition parties put pressure on the State Government to make its stand on the pay parity demand of the employees clear on the floor of the State Assembly in its recent session, both Gogoi and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the financial position of the Government was so sound that it would pay its employees at least a rupee more than their Central Government counterparts. Sarma even went to the extent of telling a private TV channel that by paying the State Government employees a rupee more than their Central Government counterparts, the government will throw shoe on the face of the AGP,” Patowary said, and added: “Gogoi and Sarma not only cheated the State Government employees, but also misled the august Assembly and thus lowered its dignity.”

According to Patowary, going by the revised pay structure, the State Government employees will get 1.39 per cent to 59.92 per cent less salary than their Central Government counterparts. “The worst affected are the teachers. While the government primary teachers of the State will get at least Rs 600 less basic and grade pay than their Central Government counterparts, graduate teachers will get 40.74 per cent less than their counterparts under the Central Government,” Patowary said, and demanded of the State Government to pay at least a rupee more to its employees than their Central Government counterparts and make the report of the empowered committee that examined the recommendations of the Sixth State Pay Commission public. “If the State Government can’t take such a step, it will be proved beyond doubt that Gogoi’s claim over fiscal position over the years is a farce,” he added. THE SENTINEL

BSS condemns news on separate Bodoland

GOSSAIGAON, Dec 23: The Gossaigaon unit of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) organized a press meet at its reception committee office premises yesterday in reaction to a news published in an Assamese local daily (not The Sentinel). The reception committee members informed mediapersons that the news item published in the news paper said the demand for a separate State for Bodos was a political nexus, which is, however, not true.

BSS president Dr Kameswar Brahma, during the press meet, condemned the news and said that a separate Bodoland was the dream of all the Bodos and not a trap laid by political parties. He further appealed to the media not to publish such news without proper knowledge. THE SENTINEL

Australia catalogues local author’s book

TEZU, Dec 23: No-War Media and Indo-Pak Diplomacy – a book by Sangja Khandu is receiving wide acclamation in the academic circles throughout the world. The book has been catalogued in several libraries and web sites, the most prominent one coming recently being by the National Library of Australia.

The book was opened by Governor Gen (retd) J J Singh during the 9th conference of Higher and Technical Education at Itanagar on February 17 last. Sangja Khandu is serving as Principal of Indira Gandhi Government Collage, Tezu. The book can be referred in www.indianacademicpublisher.com along with the works of leading experts on international politics. THE SENTINEL

Church elders demand action against Tai-Khamti leaders

ITANAGAR, Dec 23: The Papum Pare unit of Arunachal Pradesh Christian Revival Church Sub-Council (APCRCC), Area-1, today expressed displeasure over the turn of events and media reports on the unfortunate incident that occurred at Namsai in Lohit district on December 19 last. In a statement this evening, the unit denied the allegation that the site for construction of the church was in a public place. It said the proposed site is at least 1 km away from Namsai town and does not fall in the vicinity of the highway. The APCRCC claimed the land was legally purchased from one Podma Doley, a resident of the area since the British era, at the cost of Rs 1 lakh by APCRCC with the sole aim of constructing a church to facilitate local believers to be in touch with God. The transaction was finalized on 2nd May, 2009 construction started thereafter by local believers. It alleged that on December 1 members of the Tai Khampti Students Union and Tai Khampti Singphow Council destroyed the erected structure. Narrating the sequence of events that led to the violence on that day, the Council claimed that on December 18, believers from Itanagar reached Namsai to evolve a solution to the impasse and help in construction of the Church. The next day, EAC G Singpho called the leaders of APCRCC to his office for talks with TKSC led by Barodoi Namchoom along with senior leader C T Manpoong. It, however, alleged that instead of sitting peacefully for talk, the believers were abused and assaulted in presence of the EAC. “In such a scenario, as a right-thinking, god-fearing and peaceful organization, we believe it is our basic right to raise questions on the behavior and humiliation meted to us,” it said in the statement and demanded the arrest of TKSC Secretary Barodoi Namchoom, termination of EAC G Singphow, intervention of Chief Minister and Home Minister to end the impasse, arrest of local students’ union leaders for assault and immediate construction of the Church. THE SENTINEL

Itanagar Bishop wishes on Christmas

ITANAGAR, Dec 23: Bishop of Itanagar, Rt Rev Dr John Thomas today extended Christmas greetings and appealed for tolerance in the society. In a message, he said that since Jesus came to save everyone, all belong to each other and that one should never see the one who does not profess one’s creed as ‘the other’. “I call upon all Christians to work together for a society where charity takes precedence over a creedal formula,” he appealed. Wishing all a happy New Year, the Bishop said, “May Jesus whose birth we celebrate now brings many blessings in the New Year! May this celebration of Christmas usher in an era of peace in our beloved country!” THE SENTINEL

Christmas-eve today, celebrations start

ITANAGAR, Dec 23: Christians of Itanagar under the banner of Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) celebrated pre-Christmas on Tuesday evening here at State banquet hall, which was joined by Education Minister Bosiram Siram, PWD and UD Minister Nabam Tuki, local MLA Techi Kasso and others. Addressing the Christian brethrens, Siram emphasized that Christmas emphasizes the message of peace and self-giving.

“Jesus Christ by his example showed us that there is nothing greater than giving one’s self for the sake of others. That is what we are called to do when we celebrate Christmas,” he said.

Rev Fr Jacob Mattathilany, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Itanagar, drew attention that Christmas has followed the just concluded United Nations conference on Climate Change. Endorsing the global concern on climate change and its after effects. He urged all to explore ways to make lives more environment friendly so that the next generation is provided with a safe planet to live in. Rev Modam Dini also called upon the believers to lay importance on uplift of spiritual values so that Christmas celebration is fruitful in real terms. The celebration, organized under the supervision of ACF president Khyoda Apik and general secretary Toko Teki, included cutting of cake, carol singing and dances by youths. THE SENTINEL

Hardcore ULFA man surrenders

SHILLONG, Dec 23: A ‘corporal’ of the ULFA -- Jatin Shaw alias Alput Thapa — surrendered himself to BSF IG Prithvi Raj today.

Jatin (25), who hails from Chokalia under Barapather police station in Golaghat district, Assam, joined ‘B’ company of the ULFA in 2003 and underwent training at 1st Bn Naga rebel camp in Myanmar. He later worked as personal security of the outfit’s B company commander Sujeet Mohan. Jatin was wanted by the Assam Police in many cases of extortion and killings.

Jatin surrendered a 9mm pistol and a magazine. He was handed over to the police. THE SENTINEL

Coal exporter Raja Khongsit shot, police sees HNLC hand

SHILLONG, Dec 23: Suspected HNLC rebels gunned down a prominent coal exporter and shot at his wife in their Pomshutia village residence near the India-Bangladesh border this morning.

According to police sources, four armed men entered the house of coal exporter Raja Khongsit at about 5.30 am and then started firing, leaving him dead and his wife Milphiya Massar seriously injured.

Khongsit, who was shot in the chest at point-blank range, succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. Milphiya was battling for life.

Khongsit was also vice-president of the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners’ and Operators’ Association (MCTOA). The post-mortem report said the coal exporter died due to bullet injuries and that a 9mm pistol was used for eliminating him.

Blaming the HNLC for the crime, police sources indicated that Khongsit was killed for not responding to extortion notice served by the proscribed outfit. A senior police official said the police had intelligent inputs that the killers had demanded about Rs 20 lakh from Khongsit.

He said it was no secret that traders and businessmen in the area were prone to paying money to the outfit, though the matter was not reported to the police most of the time due to the fear of reprisal or ‘mutual consent.’

Meanwhile, personnel of special operation team (SOT) rushed to Pynursla and Dawki areas and launched a manhunt. The investigating agencies are reportedly encountering hiccups because the family members of Khongsit are not ready to reveal anything on the circumstances leading to the killing. THE SENTINEL

ULFA has set up base in Myanmar: BSF

SHILLONG, Dec 23: The Bangladeshi Government’s recent action against ULFA rebels has made them move to safer havens in Myanmar, said BSF (Assam & Meghalaya Frontier) Inspector General Prithvi Raj.

“It’s definite that insurgent groups like the ULFA are under pressure in Bangladesh and Myanmar is one safe haven where they can take refuge. The rebels who are hesitant to give up arms have fled to Myanmar,” Raj told newsmen here today.

While appreciating the Bangladeshi armed forces’ crackdown on Indian insurgents, Raj said the presence of the ULFA in Myanmar was still very strong. Raj’s statement came after the confessional statement of surrendered Myanmar-trained ‘corporal’ of the ULFA Jatin Shaw alias Alput Thapa.

Jatin revealed that 100-odd ULFA men were taking shelter in NSCN(K) camps in Myanmar.

Asked on the Bangladeshi Government’s crackdown resulting in the handover of top ULFA leaders to Indian authorities, Raj said, “The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is acting on the information provided by us and I can tell you that Bangladesh is no longer a safe place for them (ULFA rebels).”

He expressed the hope that Bangladesh’s ‘sincere action’ based on intelligence inputs given by India would make more and more Northeast insurgents follow the path of ULFA leadership.

The BSF Inspector General also laid stress on the need of a reconciliatory approach to dealing with the decades-old insurgency problem in the region.

“Confrontation will affect the whole process. A shift to reconciliation would be a big boost to the progress of the region,” Raj added. According to Raj, 44 militants were arrested in the past one year by the BSF while another 10 surrendered in course of the counter-insurgency operations. THE SENTINEL

Dabi takes exception to extortion notice by NDFB

PASIGHAT, Dec 22: Home Minister Tako Dabi today took strong exception to the alleged extortion notices served to some contractors and government officials supposedly by the NDFB in Seijosa of East Kameng district.

Addressing the people at Nari-Seren in East Siang here today, the Home Minister informed that his office promptly asked the State police to take immediate action and investigate the matter thoroughly. He said that the Government would not tolerate such subversive acts by anti-social elements within the territory of Arunachal Pradesh. Dabi reiterated his ‘Christmas message’ to all underground outfits active in the State to shun violence and create a congenial atmosphere for the growth of the State. He kept the doors of the Government open for talks. The Home Minister also informed that the CBI, which is investigating the murder of former MP late Wangcha Rajkumar, has assured to submit its report within three months. Assuring to usher in development for his home constituency, Dabi told the people that his proposal to make Namey village a traditional model village to attract tourists from across the world, would soon see light of the day and sought cooperation from them THE SENTINEL

Move for national animal status to cows

BOKAKHAT, Dec 22: The Northeastern Mission Team of the Go-yatra is supposed to arrive at Bokakhat on December 31 as a move to upgrade the status of cows to be declared as the national animal. A public meeting will be held on the occasion at the Satya Narayan Sewa Mandir premises.

The meeting will be attended by many along with the Xatradhikars of Majuli. The Northeastern Mission team began its journey from Dhubri Xatrasal yesterday and will complete its journey at Parsuram Kunda on January 14, 2010.

NSUI visiting State colleges

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 22: Assam State committee of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) has started visiting various colleges in the State to establish work culture among the students. The committee will be conducting visits to regulate various classroom facilities, hostel facilities etc.

As a part of this visiting drive, NSUI State president Dr Joy Prakash Das along with Gauhati University general secretary Pallavi Saikia visited North Lakimpur College, North Lakimpur Girls’ College and the North Lakimpur Commerce College today and the Dhemaji College yesterday. During the visit, Dr Das said that the ruling government was keen on the development of the education sector in the State and had been undertaking various steps for its development.

He also said the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government has recently decided to present laptop computers instead of Personal Computers to the first division holders of HSLC examination to initiate proper utilization of the equipment.

Foundation of Kaziranga Elephant Festival laid

From our Correspondent

BOKAKHAT, Dec 22: Golaghat DC Harem Bora laid the foundation stone of the eight Kaziranga Elephant Festival 2010 on the Mihimukh Festival ground recently. During the foundation laying ceremony, the DC called upon all the people to fully co-operate with the celebration committee of the Kaziranga Elephant festival for its successful completion.

The elephant festival will be held for four days begining from January 3, 2010. THE SENTINEL

NEHU staff gherao VC

SHILLONG, Dec 22: The row between the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) teaching and non-teaching staff over withdrawal of the Hill Area Special Allowance (HASA) has taken a new turn with the teaching and non-teaching staff of the varsity picking on the Vice Chancellor (VC) for alleged misbehaviour of his personal security officer (PSO) with them. Source said, during the debate between the NEHU teaching and non-teaching staff with the Vice Chancellor today, the PSO’s alleged misconduct prompted the agitating staff to gherao the Vice Chancellor and to demand his resignation.

The spokesperson of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the agitation by the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university, AK Baruah said, ‘Today’s unfortunate incident will be reported to the Ministry of HRD”, adding, “The VC’s arbitrary decision to deprive the teachers of HASA is against the constitution of NEHU because anything related to emoluments of the staff of universities should be amended subject to approval of the Academic Council which is the apex body and is comprised of members representing different forums, including students, MPs and representatives of teachers.” Today’s incident on the NEHU campus also attracted the attention of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU). Union president Samuel Jyrwa had a discussion with the VC on the issue of HASA and the campus incident.

Meanwhile, the NEHUSA and NEHUTA have vowed to continue their protests if the NEHU authorities do not accede to their demands before Christmas and may even seek the State Government’s intervention in the matter. THE SENTINEL

Khandu for fast development of remotest border villages

TAWANG, Dec 22: Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who is on a three-day tour to Tawang district, today visited Tawang’s remotest village Mago on the borders with China and circle headquarters Thingbu, informed PRO to CM from Tawang.

Addressing villagers in both the villages Khandu emphasized on cleanliness, education and hard work. Dissuading them from bad habits like drinking and smoking, he urged them to make good use of the money earned from selling animal produces. Assuring all possible development in the region, the Chief Minister promised to arrange periodical chopper services to the villages.

Demanding the government servants posted in the area to stay put in their respective places of posting, Khandu informed that the Government had already approved a scheme for special incentives to officials working in harsh topographic and terrain conditions.

Expressing his joy on being with the people of the remotest villages of the district, Deputy Commissioner Gamli Padu, who accompanied the Chief Minister, assured all possible assistance from the district administration for development of the area and welfare of the villagers. He promised to visit the area again to get first hand knowledge of the problems faced by the people.

Earlier, Thingbu Circle Officer Pemtan Monpa accorded a warm reception to the visiting dignitaries. Even with limited resources, the officer organized a cultural programme to entertain the guests.

Margo and Thingbu are situated at a height of more than 14,000 ft above sea level with harsh climatic conditions that hardly facilitates any agricultural produce. The main occupation of the people here is animal rearing and their main source of livelihood is animal produces like Ghee and Churpi (Cheese). People purchase essential commodities from nearest town Jang, which is 45 kms away that takes about 12 hours on foot.

There is no surface communication to these villages till this day. However, under the initiative of the Chief Minister, who represents the constituency, roads are under construction on a war footing and are expected to connect the villages with the rest of the world in another two years.

Both Mago and Thingbu, though very remote, are of special prominence for the Buddhists of Tawang. The area abounds with Tsa Chu or hot water springs believed to be sacred with powers to wash away all sins. The region is also home to Worm Grass, which is highly prized by practitioners of Tibetan, Chinese and traditional medicines used as aphrodisiac and to treat various ailments from fatigue to cancer.

Nature in its best, the landscape of both Thingbu and Mago is breathtakingly scenic with rich and rare flora and fauna. THE SENTINEL

Youth thrown out of train, MP seeks action

ITANAGAR, Dec 22: In a shocking incident, a 20-year-old local youth, Limo Loyi, was reportedly thrown out of a moving train by miscreants while returning home from Chennai on the Egmore Express on December 16 evening. He was found in an unconscious state next morning near Panjipara sub-station and rushed to a government hospital at Islampur about 30 kms from the spot before being shifted to the North Bengal Medical College at Siliguri, where he is reportedly struggling for life in an ICU. Doctors attending Loyi have informed that he was hit from behind, which might have made him unconscious.

The GRPF has registered a case at Dolkola Railway Station and supposedly investigating the case. Loyi, however, is still unconscious and not in a position to give any statement to the police.

Taking serious note of the incident Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjoy today wrote to the Union Minister for Railways Mamta Banerjee to direct the authority concerned to expedite the investigation and arrest the culprits responsible immediately. He also expressed concern that the Railway authorities have not done anything for medical treatment of the youth who is hanging between life and death and appealed the Minister to take the matter as most urgent. THE SENTINEL

Cancer Breakthrough

Scientists have for the first time identified all the changes in the cells of two deadly cancers to produce the entire cancer gene maps and believe that the discovery marks a ‘‘transforming moment’’ in their understanding of cancer. The studies, conducted by international scientists and Britain’s Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, are the first comprehensive descriptions of mutations of tumour cells and decode the genetic changes behind melanoma skin cancer and lung cancer. The scientists sequenced all the DNA from both tumour tissue and normal tissue from a melanoma patient and a lung cancer patient by using a technology called ‘‘massively parallel sequencing’’, and after comparing the cancer sequences with healthy ones, they were able to identify all the changes specific to cancer. This is a major breakthrough in cancer research. As one of the leading scientists, Mike Stratton, of the Sanger Institute has pointed out, the ‘‘catalogues of mutation are telling us about how the cancer has developed — so they will inform us on prevention — and they include all the drivers, which tell us about the processes that are disrupted in the cancer cell which we can try and influence through our treatments’’. So will cancer drugs be now available, saving the lives of millions across the world? This will take several years, as the scientists have inferred. The mystery as to why certain cells become cancerous is still a huge challenge for scientists to crack. But what is remarkable is that, thanks to advancements in the genome mapping technology, in the future doctors may have a complete genome catalogue for each cancer patient so that they choose the right treatment course. Let us all wait for that rare medicine moment. THE SENTINEL

Ready for talks within 24 hours minus sovereignty: Gogoi

GUWAHATI, Dec 22: The government was ready to hold talks with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) “within 24 hours” if the outfit gives a written assurance that it will abjure violence and give up the demand for sovereignty, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Tuesday.

“From our side we are ready to begin talks within 24 hours, but there should be no preconditions from the ULFA. Let them give us in writing expressing their willingness to hold talks by shunning the path of violence,” the chief minister told journalists here.

Gogoi rejected ULFA’s demand for discussing the sovereignty issue. “One thing is clear that there cannot be talks on the issue of sovereignty. Otherwise, doors for peace talks are wide open,” the chief minister said.

Gogoi said there were no back channel negotiations on with arrested ULFA chief Arabinda Rajkhowa for furthering the deadlocked peace process. “There are no talks on at this stage with any ULFA leader. But we are hopeful of a political settlement,” he said.

Earlier, there were hopes that the peace process would get a boost after the arrest of the ULFA chairman and other senior leaders. Rajkhowa is in police custody since his arrest Nov 5 from somewhere near Dawki in Meghalaya, bordering Bangladesh.

“We cannot hold talks if they (ULFA) continue to indulge in violent activities. First and foremost thing is that they should stop senseless killings,” Gogoi said. The ULFA leadership is insisting on their demand for sovereignty or independence with their elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah making it clear that they were ready for peace talks with New Delhi if the government agrees to discuss their core demand. (IANS)

25 child scientists of Assam to join NCSC in Gujarat

MANGALDAI, Dec 22: Atlanta Das, a Class V student of Arunodaya Academy of Tangla in Udalguri district of BTAD along with 24 child scientists from different schools of the State has left for Ahmedabad to attend the 17th National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) 2009 under the supervision of Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC), Guwahati.

According to State Coordinator of NCSC, Assam and Project Scientist of ASTEC Biman Barua, 25 child scientists from various districts of Assam were selected on the basis of their performance in the recently concluded NCSC State Congress held at Sivasagar from October 12 to October 15.

The National Children’s Science Congress 2009 will be held Gujrat science city and SGVP international school from December 27 to December 31. All the participating child scientists will get the opportunity to have a close interaction with eminent scientist and former President APJ Abdul Kalam, and Prof Yas Pal will attend the national meet to interact with the child scientists coming from different States of India.

The other selected child scientists from Assam are Abhijit Basumatari (Kokrajhar); Aditya Changmai (Dibrugarh); Anurag Kalyan Borgohain (Golaghat); Arghadip Pal (Hailakandi); Bhargav Ragan (Morigaon); Bhupali Goaswami (Barpeta); Bijit Sarma (Darrang); Binita Deka (Jorhat); Biswajeet Phukan (Sivasagar); Himangshu Singha (Cachar); Jijnashi Das (Darrang); Jyotimala Borah (Lakhimpur); Mitul Das (Bongaigaon); Mrinmoy Dutta (Barpeta); Mukunda Madhab Barua (Dhemaji); N Jayashree Barua (Sonitpur); Nipam Rabha (Baksa); Pranjit Das (Dhemaji); Rajashree Hazarika (Nagaon); Rupankar Jyoti Saikia (Golaghat); Rupjyoti Das (Baksa); Santana Bora (Sonitpur); and Snigdha Haloi (Nalbari).

The child scientists led by State Coordinator in-charge Kishor Deb and nine guides and officials have already left for Ahmedabad city by Brahmaputra Mail on Tuesday. THE SENTINEL

Another award for Central IT College

GUWAHATI, Dec 21: The Central IT College (CITC), Dispur has once again done Assam proud by achieving 2nd rank among the 710 study centres of Sikkim Manipul University with 3560 students on its rolls. The award was given away to Shamim Goney, faculty member of CITC by Anil Kumble, former India cricket team captain and brand ambassador of Sikkim Manipal University in the 2nd National Learning Centre Convention held on December 14 and 15.

The Director of Central IT College M Hoque has expressed happiness over the sucess of the college and is hopeful that Central IT College by dint of hard work and efficiency will be able to attain the numero uno position one day. The function was also graced by other personalities such as Dr Surjit Singh Pabla, Vice Chancellor, Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences; Anand Sudarshan, MD & CEO, Manipal Education; and AM Thimmiya, senior vice president, Manipal Group.

Central IT College is a sister concern ofthe Educati

on Research and Develompent Foundation, the fastest growing educational network in the North-East presently running Regional College of Higher Education (affiliated to NEHU, Shillong), Regional Institute of Science and Technology (an engineering college affiliated to NEHU), Central Public School, Patharkandi (under CBSE), etc. THE SENTINEL

Another award for Central IT College

GUWAHATI, Dec 21: The Central IT College (CITC), Dispur has once again done Assam proud by achieving 2nd rank among the 710 study centres of Sikkim Manipul University with 3560 students on its rolls. The award was given away to Shamim Goney, faculty member of CITC by Anil Kumble, former India cricket team captain and brand ambassador of Sikkim Manipal University in the 2nd National Learning Centre Convention held on December 14 and 15.

The Director of Central IT College M Hoque has expressed happiness over the sucess of the college and is hopeful that Central IT College by dint of hard work and efficiency will be able to attain the numero uno position one day. The function was also graced by other personalities such as Dr Surjit Singh Pabla, Vice Chancellor, Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences; Anand Sudarshan, MD & CEO, Manipal Education; and AM Thimmiya, senior vice president, Manipal Group.

Central IT College is a sister concern ofthe Educati

on Research and Develompent Foundation, the fastest growing educational network in the North-East presently running Regional College of Higher Education (affiliated to NEHU, Shillong), Regional Institute of Science and Technology (an engineering college affiliated to NEHU), Central Public School, Patharkandi (under CBSE), etc.

Bandh triggers violence, ARSU activists injured

Rabha Hasongs threaten to step up agitation

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 21: Several members of the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU) were injured in clashes with activists of Garo National Council at Krishnai Rangapani market in Goalpara district over the issue of the 40-hour bandh called by three Rabha organizations which began at 5 am today.

ARSU, All Rabha Mahila Committee and Sixth Schedule Demand Committee have enforced the bandh in protest against the State Government’s inability to implement their demands for election to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and inclusion of the Council in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

The bandh was, by and large, peaceful in Rabha Hasong areas except Krishnai Rangapani market.

According to sources, tension engulfed the market area when a team of ARSU attempted to ensure that the Krishnai Rangapani market remained closed in response to the bandh. Members of Garo National Council (GNC) prevented them from enforcing bandh in the market.

The GNC people claimed that Krishnai Rangapani market fell under Garo areas and so it should not come under the purview of the bandh. The situation came to such a pass that members of both ARSU and GNC started clashing with one another resulting in injuries to several ARSU activists.

The police rushed to the spot and managed to bring the situation under control.

Sources said Krishnai Rangapani market was part of a Christian-dominated area. The market opened in view of the ensuing Christmas, the biggest festival of the Christians. ARSU has called bandh in the market area until the people involved in the attacks on its members are arrested by the police. Talking to The Sentinel, ARSU general secretary Jiban Rabha said the Rabhas would intensify their agitation if their demands were not fulfilled by the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government.

He said the Rabha Hasong organizations had banned holding of any Congress meetings and entry of ministers and Congress MLAs into Rabha Hasong areas since November 25 last in protest against the State Government’s indifference to the public demands for election to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and inclusion of the Council in the 6th Schedule.

The ARSU leader said similar restrictions would be imposed on the Opposition parties like the AGP and the BJP if they did not make their stand clear on the demands of Rabha community within December 25. It may be recalled that the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council was formed on March 10 1995, but no election to the Council has been held till date. In 2004, the State Government had constituted a sub-committee, headed by minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman, to look into the demands of the Rabha community.

On April 3 this year, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, while participating in a meeting of the sub-committee and representatives of different NGOs from Rabha Hasong areas, had said the State Government would forward to the Centre a proposal for inclusion of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council in the 6th Schedule. The Health Minister was also present at the meeting. THE SENTINEL

Students’ body pushes back non-tribal peop

SHILLONG, Dec 20: Concerned about the reported threat to the identity of Khasi people, the West Khasi Hills Students’ Union (WKHSU) drove away a number of non-tribal people from Nongjri village near Borsora yesterday.

WKHSU feels that non-tribal people have posed a danger to Khasi people in coal mining areas of West Khasi Hills, including Borsora and Shahlang. Addressing a public meeting at Nongjri village today, WKHSU vice-president Mebankit Syiemlieh said the Union took the first step to push back non-tribal people from the area yesterday. He said Khasi people had been facing lots of problems with non-tribal people outnumbering locals in Nongjri area. “There are also many non-tribals who have become owners of coal mines,” said Syiemlieh.

The WKHSU leader urged upon the people to support the Union’s action against non-tribal people. “Without the people supporting the Union on the issue, we will not be able to go forward,” said Syiemlieh. Amit Lyngdoh, Balajied Syiemiong and other Union leaders also addressed the public meeting. the sentinel

Guwahati on Centre’s Solar City agenda

Guwahati, Dec 20: Guwahati is among 34 cities selected by the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy to be developed as Solar City. The other cities of the region include those in Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura.

The Solar City aims to meet a minimum of 10 % of its projected demand for conventional energy at the end of five years through energy efficiency measures and generation from renewable energy installations. This information was given by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah in the Lok Sabha recently.

The criteria set by the Ministry for identification of cities include a city population between 0.5 and 5 million (with relaxation given to special category States, including those of the North-East ), initiatives and regulatory measures already taken along with a high level of commitment to promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Minister said proposals were invited from all states and Union territories for development of Solar Cities and given approval based on the proposals received as per guidelines. A total of 60 cities will be developed as Solar Cities.

It may be mentioned, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has been providing Central assistance of Rs 30 per watt peak of solar photovoltaic (SPV) array capacity used in the solar water pumping system, subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000 per system for its installation for community drinking water supply, agriculture and related uses in the country. The SPV water pumping programme is implemented through the state renewable energy development agencies and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). THE SENTINEL

Truth and Reconciliation

Sazzad Hussain

The inquiry commission led by Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan was set up by the Union governmentled by PV Narashimha Rao following the destruction of the contested and controversial Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid structure at Ayodhya in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh on December 6, 1992. After a long period of 17 years, the commission submitted its report to the government early this year and was scheduled to be tabled in Parliament during the current winter session.

But its tabulation in Parliament was preceded by the report’s leak in the media where all the bigwigs of the BJP-Sangh Parivar were heavily indicted by the commission for bringing down the structure. This proved to be jolt to the opposition BJP already hit by internal feud and succession dilemma. So it hit back only at the leak and nothing about its reports.

Taking advantage, the government tabled the report the very next day in which the furore over the indictment of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and clean chit given to Narasimha Rao diverted the attention of the public from Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington and his signing of agreements with the US. The tabulation was immediately followed by the first anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strike where the entire media was obsessed. This deprived the BJP of gains from the ghost of Ayodhya released by the report of the Liberhan Commission after almost two decades.

The report of the commission does not ask for any punitive action against the indicted people. But the Liberhan Commission still has some relevance since it tries to focus on the truth concerning the black day of post-Independent India — truth that is necessary for reconciliation.

There is nothing new concerning the leaders of the BJP-Sangh Parivar who are named by the Liberhan Commission for the demolition of the structure at Ayodhya. A look at the regional and national print media and video footage of that turbulent period would reveal how the leaders of the BJP-Sangh Parivar had spread communal passion and hatred concerning the Ayodhya conflict. Particularly, the inflammatory speeches of leaders like Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharati, Sadhvi Ritambhara, Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Vishnu Hari Dalamia were available among all forms of media of that time.

Likewise, there were reports of use of explosives to bring down the domed structure in which ex-servicemen affiliated to the Sangh ideology and students of IIT-Mumbai participated. The former RSS chief, KS Sudarshan, has also recently acknowledged the use of explosives in Ayodhya.

The then BJP Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Kalyan Singh, also contributed to the demolition by either engaging his police forces and the administration in a manner as to help bring down the mosque or by neutralizing them. The Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray also publicly boasted of hammering the first shot at the dome of the structure on that fateful day.

Veteran leaders like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi (both of them experienced the horror of Partition) had the capability and wisdom to foresee the aftermath of the Ayodhya incident resulting in communal frenzy and bloodbath. However, they did not apply their stature to stop the demolition of the structure.

Following the incident, thousands of people lost their lives in communal violence in Mumbai, Surat and across the country. The March 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai were carried out by the ISI of Pakistan with the help of local underworld operatives and riot victims as a retaliatory action to avenge the demolition of the Babri structure. Noted terror expert Praveen Swami has shown in his numerous writings how jihadis emerged from the Muslim victims of the post-Ayodhya riots across the country in the later days.

From the perspective of far-reaching consequences of the Ayodhya incident, the indictment of Advani and Joshi by the Liberhan Commission appears to be obvious. However, it is unfortunate that the commission has termed Atal Bihari Vajpayee a pseudo-moderate and blamed him too for the demolition. The nation still remembers Vajpayee’s regret for the demolition on December 7, 1992 accusing the kar sevaks of destroying a mandir along with the Babri mosque. It was he who initiated a peaceful dialogue between the two contesting parties of the Ayodhya dispute by engaging the Sankaracharya of Kanchipuram during his tenure as Prime Minister in 2003.

Though Vajpayee was accused of remaining mum over sensitive issues because of the pressure applied by the Sangh Parivar and party hawks, he has never been considered a communal person even by his worst enemies. By naming Vajpayee and holding him culpable for the Ayodhya demolition, the Liberhan Commission has belittled the momentum of criminal activities associated with the demolition.

It is also perplexing that the Liberhan Commission has given a clean chit to Narashimha Rao over the Ayodhya incident. The Rao government could have imposed President’s Rule in Uttar Pradesh to pre-empt the Ayodhya demolition. His cabinet colleague Makhanlal Fotedar resigned after the December 6, 1992 incident and exposed the complicity showed by the government. But the Liberhan Commission, strangely enough, never summoned Fotedar.

The Rao government also did not remove the Sudhakar Rao Naik government in Maharashtra for the post-Ayodhya riots which had swept Mumbai till January 2003. The then Defence Minister Sharad Pawar also sent troops almost a week after the riot had ravaged the city.

We should also remember that the Ram Janambhoomi movement, from 1986 to its culmination in 1992, was started with tacit support from the Congress-led government at the Centre. Its journey commenced from the Ekatma Yatra taken out by the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in 1980 with participation by the then Prime Minister India Gandhi. Her successor, Rajiv Gandhi, amended the Constitution only to appease the clergy of the Muslim Personal Law Board in the famous Shah Bano succession case. This was duly used by the BJP to start an aggressive movement for a Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Rajiv Gandhi government also allowed the unlocking of the gates of the disputed structure by violating the stay order of the Allahabad High Court in 1988 to allow shilanyas. The Liberhan Commission does not have the records of these developments in its report on the Babri Masjid demolition.

However, the indictment of the Babri Masjid Action Committee and several so-called leaders of the Muslim community like Javed Habib by the Liberhan Commission is one bright spot as these fronts and leaders also had failed to build up a consensus among the Muslim community concerning the Ayodhya conflict.

Significantly, the Liberhan Commission has indicted ex-Gujarat Chief Minister Shankar Singh Waghela for the Ayodhya demolition. The former BJP leader and now a Congress minister, Waghela was one of the leaders who prepared a fertile soil of communal polarization in Gujarat much before Narendra Modi arrived in the scene. It will be worth noticing how the Congress treats Waghela after his indictment by the Liberhan Commission.

The Liberhan Commission has not recommended any punitive action against those indicted by it for the Ayodhya incident. It only speaks about the need of some tougher laws to prevent communal flare-up and use of religion in politics to divide the country. Nevertheless, the commission has a significance of its own — towards knowing the truth behind the demolition of the Babri structure that shook the pluralist ethos of India. Revelation of truth is necessary to start reconciliation. And that reconciliation should be based on the lessons learnt from the December 6, 1992 incident.

(The writer teaches English at Lakhimpur Commerce College, Lakhimpur) THE SENTINEL

Truth and Reconciliation

Sazzad Hussain

The inquiry commission led by Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan was set up by the Union governmentled by PV Narashimha Rao following the destruction of the contested and controversial Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid structure at Ayodhya in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh on December 6, 1992. After a long period of 17 years, the commission submitted its report to the government early this year and was scheduled to be tabled in Parliament during the current winter session.

But its tabulation in Parliament was preceded by the report’s leak in the media where all the bigwigs of the BJP-Sangh Parivar were heavily indicted by the commission for bringing down the structure. This proved to be jolt to the opposition BJP already hit by internal feud and succession dilemma. So it hit back only at the leak and nothing about its reports.

Taking advantage, the government tabled the report the very next day in which the furore over the indictment of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and clean chit given to Narasimha Rao diverted the attention of the public from Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington and his signing of agreements with the US. The tabulation was immediately followed by the first anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strike where the entire media was obsessed. This deprived the BJP of gains from the ghost of Ayodhya released by the report of the Liberhan Commission after almost two decades.

The report of the commission does not ask for any punitive action against the indicted people. But the Liberhan Commission still has some relevance since it tries to focus on the truth concerning the black day of post-Independent India — truth that is necessary for reconciliation.

There is nothing new concerning the leaders of the BJP-Sangh Parivar who are named by the Liberhan Commission for the demolition of the structure at Ayodhya. A look at the regional and national print media and video footage of that turbulent period would reveal how the leaders of the BJP-Sangh Parivar had spread communal passion and hatred concerning the Ayodhya conflict. Particularly, the inflammatory speeches of leaders like Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharati, Sadhvi Ritambhara, Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Vishnu Hari Dalamia were available among all forms of media of that time.

Likewise, there were reports of use of explosives to bring down the domed structure in which ex-servicemen affiliated to the Sangh ideology and students of IIT-Mumbai participated. The former RSS chief, KS Sudarshan, has also recently acknowledged the use of explosives in Ayodhya.

The then BJP Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Kalyan Singh, also contributed to the demolition by either engaging his police forces and the administration in a manner as to help bring down the mosque or by neutralizing them. The Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray also publicly boasted of hammering the first shot at the dome of the structure on that fateful day.

Veteran leaders like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi (both of them experienced the horror of Partition) had the capability and wisdom to foresee the aftermath of the Ayodhya incident resulting in communal frenzy and bloodbath. However, they did not apply their stature to stop the demolition of the structure.

Following the incident, thousands of people lost their lives in communal violence in Mumbai, Surat and across the country. The March 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai were carried out by the ISI of Pakistan with the help of local underworld operatives and riot victims as a retaliatory action to avenge the demolition of the Babri structure. Noted terror expert Praveen Swami has shown in his numerous writings how jihadis emerged from the Muslim victims of the post-Ayodhya riots across the country in the later days.

From the perspective of far-reaching consequences of the Ayodhya incident, the indictment of Advani and Joshi by the Liberhan Commission appears to be obvious. However, it is unfortunate that the commission has termed Atal Bihari Vajpayee a pseudo-moderate and blamed him too for the demolition. The nation still remembers Vajpayee’s regret for the demolition on December 7, 1992 accusing the kar sevaks of destroying a mandir along with the Babri mosque. It was he who initiated a peaceful dialogue between the two contesting parties of the Ayodhya dispute by engaging the Sankaracharya of Kanchipuram during his tenure as Prime Minister in 2003.

Though Vajpayee was accused of remaining mum over sensitive issues because of the pressure applied by the Sangh Parivar and party hawks, he has never been considered a communal person even by his worst enemies. By naming Vajpayee and holding him culpable for the Ayodhya demolition, the Liberhan Commission has belittled the momentum of criminal activities associated with the demolition.

It is also perplexing that the Liberhan Commission has given a clean chit to Narashimha Rao over the Ayodhya incident. The Rao government could have imposed President’s Rule in Uttar Pradesh to pre-empt the Ayodhya demolition. His cabinet colleague Makhanlal Fotedar resigned after the December 6, 1992 incident and exposed the complicity showed by the government. But the Liberhan Commission, strangely enough, never summoned Fotedar.

The Rao government also did not remove the Sudhakar Rao Naik government in Maharashtra for the post-Ayodhya riots which had swept Mumbai till January 2003. The then Defence Minister Sharad Pawar also sent troops almost a week after the riot had ravaged the city.

We should also remember that the Ram Janambhoomi movement, from 1986 to its culmination in 1992, was started with tacit support from the Congress-led government at the Centre. Its journey commenced from the Ekatma Yatra taken out by the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in 1980 with participation by the then Prime Minister India Gandhi. Her successor, Rajiv Gandhi, amended the Constitution only to appease the clergy of the Muslim Personal Law Board in the famous Shah Bano succession case. This was duly used by the BJP to start an aggressive movement for a Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Rajiv Gandhi government also allowed the unlocking of the gates of the disputed structure by violating the stay order of the Allahabad High Court in 1988 to allow shilanyas. The Liberhan Commission does not have the records of these developments in its report on the Babri Masjid demolition.

However, the indictment of the Babri Masjid Action Committee and several so-called leaders of the Muslim community like Javed Habib by the Liberhan Commission is one bright spot as these fronts and leaders also had failed to build up a consensus among the Muslim community concerning the Ayodhya conflict.

Significantly, the Liberhan Commission has indicted ex-Gujarat Chief Minister Shankar Singh Waghela for the Ayodhya demolition. The former BJP leader and now a Congress minister, Waghela was one of the leaders who prepared a fertile soil of communal polarization in Gujarat much before Narendra Modi arrived in the scene. It will be worth noticing how the Congress treats Waghela after his indictment by the Liberhan Commission.

The Liberhan Commission has not recommended any punitive action against those indicted by it for the Ayodhya incident. It only speaks about the need of some tougher laws to prevent communal flare-up and use of religion in politics to divide the country. Nevertheless, the commission has a significance of its own — towards knowing the truth behind the demolition of the Babri structure that shook the pluralist ethos of India. Revelation of truth is necessary to start reconciliation. And that reconciliation should be based on the lessons learnt from the December 6, 1992 incident.

(The writer teaches English at Lakhimpur Commerce College, Lakhimpur)

BSNL launches 3G mobile services in Aizawl, Mizoram

AIZAWL, Dec 20: State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) today launched its third-generation (3G) mobile services in Aizawl, offering a plethora of services like live TV, high-speed mobile broadband and movie download facilities.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla marked the launch at a formal function here by making a video-call to Gopal Das, Director (HR) BSNL Board, New Delhi.

Clash over religious construction, security tightened

ITANAGAR, Dec 20: At least two people were hurt and a few vehicles damaged in clashes between local residents and about 300 people belonging to one of the Christian denominations over a disputed construction site on Joypur Road within Namsai township in Lohit district on the wee hours of December 19.

According to police sources, some ten vehicles with people belonging to the religious group attempted to restart the construction of a church at Joypur that was stalled earlier, when local residents, mainly belonging to Buddhist community, gathered at the site in protest. This resulted in verbal duels that led to a scuffle between the two groups. In the clash that followed bamboo structures were demolished by the crowd.

“Two people received minor injuries and window panes of a few vehicles were damaged due to stone pelting,” the police said.

The local administration called upon the Missionaries and local leaders to come into a compromise. On the plea of the administration, the Missionaries accepted to withdraw the construction and dismantle the structure by themselves.

Sources informed The Sentinel that the construction of the Church at the site was disputed, since the locals, mostly Khamptis and Singphos, maintained that they were not consulted and that the site was a public place.

In a statement this evening from Namsai, the Tai Khampti Singphow Council (TKSC) claimed that on December 18 at a meeting at Namsai Forest IB with the Missionaries of Christian Revival Church, the local residents had urged them not to resort to any action in furtherance of construction of the Church. It also claimed that a written consent was adopted, including the Missionaries, to stop further construction.

“However, on December 19 morning, to the utter shock of the local inhabitants, a strong contingent of about 100 people in 11 vehicles arrived at Namsai from Itanagar and various parts of the State and marched on the streets of Namsai Bazaar with banners,” claimed TKSC general secretary C K Namchoom.

Defying directives of the local administration against construction of a church at the said site, Namchoom claimed, the visitors started construction works that triggered unrest amongst the local populace. Later, the Missionaries were escorted by the police out of Namsai on way to their respective places. Though normalcy prevailed after that, business establishments and traders of Namsai closed down their shops in support of the local sentiments. Blaming the local administration for failing to prevent the flare-up despite tensions brewing on the issue for weeks together, the TKSC cited the High Court verdict in respect of Angels Missionary School at Namsai WP© No. 366 (A.P.) of 2007 and in respect of Supreme Court’s interim measures. As an interim measure, the Supreme Court directs that ‘henceforth no unauthorized construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of Temple, Church, Mosque or Gurudwara etc on public streets, public parks or other public places etc’. THE SENTINEL

Seminar on drug design concludes

JORHAT, Dec 20: The North East Institute of Science and Technology, organized a day-long international seminar on Molecular Modelling and Drug Design jointly with Schrodinger, USA, here recently. The seminar included lectures on structure and ligand-based drug design.

Dr R Raghu, Director, Business Development, Schrodinger, USA spoke about the computer aided drug design and recent developments in modelling of GPCRs.

Devleena Shivakumar from Schrodinger talked about induced fit docking and gave demonstration on structure based virtual screening on HMG CoA Reductase.

Other speaker included Dr Ravi who spoke about recent advances in cheminformatics methods, novel methods for generating structure based pharmacophores and also gave a demonstration on ligand-based virtual screening.

The seminar also included a session of panel discussion. The seminar is envisioned to benefit the researchers and scientific community in the field of new drug discovery and development. Earlier in the day, the inaugural session was chaired by Dr PG Rao, Director, NEIST. Dr RC Boruah, Scientist ‘G’, NEIST and Coordinator of the programme welcomed the participants comprising of the scientists and researchers from NEIST and faculties from Dibrugarh University, IASST- Guwahati, NEHU- Shillong, TRA- Jorhat and Assam Agriculture University- Jorhat.

Dr Raghu briefed the participants about the topics and area to be covered under the seminar.

In his speech, Dr Rao said that NEIST at present was working on several promising new molecules which were at different stages of development. He also mentioned that this was not the first time that NEIST was going to work in the field of computational chemistry. In the formative years of the laboratory, it also had collaboration with German team under DAAD programme. The drug development, as such takes quite a long time to arrive at the final product but the application software would help reduce the time period of discovery, he opined. He also said that Northeast was rich in medicinal plants and traditional knowledge and now it was necessary to take this knowledge to formal drug designing for the benefit of the society.

The inauguration session concluded with vote of thanks by Dr PK Choudhury, Scientist ‘F’, NEIST. THE SENTINEL