Our correspondent from Guwahati: In a bid to unite all regional forces to recoup power at Dispur from Congress, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has determined to constitute a working group for unification. And they are all set to get a new president to clear the decks for the much-hyped reunification.This was decided by the party in its central executive committee meeting held at Mangaldoi on Sunday.Most of the members of the committee have come down heavily on party president Brindaban Goswami for his failure to coalesce the party with AGP (Progressive) led by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The party top guns came down heavily on Goswami for his lack of efficiency and asked him to step down immediately. Mr Goswami and his loyalists further came in for sharp attack for the “alleged attempt to prevent the founder president and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta from entering into the party. Even Mr Goswami’s close associates including Sarbananda Sonowal, Padma Hazarika and Kumar Deepak Das alleged that there has been attempt to stonewall Mr Mahanta and his associates Some leaders even threatened to quit the party if Mr Goswami fails to quit the presidentship saying the sitting president is, in fact, damaging the prospect of the state’s biggest regional forces. They are of the view that due to expulsion of Mahanta before the assembly poll, the AGP has suffered a crisis due to the expulsion.The general view in the executive committee is that the party can be strengthened if Mahanta comes back to the party and takes the leadership. It was felt that Mahanta was chief minister of the state for two times and AGP can not be revived without Mahanta. Mahanta is now leading AGP (P) after his expulsion from the party having one seat in the state assembly.The members called for a general house meeting of the party for threadbare discussion on the issue of unification on July 22. The executive committee will also sit on July 21 to discuss the next course of action.In the midst of the din that rocked the executive meeting, Mr Goswami offered to quit when the party wants but supported the move to forge pact with non Congress parties to oust the Tarun Gogoi Government from the power.Meanwhile when contacted Mahanta refused to comment on the issue and said he is not interested in the internal matter of any political party. However he said all like minded regional parties should come under one umbrella for the best interests of the state and its people. Discussions are on with many regional parties for this unification, he said.
Indefinite curfew has been clamped in Haflong following a clash between a group of people and DHD(J) militants during the ongoing Dima Hasao bandh on Friday.Tension started in the hills town when a group of bandh supporters attacked a veterinary office and started pelting stones at the DHD(J) designated camp. A DHD(J) militant was injured in the attack. Other camp inmates also tried to retaliate forcing the security forces deployed there to resorted to blank firing to disperse the violent picketers.
Dispur on Friday announced a Rs 200-crore scheme to revive the field of agriculture in the flood ravaged scene.Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen said that the government had formulated the special programme to help the agriculture sector, for which funds would be made available by State and central government.According to him, the department had cancelled all forms of leave of all agriculture department officers for the next two months, till the time of rabi sowing, to make up for the loss of kharif crop due to floods.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is scheduled to undertake another aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts on Saturday.Gogoi is expected to meet district administration officials from these districts on Saturday. Towards the evening he would be back to Guwahati. On his arrival, the chief minister is slated to hold a high level meeting of the officers to take stock of the relief operations.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit districts on Friday.Gogoi laid thrust on relief and rescue of the marooned people. At the outsit he reached Jagiroad and visited the affected people in Moigaon where the victims alleged non receipt of relief materals. Then he left for Darrang, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji apart from Kazaringa National Park and the Majuli.
The overall flood situation continues to improve on Friday. The water levels of the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries are receding.The death toll has gone upto 27. Six people have been remained traceless. Over 15 lakh people in 18 districts have been affected. Assam government has announced a 200 crore special scheme covering four lakh 10 thousand hectare crop lands which will benefit around 12 lakh flood affected population.
Aaranyak, one of the most prominent conservation group in the country has expressed its shock and deepest grievance at the recent incidences of poaching of four rhinos in the flood stricken Kaziranga National Park in just three days time. This is a massive setback to the efforts towards conservation and protection of this unique creature that finds an inherent place in the very heart of Assamese culture.We strongly feel that the management of the Assam Forest Department has not been up to the task of protecting the rhinos, especially in conditions of flooding of the Park. This, we feel, can be ascribed to a complete lack of coordination between the Forest Department and the Karbi Anglong...
The Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi formally released a book, on September 18, titled “West meets East: Schopenhauer and India”, edited by Arati Barua under their specific program “Germany and India 2011-12 : Infinite opportunities”. Robin Mallick , Program director South Asia region formally released the book. Astrid Radunski, cultural counselor of the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany in New Delhi, spoke about IDSS and its work. Professor Nirmalya Narayan Chakravorty , Member Secretary of Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) who Chaired the session, delivered a lecture on about the book . Professor Matthias Kossler, honorable President of the...
Security has been beefed up across the state following ULFA’s stepped up activities to make their presence felt.
The outfit is trying to carry out a string of blast in the vital spots forcing security forces to be kept on high alert. Vehicles are being frisked to avoid any incident. In Guwahati, security forces have sealed the entry and exit routes. According to intelligence inputs, ULFA’s Paresh Baruah faction has recruited 1000 new cadres who are being trained by Manipur based People's Liberation Army. ULFA has also stepped up extortion activities in Upper Assam.
Former army chief Gen V K Singh on Monday said that BTAD violence is a fit case for the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to be applied. Talking to reporters in the sideline of a function, he said that army could have reached the spot early and that there was no need to wait. He further questioned the alleged delay in sending army to the riot hit spot.
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