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.
In yet another tragic incident, the children met watery grave and five persons went missing after a boat manned by National Disaster Response Force personnel on a rescue mission to help flood-stranded people capsized at Makum in Tinsukia district on Sunday.
According to reports, there were around 15 people in the boat, including Army and NDRF personnel when it capsized at around 4 in the afternoon in Barekuri area of Makum in the flood waters. An operation has been launched to search for the five missing persons.
Schools and colleges in Majuli have been closed indefinitely from Monday. The decision was taken in view of rising flood waters which have submerged over 70 per cent landmass of the river island. The district administration issued the ordered on Sunday afternoon. A nine-member SDRF team has been airlifted to the island to help rescue stranded people in the affected areas.
The United Liberation Font of Asom’s anti-talk faction on Sunday comes down heavily on BJP and its youth wing alleging that the proposed procession in Arunachal Pradesh would only provoke China. In an e-mail statement, the anti-talk faction of the outfit said that the proposed mid-October procession along Indo-China border would only provoke the neighbor. It further asked BJP’s youth wing not to make the people of Assam a scapegoat. Notably, BJP’s youth wing is gearing up to take out a procession in Arunachal Pradesh to offer tribute to the 1962 heroes.
The Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park have been reeling under floods and there is no hope of an immediate relief. Alert has been sounded in the Kaziranga National Park. At least 15 anti-poaching camps of Kaziranga have been submerged, forcing the security staff to shift to boats in order to keep an eye on poachers. The mighty Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level mark in Dibrugarh, Nimatighat, Dhemaji, Tezpur and Dhansirimukh in Kaziranga.
Dispur has deployed at least 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force, 60 army teams and 18 teams of the State Disaster Response Force in relief and rescue efforts in worst flood affected districts. IAF has deployed four helicopters in the Sadia subdivision in Tinsukia district to air drop necessary food items and rescue marooned people. Ferry services have also been stopped at Sadia and Majuli in Jorhat district as the Brahmaputra river is over flowing. Several villages have been submerged in Sadia and Majuli.
The flood situation turns grim with over 800,000 people affected in at least 15 districts. According to information, seven people died during the past one week where over 700 villages have also been submerged in the affected areas. The worst-hit districts are Kamrup, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur.
The devastating flood waters are posing serious threat to Guwahati where parts of the premier north eastern city have come under the surging waters of the Brahmaputra. Surging waters of the mighty river have spilled into Pandu where over 1000 houses have been inundated on Saturday midnight. Some more areas are feared to have been submerged in the city. If the water level of the mighty river continues to rise, then fancy bazaar, Lakhtakia, Maligaon and Panbazar would be submerged within the next 24 hours.
The Assam government deploys evacuation tram in the flood hit areas and announced relief measures. But those displaced have not yet received anything. Talking to assamtimes, affected people in Dhemaji and Majuli said that the relief measures are confined to som selected pockets. Thousands of people in he remote areas are still remaining trapped without any help.
The fourth flood wave continue to wreak havoc displacing nearly 5 lakh people during the last five days. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are overflowing following the incessant rains in ArunachalPradesh. Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark and more than seven lakh people are said to be affected in the heavy and incessant rainfall over the past few days. Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup and Barpeta are worst-hit where surface communication remains heavily disrupted. Flood waters are posing serious threat to Majuli along with Kaziranga, Manah and Dibru saikhowa.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has strongly denied sending Koyu with money meant for AICC fund. In a statement, Tuki said that his name was unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. “I never asked any Koyu to send any money to party high command. Congress party doesn't transfer money like this”, he said. Meanwhile, Koyu who happens to be the president of All Arunachal Contractors Welfare Society has filed an FIR against Joshi. Papum Pare SP Hibu Tamang said that the Rs.1 crore has got nothing to do with the Congress party or the chief minister.
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