Regional News on India

AJYCP stages dharna against Postal Deparment From a Correspondent JORHAT, Sept 10: The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) staged dharna at the Head Post Office here and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Post Master General demanding an inquiry into the alleged misuse of power and illegal appointments by the Superintendent of Posts, Sivasagar Postal Division here, today. The youth body pointing a finger at the suspected immoral and corrupt activities of the senior official alleged that irregularities in appointments and transfers had come to light in the ED section and Gramin Dak Sevak sections of the postal sector. The AJYCP alleged that out of the six Inspectors appointed, four had been kept on a temporary basis and had to follow the orders of the official in order to retain their jobs. The youth body stated that despite many eligible candidates in South Jorhat, one particular woman was favoured over the rest, for reasons best known to the official. The memorandum listed the places like Jengraimukh, Mudoijan and Teok where irregularities in transfers had allegedly occurred. The memorandum further alleged that money had passed hands in the appointments in the ED section in Golaghat district and that the Assam Circle ED Union Secretary had brought this to the notice of the CPMG but no action had been taken in this regard. The AJYCP demanded an inquiry to be conducted into all the anomalies and action to be taken against the official if found guilty. source: sentinel assam

All Asom Bhaona Samaroh from Oct 12 From a Correspondent JORHAT, Sept 10: The second edition of All Asom Bhaona Samaroh and Contest will start from October 12 at the Shankar Madhav Kshetra, Bolia Gohain Pukhuri, in South Jorhat. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has consented to inagurate the samaroh. General Secretary of the All Asom Bhaona Samaroh and Contest Rinku Dutta said that the ceremonial lai khuta (foundation pillar) of the pandal would be laid by Shankar Dev award winner Narayan Chandra Deva Goswami, Xatradhikar of Natun Kamalabari Xatra on September 21. ‘‘ The success of the first edition of the Bhaona Samaroh and Contest encouraged us to organize the event for the second time’’, Dutta said. Dutta futher infomed that 23 troupes will be participating in contrast to 16 in 2006 and the Pandal area has also been increased from 6600 sq ft to 9600 sq ft to accomodate this large number. The major highlight of the Samorah is the demonstration bhaona which will be staged by Thespians, above the age of 60 years. It is learnt that Jorhat MLA and chief advisor to the samaroh Rana Goswami will also participate in the demonstartion bhaona. On the sidelines of the samorah, a seminar will held and a souvenir christened ‘Purva Ranga II’ will be released by former Axom Xahitya Sabha president Dr Nagen Saikia. Jorhat MP and Minister of State Bijoy Krishna Handique will distribute the awards in the closing ceremony to be held on October 26. Xatradhikar of Natun Kamalabari Xatra, Narayan Chandra Deva Goswami will also be present in the closing ceremony. source: sentinel assam An officer in same department for 15 years! From our Correspondent MANGALDAI, Sept 10: Can an officer of the State Government function in the same department for a long period of fifteen years at a stretch? Or is he entitled to enjoy his promotion that too for the second time in the same department? Is he so indispensable to his department that without him the department concerned can not function properly? Few days back, as reported, the State Government made it clear that no officer of the State Government would be allowed to function in his place of posting more than three years. But showing a thumb to it and transforming the much-talked transparent administration of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi-led Government into a farce, one senior officer with the blessings from particular lobby has been able to function in none other than the Finance Department in the State capital. According to allegations, this particular officer had joined the Finance Department in 1993 as Under Secretary, who availed his promotion as Deputy Secretary in the same department in 1998. In 2005 this officer was promoted to the rank of Joint Secretary and in violation of the laid down rules he was posted in the same department. According to the allegation levelled by a section of aggrieved officers and employees of the department, the concerned branch allotted to this particular officer deals in the matter of financial approval to new projects and schemes and transfer and posting of some officials of his department and hence he is reluctant to leave his chair in the department. source: sentinel assam Body of abducted driver recovered From our Correspondent MANGALDAI, Sept 10: The recovery of the dead body of the abducted taxi driver Haider Ali of Guwahati at Rajar Beel of Garapori Chapori under Dhula police station in Darrang district at about 8 pm on September 9 has created strong sensation in the locality. Mention may be made here that one Siddique Ali an elected Ward Member of Khataniapara Gaon Panchayat in Darrang district along with three other persons including a woman hired the Indica car (AS-01-W-6122) from Paltan Bazar in Guwahati to Dhula on the night of August 30 and since their arrival at Khataniapara village on the same night the driver Haider Ali and his car was found untraced. However, on that night at about 10-15 pm the villagers of Khataniapara noticed the vehicle moving in the area with Siddique Ali. The villagers and the members of Village Defence Party being curious over the doubtful movement of the vehicle also noticed some blood stains on the courtyard of Siddique Ali. Mean while, Siddique Ali defying signal from the members of the Village Defence Party, speedily escaped from the village driving the vehicle. The matter was immediately informed to Dhula Police Station but they allegedly did not take up the matter seriously and failed to trace out neither the driver nor the vehicle. However, the Police arrested one Mafidul Islam of Khataniapara village and one Roushnara Begum of Paniakhat village both under the Dhula Police Station. Shahjahan Ali brother of untraced driver Haider Ali lodged FIR at Dhula and Paltan Bazar Police Station and even some of the taxi driver of Paltan Bazar identified Mafudul Islam as one of the person who was with Siddique Ali at the time of hiring the vehicle. It has been suspected here that Siddique Ali being an elected member of a Gaon Panchayat is actively involved with the organized gang of car lifters who already sold the vehicle out side the state. A large number of taxi drivers from Guwahati today came to Mangaldai and after the performance of the post mortem examination at Mangaldai Civil Hospital they took the dead body of their colleague to Guwahati. Meanwhile, all section people of the locality of Dhula strongly condemned the killing of the driver as well as the involvement of the elected member of Gaon Panchayat in car lifting and demanded immediate cancellation of the representation of Siddique Ali. In this regard a largely attended public meeting was held at Dhula on September 9 and strongly criticized the role of the police in it. source: sentinel assam Farmers facing shortage of rice saplings Our Staff Reporter DIBRUGARH, Sept 10: The farmers of Larua mouza in Dibrugarh district are facing shortage of rice saplings (kathia) to plant in their fields as water recedes. The cultivators were unable to plough their fields properly or sow seeds after their land went underwater during the floods. The rains since June put paid to their hope to carry out any of their farming activities. Learning from their experiences of floods in recent years, farmers in the mouza made it a habit to sow their seeds for rice saplings, which are finally transplanted in the fields, early in the month of April. However, rains prevented them from doing so this year. The villagers, whose primary source of living is cultivation, are expressing fears of famine as they might be no harvest for them this year. The flood-affected people are now demanding that the administration should step in and supply them with seeds for rabi crops. source: sentinel assam Jeuti celebrates 10th foundation day From our Correspondent JORHAT, Sept 10: Jorhat-based voluntary organization Jeuti celebrated its 10th foundation with a three-day programme recently. Jeuti Agricultural Centre organized an agricultural awareness meeting on the occasion on September 5. Course director Dr Rajendra Prasad Das elaborated on the ways to gain self-sufficiency through the cultivation of chrysanthemums and vegetables, preparation of flower beds and nurseries and production of decorative items from banana yarn. A documentary was screened to shed light on the different aspects relating to these activities. As many as 40 trainees and Agricultural officials attended the meeting. The fifth edition of the three-month free agricultural training course, conducted by Jeuti every year, is currently under way. Jeuti and its sister organization, Jeuti Eye Bank, held a two-day workshop on corneal transplantation and eye banking on September 6 and 7. On the opening day of the workshop, 64 poor patients from rural areas were treated at a free cataract operation camp. Dr Swaraj Bhattacharyya, Dr Subhakingkar Goswami, Dr Kabita Deka Baishya, Dr Himanta Hazarika, Dr Gauri Shankar Gogoi and Dr Pulakesh Bhagowaty attended to the patients at the camp. Dr Samar Kumar Basak of the Kolkata-based Disha Eye Hospital performed a live surgery for corneal tranplantation in the evening. On September 7, Dr Basak and Dr Kasturi Bhattacharyya of Guwahati, who is the winner of Colonel Rangaswami award, were felicitated at a function chaired by Jeuti president Dr Rajendra Prasad Das. Other 14 opthalmologists were also feted at the same function by Jeuti and Jeuti Eye Bank. Joint Director of Health Services Dr Paban Deori and educationist Kabita Rajguru spoke at the felicitation ceremony. Medical director of Jeuti Eye Bank Dr Narayan Bardoloi anchored the ceremony. source: sentinel assam

SGBG demands river valley project in Asom By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Sept 10: The Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG), a leading citizens body of the capital city, has urged the Centre to introduce a river valley project in Asom for a permanent solution to the flood problem of the State which has virtually crippled the economy of Asom. “Though the Centre has initiated river valley projects in various States, including neighbouring West Bengal, Asom remains deprived in this regard,” said SGBG president Dhiren Baruah while talking to The Sentinel. An executive meeting of the organization held recently discussed the flood scenario in Asom. The SGBG is of the view that not only the Centre, all most all the national political parties are neglecting the prevailing flood situation in Asom. “National political leaders should visit Asom for an on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation,” he said. He appealed to all the political parties to stand united and demand that the Centre takes up a long-term flood management measure to save Asom from the repeated deluge. source: sentinel assam

AYM for CBI probe into breached embankments By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Sept 10: In spite of the Chief Engineer in the Water Resource Department admitting to the fact that 93 per cent of embankments in the State built after 1970 are in bad shape, why has not the Government launched a concerted drive to repair them, questioned the Asom Yuba Mancha (AYM) general secretary Jitul Deka. The AYM demanded that the Government launches a CBI inquiry into the breach of embankments in the State. Deka said that this years floods is the result of severe corruption by ex-Water Resource Minister Bharat Narah and officials of the department. Narah totally demoralized the whole department and several work on embankments were stalled due to the minister’s apathy, said Deka. In fact the department has not devised long-term measures to fight the flood problem in the State, claimed Deka. What we see at the preset is that the Government initiates repair work of the embankments during the rainy season, said Deka, and he added that such repair work must be done during the dry winter months. source: sentinel assam Politics aggravating influx issue: Panthers Party chief By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Sept 10: Infiltration is a dangerous threat to the identity of the Asomiya people, said Bhim Singh, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party here today. He thinks the issue of influx has become more critical due to unwarranted politicalization of the issue. The political parties are trying to use this sensitive issue for gaining political mileage without concentrating on a permanent solution to the issue, he said while talking with newsmen at the Guwahati Press Club today. The Panthers Party chief was in the city to attend the Sri Kameswari Jagna under way at the Sonaram Field. Expressing concern over the problem of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, Singh said that the flow of illegal immigrants has been pushing the socio-economic scenario and population pattern towards a dangerous direction. The issue deserves an early solution to maintain the development process in the State, he added. Terming the Asom movement led by the AASU as a great people’s uprising, he, however, said that the current situation in Asom has changed considerably. The Panthers Party chief thinks that illegal infiltration cannot be stopped unless there is proper fencing at the international boundaries across the country. He said, the situation in Asom and Jammu and Kashmir is similar as far as law and order problem is concerned.source: sentinel assam BJYM pooh poohs Moily’s Asom visit By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Sept 10: The Bharatiya Janata Yuba Morcha (BJYM) today termed the recent visit of Congress leader Veerappa Moily to the State as nothing but a distraction ploy by the Congress party. The State president of BJYM Dilip Saikia today send that the onus of providing relief to flood-hit victims is with the Central Government and Moily’s visit, who is just another Congress leader, will do little to mitigate the suffering of people in the State. The Congress ministers and MLAs are creating a huge hue and cry over the visit of Moily and is saying that the visit shows that the Centre is indeed worried about the floods in the State, said Saikia. But the fact is that, since the people of the State are angry with the Congress and the Prime Minister, Moily’s visit is just a token visit to calm this angry, said Saikia. Even the Prime Minister who represents Asom in the Rajya Sabha did little for the flood-hit victims of the State. In 2005, during the tripartite talks between the Centre, State Government and the AASU, Manmohan Singh declared that floods in Asom would be declared as a national problem. If the Prime Minister is true to this words he should have implemented the process to declare floods in Asom as a national problem, said Saikia. Ridiculing Gogoi’s claim that it does not want outside help as the State Government has enough funds for flood relief, Saikia said that if that is the case, why is the money not reaching the flood-hit victims. The funds in the calamity fund must be used judiciously otherwise there is every possibility that it will find its way to the pockets of ministers and MLAs, said Saikia. The BJYM also slammed the State Government over its handling of the flood situation. The youth body questioned as to why such a publicity drive has been launched to showcase Moily’s visit. At a time when people of the State are in distress, such publicity gimmicks by the Government over the visit of a party leader smacks of insensitivity and immaturity, said the BJYM. source: sentinel assam