BJP lambasts UPA for illegal influx

From Our Spl Correspondent NEW DELHI, July 7 – Strategising along expected lines, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to rake up the issues of Chinese intrusion into Arunachal Pradesh and illegal influx from Bangladesh and its devastating impact on the North-East, in a major way. Come Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is going to enter the election scene in the North-East, particularly in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, with all guns blazing, targeting the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre and the Tarun Gogoi government in the State.Releasing BJP’s own version of the Report Card on the four years of UPA Government here today, Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it was hardly anything to be proud of, and for all intents and purposes, the UPA has been a total failure on every front, gasping for its last breath.The 118-page booklet brought out by the main Opposition party has 18 chapters, and elaborately deals with the North-East. The BJP countered the Centre’s claim on the internal security, asserting that it has in fact deteriorated. In Assam, the Congress Government is turning a blind eye to a sinister bid to create tension between Karbis and Dimasas. The Congress Government has colluded with the perpetrators of these assaults on the nation’s integrity.In Manipur, it looks like the writ of the UPA government does not run there. Returning to its pet theme, the saffron party said that Assam’s Muslim population has trebled in the last 50 years. The Muslim population in Assam has increased by over 313 per cent as against the Hindu population growth rate of 193 per cent, in half-a-century between 1951-2001. Again quoting former Director General of Census Operations, NC Dutta, the BJP booklet held that it was due to illegal influx from Bangladesh that lower Assam and Barak valley districts had registered a high rate of population increase.The UPA Government has adopted a myopic and selfish approach towards the grave problems of demographic invasion by Bangladeshi infiltrators, giving no thought to the long-term harm that this could do to India’s security, unity and integrity, it said.The BJP criticised Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for describing former Governor Lt Gen Ajai Singh’s report on illegal migrants as being “totally baseless”.The Congress governments at the Centre and in the State are responsible for the current state of affairs in Assam, as they have always followed the policy of vote-bank even at the cost of national interests, the BJP alleged.The party, quoting an Intelligence Bureau report, also expressed concern at the high growth of madrassas in 12 States, including Assam. The border State of Assam has 2002 madrassas, which is lower than West Bengal (2116). The highest number of madrassas is in Kerala (9,975), it said.Touching on the ULFA issue, the Report Card pointed towards the outfit’s links with ISI and alleged that the ULFA is ultimately fighting the Jehadi war on behalf of ISI, which is calling the shots. “The ULFA is outsourcing explosives and IEDs from ISI. The Home Ministry’s report also confirms that ISI has succeeded in bringing ULFA, MULFA and MULTA together to carry out subversive activities”.The BJP held the Assam Government’s soft stand on insurgency responsible for the continued targeting of the Hindi-speaking people in the State. “It is a well-known fact that the Congress had taken the help of ULFA in elections and because of this, it is unable to deal with the banned outfit firmly,” it alleged.“Indecisiveness in tackling ULFA militants might unleash forces that would be injurious to inter-state cohesion and national unity,” it opined.The BJP Report Card also took a close look at the reports of intrusion by Chinese Army, mainly into Arunachal Pradesh. The UPA seems to be groping in the dark on its relations and dealings with China. It has no definite policy, the Report Card charged, attacking the Left parties as well.The villain of the piece is the UPA’s total dependence on the Left for its survival. For the CPM, the interests of China are superior to those of the nation, it said. The BJP has demanded that a Joint Parliamentary Committee should visit the spot to verify the situation, but UPA Government has so far not taken any steps to clear the mist, it said referring to intrusions in Sumdorong Chu Valley, Asapila and Taksin areas. The BJP booklet had, however, some major errors. It mentioned that its MPs Khiren Rijiju and Tapir Gaon were from Sikkim.The party questioned the UPA Government’s policy on Tibet, repeated incursions by China, refusal of visa to an IAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh cadre, alleging that the UPA Govt is indulging in blatant appeasement of China. The BJP also described the proposed road to Mount Everest as a security threat to India. The Chinese efforts to divert the Brahmaputra river away from India would have serious ramifications. The project envisages a series of 11 dams around the Brahmaputra loop. India can ignore thee developments on India-Tibet border only at its peril, it said. source: assam tribune

Arunachal moves ASI for Tawang heritage tag

- Though a tad late, govt wakes up to preserve 400-year-old relics at Buddhist treasure house ATONU CHOUDHURI

Itanagar, June 4: One of Asia’s biggest and most revered Buddhist treasures — the magnificent Tawang monastery — could finally see the “scientific preservation” of its priceless relics with the Arunachal Pradesh government moving the Archaeological Survey of India for granting it heritage status.

Years of monumental neglect have taken their toll on the monastery’s 400-year-old relics, but the state government has finally woken up to the danger. “It is already very late, but we have moved the ASI for the heritage tag. Once the ASI moves in, the monastery and its relics could be preserved in a scientific manner,” Tage Tada, the director of the state research department said.
Considered a cornerstone of Buddhist faith, the monastery is an architectural marvel besides being a treasure house of rare manuscripts and artefacts. Nestled amidst picturesque snow-clad hills, it was built in 1680-81 and is the second largest monastery in Asia after the Potala monastery of Lhasa in Tibet.

The monastery in Tawang is famous for its 8.3-metre-high golden Buddha statue. It also houses a library, which is a treasure trove of valuable sculptures, scriptures, manuscripts and other old books, both handwritten and printed. Its museum has rare and beautiful artefacts, including some personal possessions of the 6th Dalai Lama, who was born in Tawang.

Tada said many 17th century artefacts like exquisite paintings, mostly murals and staco, had faded beyond restoration. These paintings, portraying Buddhist mythological tales and dance forms of Monpa tribesman, are known for their sheer grace and finesse.

“However, the remaining paintings and other Buddhist artefacts made of wood and metals can be preserved in a scientific manner to ensure that they survive the ravages of time,” he added.
Tada said several scriptures and manuscripts depicting the Jataka Tales were also facing the danger of extinction.

The ASI had tried to help the monastery in 2003, but had to back out in the face of opposition from the monastery authorities and local people.

A monk in the monastery, Lama Sanglu, admitted that a team of the ASI and officials of the state research department were obstructed by the Lhangekhang or a group of lamas.
The lamas’ argument was that “if outsiders were allowed to work on the premises, it would desecrate the sanctity of the monastery”.

Another state government official said, “The monastery authorities have now realised the necessity of proper preservation to save invaluable artefacts.”
Besides proper preservation measures, the “heritage tag” will also ensure a steady flow of central funds to the monastery for its maintenance.

“In a tribal state like Arunachal Pradesh, where people are least aware of the artistic and aesthetic values of heritage sites that bear testimony to the glorious past, it is the government which must initiate measures to educate people on the importance of such sites,” the official added.

S.K. Manjul, the superintending archaeologist of the ASI’s Guwahati circle, said: “The apathy of the monastery authorities to protect and renovate it is very sad. Hopefully, things will look up. We will do whatever is required once we get a formal request from the government.”

China-Dalai talks likely next month

China-Dalai talks likely next month

MELBOURNE, June 12 – The Dalai Lama today said that talks between his envoys and China on the festering Tibet issue may resume next month as he reminded Beijing that “stability must come from the heart, not a gun.” The Dalai, now on a visit to Australia to deliver a series of meditation lectures, said he hoped that a new round of talks between his envoys and Chinese officials would take place “maybe next month.” Representatives of the Tibetan government-in-exile met with Chinese officials in early May in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and held inconclusive talks on the Tibet issue, weeks after the worst anti-government riots erupted in mid-March in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. The two sides had agreed to meet again but did not specify any date. The Dalai Lama said he backed China’s quest for a stable and harmonious society, but he also renewed his call for Tibet to be granted meaningful autonomy. “Stability must come from the heart, not a gun,” he said. The Tibet violence spread to neighbouring provinces in which at least 22 people were killed. The clashes fuelled anger over China’s rule in Tibet and the Olympic torch relay became the target of Tibetan pro-independence protests in Paris, London, San Francisco and other cities that threatened to cast a shadow over the Beijing Games in August. At a press conference in Sydney, the 72-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader also urged Tibetans not to hamper the Beijing Olympic torch relay when it passes through the restive Himalayan region. “We have fully supported the Olympic Games right from the beginning. The torch is part of that,” he said.“Over 1 billion Chinese brothers and sisters feel really proud of that. We should respect that,” he said, adding that “I don’t think there will be any trouble” when the torch relay passes through. The Olympic torch relay is due in Tibet from June 19 to 21. China blames the Dalai Lama for the recent Tibetan unrest, saying it was part of a campaign to split the region from the rest of the country. The Dalai Lama has denied these charges, saying he wants a meaningful autonomy for his people under China’s rule, not independence. – PTI