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GUWAHATI, May 10 — The Assam cabinet adopted a resolution opposing the Union Cabinet’s approval to the repeal of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the tabling of the Bill in the Parliament for repeal was a ‘political gimmick’ of the BJP-led NDA government. The resolution, adopted last night, pointed out that the Act was for providing security to Indian citizens. Gogoi told PTI here in an exclusive interview that his Congress government had lodged a protest with the Centre for its move to scrap the Act.

“We want illegal foreigners...

Shillong, May 9: The United Democratic Party (UDP) today elected Meghalaya deputy chief minister Donkupar Roy as party president, triggering strong protests from supporters of outgoing president and former chief minister, E.K. Mawlong.

Refusing to accept Roy as president, Mawlong’s supporters threatened to quit the party.

Addressing newsmen after the election, which was conducted at the fourth general council meeting of the UDP, Roy said the decision to remove Mawlong was unanimous.

“If there was any objection, it should have been raised during the election,” he said.

Ruling out the UDP’s...

Calcutta, May 9: The NSCN (I-M) today clarified that it had no objection to former Union home secretary K. Padmanabhaiah being a member of the Centre’s team for the Naga peace talks, but stuck to its demand for appointment of a political leader as chief interlocutor.

V.S. Atem, a former kilonser (minister) in the NSCN (I-M) hierarchy, told The Telegraph while passing through the city that his outfit had always believed that a bureaucrat could not do justice to the chief interlocutor’s role in the peace process. “Padmanabhaiah can continue as a member of Delhi’s negotiating team, though not as...

SHILLONG, May 8 — Former Meghalaya Forest minister Adolf-Lu-Hitler R Marak is absconding despite repeated summons issued against him for his alleged connections with the banned Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), an insurgent outfit operating in the Garo Hills district of the state. The startling revelation was made by Chief Minister D D Lapang here Tuesday evening following persistent queries by newsmen on alleged politician-militant nexus in the state and the government’s stand on the issue.

‘Nobody, whether he is a minister or officer will be spared if he is found to have links with...

GUWAHATI, May 9 – The river police force, set up in 1979 to check illegal infiltration from across the border, to check crimes and to prevent smuggling, has not been able to perform as per the expectations due to years of neglect by successive Governments, while, a proposal for setting up a full fledged battalion of river police is pending before the Government of India. Assam has more than 247 kilometre of international border with Bangladesh, of which 110 kilometre is riverine border. Of the riverine international border, 46 kilometre is in Dhubri district, 41 kilometre in Karimganj district...