News

GUWAHATI, April 3 — Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today informed that the Government of India was yet to take any concrete initiative to man the unguarded Indo-Bhutan border in the State to prevent infiltration of extremists from their camps in Himalayan kingdom. Talking to newsmen here this morning, Sri Gogoi said, “Although the State Government has been insisting on deployment of the BSF along the unmanned Indo-Bhutan border, the Centre has decided to deploy SSB personnel. However, no step has been taken so far to deploy even the SSB along the international border through which ULFA and NDFB...

HAFLONG, April 2— To create awareness among the public in demanding autonomous State under the Article 244(A) of the Constitution, and in protest against the misrule of Congress in NC Hills Autonomous Council a monthlong agitational programme has been chalked out by the NC Hills ASDC in its joint extended meeting of ASDC/DSU/DWS held on March 26 at ASDC office, Haflong.

On April 8, the ASDC/DSU/DWS would organise dharna from 10 am to 4 pm in front of the NC Hills Autonomous Council, Haflong in protest against the misrule of Congress(I) in NCHAC. From April 10 to 23, ASDC/DSU/DWS would hold a...

NEW DELHI, April 2 – Floods may be knocking on the doors but the ministries concerned with the flood control works are locked in a bitter war of words over allocation of funds. The Central Government has released Rs 29 crore to Assam from the Non-Lapsable Pool of Central Resources during 2002-2003, Union Ministry of Water Resources today clarified.

The Ministry’s clarification was in response to State Water Resources Minister, Nurjamal Sarkar’s charge made yesterday about non-release of funds for flood control schemes. Before the NDA Government came to power, the only channel of releasing...

GUWAHATI, April 2 — The Assam Legislative Assembly today passed the Assam State Commission for Minorities Bill, 2003 to pave the way for setting up of a State Commission for Minorities. The Commission will consist of a chairperson and two members — one from the religious and one from linguistic minority groups — to be nominated by the State government. Retired judges of the High Court will be appointed as chairpersons and members and their term will be for a period of three years. The State government will provide the Commission with a secretary and such other officers and employees as may be...

GUWAHATI, April 2 — Cutting across party lines, members of the State Assembly today demanded Scheduled Tribe status to Koch Rajbongshi community. Raising the issue in the House, the Leader of the Opposition, Sri Bridaban Goswami pointed out that the Koch Rajbonshi community was given the status of Scheduled Tribe twice through ordinances, but the Centre failed to take necessary steps for giving the ST status permanently to the community. He pointed out that other tribes like Ahom, Motok, Moran and tea tribes are also demanding ST status. He suggested that the reservations should be increased...