News

Guwahati, March 10: H.W.T. Syiem, the banking ombudsman for the Northeast, has called for spiking the inner-line permit regulation to bolster investments in the region.“It is an archaic law and needs to be reviewed to make the region more investment-friendly,” Syiem said here today at a seminar on international trade and development of the region. The two-day seminar is being organised by the Northeast Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Syiem, a former secretary in the North Eastern Council, said prospective investors shy away from the Northeast because of its antiquated land laws, prohibiting...

NEW DELHI, March 10 — The Central government is not moved by the spurt of attacks unleashed by outlawed ULFA with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani ruling out any possibility of talks in the near future with the outfit. The Deputy Prime Minister’s statement was in keeping with the unstated policy of the Central government to isolate the militant outfit before engaging them in talks. Advani was talking to newsmen at the Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) here today.

The Central government is on the opinion that its two-pronged strategy of thrust on economic development...

BANGKOK, March 10 — Underscoring the need for the continuance of the ongoingg Naga peace talks with the Centre, Nagaland NSCN(IM) has urged the Indian Government to depute a politician instead of a bureaucrat to hold parleys with the group, reports PTI.

NSCN sources said they were keen to have a politician at the talks instead of a bureaucrat. “In any talks, there has to be give and take, and it is difficult sometimes to negotiate with non-politicians.”

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who was in Bangkok over the last two days, said he had met with NSCN (IM) chairman Chishi Swu and both...

Shillong, March 10: Settling all differences within the ruling coalition, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) today decided to nominate Martin M. Danggo as its candidate for the post of Speaker, election to which will be held on Wednesday.

At a meeting attended by the coalition partners of the MDA today, the leaders discussed the issue and resolved to settle the differences that had arisen after the Congress announced Danggo’s name as the MDA candidate for the post.

It was also decided at the meeting that the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) chief Hopingstone Lyngdoh would be...

GUWAHATI, March 10 — Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today presented a Rs 2365.91-crore deficit Budget for Assam for the year 2003-2004 without imposing any fresh tax on items taxable under the Assam General Sales Tax Act. However, he proposed to reduced tax on newsprint and exempt items like indigenous hand made musical instruments, slate and pencil, human blood, khadi and khadi products etc from levy of tax. He also proposed to impose entry tax on dry fish, gamocha, biscuit, processed fruit juice etc to promote local enterprise and industries.

In his Budget speech, the Chief Minister said that...