New Delhi, Jan. 15: The famed artisans and weavers of Arunachal Pradesh are fast losing their silken touch as the “lopsided” policy of the state government is pushing the handicrafts and handloom industry to the brink of a shutdown. Several projects are under way in the state for the development of these two sectors. But they are “suffering” from some deficiency or the other and not producing the “desired impact”, sources in the Union textiles ministry said.

According to state textile minister T.G. Rimpoche, “The state is not yet ready for commercial production of handicrafts as the schemes...

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 – The Naga peace talks may have a new interlocutor, with the Central Government toying with the proposal of appointing a political leader to head the negotiations. While the Central Government is playing its cards close to its chest, the capital was agog with reports that Minister in-charge the Department for Development of the North Eastern Region (DONER), Arun Shourie name was finalised. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which is handling the negotiations is yet to make any formal announcement to the effect.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) which met last...

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The NSCN (I-M) may not be taking part in the ensuing Nagaland Assembly polls but the battle-line between the Naga underground leadership and Chief Minister of the state, SC Jamir were drawn, with the I-M leadership accusing the Congress leaders of sabotaging the peace process in the past. The animosity between the I-M leaders and Sri Jamir came out in the open when during an interaction with the newsmen the two leaders said that they had six meetings with then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi six times before Jamir sabotaged it. She later sent her emissaries for the seventh...

Imphal, January 15: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh while assuring that the violence of June 18, 2001 will not recur this time, has warned that the territorial integrity of Manipur should not be compromised by the Centre to appease the Naga rebel group, NSCN (I-M). In an exclusive interview with The Sangai Express, the Chief Minister said despite the assurances given by various Central leaders to preserve the territorial integrity of Manipur, if the ongoing Centre-NSCN (I-M) peace talks take up any move that might alter the existing territorial boundary of the State, Government of India should be...

Imphal, January 15: A series of formal inauguration functions marked the second day of the MANIFEST which began from Tuesday here at three different places within the Swabhumi, a heritage Plaza Complex here at Salt Lake (Kolkata) this afternoon. The inaugural session among the day's three main programmes in the ongoing cultural "Festival of Manipuri Poetry" was held at Bioscope, a mini Hall of Swabhumi with the recitation of the Arts and Culture Minister Dr Nara's poem " Prakitina Tengthaba" (meaning, Cry of Nature) as part of the continuing weeklong MANIFEST. Altogether 21 poets including...