Back issues - February '06
News on 28th February '06
SEBA Chairman, Controller quit; CM orders CID probe:
Guwahati: Buckling under pressure from various quarters, SEBA Chairman Dina Nath Barman and Controller of Examinations BC Medhi on Feb 26 resigned from their respective posts even as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi ordered the CID to inquire into "all aspects" of the leakage of the HSLC General Mathematics question paper and bring the culprits to the book at the earliest. The Chief Minister, after his return from New Delhi on Feb 26, held a high-level meeting with Higher Education Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman and Secondary Education Minister Hemprakash Narayan and other senior officials of the department, and directed the authorities to ensure that the remaining examination be conducted without any problem. In the wake of the statewide uproar following the cancellation of the leaked General Mathematics paper, the State Government had suspended SEBA secretary Dilwar Hussain on Feb 25. The Government had also ordered an inquiry by Principal Secretary HM Carie into the circumstance leading to the leak. Meanwhile, the AASU, which continued with its protests against the alleged malfeasance of the SEBA till late this evening, said that Secondary Education Minister Hemprakash Narayan should put down his papers owning the moral responsibility.
Bengali body wants 22 seats, submits memo to CM:
Guwahati: Stating that more than 65 lakh Hindu Bengalis living in the State have been victims of political negligence, the All Assam Bengali Youth Students' Federation (AABYSF) on Feb 26 submitted an 11 point memorandum to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi demanding seats for Bengali candidates from 22 Assembly constituencies of Barahmaputra valley, reservation for Bengalis of Brahmaputra valley in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, registration of Linguistic Minority Development Board and release of finance for the development of the community. The memorandum was submitted at a regional convention in the city where a number of political leaders were invited.
Devotees beeline in Shiva temples:
Guwahati: The Lord of the universe, who combines contrasting qualities of the creator and destroyer, was invoked by lakhs of devotees throughout the State. On the occasion of Shivaratri on Feb 26, devotees began thronging the Shiva mandirs since dawn to worship the Lord, benefactor of all beings. The ancient temple of Umanada, guarded by the mighty Brahmaputra, witnessed a heavy rush of devotees cutting across all sections of society. The sacrosanct premises of this age-old temple converted into a sea of humanity, and reverberated with the cries of the devotees hailing the Lord. However, the weather on Feb 26 added to the discomfort of the devotees queuing for several hours at a stretch. The parched lips and throats of the devotees were jointly taken care of by the Shiv Bhakt Mandal and the Maheswari Mahila Samity, who offered tea, water and a drink called thandai to the thirsty since 6 a.m.
AASU ransacks SEBA office, asks Chairman, Secretary and Exam Controller to quit; SEBA drops leaked paper:
Guwahati: The leakage of the General Mathematics question papers for the ongoing HSLC examination has put the Secondary Education Board Assam (SEBA) as well as the State Education Department in a tight spot. Not only has the inexcusable incident bared the ornamental façade that the Board wears, but it has also placed the last straw on SEBA's back almost clearly indicating the beginning of an end to a 43-year-long history. It is for the first time that the HSLC examination, often termed as a student's initiation into the world of competition, has been stalled in Assam, and for a wrong reason. Confirming the leakage, SEBA Chairman DN Barman told that the paper (mathematics) was leaked on Feb 24 at Bijni in Chirang district and Kayakuchi in Barpeta from where photo copies of the question paper (handwritten) were sold out for hefty sums. On being informed of the matter by the Barpeta SP, the SEBA authorities cancelled the examination late last night, Barman said.
HPC(D) says it has no hand in bid on Nunisa life:
Guwahati: HPC(D) 'defence secretary', in a letter to DHD chairman Dilip Nunisa, said that his group was in no way connected with the Feb 23 attempt on Nunisa's life near Haflong. Expressing its solidarity with DHD, the HPC(D) said that some trouble mongers were out to strain the relationship between the DHD and the HPC(D). However, mystery shrouds the entire pisode since the DHD(J), the cadres of which, barring Jewel Garlosa, have almost merged with the DHD, claimed the responsibility on the life of Nunisa.
300 stalls and varied products:
Guwahati: The annual shopping carnival organized by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam, north-eastern region, which kicked off on Feb 20 at the Chandmari Engineering ground, has a varied range of consumer products right from technical gizmos to glittering jewelleries and traditional handicrafts on display. Altogether 300 stalls have been attractively done up at the 13th International Guwahati Trade Fair which will conclude on March 4.
News on 27th February '06
Foundation of Rs 45 crore automotive project laid in Cachar:
Silchar: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Sontosh Mohan Dev on Feb 26 laid the foundation of the Rs 45 crore National Automotive Testing Research and Development Infrastructure Project (NARTRIP) at Dhalacherra in Cachar district on Feb 26. According to a press release, after laying the foundation Dev said that it was the only project of its kind in the North-east. According to him, six other such projects will be set up in other parts of the nation. The Project, according to Dev, will employ 200 people directly and 1,000 others will get training annually.
Govt advertisement gets the stick:
Jorhat: The Association of Ex-NCC Cadets of Assam has blamed the State Government of putting the future of educated youths in darkness in regard to the advertisement for filling up 205 posts of sub inspectors in the State. The AENCA president Walyu Husnat Choudhury and secretary Anupam Bora and have said that the hopes of hundreds of youths were dashed to the ground as the upper age limit has been fixed at 24 in the advertisement. This is not fair in view of the fact that the last interview for "such posts were held in 1997, there has been no recruitment to the post of sub inspectors and many educated youths have lost the opportunity to apply as the upper age limit is so less" Choudhury said.
Sonowal blasts IFA amendment:
Sivasagar: AGP MP Sarbananda Sonowal lambasted the Centre for puching Assam away from the national mainstream by adopting discriminatory practices towards Assam. The Dibrugarh MP and senior AGP leader Sonowal was interacting with leading citizens and media persons at Sivasagar Natya Mandir. He said that the latest example of discriminatory practice towards Assam was the amendment of Indian Foreigners Act, 1946 exclusively for Assam in respect of onus of proving illegality in respect of illegal foreigners in Assam.
High Court seeks report on illegal construction:
Guwahati: In a significant development, the Gauhati High Court on Feb 24 directed the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to submit the status report on the illegal constructions, if any, in the city by March 7. The court has also sought the list of building permission given by the two authorities in last one year. A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice B Sudarshan Reddy and justice D Biswas, by talking up a suo motto public interest litigation on the basis of a report on Feb 23 under the headline 'Apartment building by-laws: Citizens' body's concern over construction in open spaces', has also served notice to the Guwahati Development Department (GDD) under the State Government. The matter is fixed for further hearing on March 7.
Amendment to Foreigners Act (for Assam); Govt blames it on former AASU leaders, but not Rajiv:
Guwahati: Assam Government spokesman Himanta Biswas Sarma on Feb 24 blamed it on former All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leaders for the circumstances leaders for the circumstances leading to the amendment to the Foreigners Act (only in Assam) so as to give a security shield to the minority community in the State. "By signing the Assam Accord, some of the clauses of which are detrimental to the interest of the State and its people, the then AASU leaders betrayed the people of the State," Sarma told reporters on Feb 24. If the State Government spokesman's accusation against the former AASU leaders (now leaders of AGP and its offshoot AGP-P) holds any water in it, the blame should also go to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi whose Congress Government at the Centre was one of the signatories of the historic Accord.
BJP Kishan Morcha for nationwide strike:
Guwahati: The Kishan Morcha of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to spearhead a country-wide agitation to protest against the amendment of the Foreigners Act. This was stated by Kalicharan Singh, national general secretary of the Morcha and in-charge of Assam affairs, while talking to newsmen on Feb 24. Singh, who is in Guwahati to attend the State executive meeting of the farmers' wing of the party, said the State Government has miserably failed to protect the farmers residing along the Indo-Bangla border areas of the State, where encroachment of farming land and looting of agricultural products of the poor farmers by the Bangladishi miscreants are regular phenomena.
Lobourers' wages hiked:
Guwahati: The indefinite strike called jointly by three labour union - the All Assam Railway goods Handling Mazdoor Union, the Fancy Bazar Mazdoor Union and the Beltola Mazdoor Union - demanding wage hike ended on Feb 24 following intervention by the district administration. In a meeting attended by the Kamrup (Metro) DC, representatives of the KCC and secretaries of the three labour on Feb 24, the wages of labourers have been revised as - Rs.1.15 for per 50 kg bag against the existing 96 paise, Rs.1.90 for per 100 kg bag against the existing Rs.1.36 and 70 paise tin of oil against the existing 64 paise.
News on 26th February '06
16 killed, 20 hurt in Chhaygaon mishap:
Chhaygaon: At leased 16 people were killed and 20 others injured when two vehicles collided at Kawoimari under Chhaygaon Police Station at around 3.50 p.m. on Feb 24. According to reports, the mishap occurred when a bus (AS 01J 7616) heading towards Guwahati from Goalpara collided head-on with a Mahindra Cruiser (AS 01W 4466) which was speeding for Goroimari from Guwahati. While16 passengers died on the spot, 20 others were injured - some of them serious. The dead have not been identified till the filing of this report. The injured, on the other hand, have either been admitted to the local hospital or sent to the GMCH.
The Voice of India; Debojit does Assam proud:
Guwahati: Assam sensation Debojit Saha has at last done it and get declared the Voice of India by defeating of Lucknow lad Vinit by 4,59,470 votes in the grand finale of the Zee TV's Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa challenge, 2005 contest at Mumbai on Feb 24. Of the total 5,50,56,006 votes cast, Debojit bagged 2,77,57,738 votes while Vinit got 2,72,98,268 votes. With his massive win, Debojit did Assam and the entire North-east - which is always in the receiving end be it in games and sport, Central funds and facilities, the Railway Budgets etc. - proud. It is a 'mother's dream' coming true for Debojit who got tremendous support from the All Assam Students' Union, other student bodies of the region and the people.
News on 25th February '06
'Foreigners Act amendment orders a conspiracy against Assam'; AASU on warpath:
Guwahati: Enraged by the Centre's action of issuing two amendment orders under the Foreigners' Act, namely the Foreigners (Tribunal) Amendment Order, 2006 and Foreigner (Tribunal for Assam) Order, 2006, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has on Feb 23 declared a series of agitation programmes from Feb 24. Demanding immediate withdrawal of the orders, the premier students' body has threatened a vigorous democratic movement against, what it called, the serious conspiracy and injustice toward Assam by the government. The AASU has decided to burn the copy of gazette notification of the amended orders in all the subdivisions and district headquarters on Feb 24 and send a protest note demanding withdrawal of the amended orders to the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister on February 27.
21 more Foreigners Tribunals in State:
Guwahati: The State Government has established 21 Foreigners Tribunals in addition to the existing 11 in the State for detection of foreigners 'in terms of the judgement of the Supreme Court of India on July 12, 2005', the government sources said on Feb 23. According to the sources, the question as to whether a person is or is not a foreigner within the meaning of the Foreigners Act, 1964 may be referred to such tribunals specifically for opinion. The headquarters of the newly-established tribunals will be at Dhubri, Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Barpeta (2nd and 3rd tribunals), Nalbari, Guwahati (Metro), Guwahati (Rural), Mangaldoi, Tezpur, North Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Nagaon, Hojai, Silchar, Bongaigaon, Golaghat, Morigaon (1st and 2nd tribunals), Karimganj and Dhemaji. The notification in this regard was issued on January 24.
BJP stages protest:
Guwahati: The State BJP has termed the amendment orders of Foreigners' Act as a 'Congress conspiracy to hand over Assam to Bangladesh.' The BJP staged a protest demonstration against the move in front of the party headquarters on Feb 23. This was attended by several party leaders, including BJP's North-east organizing secretary V Satish, former Union Minister Bijoya Chakraborty and the party State vice-president Dhruba Prasad Baishya.