"(If crude prices stay at current levels), our revenue loss for the 2006-07 fiscal would be around Rs 30,000 crore," IOC chairman S Behuria told reporters here.

The company was selling petrol at Rs 5.67 per litre lower than the imported cost while diesel was being sold at Rs 7.60 a litre discount to the imported cost. Kerosene was being sold at a loss of Rs 13 per litre and the company was losing Rs 191 on sale of every cylinder of domestic cooking gas (LPG).

Behuria said IOC, which controls roughly half of the Indian fuel market, was losing Rs 80 per day on selling petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene below the production cost. "In April alone, our revenue loss is estimated at Rs 2500 crore," he said.

Sources said the under-realisation in revenue by state- run oil marketing companies - IOC, Bharat Petroleum Corp and Hindustan Petroleum Corp - for selling petrol and diesel below their production cost was Rs 883 crores in the first fortnight of April. This was over and above the Rs 14,756 crore shortfall faced by the OMCs in April 2005-March 2006. (PTI)

"The Left parties are our valued allies at the Centre in the last two years. There are some problems in the working of a coalition government. And whatever problems there may be between the allies, I have full faith we will resolve the issues in the larger interest in an amicable manner," Singh said.

He was addressing a press conference here after speaking at a series of election rallies in support of the UDF candidates in Kerala, which will go for the first phase of Assembly polls on April 22.

"We are implementing the CMP as agreed by UPA in all sincerity. It remains our guide for furture direction to all our policies," Singh said.

Asked about CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat's remarks that the UPA was implementing the CMP of US President George W. Bush, Singh said "I would like to say in all modesty, I don't accept that."

"I cannot change my style. It has been the same in the last two years as Prime Minister," he said when asked as to whether he was playing safe by refraining from touching sensitive issues during electioneering so as not to annoy the Left partners. (PTI)

"A military nursing college would be set up at Guwahati, which would be second of its kind in the country and an Army Public School is proposed to be located at either Kohima or Imphal", Major General RS Sujlana, Additional Director General Public Information said here on Wednesday. Besides, Sujlana said army also proposed to build nine more army schools all over the country. (PTI)

Hyderabad: Senior BJP leader L K Advani Wednesday attacked the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre for "failing" to take steps towards formation of a separate Telangana state and said his party was committed to the cause. "We are committed to supporting Telangana cause. But it is for the Government to bring forward the bill. It is they (Congress) who had promised Telangana state and failed to fulfil it. Why are they pushing the blame on us now," he told a press conference here before resuming his 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra' which entered the naxalite-hit Telangana region amidst tight security. Asking the Government to introduce the bill for formation of Telangana state in the coming session of Parliament, Advani said his party would support it. Though BJP was the first party to favour statehood for Telangana when its state unit passed a resolution to this effect in the run-up to the 1998 elections, it had kept the issue on the back-burner while in power at the Centre in return for the support from its then-crucial ally TDP which is strongly opposed to the bifurcation of the state. After ending its seven-year alliance with TDP, BJP has revived the Telangana card in a bid to regain its lost ground in the backward region. On the 10th day of his yatra today, Advani would address a series of meetings in Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad districts and pass through Maoist stronghold areas where security has been beefed up. The Leader of Opposition is also expected to address roadside meetings covering the assembly segments of Medchel, Ramayampet, Kamareddy, Armoor, Nirmal and Adilabad.

Addressing a string of public meetings at Medchel, Toopran, Ramayampet and Kamareddy in the Telangana heartland, Advani pledged his party's support to Telangana cause but put the onus of carving out the new state on the UPA government. A section of the crowd at several roadside meetings raised slogans in support of Telangana state. There was wide applause from the gathering whenever the BJP leader made a mention of Telangana issue. Sensing the public mood, the Leader of the Opposition declared at a public meeting at Kamareddy in Nizamabad district that BJP would vote in favour of the constitutional amendment bill for creation of Telangana state and dared the UPA government to introduce such a legislation in the coming Parliament session. "The Congress has committed a breach of trust as it has failed to fulfill its pre-poll promise on creation of Telangana state," he said and reminded the gathering that BJP was not in power now and that it was the responsibility of the Congress-led UPA government to introduce the bill.

By coming out openly in support of the statehood demand, the BJP hopes to regain the lost ground in the backward region where the saffron party had considerable influence in the past. A large posse of armed policemen guarded the Yatra route as Advani's entourage passed through extremist-affected areas. Condemning the Naxalite violence, Advani said the Maoists were pursuing a futile and outdated philosophy and their politics of violence would not achieve anything.

"India is recognized the world over for its vibrant democracy. Only democracy will ensure development and progress," he said. The mindless violence by Naxalites, the deepening agrarian crisis as reflected by large scale suicides by farmers and betrayal by Congress on Telangana issue were the three major areas of concern for Telangana region, Advani said. (PTI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Germany this weekend will be crucial for India's nuclear diplomacy and also rein-vigorate business and technology ties between the two countries that are both aspiring for seats in the UN Security Council.

Germany is an influential member of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and one of the prime movers behind stringent rules adopted by the European Union on the sale of dual use technologies. During his talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Hanover and Berlin, Manmohan Singh, who leaves Saturday on a four-day visit to Germany, is expected to underline India's impeccable record in non-proliferation and persuade Merkel to use her country's clout in the NSG to change rules of nuclear commerce in favour of New Delhi.

Civil nukes high on PM's Germany agenda."Winning Germany's support for the civil nuclear deal could be a breakthrough of sorts."

Civil nukes high on PM's Germany agendaManmohan Singh will inaugurate the Hanover Fair Monday - the world's biggest trade and technology jamboree that has India as partner country this year - and hold talks with Merkel on a wide range of bilateral and global issues, including the UN reforms, energy security and the Iranian nuclear programme.

"Germany is one of the more conservative members of the NSG. It's very crucial to win the support of Germany for the India-US nuclear deal," Rajendra K. Jain, an expert on European affairs at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here, told IANS.

"Germany's support will add to the active support of Britain and France for easing rules of global nuclear commerce in favour of India," he added. Nuclear energy supplied by 19 power reactors provides one-third of Germany’s total energy needs. Although Germany decided five years ago to phase out nuclear plants by 2021, the current grand coalition headed by Merkel is having a rethink on the issue.

"There are strong chances that Germany will say something positive about the deal. Moreover, Germany is an ally of the US and will first wait for Congress to ratify the deal before taking a position in the NSG," diplomatic sources said.

France, which actively supports New Delhi's civil nuclear ambitions, has also said it will wait for the US Congress to pass the law before doing nuclear business with India. Germany has been extremely circumspect in reacting to the India-US deal, saying the timing of the agreement was "certainly anything but helpful" in the context of the row over Iran's nuclear programme.

In a speech last month at Bundestag, the German parliament, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier countered the opposition's attempts to get the government to condemn the India-US nuclear deal and instead indicated the possibility of Berlin backing it.

"For the real question is whether this agreement can help initiate a process that will enable us to gradually integrate India into the non-proliferation regime," Steinmeier said. "Now, I'm not so naïve as to believe that India will be in a position to sign it (NPT) in the next two years. But the fact that the country will be subjecting a larger proportion of its civilian nuclear power stations to International Atomic Energy Agency supervision surely constitutes progress," he said. (IANS)

Hyderabad: Senior BJP leader LK Advani Wednesday attacked the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre for "failing" to take steps towards formation of a separate Telangana state and said his party was committed to the cause.

"We are committed to supporting Telangana cause. But it is for the Government to bring forward the bill. It is they (Congress) who had promised Telangana state and failed to fulfil it. Why are they pushing the blame on us now," he told a press conference here before resuming his 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra' which entered the naxalite-hit Telangana region amidst tight security. Though BJP was the first party to favour statehood for Telangana when its state unit passed a resolution to this effect in the run-up to the 1998 elections, it had kept the issue on the back-burner while in power at the Centre in return for the support from its then-crucial ally TDP which is strongly opposed to the bifurcation of the state.

Addressing a string of public meetings Advani pledged his party's support to Telangana cause but put the onus of carving out the new state on the UPA government.

Advani declared at a public meeting at Kamareddy in Nizamabad district that BJP would vote in favour of the constitutional amendment bill for creation of Telangana state and dared the UPA government to introduce such a legislation in the coming Parliament session. "The Congress has committed a breach of trust as it has failed to fulfill its pre-poll promise on creation of Telangana state," he said. Condemning the Naxalite violence, Advani said the Maoists were pursuing a futile and outdated philosophy and their politics of violence would not achieve anything. "India is recognized the world over for its vibrant democracy. Only democracy will ensure development and progress," he said. (PTI)

Delhi Police counsel Mukta Gupta furnished a sealed cover containing a crucial piece of evidence in the form of the disclosure statement of prime accused Siddharth Vashisht alias Manu Sharma made to the police in May 1999, soon after the incident. Gupta told the court that the disclosure statement, contained in a CD, was not considered by the trial judge while acquitting all the nine accused in the case.

Justice Jain wondered why such public documents should be submitted to the court in a sealed cover, and also why the Bench was not given sufficient time to peruse the same. Gupta agreed to submit a synoptic note of the case till the acquittal of the accused. On February 24, the Bench had issued a notice to the city Police Commissioner seeking a status report of the case.

Following widespread public outrage, Delhi Police filed an appeal against the trial court judgment before a Bench headed by Justice Manmohan Sarin. (PTI)

New Delhi: Unfazed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's criticism of his stance on the Sardar Sarovar dam issue, Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz Wednesday said whether Mr Modi is angry or not ''I have to do my duty''.

"I am not biased," said Prof. Soz, who had led a three-member ministerial team that visited Madhya Pradesh to study rehabilitation and resettlement of the Narmada oustees.

"If he (Mr Modi) is angry or not angry, I have to do my duty," Prof. Soz told reporters after launching a hydrology workshop project here this morning. Prof. Soz, whom Mr Modi blames for forcing him to go on his 51-hour fast (which was called off after the Supreme Court order allowing continuation of the dam construction), dismissed suggestions that he favoured the Medha Patkar-led Narmada Bachao Andolan which was fighting against the Narmada Control Authority’s decision to raise the height of the dam from 110.64 metres to 121.92 metres.

Inaugurating the three-day workshop that launched the World Bank-funded Hydro-logy Project II for data collection and water resource management, Soz said well-thoughtout plans are nece-ssary for proper use of India's water resources. With the country setting a target of 450 million tonnes of food-grains production by 2015, appropriate planning was necessary, he added. (UNI)

"We have already identified the accused but no arrests have been made as action would be taken only after recording a statement from the woman. I am going to Agra for that purpose," Sugan Singh, the station house officer of the Pushkar police station, told IANS on telephone.

The woman said in her complaint that during her visit to Pushkar, about 140 km from here, she had stayed at a guesthouse opposite the Rangji temple where she met Bablu, the 21-year-old manager and also the son of the guesthouse owner. The accused in a very short span of time became friendly with her and also introduced her to his family members, it said. Bablu also duped the tourist of Rs.54,000, according to the complaint.

He scared her by saying that Pushkar was not safe for female tourists, telling her to deposit with him the amount she had, promising to return it at the time of checking out of the guesthouse, the woman said. On April 2, Bablu invited her to a party he had organised in the guesthouse, during which he offered her a glass of lassi - a drink made up of sweetened curd. The drink, however, contained intoxicants, making her unconscious. It was then that Bablu raped her, she has complained.

Though the woman then left for Agra, the Uttar Pradesh city famous of Taj Mahal, she also informed the Japanese embassy in New Delhi of the alleged rape. This is the third case of rape of a foreign tourist in Rajasthan, among the most preferred tourist destinations in the country. A German woman was raped by a rickshaw driver last year while another German tourist was raped by one of her friends in Alwar last month. (IANS)

Mumbai: Extradited gangster Abu Salem has impicated underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's brother Anees in the murder of Ajit Dewani, former secretary to actress Manisha Koirala. This was revealed Wednesday in his alleged confession which was made available to prosecution and defence lawyers in a special court.

In the confession given to police earlier, Salem had admitted to his role in the murder of Dewani and said he had threatened the victim at the instance of Anees Ibrahim and had even provided weapons to Dewani's killers. As to the actual killing, Salem has said that according to what he heard from the killers, they went to Dewani's house in June 2001 to demand ransom, but Dewani abused them. Hence, his men opened fire and killed Dewani.

Salem has also said in the confession that Anees had also instructed him to threaten Bollywood directors Subhash Ghai and Ram Gopal Varma.

Altogether seven accused have been arrested for their alleged complicity in the murder of Dewani in 2001. Salem was extradited on the basis of eight cases pending against him in Indian courts. One of them was the Ajit Dewani murder case. This confession, however, Salem has retracted later. (PTI)

Washington: An Indian student in United States has been arrested for posting violent messages on an internet bulletin board urging readers to kill President George W Bush and his family.

Vikram Buddhi, a 34-year-old graduate student of Industrial Engineering and a teaching assistant at Purdue University in Indiana was picked up by the secret service last week. According to the Federal Court records, the threats posted by Buddhi included messages urging readers to kill the President, the Vice President and their families and bomb key sites in the United States. Buddhi came to the United States in 1996 on a student F-1 visa and a spokesperson of Purdue University has confirmed his status in that school, the records said.

The investigation of Buddhi is said to have begun last December when a concerned reader reported the contents of the message board to the government. That got the Secret Service into action working with the Purdue Police to track down the source. Buddhi has admitted making the threats as also using several IP addresses to conceal his identity, the local media quoted court documents as saying. Buddhi has posted a bond for $ 10,000 and was released from the Tippecanoe County jail on Monday.

The Indian student who is said to be living in the West Lafayette area for the last ten years is also said to have posted other threatening messages, including against Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and for the killing of all Republicans. His lawyer John Martin said that he did not consider his clients messages as direct threats.

"There were no letters sent to the White House, and if your read them, they're vulgar perhaps, but you wouldn't read them and think there is any serious intent." (PTI)

In an official statement issued here, the Deputy Secretary to Meghalaya Governor Mr KG Choudhury said that the Governor has sent back the Bill to the government seeking clarifications on whether "all the four Directors and Principal Director mentioned in the Bill except the one Director proposed in Shillong are to be operated from Headquarters at Tura and whether draft rules of the Act have been finalised and other related clarifications on the MBOSE Act.

The State Assembly on March 24 passed the MBOSE Bill as per the report of the select committee. The report suggested that the main members of the Board will be Executive Chairman, Principal Director, Director of Administration, Director of Accreditation and Controller of Examinations , Director of Shillong MBOSE office, the Chief Accounts Officers and Chief Academic Officer.

Indications are that as the location of the Directors other than the one specified in Shillong MBOSE office was not mentioned in the Bill, the Governor wanted the government to incorporate the same in the Bill. As per the MBOSE Bill , the regional office, Shillong will be substituted by Shillong Meghalaya Board of School Education Office and the headquarter of the Board will be located at Tura. The Shillong MBOSE office will be headed by a Director. A new post of Principal Director of the Board was also added below the Executive Chairman.

However, political observers pointed out that the move of the Governor is to pre-empt the Garo Hills NGOs stealing the thunder at the public rally on Saturday on the issue of MBOSE. NCP to skip Tura rally : Meanwhile, in a surprising development the NCP has decided to stay away from Saturday's public rally jointly called by the GSU and the JAC at Tura, our Tura correspondent adds.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting on Wednesday evening held at party leader P A Sangma's residence. NCP MLAs -- Masonsing M Sangma, Timothy D Shira, John Manner K Marak, sitting MDCs like Alphonse A Sangma, Purno K Sangma, and the three district's presidents of the party were present in the meeting along with other senior party functionaries. The decision by the NCP and P A Sangma not to attend the rally could have a far reaching effect on the proposed gathering

However, the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Mr P Jain said, "The attendance in State government offices was about 20 to 25 per cent on Wednesday."

"This is an improvement from yesterday's attendance", he claimed.

The Central government offices and the financial institutions wore a deserted look with most of them remaining closed for the second day. There is no untoward incident reported so far. The KSU exempted the MBOSE employees from the purview of the office picketing that began on Tuesday along with NEHU and other educational institutions.

In another incident, one Phrowell Lawai Lamare of Mawlai Nongpdeng was found dead in a forest in Wahiajer. Police recovered his body on Wednesday morning. Police said the deceased was missing from his residence since April 9. The reason behind his death is not yet known. 

On reaching the forest, the accused assaulted the driver and looted him, police said. Somehow the victim managed to flee from the place and after reaching Malki Point he took the help of the people, who later informed the police about the incident. Police took prompt action and arrested the duo from the jungle within ten minutes of the incident. Some eyewitnesses lauded the police for its action.

SHILLONG: The State government's decision to reappoint Mr PJ Bazeley as the Chairman of the State electricity board has triggered a clash in the ruling MDA coalition with the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) flaying Deputy Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy for his remarks against the former on the issue.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh said, "It is unfortunate that a leader of his stature has chosen to ignore the Code of Conduct and Ethics that governs the MDA by publicly attacking the coalition partner". 

To a section of the press, Dr Roy had accused KHNAM of being as instigator of the current agitation against the government.  Mr Lyngdoh clarified that even as KHNAM was created to pursue certain issues of KSU, both the organisations functioned independently and the question of each influencing the course of action of the other did not arise.

"The current controversy could have been avoided had the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Power done his homework well. I had pointed out to him earlier that the relevant provisions of the Electricity Act 1948 and the Amended Act 2003 need to be properly studied to avoid embarrassment as the Acts are sacrosanct and cannot be circumvented to suit someone's political interest."

It is regrettable that these suggestions were completely ignored, the KHNAM president said. Dr Roy's aversion to the KSU has dimmed his memory as he was the first MLA ever to have been elected with the active support of the then KSU under the leadership of late Bull N Lyngdoh in 1988. "And now it is convenient for him to kick the ladder that has taken him to the rooftop", Mr Lyngdoh said.

He also said that two issues have emerged from Dr Roy's stand - the violation of code of conduct and ethics within the MDA and the improper and wrong idea given by the Power department to the Cabinet on the interpretation of Electricity Supply Act of 1948 and 2003. "It would be fit for Mr Lapang to take note of these aberrations and act judiciously on the matter", he said.

Meanwhile, KSU president Samuel Jyrwa also reacted sharply to the statement of Dr Roy and termed it as a clear case of frustration as the government could not justify its decision. The support of the MeSEB staff and the people not attending their offices show their opposition to the government's move.

SHILLONG: Amidst controversy over the decision of the Cabinet to bring back former Chief Secretary PJ Bazeley as the MeSEB Chairman, the State Home Minister Mr. HDR Lyngdoh on Wednesday came to the rescue of Chief Minister DD Lapang and Deputy Chief Minister Donkupar Roy asserting that the appointment of Mr Bazeley was a prerogative of the Power department.

He, however, said that the Department moved the Cabinet to take a decision in this regard. "It is the cabinet, which decided in favour of Mr Bazeley's appointment  and Chief Minister or deputy Chief Minister was not alone to decide on this", Mr Lyngdoh said.

In order to resolve the differences, which affected the people and the State as a whole due to the KSU's agitation, the Home Minister gave a clarion call to the KSU "to come forward and have a one to one talk with the government". Mere agitation or confrontation between the NGOs and the government would not help us to find a solution, he said, adding that instead it would create more problem.

Expressing concern over low attendance in all the government departments on the first and the second day of the three-day office picketing, Mr Lyngdoh made a fervent appeal to the government employees to resume their duty "without fear".

With the protest against Mr Bazeley's appointment spreading across the State, the State government seems to have taken a back foot holding the official notification to this effect. Sources said that the Department was of the view that a notification could be issued only after problem was sorted out.

Informing this here on Wednesday, the Election Commission sources said that the EC would get in touch with both the petitioners and the respondents for further clarification after which normal procedure would be followed as per law.

The NCP has demanded not only disqualification of all the 25 MLAs but also debarring them from contesting any election for next 10 years.

The representation addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner Mr B B Tandon was signed by Rajya Sabha member from Meghalaya Robert Kharshiing and others. Similar representations were sent to the President of India and the Supreme Court.

SHILLONG : India and Bangladesh have decided to maintain status quo in the areas where both the countries are adversely possessing land of either countries and fencing would not be undertaken in East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills districts.

Informing this, Additional DIG (G) BSF, AMM& N Frontier Mr M N Sajjan said that the entire Bangladesh land under possession of India was 551.8 acres while that under adverse possession of Bangladesh was 226.81 acres.

"For a better management and control of the Indo-Bangla border and to counter the ails of illegal migration, smuggling, arms supply, drug trade and trafficking of women and children emanating from Bangladesh, India is forced to erect barbed wire fences. So far, India has managed to fence over a third of the 4096 kilometres long border with Bangladesh," he said.

Among the areas where fencing would not be undertaken as they were under "adverse possession" of India included Lyngkhat-I (11 acres), Lyngkhat-II (11 acres), Kurinullah (14 acres), Pyrdiwah (320 acres), Tamabil (3.6 acres), Amki (13.8 acres), Amjalong (21.1 acres), Muktapur (55.3 acres), Naljuri-I (10 acres), Naljuri-II (7.3 acres), Naljuri-III (41.8 acres) and Rongkhong (42.9 acres).

Other areas under adverse possession of Bangladesh where status quo would be maintained included Boraibari, Asam (189 acres), Boro Hills, Meghalaya (0.15 acres), Lubhacherra-I (4.40 acres), Lubhacherra-II (9.60 acres), Naucherra (7.40 acres) and Lahilling (16.20 acres).

"India consistently has been clarifying that the fence is only meant to prevent illegal infiltration and possible cross border movement of rebels active on both sides, it can not be considered as a defense work. Though India has tried to maintain the distance of 150 metres whereever possible but in certain areas due to topographical restrictions and human habitation, it is difficult to construct the fence away from the zero line," Mr Sajjan said.

While assuring border villagers of steps to protect their interest, the BSF official said that "BSF is responsible to provide security to the cultivators during day time by providing adequate foot and standing patrols along the zero line to ensure that no crop is harvested or destroyed by Bangladeshis during night time".

Mr Sajjan also said that people residing along the East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills districts of the State had the misconception of losing their patches of land falling ahead of the fencing. "In this regard, it is clarified that apart from infiltration and exfiltration of Indian insurgent groups to and fro Bangladesh, various trans-border crimes committed by the Bangladeshi nationals inside Indian territory is a cause of concern for the BSF" he said.

While dwelling on the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi criminals committing crimes like looting of household properties, cattle lifting, poaching of natural resources and even physical assault on women and children, the BSF official said that besides these, the Centre had seen the alarming 'demographic change' and increase of fundamentalist activities in the last one decade that it had decided to resort to fencing of the border.

SHILLONG: Chief Secretary SK Tiwari on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the "embezzlement of central funds in Garo Hills" after the Chairman of the Central Vigilance and Monitoring Committee Mr Purno A Sangma made a revelation of siphoning of Central funds meant for development projects in Garo Hills.

Mr Tiwari ordered inquiry after Mr. Sangma reported his findings on the embezzlement of crores of rupees by the Block Development Officers in Garo Hills. The Principal Secretary in-charge of Community and Rural Development, Mr J M Mauskar has been instructed to conduct the inquiry.

Even though the Community and Rural Development is yet to issue an official notification in this regard, the Chief Secretary, however, said that Mr Mauskar would complete the inquiry within 15 days after notification. However, the Chief Secretary said that the final decision would be taken by the department, whether the inquiry to be headed by the Principal Secretary himself or by a district magistrate.

Meanwhile, GSU Khasi Hills zone president Aldo Sangma said that the State government should take the erring officials to task for indulging in corrupt practices. "The Block Development Officers in Garo Hills are not qualified officers", he alleged.

Only MCS or IAS officer are supposed to be the BDO, but in Garo Hills, officers from different departments are functioning as BDOs, he said. Mr Sangma pointed out that the BDO of Chokpot is from the Veterinary department, while another BDO is an Agriculture Extension Officer. The GSU also warned the NGOs not to utilise public money for their personal gain so as to strengthen social security for themselves and their families.

Magisterial inquiry into Gasuapara Block: Meanwhile, the South Garo Hills district administration has constituted a magisterial inquiry into the reported irregularities in the implementation of Central schemes by the Gasuapara Development Block.

The probe was ordered by the Deputy Commissioner on April 12 for looking into the implementation of the Central schemes like the National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP), SGSY and the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY). Villagers from different areas had previously lodged complaints with evidence against the former BDO Meril Sangma over the non-utilisation of schemes that were sanctioned by the Central government.

Tura Lok Sabha MP Purno A Sangma also unearthed evidence of misappropriation of Central funds during his visit to Gasuapara on Tuesday. The Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) Mr SK Marak is heading the magisterial enquiry and on Wednesday afternoon all the cash registers were sealed by the magistrate during his surprise visit to the Block. The EAC is looking into cases of SGSY, IAY and such Central schemes and their implementation.

SHILLONG: At a time when the State government is groping for a solution to Bazeley controversy, the local NGO - FKJGP - labelled allegations against the Health department of incurring huge expenditure on medical treatment of government employees outside the State leaving the government hospitals in the State high and dry.

The FKJGP alleged that the State government failed to sanction adequate funds for purchase of medicines for government hospitals, while crores of rupees had been spent on treatment of its staff outside the State.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, FKJGP East Khasi Hills unit general secretary Clifford Nengnong said the Federation received some information from the Health department under the RTI Act on its annual expenditure incurred in having its employees treated outside the State and the amount touched Rs 5.21 crore from June 1 last year to March 1 this year, "while the expenditure for purchase of medicine for the government hospital is only Rs 6.25 crore."

Mr Nengnong said going by this data, "one can calculate that the sanction for each patient admitted in a government hospital is only Rs 20 per day" and this has been going on for the last 20 years, he alleged.

The Federation also found some anomalies in the purchase of drips, including Dextrose drip, NS and DNS drips, which it alleged "have been procured at a rate higher than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP)".

Mr Nengnong said the MRP rate fixed by the Parental Drugs India Limited for each drip is only Rs 17. But the Health department bought those at Rs 17.95 per unit.

Funded by the North Eastern Council, the event aims to bring about a two way communication between professionals from the North East and those from outside the region and at the same time provide journalists with an opportunity to understand different situations under which the media functions in other parts of the country.

Meghalaya Governor Mr M M Jacob will inaugurate the programme while NEC member secretary Mr P P Shrivastava and Chairman, Meghalaya Economic Development Council Mr R G Lyngdoh will the be guests of honour.

The North Eastern Hill University in collaboration with the Society for Peace, Security and Development Studies, Allahabad and Konrad Adenauer Foundation, New Delhi will organise an international seminar on Bangladesh: National, Regional and Global Contexts on April 21.

Meghalaya Governor Mr M M Jacob will inaugurate the seminar while Chief Minister Mr D D Lapang will be the guest of honour. Other dignitaries who will be attending the programme include former foreign secretary Ambassador Muchkund Dubey, former secretary to the ministry of external affairs Ambassador Lakhan Lal Mehrotra, resident representative of Konrad Adenauer Foundation Mr Joerg Wolf and NEHU VC Prof P Tandon.

SHILLONG: Moderator General Assembly, Presbyterian Church of India, Rev RP Lyngdoh on Wednesday inaugurated the Revival Centenary Memorial House at Mairang. Addressing the gathering on the inauguration of the house, Rev Lyngdoh said that the inuaguration of this Memorial House is part and parcel of the 37th Biennial General Assembly and also the Revival Centenary Jubilee celebration which starts from Tuesday last to Sunday.

"As a mark of gratitude to God for this Great Event, the Mairang Presbytery constructed the Memorial House in the very same place where the first chapel of the Mairang Church was constructed under the leadership of two native Evangelists, u Babu Juramon and u Ruton which was then inaugurated by Chief Commissioner of Assam in the year 1883", Rev Lyngdoh said.

The memorial house is a venture of the Mairang Presbytery and the brethren all over India and abroad, who are committed to the cause of Spiritual Awakening for the present generation, he added.

According to the reverend, the objectives of this house is manifold. It acts as a centre to impart Christian values to children and the youth, a pilgrimage centre for prayer and medication for all people irrespective of their caste, creed, colour and religion and as a centre for counselling and pastoral care for the spiritual growth and mental health of the devotees. He said that the estimate cost of this project is Rs 48,33,000 of which Rs 28,93,186 has already been been spent.

The controversy sparked off by Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh’s April 5 remark that the Union Cabinet will extend 27 per cent reservations for students from the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in all the Central universities and the Indian Institutes of Technology and Management and similar institutions has developed into a political storm. The storm hasn’t subsided despite the government’s decision to temporarily shelve the move following the Election Commission’s demand for an explanation as to why this "announcement" shouldn’t be treated as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct for elections. Another contentious angle has been added to the controversy because the National Knowledge Commission was not consulted before the decision was taken.

Yet, opponents of the reservations proposal have begun to mobilise themselves in a concerted way—especially through email list-serves and Internet blogs—to generate opinion against the move. Some of them reject the very idea of affirmative action, while some others question the relevance of quotas in educational institutions for the OBCs. Some of the attacks are not only intemperate, but downright hysterical—a sign of the strong sentiments and vehemence the issue has provoked.

It’s vitally important that the issue be soberly debated in depth and in all its various dimensions. To do this, we must separate its central core from contingent considerations or passing circumstances. Take the debate over Mr Arjun Singh’s remark, made almost casually at a public function, and whether it constitutes a breach of the election Model Code. This is a bit of a red herring. Ever since the government moved to have the Constitution amended to facilitate reservations in educational institutions after the Supreme Court judgment in three cases pertaining to private professional colleges, it has been clear that it would sooner or later introduce quotas. Mr Singh said as much last December. Similarly, the Knowledge Commission was bypassed. But then, nobody is clear about its role, remit and real functions, which overlap with those of many Ministries. Nor is it apparent that it has any particular expertise on the issue of affirmative action. Besides, there are sharp differences within the Commission on reservations.

So it’s best to leave these contingent issues aside and go straight to the heart of the matter. Are the critics of OBC reservations right in saying that quotas in Central educational institutions are uncalled for and that most OBCs don’t deserve them? Will the quotas detract from "merit" and thus eventually undermine the quality of institutions like the IITs which have built an enviable global reputation for themselves? Is it true that the global experience with affirmative action shows that it cannot redress entrenched disadvantages or inequalities and create better opportunities for the socially underprivileged?

The very first premise in any argument for affirmative action has to be the pervasiveness and deep roots of the Indian system of hierarchical social organisation, centered on caste. Inequality is built into the deepest structures of this society. Systemic discrimination has ensured that the vast majority of the people are excluded from public life for centuries. The Dalits are the worst victims of this. The caste system considers them "impure" or "polluted" and hence puts them outside the pale. The bulk of the low and lower middle castes, which comprise the OBCs, also face vicious forms of discrimination and exclusion, albeit somewhat less violent than do Dalits. This constitutes a systematic denial of social opportunity to a majority of our people, which destroys the possibility of their realising their human potential.

One of India’s gravest tragedies is that such inhuman discrimination is sanctioned or legitimised by the Dharmashastras, in particular, the Manusmriti, which declares that Dalits and Shudras (including most OBC castes) must serve the twice-born upper castes or savarnas with the utmost obedience and loyalty. Failure to do will attract the most severe of penalties—including amputation of limbs, pouring of molten lead into the ears, and outright beheading. Many vile, inhuman and degrading casteist practices persist in India to this day.

Contemporary social science has established after extensive studies that systemic past discrimination can produce great inequality of opportunity, indeed widen it, even when there’s no present discrimination. Differences in initial points based on social privilege or disadvantage will generate hugely different outcomes. Similarly, individual career achievements are determined not by talent or merit alone. They are greatly influenced by the individual’s membership (or lack of it) of a dominant, well-placed, educated group and his/her access to "the right" social contacts, information (about careers and other matters), familiarity with the language of power, and easy availability of role-models and mentors from a privileged community. Such deep inequalities of opportunity cannot be reduced, leave alone eliminated, without levelling the tilted playing field through affirmative action.

The purpose of affirmative action is not to promote individual betterment, but to acknowledge historic injustices against a group and compensate them through means such as quotas in schools and colleges, and preference in recruitment. The bulk of India’s OBCs deserve affirmative action. As for Dalits, the case is so overwhelmingly strong that it doesn’t need restating. The Mandal Principle is a sound plank on which to base affirmative action. Reservations or quotas are only one type of affirmative action. There are others too—including voluntary declarations by government or employers that they would give preference to disadvantaged groups in recruitment and grant special promotions to, say, judges or officers from the oppressed minorities, etc.

Those who oppose affirmative action radically, in principle, on the ground that it’s anti-merit, are comprehensively wrong in assuming that our society and government run on the basis of merit, as distinct from social status, clan loyalties, wealth, sifarish, political influence, overt bribery, etc. Even the best of our competition examinations don’t accurately assess merit. Take the case of the IITs, where admissions are dominated by candidates from privileged families who can afford to send them to the coaching centres of Kota in Rajasthan for long months at the expense of lakhs of rupees. The IIT entrance examination only partly tests the aptitude or intelligence of a candidate. Success at it also involves mastering the "art" of anticipating problems, answering objective questions, managing time, and other techniques, in which the Kota system coaches you.

The argument that some of our professional institutions are already stretched and short of faculty has some merit. But this is a practical issue and can be addressed through special recruitment drives, higher salaries and other managerial-organisational devices. It’s not an argument against OBC reservations in principle.

There are some who argue that OBCs don’t deserve preferential treatment because they are among the worst oppressors of Dalits and will squeeze them out of colleges and eventually jobs. This is, frankly, a pernicious proposition. It’s true that the social positions and interests of Dalits and OBCs don’t always coincide. In fact, they sometimes clash—as when the OBC is a petty landowner, who seasonally employs landless Dalits. It’s also true that dominant groups take advantage of such differences to exploit both sections of the people.

However, the fact is, Dalits and OBCs have a lot more in common between themselves than they have with the savarnas, their collective oppressors and tormentors. This only underscores the need for solidarity from below to build a common plebeian front against casteism. Reserving 27 per cent of Central university seats for OBCs will not squeeze or compress the Dalits’ 15 per cent quota—which is contested by nobody.

Opponents of OBC reservations in institutions of higher education are trying to drum up a campaign, at least a muscular show of opposition, in order to create a Mandal-II situation. In 1990, the anti-Mandal agitation took off at least partly because Mr V.P. Singh’s move was seen as an attempt to puncture the BJP’s mandir platform. The BJP backed the violent anti-Mandal protests, and the Congress too clandestinely supported them. The present reservations-for-OBCs proposal is not a defensive or reactive counter-move. Not a single party today opposes the Mandal Principle or affirmative action for OBCs. The political edge of 16 years ago is missing.

Besides, there’s a higher degree of acceptance among many savarnas of the inevitability (if not the desirability) of efforts to bring Dalits and OBCs into the mainstream and create social opportunity for them. The "Forward March of the Backwards" is a reality. Thus, the present anti-Mandal sentiment is unlikely to move in a massive way from cyberspace to the streets.

It’d be interesting to see how the Congress reacts to the anti-reservations protest. The OBCs are the one constituency whose support has eluded the party. If it hesitates and vacillates on the reservations issue, OBCs will continue to spurn the Congress as a political option. If, however, the Congress sticks firmly to its pro-quota stand, it can hope to win some OBC support and score against opponents like the regional parties, the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. The issue isn’t politics alone. At its core is social justice. All believers in social justice must take a stand on reservations. (IPA Service)

Sir,

It is very disheartening to see the Health Minister behaving in such an undemocratic manner towards the MMSA. This is what I call political arrogance which does more harm to oneself and to the society at large. First of all, the issue over which the MMSA has been protesting is just. It also concerns the interest of the people of the State. I commend the farsightedness of the members of the MMSA who have experienced the consequences of such anomaly in reservation. If no voice of protest was raised, this would have left a bad precedent and many of our children in the future would have been deprived of their rightful claim to reservation of seats. The fact that the Health Minister is still adamant with his stand on the issue in spite of a prolonged protest by the MMSA, is a clear indication that he is an arrogant politician who does not want to heed the voice of the public. Such attitude on the part of the leader leaves a lot of suspicion regarding his integrity and honesty. If things are not shady why should he stick to a decision that is beneficial to a small party at the cost of the larger interest of the entire State. Let us keep in mind that there is a thin line between arrogance and despotism and therefore a leader who behaves in this manner becomes a misfit in any system of governance. To declare a peaceful protest as illegal or to ban a welfare association, is tantamount to rape of democracy. The minister is either ill advised or over-reacting to a situation. The Chief Minister's stoic silence over such a crucial issue is unacceptable. This leads to many conclusions in the public's mind - such as things are running out of control; that every minister is omnipotent in his department; that the CM is just a puppet in the hands of his Cabinet colleagues; that the CM is desperately clinging on to his chair; that the CM has become a compulsive pleaser for the sake of retaining power, etc. Therefore the MMSA must fight courageously till the end as it has no personal interest on this issue. I would like to urge the public to support the MMSA in this noble fight.

Another example of political arrogance is Mr PJ Bazeley's reappointment as the Chairman of MeSEB. When everything was accepted as a closed chapter after the massive public protest and the former Chief Secretary's retirement from service, the issue has resurfaced again. Is this not a despicable arrogance on the part of the government to provoke the public into another protest on the same issue? Where are we heading towards with this kind of government headed by such arrogant politicians? A shame on the State if our leaders think that there is only one man who can head the MeSEB. If Mr Bazeley is truly a man of principle and conviction, he should outrightly reject such offer, but if he inclines towards this offer then his integrity is to be questioned. I hope that the government will finally come out of its arrogance and realize that its duty is to serve the people. It should not expect the people to dance to its tune.

Yours etc,
B. Mawrie,
Via e-mail

Sir,

Chief Minister DD Lapang has done it again: He has got Mr PJ Bazeley where he wants him, at the helm of MeSEB affairs.

I have only just two sobering thoughts for our community: 1) Despite all our tall talk about our heroes and martial traits, we do not have (as of now) a single man or a woman in our public life who can stand up and tell our Chief Minister straight on his face that this organised plundering of our common resources has to stop; and 2) Watch out Mr Lapang and Mr Bazeley - the day of reckoning is near: we do know and have detailed information about all your nefarious designs in the name of 'developing' Meghalaya!

Yours etc.,
Potten Marbaniang
Via e-mail.

Guwahati: Outbreak of malaria in different districts of Asom has so far claimed about 50 lives during the last few days forcing the health authorities to sound an alarm in the vulnerable areas. A source in the state health department, however, put the death toll at 44. So far 3288 persons in the state have been affected by the disease in different parts of the state. Malaria has so far claimed 24 lives in Lakhimpur district, 14 in Golaghat district, three in Marigaon district, two in Sonitpur district and one in Nalbari district.

Districts of Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Karbi Anglong, North Cachar Hills, Nalbari, Kamrup, parts of Nagaon district bordering Karbi hills and foothills areas along Asom-Arunachal Pradesh boundary have been identified as malaria-prone area by the state health department.

Steps have been taken to spray DDT while local health centers have been supplied with Keothrin solution for treating mosquito nets. About 1.96 lakh cases of fever were registered in different hospitals in the state since January this year. Examination of blood samples collected from the affected people revealed that over 5000 of them were carrying traces of malaria virus. However, because of the just concluded Assembly elections, the routine anti-malaria drive was delayed in the state.

According to official sources here on Wednesday, landslides followed by torrential rain hit Gelling bordering China, on April 13 and 14 damaging thousand acres of wet rice cultivation and jhum cultivation besides two school buildings, one Buddhist Gompa, one private residence, a rice mill and a hydel project were washed out. (UNI)

At least four others were hurt in the firing. The BSF personnel from a nearby camp had an altercation with some villagers and began indiscriminate lathi charge. The personnel then proceeded to fire on the unarmed civilians hitting Gubalya Chakma who died on the spot. Four other Chakmas are being treated at the Lunglei Civil Hospital.

Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights urged the NHRC to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Government of Mizoram to order a judicial probe into the incident. He further demanded free treatment to the injured and compensation and also stern action against the culprits.

Imphal: The Editors Forum Manipur and the All Manipur Working Journalists Union on Wednesday appealed to the public organisations in the state to extend support to the stand taken by mediapersons against the capture of six editors by cadres of militant Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) faction led by City Meetei.

The journalists’ appeal came a day after a delegation of the journalists submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Tuesday to provide adequate security to mediapersons in the state against attacks from militant groups. The journalists of the state, under the aegis of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors'Forum of Manipur(EFM), took out a rally in Imphal on Tuesday, wearing black badges to protest the atrocities of the militant group.

However, the journalists resumed work on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the BJP condemned the incident against the journalists. Describing the incident as shocking, BJP, North East incharge V Satish urged the Manipur government to provide full protection and security to mediapersons.

Mr Satish said the BJP will discuss the problems faced by the mediapersons in Manipur.

The KCP had detained six editors to ensure that their statements were published.The militant group also banned an English daily for three months for not quoting their statements. (NNN)

AIZAWL: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has released Rs 995.63 lakh for the implementation of various developmental schemes in the NE region during this year. The project aims to give flexibility to develop and pursue activities on the basis of their region priorities, the official sources here informed.

Initially, the major component under the mission are agriculture and allied sector, water development, industries, tourism, medical and health and human resource development. The second stage would be to increase the development of science and technology, transport and communication and evaluation and monitoring of these projects.

Out of the total funds released, Assam has got Rs 166.58 lakh, Manipur Rs 191.20 lakh, Meghalaya Rs 1.50 lakh Mizoram Rs 343.00 lakh, Nagaland Rs 98.50 lakh, Sikkim Rs 99.00 lakh, Tripura Rs 1.37 lakh and NEC regional Rs 94.50 lakh.

Due to limited budget available with NEC, it had been difficult to allocate funds according to economic-potential of certain sectors and institutions, official sources pointed out. It was felt that time had come that at different levels those sectors institutions had to be re-oriented in their functioning, they said.(UNI)

Rich soil of the region is conducive to floriculture and horticulture, Mr Shourie said. "I assure you that people from outside will come to buy your products", he added.

Apart from agriculture, he also said that promotion of music and fashion should also be encouraged. He was also of the opinion that Naga women have great opportunities in nursing, pointing out that they possess grace, elegance and caring culture.(NNN)

Agartala: Dogged by infighting, groupism and series of defeats, the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) now seeks to revive its organisational network. The revival bid is viewed as TPCC president Samira Ranjan Barman’s attempt to take on CPI (M) led Left Front in the next Assembly elections.

TPCC has announced that it would organise workers’ conference in each Assembly segment to sensitize the party followers about the failure of the Manik Sarkar led government.

The proposed programme will have to be completed by May 7, said Ratan Chakraborty, spokesperson of the TPCC on Wednesday. He said failures of the state government would be highlighted in the workers conference.

Kohima: Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta on Wednesday urged the legislators to meet more frequently in longer sessions of the assembly to discuss people’s problems. Speaking as the chief guest of the two-day orientation programme for MLAs here Mr Datta said the programme, first of its kind in the region, would provide a unique opportunity to the lawmakers to acquaint themselves with various topics. 

He said 40 per cent of the legislators of the tenth assembly were new and young and hoped that along with their matured colleagues they would bring in some new legislations. He lamented that the assembly had never seen a woman legislator and urged the people to elect women.

Former secretary general of Lok Sabha C.K.Jain, talking on 'Parliamentary Procedural Reform in India', spoke of the recent changes of procedures in Parliament. Dr. Harish Khare, chief of bureau of 'The Hindu' in New Delhi, spoke on 'partnership between the legislatures and media', while K.N.Balagopal, Advocate General, spoke on 'law, legislation and common man'.

On Thursday, former union minister Arun Shourie and former election observer K.J. Rao will address the gathering.(UNI)