Taking suo motu notice of Singh's announcement as reported in the media, the Commission said this "amounts to new concessions to certain sections of the electorate" in the five states where Assembly elections are being held and is prima facie violation of the model code of conduct.

In a letter to the Cabinet Secretary, the Commission has pointed out that the model code of conduct would be applicable to the Centre also as far as the elections in five states were concerned. It desired that an explanation be obtained from Singh by 1700 hours on Monday, Commission sources said.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has written to the HRD Ministry that 27 per cent reservation to students of Other Backward Classess should be extended to the medical institutes coming under it. This follows the HRD ministry's communication seeking its views on the issue.

The BJP and Janata Party joined the student and academic communities in attacking the proposal CPI strongly supported the idea of reservation for OBCs in Central institutions.

At the daily briefing, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad described the proposal as Arjun Singh's "oneupmanship" over the Prime Minister. "It is an intra-party war. There are clear indications that Arjun Singh is trying oneupmanship over Manmohan Singh," he said.

Asked for his comments on the merit of the proposal, Prasad said the party would come out with a "well constructed" response once the details of the proposals were available.

However, his party Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was not circumspect when he said the government's move would discourage merit and damage the country's reputation as a talent hub.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, he accused the Centre of playing vote-bank politics but admitted that most parties would not openly oppose this. (PTI)

At the end of two rounds of talks with bank Chairman A K Purwar on the sixth day of the strike on Saturday, the unions decided to continue their agitation even as four major states shifted business to other nationalised banks.

During the negotiations, the unions scaled down their demand of Rs 16,000 a month as pension ceiling to Rs 13,000 and also offered to limit it up to AGM level instead of general manager level.

But the government said it was prepared to a hike in pension, but only up to a "reasonable" limit.

"Our second round of talks with the management failed at the entry level itself as the Government refused to negotiate on our toned-down proposal we placed before the management," All India SBI Staff Federation Secretary P K Patnaik said.

"The management was very considerate. But it is the Union Finance Minister, who rejected our proposal. He should be held responsible for the imbroglio," he said.

But the government maintained that it would not accept anything that would create asymmetry in retirement benefits between SBI and other public sector banks.

In the PSU banking space, only SBI employees are eligible for triple retirement benefits -- contributory PF, gratuity and pension -- whereas other bank employees get only gratuity and either pension or contributory PF. (PTI)

Besides resigning from the Chairpersonship of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, she put in papers as head of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust and the Jawahar Bhavan Trust, party sources said.

Gandhi's action comes five days before the issue of notification for the bypoll for the Rae Bareli seat which became vacant on March 23 following her resignation from Lok Sabha and the National Advisory Committee Chairpersonship in the wake of controversy over the office of profit issue.

She resigned from the two posts after opposition parties BJP and TDP petitioned the President seeking her disqualification as an MP on the ground that she held an office of profit.

The opposition parties had also cited her membership of various trusts including the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Two days back, Gandhi had resigned from the Chairpersonship of the Jallianwala Bagh National Trust.

Gandhi, who had already announced her decision to contest again from Rae Bareli, apparently wants to avoid any legal challenge even at the nomination stage by relinquishing these posts.

The bypoll is slated for May 8. (PTI)

A man around 30 years old was shot at in Delhi Gate area around noon triggering fresh tension in communally sensitive areas. He was admitted to AMU Medical College in critical condition, a Home Department spokesman said.

The fresh violence erupted when members of the two communities started pelting each other with stones and firing from roof-tops.

The state government suspended the Station House Officer of Delhi Gate police station and a sub-inspector of the Rapid Action Force besides removing the Sector Magistrate of Delhi Gate, the spokesman said in Lucknow.

Two companies of the CRPF had reached Aligarh to be deployed in the affected areas. Nine companies of PAC and six companies of CPF were already patrolling the town, he said. He said 155 people had so far been taken into custody for both "preventive and substantive offences".

Aligarh Muslim University Vice-Chancellor Naseem Ahmed meanwhile appealed to the students not to be misled by rumours and remain calm and peaceful.

"We all are pained by the unfortunate turn of events in the city and our hearts go out to the bereaved families and those injured," Ahmed said in a statement. He said doctors in AMU Medical College were rendering all possible medical assistance to the injured.

A man who was shot at on Agra Road on Friday afternoon was admitted to AMU Medical College where he underwent an emergency surgery and was stated to be "stable", officials said.

Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari was stopped in Ghaziabad while expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti was detained in Bulandshahr to prevent them from visiting the riot-affected areas here. (PTI)

After the meeting, senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh told reporters that his party colleague Sushma Swaraj also "respectfully reminded" Kalam that their last month petition seeking removal of the Election Commissioner should have been directly sent by the President to the CEC.

The Opposition move came in the wake of reports that Attorney General Milon Banerjee has given Chawla a clean chit over his conduct as Election Commissioner following an NDA complaint to the President that he had "close links" with the Congress and its chief Sonia Gandhi. "Neither the Prime Minister nor the Attorney-General had any role in this matter. It is the CEC alone who has the sole Constitutional jurisdiction to recommend any action (against an Election Commissioner) to the President," Jaswant Singh said.

In a fresh memorandum to the President, the NDA accused the UPA government of diverting the issue by seeking advice of the Attorney-General over their March 16 complaint. "Yet, the moot point remains that as per Constitutional norms, the authority to examine all this is the CEC alone." (PTI)

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Farooq Ahmed told UNI that Huang’s daughter Resdenda Chin, who had arrived here on April one along with a relative to trace her mother, identified the body.

The DIG said there were no external wounds on the body.

"Apparently, it appears that she must have drowned in the Lake. The body seems to have been in the water for quite a long time," he added.

Mr Ahmed said the body has been sent to the police hospital for post-mortem.

A three-member board of doctors headed by Government Medical College Principal Ashiq Hussain Naqshbandi has been constituted for conducting the post-mortem, he added.

The fifty two-year-old Huang arrived here on March 22 and checked in the Lal Rukh houseboat located near Nehru Park in the Dal Lake area.

However, she immediately left for a cyber cafe, but did not return till late in the night.

Later the houseboat owner, Ghulam Mohammad Khazir, informed the tourist police and a massive hunt was launched to trace Huang. A missing person case was registered at the Nehru Park police station here after there was no trace of her for few days.

The police also took possession of all her belongings, including passport issued on September 9, 2003 vide number 210008739.

She was issued a one-month visa vide number U136992 for staying in Kashmir.

Police had also issued an appeal in the local media stating that a person providing any clue about Huang would be suitably rewarded.

On April one, Huang’s daughter arrived here along with a relative to trace her mother.

"My mother loves adventure and she will be back," she had said on her arrival here.

Resdenda said Huang had visited several countries, including Nepal and Mongolia.

"My mother never used to contact us. We were expecting her to be back by April five when she had to catch return flight from Delhi." she added. (UNI)

As the SBI strike entered the sixth day Saturday, the state government was forced to secure its day-to-day financial dealings, the release said.

The government will henceforth conduct all financial transactions through 19 branches of the Vadodara-headquartered Bank of Baroda in district headquarters of the state.The statement said the government has also authorised Bank of Baroda, State
Bank of Saurashtra, Corporation Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, UTI Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank and HDFC Bank to collect sales tax receipts. (IANS)

A case has been registered in this connection and the hunt for the absconding principal, Sat Narain, is on, they said.

According to the complaint, Narain was allegedly raping the victim for the past one year.

Complaint was lodged with the police after the mother of the victim found her daughter and Narain in a comprising position. (PTI)

Young Naidy wrote ‘Sonia Gandhi’ in Telugu with his left hand and ‘Manmohan Singh’ in English with his right hand! He then drew sketches of the two leaders.

This talented youngster, presently studying in kindergarten, gave a demonstration of his skills at a hotel here on Saturday.

He cheerfully wrote name after name with both hands at one time, much to the amazement of his spectators.

Doctors say this rare ability is called ‘mirrography’. A person endowed with this quality can think of two things simultaneously while a normal brain can concentrate only on one matter at a time.

The young prodigy’s father, B Prasanna Kumar, is a bank employee. (UNI)

Briefing newspersons, Dr R Gunaseelan, Institute Director, said a 56-year-old businessman who lost his teeth in the entire upper jaw was implanted with a new set of artificial teeth, thanks to advances in computer technology that enabled better diagnosis and virtual treatment planning.

Dr Gunaseelan, one of few dentists with international training in this technique, said ‘teeth in an hour’ was done for the first time in the country, using keyhole surgery.

He said under the technique, scans of the patient’s jaw were used to perform virtual implant replacement. The data was then transferred to a sophisticated lab in Sweden or US. They prepared a surgical template, which was then used for keyhole surgery to place implants without stitches, thereby reducing patients’ discomfort.(UNI)

Ishaki Moriyashi, 33, clad in a sherwani, married Chi Matshua, 29, who wore a bright red sari, for the second time. They are residents of Fukuoka in Japan.

"Moriyashi and Matshua took seven rounds of the fire and applied vermilion like a Hindu couple at the time of marriage," said an official of the Birla Dharamshala, which was the wedding venue.

Both were here to organise a music concert for Japanese musician Yasuhito Takiyoto at Bodh Gaya April 9. The marriage function was attended by about 150 Japanese guests, including Takiyoto.

The kanyadan - or bride-giving ceremony - was performed by Kalicharan Yadav, a member of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee, and role of the groom’s father was taken on by Ramsevak Singh, vice president of the Bodh Gaya Nagar Panchayat.

After the wedding, the couple offered prayers at the Mahabodhi temple where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

"They prayed for blessings," Yadav said.(IANS)

The earthquake that occurred 00.27 a.m. early Saturday had its epicentre at 29.0 degree north latitude and 77.0 degree east longitude, and lasted slightly more than a minute, department officials said. "Sonepat and its adjoining areas were jolted by the tremor but there was no news of any loss of life or life or property," said Kuldeep Chauhan, a seismologist at the IMD.

"Since Sonepat falls under the Zone IV of the seismic map, such types of mild tremors are normal," Chauhan told IANS.

On March 31, Sonepat, 44 km from here, had also experienced a slow intensity quake.(IANS)

In his criminal complaint in the Guragaon Dirstrict Court, Verma said Advani on March 20 had accused him of receiving kick-backs to the tune of Rs 500 to 700 crores as middleman and the allegation amounted to defamation.

Verma also sought to prosecute the Leader of Opposition for forgery saying the e-mail printouts of his purported communication with Chairman and CEO of French Company 'Thales' and some other persons distributed at his press meet was fabricated, Verma's advocate said in a press release. (PTI)

The station master, who had just arrived by the Kanpur passenger train with the cash meant to be disbursed as salary for his staff, was hit on the head at the station yesterday by three unidentified men who fled with the bag containing Rs 1.5 lakh, they said. (PTI)

"We hope that with the support of other political parties, the Bill could be passed to accommodate more ministers in the State Cabinet", MPCC president OL Nongtdu said.He said the exercise to convince the political parties at the Centre on the need for amendment to the Constitution would be undertaken once the Assembly elections are over.

He indicated that the much-expected reshuffle in the MDA Ministry might not take place in April as the government could wait till the passing of the Bill."We will have to wait for the decision of the Parliament and hence the reshuffle may take some more time", he said.

Office of profit: Commenting on the complaints of the NCP against the Congress legislators regarding the office of profit, Mr Nongtdu said the matter needs deliberation in the Parliament.The Bill in this regard would come up in Parliament and the final decision would be taken then, he said.

The bus (ML05-C 7029) was on its way to Balat from Shillong when it met with the accident at 2.15 pm. According to some passengers, the bus was trying to overtake another bus when it skidded off the road and fell into the ditch.

The deceased was identified as Shibani Sill from Balat. Out of the 25 injured, 17 were admitted to Shillong Civil Hospital and that included nine females and an infant girl - Renusha Khardewsaw. Eight others were released from the hospital after first aid.

In fact, it was a day of accidents. Several people were injured in various motor vehicles accidents in various parts of East Khasi Hills district including one in Ri-Bhoi district on Saturday.

According to police sources, five persons were injured when a passenger bus (ML06-0694) collided with an unknown Jeep at San Mer in Upper Shillong at 8.25 am. The injured included Homling Lyngkhoi, Kiewstar Marsharing, Mishalsida Marsharing and Tabandora Marsharing.

In a separate incident, one Phulindro D Sangma was seriously injured when the Mahindra Jeep in which he was travelling overturned at Umling in Ri-Bhoi district. He was shifted to Shillong Civil Hospital for treatment.

Again, one Bobby Rapsang (28) was injured when she was dashed by a motorbike (ML05-B 3697) at Mawlai.

An unidentified male person suffered critical injury when the motorbike he was riding collided with an unknown vehicle at Umphyrnai near Lad Smit, while one Kumar Thapa (55) of Mawiong was injured when he fell from a running vehicle near the Army's 101 Area headquarter near here on Saturday.

Latest generation of weapons and equipment including the Bofors Gun, mine protected vehicle, anti-material rifle, battle field surveillance radar and communications equipment were exhibited.

The vibrant and colourful display of harmony in physical training, flash of the sword, warriors of the North East and heliborne operations by the soldiers of the Assam Regimental Centre were executed with absolute perfection by the personnel.

Skills of the military canines put up by the Army Dog Unit excited the visitors while an acrobatic display by the gymnasts of the Assam Regimental Centre including some national and international level winners were rare shows of physical agility and vitality.

The dental and eye check-up facilities set up by Military Hospital, Shilling and the career counselling facility by Zonal Recruiting Office, Shillong attracted good crowd. Young soldiers of the army donated 20 units of blood which were handed over to the Civil Hospital.

The response of the public and the youth was overwhelming.

A missionary NGO, Bakdil, which undertook a survey of the affected areas soon after the storm, found out that fourteen villages have been totally devastated by the storm. A few livestock were also killed.

Over three thousand people are said to be homeless due to the storm which carried away their tin roofs. Cash crops like cashewnut, arecanut, mango, pineapple, bananas, coconuts in approximately 1000 bighas of land have been destroyed.

Villages most affected are Rongsugiri, Gopgiri, Jatrakona, Manggenggiri, Sempara, Gaejanggiri, Kadongbokai, Nagrajora, Cherangpara, Dasinokat, Murigiri, Songjalpara, Talanggiri, Chongpotgiri lower, Memonpara, Baburambil etc. Some of the injured people have been shifted to Tura for treatment.

There is an urgent need for more relief in the form of food, medicine, and temporary shelters. Another longtime need is for the rebuilding of their homes and the replanting of seedlings for their crops. Bakdil, the social service organisation of the Catholic Church, has done an on the spot study of the situation and is organising some relief works on a war footing.

Government machinery has also swiftly moved in supplying food materials, informed members of Bakdil. Meanwhile, the GSU has also called for adequate relief measures for the affected people in the two districts of Garo Hills. The student body has urged upon the State Government to do all it can to help restore normalcy to the lives of the victims.

It has also criticised the MLAs of Dalu and Baghmara, Samual M Sangma and Sengran M Sangma for their delay in visiting the affected areas.

On the last day of his life Mahatama Gandhi wrote a will wanting the Congress party to be dissolved. Alive, he would have destroyed it. Dead, he resurrected it. This partial background should help Indians decide whether it is more important to defeat Ms. Sonia Gandhi or bury the Congress. It may not be possible to achieve the first without realising the second.

How long will the Congress party survive as it is today? Is the Gandhi dynasty capable of injecting a new life to the fossilised party? The desperate attempt by Ms. Sonia Gandhi to emulate her mother-in-law is not paying rich dividends. She is grooming Rahul Gandhi to take charge of the party to give it a new face and dynamism. But Rahul's entry into the political arena is not going to make any difference to the Congress' sagging political fortunes. The Congress should realise that the nation has rejected Ms. Gandhi. There is little hope that the people will heed Rahul's call, either.

As it is, he has little to say. Learning is a slow process. Rahul is yet to familiarise himself with the basics of Indian politics. It would take him years to acquire the wisdom and understanding needed to lead a complex nation like India. The Congress should realise that the Indian democracy has matured and the ground rules have completely changed over the years.

The rise of the BJP as a national force and the emergence of regional parties coupled with the growing aspirations of people, have left no place for dynastic politics of the type which the Congress has been trying to impose on Indian voters. Today, the performance of the party and its leadership are the most important for its success. It requires years of hard work and commitment for any leader to make his mark on the national political scenario. Rahul clearly lacks on this count. It can't be that anyone coming from the Nehru-Gandhi family would just come and sweep the people off the ground.

Rahul Gandhi is being at best treated as a subject of curiosity. Nothing more should be expected of him. It would be extreme naivete to hope that an inexperienced political greenhorn like Rahul Gandhi, who does not understand the diversity of India, could galvanise the electorate at large scale on his debut.

The Indian politics has come of age. Anyone comparing Rahul's entry into the politics with that of Rajiv Gandhi has no understanding of the changes that has taken place in the political scenario during the last two decades. Rajiv Gandhi rode the sympathy wave generated by his mother, Indira Gandhi's tragic assassination. Had it not been so, the first part of his political journey would not have been so smooth. But remember, even though he became prime minister with a thumping majority, he was not able to provide effective governance. The result was there for all to see. Five years later, in 1989, he was voted out of power due to this reason.

If the Congress is hoping for Rahul Gandhi to change its fortunes overnight, then they are ignoring the factors responsible for its marginalisation. These include erosion of their traditional vote-bank and the alienation of the minority community. Today, the minority voters feel that the Congress has cheated them all along. That's why they are supporting regional parties wherever such forces are powerful. There is now a radical shift in the thinking of the minority community.

The Congress also lacks effective leadership. In fact, that is more than anything else is the need of the hour. But it could not be a political novice like Rahul Gandhi. If at all, Rahul wants to emerge as a leader, he should be ready to slog it out for the party for several years and understand the reasons for Congress's downfall.

Today, like his mother, he is totally dependent upon a coterie, which would continue to impress him about his so-called extraordinary appeal, and his ability to sway the masses. The truth is being concealed and distorted. If Rahul allowed himself to fail in the trap of sycophants, he would never be able to see the world with his own eyes. Remember, what the 10 Janpath poll mangers have done. They have taken Rahul to campaign in only those constituencies where the Congress has reasonable chance to succeed. If the Congress wins these seats, the success will be attributed to Rahul. These are the things he would well watch against.

Any analysis of this nature about Rahul emerging as the flag bearer of the Congress is grossly unfortunate to Rahul. He is yet to face the dust and heat of politics. It is tragic that a party like the Congress, which has over 150 years of history behind it, is pinning its hopes on the Nehru-Gandhi family to charter its destiny. Unless, the Congress allows a leader who is commonly accepted to the party and the people alike, the party would not be able to revive itself. India of the 21st century is on the road to evolving as a super power. It has no place to accommodate Congress's dynastic aspiration. Unless the policy makers at 10 Janpath realise this truth, the party could go on rallying behind Rahul Gandhi, but the nation would not accept him.

I was standing by a colourful souvenir shop on Swanston Street in downtown Melbourne watching a didgeridoo player perform his musical magic. Only 165 Australian dollars he exclaimed, for a totally authentic, termite-eaten Australian eucalyptus, crafted painstakingly by skilled Aboriginal craftsmen. Of course I could buy the inexpensive Indonesian variety that was made of bamboo, or cheaper still walk away with a modified PVC tube for $10. I kept eyeing the heavy beauty in front of me, swathed in esoteric Aboriginal insignia. The intricately painted body added to its mystique.

It was serious tourist shopping time, I reminded myself. And after all the son could do well with a change from his usual violin. For what seemed like an hour in the store, I tried out the heavy instrument with no success. All I got out of it were squeaks and hisses; sounds, which the storekeeper immediately pointed out, were coming from my vocal cords and not the lips.

"It's all about circular breathing", he persisted. The lips should flutter, as the breath is forced out in a drone and you breathe in at the same time.

Watching my futile attempts, the storekeeper eventually recommended the expedient technique of filling my mouth with circular breathing. "Or you can blow bubbles like a baby, and try the same things", he added for good measure. Though unsuccessful, I eventually fell for the exotic musical instrument. Thirty hours and two connecting flights later, I lugged the oversized wind instrument, later tucking it carefully for the magic moment to arrive when my son would unwrap it.

It was birthday time and this was my gift to him. The son shrieked for joy or so it seemed as he held it in his hands. I also handed him a didgeridoo audio CD ($25) and a how-to booklet ($15) that explained the rather difficult techniques of fluttering the lips and the art of breathing circularly. For the next few days I could hear some muffled attempts and squawks from his room. Then there were none. Suffice it to say that my son now plays the violin very diligently. (By arranegement with The Times of India)

The first phase of the crucial Assembly poll in Asom on Monday last for 65 of the 126 constituencies ended on a satisfactory note, hopefully setting a happy trend for the second and final round on Monday, April 10. The Election Commission and the State Government, headed by Tarun Gogoi of the Congress, had reason to heave a sigh of relief. The polling went off remarkably peacefully. Despite threats from militant outfits, no violence or untoward incident was reported from anywhere. What is more, Asom kept up its record of being a high-polling State. As against the voter turn-out of 79.2, 74.7, 78.9 and 74.6 per cent in the last four elections, this time 70 per cent voted, braving uninterrupted rain in the first half of the day.

The large voter turn-out clearly shows that the people have voted for peace. For the first time, the dreaded ULFA did not boycott the election, thanks to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who has been working patiently for months to bring the underground outfit to the negotiating table and convince it against boycotting elections. Illegal migration from Bangladesh and insurgency, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives, were the main poll issues. Reflecting the popular mood, ULFA Chief Paresh Barua’s 81-year-old mother "cast her ballot for peace." The poll is the biggest challenge that faces the ruling Congress and Tarun Gogoi, who is confident of retaining power and establishing a record.

Pre-poll rhetoric

The election may also end up raising some basic issues of national import. In their anxiety to retain power, the Congress party’s main campaigners, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party Chief Sonia Gandhi made statements directed mainly at the party’s Muslim votebank. Sonia Gandhi even assured the minority communities (read Muslims, since other minorities hardly exist in Asom) full legal safeguards and protection. Are not such statements, made repeated directly or indirectly, violative of the Model Code of Conduct? Election Code? Was the PM dead serious when he declared that there would be no redrawing of the boundaries in the North-East and no discussion on sovereignty with ULFA? Or was it only electoral rhetoric?

Tamil Nadu’s main Opposition, itching to regain power following the one-day Assembly poll on May 8, has promised a goodie bag in its manifesto – Rs.2 a kg. rice, free colour TVs, gas stoves etc. Alarmingly, however, the party, headed by Karunanidhi, has gone overboard to bag Muslim votes: reservations for the minorities in Government departments and educational institutions. Perhaps this too, is a case of electoral rhetoric, thanks to a surge in Anna-DMK’s fortunes in Tamil Nadu. (Remember, a similar move by the Andhra Pradesh Government last year was struck down by the High Court). Interestingly, the DMK has suddenly decided to work out a poll understanding with the Congress in adjoining Pondicherry, reversing its earlier decision to go it alone.

In West Bengal, where the Election Commission has considerably cleaned up the electoral rolls and phased out polling in five prolonged rounds, starting on April 17 and ending on May 5, the ruling CPM-led Left Front is increasingly getting worked up by the Commission’s firm handling of the polls and its myriad whips. Some senior Left leaders, led by the CPM General Secretary, Prakash Karat, met CEC B.B. Tandon in New Delhi on Monday. They protested against the decision to deploy Central para-military forces on poll duty. Their argument? This was against the Constitution which gives the States the right to manage law and order. Tandon heard the plea but seems to have forgotten about it!

Bihar’s Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, truly faces a Himalayan challenge in his plans to develop the backward State. A White Paper laid on the table of the Assembly by Finance Minister Sushil Modi shows that the State’s finances are in shambles. The 29-page White Paper elaborates how the State was plunged into a financial crisis during the Lalu Yadav-Rabri Devi regime over the last 15 years. During 1991-96, there was zero economic growth in the State, as against 5.4 per cent for the country. In 1994-2002 it was 3.8 per cent as against the national’s average of 6.1 per cent. The State survived alL these years largely on borrowed money. The Nitish Kuamr Government, which took over the reins of office in November last, has now taken up several development projects, which have been highly appreciated not only by the Planning Commission, but also by President Kalam, who has visited the State twice in four months.

The surprise announcement that the Rae Bareli byelection to the Lok Sabha will be held on May 8 has brought great cheer to the Congress. This would enable the party supremo to be back in the Lok Sabha in just 49 days after she resigned her seat on 23 March in the wake of the office-for-profit controversy. Soon after her re-election she is also expected to get back her Chairmanship of the UPA Government’s National Advisory Council. Moreover, the Rae Bareli bypoll is being used by the High Command to kick-off its "Operation U.P." and take advantage of the Congress Chief’s "sacrifice." UP is scheduled to go to the polls for its Assembly early next year.

The timing from the Congress viewpoint could not have been better. U.P’s ruling Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh Yadav, in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh, is in difficulty. So also is the BJP because of its intra-party problems, notwithstanding the fact that the State’s Thakur leader and former Chief Minister Rajnath Singh is now the party President. The anti-SP and anti-BJP trend is reflected in the recent biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha. Former Chief Minister Mayawati’s BSP demonstrated its ever-growing clout by poaching votes of not only the vulnerable BJP but also the Samajwadi Party. The two BSP winners polled 16 more votes for the Rajya Sabha while for the Legislative Council it managed to draw in 31 additional votes. (INFA)

Sir,

The recent announcement by the HRD ministry to increase the seat reservation to nearly 50% in institutions of higher education is unfortunate and condemnable. Higher education must be based solely on merit and not on caste or racial origin. Instead of slowly eliminating reservations, the government is encouraging it, which is unfortunate in independent India. Backward classes in this country are no less competent compared to the general categories. If the backward classes are really to be given a chance for higher education then only financial help must be provided to those in need instead of seat reservations and the same must be provided to the financially poor applicants from the general category as well. Students, parents and responsible citizens must protest this unilateral decision by the government.

Yours etc.,
Dr HS Ranhotra,
Shillong,
Via e-mail

Sir,

It is appropriate that when it comes to revision of pay of the state government employees, questions were raised about the quality and work culture that need to be improved by all. But what about the MDCs /MLAs/Ministers who during the past two years have received several enhancement in the form of revised honorarium, increase in the allotment of MLA schemes, pension, enhancement in the number of casual employees attached to them etc? One can not help to ask these high echelons if they too need to improve their quality of works pertaining to the development of their constituencies in particular and the state in general. Are the developmental schemes meant for the welfare of their constituencies and the people fully or usefully utilised? Or if seventy five percent of the money sanctioned for the schemes goes to their pockets, one never knows due to lack of accountability and transparency on their part. At times, it is really funny when one points fingers at others, failing to realise their own misdemeanor or standard. While in actual fact there are innumerable loopholes in the services of our representatives towards their commitment to the people promised during election campaign. The loopholes are never ending but to cite each one of them is time and space consuming.

Yours etc,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via e-mail

Sir,

Apropos the letter under caption 'Poor BSNL service' (ST, March 23) we have been making attempts to contact the author to know various details regarding his observations, but without any success.

While we would like to inform our valued customers about any scheduled outages, it may not always be possible. There are many reasons for the problems being faced by the customers, which includes frequent optical fibre cut due to digging activities being undertaken by various agencies. Since we come to know about such problems only after such an event has happened, there is no way we can inform our customers in advance.

Since we are keen to improve our performance, we would like to have specific feedback from our customers, so that corrective measures could be taken to their satisfaction. We would request customers to add the following information in all such letters: Their contact numbers (mobile or landline), Area/locality where this quality issue in service is being faced, Date and time on which a specific problem has been encountered by the customer.

This information would help us in analysing the cause of the problem, and also the necessary remedial action could be taken.

Yours etc.
Vimal Wakhlu
GM (Mobile Services), BSNL
Shillong-1

"We are emerging as the 'dark horse' in Asom polls. The BJP will play a key role in formation of next Government in Asom where it is the only party fighting polls firmly rooted on its stand against illegal migration from Bangladesh," said party leader Mr Shahnawaz Hussain

"We said similar things before the Bihar polls too but nobody took it seriously. Finally, what we had claimed became a reality in Bihar after the elections. Similarly, our claim about Asom will at the moment sound far fetched to many," he said.

The former Civil Aviation Minister, who is in Asom to hit the campaign trail in minority dominated areas for the second phase of election, said the BJP was not against the genuine Indian Muslims and pointed out that the party had fielded as many as ten Muslims in the Asom election.

"We have nothing against genuine Muslim citizens of the country and committed to protect Muslim citizens of the country against any harassment while tackling the problem of infiltration from Bangladesh. The party, however, continues to view Hindu migrants from Bangladesh as refugees as they are forced to leave that country because of their religion," he said.

He, however, declined to divulge which are the parties BJP is eyeing as possible post-poll allies in case the need arise for formation of an anti-Congress coalition Government in the State.

"Sonia magic or the so-called charisma of the Congress president will not work in Asom where days of the party's rule are numbered. The Congress hasn't done anything to protect Asom from unabated migration from Bangladesh in the interests of protecting its vote bank among immigrants," the BJP leader said.

Additional security forces would be deployed for holding the elections peacefully, in a free and fair manner, he told reporters here.

He said special attention was being given to the Bodo Territorial Council areas, particularly some highly sensitive polling station areas and necessary instructions had been given to this effect in the respective areas.

Stating the Asom elections would be completed with the same security arrangement as made during the first phase, Balakrishnan said similar steps were also being taken to conduct elections in neighbouring West Bengal, where elections would be conducted in five phases from April 17.

The senior EC official arrived here on Saturday evening after visiting West Bengal on Friday to oversee poll arrangements there.

About arrests of those against whom non-bailable warrants (NBW) were pending, he said the arrests under NBWs were progressing in the State. A considerable number of arrests would be made before the completion of poll process, he said. About possibility of any violence, he said the security forces would cope any such eventuality. (PTI)

During their brief meeting here, both were understood to have dwelt on the issue of retaining the hill-tribal status of some areas to enable them elect their own representatives instead of merging them with the plain area.

The Delimitation Commission -- on the basis of the 2001 General Census -- was reported to have deemed fit for fresh realignment the Manipur Legislative Assembly Seats. To this effect, some increases and decreases of Assembly seats in nine districts of Manipur were considered inevitable.

According to the findings of the Delimitation Commission, the Senapati district could gain three more seats, and Ukhrul and Chandel districts one each while in the valley districts, Imphal West would lose two, and Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal one each. According to sources, the proposal of the Delimitation Commission has been worked out on the basis of population-cum-voters of the Assembly Constituencies -- and not on the basis of hill and valley districts. (UNI)

As many as six technical institutions of the region, including IIT, Guwahati, NIT Silchar, Rajiv Gandhi Polytechnic College, Itanagar, Jorhat Polytechnic College, Assam Engineering College and Assam Polytechnic College participated in the meet.

The two-day mega event also boasted of six equal numbers of engineering disciplines, including agriculture engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, computer science and engineering, electrical engineering and forestry.

After inaugurating the programme, Director of the institute, Prof K Kumar said the festival was long overdue and it was an event dedicated to creativity and innovativeness of the students.

He also said the institute was grateful to State Governor and NERIST Society chairman S K Singh for his support to make the festival a successful one.

The festival showcased various talents of the students through various competitions and events. Attractive and intriguing stalls were put up to delight the students and audience and to enable them to examine their sense of probity. (UNI)