Gogoi to reshuffle ministry portfolios by October 31
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on wednesday said he will reshuffle the portfolios of his ministers within this month after getting approval from the Congress high command. “The ministry reshuffle will happen within this month. I am going to Delhi day after tomorrow. After coming back, it will take place,” Gogoi said at a press conference here. He said the reshuffle will take place for the vacant ministries that are being additionally looked after by the existing ministers. “The reshuffle will also take place for the other ministries as well,” he added. In July, Gogoi had temporarily reallocated some portfolios to four existing ministers after dropping two dissident ministers following resignation of their leader, Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Chief Minister had dropped Border Affairs and Cooperation Minister Siddeque Ahmed and Irrigation and Soil Conservation Minister Ardhendu Dey after they accompanied Sarma to the Raj Bhawan for submitting his resignation. (PTI)
Nagaland Par Secy suggest to set up MSW in varsities
Kohima:Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education and SCERT Deo Nukhu today suggested to introduce MSW (Master of Social Work) and to establish two Law Colleges here. Inaugurating a conference for Principals of Government Colleges, organised by the Department of Higher Education at the Conference Hall of Directorate of Higher Education, Mr Nukhu suggested to promote vocational education on music and sports. He urged the College Principals, especially those serving in the rural districts, to attend their office regularly and also advised them to coordinate and work hard to give quality education and promote higher education. Earlier, the chief guest also inaugurated LED Advertisement Screen and Kirloskar Silent Generator. The function was chaired by Commissioner and Secretary for Higher and Technical Education F P Solo. (UNI)
Boy killed, houses burnt in fire
Imphal: A ten year old boy was burnt to death and a dozen houses and shops burnt in a fire here on Tuesday night at Koirengei. A car hit a fuel shop at Koirengei which resulted in a major fire. A ten year old boy identified as Thokchom Loyumba who was inside a house could not escape from the fire and died. His mother and another woman who were in the shop were hit by the car and are now admitted at Shija hospital. As there was oil in the shop the fire spread fast and engulfed the entire area completely burning about a dozen shops and houses. It took over three hours to bring the fire under control. Fire tenders from of Manipur fire services, Assam Rifles, BSF were brought in to control the fire.The damage done by the fire was not yet estimated. (UNI)
Assam for amnesty to ULFA chief if he returns to fight polls
Guwahati:Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said he was ready to write to the Centre for amnesty to ULFA’s anti-talk faction chief Paresh Baruah if he decides to return and contest polls. “If you (Baruah) really want to do something, then why don’t you come back to Assam and fight for the people? You form a political party, do politics, contest elections and prove that people support your causes except that of Assam’s independence,” he told reporters here. Gogoi’s comment comes after a local English daily today published a report quoting Baruah that India was scared of holding a plebiscite on sovereignty of Assam and asking leaders to learn about ‘true democracy from countries like Great Britain and Canada’. “If he (Baruah) decides to come back to Assam we will request the Centre to give him amnesty. However, it will be the Centre’s decision to consider that or not.” Gogoi countered ULFA(I)’s allegations that Assamese people were not independent and gave examples of high turnout during elections held in the state in recent years. “There may be 0.5 per cent or even less number of people supporting separate Assam. More than 99 per cent of Assam’s population accept that we are a part of India,” he added. (PTI)