BJP to go solo in 2016 Assam Assembly polls
Barpeta (Assam): Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the Assembly elections alone in Assam next year, BJP state president Siddhartha Bhattacharya said on Thursday. “The BJP will contest in all the 126 Assembly seats this time without the help of any other party,” Bhattacharya said at a workers meet here after Asom Sena deputy convener Hemanta Deuri along with 500 people joined the BJP. “There is no VVIP quota for the selection of poll candidates. This time the joining of many leaders of AGP and Congress in BJP will play an important role,” he added. Bhattacharya said, “The state Congress leadership has failed to keep the party members united. Due to his weak leadership many Congress leaders have joined BJP.” (PTI)
MZP leaders urge tribals to firmly protect rights
Aizawl: Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or Mizo student’s federation leaders led by its new president Lalsangzuala Ngente on Thursday urged tribal people to stand frim to ensure protection of their safeguards and rights.
The leaders were attending a meeting of different organisations on the occasion of launching tribal movement in Manipur at Churachandpur. The MZP leaders also visited the morgue where nine people were killed in police firing during the recent agitation against three impugned legislation enacted by the special session of the Manipur assembly. They covered the coffins with the Mizo shawl or ‘Puan’ called ‘Tawlhlohpuan’, traditionally given to brave of the bravest warriors, and also handed over the traditional ex-gratia to the kin of the slain agitators. They also visited 48 injured tribals and handed them traditional gifts from the MZP. (PTI)
ZNP to fight Mizoram polls as NDA constituent
Aizawl: Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) and the BJP on Thursday decided to contest the coming by-poll to Aizawl North -III Assembly seat and elections to Aizawl Municipal Corporation and Lai Autonomous District Council as part of the National Democratic Alliance. A ZNP statement said the decision was made at a meeting of the two parties here. “The two parties agreed to continue to work together in the future,” the statement said. The meeting expressed regret at the decision of the Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) which had worked together with the ZNP and BJP in the 2014 Parliamentary election, to part ways in the coming polls. The MNF had recently decided to fight the coming elections alone while the MPC has forged an alliance with the ruling Congress. If the NDA wins the AMC polls, more fund could be expected from the NDA government at the Centre for the ‘Smart City’ project for Aizawl, the statement added. (PTI)
Economic blockade to protest killings by Assam Rifles
Imphal: The Joint Action Committee against the killing of Khupneilal Neihsiel and Robert Hesei Kipgen has decided to impose a 20-day economic blockade from November 3 midnight next. Several bandhs were called, however, the actions taken up by the government were unsatisfactory, according to the JAC. JAC Convener Thangminlen Haokip said the two persons were killed in an alleged fake encounter by 8 Assam Rifles personnel on January 28, 2015 at Kadangband. A Magisterial probe was ordered, however the government has not yet tabled the report of the inquiry. (UNI)
1.2 kg gold worth Rs 30 lakh seized, three arrested
Silchar: At least 1.2 kg gold worth approximately Rs 30 lakh was seized by the police from three persons, including a woman, on Wednesday in Assam’s Cachar district, the police said. The gold in six bars was seized at Phuletol, under Lakhipur police station limits, from the three persons travelling from Manipur, they said. The three persons were taken into custody and investigations were on, they added. (PTI)
