A visit by Priyanka Chopra cost Assam Rs 2.37 crore
Guwahati: Assam government had to shell out Rs 2.37 crore to bear the expenditure of actress Priyanka Chopra and her team when she came to the state in December last year to officially sign an agreement to become Brand Ambassador of Assam to promote tourism potential of the state.Assam’s tourism minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma on Tuesday informed the state Assembly which is sitting for a special session, Rs 2.37 crores were spent during Priyanka Chopra’s last visit to the State by Assam government. He also informed that remuneration of the popular Bollywood actress as the Brand Ambassador of Assamwas yet to be decided. Replying to a written question put before the House, Dr Sarma said, “We (Government of Assam) haven’t decided her (Priyanka Chopra’s) remuneration as of yet. However, we are hoping to fix things in this regard by May 15.’The minister further disclosed that the out of the Rs 2.37 crore shelled out by Assam government amount on Chopra’s last visit to the state, Rs 8.10 lakhs were spent for the food and accommodation of Priyanka at Hotel Radisson Blu, Rs 6.48 lakhs were spent for her team’s flight expense, Rs 22.70 lakhs for team Priyanka related travel expenses, Rs 1.77 lakhs for team Priyanka’s accommodation, Rs 2.61 lakhs for team Priyanka’s expense in Guwahati and advance payment of Rs 1.69 crore to her film production company ‘Purple Pebbels’.
Assam government plans to eliminate madrassa, Sanskrit tols
Guwahati: Assam government is planning to eliminate the controlling boards of madrassa and sanskrit tols to introduce modern education to the learners for bringing them to the mainstream. “We want to mainstream the madrassas and sanskrit tols. We plan to eliminate the madrassa and sanskrit boards,” Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in the Assam Assembly. He said madrassa education will be brought under the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) and sanskrit tols will be looked after by Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit & Ancient Studies University. “We want to introduce modern learning like computers in these educational institutes. For doing this, we have to change the existing structure,” Sarma said during his reply to a Cut Motion on Supplementary Demands for Grants for Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The Education Minister also said that the government will make examinations mandatory from Class V in all schools. “Earlier, there was no exams till Class VIII. Now we want to change it to Class IV. After that, there will be examinations,” Sarma said. (PTI)
APCC threatens to launch stir against the Centre
Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday threatened to launch a state-wide agitation against the Centre for allegedly failing to provide banks in the state with sufficient cash. “This has caused difficulties to the common people, particularly the daily wage earners and the business community,” APCC president Takam Sanjoy said. “This is a fallout of demonetisation launched by Modi government at the Centre. The remonetisation programme of the central government has caused chaos and confusion,” he said. The party gave one week’s time to the central and the state governments to ensure cash flow in the state and the entire north east region, he said. “Almost all the ATMs in Itanagar and district headquarters in Arunachal Pradesh are closed which is a clear sign of collapse of the state economy,” Sanjoy added. (PTI)
Special session of Tripura assembly to pass GST Bill
Agartala: A special session of the Tripura Assembly would begin from May 23 to pass the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, state Finance and Information Minister said here on Tuesday.Bhanulal Saha said that passing of the State GST Bill in the state assemblies was mandatory for the rollout of the new indirect tax regime in the country.”The Business Advisory Committee would decide the number of days and other business of the upcoming session,” Saha told IANS. (IANS)
Manipur CM vows to hunt down militant killers
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday vowed to hunt down the militants who ambushed and killed two soldiers a day earlier in an area bordering Myanmar. Biren Singh was speaking on the sidelines of a condolence function at the “B” company headquarters of 165 Territorial Army at Koirengei near Imphal. The Chief Minister laid wreaths at the coffins of the two slain soldiers. He met members of the bereaved families. The killings took place in the border district of Tengoupal on Monday. Biren Singh said: “Security forces and intelligence agencies are working overtime to identify and round up the militants responsible for the attack. “We strongly condemn the ambush. Once the militants are rounded up, they will be punished under the law of the land.” (IANS)