From Our Correspondent
TURA: Disgruntled over the denial of Congress ticket to Saleng A Sangma, over 4000 members of the Gambegre Block Congress Committee (GBCC) resigned en masse from the party’s primary membership on Thursday.
A meeting was held among the office bearers and members of all levels of GBCC and the gathering resolved to disassociate itself from the Congress leading to the dissolution of the GBCC.
From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: Former JSU President, Charles C Phawa who had earlier decided to contest from the Mowkaiaw seat in West Jaintia Hills in the upcoming Assembly election in February decided to quit the race on Friday.
Phawa called off his bid for candidature following a meeting with his supporters at Mukroh village recently.
Following Phawa’s decision to withdraw his candidature, four aspirants– sitting NCP MLA, ECB Bamon, senior most politician and former UDP MLA, Mihsalan Suchiang, former District Transport Officer, Riminus Syngkon and JHADC Deputy Chief Executive Member, Qually Suiam-remain in fray for the Mowkaiaw seat.
From Our Correspondent
Agartala: The State Election machinery has initiated inquiry against Chief Minister Manik Sarkar for his alleged violation of model code of conduct.
The inquiry has been initiated after PCC president Sudip Roy Barman lodged a compliant with Election Commission alleging that he had violated the model code of conduct.
PCC president said the Chief Minister had given a political interview to a private cable channel sitting in his office (Civil Secretariat) which amounts to violation of model code of conduct.
“Once the model code of conduct came into effect, no minister could use his office or official status for election campaign. Interestingly, the Chief Minister had given a political interview to a cable channel violating the model code of conduct”, he said in the complaint.
In the interview aired in a local cable channel had slammed the opposition Congress for its negative polities. Besides, Sarkar also appealed to voters to vote for Left Front to make Tripura a prosperous state.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashutosh Jindal on Friday confirmed the initiating probe against the Chief Minister for his alleged violation of model code of conduct.
“We will conduct an inquiry into the complaint and send the report to the EC for taking necessary step”, he said.
Altogether four complaints related to violation of model code of conduct have been received so far. Of the total complaints, one complaint related to distribution of cash dole has already been probed and report is expected to be sent to the EC for taking necessary measures.
To check cash transfer during the election process, the EC has already appointed ten Expenditure Observers.
Besides, several flying squads have been constituted to keep close eye on the cash transfer and possible distribution of different kind of doles to woo voters.
Guwahati: With a view to raise tourist inflow and make the state more visitor-friendly, the Arunachal Pradesh government is working to simplify the procedure for application and issuance of the Inner Line Permit.
The ILP is an official travel document issued to Indian citizens who want to visit “protected/restricted areas or states” like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those States to obtain permit for entering into the protected State.
Asked if the Arunachal government is contemplating to issue ILP-on-arrival as in the case of Mizoram, Chombay said, “We can think about it.” He also said that in case of international visitors also efforts are on to simply procedures. “As far as the foreign tourists are concerned, the state has the Protected Area Permit (PAP) and as a department we have simplified the procedure. Now even two foreign tourists can apply for the PAP and I being the issuing authority made it sure that it is issued on the same day and no inconvenience is caused to the visitors,” Chombay said.
Chombay said that tourism is a priority sector his state and Arunachal is looking forward to give a big boost in the sector after the International Tourism Mart which started in Guwahati on Friday. (PTI)
Agartala: Ruling Left Front on Friday released its manifesto for the February 14 assembly polls in Tripura promising to make the state a model one in terms development, safety and security, maintaining democratic atmosphere and communal harmony.
Releasing the manifesto, Tripura LF chairman and CPI-M MP Khagen Das said the manifesto focussed on developing connectivity, power, industry, irrigation, agriculture, education, SCs and STs, minorities, women, law and order and general administration.
Das alleged that during the erstwhile Congress regime in the state, the standard of life was low and people lived in deplorable conditions and they started getting benefits of development only after the LF came to power in 1978.
He criticized the UPA government at the centre for shrinking employment sectors, reducing regular workers, increasing casual and contractual job openings, initiating New Pension Policy and accepting foreign direct investments.
CPI(M) state general secretary Bijan Dhar said the Left Front would implement all the 34 poll pledges and laid importance in peace and development, good governance, improving connectivity, education. Health care, electricity, industries and tourism and uplift of people living below poverty line.
Tripura would go for polls on February 14 to elect 60 members of the assembly. Over 23 lakh people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections. (PTI)
By Our Reporter
Shillong: The National Institute of Rural Development, North East Regional Centre (NIRD-NERC), Khanapara, has organized a 6-days training-extension programme January 16-21 on ‘capacity building on rural functionaries and progressive fish farmers for development of Pisciculture in Meghalaya (SGH)’.
The programme, inaugurated by Dr Binay Singh, Director, NIRD-NERC, has been sponsored by the Meghalaya Government. 37 participants [fishermen] from Meghalaya attended the training programme. H V Lalringa, I A S (Retd), paid a brief visit to NIRD, NERC, on January 16 and addressed the trainees on different aspects related to fisheries and allied agricultural activities.
Among other notable personalities present on the occasion wereDr BK Mukhopadhyay, Dr MK Shrivastava and KK Bhattacharjee.
From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The ‘unexplored paradise’ of Northeast India has been brought to the National Games stadium ground here in Guwahati for the first ever two-day International Tourism Mart that will be held from January 19 to showcase the diverse tourism potential of the region before a global delegates and travel trade captains from both overseas and rest of the country.
The Mart that is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in coordination with all the Northeastern States and West Bengal that has contiguity with the region. Union Tourism Minister Chiranjivee will be present when Assam Governor J B Patnaik will inaugurate the event in January 19. The region’s colourful tribal way of life, culture , tradition and unparalleled but yet to be explored scenic destinations , floral and faunal resources, mouth-watering cuisine etc. will be some of the highlights of the mart.
Secretary of Tourism, Parvez Dewan informed International Tourism Mart, Guwahati, 2013 is not only the first ever international tourism event to be organised in the N-E region, but also the first international tourism mart to focus on a specific region of India.
He said the mega tourism mart will enable the tourism product suppliers from the Northeast India to reach out to the global market through international and domestic travel trade captains attending it.
Eighty three travel-trade delegates from 23 countries including ASEAN nations, the US, UK, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, Bhutan are coming to the Mart. The overseas delegation include 55 tour operators, nine hoteliers and 14 media representatives.
Post-Mart familiarization tours to the States in the region have been arranged by the respective State governments for the overseas delegates from January 21 to 28 next.
450 artistes, 50 each from the nine participating states, will be performing in the Mart besides carrying out a cultural procession in the city centre here on January 19 to showcase rich ethnic culture of the region.
Assam government has decided to familiarize the international delegates with the traditional lifestyle in villages of Assam Valley besides the state’s top-bracket destinations like wildlife parks, cruise along the river Brahmaputra.
A contingent of ministers and executive heads of various national tourism organisations will participate in the Mart including Kousoum Saroeuth, vice-minister , tourism of Cambodia, Thang Bunthan, chief of marketing and promotion, Cambodia, Savankhon Razmontry, deputy minister of tourism, Lao PDR, Ms Sengsoda Vanthanouvong, director of tourism promotion board, Lao PDR, Chee-Pey Chang, executive director, Singapore Tourism Board, Md Moksudul Hasan Khan, Chairman of ministry of tourism, Bangladesh and Thuji Dorji Nadik, head of tourism council, Bhutan.
There will be an exhibition venue in the mart where allthe participating States are showcasing their individual tourism potential and facilities.
ISLAMABAD: A cleric who has been pushing for electoral reforms in Pakistan will resort to street protests aqain if the government does not abide by an agreement that eased a political crisis, an aide said on Friday.
Muhammad Tahirul Qadri, who has a history of ties with the military, reached a deal with Pakistan’s ruling coalition on Thursday that will give his party some say over the formation of a caretaker government ahead of elections this spring. Qadri’s party may also participate in the elections.
The cleric’s reappearance on Pakistan’s political stage a few weeks ago after years of living in Canada, and his calls for the military to play a role in forming an interim administration, has raised speculation he may be backed by the country’s powerful army.
Qadri and the military deny this.
The cleric, who lead four days of street protests in the heart of the capital aimed at forcing the government to resign, will keep pushing for political reforms and a halt to corruption, said his spokesman.
“We will ensure implementation of the agreement with full letter and spirit,” Qazir Faizul Islam, secretary of information for Qadri’s charity, told Reuters.
“If the government tries to deviate, we will force them to follow through the power of the people and media.”
Aside from giving Qadri a voice in who leads the caretaker administration, the government also agreed to dissolve parliament before a scheduled date of March 16, although it did not specify a date.
It also said elections would be held within 90 days of the dissolution and electoral reforms would continue to be discussed.
An announcement of an election date could come during a parliament session on Monday.
“After signing the agreement for electoral reforms, we are part of the electoral process.
We might take part in elections,” said Islam, adding however that Qadri did not have ambitions to become prime minister.
But the focus for the moment seems to be on the interim administration that will be formed after the dissolution of parliament and will oversee the elections.
A new political crisis could erupt if Qadri tries to promote candidates for caretaker prime minister seen to be sympathetic to the military, which has ruled the country for more than half of its history as an independent nation.
Qadri supported a 1999 military coup, and praised the military during speeches this week, appealing to thousands of supporters and members of the middle and lower class who have grown tired of Pakistan’s dynastic politics. (Reuters)
Islamabad: The Catholic Church in Pakistan has sought an apology from Interior Minister Rehman Malik for drawing a parallel between the Pope Benedict XVI and Tahirul Qadri.
Qadri, a politician and Pakistan-born Canadian cleric, delivered fiery speeches while leading tens of thousand of his supporters in Islamabad near Pakistan parliament during his three-day demonstration, seeking parliament dissolution as his chief demand.
In a statement Thursday, Senior Priest of the Catholic Church in Pakistan Fr Emmanuel Yousaf Mani demanded that Rehman Malik should immediately withdraw unnecessary and provocative remarks, Geo News reported.
“There is no comparison or link between the two personalities.
While Pope (Benedict XVI) is an undisputed leader of the Catholic Church, the largest faith group in the world.
“The credentials of Dr Qadri are prerogative of Pakistanis and Muslims to ascertain. On the other hand the Pope has neither a political role nor ambitions in the 21st century states,” said Fr Emmanuel Yousaf, who also a director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace.
“We as a Christian community of Pakistan feel deeply angered by such statements maligning the office and the position of Papacy.
We demand an apology from Rehman Malik, who is otherwise assigned a responsible task and request him to avoid any such remarks in the future.” (IANS)
ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani investigator probing graft charges involving Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf was found dead in mysterious circumstances at his official accommodation here on Friday, police said, amid reports that he was “under pressure” due to the high-profile case.
Kamran Faisal, an assistant director of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), was found hanging from a fan in his room at the Federal Lodges in Islamabad, police officials said.
Preliminary investigations suggested he had committed suicide, the officials said.
Islamabad Police chief Bin Yamin told reporters the cause of death would be established by an autopsy.
Faisal, whose body was sent to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for autopsy, was one of two investigation officers probing allegations of graft in rental power projects.
The Supreme Court had last year directed NAB to take action against Prime Minister Ashraf and over 20 other suspects in connection with these allegations.
The allegations against Ashraf date back to his tenure as power minister.
On Wednesday, the apex court directed NAB to arrest Ashraf and other suspects.
NAB chief Fasih Bokhari told the court on Thursday that he lacked evidence to make the arrests.
Bokhari said investigators had not uncovered enough evidence against any of the suspects.
Bokhari visited the Federal Lodges after learning of Faisal’s death.
He described the incident as “unfortunate.” Geo News channel quoted its sources in NAB as saying that Faisal had been “under pressure” in connection with the probe into the power projects.
The sources further said Faisal had asked his superiors to remove him from the case. (PTI)
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