New Delhi: The BJP on Monday slammed the Centre for the current “political crisis” in Arunachal Pradesh and said the people of the state are suffering due to infighting in the ruling Congress.

“Several Congress ministers and MLAs from Arunachal Pradesh are taking rest in New Delhi in five star hotels while the people in the state are suffering,” senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi told reporters.

Dr Joshi alleged that the UPA government at the Centre was more concerned about the ongoing mess in the party and its Union Ministers on 2G spectrum issue than the country.

“Whether the country is on the Central government’s priority or not? Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has no control on the government,” Dr Joshi, also Public Accounts Committee Chairman said.

Th BJP demanded that the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly be convened immediately and the state government make a statement on the issue.

A total of 22 MLAs have been camping in New Delhi and demanding Chief Minister Jarbom Gamling’s removal. They want state Congress president Nabam Tuki to replace Mr Gamling.

BJP national general secretary Tapir Gao said for last four months, half of the Congress Legislators, four Cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries were camping in Delhi to change their leadership.

“It is a Congress’ internal matter but the people of Arunachal Pradesh are suffering. All the developmental activities are at standstill and the law and order problems are increasing day by day. The AICC and Sonia Gandhi are solely responsible for the crisis in the state,” he alleged.

He said with three countries at its borders, Arunachal is the state which has to be governed with a stable government. The internal leadership tussle in the Arunachal state Congress unit has paralysed governance in this strategically located state, he added.

“One wonders why the Central Congress leaders are keeping quiet and not taking immediate action against their legislators who are not attending their duties for last four months. Perhaps it is a case of connivance with the corrupt Arunachal leaders,” he said.

He claimed that due to monsoon, most of the district headquarters were cut off, medicines and essential commodities were not reaching the interiors and border areas.

Gao said the Congress should explain why some Cabinet ministers, nearly half of MLAs were camping in Delhi for several months. They did not even attend the Cabinet meeting and the last Assembly session.

“Can the Congress party encourage this state of abandonment of governance by its elected representatives? UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi should explain to the country and the people of Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.

He said immediate steps should also be taken to distribute medicine and essential goods to all block level and border areas.

The BJP also said for the last 65 days, the two National Highways in Manipur have been blocked. The essential commodities and medicines were in shortage in the state.

“People are not getting even one gas cylinder for Rs 2000 and petrol Rs 200 per litre. Till today, more than 30 medicine and goods trucks have been burned down. The law and order problems are deteriorating day by day and there is a hue and cry for essential commodities in Manipur,” the BJP said, accusing the Centre for not taking seriously the problems faced by the people of Manipur. (UNI)

Agartala: Durga Puja began all over Tripura since Sunday evening amid tight security, while the state administration offered a special puja tour from chopper at low-cost round the clock.

Replica of temple, prominent buildings, Himalayan ice caps, conservation of environment and biodiversity, have become the different themes of Durga Puja pandals.

A number of organisers have launched awareness on International Year of Forestry (IYF) this time.

Shantipara Yuba Sangstha, an organisation of business community of Agartala, has made a pandal with a theme on conservation of forestry and displayed hundreds of representation of available wildlife, flora and fauna exclusively found in Tripura.

Nataraj Datta, one of the organisers and officer in-charge of Tripura state space application centre, told UNI that they had displayed the model forestry around the lake with continuous announcement on conservation of bio-resources and generation of green forestry and against increasing trend of burning of fossil fuel.

He pointed out with the call of UNO, the entire world was celebrating IYF over the year in different manners but as a club Durga Puja was the best option to vow for eco-sustainability and launch campaign for conservation of natural resources.

Over 2,000 community Durga pujas, including 350 in Agartala, have been organised this year in Tripura, said Deputy Inspector General Nepal Das, adding more than 10,000 men in uniform along with Quick Response Team (QRT), sufficient watch towers, more than 100 CCTV, sniffer dogs and bomb squad had been pressed into action to hold peaceful Durga Puja.

“Border security and highway patrolling has been enhanced while metal detectors have been installed in all major puja pendals in all the towns and mechanised entry gates were set up around Agartala to avert any subversive activities,” Das said, adding traffic movements were also restricted in all major city roads till late night to facilitate the devotees.

Meanwhile, Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) has pressed Pawan Hans helicopter into service at Rs 500 for each person to watch Durga puja and illumination from the sky, besides getting an aerial view of Tripura and neighbouring country. (UNI)

Dimapur: The United Naga Council (UNC) has threatened to agitate in the manner it had violently resorted last year if the demand for the ‘alternative arrangement’ outside the government of Manipur is not done within 20 days counting from September 29.

The UNC has communicated with New Delhi on September 29 in connection with the ‘alternative arrangement’ for the Nagas in Manipur.

Highlighting the background on the demand for the ‘alternative arrangement’, the UNC said, “When the tripartite talk of the government of Manipur, government of India and the Nagas in Manipur under the aegis of the United Naga Council(UNC) was initiated by the Hon’ble Home Minister of India in September 2010, the agitation programme launched by the Nagas in Manipur to demand for the intervention of the government of India with an alternative arrangement outside the government of Manipur was withdrawn as a confidence building measure for all concerned.

“Now after more than 1 year of submission of the memorandum in demand of alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur and three rounds of tripartite talk, there has been no forward movement in addressing the core issue of the demand.

“On the other hand, the democratic process of dialogue has been subjected to the comfort, approach and position of the communal government of Manipur,” said the UNC on Monday.

It said the situation in the present state of Manipur, it has been reiterated, is fragile, sensitive and delicate with grave potential for communal confrontation and violence which could possibly lead to catastrophic consequences.

The UNC added that the democratic process of tripartite talk had kept in check the injured sentiments of the Nagas in Manipur with the expectation of a peaceful negotiation. But now the Nagas are of the considered view that nothing positive can come out of the tripartite talk.

But the suppression and exploitation of the Nagas in particular and the tribals in general by the communal government of Manipur cannot be allowed to continue any further, the Naga body stated.

“Therefore in a communication to the Government of India on the 29th of September, 2011, the United Naga Council , in response to the former’s request for a “concept paper” on alternative arrangement for the consideration of the govrnment of Manipur, has requested the government of India to initiate the process of intervention with an alternative arrangement outside the government of Manipur for the Nagas in Manipur within 20 days of that date and should the same be not forthcoming, the Nagas will have no option but to revert back to sustained agitation till our demand for an alternative arrangement is met.

“This stand has been taken because the demand for alternative arrangement cannot be a matter of consideration by the government of Manipur and to urge for an early intervention by the government of India,” cautioned the UNC. (NNN)

Kohima: The Youth-Net, a non-profit NGO, in partnership with the Government of Nagaland, on Monday hosted the 1st Young Leaders Connect Conference under the theme ‘Connect, Exchange, Strengthen’ at the Bamboo Hall in the Heritage Village at Kisama, about 12 Kms from Kohima.

Ace football player of India Bhaichung Bhutia, who was in the chair at the Young Leader Connect, gave the opening remark said that the conference, which he said it was a great opportunity for the youngsters of North East to bridge the gap and come together as one and requested the gathering to participate in the sessions.

He said it was time for North East to have young leaders not only in the region but in the main land as well and encouraged the youths to reach out and be leaders for the future.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s speech was read out in the conference, where he said that such conference reflects the sense of maturity amongst the younger generation in the North East.

Speaking on the topic ‘Securing the Future of North East’, Nagaland Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir said that Youth Net is one of the most appropriate forum in the North East.

He said due to the diverse nature of NE India, in the social context, forums like the Youth Net is important to address the issues of diversity and bridge the gap and strengthen the ties in the NE for which Youth Net should be taken seriously. He also said the NE should be prepared to take full advantage of India exploding economy. Different session on leadership, entrepreneurship and economy were conducted by various experts throughout the day. (UNI)

From Our Correspondent

 Guwahati: Scorching prices of essentials and garments are playing the spoilsport for the common man even as the festive season begins with Durga Puja festival in Assam Northeast along with the rest of the country.

Hundreds of plus puja pandals are being readied to host the well decorated and dazzling idols of Goddess Durga in all the urban centers Assam, most of those are in the region’s main city of Guwahati.

However, the common people are crying hoarse over the sizzling prices before Puja festival.

They can’t be blamed too when the vendor in the market quotes Rs 80 a kilogram of tomato, Rs 40 for a kilogram of brinjal or French beans while prices of elite vegetable like capsicum have crossed Rs 120 mark in the retail market.

“The puja festivities are not for us, but for the rich ones. With prices of essentials and edibles hitting the roof, people like me can’t even by sufficient quantity of vegetables and pulses for my four-member family. Where is the money to buy new clothes for my two children? said Angshuman Barua, an employee of a private construction company.

The vegetable vendors also have arguments to justify the unprecedented high prices.

“What can we do when the wholesaler hike the prices. We also have to earn a living out of the day’s sale proceeds,” said Dharmendra Deka a vegetable vendor in a city market.

It is actually the middlemen who are calling the shots in determining prices of vegetables in the Northeast where the governments have no marketing chains in place to have a control over the price line.

“Mafias running the vegetables and fish market in the region and governments prefer to keep a blind eye as ruling party politicos and bureaucrats get the share of profit as the cost of common man,” said Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, a senior leader of Opposition Asom Gana Parishah (AGP) in Assam.

However, even as the common men are complaining about escalating prices of edibles and essentials, the car deals and jewelers in Guwahati and other urban centres are doing a brisk business this season with the rich people are just in the mood for owning swanky cars notwithstanding the rising fuel prices and gifting trendy ornaments to near and dear ones ahead of the festive season.

Kohima: After the ultimatum served to the Nagaland Government seeking revocation of the Special Recruitment Drive for 10 EAC posts ended on September 30, the four student bodies of Angami Students Union (ASU), Ao Students Conference (AKM), Kyong Students Union (KSU) and Sumi Students Union (SKK), are all set to begin their first phase of agitation.

ASU president Voto Neikha in a statement said they were currently constrained by the ongoing Naga Students’ Federation Martyrs’ trophy which does not allow them to participate in the Deputy Commissioner’s office agitation.

He informed that the four student organisations had earlier resolved to lock up the offices of the Deputy Commissioners of the four districts of Kohima, Mokokchung, Wokha and Zunheboto if their demand was not met within the deadline.

The student bodies have also decided to boycott the examination for the 10 Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) posts scheduled for October 8 in Kohima and Dimapur, as stated in their ultimatum.

Official sources said the Nagaland Cabinet of Minister is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting over the issue on Monday. (UNI)

Senior journalist passes away

Guwahati: Senior journalist Monideep Boro died here on Monday following a brief illness at a private nursing home, doctors attending to him said. Boro, who was serving in the Kokrajhar bureau of Newslive news channel, was admitted on Sunday in a serious condition to the hospital. Boro, 38, was suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes and had suffered a cardiac arrest. Before joining Newslive, Boro had served with the English daily The Telegraph and another news channel North East Television. Assam Information and Public Relations Minister Basanta Sarmah along with several other media, political, social and students’ organisations condoled Boro’s untimely demise. (PTI)

One killed, eight injured in accident

Morigaon: One person was killed and eight others injured on Monday in an accident in Assam’s Morigaon district, the police said. A speeding sport utility vehicle (SUV) skidded off the NH-37 at Bogoriguri in Dharamtul police station and fell into a nearby pond, killing one person on the spot. The condition of the four of the eight injured was critical and they have been shifted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), sources said. (PTI)

Central assistance to Mizoram

Aizawl: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has agreed to give special plan assistance to the Mizoram government even though the ministry had earlier rejected the proposal of the state government, an official statement said here today. The decision was conveyed in person to state Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla during a 40-minute meeting with Mukherjee in New Delhi on Sunday, the statement said. Lal Thanhawla also urged the finance minister to allocate more funds to meet the additional expenditure arising out of the implementation of enhanced salaries to the state government employees as per the recommendations of the central sixth pay commission. (PTI)