IMPHAL, Nov 6 : The seven year reign of chief minister Okram Ibobi wherein has cost Manipur of 4000 lives said P. Chandra Shekhar Rao, organisation secretary of the North East BJP, while speaking during a press conference today at the BJP Manipur unit office at Netiapat Chuthek.

He said history surely will remember these seven years under Ibobi as the "Black Period".

Rao said there is an urgent need for sincere intervention of the Central government to resolve the chaotic situation Manipur is entrapped in currently.

Not only the state government, but the Centeral government as well are not taking serious note of the situation in Manipur as the Union home minister P. Chidambaram till date has not even thought of making an intervention on the issue of closure of schools in the wake of the July 23 incident, as well as the attacks on media, Rao said adding the SPF government in Manipur has failed to deliver justice to the people.

The BJP leader also observed that there is an urgent need for a raid on three chief minister of North Eastern states of India including Manipur, Arunachal and Assam, by the Income Tax department like the raids on bureaucrats everywhere in the country, alleging that they have been siphoning away funds meant for public into their accounts.

Rao also alleged that Okraom Ibobi Singh has become a violence-endorsing chief minister with the motive of milking funds from the Central government on the pretext of tackling militancy.

He also said that present SPF government in Manipur maintains good relations with some underground groups.

The secretary also said on a daily basis killing and seizure of arms would not bring any solution to the prevailing situation in Manipur. Besides he felt that the current chief minsiter is incapable of bringing any solution to Manpur`s problem.

Addressing the conference, the state BJP unit president H. Borobabu Singh, said that state government has failed to bring solution to the prevailing situation arising out of the July 23 incident.

Instead of bringing solution, the government is busy playing divide and rule policy he said adding it was very unfortunate that state government has failed to take any proactive action on the issue even though it has been more than two months that educational institutes have come to a grinding halt.

The SPF government should be solely responsible for any loss in the future, Borbabu maintained.

Borobabu further held that the BJP would try to raise the issue in the upcoming Parliament session and in international forums.

He also revealed that the BJP was trying to project its own candidate for the by-election of the Yaiskul A/C however if there was a common candidate from the opposition parties they would support the candidate and added that the BJP would also organize a sit in protest with like minded CSO, students` bodies in connection with the July 23 incident at Delhi and invited the Apunba Lup to participate in the protest.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M)’s senior leader Sitaram Yechury has accused railway minister Mamata Banerjee of plotting the hijack of the Rajdhani Express.

He said the train, which runs at a speed of 120 kms per hour, was stopped without any obstruction in its track by Maoist-backed tribals .


Hundreds of tribal people allegedly backed by the Maoists on Tuesday intercepted one of India’s fastest trains-Rajdhani Express- and took its driver hostage in West Bengal demanding release of their arrested leader but the police took control of the train after five hours.

The incident occurred at Banstala station near Jhargram in Maoist-dominated West Midnapore district.

The tribal outfit, 'Janasadharaner Committee', who held the driver and the passengers hostage, were demanding the release of leader of tribal body-People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA)-Chhatradhar Mahato, who is 'actually an erstwhile Trinamool Congress activist', the CPI-M leader accused.

The CPI-M also claims that as the Trinamool Congress desperately wants to win the 2011 Assembly elections, Banerjee is banking a lot on the Maoists, reports CNN-IBN.

“Mamata’s complicity with the disruptive forces is very clear so her words have no credibility,” said CPI-M leader Prakash Karat.

Video: Rajdhani passengers question security on train

However, Congress stood by Trinamool Congress and its leader.

Brushing off the Left’s claims as preposterous, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, although in a democracy each person has the freedom of speech, it is important for political parties to exercise a sense of responsibility.

NEW DELHI - As the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party leaders meet here Wednesday to finalise portfolios’ allocation in Maharashtra, NCP general secretary P.A. Sangma said the party will not concede portfolios like home, finance, power and public works it held in the previous government.



The Congress-NCP combine held on to power for the third time in the state when results were announced Oct 22. But the NCP (62) returned with lesser numbers than the Congress (82).

Sangma said that the NCP is willing to work with the Congress on the basis of 1999 formula, when the combine first came to power.

According to portfolio-sharing formula agreed then, the Congress was given the chief minister’s post while the NCP held the post of the deputy chief minister and some key portfolios including home, finance, power and public works.

The point of discussion would be on “number of ministers”, as the NCP has lesser number of lawmakers this time than the Congress, Sangma told reporters here.

Expressing confidence that all issues would be resolved through discussions at the highest level, Sangma said: “We are going to rule Maharashtra for the next five years.”

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has authorised union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to hold talks with senior Congress leaders, Sangma said.

He said NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who has been chosen for the deputy chief minister’s post in Maharashtra, wanted to play a role in the national politics.

“Bhujbal had said he had spent over 30 years in state politics and wanted to move to national politics,” Sangma said.

“The party would think of a new deputy chief minister whenever he is shifted to the national politics,” he said.

Asked about the reports that the post of deputy chief minister would be rotated among NCP leaders, Sangma said Pawar had said there would be no such thing.

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday reiterated its demand for the removal of Union Telecom Minister A Raja, amid allegations of irregularities in the allocation of spectrum in 2007 for mobile telephony.

Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said Raja should be sacked in view of the monumental spectrum allocation scam that has come to light. He even described the scandal as the largest-ever scam in India.

Jaitley lashed out at the Telecom Minister for falsely claiming the spectrum were allocated at a price fixed by the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India). Jaitley further stated even the TRAI had said in a statement that the price for 2007 (the year when spectrum were allocated to nine companies) needed to be fixed based on the market mechanism.

It is to be noted that the 2007 spectrum allocation was made based on the price fixed by TRAI in 2001. Jaitley said the telecom industry had undergone a revolution between 2001 and 2007 and that the valuations needed to be made afresh.

According to the BJP leader, most of the companies that paid Rs 1,650 crore each for spectrum in 2007 were real estate firms. These firms within days of the spectrum allocation used the FDI route and sold stakes as much as over 70% to foreign players for sums ranging over USD 2 billion (over Rs 9,000 crore), Jaitley alleged. He added that the government lost nearly Rs 7,000 crore per allocation, which amounts to Rs 64,000 crore in total.

From Jyoti Lal Chowdhury in Silchar

This possibility has arisen in view of the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the trouble-torn Hills with the surrender of arms and ammunitions by Dima Halam Daogah outfit led by Jewel Gorlosa. Further the Railway Ministry is against the idea of steam engines lying unused or kept as showpiece or sold as scraps.

SILCHAR: Is there any ray of hope for the resumption of steam engine driven tourist coaches on the century old Hills track between Silchar and Haflong, the district headquarters of North Cachar Hills? This possibility has arisen in view of the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the trouble-torn Hills with the surrender of arms and ammunitions by Dima Halam Daogah outfit led by Jewel Gorlosa. It is to be recalled that the proposition of running such a heritage train on the pattern of Darjeeling and Shimla was mooted by the former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. In fact, there was trial run of such a train between Badarpur and Haflong which did attract both home and abroad tourists.

The Railway Ministry is for the revival of steam engines now lying idle in and outside the loco-shed of Badarpur. It were these engines before the advent of diesel locomotives on Silchar-Badarpur-Haflong-Lumding MG Hills section in particular which helped the rolling stock, passenger and goods, on the steepest gradient to move on the track in either direction. Significantly, two decades ago, Hills sections trains were hauled by the once famous heavy Canadian double faced engines introduced by the Assam-Bengal Railways of the British era.

At the rear of the trains, Indian made engines pushed with all force to gear up the Canadian engines while on the ascent and controlled the speed on the descent. There is now a ray of hope for the revival of steam engines since the Railway Ministry is against the idea of steam engines lying unused or kept as show-piece or sold as scraps. According to a railway official, the Ministry has directed that steam engines be repaired and revived for use.

According to the sources, there are 43 steam engines, most of whom are lying at the Rail Museum in New Delhi. Some others are lying abandoned on tracks of railway stations like that of Badarpur. The move to revive the use of steam engines comes in the wake of the recommendations of a committee headed by chief mechanical engineer of Northern Railway Narendra Gupta which is examining all aspects of sustainability and maintenance of the existing steam engines for hauling tourist coaches on select tourist destinations.

Silchar-Badarpur-Haflong-Lumding Hills section MG could be retained even after the completion of BG track for the convenience of hill population and for sight-seeing journey by tourists. Significantly, N F Railways not long ago introduced three coach tourist train to take the tourists through the Hills section with all the scenic beauties around. It did pulled tourists, but insurgency stood in the way. This rail track of 215 km meanders through hills, dales and valleys along which the trains chug on through 37 tunnels and 586 bridges, past 24 stations on the way.

Considering the immense tourist-potential of the North Cachar Hills, the running of tourist train can be considered, following the examples of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka-Shimla Railway hauled by steam locos which have been given world heritage status. Haflong with all the natural treasure-trove, Jatinga with its famous bird-hara-kiri mystery and Maibong with its historical ruins of Dimasa Kingdom could be developed as the best tourist resorts.

The MG rail track traverses through the highest levels in the hill ranges and the highest stations is Jatinga located at 2156.65 ft. The critical phase on this section is between Harangajao and Jatinga with the steepest railway gradient in the world. It is 1:37. It means on its ascent course towards Jatinga, the train after every 37 ft mounts up by 1 ft. In the reverse direction towards Harangajao, the train after every 37 ft descends down by 1 ft.

On this hilly section is the provision of "catch-siding" at the approach of some stations, located at the depressed ridge of hillocks to control an uncontrollable trains from speeding down the hill gradient from getting out of control. This "siding" is capable of pulling up an uncontrollable train entering at a speed of 45 and 75 mph. The steam engine at the rear end does the balancing act. A journey through this Hills section for tourists will not only be thrilling but also exciting and the best way to beat the summer heat or to retreat from the hurry, flurry and scurry of the pressing life.

SILCHAR: What keeps terrorism kicking and going on in the Northeast? Among all other well explained causes, the nexus between politicians and extremists and the diversion of Central funds is one such cause. In the latest instance, former Chief Executive Member of the Autonomous District Council of North Cachar Hills Mohit Hojai and a Council official RH Khan are in the dragnet of the National Investigation Agency, for allegedly aiding the DHD (J) terrorists. They were arrested following the seizure of Rs.1 crore in cash from two DHD (J) linkmen who revealed during interrogation that the money was given to them by Hojai for securing an arms deal with the outfit.

There was a well connected nexus between terrorists and a section of the Council’s elected representatives and officials, NIA, sources admitted. Sources added that the issue of diversion of funds to the terrorists did not begin with Hojai. In connection with the case, National Investigation Agency has arrested 10 people including some arms dealers as well. Seven were apprehended in Asom, two in Bengal and one in Mizoram. But, it further pointed out that Mohit Hojai will be the only big politician in the chargesheet that NIA would file soon.

In fact, nexus between politicians and terrorists came to light on the basis of the confessional statements of Dimasa National Security Force Chairman Bharat Langthasa who was arrested on March 30, 1994. He revealed his close links with the then Hills Area Development Minister Gobind Chandra Langthasa, Chief Executive Member of the Council Pabitra Kemprai and Kontalal Kemprai. The outfit ceremoniously surrendered before the then Asom Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia in November, 1995.

Moreover, DNSF had committed a number of killings, kidnapping and extortions from various businessmen and traders to sustain its campaign for an independent Dimasaland. It had developed close links with NSCN (IM) for training in arms and ammunition. Autonomous State Demand Committee and other organisations had all along been accusing the Congress Government of sponsoring violence in North Cachar Hills.

In a fax message to this scribe on March 11, 1995, CEM Pabitra Kemprai denied the allegations involving him and others for having direct links with DNSF and said that the press published the news after a year of the arrest of Bharat Langthasa and wondered how a confidential document of the government .is available for the press to misutilize the same.

It is no use repeating what happened to Purnendu Langthasa and Nindu Langthasa, the two young and powerful political leaders of North Cachar Hills whom DHD (J) accused of trying to buy "us off". Purnendu was the eldest son of Gobind Chandra Langthasa and CEM of the Council. Nindu was a member of the Council. DHD (J)’s publicity secretary Phairang Dimasa went on record to say that the Congress leaders offered money to buy peace.

Investigators agreed that money played a role in the killings of both the leaders. Police officials said the terrorists had demanded Rs.2.8 crore from the ruling Congress and a dispute while trying to negotiate a deal led to the duo being shot dead on June 5, 2007. There are several instances of such nexus in the Hill districts.

Extremists are known to have safe havens in jungles near and beyond the international borders. They are often found in the official residences of MLAs. On August 17, 2007, Manipur police found 12 terrorists and an assortment of arms and ammunitions from the house of three MLAs and a former legislator of the ruling Congress in the state’s most heavily guarded zone. The three sitting legislators whose quarters were raided were W. Brajabadhu Singh, K. Meghachandra Singh and K. Bijoy Singh. All the three were at home as was their former colleague N. Sobhakiran Singh when the police came calling.

Eight terrorists of Khanglei Yawol Kanna Lup were traced to the quarters of W. Brajabadhu Singh, two cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army respectively were arrested from the house of Meghachandra Singh. A terrorist each of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and Kangleipak Communist Party were arrested from residents of Bijoy Singh and Sobhakiran Singh. The Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh refused to spell out if action would be taken against the MLAs. Besides arms and ammunitions, extortion notices meant for Imphal based businessmen were also recovered.

In the midnight of December 14, 2006, six cadres of the Islamic People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) were intercepted by police at Imphal while they were transporting 200 woollen blankets and other sundry items from the residence of Md. Alauddin Khan, Minister of Veterinary and Minority Affairs, who was however quick enough to deny and clarify that the materials in question were lifted from some other place.

The scenario of nexus is bewildering. One still remembers the devastating political report of the then Governor Lt General VK Nayar in mid 90s who accused Nagaland Chief Minister of that time SC Jamir for supporting NSCN (Khaplang). His report further charged the then Chief Minister RK Dorendra Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Reishang Keishing for helping the terrorists.

The late Reishing Government got involved in what came to be known as the uniform scandal in Manipur. It was then that alleged uniforms of the Manipur Rifles worth Rs.45 crore were gifted away to the NSCN at the behest of Reishang Keishing.

While Jamir dubbed the report of the Governor a ‘heresy’ and questioned the political wisdom of the Governor, Keishing threatened to drag General Nayar to Court and vehemently denied ever supporting NSCN guerillas. What could be termed as the first ever drastic action by the Centre in the political history of the country was the sacking of the Nagaland Governor Dr MM Thomas for being sympathetic to the terrorists.

NEW DELHI: The Congress-led UPA government has come under enormous pressure to act on reports about China’s plans to build a dam on the river Brahmaputra in Tibet. With Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi expressing serious concern over the development, the issue likely to become a political hot potato for the Congress state government unless the Centre is seen to be making efforts to stop the construction of the dam.

Mr Gogoi, who is in the Capital to meet the Prime Minister, held a press conference last week to broadcast his government’s worry about the construction of the dam up stream on the Brahmaputra, called the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet. He had said such a project by China would affect Assam and dry up the life sustaining river and its tributaries downstream.

“Our apprehension is that if a dam is constructed on the main stream of the Brahmaputra, it will make the Brahmaputra to dry up and affect our water resources. I took up the matter with the Union foreign affairs minister and water resources minister too,” Mr Gogoi had said.

The leader is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and foreign minister SM Krishna on the issue. Meetings on the issue are expected over the next two three days. A delegation from Arunachal Pradesh, led by the outgoing CM Dorjee Kandu, met the PM on the issue on Monday. The group is also expected to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The Central government has maintaining that it is studying whether China was indeed building a dam on the Brahmaputra as part of its 540 MW Zangmu hydroelectric project. However, the Assam government’s political exigencies are a lot more urgent.

“We don’t want to depend solely on the Centre. We will prepare a contingency plan on our own so that we know what measures need to be taken to face any situation. We may engage IIT for the exercise,” Mr Gogoi said on Friday. He said the state government would set up a committee of experts to examine the fallout of the Brahmaputra being diverted.

Mr Gogoi’s statement came a day after it was reported that China was undertaking work on the dam. The contention has been verified by further reports that the government has undertaken a large-scale project to relocate people to facilitate the country’s north-south water diversion project.

Reports from China said plans were ready for resettlement work involving 3,30,000 people in China’s Hubei and Henan provinces. China plans to use the water diversion project, which will stretch across the country, to feed the parched areas of Beijing, Tianjin, Henan and Hebei regions. The resettlement work is expected to be complete by 2011. Reports also suggested that this would be China’s second largest resettlement plan after the Three Gorges dam.

The spokesperson of the Union external affairs ministry Vishnu Prakash had said that India would seek to know from the Chinese government whether there were recent developments that suggested a change from the position conveyed to India earlier. The Chinese side has denied plans to construct dams on the Brahmaputra earlier, dismissing it as reports in the media.

Guwahati : Several top leaders of Assam's opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) have come out against the decision to continue the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They say that the AGP's regional character would be lost if it insists on sticking to the saffron party.
"We want the party to make its stand clear on this issue of aligning with the BJP. Our experience is that no national parties are able to understand and appreciate regional aspirations. In the long run, a tie up with the BJP would be detrimental for AGP's interests," former AGP president Brindaban Goswami told IANS.
The AGP leadership earlier this week announced that it would continue with its alliance with the BJP for next month's by-elections for two seats.
By-polls to the two seats of Dhekiajuli and South Salmara were necessitated following their legislators being elected as MPs in the last Lok Sabha polls. Voting is scheduled for Nov 7.
Badruddin Ajmal of the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) vacated the South Salmara , while AGP legislator Joseph Toppo resigned from the Dhekiakuli seat.
As per the seat sharing agreement, the AGP would field a candidate in the Dhekiajuli seat, while the BJP would contest the South Salmara seat.
Despite the AGP putting up a brave front and maintaining it would stick to its alliance with the BJP, the regional party was under tremendous pressure from its rank and file to sever ties with the saffron party after the AGP fared poorly in parliamentary elections.
The AGP won just one seat in the parliamentary elections, while the BJP seized the opportunity of the alliance to win four seats.
In the 2004 elections, the AGP and the BJP had won two seats each -there was no electoral tie up then.
"We have to ensure that our regional identity is not lost. That is very important for the AGP," former chief minister and founder president of the AGP Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said, a clear hint that even he is not happy with the tie up with the BJP.
But party president Chandra Mohan Patowary insists the tie up with the BJP would continue till the 2011 assembly elections.
Several other party leaders said off the record that the tie up with the BJP was proving to be counterproductive and that the AGP's image had got a battering due to the alignment.

SILCHAR: BJP has called a 10-hour bandh in NC Hills district beginning 5 am on Monday seeking peace talks with both factions of DHD and revival
of NC Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) which is under suspended animation. The party's other demands are resumption of work on the Lumding-Silchar broad gauge section and East-West corridor project be-sides payment of salaries to NCHAC employees.

On the other hand, the political atmosphere in the district is getting vexed after surrender of DHD(J) militants. While one of the core demands of the outfit (surrendered) is creation of an autonomous state comprising NC Hills district within Assam, the Dilip Nunisa-led faction has started spear-heading its demand for a separate state called Dima Raji (Dimasa King-dom) comprising NC Hills and Dimasa-inhabited areas of Nagaland (Dimapur) and Assam's Cachar and Nagaon districts.

The DHD(J) had submitted a long list of demands to chief minister Tarun Gogoi and joint secretary (home) Navin Verma on October 2 on the occasion of the ceremonial surrender of the outfit. The demands include granting of autonomous state status to NC Hills within Assam under Article 244 of the Constitution and change of nomenclature of NC Hills as Dima Hasao Raji.

"We are for a separate state (Dima Raji) covering Dimasa-inhabited areas of the North-East. We want revival of the glorious history of Dimasas who ruled this part of the North-East during the 17th and 18th century. DHD will not agree with anything short of Dima Raji during peace talks with the government," said Dilip Nunisa in his address before a large gathering at Kalachand near Maibang in NC Hills recently.

The gathering, attended by a good number of Dimasa intellectuals and NGOs, was intended to create mass support and put pressure on the authorities at a time when the Jewel faction has jumped into the arena with their list of demands.

Union home minister P Chidambaram has already made it clear that peace talks will be held with both factions of the DHD and there will be no pro-vision for separate sittings with each of the surrendered outfits.

Observers feel solving the Dimasa conflict through peace talks will not be an easy task with the demand of both factions being in sharp contrast to each other. "The main challenge for a permanent solution to the NC Hills problem is to negotiate the unmatched demands of the Nunisa and Jewel groups. The leaders of the surrendered groups should take the initiative," said a teacher of Haflong Government College.

New Delhi: In the fight against Naxals the biggest cause of concern could be the confusion within the Union Government on how to tackle the Red ultras.

Union Home Minister may be keen on a tough battle plan but there are others who disagree and political compulsions may be delaying a reasonable counter Naxal strategy

Centre stand on the Naxals has toughened following the killing of 17 policemen in Gadchiroli on Thursday and the brutal beheading of a Jharkhand Police officer Rancis Induwar in Ranchi on Tuesday.

Home Minister P Chidambaram has promised strong action against Naxal violence but not all within the United Progressive Alliance agree.

While most agree that the Naxal violence is a grave threat but some are apprehensive because of political compulsions and it is this dilemma which may make things a bit difficult for the Home Minister.

Sources reveal that a prudent approach would be the Rahul Gandhi line that Naxalism is basically a socio economic problem. So the "tough action, no talks" approach would have to be tempered by pumping in more money for development.

The goodwill that Naxalites have garnered among tribals, farmers and land tillers is also another worry and an argument against all out attack.

"People have got high expectations. When they are not getting the basic amenities there is every possibility of revolt," says Union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.

The high decibel ally Mamata Banerjee, who is charged with taking Maoist help in her popular agitations in Singur and Nandigram, is believed to be against any strong action. Faced with such apprehension some clauses had to be toned down.

The proposal to use Indian Air Force planes in combat against Naxals was shot down by some UPA members.

The Cabinet Committee on Security then decided to restrict it for relief and combing operations.

Lalu Prasad, with an eye on Jharkhand elections and the Left Front, which is fighting the Naxals in West Bengal, are also saying no to the Chidambaram approach.

The CCS may have waved the green flag to an anti-Naxal policy but as usual politics works as a speedbreaker.

Shashi Tharoor, who believes Twitter is an interactive Akashvani, tells HARINDER BAWEJA that his tweets have demystified governance

Photo: SHAILENDRA PANDEY

What attracts you about Twitter?
It is an extraordinary interactive broadcast medium — an interactive Akashvani. With one message today, I can reach over two-and-a-half lakh people and that number keeps expanding every day. My visit to Liberia, for example, was the first ministerial visit in 38 years. It was ignored here in India by the media but through my updates and a couple of links I posted, India’s Africa diplomacy got more widely known because of Twitter. In another example, a girl from my constituency who was amputated in both legs after a railway accident is now getting offers of help from across the world.
So, are you recommending Twitter to your political colleagues?
I have told all those who have asked about it how it works, but the media controversy may not encourage many to follow my example right now. Only one Kerala MP, K Sudhakaran from Kannur, has done so. I can tell them that I have been able to demystify governance and sensitise people to the daily life of a minister. Of course, I haven’t shared any sensitive information from any political or government meetings on Twitter but politicians all over the world are tweeting. President Obama has millions of “followers” on Twitter and Hillary Clinton was tweeting eight to 10 times a day when she was on an official visit to India. The UK government encourages frequent use of Twitter and even issues guidelines on effective tweeting. Australian PM Kevin Rudd and Canada’s Leader of the Opposition Michael Ignatieff tweet regularly.
How did you discover Twitter?
My 29-year old aide, Jacob Joseph, opened an account for me in March this year but I began using it in May. A democratic politician should not resist a new communications medium. The name Twitter initially put me off but Jacob pointed out that Google and Yahoo were also silly names that are now household terms. I can tell you that a large number of politicians in 21st century democracies — including India — will be tweeting within 10 years from now. Those who are ahead of the curve are rarely appreciated.
The Prime Minister dismissed your cattle class remark as a joke but there was considerable outrage within the Congress party. Do you think politicians — even Indians — lack a sense of humour?
I have learned that what you intend to say is less important than what people understand. As Shakespeare knew, the success of a lightly tossed off joke lies not in the tongue of the teller but in the ear of the hearer.
Is the repartee man Shashi Tharoor now going to become boring? Are you being forced into a conventional political mould?
I have been tweeting throughout the imbroglio, so it’s for my readers to judge. The idea has always been to inform and engage, rather than to indulge in repartee.
Is Shashi Tharoor being forced to stay away from Twitter — just as you were forced to check out of the Taj and into Kota House?
Not at all. Twitter is only a vehicle — the message is the issue, not the medium. My party leadership understands that what I am trying to do brings into the party’s ambit a large number of people who would otherwise be indifferent to politics and the Congress. I just need to take care to ensure that the message is not misunderstood.

Congress leader pitted against NCP, BJP stalwarts - NCP throws ‘challenge’

ATONU CHOUDHURRI

Gegong Apang Itanagar, Oct. 8: In the drama that is elections 2009, Gegong Apang resembles a tragic hero — a once-powerful king now fighting enemies who were once his friends and close allies. For a man who ruled the state for 23 years and changed political colours from the Congress to the Arunachal Congress to the BJP and back to the Congress, Apang is an almost forgotten name in the state. In the election office records, the veteran Congress leader is locked in a battle with the NCP’s Alo Libang and BJP’s Katan Komboh in Yingkiong Tuting constituency of Upper Siang district. And the result of the October 13 election could very well decide whether Apang will remain in the political firmament or not. There was a time when no one dared to contest against him. But Apang himself has remained unfazed. “Politics is a reflection of life. There are ups and downs but I am a fighter,” he said. His rivals, Komboh and Libang, are not new to politics though. A former radio artiste, Libang is said to be the popular choice. Though Libang lost the panchayat elections in 2008, he is expected to give a tough fight to the former chief minister in his backyard. As for Komboh, he has been a district unit BJP president, who contested Apang during the 2004 elections. He has a core group and established network of workers who are ready to take the fight to Apang’s fort. The Yingkion-Tuting constituency, tucked away 400km from Itanagar, lacks basic amenities. “Our constituency is way behind despite the fact that former chief minister Gegong Apang represents the Assembly segment. Almost nothing has been done to develop road infrastructure, communication facilities and basic amenities,” a villager said. For the over 10,000 electorate of the Assembly segment, it is an opportunity to make a turnaround this time by electing a leader who will take care of their needs. For Apang, it is time to put his act together. Apang had to bow out following dissidence by a group of his “own men” who had grown under his leadership. He probably could not have imagined that his cabinet colleagues would ever dethrone him. But what probably went against him was his alleged involvement in a multi-crore rupee public distribution system scam which led to his downfall. The CBI chargesheeted him in the case in 2007. The man who was dear to the Congress high command suddenly fell out of favour. As dissidence grew, Apang was dislodged from the post of chief minister in April 2007. But as he himself puts it: “I have seen all these in my career. I know where I stand. I am sure I will be back in the spotlight”. Till such time, however, Apang will have to battle the demons of his past.