NEW DELHI, Dec 30 : The year that rings out was full of daunting challenges for the Congress, but the oldest political party in India managed to convert many an adversity for its benefit and proving in the process its ability to weather any kind of storm.
With just a few months left for the Lok Sabha elections, which marks the fag end of the five-year term of the government led by it, the Congress stands tall as a team leader who successfully steered ahead the ruling coalition in the first such experiment at the centre in its 123-year-old history.
Many a Congress baiter had predicted that the UPA coalition would fall under the weight of its own contradictions. But the party proved them wrong, having exhibited the mastery over the nitty-gritty of the complex coalition politics at the national level.
The biggest crisis that the Congress had to confront during the year was the threat to the survival of its government following the intransigence of the Left Parties over the Indo-US Nuclear deal.
Though many predicted doom for the government, the Congress displayed its political acumen and skill and managed to win the Motion of Confidence moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament in July this year. This followed the withdrawal of support by the Left parties on the nuclear deal issue.
Not only did it save its government from the Left onslaught, but also saw to it that the Nuclear deal, projected as a panacea for the energy starved country in its march towards nine to ten per cent economic growth, was sealed with the United States.
Converting into its favour the adverse circumstances arising out of the Left intransigence to the nuke deal, the Congress won over to its side the Samajwadi Party, with which it is likely to forge an alliance in the coming Lok Sabha elections as an effective arrangement to take on the formidable UP Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati.
The Congress was on a sticky wicket during the earlier part of the year with an electoral debacle in Karnataka, galloping inflation and frequent terror strikes.
But the situation reversed with the inflation and price rise beating a retreat and its fight against terrorism getting international attention and support following the November 26 Mumbai multiple terror attacks.
The government had to sacrifice its senior Minister Shivraj Patil for what was widely perceived to be inept handling of the Home Ministry, following the Mumbai terror strike. But it converted even this adverse situation in its favour by bringing forward National Investigation Agency (NIA) Bill in Parliament and getting it adopted with the support of all political parties.
The Congress had been advocating for a federal anti-terror agency, but the proposal had always met with opposition from the non-Congress governments and the Left parties on the grounds that it would be a transgression on the powers of the states to maintain law and order.
But the Congress cashed in on the situation arising out of the Mumbai terror incident and enacted the NIA legislation and amended the Unlawful Terrorists (Prevention) Act to provide more teeth to deal effectively with terror cases.
A major accomplishment of the Congress in 2008 was the introduction of the controversial Women's reservation Bill seeking to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and State Legislature.
The bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha despite heavy opposition from even a few partners of the ruling UPA such as Rashtriya Janata Dal.
The Congress also refused to succumb to pressures from the RJD to provide for communal quota within the 33 per cent reservation for women.
A major revamp effected by the party during the year in Maharashtra. While removing Vilasrao Deshmukh from the Chief Minister's post, it found a replacement in a younger leader, Ashok Chavan. The change was effected by the party unmindful of the opposition from the formidable Narayan Rane.
The removal of Patil and Deshmukh had helped the Congress to project itself as a party which would not compromise anything in its fight against terrorism.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the party had also sent a strong message that it would not tolerate indiscipline. It wasted no time to crack the whip against senior leaders Margaret Alva, Yogendra Makwana and Narayan Rane when they openly criticised the party.
AICC General Secretary Alva was removed from the post when she alleged corruption in the ticket distribution during the last Karnataka assembly elections. The same fate befell Makwana when he questioned the ticket distribution in the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.
The suspension of Rane came within a day after he criticised Congress president Sonia Gandhiin the wake of the nomination of Chavan as the successor of Deshmukh. At the same time, the Congress pardoned former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran and readmitted him into the party and gave him a berth in the Congress Working Committee. In fact, the 91-year-old Karunkaran left the party in 2004 and floated his own political outfit.
However, he expressed his willingness to return to the party early this year.
Apparently keeping in mind the General Elections, the Congress had announced a few populist schemes, including the Rs 68,000 crore farm loan waiver to help the distressed farmers, and passed the Unorganised Workers Bill to provide social security to 400 million workers.
Though the defeat in Karnataka was humiliating for the Congress, it acted swiftly to find out the cause for its debacle by appointing a committee headed by Defence Minister A K Antony. On the basis of the Antony committee recommendations, the Congress announced its candidates for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chhattsigarh and Mizoram well in advance. The elections to these five states were held in November-December.
The strategy paid rich dividends with the Congress retaining Delhi, winning for the third time in succession, and wresting Rajasthan from the BJP and winning in Mizoram for the first time in ten years.
Its victory in Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram re-energised the party workers ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, but in Jammu and Kashmir, it could only garner the third position, behind the National Conference and the Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP).
It was all the more distressing for the Party as the rival BJP found a foothold in Jammu region winning 11 seats.
Though the party had lost its face in Jammu and Kashmir, it was highlighting holding of free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir, notwithstanding the deep-rooted separatism and insurgency.
The year 2008 marked the completion of the ten years of the eventful presidency of Sonia Gandhi, who took over the mantle after remaining as a recluse for nearly six years after the assassination of her husband Rajiv Gandhi. She also became the longest serving President of the party.
However, there was no official word so far from Gandhi if she would give greater responsibility to her son Rahul Gandhi, who was made general secretary of the Congress Party last year, amid clamour among the party leaders to project him as the next Prime Minister candidate. In what is seen as his plan to assume a greater role, Mr Gandhi has embarked on a nation-wide "Discovery of India" tour from Orissa in March this year as part of the effort to reinvigorate the party.
He got wider national visibility as India's youth icon, besides kicking up a few controversies in non-Congress ruled states.
Though he was projected as the Party's mascot in the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the party had not officially confirmed if he would be projected as its Prime Ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha elections.
Though some leaders like Arjun Singh had raised the "Rahul-for-PM" chorus, the Party was quick to douse the demand saying that "Sonia and Rahul always kept away from any environment of sycophancy." During the year, the Congress had managed to keep its UPA flock together though its ally in Tamil Nadu was more demanding on the issues of Sethusamudram project and the LTTE Tamil issue.
After much dithering, the Congress, under pressure from its ally DMK, extended support to the controversial Rs 23,000 crore Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project at Rameswaram. On the LTTE issue , the Congress managed to convince the DMK of the steps being taken by the government to ensure the safety of the civilian Tamils in the island nation during the ongoing conflict.
The Congress stood with the Jharkhand Mukthi Morcha, an ally of the UPA, when its leader Shibu Soren wanted to become the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, replacing Madhu Koda, an independent supported earlier by the Congress to become Chief Minister.
The Congress suffered a major embarrassment when its senior minister A R Antulay who made a controversial statement insinuating that the Hindu right wing radicals were behind the killing of Maharashtra ATS Chief Hemant Karkare during the Mumbai terror strike on November 26.
At one stage, it appeared that the Antulay issue would snowball into a major threat to the government, but the leadership handled the situation with ease, by making a statement in Parliament rubbishing the allegation of Antulay and making him retract from his statement.In the year that rings in, a tough task awaits the Congress which will have to go to the people again to seek another mandate. But the lessons it had learnt to stay afloat in coalition politics will always come handy.

The recently held Vidhan Sabha elections in five Indian states were touted to be the semi finals before the general elections which are expected to be held in March - April 2009. Most analysts have concluded that since Congress suceeded in forming the Government in three states, it has won this semi final has emerged stronger than BJP. But as usual, the devil is in the details.  

Of the three states won by Congress two are Delhi and Mizoram. These two states together account for just eight Lok Sabha seats which is three less than Chattisgarh which was not only retained by BJP but the party even increased its vote share defying anti - incumbancy factor.

Congress suceeded in wresting Rajasthan from BJP but it managed to get only one percent more votes than BJP. This despite the fact that BJP had to face rebel candidates in as many as 60 constituencies and many of them won (fourteen independents won with a vote share of about 20% in the state).If  votes of the four big states in the polls (excluding Mizoram) are aggregated, it is clear that BJP got 38 % of total votes polled whereas the Congress got around 36% in these elections. Even if the Vidhan Sabha seats are aggregated, BJP has won more seats (BJP got 294 whereas the Congress got 279) than Congress in the five states even if one includes 32 seats won by Congress in Mizoram which sends just one MP to Lok Sabha. 

Infact the states won by BJP i.e MP and Chattisgarh account for 40 Lok Sabha seats whereas the states won by Congress i.e Rajasthan, Delhi & Mizoram account for 33 Lok Sabha seats. So the performance of BJP was far bettter than Congress both in terms of vote share and seats won. This despite the fact that BJP had the disadvantage of anti incumbency in the three bigger states.

 One of the other myth that was perteprated by analysts is irrelevance of internal security as a poll issue by citing the results of Delhi elections where Shiela Dikshit won, despite the fact that Delhi alsio faced serial blasts earlier this year. 

However, these analysts conviniently ignore that Delhi voters are aware of the fact that Shiela Dikshit does not control Police or any other law and order department as security is not a State subject for Delhi & it is directly controlled by Central Government. 

In Chattisgarh, of the 31 Naxal affected seats BJP won 26 seats mainly because of the its Government’s support to Salwa Judum, a people’s movement against Naxalism. 

Congress had promised to disband Salwa Judum and was routed in the Naxal affected areas. So internal security is indeed a big issue and would be a bigger issue in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The results of these elections clearly point towards Advantage BJP for Lok Sabha 2009.

Pune, Dec 27 : Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday asked politicians to stop glorifying the resilient spirit of Mumbai in the aftermath of the November 26 terror attack and show ‘the iron will’ to engage the Indian armed forces in a decisive battle to crush the hostile neighbour.

"Let us not forget the fact that ten Pakistan-trained terrorists who attacked the commercial capital of India taking the sea route killed over 200 innocent civilians and 16 uniformed men in the country," Thackeray said an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"Despite the universal knowledge of its springboard support to anti-India elements, Pakistan is not only denying the nationality of captured terrorist Kasab but also talking about giving a fitting reply to an Indian response to the situation," he said.

In a sarcastic reference to the much-hyped spirit of Mumbai, Thackeray said even after the 1993 serial bomb blasts, the city was back to its chores the next day and the stock market too transacted business.

"Now Taj and Oberoi have reopened again underlining the spirit of Mumbai which is worthy of praise. But if political leaders feel that the metropolis has put behind the November 26 attack as it starts anew, they are mistaken," the Sena chief said.

"People are scarred but have to pull on with the compulsion of earning their daily bread. And when they leave their homes every day to sweat and earn, they also carry with them angst. While hailing the peoples indomitable spirit, the rulers and politicians should not forget this bitter fact," he said.

Thackeray said it was a pity that the proxy war unleashed by Pakistan against India has claimed the lives of an estimated 25,000 people across the nation in recent years.

The Indian politicians have presented a spectacle of ‘wearing bangles’ in their hands while Pakistan is training guns on innocent civilians. But the people of Mumbai and India if not the rulers, are keen on retribution, he added. 

IMPHAL, Dec 27 : The Manipur People`s Party (MPP) observed its 41st Foundation Day at its party office by hoisting the party flag today.

Speaking at the function, MLA RK Anand said the party was fully committed to the protection of the territorial integrity of Manipur and of ensuring the rights of the people of the state. He also said that the present government was indulging in acts more heinous than those committed by terrorists and added that the government was responsible for the lack of peace in the state.

O Joy who also spoke on the occasion said that the people of Tripura would have been better off if there had been a regional party in the state. He further added that MPP would strive for the betterment of the people of the state.

Party president, Dr. L Chandramani said in his speech that the strength of the party was the love of the people and appealed further for their support.

Dimapur, Dec 27 : The Nagaland Congress is wondering how Home Minister Imkong Imchen could even claim that the state is “most peaceful” considering the reality of killings, extortion and kidnappings as daily affairs. The Nagaland Congress in a response today, to Imchen’s claims, took strong note of the home minister describing extortion, robbery and kidnapping as “normal crimes”.

Saying that the assertion of Imchen is nothing short of legalizing crime, the NPCC in its response reminded the DAN government that hundreds of businessmen have already left Dimapur due to extortions and abduction for ransom. 

“Besides, killing is the daily affairs of the state but he claims that the state is most peaceful; it is a shame on the part of Home minister” NPCC’s vice president Nillo Rengma stated. The NPCC queried the minister what he meant by “normal crimes”. 

A crime is a crime no matter what and there is no substitute for human life, the Congress reminded the minister. The Congress also took a jab at the minister’s claims that “the situation is under control” just because some few persons were arrested. “Are the people of the state that gullible?” the Congress queried the DAN minister.

The Congress had more reminders for the minister: “if Home minister is implying that Nagaland is ‘most peaceful’ because there has been no recent bomb blasts in Nagaland unlike other parts of India, then it talks a lot about the state of mind of the minister”. 

The state government is reminded that the minister’s tall claims and the reality are reflections that the NPF-led DAN government completely failed in control law and order and the home minister is responsible. 

“Therefore he has no moral right to continue as Home minister”, the NPCC reminded. 

 

The Congress also reminded that, besides anti-social elements, rogue police and bodyguards of ministers are themselves terrorizing innocent citizens. 

Referring to the health minister’s rogue police bodyguards, who harassed and assaulted law-abiding citizens recently, the Congress had this question for the DAN government: “has the DAN government authorized minister’s bodyguards to take law into their own hands and to harass the innocent public in addition to anti-social elements?”

Imphal, Dec 27 : MANIPUR CHIEF Minister Okarm Ibobi today said that Right to Information Act, 2005 is like the steering of a vehicle moving on the roads, it steers a government off corruption and makes it transparent and accountable.

The Chief Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of a seminar on the theme "Role of Legislators in the implementation of Right to Information Act" held at the state Legislative Assembly Complex here under the aegis of Former Presiding Officers' Forum, Manipur.

O Ibobi further said that the real objective of the Act is to make a democratic form of government transparent and accountable by eradicating corruption.

The trouble is that though people have appreciated the RTI Act so much, little is known about it to the people.

He said, the seminar organised by the Former Presiding Officers' Forum would provide an opportunity for the legislators who are the representatives of the people to know more about the Act so that they would be able to go in the right way.

If the Forum could spread better awareness about the Act through media to the people, it's hoped that the (present) government would have more transparency and accountability.

"With this Act, let's make our society a society full of transparency and accountability without corruption," Chief Minister O Ibobi said.

Delivering valedictory speech, Manipur Assembly Speaker Dr S Budhichandra, who presided over the inaugural function, opined that in making a democratic set up more perfect, Right to Information was very important.

It was questionable whether the rules and regulations of the Act were properly functional, Dr Budhichandra said and added, nobody should misuse the Act and it should be used properly for the betterment of the society.

President of the Former Presiding Officers' Forum, W Angou pointed outin his introductory speech of the seminar that inorder to facilitate transparency and accountability in a government and to eradicate the evils of corruption, all citizens must know the policies and programmes of the government and their objectives fully, The RTI Act provides that opportunity, he said.

Angou further pointed out that making good use of the provisions of the RTI Act, the NGOs and civil society organisations could make the poor and weak sections of the people of the state avail of the benefits of the various social welfare schemes and development programmes.

He expressed concern that the legislators of the state and the Centre, who themselves were the makers of law, haven't paid special attention to disseminating wide-spread awareness among the people to fulfill the objective of the Act.

Former Speakers of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Y Yaima and W Angou chaired the seminar.

Many ministers, MLAs, ex-MP, ex-MLAs and other experts took part in the seminar and discussed various issues relating to the RIT Act.

SHILLONG, Dec 24 : The sudden reduction of coal price by the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL), without prior discussion with coal suppliers, has severely affected the livelihood of around 78 coal suppliers and 2000 labourers working in the coal mines of Sohra.

Speaking at a press conference here today, the Sohra Block Committee of the Nationalist Congress Party brought it to notice of the reporters that on November 29, a letter was issued by the managing director of MCCL ordering the reduction of coal price from Rs 2,800 to Rs 1,650 per tonne.

Stating that according to agreement between the MCCL and coal suppliers, bills must be cleared within a week, president of the Nationalist Youth Congress in East Khasi hills Alan West Kharkongor said, “To add to the suffering of the people involved directly and indirectly in the coal supply business, bills were not cleared for the past four weeks.”

In this regard, the NCP has already submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Donkupar Roy for taking immediate action by clarifying as to why the rate of coal was reduced, to invite coal suppliers for threadbare discussion on the issue, to maintain the earlier rate of Rs 2,800 till an agreement is reached between the MCCL and the coal suppliers in view of the festive season, release all pending bills be cleared with immediate effect and that the MCCL henceforth should convene meetings with coal suppliers before taking such decisions in the future.

Unable to meet the expenses, coal miners are now in dire straits with the sudden price reduction in the festive season.

NEW DELHI, Dec 24  : Calling for review of the impact of the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007, the North East MPs today urged the Government of India to rescind the Finance Ministry notification that watered down the Excise Duty exemptions.

At a meeting called to review the implementation of the NEIIPP, 2007, chaired by Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), Mani Shankar Aiyar, MPs expressed their disappointment at the manner in which the industrial policy was being implemented. They claimed that no new worthwhile investments have come to the region because certain provisions were watered down.

The high-level meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Commerce Ashwani Kumar and Union Minister of State Power, Jairam Ramesh, besides top officials of the DoNER and Commerce and Industry Ministries. Besides, officials of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) also attended the meeting. However, the meeting was marked by poor attendance of MPs of the North-east.

Secretary of the North East MP’s Forum (NEMPF), Dr Arun Kumar Sarma told this newspaper that MPs were not at all satisfied with the manner in which the Policy was being implemented.

He said the provision of Excise Duty exemption was watered down by the Finance Ministry, which is allowing duty exemption only value addition. The blanket order on excise duty exemption under the Industrial Policy has been modified by the Ministry of Finance, he alleged.

After this, industrialists are not showing interest in investing in the North-East and the Region has not attracted any new investments,” he said.

The second issue raised by the NEMPF was the accumulating backlog of the subsidies including the Transport Subsidy. The MPs pointed out that the problem was on account of the delay in making budgetary provision for the subsidies. There is no provision in the industrial policy and promotion, he said.

The MPs demanded that the Ministry of Finance take the initiative and make special provision in the next Vote on Account to be placed before the Parliament, next year, Dr Sarma said.

The Forum also urged the DoNER and Commerce Ministries to review the Industrial Policy to evaluate the outcome of the Policy. “There has been no review of the industrial policy so far, added the general secretary.

Meanwhile, the NHAI held that activities of insurgent groups in Assam and Manipur have delayed the East-West Corridor Project. The official told the meeting that the prestigious project has been particular hit in North Cachar Hills and Moreh area. They alleged failure of the State Government has not been able to provide security, resulting in number of kidnappings.

They pleaded that no contractor was willing to work in the areas, as a result of which project work has been hit.

A number of MPs suggested that the project work in these two sectors be handed over to the Border Road Organisation.

Raipur, Dec 23 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh expanded his ministry on Tuesday, inducting 11 ministers into his Cabinet while giving higher representation to tribals, OBCs and SCs with whose support the BJP has retained power in the state.

Governor E S L Narasimhan administered the oath of office to the ministers at a function with the CM, state BJP president Vishnudeo Sai and other party leaders in attendance.

While Singh retained Brijmohan Agrawal, Ram Vichar Netam, Rajesh Munat, Amar Agrawal, Lata Usendi Hemchand Yadav and Kedar Kashyap, senior party leaders Punnulal Mohile and Chandrashekhar Sahu are the new faces in the ministry. Nankiram Kanwar and Vikram Usendi returned to the ministry after being dropped in the previous BJP tenure.

Krishnamurthy Bandhi, Higher Education Minister in the previous government, was replaced by another prominent SC leader Punnulal Mohile. While the 12-member Council comprises three members from the upper castes, excluding Brahmins, five tribal leaders found a place in the Cabinet and two ministers hail from the OBC community and one from the from SC Satnami community.

The size of the ministry cannot exceed 13 members, 15 per cent of the total strength of the 90-member assembly as mandated by the 91st amendment to the Constitution. However, the CM preferred to keep one berth vacant because of mounting pressure from a number of legislators to bag a birth in the Council of Ministers. Party sources said that one more minister would be inducted after finalisation of the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Raman Singh retained the portfolios of Finance, General Administration, Energy, Mineral Resources, Commerce and Industry, Information and Biotechnology, Aviation and Public Relations.

Nankiram Kanwar will be the Minister for Home, Jail and Transport while Brijmohan Agrawal will be in-charge of Public Works, School Education, Religious Trusts and Endowments, Culture, Tourism and Legislative Affairs. The lone woman minister Lata Usendi will be in-charge of Women and Child Development, Social Welfare and Sports and Youth Welfare.

New Delhi, Dec 23 : The Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments on Monday following uproar that occurred over the remarks by Union Minister for Minority Affairs AR Antulay raising questions over the killing of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare during the Mumbai terror attacks.

Antulay has been in the line of fire after he expressed doubts about the circumstances in which Karkare was killed during the recent Mumbai attacks. He also demanded a probe into Karkare’’s death.

On Saturday, Congress party’’s General Secretary Digvijay Singh sought to justify Antulay’’s remark by saying there was nothing wrong in the Minister demanding an enquiry into the killing.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised Antulay and the Congress party over the remarks.

BJP has strongly condemned the comments made by both Antulay and Digvijay Singh, asking the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and make a direct comment over the issue.  ”The Prime Minister directly should comment on the matter, because his party’’s renowned leader has also given his comment favoring Antulay. Therefore, it is believed that this is not only Antulay’’s comment. This is the government’’s comment and if they want to give any explanations then the Prime Minister must do it directly,” said Vinay Katiyar, National General Secretary, BJP.

Antulay’’s remarks created a furore in the country after which he had to submit his resignation to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Reports said Antulay linked the killing of the senior police officer with the Malegaon case he was investigating.

Shillong, Dec 23 : Meghalaya Mining and Geology Minister Donkupar Massar, who has three cases of assault pending against him and has been accused of extortion by petrol pump owners, on Sunday rubbished the allegations.

The minister claimed that he had sent some officers of the Weights and Measures department to inspect petrol pumps violating regulations, which has been misinterpreted.

"There are 46 petrol pumps which are violating the regulations of weight and measures," Massar said. "The term extortionist used by the petrol pump owners is not acceptable. They intend to tarnish my public image."

Massar, an Independent, is under police investigation in three cases of alleged assault.

Three separate FIRs have been filed against Massar in Ranikor police station in West Khasi Hills and Pynursla in East Khasi Hills district.

Shillong, Dec 23 : Meghalaya chief minister Donkupar Roy today made a proposal to his Assam counterpart Tarun Gogoi for setting up a joint mechanism of policing in the disputed Langpih (Lampi in Assam) along the West Khasi Hills border.

The chief ministers had a telephone discussion on the issue today.

Addressing reporters later, Roy said Gogoi had promised to consider the proposal and also promised to send his response soon.

Roy said the Langpih residents had complained about frequent harassment by the Assam police personnel posted there, which prompted the Meghalaya government to press for a joint police mechanism in the disputed area.

According to Roy, Assam police seized materials meant for construction of a school at Mawsikar near Langpih recently.

“Officers of Boko police station had also warned against the sale of beef in the market area in Langpih,” Roy alleged.

Besides, there were reports of electric polls being uprooted in the Lejadubi area near Langpih.

“In this context, I have asked Gogoi to remove the Assam police outpost from Langpih and if not, to allow Meghalaya police personnel to start a joint patrol along with Assam police personnel,” Roy said.

“Meghalaya police will set up its police outpost at Langpih to facilitate the joint patrol,” Roy added.

This move on the part of Meghalaya is to ensure that the Khasi and Garo residents of Langpih do not face any disturbance during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

There are 40 villages belonging to Khasi families while another 40 belong to Garo families in Langpih.

Besides, there are also around 380 Nepali families residing in the area.

During his telephone conversation with Gogoi today, Roy also reminded him the official letter he had sent to Dispur in this regard recently.

“The Assam chief minister while speaking to me promised to consider this proposal and to send his response soon,” Roy said.

On November 20, Assam rejected Meghalaya’s demand to set up a police outpost at Langpih (Lampi) and both sides decided to maintain status quo on the disputed area after the second round of meeting of chief secretaries in Byrnihat.

But a day later, Meghalaya did a U-turn and said it would go ahead with setting up a police outpost in the area bordering Assam.

The state had then, too, said the police outpost was aimed at providing security to the people living in Langpih.

Roy’s proposal for a joint patrol in the area is the latest twist in the neighbours’ tussle over the disputed village.

Dimapur, Dec 23 : Following the proposed move made by Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Khekiho Zhimomi for creation of a Legislative Council for Nagaland, the United Democratic Socialist Party (UNDSP) while endorsing support for the move has also made an appeal to the NPF-led DAN government to take up the issue of ‘re-transfer’ of the State of Nagaland to the Ministry of External Affairs, a status enjoyed prior to 1972. 

President of the UNDSP, Ntsemo Ngullie in a press note quoted the resolution passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly wherein it was stated that “Nagaland should continue to be under the Ministry of External Affairs and the decision of the Government of India so taken be withdrawn foreword”. 

In this regard, the UNDSP reiterated that Nagaland should be brought back under the Ministry of External Affairs till an honorable political solution acceptable to all sections of the people is attained. 

As such the party appealed to the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, Lok Sabha MP and Rajya Sabha MP besides civil society groups Naga Hoho, NSF and Naga Mothers’ Association to take this issue to the Government of India.

The UNDSP also expressed its full support to the initiative of the Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi for creation of a Legislative Council in Nagaland. 

“By constituting the legislative council in the State, the people of Nagaland will get the opportunity to select the intellectuals specializing in various disciplines as its members”, stated the press note from the UNDSP. It was also pointed out that the state assembly will also be strengthened by constituting it because some of the best talent from the council can be selected in the Council of Ministers to fill certain specialized portfolios such as planning and co-ordination, finance, industry, education etc. 

Further such a move will also fulfill the long cherished aspiration of the Naga people, the party stated and  mentioned the suggestion made in the past by eminent leaders and intellectuals like Late M. Kithan, the first Education Minister of Nagaland.

Imphal, Dec 22 : The Congress government in Manipur has been continuously killing people making the cries of the grief-stricken families fill the air.

In this circumstances, if the people vote for Congress, it would mean giving consent to the government in its killing spree, senior MPP leader O Joy said.

Speaking at a public meeting at the community hall of Naransena in Moirang assembly constituency organised as election campaign for the MPP candidate, Hemam Bira, MPP leader O Joy asked if the state under the Congress rule was fine.

Yesterday also four persons were killed by the security forces.

All these killings are not done by the security forces, these are done by those who hold the reins of power. Therefore, the ensuing election is not an easy election, it is an election for saving the people Manipur and Manipur itself, Joy said.

He further said that all the welfare policies made on the table do not reach the people but enter the pockets of the ministers.

That's why in the meetings organised by the Congress, huge amounts of money are being spent. In the Moirang AC by-election, the Congress is spending huge amount of money and going to spend more, he said.

Hemam Bira, the son of a leader of Manipur, though a poor man, is well-experienced in politics. In the legends of Moirang, if Ibudhou Thangjing favours, the poor succeeds.

Likewise, may Bira succeed.Besides the people ought to help in saving Manipur, Joy said.

Dr Nimaichand Lu-wang, who also spoke at the meeting, drew the attention of the gathering by saying that the win of Congress was not by getting huge votes. In fact, the number of those persons who did not vote for Congress was more than those who voted for Congress.

Even CPI, considering its relationship at the Centre, doesn't have to give vote to the Congress.

And the RJD is also something of neither opposition nor ruling, it's like not knowing whether fish or water.

But it is clear that they are the ones who badly want to become ministers, he said.

Dr Nimaichand said, they have heard that the Congress ministers have contributed Rs 20 lakh each.

But the people of Moirang are not fish that can be purchased with money.

The Congress government at the Centre will not return after the Lok Sabha elections. In Manipur also Congress will fall, Dr Luwang said.

Congress is a party which doesn't recognise opposition.Therefore, it won't know what opposition is.Gaikhangam is a man who supports Naga integration and who gave his consent to disintegrating Manipur.

When Congress tried to break up Manipur, MPP saved the state. That's how the Congress could become ministers, Dr Luwang said.

Th Chaoba said, if Congress had continuously rule in Manipur and if MPP had not come to power even for short period, Manipur would never have got statehood. Dr Ng Bijoy said, the battle of Moirang by-election is between the poor and the rich. Ibudhou Thangjing would surely favour poor Hemam Bira, he said and appealed to the electorate of Moirang to vote for Bira.

Imphal, Dec 22 : With election campaigns of both the contesting parties Congress and MPP for by-election to Moirang A/C reaching its climax, opposition party MPP lashed out at the ruling Congress.

As part of their election campaign, MPP conducted two public meetings at Moirang Lamkhai and Naransena today.

Addressing the election meeting, former Union Minister Th Chaoba asserted that MPP stands for Manipur only and not Delhi unlike the Congress party which celebrated with much fanfare when Manipur was merged into the Indian Union.

He accused the Congress party of keeping Manipur as a Part C State notwithstanding the then strong civil movement launched demanding Statehood to Manipur.

With such a party running Government today, price of rice which is the staple food of the people of Manipur has skyrocketed to Rs 22 per kg.

The party is also giving tacit support to security forces in detaining and killing many innocent people found carrying some amount of money, Chaoba alleged.

He further cautioned the people against the alleged ruffian Congress which allegedly is devoid of any concern for Manipur.

Taking part in the meetings, Dr Nimaichand Luwang claimed that under the present political scenario of India, MPP is a strong regional political party.

"If one takes into account of the decision taken by Left parties at the Centre recently, CPI ought to support the MPP candidate in the Moirang A/C bye-election".

"But as the saying goes that nothing is impossible in Manipur, the CPI state unit is acting according to the whims of its leaders", Dr Nimaichand remarked.

MPP which was born and grew up in Manipur cannot be compared to Congress which does not have a single slogan compatible to the context of Manipur, he claimed.

It is because of this same reason that several black laws are being enforced in Manipur, raising rate of violence and killings every day, he asserted.

All these crucial issues besieging the State cannot be solved as long as the Congress party is in power in Manipur.

Rather, cases of violence and crimes would be increasing, Nimaichand said.

Addressing the gathering, MPP MLA Dr Ng Bijoy said that one cannot just take up politics for it involves formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of a nation.

One should be able to foresee the likely scenario that a nation/society may evolve into to become a true politician, he asserted.

Dr Bijoy observed that the present critical situation into which Manipur has fallen is a result of some rich contractors joining politics without knowing the basic fundamentals of politics.

As such, it is the duty of the people to redefine and refine politics in Manipur.

MPP president Dr L Chandramani and the party's Legislature wing leader O Joy also addressed the meetings.