Politics / Assam

NEW DELHI, March 31 — On a day when Assam Government’s amnesty offer to fleeing militants from Bhutan expired, North East Coordination Committee on Human Rights (NECOHR), an apex body of human rights organisations, called on the Royal Government of Bhutan to publish the names of all those killed, detained and handed over to the Government of India. The bone of contention is the whereabouts of at least 19 cadres of outlawed ULFA and NDFB, who are traceless. The cadres reported to have been captured during the ongoing operation in the Himalayan Kingdom were not to be heard again, provoking deep...

NEW DELHI, March 31 — The Bill to repeal the controversial IMDT Act would be re-introduced in the Parliament and the NDA Government would label the problem of illegal infiltration as a major issue in its manifesto, disclosed Nationalist Trinamool Congress (NTC) leader, PA Sangma here today. Sangma’s NTC which is a key constituent of the NDA has been involved in the process of drafting of ruling alliance’s manifesto slated to be released on April 8 by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

“While the issue of illegal infiltration from across the border would be prominent issue we have been given...

Dhubri, March 10: The AGP today did yet another somersault, ruling out sharing seats with any party in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in the state. Launching the party?s election campaign in Dhubri, party president Brindaban Goswami said the AGP would go it alone.

Goswami had earlier said the AGP would not go in for any alliance with any party but was open to seat-sharing with any like-minded party to prevent the Congress from winning.

Addressing a mammoth gathering at the historical Prabhat Chandra Baruah maidan here, Goswami made the party?s stand clear on repealing the IMDT Act, 1983...

Guwahati, March 9: The Congress today cleared the names of four sitting Lok Sabha MPs, including chief minister Tarun Gogoi?s brother Dip Gogoi. However, the fate of six others hung in the balance as the ruling party drew up the first list of candidates for the parliamentary polls.

The list, which was prepared by the state election panel today, would be forwarded to the Congress central election panel for finalisation.

Gogoi is scheduled to leave for Delhi with the list in a couple of days. The central panel?s meeting is scheduled for Sunday, after which the list will be forwarded to the high...

Guwahati, March 3: Architect of the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act Abdul Muhib Mazumdar today rejoined the Congress after a long hiatus, but ruled out immediate return to electoral politics.

Mazumdar left the Congress in 1995 following differences with the then chief minister and party president, Hiteswar Saikia. However, the controversial act, which he drafted as law minister in 1983, brought him close to the party again.

Welcoming Mazumdar back into the party, Assam PCC president Paban Singh Ghatowar said, ?He recently appeared before the parliamentary...

Dibrugarh, March 3: The influential Asom Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) wants all political parties to field candidates from the tea tribe for the Mariani Assembly bypoll, which will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections in the state. The byelection has been necessitated by the death of Rupam Kurmi, who was also from the tea tribe. Kurmi was a minister in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet.

ACMS general secretary Madhusudan Khandait said here today that since the tea tribe was predominant in the constituency, it was only fair that the candidates are selected from it.

For the record, the ACMS is...

Guwahati, March 1: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is tuning up to a musical campaign for countering Bhupen Hazarika, the BJP?s star campaigner for the Lok Sabha polls in Assam.

?Yes, we are planning an effective campaign to counter Bhupen Hazarika, musically that is. He is a political opponent now and he will have to face the music,? AGP spokesperson Jagadish Bhuyan today said. However, he refused to give the details. ?People will know when the time comes.?

A source in the Congress said there was no need for anything special because Hazarika?s entry into the BJP would not dent the fortunes of...

Nagaon, Feb. 28: The anti-talks faction of the United People?s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) has agreed to initiate a dialogue with the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) if the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) acts as the mediator and guarantor in the peace process.

The Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills People?s Resistance ? the armed wing of the UPDS anti-talks faction ? today said the militant organisation was ready to accept the Kuki outfit?s offer for peace talks ?if the KRA accepts the NSCN (I-M) as the mediator?.

In a statement, the general secretary of the armed wing of the UPDS (anti-talk faction), H...

Guwahati, Feb. 27: A stunned Assam today questioned the wisdom of Bhupen Hazarika?s decision to join the BJP. The influential All Assam Students? Union (AASU) even said the legendary maestro has put the state to ?shame? by joining hands with a party which had insulted him not too long ago.

?We had stood by Bhupenda when the BJP-led NDA government insulted him and the entire state by cancelling his nomination to the Rajya Sabha at the last moment. But by joining the same party, he has put us to shame,? AASU president Prabin Boro said. Boro said as a citizen of a democratic country, Hazarika was...

Guwahati/Nagaon, Feb. 24: Assam today turned down the Nagaland government?s offer to settle the inter-state border dispute between the two neighbouring states out of court.

Dispur admitted that the situation in the D-sector in Golaghat district was tense, but chief minister Tarun Gogoi said: ?There is no question of an out-of-court settlement when the land rightfully belongs to Assam. Let the Supreme Court decide.?

Gogoi was reacting to his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio?s appeal for an out-of-court settlement of the border dispute. Rio had said that a dialogue was the best way to resolve...