Politics / Assam

GUWAHATI, February 4: The Centre may declare a Kashmir-type unilateral truce with the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) in a bid to force the two separatist rebel outfits to enter into talks with the government for a negotiated settlement of the insurgency problem in Assam. Home Minister L.K. Advani, who arrives here on Sunday on a two-day visit to the state, is expected to make an announcement aimed at preparing the ground for a possible militant-government dialogue to restore peace in Assam. The ULFA and the NDFB, meanwhile...

TINSUKIA, February 4: The Union Home Minister, LK Advani, today said that the Centre would be only too happy to talk to the ULFA and other rebel outfits of the Northeast to bring long-lasting peace and prosperity to this troubled part of the country. But at the same time, he said that the militants would have to abjure violence and break themselves free from the outside influences like the Pakistani ISI. Addressing a moderately attended public meeting at Kachujan field here today, the Home Minister reiterated that violence serves nobody's interest. He said that he was too happy to note that...

GUWAHATI, February 2: The political convention on various Tribal communities' demand for autonomy organised by the CPI-ML here today observed that the Indian State machinery was involved in inciting terrorism to derail democratic movements of tribals demanding autonomy. Addressing the convention, the CPI-ML politburo member Swadesh Bhattacharjee alleged that the Indian State machinery had been constantly working for converting those areas where tribals are demanding autonomy, into disturbed areas by encouraging militancy so that it got a handle neutralise these movements. He further alleged...

DIBRUGARH, February 2: In what can be termed as a setback to the preparations to the biggest ever session of the Asam Sahitya Sabha here, the district AASU unit today dropped a bombshell by announcing that the students' body is opting out from the official reception committee. While this is not a boycott of the session the dissociation means that the students would now have their own independent and parallel set up to cater to reception, hospitality and health care to the lakhs of people who would be thronging the Sahitya Sabha session from February 7 to 11. The students have been demanding of...

GUWAHATI, February 1: The general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Narendra Modi today categorically ruled out any possibility of an electoral alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). Addressing a press conference here today, Modi asserted that the BJP is confident of facing the polls alone in Assam as "the people of the state want a BJP government." However, he did not rule out the possibility of alliance with smaller parties and said that the BJP was willing to negotiate with smaller parties if they express their desire for electoral understanding with the BJP. The BJP...

NAGAON, February 1: President of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who is also the Chief Minister of the State, today made a clarion call to the people to "root out the Congress" for the greater interest of the State. Addressing a large gathering at the Nurul Amin Stadium play ground here this afternoon on the occasion of the conclusion of the fourth four-day State conference of the AGP, Mahanta also held the Congress responsible for the underdevelopment of the State. "It is the Congress, which is now requesting the Central Government to stop the flow of the DRDA fund to the...

GUWAHATI, January 31: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) is ready to hold talks with any political party with an open mind on the vital issues concerning the people of the State, said the AASU adviser, Samujjal Bhattacharya. However, Bhattacharya asserted that the AASU would maintain its non-political character and would not compromise on the issues concerning the people of the State. Talking to this correspondent, Bhattacharya said that so far the AASU had discussions with different political parties including the Congress, AGP and the BJP on the demands like solution to the influx of...

NAGAON, January 31: Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has been re-elected unopposed as the president of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today. Meanwhile, the subject committee meet of the AGP formed a three member penal to select the other office-bearers. The members of the committee are Ramendra Narayan Kalita, Prabin Sarma and Harshabahadur Bishwakarma. The other office-bearers of the new committee are likely to be selected later tonight. Earlier, worried over slow progress due to the perennial insurgency problem, the four-day conference of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) appealed to the...

NAGAON, January 31: The Asom Gana Parishad late tonight selected 11 vice-presidents and seven general secretaries including joint secretaries among other office-bearers at the subject committee meeting. The vice-presidents are Biraj Kumar Sarma, Ganesh Kutum, Nurul Hussain, Durga Das Boro, Rekharani Das Boro, Gunin Hazarika, Hiranya Konwar, Thaneswar Boro, Joseph Topno, Utpal Dutta and Jayashree Goswami Mahanta. The general secretaries are Pradip Hazarika, Sahidul Alam Choudhury, Birendra Prasad Biashya, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Phani Bhusan Choudhury, Kartik Hazarika and Amiyo Bora. Kamala...

JORHAT, January 28: Leisurely basking in the soft rays of the morning winter sun during the evening of his life at his garden before his Teok Jagduar residence 20 kms off Jorhat, freedom fighter Kumudeswar Bora's mind raced back in time while recollecting his experiences spread over 99 summers. Bora, is one among the district's oldest living 'soldiers' of the Freedom Movement and is now on the threshold of his 100th birthday, having completed 99 years and eight months to be precise. Presently afflicted by a dimmed eyesight and somewhat impaired hearing, Bora is nonetheless mentally agile and...