GUWAHATI, February 5: The Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader, L K Advani today refused to categorically rule out the possibility of an electoral alliance between the AGP and the BJP for the ensuing Assembly elections in the state. Addressing a Press conference here today, Advani said that the decision on any alliance would be taken by the party high-command in consultation with the state unit of the party. Advani said that the BJP president Bangaru Laxman would soon convene a meeting with the state units of the five states where elections are due shortly to formulate the party's...

GUWAHATI, February 5: Insurgency in Assam cannot be compared with that of Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan's role in Kashmir was direct, said the Union Home Minister, L K Advani. Addressing a Press conference here today, Advani virtually ruled out the possibility of a unilateral ceasefire in Assam and said that all decisions in respect of Jammu and Kashmir are adopted taking into account the role of Pakistan. The Union Home Minister said that talks and violence cannot go together and the ULFA must abjure violence for talks. He said that the government of India is willing to hold unconditional...

GUWAHATI, February 5: Union home minister L.K. Advani on Sunday said that the Centre is ready to hold talks with the separatist United Liberation Front of Asom but made it clear that the government will not compromise on the country's sovereignty. Advani, who arrived in the eastern Assam tea growing district town of Tinsukia on Sunday morning on a two-day visit to the state, was addressing a public rally attended by an estimated 5,000 people who defied a joint general strike called by the ULFA and another rebel group in protest against his visit. "We are ready for talks with any rebel group in...

IMPHAL, February 5: The Additional Director General of Police, C Peter today charged that two underground organisations in Manipur are smuggling drugs from Myanmar to Manipur. He, however, did not disclose the name of the organisations. Addressing a press conference at the Banquet Hall of the 1st Manipur Rifles today, the Addl DGP said there are intelligence reports that two underground organisations are trafficking drug. He further said a team of United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDP), during their recent visit to Imphal, expressed to Manipur Government their suspicion of involvement of...

IMPHAL, February 5: The Manipur government has made elaborate security arrangements to prevent frequent extortion by militants from businessmen as well as government officials. While CRPF personnel and policewomen are stationed at all state government offices, commandos in plain clothes have been deployed at major commercial centres of Imphal. This is a part of the 26-point action plan submitted by Chief Minister W. Nipamacha Singh to Union home minister L.K. Advani in New Delhi on January 6. Sources said the Union home ministry has agreed to send two additional battalions of CRPF for counter...