GUWAHATI, June 27 ? The Bodo movement is neither an ethnic movement nor is it against any community. But it is one of the genuine movements of the indigenous people of Assam to safeguard their own identity in the face of large-scale illegal migration of Bangladeshi nationals and also from influx of Nepalis and people having origins in other States, said the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) in its vision paper for Bodoland. The vision paper of the BLT dealt extensively on the problem caused by the illegal migration from Bangladesh and observed that the indigenous people of Assam are facing...

GUWAHATI, June 27 ? Federation of Industries and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) has moved the Union Finance Ministry protesting against setting up of a Central Excise Chief Commissioner office for North East in Shillong instead of Guwahati. Sources in the FINER informed that the Finance Ministry on March 8, 2002, had made an announcement about its decision to open a Central Excise Chief Commissioner Office at Guwahati for NE region, which was till then under the Kolkata Chief Commissionerate.

Unfortunately, even before the office could be opened at Guwahati, the Central Board of...

DHING, June 27 ? Vaishnavate saints of medieval Assam were uniquely gifted with artistic sensibility and love of nature. This characteristic of the Vaishnava saints headed by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva was largely reflected in their contemporary art and culture. Srimanta Sankardeva started kuhila udyog, a new handicraft industry at Bardowa which combined the classical Hindu and unique Vaishnavite style. Unfortunately, this traditional craft developed in medieval Assam is facing tough times these days due to lacking in patronisation from the government. Besides Assam These traditional...

SHILLONG, June 27 ? With the exception of certain pockets, the entire State of Meghalaya is wet but only for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). In a peculiar contradiction, brewing, selling and drinking of locally distilled brew is illegal in the State where drinking is a tribal custom since time immemorial. The matter came up for serious debate in the Meghalaya House Thursday during discussions on a cut motion on a demand for grant. Moving the cut motion, BJP member and former Home Minister TH Rangad said, ?everybody knows that the local brew is being produced, sold and consumed despite it...

SHILLONG, June 27 ? Meghalaya PWD minister Admiral Sangma Tuesday informed the State Legislative Assembly that all efforts have been going on to restore the road communications between Shillong and Dawki which remained cut off since June 16 due to heavy landslide triggered by heavy rain, reports PTI. Replying to a call attention motion of K K Dakhar, Sangma said it will take another two weeks to restore the communication. He said arrangement has been made to tranship the passengers by introducing bus services on both sides of the landslide spot. He said about 60 metres of the road at Riat...