IMPHAL, April 12: The Union ministry of tourism and culture has recently approved a proposal for strengthening the Manipur State Museum under a project for development of museums in north east India. In this regard, RV Vaidyanath, Aiyar, secretary, tourism and culture, government of India, and SK Chakravarty, director, Indian Museum, Calcutta, visited the Manipur State Museum and inspected the museum's collection and exhibits. According to sources, as part of the project, the Centre has agreed to a revision on the extension of the museum building grant with reference to the construction of...

IMPHAL April 12: In what could be described as a death blow to aspiring entrepreneurs of the state, the directorate of commerce and industries has kept frozen a total amount of Rs 64,66,000 deposited by aspiring entrepreneurs for supply of industrial machinery by the directorate. The amount had been collected from altogether 853 applicants towards the end of 2000 in the form of bank drafts for the purpose of supply of various types of industrial machinery, according to informed sources. The machinery which were to be supplied include 600 insulated boxes, 200 rice mills, three pulse mills and...

AIZAWL, April 12: Opposition members in the Mizoram Assembly have termed the Mizoram government's decision to adopt Central Board of School Education (CBSE) syllabus as "saffronisation of education" in the Christian-dominated State, reports PTI. Speaking during discussions on the budgetary demands of School Education Minister F Malsawma, the Opposition members expressed the fear that the State government unknowingly might have fulfilled the BJP "hidden agenda" to saffronise elementary education. J Lalthangliana of the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) urged the minister to ensure that students...

IMPHAL, April 12: The leader of a faction of the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), T Chaoba Singh said the Election Commission will hold a hearing on April 17 to settle the issue arising out of a division within the party. Chaoba, who is also the Union Minister of State for Food Processing hoped that the verdict of the Election Commission will be announced promptly to enable the party file nomination papers for the Kshetrigao Assembly by-election. Soon after his arrival in Imphal today Chaoba told this reporter that of the 31 MSCP legislators excluding Thangminlien and Speaker, 19 MLAs have...

IMPHAL, April 12: Although there has been an understanding at the top level of the various political parties in the Ruling coalition, the People's Front, headed by Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, that the Samata Party candidate for the Kshetrigao Assembly by-election would be given a clear field, the scenario at the ground level is entirely different. Political observers here predict considerable friction between the Ruling allies if their leadership pushes forward their understanding without first seeking the endorsement of their workers. There are already indication of revolts within the...