NEW DELHI, July 23 ? In a major turn-around, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today retracted its claim that there were 50 lakh illegal Bangladeshis in Assam on the plea that the reported figures were not based on any comprehensive study but were based on hearsay and that too from interested parties! The statement made in the Rajya Sabha, this afternoon, by Minister of State, Manik Rao Gavit on behalf of Minister of State Sriprakash Jaiswal was lost in the din in the House over Shibu Soren affair. The Minister promptly made the statement in the Upper House soon after business was resumed in the...

NEW DELHI, July 23 ? Within days of his tour to flood-ravaged Assam, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today initiated a series of actions to help flood-hit Assam, including a direction to the Union Finance Ministry to take action on the Assam Government?s plea for conversion of loan assistance worth Rs 380 crore to grant. The Prime Minister?s fresh initiatives came on a day when BJP announced former Deputy Prime Minister, L.K.Advani?s tour of the flood-hit State on July 27. Official sources said that Assam Government brought to the attention of the Prime Minister its earlier requests and the...

GUWAHATI, July 23 ? The overall flood situation in the State remained unchanged even on the 30th day of the second wave of the floods today. The number of the affected people has crossed one crore today and the death toll has also shot up to 119. Following an improvement in the weather condition the water levels of the State?s rain-fed rivers have started falling. But the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries Burhidihing, Dhansiri South, Kopilli and Sonkosh are still flowing above the Danger Level (DL) at places. The Barak, the Katakhal and the Kushiyara are also flowing above the DL.

Accordi...

KOLKATA, July 22 ? The post-portem report of Manorama Devi, whose alleged killing in the custody of Assam Rifles has led to mass protests in Manipur, has said that ?there has not been any rape and molestation?, a Defence spokesman said here today, reports PTI. Giving this information the spokesman at the Eastern Command Headquarters here told PTI that the post-mortem was conducted at the Civil Hospital in Imphal and its report was made available today.

He said with the receipt of the post-mortem report, the Court of Inquiry will expedite its process. At least six to seven Assam Rifles jawans...

ITANAGAR, July 22 ? Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Kameng Dolo, Home Minister L Wanglat and PWD Minister Lichi Legi retained their portfolios when Chief Minister Gegong Apang reallocated portfolios of 12 ministers on Wednesday, a notification from the Department of Cabinet Affairs said, reports PTI. TL Rajkumar who earlier held law, justice and parliamentary affairs was given public health engineering and animal husbandry.

Rima Taipodia who held information and public relation has been made minister for education, irrigation and flood control. Relief and rehabilitation minister Dorjee...