NEW DELHI, March 8: A high-level committee has been constituted by Union Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav to asses airport infrastructure in the Northeast. The committee will resolve aviation problems of the region in a time bound manner, Yadav said on Thursday. The committee comprises representatives from the civil aviation ministry, Indian Airlines, Airports Authority of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Pawan Hans helicopters. Members of Parliament from the Northeast have also been asked to suggest ways to improve the sector in the region. While expressing concern at...

NEW DELHI, March 7: Decision on forming alliance with the AGP still eluded the BJP, with its much-talked about strategy meeting remaining inconclusive. A final decision is now likely to be taken by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee in consultation with the senior leaders, party sources said. A marathon meeting between the Central and State leadership of the party that lasted for several hours today failed to take a final decision on the issue of alliance in Assam. A high-level delegation comprising the State and Central leadership including the BJP's national president, Bangaru Laxman...

AGARTALA, March 7: A vertical split seems imminent in the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), which of late has emerged as one of the most powerful tribal base parties in the State, capturing the Tripura Tribal Autonomous District Council (TTADC). It routed the ruling Left Front from its traditional tribal base in rural and hill areas and bagged 18 out of the total 28 seats open for contest. Two members are nominated by the Governor. It was widely believed and alleged that the outlawed militant organisation NLFT has played a key role in bringing the IPFT to power in the TTADC. But...

IMPHAL, March 7: Even though Yaoshang festival is just two days away payment of salaries of Government employees is still uncertain. The Centre is yet to release the promised Rs 100 crore and the Chief minister Radhabinod Koijam was unable to say whether salaries and pensions would be paid by tomorrow. Speaking to The Sangai Expressthis evening Radhabinod said that the Centre has given strict instruction that the sum of Rs 100 crore promised by the Centre should be utilised only for developmental purposes and not for paying salaries to the Government employees. He informed that it costs the...

AGARTALA, March 7: The autonomous district council of the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura faces a split. The IPFT chief, Harinath Devbarma, has demanded the immediate removal of Debabrata Koloy as the council's chief executive member. An IPFT delegation, led by Harinath Devbarma met the Governor, Gen (retired) KM Seth, here yesterday and urged him to pressure the council authorities to arrange for its special session. The members want to raise the issue of Koloys removal in the special session. Eleven members of the council's ruling group signed a memorandum to this effect and submitted...