Naga Students Federation Asked to End Manipur Blockade

Dimapur, Jun 10 : The Naga Student's Federation (NSF) discussed the ongoing economic blockade with the members of All Assam Students Union (AASU) here on Wednesday.

The blockade, following the decision of Manipur to impose a ban on Naga separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his ancestral village of Somdal.

However, during the discussions, the advisor of NSF, Viopol Kintso, maintained that Muivah's visit was not the cause of the blockade.

He added that the move was precipitated by the ban imposed by the Manipur government on the visit of the NSF to the state.

"Why can't we be allowed to go and have our peaceful meeting in our own place? That is why NSF, to show its own resentment that there is no authority that has the right to stop an individual...an organization its own origins there. So to show resentment, NSF has declared not to allow Manipur registered vehicles to ply on Naga areas," said Kintso.

The Naga Students Union responded to a letter written to them by the AASU three days ago asking them to end the blockade on the state.

The president of AASU, Shankar Prasad Rai, told reporters that he hoped the blockade would get solved through dialogue.

"I appealed to the Naga students to stop the blockade against Manipur. They responded to it and came to meet us. We believe that all problems should be solved through dialogues," said Rai.

On May 6, state police and supporters of an ethnic Naga leaders clashed at Mao Gate in Senapati District leaving two students dead and 50 to 60 others injured.

The NSCN-IM had agreed to a ceasefire in August 1997 and launched a peace process with the Central Government to bring an end to the insurgency.

It has participated in several rounds of talks with central officials since the start of the ceasefire.

Another news:

Naga student body likely to relax highway blockade

Kohima, Jun 10 : The Naga Students' Federation today hinted at relaxing economic blockade imposed on all Manipur- bound vehicles after receiving a letter from the neighbouring state's chief secretary expressing "regret" over May 3 police action against its leaders.

NSF leaders travelling to Oinam village in Manipur's Senapati district for the organisation's federal assembly were refused entry by the Manipur police at Mao Gate.

The incident led to an indefinite economic blockade on National Highways 39 and 53.

The NSF demanded an apology from Manipur chief minister and lifting of Section 144 CrPC and armed police from the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur.

It had yesterday written to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh stating it would consider relaxing the blockade imposed on all Manipur-bound vehicles "within a short period", but demanded lifting of the prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC from the Naga-inhabited areas in that state.

Cell Phones: A Craze in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jun 10 : Though introduced only in 2003, cell phones have become a craze in the small hill state of Mizoram, with more than half the population using the device.

Middle-aged ladies carrying baskets-full of firewood and packets of vegetables talking animatedly into the device or daily wage-earners sending text messages between shifts are a common sight on the winding hilly roads.

The latest economic survey reveals that out of a population of around 10 lakh, 5,61,917 people carry mobile phones -- a fact which, officials think, is remarkable since the economy is heavily dependent on the service sector for sustenance.

Agriculture and industry contribute less than 40 per cent to the economy, the survey states.

Barak Bridge Collapse, Trucks Stranded

By Iboyaima Laithangbam
ECONOMIC CRISIS: A Manipuri woman carries food grains during the ongoing economic blockade in Imphal on Wednesday. A litre of petrol now costs between Rs. 150 and Rs. 200 in Manipur. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

Imphal, Jun 10 : The collapse of parts of the Barak bridge, about 72 km from Jiribam (bordering Assam along the inter-State Highway 53), following torrential rain has left many trucks stranded.

Over 600 trucks carrying fuel, consumer goods and building materials have been stranded there for four days.

Works Minister K. Ranjit and Transport Minister L. Jayentakumar are camping at Jiribam to supervise the repairs to the bridge.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh discussed with officials of the Border Roads Task Force the issue as Highway 53 was the only lifeline of Manipur which had been facing blockades from Naga tribals since April 11.

Deadline to government

The United Naga Council (UNC) has given a five-day deadline to the Manipur government to withdraw the notification declaring the acting presidents of the UNC and the All-Naga Students' Association Manipur, David Choro and Samson Remei, as “wanted persons.”

As the police could not arrest them despite the High Court order, the government issued the notice. A reward of Rs.1 lakh each was announced for their arrest or information leading to their arrest.

A statement by the UNC said that if the notice was not withdrawn the blockade would be intensified.

Imphal Based Newspapers Caught in Wrong-Foot: False Reporting

Sinlung Says: It made front page on several Imphal Dailies…’Nagaland Bound Trucks Burned’…result is..All Lies..

A Sorry Would be enough…but I guess, caught in the ethnic deluge no body would give in even if they are wrong.

And here’s proof:

No Nagaland trucks attacked in Assam

Dimapur/Diphu, June 10 : No trucks were burnt down in Assam as reported in some Imphal based newspapers today.

The Superintendent of Police, Dimapur and some organizations’ leaders in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district and a well known newspaper editor of the area informed Newmai News Network tonight that no Nagaland bound trucks were set on fire as reported in Imphal newspapers in today’s editions.

These sources also refuted the earlier reports of Imphal based newspapers saying that a Nagaland bound truck carrying two wheelers were set on fire by unidentified persons in Assam.

It is worth noting that some organizations had threatened to impose a counter blockade on Nagaland bound trucks in Assam sector as a retaliation to banning of Manipur registered vehicles in Nagaland, and the imposition blockade along the National Highways leading to Manipur by Naga students’ bodies.

“I have been constantly keeping in touch with my counter-parts in Assam but no such information of attacks or setting on fire of Nagaland bound vehicles were received,” clarified Liremo Lotha, SP of Dimapur, while adding, “If any such attack happens on the Nagaland bound vehicles in Assam then my counter-parts in any of the Assam districts will definitely inform me which is the official procedure.”

The Dimapur SP also informed that trucks ferrying goods for Nagaland are carrying out their services as usual.

Sushanta Roy, the editor of Steadfast daily, an English newspaper based in Diphu, Karbi Anglong district of Assam, informed NNN that no such attacks on the Nagaland bound vehicles happened in Assam. Sushanta Roy said that he had enquired in the Manja Town police station and other fronts but no untoward incidents happened.

Sushanta Roy also said that if such attacks had happened in Karbi Anglong district, the media offices in the district will be the first to get the information.

Meanwhile, some newspapers in Imphal reported on Wednesday that a Nagaland bound truck was set on fire by unidentified persons in the wee hours of the day and damaged many others by stoning.

Queens Baton Relay to Arrive in Shillong on July 21

Shillong, Jun 10 : In connection with the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, the Under Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Sports and Youth Affairs Department has informed that the Queen's Baton Relay will arrive in Meghalaya on July 21, 2010 and the route details is mentioned below.

The Baton Relay will arrive at Byrnihat from Kaziranga (Assam) at 10:00 AM and will leave Byrnihat for Nongpoh at 10:30 AM. From Nongpoh, the Baton Relay will leave at 11:15 AM for Lad Umsaw (Umiam Lake) and from 12:15 PM will leave Lad Umsaw for Old Lake View Site and then on to Banalari Show Room (Mawlai Umthlong) at 12:40 PM. From 1:15 PM, the Baton Relay will leave Banalari Show Room for Mawlai Secretariat at Mawlai Phudmuri and will proceed to PTS Golf Link at 1:45 PM. At 2:25 PM, the Baton Relay will leave PTS for JN Sports Complex, Polo Ground and at 3:50 PM will leave JN Sports Complex for Ward's Lake and at 4:00 PM the Relay will leave Ward's Lake via Raj Bhavan-BSNL-IGP-Main Secretariat and will arrive at Soso Tham Auditorium at 4:30 PM.

The main function to be held at the Auditorium from 4:40 PM will include speech, felicitation and cultural programme.

Major Infrastructures Projects in Mizoram get Underway Says CM Thanhawla

Aizawl, Jun 10 : On his return from his fruitful visit to the national capital, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla met the media persons at his office chamber, yesterday.

The Chief Minister reported about his trip to Delhi and revealed certain  majors implementation of Government projects in the state.

The Chief Minister was conveyed by Ministry of Power, the Government of India’s assistance and approval to revive 60MW Tuirial Hydel Project after his meeting with Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson, Finance Minister, DONER Minister and other top officials.

Public Investment Board(PIB), Government Of India had approved the application submitted by Mizoram to revive the Tuirial Hydel Project, already commenced in 1998, with the revised estimate of Rs.913 Crores against the initial estimation of Rs 368.72 crores during the time of  its inception.

The task of construction is being entrusted to NEEPCO which had been busy finding appropriate funds and loans from several finance institutions and Government of India.

The Chief Minister added that the Centre has shown a keen interest in NLUP and that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has accepted his invitation to formally launch the NLUP programme, in principle. He had also apprised Smt. Sonia Gandhi, UPA, Chairperson on the matter and other important needs of Mizoram.

He reiterated that the NLUP has the potential not only to replace the destructive shifting cultivation with more sustainable land-based means of livelihood but also can restore ecological balance.If properly implemented, the NLUP would accelerate the GDP of the state in the agriculture sector to around 4 percent, he stated.

He had also expressed the possibilities of getting substantial amount of funds from the UPA National flagship  schemes such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM) for the purpose of constructing Rope-Ways at convenient places, construction of Ring road around Aizawl city, widening the existing roads within the city and setting up of Solid Waste Management Centre.

Proposal to set up Indian Institute of Mass Communication(IIMC) in Mizoram, Rs 80 Crores for Police Modernization scheme from Ministry Of Home Affairs, proposal to set up National Institute of Technology(NIT) besides Aizawl City, funding of constructing MPSC Exam Hall, Law College Building and food Processing Centre from DONER were also in the road map, the Chief Minister stated.

On Sixth Pay, the Chief Minister was with the view that no government is capable to suffice each and every demand of every unit of government services.

Anomalies of a section of service associations regarding the Sixth Pay would be looked into before implementation of the Sixth Pay Recommendation submitted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee.

The recommendations submitted by Sub-Committee on Sixth Pay would be soon be implemented provided the financial position of Mizoram permits, he said.

Mizoram Education Minister Inaugurates National Workshop

Aizawl, Jun 10 : Pu Lalsawta, Higher and Technical Education Minister today inaugurated the UGC sponsored national workshop on "Research Methodology and Preparation of Proposal" organized by Govt. Hrangbana College, Aizawl in collaboration with Department of Education, Mizoram University.

Speaking at the function Pu Lalsawta said that the sole purpose of research is not to add prefix or suffix to one's name, but to learn and impart knowledge which is indispensible for Mizoram.

Saying that there is a vast difference between literacy and education, he expressed the Govt's desire to improve education right from the primary level to the top level in the University.

He said that in order to gain quality education, Mizoram must welcome experts from within and outside the state irrespective of which state they belong to or which language they speak.

The inauguration function was presided over by Pu K. Liantuala, Principal Hrangbana College and Prof. R.P.Vadhera, Dean, School of Education & Humanities, Mizoram University gave the keynote address.

Director of Higher and Technical Education, Professors, Asst. Professors, Research Scholars and students were present at the inauguration of this workshop which will last for three days.

Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun to be Played by Indian Actors in Bollywood Film

Adolf Hitler would be turning in his grave – if he had one.

He is about to be played by an Indian actor in a Bollywood movie about his love life.

The film, called ‘Dear Friend Hitler’, will concentrate on the Fuhrer’s relationships in the last days of his life, particularly that with his mistress Eva Braun.

Cast: Indian Bollywood actors Anupam Kher and Neha Dhupia are to play the Fuhrer and Eva Braun in the new film

Miss Braun – who Hitler married in a brief civil ceremony just hours before they killed themselves on April 30, 1945 – will be played by Neha Dhupia, a former Miss India.

Anupam Kher, who once played Ghandi in a celebrated TV series screened on the sub-continent, said he is ‘really looking forward’ to playing Hitler.

‘I think he's one of the most interesting characters of our times,’ he said.

‘It will be a unique opportunity to play such a different role. Like Ben Kingsley played Gandhi, I will be playing Hitler.

‘I had played Gandhi on a TV show years back, but this would be the first historical role for a movie.

Secret relationship: Eva Braun and Adolf Hitler married just 40 hours before killing themselves

‘I have watched a couple of movies on Hitler and am also reading some books. The film is being made on a really large scale and it's important I try and read up as much as possible.

‘For me, he‘s just another character and I approach it like that. I have played so many negative roles in my lifetime, and all have just been different characters for me.’

Both main characters are planning to head to Germany for research before filming starts this summer.

Reports have suggested that the script includes a scene where Hitler and Miss Braun are in bed – although this has not been confirmed.

Their relationship was kept a secret from the German public until after the Second World War.

Rakesh Ranjan Kumar, director of Dear Friend Hitler, said about his film: ‘It will be a romance but not in the typical sense.’

He told The Times: ‘As a leader he was successful. I want to show why did he lose as a human being. What were the problems, what were the issues, what were his intentions?’

The movie will not feature musical routines.

Although the Nazi swastika was taken from an ancient Hindu symbol, Hitler looked down on non-whites as inferior. 

But he lavished praise on Indians during the war as he sought to woo them away from loyalty to their British masters.

The bodies of Hitler and Miss Braun were burned but the remains discovered by the Russians.

In an odyssey spanning many graves and years, they were finally disinterred one last time by Russian secret agents in 1970 from a military base in Magdeburg, burned and the remains scattered in a small river.

[ via Dailymail ]