China Has 'Geographical Advantage' in Border Areas, Rues Govt

New Delhi, Aug 6 : The defence ministry has told a parliamentary committee that China has "geographical advantage" over India along the border between the two countries.

"China has been building its infrastructure. They have advantage of the topography also because they have the Tibetan plateau whereas from our side, the terrain and geography are more difficult," defence secretary Pradeep Kumar told the Standing Committee on Defence.

To counter the infrastructure development by China in border areas, the government has sanctioned various projects to build a road network in the northeastern region.

"Therefore, these roads (Project 73 roads) have been assigned the highest priority by the government," he said.

Under the project, 73 strategically important roads are being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation along the Indo-China border.

For smooth movement of troops and equipment in the region, India has plans of laying three rail lines connecting areas including North Lakhimpur (Assam)-Along (Arunachal Pradesh)-Silapathar (Assam), Missamari (Assam) to Tawang, , and Murkongselek (Assam)-Pasighat (Arunachal)-Rupai (Assam).

In a Standing Committee report tabled in Parliament yesterday, the Defence Ministry had said that the railway line to Pasighat has been declared as a 'National Project'.

"Survey for this project has been sanctioned and is yet to be carried out," it said.

India has been developing its capabilities in the northeast in view of the military infrastructure development undertaken by the Chinese on their side.

Scotland of East Turns To Europe For Tourists

Shillong, Aug 6 : On the eve of his visit to Geneva to attend World Tourism Day celebration on August 6, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma on Thursday said his government would try and woe European tourists to visit the hill state.

Sangma, who will be accompanied by commissioner and secretary of tourism Rebecca Suchiang and tourism director RC Sohkhlet, is also scheduled to participate in a series of interactive sessions.

"The sessions have been designed in such a manner which would bring a lot of benefit to the participating countries and it is an opportunity for us to project the state as well as the north east region in the right perspective," Sangma told TOI.

ULFA Presents Charter of Demands, Seeks Change in Constitution

ULFA's 'Foreign Secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury (left), and the 'Vice Chairman', Pradip Gogoi addressing the media in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

New Delhi, Aug 6 : The banned ULFA on Friday sought amendment in the Constitution for finding “meaningful” ways to protect the rights and identity of indigenous people of Assam.

To find an honourable solution to Assam’s three-decade-old insurgency problem, top ULFA leaders on Friday met Home Minister P. Chidambaram and presented the group’s ‘charter of demands’, setting the ball rolling for peace talks with the government.

“We demand Constitutional and political arrangements and reforms, including protection of the identity and material resources of indigenous population of Assam,” ‘Chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa said in the ‘charter of demands.’

The 40-minute meeting with Mr. Chidambaram was also attended by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, apart from six other top leaders of the group.

Later, addressing a press conference, ULFA’s ‘Foreign Secretary’ Shashadhar Choudhury said the government has to change rules and law as a solution is not possible under the provisions of the existing Constitution.

“Constitution has to be changed,” he said, flanked by outfit’s ‘Vice-Chairman’ Pradip Gogoi and ‘General Secretary’ Chitraban Hazarika.

Earlier, emerging from the meeting at North Block, the Chief Minister echoed a similar sentiment saying “If necessary, we may have to change law. But we must find a peaceful solution under the Constitution“.

Mr. Choudhury said due to continuous illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and other countries, indigenous people of the State have been reduced to minority and it was the responsibility of the Central government to protect their rights and identity through Constitutional safeguards.

Mr. Chidambaram told the ULFA leaders that the concerns expressed by them are of concern to the State and Union government and assured the team there is no “problem which cannot be solved within the framework of the Constitution.”

The ULFA leaders evaded a direct reply whether they have dropped their core demand ‘sovereignty’ and accept the Indian Constitution but said the group wants an honourable and meaningful solution only by a “fresh look at the issues of sovereignty so as to ensure that the people of Assam can assert their inalienable rights to control their lands and resources.”

Asked about group’s elusive ‘Commander-in-Chief’ Paresh Baruah’s opposition to any dialogue with the government if ’sovereignty’ issue is not on the table, Mr. Choudhury said.

“Baruah himself is yet to make any comment about the peace process. We hope that one day he will join in the talks,” he said adding that of late there has been no contact with Mr. Baruah and he is “probably” living in Myanmar now.

On the fate of ‘General Secretary’ Anup Chetia, who has been in detention in Bangladesh since 1997, Mr. Choudhury said, “the government of India officials told us that Chetia will be in India in soon, may be in weeks.”

He said the next round of talks will be held after August 15 at the Home Minister level.

The other demands of the ULFA include discussion on grounds for “ULFA’s struggle and their genuineness”, status report on missing ULFA leaders and cadres — numbering around 50 — including those have been missing since 2005 when the Bhutan government conducted an offensive against the group and other socio-economic issues.

This will be ULFA’s first formal peace negotiation with the government in its 32-year-old history. So far, only preliminary talks between the ULFA and Centre’s interlocutor P.C. Haldar have been held in Guwahati.

Kamakhya Temple Existence Under Threat in Assam

Guwahati, Aug 6 : Nestled amongst the picturesque Nilachal hill atop Guwahati city, the world famous Kamakhya temple, the centre of Shakti cult, is in danger due to illegal encroachments and indiscriminate settlements of land.

"It goes without saying that being the foremost amongst the 51 Shaktipeethas, the deity of Kamakhya is one of the most venerated Goddess not only in the country but throughout the world, but today the Nilachal hills and the Durgasarobar areas wherein the very history of the entire region took shape is beleaguered", says Naba Kanta Sarma secretary, Kamakhya Debutter board.

"The temple is beleaguered by a host of very serious problems the main being illegal encroachments and indiscriminate settlement of land within these areas which is threatening the very existence of the shrine", Sarma said during an interview to PTI at the temple premises.

Unless and untill the people rise up unitedly to save this heritage site, it may be too late and will become a part of history, he says.

The situation has become all the more complicated with the presence of innumerable temples scattered allover the Nilachal hills and according to an estimate by the Archaeological Survey of India there probably existed more than a hundered some time in the past, he said.

Since Goddess Kamakhya is one of the most venerated in the area, vast tracts of land were settled in Her favour throughout the ages by various rulers for maintenance of the shrine.

The quantum of such lands is about 45,000 bighas, out of which an approximate area of 35,000 bighs were agricultural lands including fisheries and rest comprised the Nilachal hills comprising the three hills of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

The management of the temple used to operate on the income derived from these land till the first Assam Acquisition of Lands belonging to Religious and Charitable institutions came into force in which the lands of the temple were to be acquired by the deputy commissioner of the district collector.

As against this acquisition, the government is required to pay compensation but a period of 35 years have elapsed winch the lands were acquired and for reasons best kinown to the state, neither retainable area has demarcated nor has the compensation determined, says Sarma.

"Without demarcating the lands, which were lawfully to be retained by the Debutter, the revenue officials undertook the preparation of demarcation in a fraudulent way", he says.

NF Railway GM inspects BG Line Project in Mizoram

Guwahati, Aug 6 : The General Manager (Construction), Northeast Frontier Railway, Vijaya Kanth has reviewed work on the Bhairabi-Sairang New Broad Gauge Line National Project.

Ms. Vijaya Kanth, who visited Aizawl on Wednesday and Thursday, held discussions with Chief Secretary and other high officials of the Mizoram government regarding land acquisition and other issues for the project.

At the meeting the Railway delegation urged the Mizoram government to the expedite the land acquisition process and hand over the land to the Railways early to start physical work as the Final Location Survey for this National Project has already been completed.

The joint survey to identify the land belonging to the Forest Department, the government and private owners was completed for the entire section.

This was stated in an official release issued by Senior Public Relations Officer (Construction), N.F.Railway, D.C. Borah.

The 51.38 km-long Bhairabi–Sairang National Project will have 42 major bridges and 154 minor bridges. The longest bridge will be pf 1,115 metres.

No Threat From China Dam on Brahmaputra: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Aug 3 : Allaying fears that the flow of northeastern Brahmaputra river would be affected by a dam being built in China, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said it was only a "run-of-river dam".

"What has been alleged is only a run-of-river dam," the prime minister told the Rajya Sabha, intervening in the reply to a question addressed to the external affairs minister.

The prime minister said that India and China are neighbours and it is in India's interest "to have best possible relations with China".

"Unnecessary revocation of the other side can hurt the relation," he said.

The prime minister added, "At the same time, the issue of Brahmaputra and other rivers has been repeatedly discussed. We have been assured."

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said that India has been assured by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his December 2010 visit that the dam will have no ill effects on the downstream area of Brahmaputra in India.

"Almost 80 percent of the catchment of Brahmaputra river is in India. Governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh should make plans to utilise that water which is not being used," Krishna said.

"Government keeps a constant watch on all developments, having a bearing on India's national interest," he added.

China is reportedly building a dam on Tsangpo river, the source river of Brahmaputra, raising fears that the river's flow would be affected.

The Brahmaputra is the largest river of northeastern India, and agriculture and economy of the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are highly dependent on the river.

MNF Welcomes VVPAT For The EVM

Aizawl, Aug 3 : The opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) today welcomed the Voter Verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) for the EVMs.

Wing Commander Joe Lalhmingliana, adviser of the MNF said that after witnessing the field trial of the VVPAT system conducted by the Election Commission at Cherrapunji (Meghalaya) last week, the MNF leaders were convinced that it would be more reliable than the conventional EVM.

Lalhmingliana claimed that the Election Commission, which was earlier adamant on the allegations of the EVMs being liable to be tampered, "now admitted that the machines could be tampered especially after the party chief and former chief minister Zoramthanga made complaints to the commission."

"It was preferred that the closed system of the VVPAT was more reliable," he said, adding that the new machine, though not foolproof would be a better choice than the conventional EVM.

Like political parties in the country, the MNF has all along been critical of the use of EVMs in the elections after its debacle in the 2008 polls when the Congress swept the polls bagging 32 seats of the total 40 seats in the state assembly.

Guinness World Record For Assam Youth

Guwahati, Aug 3 : A youth in Assam has earned the distinction of entering the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the longest scratch art piece.

''It took me 12 hours from eight pm in the evening to complete the piece measuring 20.30 metres in length and 1.4 metres in width,'' Apuraj Barooah told PTI.

An award from the Guinness authorities along with a certificate was presented to Barooah for his effort in London on July nine.

Jack Brockman of the Guinness World Records, said, ''We are happy Barooah has achieved the record for the longest scratch art piece. His piece contains 40 pictures of world folk dances including the famous Bihu dance of Assam.''

Brockman said, ''All the criteria were examined in the presence of some 45 people and we are proud of him.''

Scratch art or scratchboard art is a technique where drawings are created using sharp knives and tools for etching into a thin layer of white China clay which is coated with black ink.

Sometimes other coloured layers are used to add variation in colour to the piece, but Barooah has developed the interesting new process which he named "Bromide Scratch Art".

This involves scratching bromide paper with a razor blade to reveal reds, oranges, yellows and whites beneath the exposed black face of the paper, he says.

Barooah said in London he was presented with a ceremonial hand-woven scarf to be worn around neck. The piece depicted a landscape with fold dancers from 40 countries including India, UK, USA, Spain, Italy, China, Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, France and Thailand.