Why PM's Visit To Bangladesh Will Be Historic

Why PM's visit to Bangladesh promises to be groundbreaking

By Sheela Bhatt

Dr Manmohan Singh with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 3 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh on September 6 and 7, his first to the eastern neighbour and the first by an Indian prime minister in 12 years, promises to take bilateral ties to the next level, reports Sheela Bhatt.

It will be massive! Historic! I think Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka is going to be on a massive scale and substantial," says Veena Sikri, former high commissioner to Bangladesh.

Dr Singh's visit to Dhaka on September 6 and 7 is touted as ambitious and historic, and aimed solving bilateral issues pending since 1974. Some issues are the leftovers of history that were not settled even in 1947, when the territory was known as East Pakistan. The PM's visit will be a part of India's diplomatic endeavour to create a 'peaceful periphery'.

After Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2008, she has taken several steps to rein in Indian insurgents and operatives of Pakistani intelligence agency the Inter Services Intelligence working out of Bangladeshi territory.

The Indian assessment is that "the presence of ISI is less today in Bangladesh than before." In dealing with the insurgent groups of the northeastern states, Hasina's government has certainly delivered.

Both countries determined to end issues blocking economic potential

This 'incredible' change in ground realities, after taking action against anti-India forces, gave India the space to work on other issues and grant an important neighbour some concessions in trade and water that it had been looking forward to since 1973.

Currently, Bangladesh has a valid reason to complain as well, because the trade balance is still in India's favour.

The flurry of activities between the two countries suggests that both are determined to put an end to issues that are blocking economic potential. When the global economy is not showing much hope, the Asian countries are expected to fix it.

Plenty of credit goes to Prime Minister Hasina's far-sighted and bold leadership in picking up the offer from Dr Singh to arrive at a series of agreements that would boost the region's economy, help stabilise bilateral security concerns, and take India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal to a 'win-win situation' by broadening their trade basket.

After both countries did joint surveys of their borders and territorial enclaves, bilateral interactions have moved fast.

Since many decades there have been Bangladeshi enclaves surrounded by Indian villages, as well as some Indian enclaves surrounded by Bangladeshi ones.

Image: Congress president Sonia Gandhi with Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka during the former's recent visit there
Photographs: Andrew Biraj/Reuters

The issue over enclaves is set to be solved

And, then, there was the issue of giving transit route to the northeastern states through Bangladesh. This issue is likely to be settled, giving a huge advantage to India to develop its northeast. The user's rate for it will be decided by market forces.

India and Bangladesh share 4,096 kilometres of borders but the un-demarcated 6.5 km border issue was never settled. It is also likely to be settled now.

It's not a small event, that for the first time since 1947 both the countries will settle their disputes over 162 territorial enclaves that were stumbling blocks in the final settlement of the border.

Now these enclaves will be swapped and absorbed in the respective countries, and in effect will be wiped off the map. These 'enclaves' are called 'chit mahals' in local parlance.

Bangladesh has some 3,000 acres of land inside India while India has around 3,500 acres of land in that country. India will probably have to give up a little more land in the final settlement, that will require approval from Parliament.

Sikri says, "Much before independence the local kings used to gamble. Whoever lost sent the chit to the winner in which villages were given away. These exchanges of chits while gambling created estates on both sides. They became exclusive islands even after partition."

Two rulers of minor kingdoms, namely the raja of Cooch Behar and the nawab of Rangpur, had their kingdoms on the Teesta river. Cooch Behar remained in India while Rangpur went to Bangladesh, but their stakes in gambling created these islands.

The Union home ministry said that during surveys it was found that some 162 enclaves are inhabited by almost 51,000 people who have been a part of the continuous and sometimes tragic border tensions. These people, it is reported, don't much care for their citizenship as much as for their land and culture.

Image: Demonstrators affected by the construction of barbed-wire fencing along Indo-Bangla border clash with policemen in Agartala in May 2011
Photographs: Jayanta Dey/Reuters

India hopes it doesn't become an issue in Dhaka politics

National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, who went to Dhaka to finalise arrangements for the PM's visit, has held talks with Hasina and other officials. India and Bangladesh will ink security, trade, border, water, culture and power-related agreements during the visit at the highest level.

Sikri further says, "We have seen a difficult relationship after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman in 1974, but times have changed. To remain globally competitive, you have to first be regionally competitive. When globalisation started, oil was cheaper than it is now. Then one could ignore the next door neighbour and get cotton from Egypt or sugar from Brazil, but that's difficult now due to the prohibitive cost of transport. The settlement of border and water issues makes sense for both the countries."

India-Bangladesh relations have seen many ups and downs due to the intense competitive domestic politics on both sides, more so in Bangladesh where the two major political parties have been taking a tough stand against India when out of power.

If Hasina manages to explain her moves with Dr Singh to her domestic political constituency, only then will India-Bangladesh relations achieve a breakthrough.

Surely, India has ensured that it remained engaged with all the political parties, including main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party of Begum Khaleda Zia. In this round, Indian diplomats have taken care to see that 'India' doesn't become an issue in domestic politics.

Image: Former Bangladesh PM Begum Khalida Zia
Photographs: Reuters

The buzz over the trip is on

Mani Tripathi, former high commissioner to Dhaka, says, "We must leave domestic politics to be tackled by the respective countries. We should deal with the government of the day. I don't see any reason why the agreement to be reached by both countries during the PM's forthcoming visit won't be sustainable."

Hasina's foreign affairs advisor Gawher Rizvi has already said, "We have sorted out everything related to the visit."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the chief ministers of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, and Meghalaya, states that share a border with Bangladesh, will also join Dr Singh's visit, making it truly historic.

According to a report in the Anand Bazar Patrika, Banerjee had some reservations about the agreement over sharing of the Teesta river waters. Both the countries currently share 54 rivers and have many unresolved issues over it.

The draft of the new understanding over sharing of the Teesta waters has been shown to Banerjee by NSA Menon during a special visit to Kolkata, says the report.

ABP's report claims that India will take 52 percent and Bangladesh 48 percent of Teesta water after preserving 460 cusecs (cubic feet per second). Teesta originates from Sikkim and flows into Bangladesh through Jalpaiguri (in West Bengal) and meets Brahmaputra eventually.

During his visit to Dhaka, Menon met a few editors also. Since the last few years, India has seen that civil society in Bangladesh has been very keen to take the bilateral relationship to the next level. More and more young Bangladeshis are seeking Indian visas and there is a new-found support in society for better ties with India.

Even the world is watching the positive moves between India and Bangladesh.

The Economist has published a controversial piece regarding Sheikh Hasina's increasing ties with India.

While talking about the transit point that would give India faster access to northeastern states, it says, 'Yet the new transit project may be about more than just development. Some in Dhaka, including military types, suspect it is intended to create an Indian security corridor. It could open a way for army supplies to cross low-lying Bangladesh rather than going via dreadful mountain roads vulnerable to guerrilla attack. As a result, India could more easily put down insurgents in Nagaland and Manipur. The military types fear it might provoke reprisals by such groups in Bangladesh.'

The Western publication then drags China into it.

It comments, 'More striking, India's army might try supplying its expanding divisions parked high on the border with China, in Arunachal Pradesh. China disputes India's right to Arunachal territory, calling it South Tibet. Some Bangladeshis fret that if India tries to overcome its own logistical problems by, in effect, using Bangladesh as a huge military marshalling yard, reprisals from China would follow.'

As such, the buzz over the PM's forthcoming visit to Dhaka is already on.

Image: BSF personnel along the fenced border with Bangladesh in Fasidaya village on the outskirts of Siliguri
Photographs: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Bhaichung … And Some Speculation About A Hero Born Too Early

By Avalok Langer

Man in motion Bhutia about to pull the trigger in a match against JCT

Photo: Pintu Pradhan

THE STADIUM was a blur of painted faces, shirtless men wildly dancing around open fires with the occasional flare shooting into the sky. Draped in green and maroon, the large man slowly stood up. He paused to look around. Raising his hands, he shouted “Mohun Bagan” as he beat his drum “tut-ta-tut-tut”, “Mohun Bagan tut-ta-tut-tut”. The call had been made and 80,000 of the Bagan faithful replied in unison: “Mohun Bagan tut-tatut- tut, Mohun Bagan tut-ta-tut-tut, Mohun Bagan tut-ta-tut-tut”. If you think football is dead in India, you have to watch a match in West Bengal. Seated on the third tier of the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, the Mecca of Indian football, I prepared for what would be a day I would never forget — the 2008 Federation Cup final between Dempo and Mohun Bagan. The day I saw Bhaichung Bhutia play.

Bhaichung Bhutia

To be honest, I wasn’t a Bhutia fan. Not because I disliked his game, but because having grown up in New Delhi, I found myself completely disconnected from the world of Indian football. I knew Bhaichung Bhutia, the name, but having never seen him play, I couldn’t honestly call myself a fan. But as I watched the Fed Cup final, I found myself mesmerised by the ‘Sikkimese Sniper’ and I still remember the moment I started to consider myself a fan. He was tackled in the opponent’s 18-yard box. Falling to the ground, he lost the ball. He jumped up in a flash, chased down the Dempo defender, positioned himself in front of him, cutting off his passing channels and stole the ball back. In that moment, I had been converted.For me, Bhutia went from being the smiling ‘poster boy’ of Indian football to a mercurial striker carrying a sport on his shoulders.

BY NOW, we all know of the star power of Bhaichung Bhutia and having carried Indian football on and off the field for the better part of two decades, his retirement marks the end of an era. But what makes Bhutia special?

While experts and players alike agree that Bhutia is not the most talented striker to have played for India, his ability to think on his feet, innovate and his never-say-die attitude make him the legend that he is. “He is a thinking player,” says Mayanti Langer, a sports presenter, “What made him special was that he was the opportunistic striker, waiting to jump on the ball and score, but you could also place him behind two strikers as a playmaker. He was a visionary and would always lift his head and see who else can score. In this way, he has nurtured Sunil Chhetri. That’s what makes him special, his selflessness.”

Every time Bhutia got the ball, there was an expectation of greatness. You sat on the edge of your seat thinking, “This will be a Bhaichung moment.” I remember watching the India-Syria league match in the 2009 Nehru Cup. Dwarfed by the Syrian defence, Bhutia had been out-muscled in the entire game. A gentleman sitting next to me turned from a fan to an expert and explained how Bhutia was past his prime and should retire. Mid-sentence, Bhutia got the ball in the box, turned, beat the 6’4’’ defender marking him and tapped the ball into the goal from an impossible angle. As the stadium erupted, the man shouted, “See I told you Bhaichung would do it.” Perhaps that’s what made him special, his ability to create magic out of nothing.

After Bury FC, Bhutia learnt the value of the media. He appeared on sports shows and even won a dance reality contest

Indian football legend and Bhutia’s former strike partner IM Vijayan couldn’t agree more. “I remember it was the 1993 Durand Cup semi-final, East Bengal versus the Border Security Force. The match was forced into extra time and a 16-year-old Bhutia walked on to the pitch. A lofty cross came into the box, out of nowhere; Bhutia leapt up, did a bicycle kick and smashed the ball into the goal. As the player celebrated, the stadium went silent for what seemed like a lifetime and then the crowd erupted. It was absolutely brilliant to see this young boy win the match for his team.”

Bhutia’s stint in England was a defining moment in his career, but many question his choice of club and league. Bury FC was a second-division club in North England. They played a very physical brand of football on wet and cold conditions, not the perfect setting for Bhutia. “It was a difficult experience,” he admits, “adjusting to the freezing cold and the football style was tough. It was very frustrating, but I learnt a lot. I became very professional as a player, learnt the importance of hard work and returned with a new mindset.”

Though luck did not favour Bhutia in England, he came back a changed player. He learnt the importance of working out and perseverance. He instilled a sense of professionalism into his teammates that had been lacking in Indian football till then. Former teammate Alvito D’Cunha vouches for his unquestionable work ethic. “Bhaichung motivates himself, he never had to be pushed because he never slacked. Renedy (Singh) and I would often train with him. We would take breaks to go home between the session. But Bhutia would stay on and train, his drive and dedication was enviable.”

His experience in Bury changed Bhutia’s approach off the field as well. Having played in England, he grew in stature and brought a sense of glamour to a sport in desperate need of it. He learnt the importance of the media and capitalised on endorsement, dabbled in punditry on ESPN and Ten Sports and even won a dance reality show. He is the only footballer to create a larger-than-life image and garner a national fan base. Mayanti attributes this quality to the fact that “Bhaichung knows how to interact with the media, how to be a star and yet remain connected to his roots. He has glamourised Indian football and the lifestyle that goes along with it. But all the while, he maintains a perfect balance between Bhaichung the superstar and Bhaichung the guy who just wants to go to his Manipur house with his wife to eat momos. This is why the football fraternity loves him.”

In The Footsteps Of The Sniper

Bhaichung Bhutia transformed the way India plays football. Today’s players are reaping the benefits

Sunil Chhetri
Age 27
Position Striker
Dubbed the ‘next Bhaichung’. Having played upfront with Bhutia for seven years, the team will now look to him to take over the mantle

Jeje Lalpekhlua

Age 20
Position Striker
Though comparisons between him and Bhutia are cropping up, Jeje keeps it simple, “Bhaichung is in a different league. I wish I had been able to play alongside him.”

Gouramangi Singh
Age 24
Position Stopper
A Bhutia fan at heart, Singh tries to follow his philosophy on the pitch: “Keep it simple and stick to your strengths”

Subrata Pal
Age 24
Position Goalkeeper
The best goalkeeper India has seen in the past two decades recalls, “Everyone’s body language changed when Bhutia entered the dressing room. It’s not the same anymore.”

Photos: AFP, Reuters

As fans, we know Bhutia the player and Bhutia the star, but only a special few have been privy to Bhutia the captain. His skill on the field and his magnetic personality off it made him the ideal leader. A team man, he would go door to door before every game and tell his team that they could win, they could do it. “From the time he entered the dressing room, he would pump us up. Most of the time, we would win the match in the dressing room itself,” says D’Cunha.

Being India’s football icon, Bhutia has played a special role in motivating and nurturing the next generation of Indian players. Twenty-four-year-old Indian defender Gouramangi Singh has had the privilege of sharing a dressing room with Bhutia and admits that he is still a Bhutia fan first and a teammate second. “Like many youngsters in India, he has inspired me. What I admire about him was that no matter the score, he would never give up or relax, he would just keep pushing himself and the team.”

IN THE past 10 years, Indian football has come a long way, maybe not in the way of rankings but in terms of training infrastructure, international exposure and coaching systems for the national side. An ageing Bhutia was able to lead India to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Had he been 10 years younger, at his peak and playing in the present scenario, who knows where he would have reached? “I think if I was young today, I would have had more opportunities to play internationally. Those days nobody had played abroad and no one knew how the system there worked. But now we have more exposure and we understand the system,” says Bhutia.

‘If I was young today, I’d have more chances to play abroad. Back then, nobody knew the system,’ says Bhutia

Today’s generation of footballers have inherited a modernised system that Bhutia helped create. The players are exposed to opportunities and techniques that have en-abled the likes of Chhetri to play in America’s Major League Soccer, Gouramangi to be nurtured into a solid defender by a progressive club set-up at Churchill Brothers and the 20-year-old Jeje Lalpekhlua to travel to the West Indies to play international friendlies. “Had Bhutia been 10 years younger in today’s football environment, he could have played in a different European league like the Dutch Eredivisie that would have suited his style of football. That would have changed the course of his career,” believes Novy Kapadia, an Indian football expert.

After over a 100 international caps, playing with the likes of Didier Drogba, Zinedine Zidane, Gennaro Gattuso, and having etched his name in the history of Indian sport, what is next for the star striker? For Bhutia, home beckons. A staunch advocate for improving grassroots-level football in India, he has set up Sikkim United FC in his home state and has established a youth football academy in New Delhi. Larsing Ming, the general secretary of Shillong Lajong FC feels that “Bhutia has inspired the youth in the Northeast to take up football professionally. He has shown that it is possible to break through at the national level and make a mark. He bridged the gap between the Northeast and the mainland, and that has been his greatest contribution to Northeastern football.

WHILE THE converted wait with bated breath for the next messiah, the truth is that there will probably never be another Bhaichung Bhutia. Mayanti believes that “maybe that’s not such a bad thing. We should not see it as a failure of Indian football but as a compliment to the man and the player that he was”. While some worry about the void his exit will create, Nigeria-born football legend Chima Okorie turns to the youth, “His retire ment means a young player will now have a chance to don the national colours.” As young players like Chhetri, Jeje, Gouramangi and Subrata Pal begin to etch a name for themselves, the burden to carry Indian football has shifted onto them.

For the ever-positive Bhutia, there is no question of a void, “As long as there is football in India, players will come and go. We have to look to the future.” These young boys in blue are the future stars of Indian football.

With inputs from Shonali Ghosal

Avalok Langer is a Correspondent with Tehelka. avalok@tehelka.com

NESO Demands Scrapping Of AFSPA

Guwahati, Sep 3 : Demanding that the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act be scrapped immediately, the North East Students’ Union (NESO) today rejected Home Minister P Chidambaram’s statement that the Centre was looking for a consensus on the possibility of amending the Act.

The NESO said that no amendment would be sufficient and that “the draconian Act had to be scrapped altogether for preventing its gross misuse to violate fundamental human rights of citizens”.

The NESO also criticized what it said was the partisan attitude of national news channels in highlighting the issues of the North-east. “The unprecedented fast resorted to by Sharmila has elicited little attention from the national media, which is unfortunate to say the least,” it said.

Hunger Strike in India That Needs World’s Attention

By Nehginpao Kipgen

It is uncommon here in the United States to see a peaceful demonstration, in the form of hunger strike that is spearheaded by women activists for a genuine cause they firmly believe in.

The news may sound somewhat unconvincing, but it is happening in the state of Manipur in Northeast India. It may be difficult to find someone who does not know India, even if he or she is unsure of its precise geographical location in the world map. India boasts for its diversity and being the world’s largest democracy, with a population of over 1.21 billion people.

India is a nation originally formed by princely states and territories. It is also a country which fought several decades to gain independence from the British in 1947. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi) was a pioneering leader who stood up against the British forces with an effective political weapon called ahimsa (meaning non-violence).

It was Gandhi’s use of non-violent strategy that has left indelible imprints in the hearts and minds of many Indians. If so, why has similar non-violent agitation seemingly become unimportant, if not irrelevant, in the state of Manipur.

In a genuine demand for the upgradation of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council into a full-fledged district, more than 40 women belonging to the Kuki community began their fast unto death on August 16. To further protest the government’s inaction, the people of Sadar Hills observed India’s Independence Day (August 15) in mourning by wearing black dresses.

On August 28, three hunger strikers were arrested by the state police on charges of attempting to commit suicide, after they refused medical aid. Earlier on August 20, seven hunger strikers were hospitalized because of deteriorating health condition.

As part of their agitation, elected representatives of Sadar Hills have met both the state and central governments. While the central government has advised the state government to look into the agitators’ demand, the state government fails to implement it thus far.

The agitation was initially planned for a seven-day strike starting July 31, but it escalated to an indefinite strike with the death of three women on August 2. They were mowed down by a tanker, whose driver lost control.

Unfortunately, this extreme form of peaceful agitation (i.e. hunger strike) has thus far failed to capture headlines in the Indian mainstream media, not to mention the international media. It has also failed to draw the attention of leading international human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Given the seriousness of the situation, the dearth of publicity is surprising. Whether the Indian general public approves or disapproves of the demand is up to the readers concerned. However, leading newspapers and magazines should cover agitations such as this which involve life and death of ordinary citizens.

Sadar Hills' demand is not something new. It has been mandated by the Indian Parliament Act in 1971. Of the six autonomous hill districts constituted in 1972, only Sadar Hills remains to be officially accorded a full-fledged district status.

Among others, the Indian president, prime minister, home minister and the opposition leader have been officially apprised of the renewed demand, which successive Manipur governments had given verbal assurances but failed to implement them. However, giving a mere advice to the state government without any concrete action is inadequate.

An indifference to such burning issue can generate criticisms and apprehensions from around the world. More importantly, Manmohan Singh-led Indian National Congress government should pay close attention to the non-violent agitation, which Gandhi and other Indian freedom fighters used against the British. The government has responsibility to protect the lives of all its citizens, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, and location.

Since the ongoing Sadar Hills agitation primarily falls under the state's domain, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh should explore all possible means to end over a month-long political crisis at the earliest possible.

Meanwhile, the people of ethnically-sensitive Manipur should abstain from dragging the issue of ethnicity in this political game. Administrative convenience being the reason for Sadar Hills demand, it must not be viewed otherwise.

Moreover, the people of Manipur needs to learn the beauty of diversity, while respecting the rights of every citizen. To achieve this goal, the gap (in terms of per capita income) between the hills and the valley people should be bridged. Unless there is equality of distribution, people will be hesitant to share equal responsibility.

Human rights organizations such as National Human Rights Commission of India and National Commission for Minorities should assess the condition of the hunger strikers and extend any possible help. Human rights campaigners around the world should speak up for these voiceless peaceful hunger strikers.

The international community must ensure that the lives of peaceful hunger strikers in India are not jeopardized for a legitimate political demand, and their fundamental rights should be protected. In this regard, pressure must be put on both the Indian and Manipur governments to take necessary steps.

 

Nehginpao Kipgen

Asian Tribune -

Mizoram MLAs Fortunes Grow By 790.48 pc in 5 Years

Aizawl, Sep 2 : The fortunes of Mizoram MLAs have grown by 790.48 per cent, compared to 289 per cent growth of members of Parliament s wealth since 2008 state Assembly elections.

According to a paper presented by Dr. Lalthakima, assistant professor of Pachhunga University College, at a seminar on corruption here today, the assets of re-contesting MLAs in the 2008 state Assembly elections grew by 790 per cent over the intervening five years.

Quoting an analysis of affidavits done by the Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch, the paper highlighted that the the percentage rise in assets of members of Parliament (MPs) who re-contested the 2009 elections was 289 per cent while that of re-contesting MLAs in all the states in average was less than 200 per cent.

According to the seminar paper, a Mizoram MLA who topped the rich list got richer by 13022.08 per cent during the five years, from 2003 to 2009. According to his declaration of assets before 2003 elections, this particular MLA had Rs 50,000 which skyrocketed to Rs 65,61,038 when he re-contested the 2008 elections.

A legislator, who experienced the lowest economic growth among the Mizoram legislators, had his wealth grown by 5.84 per cent during the five years.

The assistant professor, who disclosed this analysis on his paper Hlemhletna leh Mizoram politicians (Corruption and Mizoram politicians), said his analysis was based on a booklet on MLA contestants of the 2008 elections, prepared by anti-corruption organization PRISM (People’s Right to Information Development Implementing Society of Mizoram).

The seminar on Corruption and Mizo Christians , organised by Academy of Integrated Christian Studies (AICS) of Baptist Church of Mizoram, discussed papers presented by assistant professors of colleges, senior civil judges, retired bureaucrats and social activists on different topics in corruption.

Lalhmingliana Saiawi, a retired IAS officer, who presented the paper, accused the Mizoram government of having double standards when it comes to corruption cases investigated by the CBI.

This attitude, he said, in the paper, was very clear from the fact that the Mizoram government s challenging Gauhati High Court s order for a CBI probe into alleged misappropriation of PMGSY fund in Mizoram.

While the state government has no objection to the CBI probe into compensation scam in Tuirial hydel project, it has challenged the High Court s order for a CBI probe in the Supreme Court for God-knows-why.

Civic organisation SOSA (society for social action) had filed PILs in Gauhati High Court against the alleged misuse of public money in the two projects, he informed the seminar. Unlike other states where he had served as bureaucrats, Mr Lalhmingliana also felt that the Mizoram government has no real intention to dig out missing public money.

Dr J V Nunchunga, assistant professor of J Thankima College, who presented a paper on corruption and Mizoram economy , underlined that while corruption affects the entire society, the poorer section are the worst-hit.

One of the commonest corruptions in Mizoram, according to J V Nunchunga is government doctors running private clinics despite enjoying non-practice allowance, which is 25 per cent of their monthly salaries.

Moreover, the NPA which is meant for only medical doctors is also being extended to veterinary doctors in Mizoram. Mr Nunchunga also expressed concern over too many government holidays, including Saturdays, in Mizoram, highlighting that the state government losses about Rs 539.92 lakh in each holiday.

He also stated that ruined or delayed projects in Mizoram have also badly affected the state s economy.

MZP Strongly Objects To OBC For Gorkhas in Mizoram

Aizawl, Sep 2 : Even as the state government decided to grant OBC status to the Gorkhas in Mizoram, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl, the state's apex students body, has reiterated its strong objection.

MZP has strongly condemned the Permanent Body's decision to give OBC status to the Gorkhas.

MZP will fight to the end to ensure that this decision does not materialize, the students body said in statement.

The MZP's statement came after the Permanent Body, set up in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court, has taken a decision to this effect.

The decision is yet to be sent to the higher authority in the Centre for finalization.

Saying that the decision to give OBC status to Gorkhas could be detrimental to the social security of the Mizos, the MZP appealed to all NGOs and political parties to be up in arms against it.

The MZP planned to convene a meeting of all parties and NGOs soon to discuss the issue. The Young Mizo Association is also very likely to oppose the same.

The Permanent Body's decision was high on the agenda of central committee of the state's most powerful organisation's meeting today.

The two organisations, who had earlier voiced their objections to grant OBC status to Mizoram's Gorkhas, feared that it would cause demographic invasion to the Mizos.

Election Commission: Mizoram Election Model Can Implemented in India

By Chetan Chauhan

New Delhi, Sep 2 : CEC Quraishi found Rahul Gandhi's idea on state funding of elections as a "useful" and suggested that it can be implemented if the Mizoram model of campaign was adopted.

In Mizoram, the civil society through the tribal councils allows candidates only door-to-door campaign and a public meeting where all candidates are allowed to speak. No other expense to solicit votes is allowed.

The CEC described elections in Mizoram as most peaceful without excessive use of white or black money. "It may be an interesting model to consider for funding of elections by the state," he said.

In December 2010, the commission had rejected proposal of state funding. "The Election Commission is not in favor of state funding as it will not be possible to prohibit or check candidate's own expenditure or expenditure by others over and above which is provided by the state," a government's paper on electoral reforms quoting the commission said.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's suggestion that Lokpal should be a Constitutional body like Election Commission and elections should be state funded has got support of chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi. "It is true that the EC has been an effective body because of the Constitutional status bestowed on it," Quraishi told HT, when asked about Gandhi's suggestions in Parliament last Friday. "Only then the Lokpal can be as autonomous as EC".

Such a status, he felt, would empower the Lokpal in effective discharge of its duties just like the commission, which has ably conducted elections in the last six decades. 

The issue of state funding was first mooted in 1998 when Indrajit Gupta committee suggested that the government should fund political parties to provide level playing field for parties having meager resources.

A year later, the Law Commission welcome Gupta's suggestion and said that political parties should be debarred from raising funds from any other source. The second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2006 said state funding would reduce the scope of illegitimate and unnecessary funding of expenditure for elections. 

Agreeing that the issue was being debated for years Quraishi said the influence of money since then has increased manifold and the suggestion needs to be examined in light of the recent evidence of use of black money. "We seized over Rs. 60 crore just in Tamil Nadu assembly elections," he said and hoped that the Parliament will discuss the issue in depth and come up with an effective solution.

Source: Hindustan Times

Lou Majaw To Rock Manipur After 4 Decades

By K Sarojkumar Sharma

Imphal, Sep 2 : For Lou Majaw, rock 'n' roll has always been a way of life and he believes that good music comes out from the heart of a performer. It's with this conviction, and of course his acoustic magic, that the guitar guru from Shillong wants to join hands with the people of Manipur and combat HIV/AIDS and drug abuse together.

Lou, who has been celebrating Dylan's birth anniversary every year since 1972 and has also earned the sobriquet of 'India's Bob Dylan', will study Manipuri folk music, share his vast knowledge on chords and notes with the people of the state and fight the two menaces together.

The 64-year-old legendary singer-song writer-composer from Shillong will perform at Gandhi Memorial Hall, popularly known as GM Hall or 'Town Hall' in the heart of Imphal, on September 7 after about four decades.

"On September 5, I'll perform in the Churachandpur district headquarters and at GM Hall Imphal on September 7," Lou said minutes after landing at the Imphal airport on Thursday afternoon. "I still remember the day I had performed at this Imphal auditorium when I was with the 'Blood and Thunder' and 'The Great Society'. That was in the early Seventies. After 40 years I will be performing again at GM Hall, a place that is close to my heart and also the best performing venue for yesteryear rock bands of Manipur," he said.

Along with the key members of Churachandpur’s popular rock band 'Friends', Lou will interact with budding poets, song writers, musicians and singers on the trend of rock and blues in the region.

"We will spread awareness on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse through music in Churachandpur. Manipur, as all know, is one of the six states of the country which has a high HIV/AIDS prevalence. We have to combat the disease," Lou said, expressing his gratitude to the Manipur Aids Control Society (Macs) for sponsoring his 'Manipur Journey Trip'.

Friends' frontman Ricky Chakchuak, who is promoting music among youngsters, including inmates of various drug rehabilitation centers in Churachandpur, said Lou's new mission in the tribal-dominated district would definitely bear fruit.

On his love for Manipur folk music, Lou said he was mesmerized by a powerful performance by a Manipuri musician, Bhagirat, in Shillong early this year. "I felt he was singing from his heart. I really love to study the components of Manipuri folk music.During my stay in Manipur, I'll try to understand this beautiful form of music. I will also try to find out if I can use these elements in my music," Lou said.

During both the Churachandpur and Imphal concerts, Lou will cover Dylan and Bob Marley's numbers. The added attraction would be his numbers, though. "I love Dylan's powerful lyrics. Unlike the past events, we will organize Dylan's 71'st birthday on May 24 next year in a fabulous and meaningful manner in five acres of land near Shillong," Lou said.