Tag: National

Thiruvanthapuram, June 27 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said Pakistan’s decision to release Surjeet Singh and not Sarabjit Singh has no connection with the arrest of 26/11 handler Abu Jundal.
Chidambaram said India has continued to press Sarabjit’s case before the Pakistani Government.
“I don’t think this has any connection with Abu Jundal’s arrest. I think this was on the works. We continued to press Sarabjit’s case. The Home Secretary-level talks we have pressed Sarabjit’s case. Sarabjit’s family met me. Foreign Minister has taken up this case,” he said.
Chidambaram further said there might be some internal hiccups in Pakistan in this regard.
“Now, why they first put out or appeared to put out that Sarabjit is the person who is being released and then they flipped and said it is Surjeet who is being released. I cannot say, but when I was first told by a newspaper friend that Sarabjit has been released and asked for a comment,” said Chidambaram.
“I declined a comment because I was not sure that the news was right. Later in the night, it turned out that it was not Sarabjit but Surjeet. May be there are some internal hiccups there, but I don’t think it has any connection with Abu Jundal’s case,” he added. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, who was also present at the media briefing expressed hope that Pakistan will look into the contradictions compassionately and release both Surjeet and Sarabjit.
“I have come to know that Surjeet Singh’s death sentence was commuted to a life term in 2004 during the regime of an earlier president. So, now that he has finished the number of years, which are mandatory for life imprisonment, he is being released. Whereas it was very specifically mentioned that President Zardari had commuted the death sentence to life sentence and since Sarabjit has already served more than a life sentence it was that he is going to be released,” said Soni.
“I am sure that this contradiction will be looked at sensitively, compassionately by the Pakistan authorities and they will release both Surjeet Singh and Sarabjit Singh,” she added.
India has today requested Pakistan to release death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna earlier today said that he welcomes Islamabad’s decision to release Surjeet Singh, but added that New Delhi has consistently urged the Government of Pakistan on several occasions to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view in the case of Sarabjit Singh.
Krishna also made an appeal to the Pakistani Government to release all Indian nationals, who have completed their prison term or are serving jail sentences.
Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur also requested the Pakistan Government to release Sarabjit Singh on humanitarian grounds.
Hours after reports emerged that Pakistan was to free Sarabjit Singh, the presidential spokesman clarified last night that the authorities had taken steps for the release of another Indian prisoner named Surjeet Singh.
Surjeet Singh, currently being held in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, has been in Pakistani captivity for over 30 years. He was captured near the border with India on charges of spying during the era of military ruler Zia-ul-Haq.
It was earlier reported that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has converted Sarabjit Singh’s death sentence to life imprisonment and directed authorities to release him if he had completed his prison term.
Forty nine-year-old Sarabjit, who has spent 21 years on death row, is currently being held at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail.
Sarabjit, who was condemned to death for his involvement in a string of bombings in Punjab in 1990, had earlier last month filed a fresh clemency appeal to President Zardari. (ANI)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pakistans-midnight-flip-not-linked-to-jundals-arrest-chidambaram/

Dimapur, June 26 NNN : A Naga delegation led by the Naga Hoho has met Union home minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi this evening. In the morning the Naga leaders also met central leaders including Intelligence Bureau officials and interlocutor of NSCN-IM-Government of India peace talk R.S Pandey, according to a well placed source in Delhi.
The Naga delegation is likely to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, the source New Delhi informed Newmai News Network over phone this evening.
The Naga leaders have been pressing the government of India to bring the Indo-Naga settlement within this year itself.
Leaders of the United Naga Council (UNC) are also part of the Naga Hoho delegation currently camping in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, patience among the Nagas are loosing fast following the prolonging of the Naga peace talk.
In the various seminars organised by Naga Solidarity Group (NSG) Naga intellectuals have been bringing out the issue as to how long the peace talk should be allowed to go on.
In one such discourse in Ukhrul, a well known Naga thinker Abraham Lotha had opined ‘the Naga political issue is not the monopoly of the undergrounds. They have been given enough time and chances’
It is worthwhile to note that the Naga apex body, the Naga Hoho had asserted last month that by the end of this year things should be materialised regarding the talks. Fifteen years of dialogue is a long, long period, said the Naga civil body earlier.
It is hopeful that some sort of interim arrangement may arrive from the talks between the NSCN-IM and New Delhi by the end of this year.
It can also be mentioned that Seven Sisters Post had reported last year that a “Supra State Body” for the Nagas may be the outcome of the talks between the NSCN-IM and New Delhi.
Seven Sisters Post newspaper had reported last year that the final settlement envisages a “special federal relationship” between India and Nagaland and creation of a”Supra-state Body” for the Nagas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to “preserve, protect and promote their cultural, social and customary practices.
The offer to create a pan-Naga ‘Supra State Body’, instead of the “Greater Nagalim” demanded by the NSCN, has been touted by Indian negotiators as the “second best option for the Naga people”, the report had said.
Till date, the NSCN-IM has not given any official comment on the report.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/naga-delegation-meets-home-minister/

New Delhi: UPA’s Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday demitted his office as the Finance Minister.
Mukherjee has put in his papers to Prime Minister.
Ahead of resigning as a Finance Minister, an emotional Mukerjee told reporters at his North Bloc office that he is leaving his job as Finance Minister to “embark on a new journey”.
“I feel honoured and humbled on my nomination as a presidential candidate of the UPA-II, supported by SP, BSP , JDU Shiv Sena, CPI-M , Forward Bloc and some other parties” Mukherjee said in his last message as Finance Minister to the media.
“Yet, standing on the brink of such an honour, I will also feel a pinch of sentiments at the thought of leaving behind my life as a political activist, spanning over four decades,” he told reporters.
Mukherjee said, while not every decision of his might have been right, but he has taken those decisions “keeping in view the interest of the people”.
Mukherjee’s resignation came amidst a gloomy economic crisis and a policy paralysis the country is passing through.
India’s annual industrial growth fell to 0.1 percent in April even as the rupee slumped to an all time law of Rs 57.92 against the dollar.
The government, yesterday, announced a series of measures to revive the economy but it was too little to cheer the market.
And as Pranab resigns as the Finance Minister, the question looms large is that who will replace him in the government and the ministry?
There are indications that the key ministry would be handled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself.
Reports say the Prime Minister may run the Finance Ministry with the assistance of the two Ministers of State (MoS) Namo Narain Meena and SS Palanimanickam. A team of experts will also help the Prime Minister, reports add.
Highly placed sources in government indicate that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is not keen on giving the finance portfolio to an “outsider”.
Kaushik Basu, the Prime Minister’s own economic adviser, wants Manmohan Singh to take charge of the Finance Ministry after Mukherjee demits office.
“Prime Minister is a very trained economist… He was there in the 1991 reforms … (although) it is a political decision… Who comes and goes… But one thing is for sure that he is extremely capable,” Basu had told a TV channel.
Singh, however, is keeping his cards on Pranab’s successor close to his chest, so far.
“I have been churning it in my mind. Quite honestly I have a number of issues which I have to resolve. It will not be proper for me to announce while I am outside the country. When the decision is taken, you will get to know about it,” he had told journalist.
Singh had earlier kept the charge of Finance Ministry for a short span during the UPA-I when P Chidambaram was moved to Home in the wake of Mumbai terror strikes in November 2008.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pranab-mukherjee-resigns-as-fm/

New Delhi, June 26 (ANI): Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Virbhadra Singh resigned from the Union Cabinet on Tuesday, following the framing of corruption charges against him for allegedly misusing his office when he was the Himachal Pradesh chief minister in 1989.
He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday afternoon and handed over his resignation letter, which was accepted and forwarded with a recommendation to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
Singh is expected to address a press conference at his residence later today.
Claiming that he was being framed, Virbhadra Singh said:”Nobody has ever raised a finger ever on my honesty and integrity. When P.K. Dhumal became the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, he fabricated the case based on false evidence. I faced the trial and the case was dismissed by the Sessions Court in Shimla.” “Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister PK Dhumal is back to his old antics. I intend to resign to devote full time to fight the case. I intend to catch the bull by horns. I am not afraid of facing trial as my conscience is clear. I will go to court of law and court of people and expose all,” he added.
According to the charges framed against Singh, he allegedly granted favours to industrialists and his conversation was recorded in a audio CD.
In the CD, Virbhadra is allegedly heard speaking with IAS officer Mohinder Lal and some industrialists regarding alleged monetary transactions for them to invest in the state. Charges were framed against the 78-year-old Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh under Section 120 B (conspiracy) of IPC and Sections 7,11 and 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) dealing with bribery and criminal misconduct in a 23-year-old case.
The prosecution had filed a charge sheet in 2010. Sources say that Virbhadra had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi in May to apprise them of the court verdict.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/virbhadra-singh-quits-union-cabinet/

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee today said he would be quitting as Finance Minister of the country on Tuesday.
“Now, of course, I am giving a farewell call. Today, my long association with the Congress Working Committee, almost for 32 years from 1978 till today. So, they bid me lots of farewell. I met Prime Minister, tomorrow I will be putting in my papers,” Mukherjee told media here after a special meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) here, which was called to felicitate him and bid farewell to him.
Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi briefing the media about the CWC meeting said both party president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh lauded the role played by Mukherjee, both in the party and in the government.
“Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that Pranab Mukherjee is a very senior member of the Congress Working Committee. It is a matter of great delight that not only the Congress, but the whole UPA has selected him as their candidate with full consensus,” said Dwivedi.
“The Congress President also thanked those outside the UPA, who have lent their support to Pranab Mukherjee. She expressed hope that he will win with a huge margin and increase the pride of the country as a president,” he added.
Dwivedi said the Prime Minister also echoed similar sentiments as the Congress President, and said that the party will miss Mukherjee for he had very big responsibilities in the government.
“He expressed satisfaction and pleasure over all backing his candidature,” he added.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi were among those present at Sonia’s residence along with the CWC members and permanent invitees to acknowledge the contributions of Mukherjee, considered to be the party’s chief troubleshooter.
Mukherjee, who is all set to emerge victorious in the race for Raisina Hill, became a member of the CWC in 1978.
Mukherjee, however, is expected to announce some major economic decisions, before demitting his office to file his nominations for the presidential poll.
Mukherjee is a senior member of the Cabinet Committees on Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Parliamentary Affairs, Political Affairs, Prices, Security, Unique Identification Authority of India, World Trade Organization, and heads the Group of Ministers Committee on the Dabhol dispute.
Mukherjee had earlier said that those political parties, which had not taken any decision to support his candidature, should do so..Mukherjee will file nomination for the Presidential poll on June 28, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters after the CWC meeting.Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh was not present at the CWC meeting. Karan Singh, who was one of the aspirants for the Presidential post, was also not present. Mukherjee is expected to launch his campaign for the Presidential polls from Chennai on June 30 and then likely to visit Hyderabad and Bangalore the next day.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal is coordinating Mukherjee’s poll campaign, including the process of filing of nomination. An informal coordination committee has also been set up.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/upa-prez-nominee-pranab-to-step-down-today/

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI) MNS: Delhi Police on Monday arrested key Mumbai terror attack suspect and Indian Mujahideen terrorist Syed Zabiuddin alias Abu Jindal from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here.
Hamza alias Sayeed Zabi ud Deen alias Zabi Ansari alias Riyasat Ali is believed to be one of the plotters of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and was allegedly giving instructions to the terrorists. He was reportedly in Pakistan when the attack took place.
According to the police, Hamza is also wanted in connection with many other attack cases in India, including the Chinnaswamy Stadium attack in Bangalore in 2010.
He has been remanded to police custody for 15 days.
Source said he had worked in close tandem with terror mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi Jindal confessed his role in the country’s worst terror attack and admitted that he was present in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) control room in Karachi and was giving direction to the 10 terrorists who carried out the strike.
An ISI officer was closely involved in executing the terror strike. After November 26, 2008, Jindal, a native of Beed district in Maharashtra, stayed in Pakistan for sometime before leaving to Saudi Arabia where he was working as a teacher.
He has at least ten aliases and the first tip-off about his presence in Saudia Arabia was given by a terrorist who was arrested in connection with the Jama Masjid blast. Jindal also stayed for sometime in Bangladesh.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also expected to take custody of Jindal for further interrogation.
Jindal was arrested on his arrival from Saudi Arabia at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport by Delhi Police on June 21.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/delhi-police-arrests-2611-key-suspect-abu-jindal-at-igi-airport/

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI) MNS: Delhi Police on Monday arrested key Mumbai terror attack suspect and Indian Mujahideen terrorist Syed Zabiuddin alias Abu Jindal from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here.
Hamza alias Sayeed Zabi ud Deen alias Zabi Ansari alias Riyasat Ali is believed to be one of the plotters of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and was allegedly giving instructions to the terrorists. He was reportedly in Pakistan when the attack took place.
According to the police, Hamza is also wanted in connection with many other attack cases in India, including the Chinnaswamy Stadium attack in Bangalore in 2010.
He has been remanded to police custody for 15 days.
Source said he had worked in close tandem with terror mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi Jindal confessed his role in the country’s worst terror attack and admitted that he was present in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) control room in Karachi and was giving direction to the 10 terrorists who carried out the strike.
An ISI officer was closely involved in executing the terror strike. After November 26, 2008, Jindal, a native of Beed district in Maharashtra, stayed in Pakistan for sometime before leaving to Saudi Arabia where he was working as a teacher.
He has at least ten aliases and the first tip-off about his presence in Saudia Arabia was given by a terrorist who was arrested in connection with the Jama Masjid blast. Jindal also stayed for sometime in Bangladesh.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also expected to take custody of Jindal for further interrogation.
Jindal was arrested on his arrival from Saudi Arabia at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport by Delhi Police on June 21.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/delhi-police-arrests-2611-key-suspect-abu-jindal-at-igi-airport/

out of borewell
Manesar District (Haryana), June 24 (MNS/ANI): Lifeless body of four-year-old Mahi was pulled out of a nearly 70-foot deep borewell on Sunday afternoon, over 80 hours after falling into it.
Army soldiers who were involved in the rescue effort along with staff of other agencies, pulled Mahi out of the borewell a little after 1.40 p.m. on Sunday.
“Mahi has been pulled out from the borewell… she is dead,” Gurgaon District Magistrate PC Meena said.
The efforts to save five-year-old Mahi Upadhyay were televised live by national news channels, with people across the country performing religious rituals and offering prayers for her survival.
The girl fell down the well on June 20 while playing with her friends in a village in Harayana state, about 50 kilometres southwest of New Delhi.
Hundreds of soldiers, engineers and medical experts were involved in the attempt to rescue her, using heavy machinery to dig a parallel tunnel to reach her as well as pumping oxygen into the well to try to keep her alive.
Her body was carried out on Sunday wrapped in a blanket and taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her dead.
“Mahi was stuck at a level of 60 feet (20 metres). The diameter of the well was very narrow, nothing could be sent inside to save her,” senior police officer Anil Rao told reporters at the scene.
Gurgaon officials said she was dead even before soldiers who had been working non-stop for days finally made contact with the child just afternoon.
Backing the military was a group of men adept in digging tunnels and borewells led by a Saurav Khan.
The news shattered the thousands of people who had gathered outside the hospital and at the site of the borewell for days, hoping and praying that the girl would somehow survive.
The girl’s mother broke down on hearing that her daughter was no more.
When soldiers digging through Thursday and Friday hit rocky patches, officials decided to rope in the Rapid Metro as well as Delhi Metro, both of which have specialized digging equipment.
The girl accidentally fell into the 70-feet deep borewell at the IMT township just before midnight Wednesday, sparking a major rescue operation involving the army and civilian agencies.
According to Gurgaon police, a four-year-old boy had similarly fallen into a deep borewell in the same area Feb 26, 2004. But he was rescued, thanks to the initiative of a police officer, Usman Ali.
The father claimed that as soon as his daughter fell in the borewell, he called up the police, but they arrived one-and-a-half hours late.
For two hours the child kept crying inside the borewell, asking for help, but now she is not responding to any calls, he said.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sought explanation from the Haryana Government to ascertain if it was the result of any negligence on its part.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/lifeless-body-of-mahi-pulled/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, June 23 : The Central Bureau Of Investigation has arrested an Assistant Drug Controller, Air Cargo Complex, Sahar International Airport, Mumbai and an employ of Custom House Agent for demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs.50,000/-from a complainant (An Importer).
A case was registered against an Assistant Drug Controller, Sahar Air Cargo Complex , Sahar
\International Airport , Mumbai under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.
CBI laid a trap and the accused was caught red-handed at Sahar Air Cargo complex, Mumbai while demanding and accepting a bribe amount of Rs 50,000/- from an Importer for issuing No Objection
Certificate on a consignment of life saving drug imported from Sweden.CBI has also arrested the official of Custom House Agent who was collecting bribe on behalf of Assistant Drug Controller.
During searches conducted at the residential premises of Assistant Drug Controller at Mumbai and New Delhi, a cash of around Rs 20 lakhs was recovered. Besides, cash deposit in his bank accounts to Rs 30.50 lakhs(approx) was also found.A cash of Rs 6,64,500/-(approx) was also recovered at the residence of other accused.
Both the arrested accused were produced in the court of Special Judge for CBI cases, Mumbai and were remanded police custody upto 25.06.2012

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-arrests-drug-controller/

Mail News Service
Chennai, June 23 : Large numbers of students today staged a protest at Merina beach , Chennai in loving memory of Okram Laaba on 22 June 2011 who was killed at his hostel room.
According to Santosh, Organising committee the students from north east are repeatedly harassed and students were also killed. In spite of repeated requests to Tamil Nadu government no action has yet been taken up on the matter.
Okram Laaba of Yaiskul Yumnam Leikai was found dead in his hostel room no- 111, Padur, Kellambakam, Tamil Nadu in a suspicious manner covering his face with plastic carry bag on his face . He was studying BCA in the Hindustan College of Arts and Science, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (MOR) Padur Kellambakham, Chennai- 600 020 .
Okram Indramani father of Okram Laaba post mortem report reveals cause of death as suffocation and viscera negative of drug and poisoning.
He denied the theory of suicide due to some reasons which included among other things the deceased left for Imphal for joining his hostel for the then forth coming second year BCA course at HCAS on 12/6/2011 and he had about Rs. 25000 on his person in cash however by the time of death only Rs 20 was found. The right arm of the body was found completely dislocated at the shoulder joint at the time of preparing the body for performing the last rites.
He received the post mortem report only in the month of December last year and the report revealed that the deceased would appear to have died of suffocation and viscera negative for drug or other poison and it may be reasonably assumed that this nature of injury could definitely not have been self inflicted.
The deceased as well as his room mate one Mr. Ayappam did not stay in their A/C fitted rooms on the previous night of his demise i.e. on 22.6.2011. Okram Indramani also informed that his roommate Mr. Ayappan and hostel warden K. Balasubramaniam are the two suspects in connection with the death of his son and he appealed all including the students organization to extend co-operation in connection with the death of the student.
Students bodies from Manipur, family members had repeatedly requested Tamil Nadu government to take up appropriate action. The students who protested today shouted slogans demanding arrest of those involved in the incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/o-laaba-fondly-remembered-during-first-death-anniversary/

Mail News Service
Imphal, June 23 : The Sainik School Imphal Alumni Association (SSIAA) expressed deep anguish and concerns over the leaking of news in connection with a court of inquiry ordered against Brig L I Singh by some Army officials, which is unethical and with malafide intentions. Former students of the School hailing from Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh felt that leaking of such sensitive information by some army officials to the media is amount to character assassination of Brig LI Singh before he has been given an opportunity to explain his position.
Brig LI Singh is the first Army Officer among the alumni of the School to reach the rank of Brigadier.
Based on his clean track record, he was appointed recently as the Deputy Director General, Discipline and Vigilance (DDG, DV) at the Army Headquarters in New Delhi after his tenure as the Cdr of the Watershed Brigade in Sikkim. Brig LI Singh’s old school mates expressed surprise how an officer who was chosen for his clean track record in May this year, has been charged of corruption in June. The news report said that only officers with unimpeachable integrity and spoken reputation are posted to the DV directorate, which is responsible for keeping a hawk eye on army’s internal health and integrity.
“How can an officer become suddenly corrupt in one month? If there were charges against the Brig, why was he picked up for a branch which requires officers of high integrity?
Is there any hidden agenda in leaking such news?” asked an ex-student of SSI. Brig LI Singh joined the Indian Army after clearing the NDA examinations. The Alumni Association feels that the actions initiated against Brig LI Singh is a clear example of victimization of the clash of TOP BRASS of the Indian Army, which is unbecoming of the country’s most respected institutions.
Brig LI Singh had excelled in Staff College and Higher Command Course. For excellent, commendable performance and exemplary leadership while commanding his battalion in Drass, Brig LI Singh was awarded Yudh Sewa Medal after Operation Parakram. The present action initiated against such an officer with impeccable record and integrity and who has served the nation smacks of a serious rethinking.
The entire fraternity of the ex students of Sainik School Imphal strongly felt that the charges levelled against him and branding him as guilty by the media before an official inquiry seems to be an already pre-determined move of the India Army to implicate him somehow, irrespective of the outcome of the said inquiry.
The Indian Army TOP BRASSES has belittled its image with this act of witch hunting to settle scores and find a sacrificial lamb to prove otherwise. Brig LI Singh must be, on the other hand, rewarded and honoured, which a true soldier deserves.
The Indian Army must not forget that Brig LI Singh continues to be source of inspiration and he motivates thousands of youths in the region to join the uniformed services to participate in building a stronger nation.
The Alumni Assn strongly felt that better sense should prevail and close this case once and for all said a press hand out issued by President of the association, N Ibungochoubi.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ssiaa-concerned-over-victimisation-of-brig-li-singh/

New Delhi , June 24 (ANI): Over four hundred Air India pilots on Sunday began an indefinite hunger strike to highlight their demands, as their agitation entered the forty -eighth day.
The striking pilots said the management had refused to have a dialogue with them, and therefore, felt that a hunger strike was one of the ways of seeking attention.
“We are asking them to talk to us but only dictatorship is happening. They can take away my career and my life but not my voice. This is my voice and I will speak up that injustice is being done to us,” Hari Shankar, a protesting pilot, said. Further, he appealed to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to end the impasse.
“Through the media we want to appeal the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi that they would pay heed to our appeals and we have full faith in them. Our management and the minister in charge (Ajit Singh) have not cleared their stand,” he added.
Pilots said they want to go back to work and start discussions with the unions to restore normalcy. However, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh earlier slammed the pilots and called their strike ‘illegal and unlawful’, for violating the High Court’s order, which had directed them to return to work.
About 500 Air India pilots who fly international routes have been demanding their colleagues from former state-owned partner Indian Airlines should not be trained to fly Dreamliners, as it may mar the career prospects of original Air India flight crew.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/air-india-pilots-begin-indefinite-hunger-strike-in-new-delhi/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, June 24 : The Central Bureau Of Investigation has arrested a Staff Officer(A Colonel rank officer) & another employee, both of National Defence Academy, Pune and four private persons in an alleged bribery case for appointment of subordinate staff in NDA.
A case was registered against Staff Officer to the Commandant, National Defence Academy, Pune; two private persons and other unknown accused persons U/s 120-B, 420, 468 & 471 of IPC and Section 13(2) r/w Sec. 13(1)(d) of P.C. Act, 1988 in the matter of appointment of subordinate staff, such as, Mali, Cook, LDC, Cadet Orderly, Lab Attendant, Library Attendant, etc in NDA in the month of May & June, 2012.
It has been alleged that the Staff Officer in conspiracy with some private persons & some employees of NDA had indulged into corrupt practices and obtained illegal gratification of Rs.Three lakh to Rs.Four lakh from each prospective candidate to give them appointment . The accused persons had allegedly taken signature of such candidates on blank answer sheets and subsequently filled them with correct answers by fraudulent means. Thus, the actual deserving candidates were cheated.
After registration of the case, searches were conducted at 14 places in Pune and one place each in Mumbai; Gurgaon & Sonepat (Haryana). A cash of Rs.Four lakh from the Staff Officer & a cash of Rs.82 lakh (approx) from his associates’ place; a cash of Rs.18 lakh (approx) from the employee of NDA; a cash of Rs. 50 lakh (approx) from one private person (owner of juice/fast food restaurant near NDA) & Rs.16 lakh(approx) from his brothers & a cash of Rs.3.20 lakh from his employ(a private person) and a cash of Rs.Three lakh from another private person have been recovered. Thus, total cash amounting to Rs.1.76 Crore(approx) have been seized from the residence of said accused persons besides many incriminating documents. List of certain candidates, who had allegedly paid bribe for appointment and copies of interview letters to some candidates, have also been recovered from the residence of accused. The arrested accused persons are being produced today before the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Pune .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-arrests-staff-officer-of-national-defence-academy/

Aizawl, June 22 NNN : Mizoram Co-operative Society minister J.H. Rothuama said co-operation, by its very name itself, indicates unity and working together. “When we work together, we can do such great things which are impossible for an individual and a single family themselves. Therefore, Co-operative Society has been an important agent which often betters the economic condition in developed countries. Besides, the monetary assistance that we get from the government, creating opportunity for others with self-dependency shall always be our main objective,” the minister said.
J.H Rothuama was saying this while gracing the 25th General Assembly of the Mizoram State Co-operative Union (MSCU) as chief guest of the occasion which was held at Archives Hall, Babu Tlang, Aizawl.
The minister released the special issue of Co-operative Magazine ‘Tlangau’ during the celebration.
The minister then said that that there is the need to provide more instructions to the societies under MSCU regarding financial management. “A large number of cultivators in Mizoram, despite of their perseverance and hard work, lack the knowledge of good strategy so as to yield good result. Therefore, to give them guidelines is the responsibility of the cooperative societies”, the minister said. The Mizoram government is also taking steps in the same line, and also, as promised before the assembly election, steps are being taken for setting up of Co-operative Development Council, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mizoram-co-operative-society-moving-ahead/

Dimapur, June 22: The demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’ is here to stay even as the state government of Nagaland has been putting its maximum effort in persuading the leaders of the Eastern Naga Peoples Organisation (ENPO) to reconsider their pursuit.
In a meeting today between the state government representatives headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio and the ENPO leaders in Kohima the ice could not be broken.
ENPO leaders informed that the meeting was cordial, peaceful and good. However, the ENPO leaders said their demand for a separate state by carving out four districts of Nagaland in the eastern part of the state will continue.
ENPO is demanding that the districts of Mon, Kiphire, Tuensang and Longleng be carved out from the state of Nagaland to form a separate state called Frontier Nagaland.
Meanwhile, sources said that the chief minister had assured the ENPO leaders of all round developments for the ENPO area. But the leaders of the ENPO had told the chief minister and his team that bringing all round developments is the bounden duty of the state government not only for the ENPO area but to all the corners of the state of Nagaland. The ENPO leaders were said to have told the state government representatives whatever that was offered will not serve the interest of the tribes of ENPO. “Only a separate statehood can safeguard the ENPO community,” said the leaders of the ENPO.
It is worth noting that early this year Nagas in four Nagaland districts had carried out massive public rallies demanding the creation of a new state christened as ‘Frontier Nagaland’ by bifurcating Nagaland. 
  The rallies were held simultaneously in the districts of Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng on January 7. The rallies were organised by Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO).
 The ENPO, which is the apex organization of six Naga tribes including Konyak, Khiamniungan, Chang, Yimchunger, Sangtam and Phom inhabiting the four districts, had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister urging him to realize the demand. 
“Our demand for the creation of Frontier Nagaland is based on historical facts. This is something like going back to the earlier arrangement when the entire area was under the erstwhile Tuensang Frontier Division of NEFA,” ENPO leader Toshi Wungpung had said.  
Prior to Nagaland’s attainment of statehood in 1963, the entire area was under the Tuensang Frontier Division of NEFA. Mon, Kiphire and Longleng districts were carved out of Tuensang post-st

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/demand-for-frontier-nagaland-getting-stronger/

New Delhi, June 20 (ANI): The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has finally bowed down to the compulsions of coalition dharma and accepted former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma’s resignation.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar earlier today said he would accept Sangma’s resignation with immediate effect, of offered.
“We will accept it immediately. If he is resigning from the primary membership, we will inform the Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly also (that) he is not member of the NCP and we accept it,” said Pawar.
Sangma, who is determined to contest the presidential poll as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, quit NCP on the ground that his self-respect should be protected.
Briefing the media here about Sangma’s decision, Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy said: “”Sangma, who is an old friend of mine called me up today. Sangma telephoned me saying that I must see you. I said
I am going that side, so I will drop in at 2: 30. When I came here, he said ‘the NCP seems to be in some kind of torture from somebody or other. I know from where the torture is, and therefore, I am making it easy for them by resigning’.”
“Now, he is a gentleman he did not say, but the fact is that NCP and the Congress Party have tried to humiliate him, saying that he is not of the same stature as Pranab Mukherjee. And, they want to humiliate him by saying that they are offering him the Ambassadorship to Mauritius. So, the low quality of UPA is reflective of the lack of education of Sonia Gandhi,” he added.
Swamy further said Sangma is the first choice for the coveted post of President of India of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and added that the decision of the NDA to also back him in the race of Raisina Hill, would eventually be announced by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Lal Krishna Advani or Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav.
“Sangma is a candidate for president of Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik. And the question now only remains whether the NDA is backing him also. That final decision is being taken today in Advaniji’s house,” said Swamy.
“I can say the consensus is in favour of supporting Jayalalithaa’s and Naveen Patnaik’s candidate, and that officially and authoritatively only Advaniji can make the announcement, or Sharad Yadav can make that announcement,” he added.
Sangma had earlier on Sunday reiterated that he was still in the fray for the presidential poll as a tribal candidate, and said that he would appeal to his party boss Sharad Pawar to back him in the race for Raisina Hill.
“I have maintained right from the beginning that I am a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, which is nothing to do with any political party. I am a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India. And, as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, I have gone across to all political parties appealing for support. This is the position. Therefore, it is very clear that I am not an NCP candidate,” said Sangma.
“Sharad Pawar is saying that he will appeal to me to withdraw. And I can tell you, I will appeal to him to support me,” he added.
Highway protection not the solution : PREPAK
MNS: The PREPAK Progressive today said highway protection as mooted by Chief Minister O Ibobi, Home Minister Gaikhangam will not solve the problems people face on the highways. The highway is blocked repeatedly and a long term policy is required.
The extortions carried out on the highways are by organisations which are holding talks with the centre and state government it pointed out. Centre is responsible for frequent blockades in hill areas as it is deliberately not developing the region and allowing disparity it charged.
There will be never ending list of security personnel, VDF, IRB, Police and opening highway protection force will not serve any purpose said a statement issued by Boby Mangang , Deptt of Pub and Pro, PREPAK (PRO). People were appealed to provide assistance to the organisation.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ncp-accepts-sangmas-resignation/

New Delhi, June 20 (ANI): The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has finally bowed down to the compulsions of coalition dharma and accepted former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma’s resignation.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar earlier today said he would accept Sangma’s resignation with immediate effect, of offered.
“We will accept it immediately. If he is resigning from the primary membership, we will inform the Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly also (that) he is not member of the NCP and we accept it,” said Pawar.
Sangma, who is determined to contest the presidential poll as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, quit NCP on the ground that his self-respect should be protected.
Briefing the media here about Sangma’s decision, Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy said: “”Sangma, who is an old friend of mine called me up today. Sangma telephoned me saying that I must see you. I said
I am going that side, so I will drop in at 2: 30. When I came here, he said ‘the NCP seems to be in some kind of torture from somebody or other. I know from where the torture is, and therefore, I am making it easy for them by resigning’.”
“Now, he is a gentleman he did not say, but the fact is that NCP and the Congress Party have tried to humiliate him, saying that he is not of the same stature as Pranab Mukherjee. And, they want to humiliate him by saying that they are offering him the Ambassadorship to Mauritius. So, the low quality of UPA is reflective of the lack of education of Sonia Gandhi,” he added.
Swamy further said Sangma is the first choice for the coveted post of President of India of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and added that the decision of the NDA to also back him in the race of Raisina Hill, would eventually be announced by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Lal Krishna Advani or Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav.
“Sangma is a candidate for president of Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik. And the question now only remains whether the NDA is backing him also. That final decision is being taken today in Advaniji’s house,” said Swamy.
“I can say the consensus is in favour of supporting Jayalalithaa’s and Naveen Patnaik’s candidate, and that officially and authoritatively only Advaniji can make the announcement, or Sharad Yadav can make that announcement,” he added.
Sangma had earlier on Sunday reiterated that he was still in the fray for the presidential poll as a tribal candidate, and said that he would appeal to his party boss Sharad Pawar to back him in the race for Raisina Hill.
“I have maintained right from the beginning that I am a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, which is nothing to do with any political party. I am a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India. And, as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, I have gone across to all political parties appealing for support. This is the position. Therefore, it is very clear that I am not an NCP candidate,” said Sangma.
“Sharad Pawar is saying that he will appeal to me to withdraw. And I can tell you, I will appeal to him to support me,” he added.
Highway protection not the solution : PREPAK
MNS: The PREPAK Progressive today said highway protection as mooted by Chief Minister O Ibobi, Home Minister Gaikhangam will not solve the problems people face on the highways. The highway is blocked repeatedly and a long term policy is required.
The extortions carried out on the highways are by organisations which are holding talks with the centre and state government it pointed out. Centre is responsible for frequent blockades in hill areas as it is deliberately not developing the region and allowing disparity it charged.
There will be never ending list of security personnel, VDF, IRB, Police and opening highway protection force will not serve any purpose said a statement issued by Boby Mangang , Deptt of Pub and Pro, PREPAK (PRO). People were appealed to provide assistance to the organisation.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ncp-accepts-sangmas-resignation/

Shillong, June 19 NNN : To upgrade telecommunications facilities in insurgency-hit and border areas in India’s
northeastern states, the Union government has decided to spend Rs 647 crores on North Eastern
connectivity by BSNL and Telecom Department.
Stressing on the importance of connectivity for the North East, Union Minister of state for Communication and IT Sanchin Pilot who was in Shillong yesterday has assured full support of the Centre in ensuring that satellite connectivity would be tapped for remote and hilly regions besides landline, wireless, and data connectivity on par with rest of the country.
The Union Minister also stressed that adequate mobile coverage of National and state Highways would be a priority for the Government.
The Union Minister of state reviewed the functioning of BSNL and department of posts in north eastern states in Shillong.
“Satellite connectivity would be tapped for remote and hilly regions,” Pilot said.
The Minister has directed the senior officials of BSNL to focus especially on quality voice and data services.
Pilot said, “BSNL has 2635 mobile towers in the North East and 684 WLL towers for high speed broadband service in the rural areas”.
“An ambitious plan in this regard is under the consideration of the Government in consultation with the departments of north eastern region.”
He informed that BSNL plans a capital expenditure of Rs 347 crore in the North Eastern States for the current fiscal year.
“of this Rs 92.18 crore is embarked for Assam, Rs 33.86 crore for NE 1 circle comprising of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Rs 68.07 crore for NE 2 circle comprising of Nagaland, Manipur and
Arunachal Pradesh, and Rs 10 crore for Sikkim,” Pilot said.
A special unit entrusted with execution of projects would be given Rs 142.93 crore, the Minister said in addition about Rs 300 crores that will be spent on National Optical Fiber Network and other projects.
Pilot announced that 50 more post offices of the North East would be taken up under the Project this year adding that services being offered through the post offices would be expanded.
The Minister said that there are 7142 post offices in the North East and of these 782 have already been upgraded to global quality of service under the Department of Post’s prestigious Project Arrow at a cost of Rs 8.2 crore

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/communications-to-be-improved/

The 42nd birth anniversary of Rahul Gandhi was held with a campaign to save Sangai at Congress Bhawan today.
The Home minister who graced the occasion as chief guest said, Sangai, a kind of deer is found only in Manipur. Human beings have become a terrible species. It is necessary to live us together. With the protection of Sangai, we have to preserve Loktak Lake.
Rahul Gandhi is a young, dynamic leader. For a new development in our country, we need youth leaders. His outlook and ideas should be followed by the present people. In foreign countries those who attained 14,15 years have become matured persons.
The RD and PR minister Francis Ngajokpa, MLAs Prithibiraj, Victor Keishing, general secy of Congress Bidyapati Senjam also attended the function as president and guest of honours respectively.
In connection with the function a felicitation programme of students who stood positions in CBSE, HSLC and XII exam. Was also held.The felicitation programme was organized by NSUI.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rahul-gandhi-birth-anniversary/

New Delhi, June 19 (MNS/ANI): Despite P.A. Sangma remaining defiant over contesting the presidential poll as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader D.P. Tripathi on Tuesday expressed confidence about the former Lok Sabha speaker supporting UPA nominee and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for the post of President of India.
Tripathi, who met Mukherjee here, said it was a courtesy visit.
“This is a courtesy visit. We are allies. I am an NCP leader and voter of Pranab Mukherjee. So, it is my duty to meet him,” said Tripathi. With contrasting stands among its allies on the presidential election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to be in a fix.
Shiv Sena, a part of the BJP-led opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has already publicly said it would support Pranab Mukherjee, the Congress-led ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate for the highest office in the country.
After the BJP’s core committee meeting Monday decided that contesting the poll was necessary, the party was put in a tight spot by the Shiv Sena, which not only favoured Mukherjee but urged other political aprties too to back the finance minister.
This is a second time the Shiv Sena has ditched the BJP. In the last presidential poll too, it had supported UPA candidate Pratibha Patil.
Another major ally, Janata Dal-United is also reportedly not in favour of putting up a candidate against Mukherjee.
In another setback to the BJP, sources said former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has affirmed support to Mukherjee. However, an official declaration on his stand is yet to come from Yeddyurappa.
The BJP, which is yet to decide on a presidential candidate, is sticking to its stand of not letting Mukherjee win uncontested.
“That is the general sense that we must have a candidate against Mukherjee, even if it is only symbolic.
The leader, however, refused to comment on the possibility of the BJP going alone against its allies.
The party had Monday night refused to talk to the press after the core committee meeting. It only said that a final decision would be taken after a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders, a date for which has not yet been fixed.
During the meeting, the party had reportedly discussed backing Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Lok Sabha speaker P Sangma.
Sources in the BJP say the NDA meeting will take place this week, followed by another meeting of the party’s core committee.
“As far as Sangma is concerned, he is a senior leader of our party. The meeting of our party is scheduled to take place on 21st (June 21). Even Sangma will be attending that and I have full confidence that he will support UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee,” he added.
When asked if Sangma would not fall within the party line and decide to contest against Mukherjee, Tripathi said: “Sangma is our very senior and respectable leader. Politics is not based on speculation. The meeting of our party will be held on 21st (June 21) and after that we will let you know the party’s strategy.”
Sangma had earlier on Sunday reiterated that he was still in the fray for the presidential poll as a tribal candidate, and said that he would appeal to his party boss Sharad Pawar to back him in the race for Raisina Hill.
“I have maintained right from the beginning that I am a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, which is nothing to do with any political party. I am a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India.
And, as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, I have gone across to all political parties appealing for support. This is the position. Therefore, it is very clear that I am not an NCP candidate,” said Sangma.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ncp-confident-of-sangma-supporting-pranab-bjp-undecided/