Thursday, March 13, 2008
Three engineers among five kidnapped in Assam
Three engineers working with a road construction company engaged in the Mahasark East-West Corridor work were among five persons abducted by militants in central Assam's North Cachar district, official sources said on Thursday.
The project manager, his deputy, an engineer of P L Valecha Engineering Company along with the driver of their vehicle and PSO were abducted last night at a place between Mandardisa and Hatikhali, when they were travelling in a car.
The company informed the police about the abduction today, the sources said.
Those kidnapped are project manager Umesh Sarma, deputy project manager Jagaprasad Deka, engineer Dhrubajyoti Choudhury and the PSO and driver, whose names are yet to be confirmed.
The project manager, his deputy, an engineer of P L Valecha Engineering Company along with the driver of their vehicle and PSO were abducted last night at a place between Mandardisa and Hatikhali, when they were travelling in a car.
The company informed the police about the abduction today, the sources said.
Those kidnapped are project manager Umesh Sarma, deputy project manager Jagaprasad Deka, engineer Dhrubajyoti Choudhury and the PSO and driver, whose names are yet to be confirmed.
Congress will be defeated during floor test: Sangma
Not being happy with the Supreme Court's refusal to interfere with Governor's decision to swear in a Congress-led Government, NCP leader PA Sangma on Thursday expressed confidence that the Congress will be defeated during the floor test in the Meghalaya assembly.
"We are dissatisfied by the Supreme Court's verdict, but we are not perturbed. Congress will be defeated by the members of MPA," Sangma told PTI.
However, he said the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) accepts the Supreme Court verdict, declining to interfere with Governor S S Sidhu's decision.
Petitioner for the MPA, Sangma's son and NCP MLA Conrad Sangma said the court had issued a notice to the governor asking him to explain the consequences that led to his decision to invite the Congress to form the government despite it being in the minority.
"We had also asked to prepone the trial test in the assembly, but the court said issuing of notices to all concerned will take time and ultimately the purpose of the exercise would be futile as it will exceed the time given by the governor. So the court sustained the time frame of ten days to the Congress to prove its majority," Conrad said.
Accepting the verdict, Conrad however maintained that the MPA will remain united come what may. "We have decided to campaign for the elections to the Baghmara seat unitedly. The fight will be against the Congress. We will rout them," he said.
Independent MLA and MPA member Manas Choudhury said, "The induction of the independent MLAs in the cabinet by the Congress is a ploy to lure the members of the MPA. But our members will not step in the trap. We are united and we will remain so."
The KHANM and HSPDP members also reiterated their commitment to kep the MPA united.
Meanwhile, the MPA has elected its candidate for the post of the speaker in the eighth Meghalaya assembly. UDP MLA Bindu Lalong will be the MPA's candidate in the election to the speaker slated for March 18.
The NCP, however, was given the edge in the elections to the Rajya Sabha. Former chairman of the Tura Municipal Board and veteran NCP leader Thomas A Sangma will be the MPA's candidate for the March 26 Rajya Sabha elections.
"We are dissatisfied by the Supreme Court's verdict, but we are not perturbed. Congress will be defeated by the members of MPA," Sangma told PTI.
However, he said the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) accepts the Supreme Court verdict, declining to interfere with Governor S S Sidhu's decision.
Petitioner for the MPA, Sangma's son and NCP MLA Conrad Sangma said the court had issued a notice to the governor asking him to explain the consequences that led to his decision to invite the Congress to form the government despite it being in the minority.
"We had also asked to prepone the trial test in the assembly, but the court said issuing of notices to all concerned will take time and ultimately the purpose of the exercise would be futile as it will exceed the time given by the governor. So the court sustained the time frame of ten days to the Congress to prove its majority," Conrad said.
Accepting the verdict, Conrad however maintained that the MPA will remain united come what may. "We have decided to campaign for the elections to the Baghmara seat unitedly. The fight will be against the Congress. We will rout them," he said.
Independent MLA and MPA member Manas Choudhury said, "The induction of the independent MLAs in the cabinet by the Congress is a ploy to lure the members of the MPA. But our members will not step in the trap. We are united and we will remain so."
The KHANM and HSPDP members also reiterated their commitment to kep the MPA united.
Meanwhile, the MPA has elected its candidate for the post of the speaker in the eighth Meghalaya assembly. UDP MLA Bindu Lalong will be the MPA's candidate in the election to the speaker slated for March 18.
The NCP, however, was given the edge in the elections to the Rajya Sabha. Former chairman of the Tura Municipal Board and veteran NCP leader Thomas A Sangma will be the MPA's candidate for the March 26 Rajya Sabha elections.
Neiphiu Rio sworn in as Nagaland CM
Neiphiu Rio was sworn in as Nagaland’s chief minister on Wednesday evening, 24 hours after the Union Cabinet decided to revoke President’s Rule imposed in January. Governor K Shankaranarayanan also administered oath of office to 11 others in the new Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) ministry following a communiqué from Rashtrapati Bhavan on revocation of PR.
The two-month, PR-induced break notwithstanding, this is the second straight term for both DAN and Rio, whose Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) party leads the coalition of 34 legislators including two each of BJP and NCP and four Independents. The NPF bagged 26 seats in the 60-member House while the Congress bagged 23.
“This election has shown that the people of Nagaland are with us,” Rio said in Kohima after the swearing-in. “The onus is now on us to live up to the hopes and aspirations of the Naga people.”
Though there were apprehensions in the DAN camp earlier that PR might be extended, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee’s decision on Tuesday to sit in the Opposition erased doubts. Later in the day, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, met to revoke PR.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission also issued a notification for constitution of the 11th Nagaland Assembly comprising 59 newly elected legislators. Result of Surohoto constituency under Zunheboto district is still awaited as EC rescheduled re-poll at a polling station there.
The two-month, PR-induced break notwithstanding, this is the second straight term for both DAN and Rio, whose Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) party leads the coalition of 34 legislators including two each of BJP and NCP and four Independents. The NPF bagged 26 seats in the 60-member House while the Congress bagged 23.
“This election has shown that the people of Nagaland are with us,” Rio said in Kohima after the swearing-in. “The onus is now on us to live up to the hopes and aspirations of the Naga people.”
Though there were apprehensions in the DAN camp earlier that PR might be extended, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee’s decision on Tuesday to sit in the Opposition erased doubts. Later in the day, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, met to revoke PR.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission also issued a notification for constitution of the 11th Nagaland Assembly comprising 59 newly elected legislators. Result of Surohoto constituency under Zunheboto district is still awaited as EC rescheduled re-poll at a polling station there.
Swearing-in of Meghalaya cabinet today
The cabinet ministers of the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance will be sworn in on Wednesday at the Raj Bhavan even as the Supreme Court's hearing on a case, filed by the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance, is expected later in the day.
Congress spokesperson and MLA Mukul Sangma confirmed that the oath taking ceremony will be held today. He however, declined to disclose names of the ministers who would be sworn in.
He indicated that the three independents, who joined the alliance yesterday taking the tally to 28, would be allotted cabinet berths.
While Chief Minister D D Lapang is facing a stiff deadline of 10 days to prove majority, the newly-formed MUA is still three short of the magic number.
The MPA has termed the forming of the MUA as a ploy to deceive the people and the elected members of the Assembly.
"It is a desperate bid to deceive the people. But anyway they are still three short, the MPA spokesperson, B Lalong, said.
MPA had filed a petition in the SC yesterday challenging the Governor's decision to call the Congress to form the government even though it was in the minority.
The apex court is likely to take up the hearing later in the day.
Congress spokesperson and MLA Mukul Sangma confirmed that the oath taking ceremony will be held today. He however, declined to disclose names of the ministers who would be sworn in.
He indicated that the three independents, who joined the alliance yesterday taking the tally to 28, would be allotted cabinet berths.
While Chief Minister D D Lapang is facing a stiff deadline of 10 days to prove majority, the newly-formed MUA is still three short of the magic number.
The MPA has termed the forming of the MUA as a ploy to deceive the people and the elected members of the Assembly.
"It is a desperate bid to deceive the people. But anyway they are still three short, the MPA spokesperson, B Lalong, said.
MPA had filed a petition in the SC yesterday challenging the Governor's decision to call the Congress to form the government even though it was in the minority.
The apex court is likely to take up the hearing later in the day.
President's rule revoked in Nagaland
The President's Rule imposed in Nagaland over two months ago was revoked on Wednesday, paving the way for the formation of the next government.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning.
President's Rule was imposed in the state on January three.
The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland has staked claim to form the government on March nine with unconditional support of four independents.
Two MLAs each from BJP and NCP and four independents today have reposed their faith and support in the DAN. They said they had voluntarily joined the alliance as per the pre-poll understanding.
The Congress has decided not to stake claim to form the government in the state but sit in the opposition. The party has re-elected I Imkong as leader of its legislature wing.
The CLP meeting held yesterday decided that Congress, which secured 23 seats, eight short of majority in the 60-member assembly, would sit in Opposition at this juncture.
The Congress' hopes of making a last-ditch effort to stake claim for power was dashed after four independents and two NCP legislators yesterday extended support to the leadership of former chief minister and NPF leader Neiphiu Rio.
The NPF-led DAN paraded 33 MLAs, including four independents, before Governor K Shankararaynan on Sunday while staking claim to form the government.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning.
President's Rule was imposed in the state on January three.
The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland has staked claim to form the government on March nine with unconditional support of four independents.
Two MLAs each from BJP and NCP and four independents today have reposed their faith and support in the DAN. They said they had voluntarily joined the alliance as per the pre-poll understanding.
The Congress has decided not to stake claim to form the government in the state but sit in the opposition. The party has re-elected I Imkong as leader of its legislature wing.
The CLP meeting held yesterday decided that Congress, which secured 23 seats, eight short of majority in the 60-member assembly, would sit in Opposition at this juncture.
The Congress' hopes of making a last-ditch effort to stake claim for power was dashed after four independents and two NCP legislators yesterday extended support to the leadership of former chief minister and NPF leader Neiphiu Rio.
The NPF-led DAN paraded 33 MLAs, including four independents, before Governor K Shankararaynan on Sunday while staking claim to form the government.
EC issues notification for constitution of Nagaland assembly
The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notification for constitution of the 11th Nagaland assembly comprising 59 newly-elected legislators.
The EC in a gazette notification constituted the assembly and the same was forwarded to the governor, K Sankaranarayanan, Chief Electoral Officer CJ Ponraj told PTI.
The NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland is all set to form the government for the second consecutive term in the state.
As per the constitutional norms, present assembly, which is under suspended animation following imposition of central rule, should be dissolved by the President on recommendation of the Governor.
After having satisfied that a stable government could be formed, the governor would recommend to the President for revocation of the central rule, which was imposed in Nagaland on January 3.
As per norms, after revocation of the President's rule, the leader of the largest party or group is appointed as the Chief Minister and swearing-in of ministers is done.
Rio along with 33 supporters had requested the Governor on Sunday to complete all the formalities by Tuesday.
The EC in a gazette notification constituted the assembly and the same was forwarded to the governor, K Sankaranarayanan, Chief Electoral Officer CJ Ponraj told PTI.
The NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland is all set to form the government for the second consecutive term in the state.
As per the constitutional norms, present assembly, which is under suspended animation following imposition of central rule, should be dissolved by the President on recommendation of the Governor.
After having satisfied that a stable government could be formed, the governor would recommend to the President for revocation of the central rule, which was imposed in Nagaland on January 3.
As per norms, after revocation of the President's rule, the leader of the largest party or group is appointed as the Chief Minister and swearing-in of ministers is done.
Rio along with 33 supporters had requested the Governor on Sunday to complete all the formalities by Tuesday.
