Friday, August 29, 2008

Power project if Congress comes to power: Fernandez

Aizawl, Aug 29 : Union Minister of State for Labour Oscar Fernandez today said that all pending power projects in Mizoram would be implemented if the Congress came to power in the state.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan here, Fernandez said that the main problem in Mizoram was lack of energy, which would be solved if the Congress was voted to power in the polls scheduled for the year-end.
Vylar Ravi, Minister of state for Overseas Indian Affairs, said that people of Mizoram deserved to be given more support for overall development activities.

“Mizoram needs better connectivity in land and air transport which the Centre is aware of and doing its best to improve connectivity in the state,” Ravi said.

AICC general secretary Margaret Alva and state PCC chief Lal Thanhawla were also present in the press conference.

Assam govt challenges release of Pakistanis

Guwahati, Aug 29 :The Gauhati High Court today admitted an appeal filed by Assam Government challenging the acquittal of two Pakistanis and a Bangladeshi along with four Indians by a trial court after their arrest for alleged involvement in anti-national activities.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice J Chelameswar and Justice Hrishikesh Roy admitted the appeal filed against the order passed by Kamrup additional sessions judge on June 12 acquitting the seven persons.
Additional Advocate General K N Choudhury submitted before the high court that the three foreigners along with the Indians were arrested on August, 1999 and during interrogation it was revealed that Mohammad Javed Waker and Faizulla Hussain were Pakistani nationals and deeply involved with terrorist organisations like Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

The duo along with a Bangladeshi national, Mohammad Billal Miah and four other Indians were planning to create disturbance in the state and the order of acquittal passed by trial court is without proper scrutiny of evidence on record.

The three foreign nationals are currently lodged in different jails in the state in connection with other cases.

The court directed that if any bail application is moved by any of the three foreign nationals in any court, it must be transferred to the high court for appropriate order and also directed the secretary to state home department to monitor the matter.