PTI, New Delhi, 24 April : Believed to have led lavish lives in their heydays, pro-talks ULFA leaders have now been given Rs 40 lakh by the central government for daily expenses and to run their families.
Indian Home Ministry released the first instalment of financial assistance to the ULFA leaders, including 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi and others besides its cadres - totalling approximately 400."We have disbursed the money to the ULFA through the Assam government. The money has been given to take care of the daily expenses of ULFA members and other family requirements," a Home Ministry official said.
The Centre may release more funds to the banned group in the coming days.
The ULFA was accused of extorting several hundred crores of rupess in Assam to buy arms, ammunition and for training its cadres. The group was also accused of running many businesses in neighbouring Bangladesh. န Also Read "What Next For ULFA ?" by Subir Bhowmik
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Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee takes "action" against Anil Basu
Kolkata, 24 April : Cracking the whip on Anil Basu for using foul language against Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, WB Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said that the senior CPI(M) leader has been debarred from addressing public meetings and may face punitive action."He will not address public meetings from now on," the chief minister said at a 'Meet-the-Press' programme.
Asked if any punitive action would be taken against Anil Basu, the chief minister said, "We do not tolerate filthy language. Punishment will be given if necessary."
Describing Anil's use of such language as 'unfortunate,' Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said, "No one can tolerate it."
Chief Minister said that CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose has censured Anil Basu and warned him not to use such language in future. "He has also been asked to issue a written statement and apologise.
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BNP demanded immediate resignation of the Hasina govt.
Dhaka, 24 April : Bangladesh's main opposition BNP has demanded immediate resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government, which it said, failed in all sectors to resolve the problems of the country and sufferings of people.
The decision taken in the national executive committee meeting on Saturday was formally announced by acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press briefing at the party’s central office today. Fakhrul said the meeting also demanded midterm election with the resignation of the government admitting its failures.
Dhaka, 24 April : Bangladesh's main opposition BNP has demanded immediate resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government, which it said, failed in all sectors to resolve the problems of the country and sufferings of people.
The decision taken in the national executive committee meeting on Saturday was formally announced by acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press briefing at the party’s central office today. Fakhrul said the meeting also demanded midterm election with the resignation of the government admitting its failures.
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Chief Minister rebuts Prime Min's statement on performance
Kolkata, 24 April : West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said he was surprised by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's statement about the state government's "overall failure"."I am surprised at what the Prime Minister said yesterday. I don't know when he discovered that the state government was not working," Chief Minister said at a 'Meet- the-Press' programme here and observed that the government's performance would be only judged by the people.
The Prime Minister, he said, had never complained to him about his government's alleged non-performance during his meetings in Delhi.
Rather, Singh was always eager to know about the progress in land distribution, new industries in the state and the proposed investment in the state by Japan, he said.
"The Prime Minister had come to the state to campaign for the Assembly elections. He had to follow his party's line," Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said. န File Photo : AP
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India to provide buyers credit for projects in Bangladesh
Joyeeta Dey, Dhaka, 24 April : Giving a boost to bilateral ties with Bangladesh, India today said it will provide buyers' credit for projects in the neighbouring country.
Buyers credit is generally given on the understanding that the project developers would source equipment or technology from the credit-giving country. "We will provide buyers credit for projects in Bangladesh. It will be a direct government credit for private sector projects," Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma told reporters here.
Joyeeta Dey, Dhaka, 24 April : Giving a boost to bilateral ties with Bangladesh, India today said it will provide buyers' credit for projects in the neighbouring country.
Buyers credit is generally given on the understanding that the project developers would source equipment or technology from the credit-giving country. "We will provide buyers credit for projects in Bangladesh. It will be a direct government credit for private sector projects," Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma told reporters here.
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Need for debate on law of sedition: Activist Dr Binayak Sen
PTI, Bhopal, 24 AprIL : Human rights activist Binayak Sen, who was convicted for sedition and recently granted bail by the Supreme Court, has underlined the need to have a public debate on contours of the controversial law."A Chhattisgarh court sentenced me to life imprisonment on the charge that I had committed sedition but this was not very clearly defined in our law," Binayak Sen told PTI on phone from his Raipur-based residence.
The 61-year-old who spent four months in jail, said that even Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily had proposed a need for a debate on the law of sedition.
Sen said life as an undertrial was hard as living conditions in the jail were poor and food of inferior quality.
"I missed my home food a lot while I was in jail," he said.
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Garo militant chief escapes in encounter in East Garo Hills
PTI, Shillong, 24 April : The 'commander-in-chief' of a Garo militant outfit today narrowly escaped in a shoot-out near his native village in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district.
Acting on an input that Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) 'C-in-C' Sohan D Shira was with his family, Special Weapons and Tactics commandos of Meghalaya swooped in at the village, Chachatgre, about 20 km from the district headquarter town of Williamnagar this afternoon, police said.
Two 'sentries' who were keeping guard about 200 metres from the residence fired at the commandos and engaged them for sometime, during which Shira is believed to have escaped along with other cadres of the outfit who were with him, Superintendent of Police JFK Marak said.
PTI, Shillong, 24 April : The 'commander-in-chief' of a Garo militant outfit today narrowly escaped in a shoot-out near his native village in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district.
Acting on an input that Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) 'C-in-C' Sohan D Shira was with his family, Special Weapons and Tactics commandos of Meghalaya swooped in at the village, Chachatgre, about 20 km from the district headquarter town of Williamnagar this afternoon, police said.
Two 'sentries' who were keeping guard about 200 metres from the residence fired at the commandos and engaged them for sometime, during which Shira is believed to have escaped along with other cadres of the outfit who were with him, Superintendent of Police JFK Marak said.
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Jute cultivation may cross target this year in Faridpur dists
BSS, Boalmari, Faridpur, 24 April : Jute cultivation may cross the target in all the nine upazilas of the district this year due to favorable climatic condition, official sources said.The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said the Tosha variety of jute to be cultivated on 73,148 hectares of land with a production target of 10.94 bales per hectare.
While farmers have already cultivated jute on most of their land and the rest to be finished by May.
The target of jute cultivation will exceed this year as the farmers showing keen interest on jute cultivation due to fair price of their produces last year, the sources said.
This year jute to be cultivated on 10,015 hectares of land in Faridpur sadar, 920 hectares in Charvadrasan, 9980 hectares in Nagarkandah, 10,910 hectares in Shaltha, 5,300 hectares in Sadarpur, 9,680 hectares in Bhanga, 10,658 hectares in Boalmari, 5,685 hectares in Alfadanga and 10,000 hectares in Madhukhali upazila.
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