Palash Speaks

Buddha, Pranab Broker Indo US Nuclear Deal
CPIM Diversion Gimmick continues, Focus shifts in New delhi from Kolkata
Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: alashbiswaskl@gmail.com">palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
The convenient projected truth is that in West Bengal, Muslimsand dalits are very much part of the community. In the past 30 years, the number of elected Muslim politicians, appointed bureaucrats and police officers has grown exponentially, so dalits are also accomodatedas it is calimed. Not only this, CPIM launches its own brnad of Dalit and refugee movement. On 21st August, CPIM MPs plan to meet the Prime Minster with dalit Bengali leaders demanding Citizenship, Reservation and right to learn Bengali out of Bengal. The party has organised an all India Dalit Refugee convention in New delhi beginning on 21st August.CPIM polit bureu leadership has alredy discussed to mobilise the Dalit Refugee Vote Bank nationwide. Tripura minister Anil sarkar, polit bureau member Vrinda Karat and Biman Bose are believed to enflock the refugees. I am getting feelers to join the convention from very top level CPIM circle to stop me writing anti cpim articles. but I have not got any formal letter whatsoever.
however I am not going to New delhi or anywhere to include myself in the leftist train as I am disillusioned with continuous Left betrayal against my people all over India! I dare to forcast that the result of New delhi convention would resuld into a Big zero!
The government of West Bengal has always allowed illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh. In the not-too-distant future, the Muslim population is expected to outnumber Hindus, and there is no outcry. Sngha Parivar also leads a refugee movement in Bengal with a hatred campaign against Muslims. Banga sena and Caamb are the cenreaided progrmmes!
In Bengal (i.e., Bangladesh and West Bengal), the emphasis is on linguistic unity and not on religion.
Meanwhile, to divert the focus on Nandigram singur Dalit Muslim Insurrection, the Left parties on Saturday served an ultimatum to the government on the controversial Indo-US nuclear deal by warning it of "serious consequences" of operationalising it, but stopped short of withdrawing support to the UPA coalition. West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, steps in to bridge the UPA-Left divide over the India-US nuke deal. Buddhadeb meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to work out a compromise.Hectic parleys are on in the capital to resolve the differences between the UPA and Left on the Indo-US nuke deal issue. Even as reports are rife of a resolution in sight, after Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's meeting with the PM, all eyes are on the all important politburo meet today (August 18, 2007) - where the Left is expected to make its stance clear on the issue. In all probability, it looks like the stage is set for a compromise.
Though Buddhadeb refused to comment anything on the said meeting with the Prime Minister. Buddhadeb met Manmohan Singh, amidst reports that a compromise was being thrased out. Also present at the meeting, was External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, as deputed by the Congress to do the rescue act.
Left's ultimatum on the Indo-US nuke deal had almost brought the UPA government on its knees but now, it seems the damage control has been done once and for all.Sources say from now on, the Left is likely to give the UPA conditional and issue based support. The Left will issue strongly worded statements against the UPA. Left's statements will go beyond the Indo-US nuke deal and focus on larger strategic and economic concerns. Further, a joint meeting of all the Left allies is on the cards, to chalk out their future strategy.
One thing that certainly eased the tension between the Left and the UPA, was the statement coming from the United States - US State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, clarfied on his comments on nuclear testing. McCormack claimed he was misquoted and that, he was speaking only of provisions to terminate the Indo-Us deal, which did not specifically refer to a nuclear test.
with Chinese as well as russsian experiences at hand, Indian parliamentary communists are never associated with nationality movement or environment awakening. On the other hand , BJP Shivsena combine also play the SEZ card. Mind you, no part either Left or Right of the zionist hindu ruling class is in any means interested to defend the life and livlihood of enslaved majority in rural India. Having served an ultimatum to the Maharashtra BJP to call off the saffron alliance, the Shiv Sena is all set to step up its anti-SEZ rhetoric in an attempt to re-gain the political space as principal Opposition force.
Events at Nandigram and Singur reflect a total failure of the government machinery in the state and a violation of human rights, said former judge of the Gujarat High Court Justice S M Soni. He was presenting the findings of a report undertaken by an Ahmedabad-based NGO — Justice on Trial.
Members of Justice on Trial were in the city to present a copy of the report to Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi today. "The governor assured us that he would go through the report and act accordingly," said Soni.
A seven-member committee, comprising of former judges, police officials and human rights activists, complied the report. The committee toured Nandigram and Singur and interviewed locals working in the area.
Referring to the March 14 incident of police firing in Nandigram, Soni said the police need not have resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd as there was no apparent law and order problem.
The report findings concluded that around 1,000 people affected in the firing were still suffering from eye-related problems.
On the heels of Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata’s dramatic announcement that the Rs 1 lakh small car project at Singur might be "delayed due to vested interests", Tata Motors has stepped on the gas to roll out the car by the scheduled June 2008 deadline.
For starters, Tata Motors has urged a clutch of Tata group companies — Tata Ryerson, Tata Bearings, Tata Johnson Controls Automotive and Tata Toyo Radiator — who all happen to be in-house component suppliers for the Singur venture, to be ready with their products.
But Tata Motors hasn’t set any specific auto-component delivery deadline for these group companies. The company has also sent similar feelers to non-Tata component suppliers for the Singur venture. The biggest ones are Lumax for lighting, Sona Koyo for steering assembly and Bosch for the small car engine kit (both petrol and diesel). Delhi-based Shriram Pistons has, in turn, been selected to supply engine pistons, while Rico Auto will supply the clutch assembly.
Justifying the Tata Motors move, Tata circles observed that since it is still not clear when the auto component units will be able to set up facilities at Singur, Tata Motors had no other choice but to send feelers to its vendors to be ready with critical components according to the company’s specifications.
But some vendors don’t appear too comfortable with the latest Tata Motors overtures. Here’s what an auto-component vendor told ET on conditions of anonymity: "The margins of the components have to be kept very low as the small car will be priced at Rs 1 lakh. Therefore, there must be huge volumes. As it isn’t clear yet, when the car will finally roll out, we have to think before we start large-scale production of components."
Incidentally, Tata Ryerson has already indicated plans to set up a component unit at Singur spread over 10 acres. Tata Ryerson will provide sheet metal products to the Rs 1 lakh car venture. It is also negotiating with Japanese and European companies for blanking technology used for making car windows. "Everything has been planned. The car is ready. The vendors have been tied up. Work is in full swing to roll out the small car according to the original schedule. Construction work at the site has been scaled up. We are hoping there will be no delay," a Tata Motors spokesperson told ET.
It may be mentioned that Mr Tata had claimed at the last Tata Tea AGM on August 10 that ‘vested interests’ were delaying the Singur venture, even though Tata Motors was making an all out effort to meet the June 2008 rollout deadline. Mr Tata had then declined to give a firm deadline on when the vendor park, one of the critical support systems for the Rs 1 lakh car, would come up.
Some 30 vendors have inked a land transfer agreement with the West Bengal government to set up units adjacent to the Rs 1 lakh car factory. Under original plans, the units were slated to have started construction at this stage. But due to the continuing political turmoil at Singur, they have stayed away.
The Sena’s violent anti-SEZ stir in Navi Mumbai and Panvel on Thursday was of a piece with the party’s gameplan for a second coming in state politics, minus the BJP.
The mob fury at Navi Mumbai has hardly perturbed the party. "The agitation was of Raigad farmers who are fighting with their back against the wall to scrap Section 6 (A) of the Land Acquisition Act. Mob violence was an outburst of collective ire against SEZ,’’ said party functionary Anil Desai.
Locked in a battle for survival, the Sena has chosen SEZ and a spate of suicides by Vidarbha farmers as the main plank against the ruling DF alliance, comprising the Congress and the NCP, in the run up to the 2009 assembly elections.
"The BJP’s exit from the alliance will not affect us. The BJP is an urban party, while the Sena distinctly has a rural orientation,’’ said a senior Sena leader. Raigad, where the Mukesh Ambani group is coming up with its ambitious Maha Mumbai SEZ project, is a Sena bastion. The party retained the Shriwardhan assembly seat in the district after Shyam Sawant, the Sena MLA, resigned to join Congress as revenue minister Narayan Rane’s acolyte.
Tukaram Surve of the Sena trounced Sawant in a 2005 by-election and the victory brought some cheer to the Sena. Little wonder, then, that the Sena chose Raigad to mobilise partymen on an agrarian issue.
Maya shatters Anil Ambani's SEZ dream
Business Standard - 42 minutes ago
The Uttar Pradesh government has grounded Anil Ambani’s plan to set up a multi-product special economic zone at Noida. The state cabinet, which met here today, recommended to the Centre that the project is not in tune with the commerce ministry’s ...
UP amends SEZ policy; ADAG proposed SEZ at Noida in doldrums
Full coverage: Indo-US nuclear deal
http://sify.com/news/fullcover.php?event_id=14461920
Sources say from now on, the Left is likely to give the UPA conditional and issue based support. The Left will issue strongly worded statements against the UPA. Left's statements will go beyond the Indo-US nuke deal and focus on larger strategic and economic concerns. Further, a joint meeting of all the Left allies is on the cards, to chalk out their future strategy.
One thing that certainly eased the tension between the Left and the UPA, was the statement coming from the United States - US State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, clarfied on his comments on nuclear testing. McCormack claimed he was misquoted and that, he was speaking only of provisions to terminate the Indo-Us deal, which did not specifically refer to a nuclear test.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/missing-in-a-war-the-world-forgot/2007/08/17/1186857768498.html
BJP conducted havans to kill me, says Manmohan
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has claimed that some BJP leaders conducted havans to hasten his death, a sensational threat perception that is sure to rock the parliament when it opens next week.
Farmers to oppose Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor
New Delh: Representatives of farmers from across the country would soon launch a movement to highlight the crises faced by them, eminent environmentalist Vandana Siva told reporters here.
"A 'Food Sovereignty Charter' has been jointly drafted by former GATT ambassador SP Shukla, former Prime Minister V P Singh and Navdanya," she said.
Navdanya was founded by Siva.
The movement plans to oppose SEZs and the newly-announced Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor as it threatens farmers' livelihood and nation's food security, she claimed.
Floods hamper West Bengal handloom industry
Nabadwip is famous for its handloom products, and many people of the area are involved with this activity.The traditional Jamdani Saree of Nabadwip has been popular in domestic markets since time immemorial.
At least 10,000 weavers are sitting idle in the wake of the inundated looms.
Flood situation worsened in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh with the water level in major rivers witnessing a rising trend even as two fresh rain related deaths were reported in the state taking the toll this season to 183.
"Since the past 15 days no work is happening in our loom. We are told that the water would recede in three or four months. The festivals are also approaching. But we have no work. How will I look after my family?" asked Madan Rajbanshi, a weaver.
Weavers accuse the State Government of being less worried about the awful time they are having.
"The government is not helping us at all. None of our losses have been compensated. We are going bankrupt," claimed Rashmoni Rajbanshi, another weaver.
At least 4,915 looms have been inundated by floodwaters in Nabadwip.
Nabadwip Municipality Chairman Pundarikasha Saha said: "About 4,915 looms have been affected by the rains. The whole area is waterlogged. No work is happening at any loom. The weavers of the area are suffering. They have no money, and Durga Puja is also approaching. If the government does not come forward to help these weavers, their situation will get worse."
"The weaving industry is the backbone of Nabadwip. It is already marred by many problems, and now water-logging has worsened the situation," Saha added.
Incessant rains have left roads waterlogged, bringing life at a standstill in the State.
Currently, over 20 million people are affected by flooding in Assam, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Some 1,200 people have died in the floods across India. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes and take shelter in temporary camps and on higher ground.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel raided three villages near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's Malda district Wednesday and picked up 20 people after some ammunition and important documents went missing from a border outpost.
The ammunition went missing from the Kumarpur border outpost, around 320 km from here on Tuesday.
The villagers alleged that BSF men entered the houses, breaking open doors and windows, and beat up women and children.
Many people from Kumarpur, Gobindapur and Moslempur villages fled their homes during the raid after BSF men allegedly forced a cleric of a local mosque to make an announcement over the microphone, asking villagers to return the stolen materials.
BSF officials have refused to comment on the incident.
Jabbar Sheikh, a panchayat member, told reporters that BSF personnel have recovered 40 rounds of live cartridges and some other materials, which were found lying in a mango orchard.
"We have informed the local legislator Krishnendu Choudhury," he added.
Please read the ULFA version of the story. Even Tarun Gogoi says that the negotiattors have no link with the ULFA. It is quite one side affair. Virtually, the general readership is quite unaware of the ULFA version. We have to know their logic to address the nationality problem!
Editorial, Freedom, an organ of ULFA
Resolution of Asom-Indo political conflict possible
The Chief Minister of Asom has claimed if ULFA leaders advanced directly they would be ready
for talks. The issue of direct talks is often raised by the Government, but without any reference
to the issue of restoration of sovereignty. His other statement ¡°ULFA delivered the right to PCG
for talks with India ¡° was distortion of facts. Delhi does not allow him access to the on-going
process of discussions. What a shame!
PCG was formed to pave the way for direct talks with India. Responding to India¡¯s invitation
PCG members were sent to Delhi. ULFA never expressed that it surrendered its responsibility of
talks to PCG. It is the Chief Minister who wondered at the massacres of Kakopather-Makum and
Dibru-Soikhowa. His excuse was ¡°military forces of India did not reveal anything to me¡±.
The murder of engineer Ajay Deka proved that India employs surrendered ULFA. to perpetrate
secret killings. The Chief Minister is ignorant of these facts. He is also unaware of the mass
rape of women by jawans of the Indian army at Baruagaon of Dibrugarh district. Democratic
India must have been able to publish the whereabouts of those missing from the custody since
Indo-Bhutan joint operation in 2003. A formal statement for talks on restoration of sovereignty
in Asom must have been issued by India. Till today the sealed papers of missing are scattered
in the courtroom. To release without condition five top leaders of ULFA for talks as decided in
the dialogue with PCG was the moral duty of the Chief Minister. He fails to uphold commitment.
He loves to blow the trumpet of power. Hence this daydreaming.
Of late, Delhi has been quiet on the issue of peaceful political resolution of Asom-Indo conflict.
Because, there is no resistance to the pillage of assets of Asom. The military forces are paid
and fed with the money of masses. Women could be raped as they plan. Using the names of
ULFA commanders these forces collect huge sums of money through surrendered ULFA. These
forces are hurdles on the path of peaceful resolution of Asom-Indo conflict. Events prove the
Government of India has no regards for restoration of inherent rights of Asom. If the Indian
rulers read correctly the political history of Indian subcontinent, a dignified resolution of Asom-
Indo political conflict is possible.
Military forces hooked Indian tri-colour in villages of Asom
How was the 61st Independence Day ceremony celebrated in subjugated Asom? A couple of
incidents would suffice to illustrate that it was forcefully observed. Forces of Indian army
hanged Indian tri-colour flag in various schools, shops etc a week before the event. They
guarded it till 15th August. While cars stop for checking on the road the tri-colour flag is tied to
them. It is unnecessary for the people who recognize freedom as his right to tie the flag. In
order to unfurl the news that the boycott of Independence Day called by ULFA and other
organisations defied by the citizens. They threaten people to arrest alleging as ULFA linkman if
they don¡¯t participate in the Independence Day ceremony. The cultural program which follows
after the speech of Prime Minister displays dances of every region of India except dance of
Asaom. We are highly grateful to those who didn¡¯t mingle culture of Asom with India. The
Independence Day of India marks the end of freedom of Asom. This is a day of protest for
Asom. Asom is not a part of India. Still a part intellectual of Asom appeal to accept the slavery
of India. Except government occasion masses of Asom are even denied from observing any
kind of yearly rituals of their dead parents. The military forces of India are trying to escalate
the Asom-Indo conflict to every village, every house. The organisations who instigate such
situation and the intellectuals who co-operate Indian exploitation would be responsible for this.
Ananta Kalita, the live witness of state secret killings
On the night of 6th August a 30-member team of Indian occupation
forces ransacked the house of Ananta Kalita, a schoolteacher of
Kalitakuchi under Hajo police station in Kamrup district. The team
tortured Kalita¡¯s family and threatened his security guards.
Though the chapter of secret killing was unveiled with the incident of
killing of Javed Bora alias Partha Bora during Hiteswar Saikia tenure,
record numbers of notorious secret killings were carried out in
Prafulla Mahanta¡¯s regime and both governments patronized 99
percentages of these secret killings.
The Unified Command Structure mainly devised the secret killing strategy. There were definite
involvements of politicians from behind the screen in many cases of secret killings. Initially
India tried to hint the masses that it was a conflict between ULFA and surrendered ULFA. But
the incident of Ananta Kalita who was kidnapped by a team of Indian security forces and
attempt was made to murder him revealed the dreadful conspiracy of Unified Command
Structure. By providence he survived but seriously injured. Ananta Kalita gave irrefutable
evidence that Ministers, MLAs, Police and military were directly involved in the murder attempt.
India who always blows the trumpet of democracy and rule of law has gravely insulted the
masses by tramping down on their coveted expectation with farcical trial of the culprits of
secret killings. No one neither has been punished nor brought to justice rather the government
has maintained a sound relationship with the culprits. In fact they are safe guarding these
culprits whose involvement in hundreds of secret killings cases, mention may be made murder
of human rights activist Parag Das, killing of Dr. Dharanidhar Das with his mother, pregnant
wife and sister of Barama, Ingti family at Guwahati, parents of Dristi Rajkhowa, Dimba
Rajkonwar and Dinesh Baruah of Dibrugarh and killing of Deepak Chowdhury of Nalbari have
proved. Not only this, the culprits are uninterruptedly continuing their activities to destroy
proofs, documents etc related to the secret killings. People doubt, as a part of this process
they ransacked Ananta Kalita¡¯s house on 6th August night.
On the other hand, the commission set up by Dispur to probe the secret killings submitted
fourth and final report. This probe panel has failed to take the investigation to its logical end.
Instead of indicating the culprits, this commission has co-operated the government vanishing
documents, proofs and witnesses pointing out procedural lapses in the investigation by the
police. People who were more forthcoming and dared to level charges against top police
officers, political leaders and surrendered ULFA men before commission probing the secret
killings are passing days in utter dismay. As things stand today that this colonial government
and forces practically do not care for lives and properties of masses of Asom. In this situation if
international organizations, democratic governments and masses don¡¯t extend hand of cooperation
then very shortly Asom will turn to a death valley.
Flood causes disaster
As the floodwater gradually receded many water borne
diseases have broken out as epidemic. Acute scarcity of
food and medicine has worsened the situation more.
However India is quite indifferent to this plight of masses.
The initiative of the Government for reconstruction of
dams and rehabilitation of farmers are not commendable.
Number of people affected by the flood has crossed 67
lakhs. The floods have affected 5326 villages in 26
districts. It has affected crops of 3,44,487 hectors. So far
4 children along with 35 men and women have died. Barsimalia village and Arangaman are
worst affected areas under Barbhog revenue circle in Nalbari district. Here two women died of
starvation. The road transportation has been badly affected. In most areas there is probability
of fresh floods due to damaged dams.
The businessmen under the patronage of India have taken advantage of this disaster. They
have raised the prices of daily necessities. The Prime Minister of India calls Asom his second
home, but there is no love left for this home, adopted on political grounds. Centre was much
worried with the floods in Mumbai, Bihar and U.P. but not Asom. So we appeal to all
organizations, groups, enterprises and so on to come forward and extend help towards the
flood-affected masses.
Whose Independence they are celebrating
Against the backdrop of India at 60, how does Asom look like? Is Asom independent? This
subject has always been a question mark to the people who believe in self-determination. As
15 August draws near, Asom looks even more an occupied country. India airlift Special Forces
and number of helicopters are on alert to ensure peaceful celebration of their ¡®independence
day¡¯ in Asom. For the smooth conduct of the ensuing Independence Day celebration, extensive
security measures have been taken up throughout Asom.
Extra security measures have been endorsed in many places to thwart any disruptive attempts.
Police and Para military forces have been deployed to maintain strict vigil round the clock.
Assuring full security the administration asked the citizens to take part in the celebration. What
is mean is that the subjugated people of Asom will forcefully be put in to compulsion to
participate in the Independence Day celebrations. But India¡¯s ¡°flawless¡± security assurance has
failed to ensure the security of lives and properties of masses of Asom. Hundreds of women
have been forced to put up with physical assault of these occupational forces. They have
deliberately bereaving masses from enjoying their fundamental human rights. If any citizen or
organization rails against army excess in Asom, they apply gag to enforce silence resorting to
means such as threats and arrests. Organization like PCPIA who spearheaded the democratic
campaign to bring permanent peace in Asom is also not exempted from this.
The reign of terror unleashed by Indian security forces in the name of anti-ULFA operation
under the banner of Unified Command has compounded with long stretch misery of masses of
Asom. Reflecting the fact, the head of Unified Command Structure in Asom admitted, ¡°the army
often oversteps its limits violating ground rules of operations¡±. But the Indian army authorities
continued to deny the remark describing that the whole issue had been ¡°got up¡± to demoralize
the confidence of forces. This self-contradictory statement proves itself how Indian government
has maligned the dignity of masses of Asom.
India is propagating about 20 leading ULFA members, some of whom are already in army¡¯s
custody, would join India¡¯s national mainstream. But India¡¯s campaign doesn¡¯t project the real
picture. Some agents who are already in the race of Anti-ULFA operation led by Indian army
will be presented in the surrender ceremony just to mark their success in wiping out ULFA.
Quite a number of times before such occasions, the Indian mechanism organized a series of
such tricky events to demonstrate their achievement. They plan to hold these events only to
convince the masses of so-called Indian concept of peace and unity.
This year Delhi has passed special order to governments of seven sisters region to work out
strictly their strategy. This is to show the world community that people have responded
positively to their endeavour restoring India¡¯s peace, unity and tranquility. But the boycott call
of Independence Day celebration by all revolutionary organizations of this region appears to
grip the authority with tension. Following this to ensure people¡¯s participation they have stared
campaigning of ¡°spotless¡± security assurance. With their oppressive and repressive activities
India has humbled down the dignity and prestige and humiliated the struggle for existence of
Asom. The celebration of Independence Day by colonial India in dependent and exploited Asom
is an act of ¡®branding¡¯ the people of Asom as Indians. In fact celebration of India¡¯s ¡°much
valued¡± Independence Day carries no value to the dependent people. ULFA is determined to
continue with the armed struggle till this colonial domination is overthrown. The first step is to
liberate oneself from the mentality of ¡®being Indian¡¯. The boycott of Independence Day is one
such step.
No let up in ULFA killing
With intensified anti-ULFA operation a joint team of police and Army on 9 August killed Kumud
Bora alias Joykanta Moran of 28th Battalion cold-bloodedly near Bordubi Tea Estate under
Doomdooma police station in Dibrugarh district. He could have been easily arrested. But he
was fired. Later they framed the same old story of encounter killing describing that a group of
four to five ULFA cadres attacked a convoy of the 6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. The Army
personnel retaliated by opening fire on the ULFA members, killing one on the spot while the
others managed to escape.
Is this the latest trend of safeguarding the largest democracy? To the Indians the masses of
Asom are like animals and be should be hunted, crippled or raped according to their whims.
The indiscriminate killing of ULFA members to crush the national liberation struggle has
removed all hopes of restoring normalcy in Asom and it would greatly affect the collective
interest of Asom. Certainly the masses have realized the dual policy of India of deceiving
people in the name of restoring peace in Asom. Only a united and well-organized resistance can
protect Asom from the pervasive Indian military aggression.
Another case of custodial disappearance
Pushpa Borah, a resident of Okunmuria Bongali Gaon under Tinsukia police station was picked
up by Army personnel from the Dhelakhat camp of the 2nd Bihar regiment on July 22, for
interrogation on false allegation of being an ULFA linkman and tortured him physically
suspecting that he illegally possessed a gun. After a few days when the family members went
to enquire about Pushpa, the army authorities told them that Pushpa was released on the very
next day. But the next day again the army informed Puspa¡¯s family that he has been taken to
Dimapur with two others. On July 30, the family members put up the matter before Deputy
Commissioner of Tinsukia failing to trace out Pushpa after a week. Though the Tinsukia DC
assured the family of Pushpa that he would be back within 12 days the 2nd Bihar regiment
officials maintained that Pushpa was released on July 23, the very next day he was picked up
for interrogation and they have no information about his whereabouts. The remark made by
the army officials has created a state of confusion among the masses. People doubt that
something wrong has happened to missing Pushpa in army¡¯s custody.
Indian Occupation Forces have been violating all the basic rights of humanity of the people of
the region called seven sisters since the illegal annexation of the region. Their colonial
character and inhuman mentality have been exposed more cruelly in recent days. We appeal to
all international democratic organizations to pressurize India to honour the internationally
agreed principles of human rights.
Path to permanent solution in Asom
Asom is being devastated by the fury of flood. But the politicians are indifferent to this crisis.
Thousands of flood victims are passing each moment with the hope to be rescued. They are
desperately looking for food, drinking water and shelter. Masses even faced bullets demanding
food, medicine and other relief commodities. This is the national crisis of Asom.
There must be united cooperation on the part of representatives of masses for extending relief
to the affected people. However they set aside national duty, social responsibility and even
personal courtesy. These politicians have proved their failure in protecting the flood-affected
people of Asom. Suspending the proceedings in the Assembly they could have rushed to the
flood affected areas. But they acted otherwise. This reveals the hollowness of Indian
democracy.
Politicians pledge to solve problems when there are elections. Soon, these are forgotten. India
could not give permanent solution to problems of masses they are wasting time by being
engaged in individual rivalry. This causes great loss to country¡¯s economy, which enfeebles the
liberation struggle of Asom. Floods, unemployment, are not new problems. They are here for
years. India¡¯s initiative could have brought solution to these problems. Instead the govt is
interested in pillage of Asom¡¯s resources. Hence death of people due to flood, epidemic and
scarcity of medicine are insignificant. There is no alternative other then advancing the national
liberation struggle and thwart Indian Colonial rule. This could only bring permanent solution to
the problems of Asom.
Let us stand by them
The fast unto death of the blind people of Jorhat district reveal the shameless absence of
minimum rationality among the ministers of Government of Asom. They did not endeavour for
welfare of these disabled per

Karat's Ultimatum Deserves WWF Applause
For America,India has important role in Central Asia

Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551Email: alashbiswaskl@gmail.com">palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
'India has important role in Central Asia'
Ambassador Richard Boucher, who replaced Christina Rocca last month as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, says the expanded bureau with the addition of Central Asia, has opened up new opportunities and that India has a "very important role to play" in this region.
"The thing people need to remember is, there is a strategic change on the ground, it's not just our bureaucratic reorganization," Boucher, who traveled with President Bush to India, told Managing Editor Aziz Haniffa in an exclusive interview--his first after assuming his new position.
The former State Department spokesman, who holds the record of being spokesman for six different Secretaries of State, said that among other things, the issue of ending cross-border terrorism in South Asia "is certainly very important to us."
http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/29sld1.htm

'We were prepared to walk away from the nuclear agreement'
The United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador R Nicholas Burns -- America's chief interlocutor in the negotiations with India, and the Bush Administration's point man to push through the US-India civilian nuclear agreement in Congress -- has said it was "a challenging negotiation because it involved an esoteric subject, a complex and difficult subject."
Burns, who turned 50 on January 28, denied that the US had given India much more than it got as critics have charged, saying, "We were prepared to walk away from the agreement." But it was a treat negotiating with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, "a man of great dignity and integrity."
In an exclusive interview with rediff-India Abroad Managing Editor Aziz Haniffa in his expansive and well-appointed sixth floor office in the State Department, adjacent to the office of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Burns was optimistic that Congress would approve the deal in time for the Administration to take it to the Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting in Vienna in May.
http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/23sld01.htm
So Leftists Drama is staged very well and the focus on Nandigram singur is shifted elsewhere. Media is least concerned with National interest and so is the Government of India and entire Ruling class. Buddhadeb has been oversmart in the the game of diversion and Nandigram Insurrection was used to complete the task in Singur. While singur was on boil, the entire rural Bengal was targeted for indiscriminate Urbanisation and Industrialism. The Myth of Bengali secularism and progressiveness got the severmost jolt in Kolkata only yesterday while the Imam of Tipu sultan Mosque whipped a Death Fatawa against Taslima nasrin in presence of a Kolkata Police Join commissioner and a DC. no action has been taken. Neithre the fire brand lady representing the opposition reacted! Why? Andhra Police firing on peasants during Land Movement was taken up as adiversion by the Left while they never mentioned Polavaram or River link project. now they simply forgot Andhra Peasants. All media booms shifted in the heart of the Parliamentary soap opera!
Indian communists, key allies of the federal ruling coalition, asked the government not to negotiate safeguards with the global atomic energy regulator until local objections to the nuclear accord with the U.S. are resolved.
The biggest of these parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), wants coalition leader, the Indian National Congress, to discuss the terms of the accord in parliament, which the communists say doesn't support the agreement that promises to end the South Asian nation's three decades of nuclear exile.
``Until all the objections are considered, the government should not take the next step with regard to negotiating a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency,'' CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters in the capital New Delhi today after a two-day session of his party's highest decision-making committee.
The nuclear deal can be operationalised only after the consent of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an India specific agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency and after the ratification of the 123 Agreement by the US Congress possibly by the year-end.)Congress party leaders are assiduously creating an impression that efforts are continuing to 'persuade' Left leaders not to turn the disagreement over the nuclear deal with America into a crisis.But they may be over-optimistic about the scope for their persuasive skill at this juncture.

While the destroyer of Shantiniketan Green, Somnath chatterjee, a Don in promoting declared that the cabinet is sovereign, he was simply lying as no cabinet happens to be sovereign in the democracy! Sovereign is the people and sovereignity of the people is vested in the Parliamnt as it is directly elected by the government. Thus, The GOI is answerable to the Parliament. If ratification is not wanted to operationalise the Indo US deal in the Parliament, it is high time that we should dismiss the Parliamentary democracy itself!
Pranab mukherjee has shown so many SS during political dives different times and Buddhadeb spends a hectic day in the heat and dust of the Indian capital to save the govermnent and his dearmost mentor, the World Bank slave Prime minister.
The zionist Left in India is using high voltage language without any meaning as it never means to pull down the anti national brahminical government!Left sources said Karat's assertive repudiation of the deal was in response to Manmohan Singh's bitter comments in an interview telling the Left to withdraw support to his government, if they wanted to, over the nuclear deal.CPI-M sources said Karat and Yechury did not speak about withdrawal of Left support to the Congress-led government when they met Manmohan Singh and Gandhi Saturday.
Left leaders argue that such a deal was not envisioned in the Common Minimum Programme. They apprehend that the deal 'locks in' India onto US global strategy, and that this is bound to get reflected, if not already, in Indian policies not only in foreign affairs but also in other spheres such as the economy, agriculture and science and technology.
But even if room for any constructive and pragmatic dialogue could take place between the government and the Left leadership, a 'not angry but anguished' Dr Singh created political tension by giving the Kolkata-based The Telegraph a sensational interview.
He told the paper, 'I told them (Prakash Karat and A B Bardhan) that it is not possible to renegotiate the deal. It is an honourable deal, the Cabinet has approved it, and we cannot go back on it. I told them to do whatever they want to do, if they want to withdraw support, so be it.'

The Left's demand for renegotiation of the deal, however, is unlikely to be conceded by the Indian and US governments, which have already frozen the 123 pact. Any attempt to renegotiate the deal by either party now could well lead to its unravelling.Congress sources indicated that Manmohan Singh, who had termed the nuclear deal with Washington "historic", would not be ready to keep it on hold. "He may prefer to step down," said a senior party leader. Besides the specifics of the nuclear deal, the Left parties have serious anxieties about the drift of the country's foreign policy which they say has acquired a pro-US tilt and if the nuclear pact is operationalised, it will end up reducing India to a junior partner of the US' strategic alliance.
The Left poses as if it is likely to transfer its dislike for the Indo-US nuclear deal to what its calls "Asian Nato". This is the latest in the list of objections against the government's foreign policy. Interestingly, "Asian Nato" is the name given to the "quadrilateral" of Japan, US, Australia and India by the Chinese government.onthe other hand,Non-proliferation specialists in Washington have claimed that the Indo-US civilian-nuclear deal will lead to New Delhi expanding its weapons production with implications on Pakistan and China.According to a report, critics of the deal have written to Congress warning that the sale of American and foreign nuclear fuel to India will allow for the rapid expansion of India's nuclear arsenal. They also said that if India buys American and foreign fuel and expands its arsenal base that will lead to Pakistan wanting to expand its arsenal and for China to keep pushing on the modernisation front.
The Congress-led government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was Saturday faced with its worst political crisis in three years after communist leaders warned it of "serious consequences" if it went ahead in implementing the civil nuclear agreement with the United States.The Left parties, however, stopped short of withdrawing support to the ruling coalition, and kept open some elbow-room for a compromise by putting the onus on the government to take a final decision on the nuclear deal after taking their core concerns and objections into account. The Left parties may walk out of the coordination committee with the United Progressive Alliance, once again, at the end of this week-end, over the issue of Indo-US civil nuclear deal, said a senior leader of the Congress.The boycott of the powerful political body by itself will not destabilise the government, but the move has the potential to pave the way for a bigger crisis at short notice.That emergency can come if and when the government operationalises the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Meanwhile,The CPM Politburo continues deliberations on opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal. But there are already indications that the UPA-Left rift will soon be bridged, reports CNBC-TV18.
The Left has indicated that relations with the government have worsened, but withdrawing support is not the best option yet. Both sides are trying hard to find a compromise over the Indo-US nuclear deal. West Bengal Chief Minister Budhdhadeb Bhattacharjee has become the Left's unofficial emmissary to the government. Bhattacharjee held a crucial meeting with the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday even as smaller Left partners continued to demand that the UPA-Left's relationship be redifined.
AB Bardhan, General Secretary, CPI(M), said, "Whether it's continuance, or issue based, or let the government as a minority withdraw support and pull it down. We must re-define our relationship with the UPA."
The CPM Politburo had discussed the party's strong reservations on the deal on Friday. According to sources the Left will ask for concrete assurances from the Prime Minister that national interest will not be compromised with. The Left will also urge the government to come clear on what expectations the US has in return for nuclear cooperation. The Left will want to know what impact such an agreement may have on India's relations with countries like Iran.
It's not going to be a simple solution. The Left has already insisted that the deal shouldn't be operationalised. But that is not enough. The Politburo wants to understand how much ground the UPA government is willing to concede. And for the government, these negotiations could prove tougher than those for the 123 Agreement.

The fast-moving events of the past few days events have made one thing clear: The Left party leaders have reached the limits of their tolerance.Addressing journalists after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Karat said sternly that he and his colleague Sitaram Yechury had conveyed the Left's strong reservations over the nuclear deal to the two leaders.
"It is for the Congress leadership to decide on the matter which will have serious consequences for the government and the country," Karat said. "I wish to stress that the Left parties are firmly united on the stand that this agreement should not go forward." The Left parties have 59 MPs in the Lok Sabha. Without their support, the government will be reduced to a minority
Karat's ultimatum - after the CPI-M ended a two-day meeting of the politburo - has put the ball in the government's court.
The Congress will be responsible if the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre collapses due to the standoff with the Left parties over the Indo-US nuclear deal, the All India Forward Bloc said on Saturday.
"We want Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] not to surrender to US President George Bush [Images] over the Indo-US nuclear deal. We want the government to not operationalise the 123 agreement," veteran Forward Bloc leader Ashok Ghosh told PTI in Kolkata.
"The Congress will be held responsible if the government falls," he said.
Referring to the CPI-M's terse warning to the UPA government over the nuclear issue, Ghosh said, "All Left parties will take a common stand (on the issue)."

In Washington,the non-proliferation lobby, which is to hold a seminar on the India-US civilian nuclear arrangement, has been consistently making the point that the benefits touted by the Bush Administration are 'overstated'.
For the Left parties, its immaterial whether it's the nuclear deal, the "bad" aircraft carrier Nimitz or the proliferation security initiative - they are all a measure of US hegemony. Interestingly, on August 14, China's People's Daily showed it too was thinking on similar lines.
"It is safe to predict that a substantial change has taken place in the nature of Indian-US relations despite possible turns and twists in future," it said, adding, "It is quite obvious that the US generosity in helping India develop nuclear energy is partly due to its hegemony idea and partly due to the intention of drawing India in as a tool for its global strategic pattern." The core of the BJP objection is that India should not accept a deal that is subservient to US national laws. But on January 12, 2004, when the NDA government announced the NSSP with the US, the agreement read, "These cooperative efforts will be undertaken in accordance with our respective national laws and international obligations."
To object to the same language in the 123 agreement is specious. The other BJP demand is the US should immunise future Indian nuclear tests, which is an impossible demand. It has taken to heart provisions of the Hyde Act that the US president said he would not obey, because it infringes on executive privilege.
When US President George Bush signed the Hyde Act into law in December, he was very clear that the offending section 103, which is at the centre of the present political storm here, would be "advisory" or non-binding as would section 104 (d)(2). Sections 104, 109, 261, 271, 272, 273, 274, and 275, the President said, would be treated with presidential discretion, because despite the overzealous US Congress's prescriptions on the Hyde Act, the president wasn't going to give ground on the conduct of foreign policy.
The UPA government will also counter that former national security adviser Brajesh Mishra had offered a similar nuclear deal to Colin Powell when he visited in March 2004, which was not accepted.
Complete Coverage: The Indo-US nuclear tango
http://in.rediff.com/news/nukedeal05.html
'National interest is at stake'
December 26, 2005

Dr A N Prasad, 70, former director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, is a distinguished nuclear scientist and an international authority on the issue of Safeguards.
He earned his masters degrees in nuclear power engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, did his advanced nuclear science and technology from Bombay and nuclear chemical engineering from Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology, USA.
He played a key role in the setting up of India's first fuel reprocessing plant at Trombay in 1964 to separate plutonium. With this, India became only the fifth country in the world to develop this technology, the others being USA, the then USSR, the UK and France.
During his long tenure in the nuclear establishment he continued to work on high technology areas of relevance to the nuclear fuel cycle, particularly specializing in what is called the 'back end of the fuel cycle'. He was also chairman of the safeguards committee of the Department of Atomic Energy for a number of years.
Prasad has served in the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, as an expert member of the Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation from 1988 to 1996, and the Standing Advisory Group on Waste Management.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of nuclear technology in India, he was appointed director of BARC and member, Indian Atomic Energy Commission, in May 1993.
On his retirement from BARC in 1996, Prasad was invited by the then director general of the IAEA to serve as a senior specialist and consultant. During the period 1996-99 he served in the IAEA in the departments of technical co-operation, nuclear fuel cycle and safeguards (concepts and planning), spending the maximum time in the department of safeguards.
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/26inter.htm

With the remarks of the US State Department spokesman creating an uproar in India, Washington has clarified to New Delhi that its position remains that the civil nuclear cooperation will not be suspended automatically even if an atomic test was conducted.
"It has been reiterated to us that the US position remains as it had been articulated earlier at an authoritative level," Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen told PTI in Washington.
The Bush administration has "reiterated" that India "retains its right to (conduct a nuclear) test and the US retains its right to react," Sen said adding, however, that "this reaction will not be automatic suspension of all cooperation."
The clarification comes four days after State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, "The proposed 123 agreement has provisions in it that in an event of a nuclear test by India, then all nuclear cooperation is terminated."
This remark triggered an upheaval in India's political arena with the government's Left allies and opposition parties targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and accusing him of "misleading" the country.The Left parties alleged that some "facts were being concealed" by the government.
Communist leader Prakash Karat Saturday warned there would be "serious consequences" for the Congress-led government and the country if it went ahead with the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement. Addressing journalists after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary said he and his colleague Sitaram Yechury had conveyed to them the Left's strong reservations over the nuclear deal.
Immediately after Karat's threat, the Congress core group comprising Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Gandhi's political secretary Ahmad Patel met to take stock of the latest situation that has cast a shadow on the government.
Once the Congress core group meeting ended Saturday evening, the party started discussions with allies within the ruling UPA coalition. Mukherjee, Antony and Patel met Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad, whose party adds 24 MPs to the treasury benches. They are also likely to meet Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar as soon as possible.The core group reportedly decided to discuss with its UPA allies the implications of the government going ahead or not going ahead with the operationalisation of the nuclear deal, and to then sit down with the Left leaders once more to spell out the various options before the government and come to a decision.
Before the Congress core group meeting, Karat had clearly said: "This nuclear agreement is not acceptable to us. Till all the objections are considered and implications of the Hyde Act evaluated, the government should not take the next step with regard to negotiating a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"I think the government knows the majority in parliament have strong reservations over the matter. So the democratic way would be to hold the agreement till the doubts and apprehensions are clarified.
"We have explained to them (Manmohan Singh and Gandhi) how we view this agreement, how we think it is necessary for the government to look at all the aspects before going to the next step which will make it a fait accompli.
"We hope they will discuss the (politburo) resolution and get back to us. We will have to wait for their response."
Before the Congress core group meeting, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and discussed with him the finer details of the 123 civil nuclear cooperation bilateral pact to buffer the government against critics of the deal.
Congress party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi chose to downplay the political crisis that could ensue if the Left-UPA standoff continues.
"Now it is up to the prime minister and the government to decide whether they are ready to renegotiate the deal or to address our concerns when the agreement is taken to the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group)," a Left leader told IANS here.
In response to questions, Karat said the Indo-US nuclear agreement should not be seen "as a narrow party issue. It concerns the entire country. So we are saying (that) don't proceed, discuss the matter, take into account all the matters and then we can take a decision".Asked if he desired Manmohan Singh to quit, Karat replied: "I am not suggesting anything. I asked them not to take the next step".
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also upped the ante over the nuclear deal saying it would press for a vote in parliament over the nuclear deal. "This is not in the interests of the country. We have expressed concerns about the Hyde Act from day one," senior BJP leader V.K. Malhotra said.
"It is for the Congress leadership to decide on the matter which will have serious consequences for the government and the country," Karat said. "I wish to stress that the Left parties are firmly united on the stand that this agreement should not go forward.
"This nuclear agreement is not acceptable to us. Our view is that the government should not take the next step at IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), which will lead to the perpetuity agreement... That step should not be taken now," he said, speaking partly in English and partly in Hindi.
"I think the government knows that the majority in parliament have strong reservations over the matter. So the democratic way would be to hold the agreement till the doubts and apprehensions are clarified."
Referring to the stand taken by the CPI-M politburo, he said: "We have met the Congress leadership today to convey the content of this (politburo) resolution. We met the prime minister, Sonia Gandhi and (External Affairs Minister) Pranab (Mukherjee).
"We have explained to them how we view this agreement, how we think it is necessary for the government to look at all the aspects before going to the next step which will make it a fait accompli.
"The CPI-M views on the nuclear deal are well known. But more important than that, on foreign policy, we told the Congress leadership that they have historically played a role in forging a consensus on foreign policy. Unfortunately, on this nuclear agreement and on its consequences on foreign policy, there is no consensus.
"Even when the CPI-M strongly opposed Congress governments, we have supported their foreign policy. We have urged them to seriously consider what the politburo has suggested.
"We hope they will discuss the (politburo resolution) and get back to us. We will have to wait for their response."
In response to questions, Karat said the Indo-US nuclear agreement should not be seen "as a narrow party issue. It concerns the entire country. So we are saying (that) don't proceed, discuss the matter, take into account all the matters and then we can take a decision.
Asked if he desired Manmohan Singh to quit, Karat replied: "I am not suggesting anything."
Where does the Chinese 123 agreement fundamentally differ from the Indian one? A cursory reading of the agreement says that America's international obligations would score over its domestic laws in the observance of the agreement.
But testifying to the US Congress in 1985, the then ACDA chief, Ken Adelman explained, "The agreement is only an umbrella agreement. It permits, but does not require, the export of any nuclear items. Thus, if Chinese behaviour ever became inconsistent with our understanding, we would suspend the licensing of exports. The Chinese know that."
No international obligation can prevail in this understanding, the US side was clear.
None of these prescriptions apply to the Indian agreement. Very briefly, the differences between the two are this: India has a cooperation agreement that envisages fuel supplies.
The Chinese do not. The Chinese agreement was signed in 1985 but ratified by US Congress only in 1998. The Chinese don't have a fuel supply arrangement. India does. In fact, the Chinese agreements with US and Australia are complementary to the extent that it's with the Australians that they have a fuel supplies arrangement. China did not get reprocessing rights for spent fuel. India did.
China has accepted bilateral inspections by US and Australian inspectors. India has not.
The US has linked extraneous provisions like China's relations with Pakistan, its non-proliferation record and its record on Tibet to the agreement. India has successfully resisted such linkages. China has given Australia a role in its separation plan. India has insisted that it has the sole right to decide which of its reactors are civilian.
China has undertaken de facto permanent safeguards without permanent supplies. They have one concession that India does not: that domestic law will not triumph over international obligations in the US' dealing with China. However, it was this clause that held up the implementation of the US-China nuclear cooperation agreement for years.
In fact, in 1990, the US passed yet another act called the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act 1990-91 which piled on an extra presidential determination that China had not aided proliferation activities of any non-nuclear weapons state, that it would undertake political reform throughout the country including Tibet, as well as assurances on export controls. China also accepted inspectors to check on the imported nuclear material.
Nevertheless, it wasn't until October 1997 that then US president Bill Clinton agreed to provide the certification to the Chinese agreement. He said, "It will allow our companies to apply for licences to sell equipment to Chinese nuclear power plants, subject to US monitoring." It was finally signed and sealed in January 1998. And the Pakistan nuclear tests happened in May, 1998.
As early as 2003, a commentary in China Daily said, "Washington's basic purpose for closer ties with India and an Asian version of Nato is to extend its status as the world's sole superpower." The Chinese government has sounded a general alert on this grouping. Not only did it ask India not to sign up to this grouping in 2006 before PM Manmohan Singh travelled to Tokyo, Beijing even demarched India after the first official level meeting between the four states in Manila in May this year.
The subsequent announcement of joint exercises between the four in September in the Bay of Bengal - adding on Singapore - further enraged China. The Left parties, which are inordinately sensitive to Chinese concerns, have internalised this objection and made a huge point of it, particularly in their long statement against the nuclear agreement.
They want India to stay out of the quadrilateral, and this demand will acquire shriller overtones in the days and weeks to come. But for the government to disown the quad at this point is counter-productive. Among other things, one of the main authors of the quadrilateral, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will be in town next week, when he will address a joint session of Parliament on Tuesday.
Times Now.tv
Taslima Nasreen's visa extended for six months
NEW DELHI: The visa of controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who was attacked by activists of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) in Hyderabad earlier this month, has been extended for six months from Saturday.

Nuke deal with India will not be reworked: USA
18 Aug 2007, 1313 hrs IST,AFP

NEW DELHI: A top US official said a controversial nuclear pact with New Delhi could not be renegotiated amid demands from Indian critics for a reworking the deal.
"We cannot renegotiate it because the agreement is done. Neither government wishes it to be renegotiated because it is now complete," US Under Secretary Nicholas Burns told a magazine in an interview published over the weekend.
The agreement will allow New Delhi to buy atomic fuel, technology and plants even though it is not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but critics say it would limit India's strategic options.
The agreement -- reached last month after nearly two years of negotiations -- has drawn heavy criticism from both the opposition parties and the government's communist allies.
Burns declined to comment on criticism by the communists, who support is crucial to the survival of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Congress-led coalition government in Parliament.
"So, I don't have any particular message for them except to say that in the 21st century we have seen the global balance of forces shifting," said Burns, the chief US negotiator of the deal.
"That it is in the common interest of India and the US to be partners, certainly on the effort to bring peace and stability in South and East Asia."
The Indian government came under mounting criticism after a US State Department spokesman said this week that the accord had provisions allowing Washington to terminate the agreement if India tested atomic weapons.
Singh and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee have said that the negotiation will not hinder the country's nuclear testing options.
The communists say the agreement would also lead to US interference in India's foreign policy.
But Burns dismissed the suggestion. "No one is trying to challenge India's sovereignty as a country to make its own decisions," Burns said.
Tensions between the government and its allies mounted last week after Singh told the Communists the deal would not be renegotiated and dared them to withdraw support for the ruling Congress coalition.
The deal also requires the approval of the US Congress before it becomes operational.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nuke_deal_with_India_will_not_be_reworked_USA/articleshow/2290407.cms
As bickering in the Indian political establishment over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal has reached its crescendo, some of India's neighbours are actually rejoicing the uncertainty surrounding this showpiece agreement. While Pakistan's opposition to the nuke deal is well known, Beijing is now trying to point out the 'pitfalls' of the arrangement and even suggesting that Washington should reconsider the deal with New Delhi.

"The result of the pact might turn out not so satisfactory since India, out of practical political considerations, only wants to size the opportunity and rise as a big power," Beijing has warned Washington.

Interestingly, while the Left in India has termed the nuclear agreement a complete sellout to the US, their Chinese counterparts seem to believe otherwise.

"Judging from the text, the US has made big concessions and met almost all Indian requests, including full supply of nuclear fuel to India and allowing it to dispose nuclear waste," Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily says.
As bickering in the Indian political establishment over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal has reached its crescendo, some of India's neighbours are actually rejoicing the uncertainty surrounding this showpiece agreement.

While Pakistan's opposition to the nuke deal is well known, Beijing is now trying to point out the 'pitfalls' of the arrangement and even suggesting that Washington should reconsider the deal with New Delhi.

"The result of the pact might turn out not so satisfactory since India, o

Please Address the Environmental and NationalityProblems

Lest it would be a troubled time infinite blooded with Genocides on large scale and perhaps we would have to stand helpless to witness disorganisation, disintegration and anarchy suffered by Europe alredy!

Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: alashbiswaskl@gmail.com">palashbiswaskl@gmail.com

Full coverage: Indo-US nuclear deal
http://sify.com/news/fullcover.php?event_id=14461920
Friends, I have already written that the social justice activism has to be transformed into environmental justice activism. Not only global warming and worldwide manmade calamities including earthquake, tsunami, floods, dorughts,hurricanes,etc- but the post modern Manusmriti galaxy order calls for a Black dalit worldwide Resistance initiated immediately! Zionist Hindu US imperialism, strategic regrouping and shifting of warzones are not only targeted to worldwide market, it is a continuous de-industrial process in global colonial graded system which has mad political freedom, sovereignity and borders quite irrelevent. Rasistance against Evictin Rural world and monopoly on Natural Resources directly link with the life and livlihood of the enslaved eighty five percent population of the divided geopolitics in Indian Ocean region and overall Asia Continent. Thus whenever we talk on Nationality question, human and civil rights, life and livlihood we have to be an Activist proactive for environmental social justice.
For Indian subcontinent, it is almost mendatary for our survival to resolve environmental and Nationality problems. The patriots of this geopolitics should stand united to defend sovereignity of the People to save Nature as well as Man.
Whoever may it concern, I request please address the Environmental and nationality problems immediately lest it would be a troubled time infinite blooded with Genocides on large scale and perhaps we would have to stand helpless to witness disorganisation, disintegration and anarchy suffered by Europe alredy!
Hereby I forward to you all relevant correspondance, mails and articles.
I eagerly wait your response.
The debate must be interactive!
Dear Ujwalda and Palashda

I will send you copy of the Appeal of adivasi village heads against Polavaram Dam raised from Motu long back. adivasi village heads from andhra pradesh, orissa and madhya pradesh (now chattisgarh) gave a call against the damn way back in 1994. the contractor -centric - development - governments take decades to hear the simple people's protests

that appeal was published in Lokayan in March-April 1995 issue

the appeal of adivasis is same after 12 long years!
Motu Appeal against Polavaram dam emphasises rights of adivasis and principles of responsible governance

hope someone hears at least now in the mela of Tribunals on Indigenous Peoples Rights

will send you the Appeal once i get the copy

Bharath Bhushan

Volume 11.5, March - April 1995

EDITORIAL Whose Nation is it? The Displaced as Victims 1
of Development - Smitu Kothari

Developmental Displacement and Official Policies: A 9
Critical Review - Smitu Kothari
A Critique of the Draft National Policy - Walter Fernandes, 29
Samyadip Chatterji
Displacement and Rehabilitation: Towards a National Policy
Usha Ramanathan 41

POLICY DRAFTS
For Rehabilitation of Persons Displaced as a 57
Consequence of Acquisition of Land - Ministry of Rural Development
National Policy for Rehabilitation - National Thermal Power Corporation 69

DIALOGUES ON DISPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION
- Eastern Zone 73
- Southern Zone 77
APPEAL
To Withdraw Polavaram Dam 83
STRUGGLE NOTES
Illegal Displacement of Mithini Villagers - Kamlesh Gupta Madhu Kohli, Bruce Adam
STATEMENT
Opposing the Enron Project - Bombay University & 89
College Teachers Union
REVIEW
On Tibet and India - Vasudha Pande 93
DIALOGUE
Social Clause in Multilateral Agreements 99
LABOUR UPDATE 103
The Parliamentary Standing Committee has shown the green signal to two new national waterways in West Bengal-Orissa and Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu even as it called for an integrated transport policy and an institutional framework for inland water transport.

Related Stories After years of crawling, transport sector is shifting to the fast lane
The way to go
Railways restore train services in Rajasthan
Delhi Metro earns environmentalists' praise
'No plan for pvt sector to run passenger trains'
Rad LinksIndian Express

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CNN

One of them is the 1095-km long Kakinada-Puducherry stretch of canals that consist of Kakinada canal, Eluru canal, Commamur canal, Buckingham canal and Kaluvelly tank, Bhadrchalam-Rajamundry stretch of Godavari river and Wazirabad-Vijaywada stretch on Krishna river with 907-km falling in Andhra Pradesh, 186-km in Tamil Nadu and 2-km in Puducherry. As per estimates drawn by consultants M/s RITES, the project will cost Rs 542 crore as per 2002 prices and facilitate movement of 100 tonne vessels in the irrigation canal portion and 350 tonne in the rivers and Buckingham canal portion. It will provide an alternative mode of transport for movement of commodities between the ports of Chennai, Ennore, Kakinada and various hinterland cities like Wazirabad, Vijaywada, Rajahmundry, Polavaram, Eluru, Nellore, Ongole and Puducherry.
The other waterway—Talcher-Dhamra stretch of the Brahmni-Kharsua-Dhamra Rivers, Goenkhali-Charbatia stretch of the East Coast canal, Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai River and Mahandai delta rivers between Mangalgadi and Paradip is also up for the national waterway status. Around 18.07 million tonnes of inland water transport traffic is expected to be carried out on the proposed waterway after its full development in eight years time. The traffic is expected to be handled at four terminals—Talcher, Nasirabd, Balasore and Rajnagar and the major cargoes are coal, fertiliser, cement, iron ore, agricultural and industrial products.
The Standing Committee, however, has recommended the Government to prepare the road map for an integrated transport policy to include inland water transport, coastal shipping, civil aviation, road transport & highways for enabling better inter-connectivity amongst multiple modes of transport. The Committee has also called for provision of an institutional framework for development of IWT sector so as to increase capacity of IWT agencies, increased cost recovery and commercialisation of IWT industries.
In case of the West Bengal-Orissa waterway, the Committee has suggested that another terminal be developed at Geonkhali in West Bengal to enable better traffic handling. It was also noted by the panel that there’s need to develop an action plan to address the growing demand of repair and service facilities of IWT vessels. In case of the Kakinada-Puducherry waterway, the panel has recommended that the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu resolve their reservations concerning state interests before the bill is proceeded further for being passed by both Houses of Parliament.
Personal Thought: New Harsud sans facilities
The story of sufferings of people of Harsud, one of the 250 villages in the State of Madhya Pradesh which got submerged due to Indira Sagar Dam project, is unending and probably this millennium's most inhumane and undemocratic displacement story. June 30 2007, it will three years when the people of Harsud were 'displaced by force' not by will. Till date many of them wait for adequate compensation. Many are unemployed and striving hard to earn their sustenance. Probably their lives have got stuck in the 'files' in 'corridors of powers' of the State Government. The state of affairs is such that out of 5600 families which were resettled in the new Harsud only 1600 families still remain. Fifty families are dalits. Where have the rest gone? Nobody knows. What happened to the children, their education, and health no one has a clue in the State?
Who matters for the state in present situation? If 100 medical students or doctors march on the roads of New Delhi, then Parliament, Media, Corporate starts jumping, but 6000 tribals sitting on dharna in Bhopal under heavy rains for demanding their fundamental right does not matter for the Government. The political and State leadership did not go to meet these people at all.
The Harsud got submerged in June 2004. This historic town was established in the year 1815 by the then King Harshvardhan. Before it got submerged it was a Tehsil which was surrounded by villages. People settled here, had means of employment be it their own business, or labour or farming but after their displacement due to submergence, they live on State's false promises, with a hope that it they may get fulfilled some day.
It may be difficult to locate a town similar to new Harsud in MP wherein people have built in pucca houses but hardly have anything to eat. All the money they had, they had spent on constructing their homes. Uma Bharti, who was then the CM of the State, had announced that new Harsud will be 'an ideal town', with all the facilities. But reality is far from grim. The land here was made up of hard rocks and it was extremely difficult to construct houses on the same. It took huge effort to dig the rocky land for the foundation which was needed to build the house over it. People had to spend all they had in order to construct their shelters. Builders, cement, sand and construction material dealers minted money, to an extent that prices of building materials shot up. Iron rods which are normally priced at Rs 2300 per quintal, were sold at Rs 4000 per quintal while sand which is normally priced at Rs 1000-1500 was sold at double the price. All the money they had received as compensation was spent only in constructing houses.
It was painful to see one's own houses getting submerged while they were forced to settle on these barren hard rocky plains. Today, they have a pucca house but only that nothing else. State was able to convince the judiciary that, they have been able to rehabilitate the displaced people. Photographs of the pucca houses were good evidence in the court.
Present revenue records of the state will tell you that new Harsud is developing progressively. But the reality is exactly opposite and grim. Economy and employment are correlated when people have no means of employment how can an economy flourish? New Harsud contrary to old one does not have any bus stand, no vegetable wholesale market, and neither any bank which can help the people get loan ie nothing which can give the people any employment opportunity. In name of development concrete gutters, damaged roads, there is nothing much.
Dr Ashok Srivastava, a valiant fighter, fighting for rights of those who got displaced says that concrete roads and sewage lines are there as state wanted to show the court that development has been done. But then what? "Old Harsud was a complete economic zone in itself, it had a big wholesale market for farmers, about 200 villages used to cater to the same and almost everyone had a job. But it is exactly the opposite in new Harsud.
Daya Shanker Mishra
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070731/3107304.htm
Mainstream, Vol XLV, No 35
India at 60: Justice Still Delayed
by Razia Ismail Abbasi
Saturday 18 August 2007
As independent India turns the page to 60, speeches and fireworks and flag-hoistings galore mark the anniversary. A flood of euphoric words and music generated by the State, Media, and merchants, will echo for a while. The Prime Minister’s hesitant voice is on record with some renewed affirmations of India’s resolve to stand tall, and to take its place among world leaders. But India at 60 needs to take stock of facts on the ground: they continue to challenge any claim of genuine progress achieved. As long as most of our people lack the basics of survival and dignified livelihood, neither the air-conditioned nor the body-guarded among us can justify a celebration. Without the presence of the ‘aam aadmi,’ there is no party, and the balloons are wasted.
In the week before 15th August, and to the day, at every traffic light in the nation’s Capital, ragged little children peddled paper flags. Some of us bought; most of us did not. Perhaps the question flitted through our thoughts: why are barefoot children, with women in tatters trailing in their wake, working the intersections today, to make a few paise? This is India 2007, poised to become a knowledge economy, already basking in a great growth rate, signing ‘123’ deals with Big Brother. If anything has preoccupied us during the commemorative rites of passage this month, it is the US ‘viral’ affecting the Sensex. Certainly not the deep malaise afflicting socio-economic justice for the unwashed millions.
It is indeed an incredible India that we see around us at this moment of remembrance and renewal.
When counting the years from 1947 till today, one therefore realises that there are some other ‘sixties’ that we need to examine. At a recent seminar on malnutrition—and why do we still need to have seminars on this subject?—the information was shared that more than 60 per cent of the world’s hungry are in India. And not as tourists. This is quite a feat when the economy is booming. Perhaps it is booming somewhere else, not where the hungry are foregathered. Whose job has it been to see these people fed?
Sixty years ago, 20 rupees in the pocket was quite reassuring. Today, for the cola generation, it buys a bottle of Pepsi. For someone else, it pays for about 250 ml. of cheap cooking oil, or not quite two kilograms of ‘atta’ flour or rice, and not even a kilogram of pulses. These are reality costs of daily life for at least 77 per cent of us. The people who manage to exist on 20 rupees a day are not in the IT industry, not even swabbing the floors in Bangalore’s glass houses. They are in the latest report of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), gauging what is happening in employment. The government has been quick to point out that these hapless people are “not BPL”: they are above the 12-rupee level set for being below that line. Wonderful for them. The NSSO’s 61st round survey shows that some 15.4 per cent are between the BPL mark and the 20-rupee mark, and also reveals about 6.4 per cent somehow staying alive at less than nine rupees a day. These people at the very bottom would have about 45 rupees a day on which to provide for a household of five. Someone luckier than they could buy a large bottle of Pepsi.
After 60 years, we are importing wheat. The Wal-Mart stores chain is preparing for its India landing. Marks and Spencers has already settled in. What was that half-forgotten point in the past six decades when we proudly reported our self-reliance in consumer goods, and were lauded for our gains in foodgrain production ? Along with all the mounting instances of Indian Railways tumbling off poorly-tended tracks, something else has got derailed. There is a simple litmus test for economic and developmental decisions: it is livelihood security of the common citizen. This hinges on income security, provision of basic services, and the dignity of being. If the 1-2-3 of ‘roti, kapda aur makaan’—and implicitly, of employment and identity—cannot be assured, we have forgotten the deal we made with the people 60 years ago, and repeatedly since then. This, more than any nuclear agreement, is the core pact on which India’s future hangs.

INDIA’S vital statistics show, as they have for years, that more than 60 per cent of those who die in India do so in their first month of life. This may come as welcome news to the family planning half of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, since it is one way of reducing population, but it should serve to indict the ‘health’ half of the Ministry. What have we been up to, for 60 years? A part of the answer lies in the fact that the Union Budget allocation for health is still to touch one per cent of the GDP. On what do we measure the building of a nation, if not the graph of well-being of its people?
http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article284.html

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/ASIA OVERVIEW

Human Rights Developments
Human rights was the issue that would not go away for Asia in 1995. It entered security discussions, as fighting resumed or continued in Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Afghanistan, northwestern Cambodia and along the Thai-Burmese border. It became an economic issue, a determinant of aid and an irritant to trade from Burma to Indonesia. Worker rights practices in the region intensified debate over the desirability of a "social clause" in multilateral trade arrangements such as the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and human rights abuses led to demands at home and abroad for increased corporate responsibility on the part of foreign businesses as investment in the region continued to grow. The capacity of human rights issues to disrupt bilateral relations was underscored with the row between the Philippines and Singapore over the latter's hanging of Filipina domestic worker Flor Contemplacion and between China and the U.S. concerning China's arrest of American human rights campaigner Harry Wu. Peaceful domestic challenges to authoritarian governments in the region were more often than not couched in terms of a demand for human rights.
At the same time that human rights became so central to political and economic developments in the region, however, the formulation of policies to promote and protect those rights became increasingly complicated. On China, no government succeeded in integrating human rights concerns with other policy interests, and the formula for doing so eluded nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as well. The release of Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on July 10 provided one of the few bright spots in the human rights picture during the year, but it raised new questions about appropriate policy responses from governments, NGOs, and international aid agencies.
In the midst of the policy confusion, however, several trends became apparent. Domestic demands for increased freedom of expression intensified across the region. Local NGOs, foreign businesses, and the international human rights community found common ground in recognizing the importance of an impartial legal system and strengthening the rule of law; Vietnam was increasingly becoming a test case of how law, human rights protection and foreign investment interacted. The vulnerability to abuse of specific groups, such as women, indigenous peoples, minorities and migrant workers was very much at issue, with growing concern that their vulnerability in many cases increased with economic growth. The exclusion of an Asian NGO voice in regional trade and security fora began to be an issue, and for the first time, a parallel NGO conference took place in Japan in November at the time of the APEC summit. While the U.N. and donor governments continued to be major targets of advocacy efforts, both local and international NGOs increasingly turned their attention to the private sector and to multilateral lending institutions, such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
http://www.hrw.org/reports/1996/WR96/Asia.htm
Taslima seeks security after death threat

Saturday, 18 August , 2007, 16:09

Kolkata: A day after radical Muslim clerics issued a death threat to Taslima Nasreen, the exiled Bangladeshi writer today asked the government to provide her adequate security.
Also read: Taslima should leave or die: Muslim clerics
"I hope the government and the police here will provide adequate security to me," she told PTI.
Addressing a rally at Esplanade in Kolkata after the Friday prayers at the nearby Tipu Sultan mosque, Majidulla Khan Farhad of Hyderabad-based Majlis Bachao Tehriq accused Taslima of "defaming" Islam and announced "unlimited financial reward" to anybody who would kill her.
Incidentally, Farhad was among those who had attacked the controversial writer at the Hyderabad Press Club last week.
Accusing the author of insulting Prophet Mohammed in her writings, Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque, Syed Nuroor Rehman Barkati said "insult to the Prophet is an insult to God. When (painter) Maqbul Fida Hussain painted Hindu goddess in the nude, there was strong resentment. The same sentiment is at work here."
Later, the clerics submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, demanding the writer's deportation. Similar memoranda was also sent to Union Home minister Shivraj Patil.
State Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb, however, refused to comment on the matter.
India’s North-East: The Problem — Part 1
By Wasbir Hussain
There is no problem with the title of this talk. After all, such a title has been thought of simply because an area called the ‘Northeast’ exists in the country. But, to my mind, there is a serious problem with the bracketing of this region of nearly 40 million1 people, spread over eight2 states that cover a vast 2,63,000 square kilometer stretch, into what has come to be called the ‘Northeast.’3
By bracketing the eight northeastern Indian states, with its diverse tribes, customs and cultures, into what is called the ‘Northeast,’ we tend to ignore the distinct identity and sub-national aspirations of these ethnic groups. More so, such clubbing together of the region, in an attempt to look at it as a single entity, has led to stereotyping of the problems that plague the area. The fact that each state has a different set of location-specific concerns and grievances often gets blurred in the scheme of things of policy framers and government leaders who are supposed to address these issues.
It is true that the region has as many as 30 armed insurgent organizations4 operating and fighting the Indian State to push demands ranging from secession to autonomy and right to self determination. Besides, there are a plethora of ethnic groups clamoring for their rights and distinct identity, making the region one of South Asia’s hottest trouble spots. It is also true that strategic alliances between rebel groups in the region often transcend inter-state and international borders. For instance, the United Liberation Front of Asom’s (ULFA) earlier links with the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) are well known. Currently, the ULFA’s deadly 28th Battalion, that has a crack bomb squad, operates out of NSCN (Khaplang) bases in Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh. Again, the ULFA’s nexus with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDF and the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) was established beyond doubt with the busting of camps of these three rebel groups in close proximity inside Bhutan during the Bhutanese military assault on the insurgents in December 2003.
Having said this, it must be borne in mind that even these rebel alliances are only for military reasons, for the basic purpose of survival. The only commonality among or between them is that all of them are fighting the Indian State or symbols of the Indian State to push ahead with their respective agenda. But, none of them would agree to fight for the liberation of the ‘Northeast’ in general. After all, their main battle is for territorial supremacy over areas they seek to represent. The internecine battle between the Kukis and the Nagas in Manipur in the nineties, aided by insurgent groups representing both communities, is a case in point.
The ULFA could have been an ally of the NSCN-IM at one point of time, and has a strategic tie-up with the NSCN-K now, but the group did not take long to warn the NSCN-IM against setting its eyes on Assam’s territory. I have elaborated the ULFA-NSCN-IM linkage vis-à-vis the latter’s ‘greater Nagaland’ demand slightly later in this paper. But, there is no doubt that there is a very big problem in bracketing this region as something called the ‘Northeast’ and looking at it as one single entity and prescribing solutions with such a concept in mind.
If attempts to club the region together and calling it the ‘Northeast’ is a problem, there are many other problems in the area, most of whom are the direct result of governmental insensitivity, administrative bungling or insensitivity of the Indian mainstream. Let me list a few of the problems or the trigger factors that have led to the problems in the region before attempting to talk on those at some length later in this paper:
http://www.manipuronline.com/North-East/May2006/NEtheproblem09_1.htm
North-East Violence - An Overall View
By R.Upadhyay
Brahmaputra, Imphal and Surma valleys with surrounding mountains and hills are the geo-political boundaries of Northeast India. Comprising of seven States Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura, with a collective area of 255,088 sq. km. (about 8% of the country's territory) include two third of hills and forests and one third plains. Bounded by Bhutan and China (Tibet) in north, Myanmar in east and south and Bangladesh in south and west, the region is connected with about 4000 sq. km of porous international borders and touching the two ends of only a 20km wide corridor (Siliguri Corridor) in west with the rest of India.
With a combined population of about four crores (38,495,089 -2001 Census), which includes 209 Scheduled Tribes (Arunachal Pradesh -101; Manipur -29; Assam - 23; Nagaland - 20; Tripura - 18; Meghalaya - 14; and Mizoram 53) - Northeast is a most diversified region. States with overwhelming tribal population are Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram whereas those having more than one third tribal population are Manipur and Tripura (Women and Changing Power Structure in Northeast India - Ashok Kumar Ray - Rajendra Prasad Athparia, 2006). Contrary to the general perception these tribes constitute below 30% of the population of the entire Northeast. While Assam, Tripura and Manipur are dominated by about 60% of non-tribal population, the rest of the states are having a tribal majority ranging from 60 to 90 percent. The area being the abode of various ethnic groups like Ahom, Naga, Lusai(Mizo), Meitei, Garo, Khasi, Koch, Hajomg, Rabha, Kachari, Tippera, Chakma, Abhor, Bodo, Miri and hundreds of other tribes for centuries - remained the isolated corner of Indian sub-continent and away from the larger civilisational masses.
Contented in forests and hills, the tribes of the Northeast viewed anyone entering in their territory as outsiders. With a definite territory, kinship, social structure, distinct tradition and mostly having non-monarchical character, they remained away from the influence of Sanskritisation for centuries and preserved their exclusivity till the annexation of their territories by the British in the nineteenth century. Except for Nagas and the Mizos most of others were however, under the domain of some princely kingdoms like Ahom, Manipur, Tripura and Khasis. Nagas and Mizos were constant problems for these rulers.
The British annexed the Northeast at different points of time like Assam plains (1826), Cachar plains (1830), (Khasi Hills (1833), Jaintia plains(1835), Karbi Anglong or Mikir Hills (1838), North Cachar Hills (1854), Naga Hills (1866-1904), Garo Hills (1872-73) and Mizo Hills (1890) (Autonomy Movements in Assam - Documents by P. S. Datta, 1993, Page 5-6). All these areas formed parts of Assam Province of British India. But the colonial power with a view to keep them excluded from the ministerial jurisdiction of Provincial Government declared these hill districts as Excluded Areas under the exclusive administrative control of Chief Commissioner of the province. They introduced inner line permit to prevent the entry of outsiders in this area without valid permit. This permit system debarred the hill people from interaction with the larger masses of Indian mainstream and from the socio-political influence of the outside world. Manipur, Tripura and Khasi States (Now Khasi Hills in Meghalaya) remained as Princely States under Brtish control.
http://www.manipuronline.com/North-East/February2006/northeastviolence18_1.htm

in response to my article,` Reservation cannot continue forever: SC’,Atul Desai
wrote:
Dear members
As I have been repeating ,not only polticians and babus but private sector businessmen are much more corrupt.these contractors have strong nexus with these guys to rake in money.Majority of indian companies are very poorly managed particularly customer service,attitrudte and behaviour.A large number iof private sector executives lie and cheat too.
I am compiling an article on failure of Indian private sector not only to producte quality goods and services but very cheap and unacceptable behaviour in customer service, behaviour and transparency.Overcharging and misrepresenting facts and breaking laws is bane of Indian businessmen small or big.A large number of them are thieves of everything including income tax and other taxes. Yes we are idiots as we just keep harping and wait for someone to take action.Even people are not willing to join forums like ours to consolidate strength and fight the corrupt system.India is a dirty and filthy country of greedy,cheap and filthy minds.
Now let me give examples:I have a website carrying my best provate music collectiomns of english and Hindi Songs. I have decalered on my folder that these are only for listening online and should not be downlaoded as being copyright material and purchased by me for my personla use.
But I know a large number of indian friends have downlaoded still as stas of website shows.
yesterday I got a mail from brazil from an elderly genetleman asking for permission to download one song and I gave it.
So this is Brazilaians vs indians.i think Indians are one of miost corrupt,cheap and selfish guys in world and deserve the condition they pass in.
Indiabulls which claims to be good company solf my shares withou7t authorisation yesterday suddenly without givign me notice and time. They have proved themselves cheap and idiots.They can get away easily in india no where else.
I can keep continuing.
So theft,greed,corruption, cheating, misbehavuiopur,selfishness, jelousy and poor public behaviour is in our genes.From this filth only come polciemen and babus and ministers.
We have to throughly cleanse indian mind.It is full of rotten filth and stink.YOu just cant keep blaming only politvians and babus.They have to after all please these cheap civilians and citizens who are dishnest,greedy and uncultured people.
We as Forum and intelligentia havce to start a big compagn.All other forum and groups should get tiogether and teach lesson to not only sarakri babus but also companies who are more corrupt and misbehaved guys.
Let us strat action ,lets us inviote more people to jouin the forum and start work more seriously on ground.And decide HOW to proceed?
moderator
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Can collorary not be advance that Indian people at large are responsible for not only for giving births to all these politicians but remaining a silent spectaters watching and simply discussing corrupt practices for PAST 60 years. By doing so in fact the people have become part of the corruption at large.
Let us not sit by simply go on telling FOR another 60 years
THE RESERVATIN POLICY IS BIGGEST FRAUD EVER INVENTED BY BONELSS ,CORRUPT AND USELESS UNPRODUCTIVE POLTCIANS AND THEIR HENCHMEN WHO SEEK FAVORS LIKE THE COURTESANS DID IN KINGS' TIMES.THE COPNSTITUTIONLA WRITERS WERE INEXPERIENCED LOT AS THEY HAD NO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE.AKLLL RESEARCH,ALL RELIGIOUS BOOKS ALL CONSTIUTTIONS SUFFER FROM SAME PROBLEM,LIMITED VISION THAT IS VALID AT POUINT OF WRITING.AS SOCIETIES AND CIVILISATIONS EVOLVE RELIGIONS ALSO SHOULD MODEIFY THEIR TENETS.MOST OF WRITING CAME FROM THE IGNORANCE RATHER THAN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN BEINGS OF THAT TIME.SAME APPLUIES OT OUT COPY AND PASTE CONTITUTION A KHICHHRI OF 3 CONSTITUTIONS AND MOSTLY PERPETUATION OF BRITISH MOEL OF GOVERNNACE.SOME MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY HAS BAD CASTE DISCRMINATION EXPERIENCE AND HENCE TOOK REVENGE BY INCORPORATING CLAUSE OF RESERVATION.WHILE I MAY AGREE FOR 15-20 5 RESERVATIONS ON ANY CRITERIA BUT CERTAINLY NOT ON CRITERIA OF CASTES.THIS IS SELF DEFAEWTING PURPOSE.RESERVATIONS ARE MEANT FOR DESTITUTES,HELPLESS WIDOWS,VERY POOT FAMILIES, OUTTSANDING SPROTSPERSONS ETC WHO HAVE TO BE COMPNESATED IN SOME WAY FOR SOME PECULIAR CURRENT DISADVANTAGE.QUOTING CENTURIES OLD DISCRIMINATION IS IDIOTIC.FOR THAT WE HAVE GOT DEMOCRACY AND FREDOM.NOW WHAT MORE WE WANT? RRESERVATIONS