Next President may be from North East

Kalyan Barooah

NEW DELHI, Mar 16 – Is the next President of the country going to be from the North-east? If initial thinking in the ruling UPA is any indication, the next person to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan may well be from the region.

According to highly placed sources, the Congress Party has begun consulting its allies and few Opposition parties on nominating someone from the North-east to the highest Constitutional post. At this stage, no names have been circulated but Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is definitely a possibility, sources said.

The top leader, who is privy to the initial discussions, revealed that response from some of the UPA allies including the troublesome Trinamool Congress was positive. Most of the parties, which were consulted, agreed that nominating someone from the North-east would send a right signal to the insurgency-ridden region. The Congress Party has to get its act together by June.

Gogoi’s feat in quelling insurgency and bringing dreaded outfits like ULFA, NDFB, UPDS and DHD to the negotiating table and bringing back the agenda of development in the State has made him a favourite, said sources, reiterating that names of other leaders from the region may also be considered.

However, TMC has suggested that list be broadened to Eastern region. In which case, choice may fall on Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, a person, who the Congress Party may not agree to part with. However, all the behind-the-scene discussions described as ‘preliminary’ took place before the Rail Budget fiasco that led to souring of relations between the ruling Congress and TMC.

Aware that the ruling UPA –II is not in a position to get its nominee appointed to the post, the Congress Party’s apparent game plan is to evolve a consensus among all political parties. Party managers reckon that given the stakes of the national parties like BJP and CPI-M, besides regional players like Trinamool in the North-east, there may be minimum opposition to a candidate from the North-east.

But the Congress is playing its cards close to its chest, for it is not yet sure of the reactions from major parties like Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, DMK and others.

On the other hand, a section of the Congress leaders are also of the opinion that Vice-President, Hamid Ansari should be nominated as the next President, as majority of the UPA allies, besides the Left parties, may not be averse to supporting a candidate from the minority community

The SP and TMC would have decisive say in the UPA’s choice for the President, sources admitted, adding that Uttar Pradesh Assembly has the largest vote share in the Presidential electoral college.

According to sources, going by UPA-II’s current strength in the State legislatures and both Houses of Parliament, the Congress has an edge in choosing its candidate with a vote share of 30 per cent in the electoral college. But there is a catch – it has to depend on its allies and others.

The Congress has over 275 MPs in both the Houses which account for a vote value of over 1, 90,000 and a vote value of about 1, 35,000 in the legislatures.

Interestingly, an NDA delegation that called on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee ahead of the Budget session informally suggested that the ruling Party should opt for consensus rather than election for all the three posts of President, Vice-President and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

The term of Vice-President Hamid Ansari ends in August and election of Deputy Chairman is scheduled in April.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, was in the news recently following reports that he has been selected for the post of Vice-President. The Congress leader, however, dismissed the reports stating that the Party is yet to work out its strategy for the post of Vice-President.

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Myanmar's bridge to somewhere

While the United States has only recently made tentative efforts to engage with Myanmar, India has, controversially, had decent relations with the country's government for quite some time. Human rights activists criticized Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's meeting with Than Shwe in 2012, calling it "unbecoming" for a democracy to welcome the Burmese military ruler.
At a time when relations are being renewed between Myanmar and the West, there's been a flurry of recent activity along India's 1,019-mile northeastern border with the country. The seven states of northeastern India are currently at their lowest period of insurgent violence in decades, and the shift in relations with their neighbor across the border could have enormous socio-economic implications for India, China and Southeast Asia.
On Feb. 22, India's foreign minister met with Myanmar's construction minister in New Delhi to speak about expanding both aviation and highway transportation between the two countries. The bridge in question would pass through the Naga region, inhabited by the tribal Naga people in the hilly district of Tamenglong in Manipur. For months, the United Naga Council -- an organization based in northeastern India -- had resisted such developments.
According to Samrat of the New York Times, several old routes cross the border between northeastern India and Myanmar. Some, like the World War II Stilwell Road, built under the U.S. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, had become "ghost roads," used mainly by Naga and Kachin insurgents to transport weapons and drugs, chiefly poppies to make and smuggle heroin across the border. But these roads have gradually returned to relatively law-abiding uses. Nonetheless, Indian officials claim Burmese authorities do not actively work to curb the flow of drugs and weapons into India.
In 1991, India's central government implemented a ‘‘Look East Policy'' to forge closer ties with the country's eastern neighbors. Critics say that Indian officials have made little attempt to put the policy into practice, but now the government is clearly looking to pick up the pace. During its many years of self-imposed isolation, Myanmar's only major economic partner was China, giving Beijing a strategic advantage in a nation that borders five countries.

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Manipur Girl Molested in Gurgaon, one held

After two gangrape incidents in less than a week in the millennium city, another case of molestation of a north east girl working at a private firm in Gurgaon has been reported from the posh DLF colony area on Wednesday.
Police sources said that the incident occurred on Tuesday night at around 10 pm and was reported to police on Wednesday. Lami Kim (name changed), the victim complained to DLF Phase-I police station and the police arrested one Dinesh Kumar in this connection. She lives in a rented accommodation in Sikanderpur area of Gurgaon.

The victim has alleged that she was molested and beaten up brutally by one Dinesh Kumar who also lives in her neighborhood. She in her complaint to police said after a brief tiff with Dinesh, she was molested and brutally beaten up by him. The victim is a native of Manipur works in a private firm in the city, while Dinesh Kumar hails from Madhubani in Bihar. “A case of molestation under section-294,323 of IPC has been registered in DLF Phase-I police station.

Following such incident the Gurgaon police have taken steps to curb such incident. Gurgaon Police Commissioner KK Sandhu said keeping in view the safety and security of women in the city, a total of three PCR vans have been deployed for patrolling round the clock at MG road. Absence of street lights on MG road makes it more vulnerable during nights. Anti-social elements use this stretch to carry out robberies and other criminal activities during nights.

Taking a cue from the recent rape incidents in the city, owners of shopping malls, pubs and other commercial establishments have been directed to restrict the working hours of female employees upto 8 pm. If they have to employee women staff beyond the time, the permission of the labour department will be required. These directions were issued by the Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner PC Meena on Wednesday. Expressing concern over eve-teasing and molestation cases, Meena issued many ‘dos and donts’ for shopping mall owners and pub operators.
PC Meena issued a press relaese which mentioned that if women employees are deputed on duty during the night shift, that is, after 8 p.m, her safe transportation from her home to place of duty and vice versa will be the responsibility of the employer who will have to keep a daily record of the vehicle used. The registration number of the vehicle, time of departure, name of driver who is entrusted the task of picking up or dropping the women employees, should also be recorded.
Meena directed the pub operators to keep proper records of visitors. They should keep a photocopy of the identity card, address proof of the customer or the visitor and get it checked from the SHO concerned in every 15 days.
He also directed the mall owners to install CCTV cameras in their malls in such a way that no corner of the mall is left out of its view and the camera should have a backup of minimum 30 days. He also laid emphasis upon checking for drunk and driving at night.
Verification of bouncers working in the mall has also been made mandatory. These orders are applicable to all malls and pubs operating in district Gurgaon, Meena added.
Meanwhile, a large number of people from different NGOs and RWAs on Wednesday evening assembled at Sahara Mall to protest against increasing number of crimes against women. They carried out a candle march and raised slogans against condemning Gurgaon police and city administration to control such crimes.

READ MORE - Manipur Girl Molested in Gurgaon, one held

Assam writer didn't join ULFA

Marital discord explains Assamese writer Janhobi's flight from her state, not any feelings for the ULFA.

Marital discord forced Assamese writer Janhobi Mahanta Raj-konwar, 42, to leave her Nahorkatiya home on February 13. It was reported earlier that she had left for Myanmar to join militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), as claimed in a letter written by her.

An India Today investigation has found that the government school teacher and mother of two college-going sons boarded the 15930 Dibrugarh-Chennai Express from New Tinsukia Junction and is now suspected to be in Tamil Nadu.

An autobiographical note discovered by India Today reveals Janhobi wanted to end her marriage with Shantanu Rajkonwar, 45, but didn't want the stigma of divorce.

In August 2011, Janhobi had written a column in a daily slamming the anti-talks faction of ULFA, after which she received several calls from a top leader of the rebel group. A close relative of Janhobi said that a compromise was reached between ULFA and Janhobi that while she would pledge her support to the outfit, it would facilitate her rehabilitation outside Assam.

Former Assam DGP G.M. Srivastava claims Janhobi was in touch with Abhijit Barman, the new ULFA chairman. "She would talk to me about a top ULFA leader who called her. She admired that person though she was against their armed struggle," a close associate of Janhobi said.

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Ibobi gets third term as Manipur CM

Okram Ibobi Singh, 63, took over as the Manipur Chief Minister for the third consecutive term today, after he was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the state. Party sources said he was likely to be sworn in tomorrow.
While he is yet to decide on his cabinet members, Congress sources said his ministers would be announced over the next two days.
The Congress won 42 of the 60 Assembly seats in the just-concluded elections, marking the first time that a single party has received an absolute majority in the state.
While the Congress was the single largest party in the last term, it had formed a coalition government with the CPI. The CPI pulled out of the alliance two days before the election results was announced, and decided to support the rainbow alliance of all non-Congress parties.
The victory gave the edge to Ibobi Singh, although his rival within the party, Y Erabot Singh, is known to be close to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

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HPC-D split deters peace talks

Aizawl, Mar 14 : Mizoram state home minister R Lalzirliana today stated that the recent split in Hmar People's Convention- Democratic (HPC-D) into two camps deterred the peace negotiations between the militant outfit and the Mizoram government.

"Despite the Centre's instructions to the Mizoram government, resumption of peace talks with the HPC-D is not possible as the outfit has split into two.

The Mizoram government does not know with which faction - that of Lalhmingthanga Sinate or Zosangzuala - to resume the peace negotiations, with both factions claiming to be original," Lalzirliana said at the first consultative meeting of Mizoram home department here today.

Lalzirliana's remarks were in reaction to the home ministry's recent instructions to the state government to resume peace talks with the outfit which had derailed due to misunderstandings between the two last year.

The peace process ran into deadlock when Mizoram government refused to accept "a US citizen" (read Rochunga Pudaite) as HPC-D interlocutor.

The Mizoram government had earlier accused the outfit of violating a suspension of operation (SoO) it had signed with the central government by indulging in underground activities whereas it was supposed to surrender arms in designated camp.

During the meeting, the home minister informed that Union home minister P Chidambaram would visit Mizoram in the near future regarding compensation to displaced Mizo families in Tripura which the Centre recently nodded to.

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'Manipur situation too complex to expect dramatic change'

New Delhi : The Congress may have won a clear mandate in Manipur but the tribal situation in the state is too complex to expect any dramatic changes soon, says a Manipur ex-minister.

"People have voted for Congress. And all the state can hope for is political stability. However, it will be difficult to say whether the situation in Manipur will improve," Gangmumei Kamei said here.

"It will be too much to expect change in the present complex situation immediately," Kamei told IANS on the sidelines of a seminar at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Kamei is the founder-president of the Federal Party of Manipur and has held important portfolios in the Manipur government led by Nipamacha Singh in 1990s.

He attributed weak leadership among opposition parties for the landslide victory of the Congress. "Congress was a confident party and other parties were weak in their leadership," he said.

However, he admitted that the dragging ethnic conflict between warring tribal groups, particularly the Kukis and the Nagas, has complicated issues for the government and the people of the state resulting in long economic blockades and hardships.

"The present election is a sad commentary on the ineffectiveness of human right issues on election results. Irom Sharmila is an icon but no party could effectively challenge the draconian law AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act)," lamented Gangmumei.

"Even the government of Manipur failed to reconstitute the State Human Right Commission. The human rights issue failed to convert itself into an electoral one," he said.

Aphun Kamei, asssistant professor in the Delhi School of Economics, said the Congress party's internal conflict may hit the prospect of development in the sate.

"Mustering a number of 42 is a big jump for the Congress which I never expected. However, the party must focus on development," Kamei told IANS.

Gangmumei and Aphun were both attending a national seminar, "Little Known Fighters against the Raj: Manipur's Bir Tikendrajit Singh" organized by the Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew Chair and the Centre for North East Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, in collaboration with Manipur University.

The Manipur electorate gave a thumping majority to the Congress in the recent elections, helping it win 42 seats out of 60 seats. The party scored a hat-trick and returned to power in the northeastern state, helped by a fragmented opposition.

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200 million Indians have no TV, phone or radio

NEW DELHI: One-sixth of the country, or 200 million Indians, don't possess any of the most basic assets like a transistor or TV, phone, vehicle of any kind or a computer. In three states - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and MP- close to a third of the households own none of these assets.

On Tuesday, the registrar general of India released the final figures for the first phase of Census 2011, known as the Houselisting and Housing Census. The data shows how India lives - how many people to a house, how they light their houses and where they get their water from, and some of the things they own.

The Census measures ownership of five assets - radio/transistors, television, telephone, computer and mode of transport. The proportion of households which own a radio has fallen, almost at the same rate at which the proportion of households with a TV has risen. Yet, there remains a stark difference between TV penetration in rural and urban India: Just one third of rural households own a TV set, while over 75% of urban households own one. TV penetration is highest in Delhi (88%), followed by Tamil Nadu (87%), Punjab, Chandigarh and Puducherry. Bihar has by far the lowest TV penetration of any state at just 15%.

2011 is the first year that the Census is counting mobile and landline use separately, and the numbers show that telephony in India is overwhelmingly about mobile phones. While 63% of households owned a phone, 53% owned a mobile phone only and another 6% owned both a landline and a mobile phone. Over half of rural households and three-quarters of urban households now own a mobile phone.

Here too, there's considerable regional variation; east and north-east India have low telephone density, with Chhattisgarh and Orissa being the country's worst. Delhi, Chandigarh, Goa, Lakshadweep and Kerala all have a tele-density close to 90%

About 20% of urban households and 5% of rural households now own a computer or laptop. Internet penetration at the household level follows further behind - just 1% of rural households own a computer with internet, and 8% of urban households. Chandigarh, Delhi and Goa are the only states or union territories with household internet penetration above 10%; it is under 1% in Bihar.

Close to half of India owns no means of transport. Just 5% of households own a car, 21% own a two-wheeler and 45% own a bicycle (some would own more than one of these).

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