The Spy Who Beeped The Censor Board

The Millennium festival of West Bengal will be organised between December 29, 1999 and January 9, 2000 in Calcutta with the participation of at least 2,000 NRI Bengalis.

Jyoti Basu, chief patron to the Biswa Banga Sammelan Millennium Committee, the organiser of the festival, said here yesterday that regular interaction between NRI Bengalis and Indians of other language groups was essential in the interest of India's identity and unity.

Member of parliament and committee president Somnath Chatterjee was evasive about the budget for the 12-day extravaganza. "We shall be meeting industrialists later in the day for financial help. We shall also make paying members and sell tickets for various functions."

Vice-President Krishna Kant has agreed to inaugurate the festival at the Salt Lake stadium. However, there is some uncertainty over the closing ceremony on January 9 if Id falls on that day.

"We want to make a showcase of West Bengal through this festival. Progress and development of the state and the people constitute the ultimate agenda of the millenium festival", said Chatterjee. "We want to step into the new millennium with greater confidence and determination for a better quality of life and in a better environment, supported by our rich heritage and current achievements." nefits: SC