Page 8 - Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam govt renames Karimganj district to Sribhumi; CM Sarma justifies move

The Assam government on Thursday changed the name of Karimganj district in the Barak Valley to Sribhumi, according to an official notification. The district headquarters Karimganj town has also been renamed Sribhumi town. "The Governor of Assam is pleased to rename the Karimganj district as Sribhumi district and Karimganj town as Sribhumi town," General Administration Department Principal Secretary Mukesh Chandra Sahu said in the notification. The changes will be applicable with immediate effect, it said. The Assam cabinet had on Tuesday decided to rename Karimganj district to Sribhumi. "Over 100 years ago, Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore had described modern-day Karimganj district in Assam as Sribhumi - the land of Maa Lakshmi. Today, the Assam cabinet has fulfilled this long-standing demand of our people," Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said after the cabinet meeting. The decision to rename the district will reflect the expectations and aspirations of the people of the ...

Jharkhand election is for poor, youth, and Hindu pride, says Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the Jharkhand election is for poor, youth, women and Hindu pride. He also accused the JMM-led government of allegedly not fulfilling any promise made during the 2019 elections. "Chief Minister Hemant Soren is busy talking about his wife, while his wife Kalpana Soren says 'ek hi nara Hemant dubara' (one slogan, Hemant for second time). I want to ask who will talk about youth, women and the poor in the state. This time no Hemant 'dubara' but poor and youth 'dubara'," Sarma said addressing an election rally at Mandu in Hazaribag district. He added, "This Jharkhand election is for poor, women and youth, besides Hindu pride and protection. This election is for Jharkhand's as well as country's development." Attacking Hemant Soren-led government for allegedly not fulfilling its promises, he said that the government had promised to provide five lakh jobs and unemployment allowances. "But, the government did not fulfil its promise. If

Assam: CM Himanta dismisses tree cutting controversy over Guwahati flyover

Amidst the ongoing row over cutting century-old trees to give way for a flyover, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that a section of people have created "unnecessary controversy" to target the developmental works of the government. The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday slapped notices on Assam government over its plans to cut around 25 century-old trees for construction of a four-lane 5.05 km long flyover, the longest in the city, from Dighalipukhuri tank to Noonmati at a cost of Rs 852.68 crore. "For the last six months, I have been noticing that one particular circle is trying to create an unnecessary controversy regarding the flyover and trees of Dighalipukhuri," Sarma told reporters after visiting the construction site near the pond around midnight on Tuesday. He said the second controversy was shifting the statue of doyen of Assam literature Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa, and claimed that the flyover will pass above the statue and it will remain where it is .

Entire system of JMM fake: Himanta on controversy over Jharkhand CM's age

He further reacted to Congress leader Irfan Ansari's derogatory statements against BJP leader Sita Soren

J'khand will turn into mini-Bangladesh: Himanta warns of demographic shift

He also stressed on BJP's promise of implementing NRC in the state if it returns to power

JMM believes in dynastic politics; fields CM Soren, wife, brother: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday criticised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for dynastic politics, pointing to their candidate list that includes "husband, wife, and brother." Sarma, who is BJP's Jharkhand election co-in-charge, was referring to the JMM list that includes the names of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife and JMM MLA Kalpana Soren and brother Basan Soren. "The JMM's candidate list clearly reflects dynastic politics," he said, noting the familial connections among the candidates. He also suggested that the JMM lacks a diverse candidate pool, remarking that if needed, the BJP could supply additional candidates, referring to some leaders from the saffron party who have recently joined the JMM. Polling to the 81-member assembly in the state will be held on November 13 and November 20, and votes will be counted on November 23.

SC verdict on Assam Accord not historic, I've mixed reaction: Himanta Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday expressed a "mixed reaction of happiness and sorrow" regarding the Supreme Court judgment on the cut-off date of the Assam Accord. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official function on Sunday, Sarma emphasised that the Assamese people will have to move forward through "struggles." "I don't know if this judgment is historic or not. The government enacted the Assam Accord, so its stand in the court was that the cut-off date should be 1971. However, many people in Assam wished the cut-off date to be 1951," he said when asked for his comments on the judgment. In a majority verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act which grants Indian citizenship to immigrants who came to Assam between January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971. A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, said the Assam Accord was a political solution to the problem of

Assam to undertake Rs 800 cr project to rejuvenate 129 'beels': CM Sarma

Assam government will undertake an Rs 800 crore project to rejuvenate 129 'beels' (lake-like wetlands) in the state to boost fish production and aid in water storage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday. "To be executed in collaboration with Asian Development Bank, it will revive 4000 hectares of beels to give fillip to indigenous fish production and water management,' Sarma posted on 'X'. Beels are the backbone of Assam's hydrological resources which enable flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, river flow regulation, erosion control and are a source of fisheries. Rejuvenation and restoration of the beels will lead to additional fish production of 1,200 kg/hectare annually, he said. The project is aimed at increasing the water storage capacity of the beels as well as conserving and managing the indigenous fish species. A beel is a lake-like wetland with still water. These lake-like wetlands are biodiversity hotspots in Assam and are home to many types of aquatic

Centre issues notification for CBI probe into Assam online trading scam

The Centre has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe 41 cases linked to a multi-crore online trading scam in Assam. A notification in this connection was issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on Friday and shared by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on 'X' on Saturday. It states, "the powers and jurisdiction of the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment has been extended throughout the state of Assam for the investigation of offences under relevant sections of IPC/BNS and other Acts as mentioned in the FIRs and any other law related to the 41 police cases, which are registered at various police stations in Assam concerning unregulated deposits involving fraudulent transactions and trading of large sums of money'. The CMO also noted that the state government, under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has assured full cooperation to the CBI for a swift probe into these cases. The scam came to light in the last week of August

Assam CM gives appointment letter to youth in education, health sectors

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma handed over appointment letters to 385 youths in the health and education sectors on Monday, claiming that the government has already exceeded its election promise. At an official function, Sarma said with these new appointments, a total of 125,030 people have been given government jobs since he took office in May 2021. "Our government fulfilled its election promise of providing one lakh jobs long ago. No other government in Assam's history has created so many jobs in such a transparent and efficient manner," he said. The BJP had pledged to provide one lakh government jobs annually during the 2021 assembly election campaign but later clarified that this figure pertained to the entire five-year tenure. The Chief Minister noted that the process to fill around 35,000 additional posts is ongoing and that by May 2025, the total number of recruits is expected to surpass 150,000. "Health, Education, and Police have accounted for the highest number

Assam's innovative schemes being adopted by other states: CM Himanta

Despite being a small state, Assam is showing the way to other states which are adopting various innovative schemes being implemented by the BJP-led government here, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday. Inaugurating three co-districts under Kamrup (Metropolitan) district here, the chief minister said that Assam is the first state to operationalise the concept of co-districts which will revolutionise governance at the grassroots level by taking administration to the doorsteps of the people. "I am confident that other states of the country will also adopt this concept in the next four to five years though they will give different names to it," he said. Earlier, Assam's administrative machinery was modelled on that of West Bengal and other developed states as the British governed the region as a single administrative unit but "now we have adopted several landmark schemes which are inspiring the other states", Sarma said. He pointed out that schemes like Orundoi for wom

Haryana election: Himanta urges action against drug-linked politicians

Sarma highlighted the Assam government's stringent actions against drugs and mentioned that during interrogations, suspects revealed they were transporting these substances to Haryana and Punjab

Highlight: Parties told us to announce Maha polls keeping in mind festivals, says CEC

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BJP to contest Jharkhand polls in alliance with AJSU Party, JD(U): Himanta

The BJP will contest the upcoming assembly polls in Jharkhand in alliance with NDA partners AJSU Party and Janata Dal (United), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday. Sarma, who is the BJP's Jharkhand election co in-charge, said that the seat-sharing agreement with the allies is in the final stage. "The BJP will contest the Jharkhand elections in alliance with AJSU Party and JD(U). The seat-sharing agreement with the allies has been done on 99 per cent of the seats. Discussions are underway for the remaining one or two seats and it will be finalised soon," he said while speaking to reporters in Ranchi. Sarma said that a formal announcement in this regard will be made after 'Pitri Paksha', which ends on October 2. Elections to the 81-member assembly in Jharkhand are due later this year.

Key points of BJP's J'khand manifesto to be released from Oct 3: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the BJP would start releasing the key points of its manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand from October 3. Elections to the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly are due later this year, and the dates are expected to be announced next month. "We will start releasing the key points of our manifesto from October 3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his address at the concluding rally of the BJP's Parivartan Yatra in Hazaribag on October 2," he told reporters on Friday after reviewing the preparedness for it. The BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra', launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, aims to cover 5,400 km across 81 assembly segments in 24 districts of the state before concluding on October 2. Sarma, who is the BJP co in-charge for Jharkhand elections, also attacked the JMM-led coalition for "patronising" infiltrators, stating his party would drive them out after coming to power in the state.

What is Clause 6 of Assam Accord? Himanta govt to implement its provisions

State govt to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord recommendations, sets 1951 as cut-off year: What does this mean?

BJP membership in Assam has already crossed 4 mn: CM Himanta Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the number of BJP members in Assam has already crossed 40 lakh with the party setting a target of 50 lakh in the state. The membership drive is underway in all 126 assembly segments and will conclude across the state on October 9, a day before the Durga Puja festivities begin, Sarma told reporters after attending a programme here. A target of 40,000 members has been set for each constituency, and if any segment is 'unable to achieve the goal, we will again take up the drive there after Durga Puja', he said. 'Till last night, we had over 43,67,000 members and Assam has contributed 10 per cent of the party's total membership in the country...The BJP membership drive in constituencies held by its allies AGP and UPPL has also been very encouraging. The BJP members will also vote for the allies," Sarma said. The membership drive in the upper Assam constituencies has been 'very encouraging with around 10 segments having already .

Assam's rhino population grows fivefold as poaching drops 86% since 2016

Kaziranga National Park houses 80 per cent of India's rhino population, while Orang National Park holds 4 per cent, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary 3 per cent, and Manas National Park 1 per cent

WB suffering from floods, Mamata busy teaching lesson to J'khand: Himanta

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday slammed his West Bengal and Jharkhand counterparts - Mamata Banerjee and Hemant Soren saying one was "teaching lesson to people of Jharkhand by sealing its borders" while people of Bengal were suffering from floods and the other was maintaining silence as "politics was more important to him". Himanta, who is also the BJP co-incharge of Jharkhand Assembly elections due later this year, is in the state to participate in BJP's 'Parivartan Rally' which will be flagged off by Union Home Minister Amit Shah from Sahibganj here. "The people of Bengal are suffering from floods due to the failure of the Bengal government. But I am surprised that Mamata Didi is not venting her anger on her officers, but on the people of Jharkhand. She is teaching a lesson to the people of Jharkhand by sealing the state's border, and the honourable chief minister of Jharkhand (Hemant Soren) is silent," Sarma said in a post on X. The post mentioned that the BJP government a

Four Bangladeshi infiltrators pushed back by Assam Police: CM Himanta

Assam Police on Friday pushed back two Bangladeshis who attempted to cross the international border at Karimganj district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He said on Thursday also Assam Police pushed back four Bangladeshis who attempted to cross the border in Karimganj district. "In line with our zero-tolerance policy toward illegal infiltration, earlier today @assampolice successfully pushed back the following Bangladeshi nationals who attempted to cross the International Border at Karimganj," Sarma posted on X on Friday. The two illegal immigrants were identified as Dilara Begum and Shoel Hawladar, he said. In another post on the micro-blogging site on Thursday evening, Sarma had said four Bangladeshi nationals were pushed back. "Maintaining strict vigil along the Indo-Bangladesh border, @assampolice identified four Bangladeshi nationals near the border in Karimganj," he said. They were identified as Romida Begum, Abdul Elahi, Marijna Begum and Abdul Sukkur. "They wer