Page 4 - North East

India rejects China's objection to PM Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh

India on Tuesday strongly rejected China's objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, and asserted that the state "was, is, and will" always be an integral and inalienable part of India. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Chinese side has been made aware of this "consistent position" on several occasions. Objecting to such visits by Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh or India's developmental projects in the state does not stand to reason, he said. "We reject the comments made by the Chinese side regarding the visit of the prime minister to Arunachal Pradesh," he said. China on Monday said it lodged a diplomatic protest with India over Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh last week, and reiterated its claim over the region by saying India's moves will "only complicate" the unresolved boundary question. Jaiswal said China's objection to such visits will not change the reality that Arunachal Pradesh "was, is, and will alw

PM Modi unveils 125 feet statue of Lachit Borphukan in Assam's Jorhat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled a 125-foot bronze statue of 'Ahom general' Lachit Borphukan in Assam's Jorhat. The 'Statue of Valour' was unveiled by the PM at the Lachit Barphukan Maidam Development Project at Hollongapar near Teok. Modi, who reached Jorhat from Arunachal Pradesh by helicopter, was dressed in traditional attire and headgear. He participated in an Ahom ritual for the unveiling of the statue. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accompanied the prime minister during the programme. The height of the statute, built by Ram Vanji Sutar, is 84 feet and it is set on a pedestal of 41 feet, making the structure 125 feet tall. The foundation of the statue was laid by former President Ram Nath Kovind in February 2022. Lachit Borphukan was a legendary army commander of the Ahom kingdom (1228-1826). He is known for his leadership in the 1671 'Battle of Saraighat' that thwarted a drawn-out attempt by the mighty Mughal forces, led by Raja Ramsingh-I, to take b

PM unveils projects worth Rs 55,600 cr in Northeast, including Sela tunnel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled projects worth Rs 55,600 crore in the Northeast, including the strategic Sela tunnel which will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The PM unveiled the projects spread across Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh at a programme in Itanagar. The Sela tunnel, constructed at a cost of about Rs 825 crore, is an engineering marvel. It will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang across Sela pass on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh, a statement said. The project, the foundation stone of which was laid by PM Modi in February 2019, will not only provide a faster and more efficient transport route in the region but is of strategic importance to the country as it is located near the frontier with China. The PM inaugurated the Sela tunnel by flagging off an Arunachal Pradesh State Transport bus that went through it. In all, the PM unveiled development project

Congress would need 20 yrs to do what we did in 5 yrs in Northeast: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the kind of work done by his government in the last five years in the Northeast, the Congress would have taken 20 years to do it. The PM was addressing a public meeting in Arunachal Pradesh's Itanagar after unveiling development projects worth Rs 55,600 crore in the region. "The Northeast is going to become a strong link in India's trade, tourism and other relations with South Asia and East Asia. Today, projects worth over Rs 55,000 crore have been unveiled here," he said. "Congress would have taken 20 years to do what we have done in the last five years in the Northeast," he added. The prime minister said that one can clearly see what "Modi's guarantee" is if he visits Arunachal Pradesh. "The entire Northeast is watching how Modi's guarantee is working," he said. The PM also said that as he was working for the development of the country, leaders of the opposition bloc INDIA were attacking him.

Talks, negotiations only way to bring peace in Manipur: Kiren Rijiju

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said negotiations are the only means to restore peace in ethnic violence-hit Manipur and returning the state to normalcy will be the Narendra Modi government's next phase of efforts. Rijiju put the blame for the ongoing ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state on a Manipur High Court order recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis. The violence has claimed at least 219 lives in the restive state. Rijiju said the problem in Manipur was not an uprising against the BJP-led Centre but ethnic clashes between two dominant groups -- the Meiteis and the Kukis. "If anyone wants to help restore peace in Manipur, then first go and appeal to both the Meities and the Kukis that do not pick up arms. An armed struggle will not lead to a solution. Peaceful negotiations are the only means to achieve a peaceful atmosphere and get normalcy back. That will be the next phase of our efforts to bring development

ENPO raises louder demand for carving out separate state from Nagaland

The ENPO, which is demanding a separate state carved out of Nagaland, declared a "public emergency" in six districts, stating that it would not allow any political party to campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. The decision was taken by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO) after it held a meeting with tribal bodies and frontal organisations in Dimapur on Tuesday. "In view of the Government of India delaying to settle the offer for creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Tribal Bodies and Frontal Organisations hereby declare Public Emergency all over Eastern Nagaland with immediate effect," it said in a statement. ENPO has been demanding a separate state since 2010, claiming that the six districts -- Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator, in the eastern part of Nagaland have been neglected in all aspects for years. It also decided "not to accede to any assurance that may come up with by the MHA to be implemente

Rs 41,000 crore investment in city gas projects in N-E, J&K: Minister Puri

Six north eastern states and two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will see Rs 41,000 crore investment in rollout of city gas network to retail CNG to automobiles and piped cooking gas to houses over the next few years, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday. Speaking at a function to award licences to the winners of 12th city gas distribution (CGD) bidding round, he said with the award of licences for 8 geographical areas covering 103 districts in six north eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram and two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the city gas network now covers the entire country except the islands. "Anticipated investment for 12th CGD bidding round is Rs 41,000 crore generating considerable employment opportunities," he said. While the consortium of Bharat Petroleum and Oil India Ltd won the city gas licence for Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana City Gas bagged the same for Meghalaya. State-own

Govt signs tripartite pact to solve problems of Tripura's indigenous people

A tripartite agreement between TIPRA Motha and the governments of Tripura and India was signed on Saturday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring a "lasting solution" to the problems of the state's indigenous people. With the signing of the agreement, the government has respected history, corrected past wrongs and accepted the present reality to proceed towards a brighter future, Shah said. "I assure all stakeholders of Tripura that you won't have to fight for your rights anymore. The government of India will be two steps ahead in creating mechanisms to safeguard your rights," he said at an event held at North Block here. The home minister said no one can change history but everyone can learn from their past mistakes and move ahead. He said the Tripura Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance, popularly known as TIPRA Motha, and all tribal parties have played a constructive role and the BJP government in Tripura also worked sincerely towards this agreement. Sha

Tata's semiconductor unit in Assam to be gamechanger for NE: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Rs 27,000-crore semiconductor plant approved for the state by the Union Cabinet on Thursday will be a game-changer for the economy of the entire North East region. The plant will trigger a new Industry 4.0 revolution in the state, he added. The Union Cabinet approved setting up three semiconductor-making units at an investment of Rs 1.26 lakh-crore as part of an attempt to cut India's dependence on imports to meet requirements of chips, of which one will be in Assam. Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT) will set up a semiconductor unit in Morigaon, Assam, at an investment of Rs 27,000 crore. It will have a capacity of 48 million chips per day for automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones. Construction of the three units will begin within the next 100 days, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters after the cabinet meeting. "People of Assam will remain eternally grateful

Nagaland govt employees protest, demand restoration of old pension scheme

A large number of government employees in Nagaland took to the streets on Friday, demanding scrapping of the new pension scheme' and restoration of the earlier system. State government employees recruited after 2010, the year the new pension scheme was implemented, converged at the civil secretariat junction here under the aegis of the Nagaland National Pension System Government Service Employees' Forum (NNPSGSEF). NNPSGSEF president Moanungsang said the peaceful dharna was held to stand in solidarity with the national strike organised by the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF). He said the forum had submitted a representation to the state government in September 2023, but there has been no response. NNPSGSEF said the old pension scheme provided social security to employees with guaranteed life-time reasonable pension. However, the new scheme does not provide social security and guarantees lower pension per month to long-surviving pensioners, it claimed.

Sidbi commits over Rs 100 cr for entrepreneurship projects in Nagaland

SIDBI has entered into an agreement with the Nagaland government, committing over Rs 100 crore for entrepreneurship projects in the northeastern state. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the apex regulatory body for overall licensing and regulation of micro, small and medium enterprise finance companies in India. It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance. SIBDI Chief General Manager Subhransu S Acharya, during an event on Tuesday night, said it would fund four projects, including setting up of industrial infrastructure for MSMEs under cluster development fund and Swavalamban Connect Kendras (SCK) for all the 16 districts to boost the spirit of entrepreneurship. SIDBI also announced sports scholarships of Rs 5 lakh each for the training of five promising sportspersons. It would also provide seed funds to support the entrepreneurs in their startup journey. Nagaland Advisor for Industry and Commerce Hekani Jakhalu Kense and SIDBI Chairman and Managing

Assam CM Sarma conducts preparatory meeting ahead of state budget

Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, and senior government officials were present in the meeting

Mizoram, Assam agree to make efforts, resolve long-pending border dispute

Mizoram and Assam on Friday agreed to make joint efforts to resolve the long pending inter-state border dispute, an official statement said here. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswas Sarma on Friday morning invited his Mizoram counterpart Lalduhoma, who is currently in Guwahati, over a meal and both leaders discussed the border issue. During the meeting, Lalduhoma and Sarma agreed to make collective efforts to resolve the border dispute between the two northeastern states, it said. Both leaders also agreed to maintain peace along the borders as long as the two neighbouring states hold border talks, it said. Sarma told Lalduhoma that he will send the minister in charge of border to Mizoram when the ongoing budget session of the Assam assembly is over. Three Mizoram districts - Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit - share a 164.6 km long border with Assam's Cachar, Karmganj and Hailankandi districts. The border dispute between the two neighbouring states is a long-standing issue, which mainly

North East LPG cylinder carriers of Indian Oil Corp go on indefinite strike

LPG cylinder transporters of Indian Oil Corporation on Wednesday went on an indefinite strike for the second time in less than two months, alleging pending dues and low rates in recently floated tenders. An IOC official, however, termed the strike as illegal. The decision to go for the shutdown was taken after a meeting called by the Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs Department of Assam between IOC and the North East Packed LPG Transporter Association (NEPLTA) failed to yield any solution to the prolonged stalemate. "The government called us yesterday to talk about our demands. We reiterated our old issues, mostly related to pending dues and low rates in the tenders. However, the IOC was reluctant to talk about those," NEPLTA chief adviser Kumud Nath told PTI. The association had also written to the chief secretary on January 5, flagging the same issues and urged him to take necessary steps, he said. "The government had called yesterday's meeting, accordingly, to find .

Time for people to unite, identify real enemies: Manipur CM Singh

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said the state is passing through a difficult phase and it is time for the people to unite and identify who the real enemies are. He said this at the flagging-off ceremony of the Imphal Ring Road project. "We are passing through a difficult phase today. This is not the first time that we are facing a difficult phase. During the 1992-1993 ethnic conflict, more than 1,000 lives were lost. Today we are struggling. We are dealing with elements who want to break up a state with more than 2,000 years of history", Singh said. The state has not slept for more than nine months now, he said. "We will never allow them to win or achieve it. More than 3,000 state forces have been deployed at peripheral areas" Singh said and appealed to the people "not to foment disturbances in Imphal Valley. Let the valley be peaceful. Let the protection of Manipur be our sole duty. No more rallies. Let's identify and face the real enemies of the state". He claime

One village volunteer killed, 2 injured in gunfight in Manipur's Kangpokpi

One village volunteer was killed and two others were injured during a gunfight between two armed groups in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Saturday morning, police said. The gunfight broke out after armed miscreants entered the vicinity of the hill village of Satang Kuki and launched a gun and bomb attack. The fighting stopped after the attackers retreated following the arrival of additional backup forces at Satang village, they said. The injured has been rushed to a private hospital in Imphal. One of the injured person received splinter injuries on the face and another on his thigh, hospital sources said. Further details are awaited, they added.

Mizo student body urges Centre to reconsider fencing Indo-Myanmar border

Mizoram's apex student body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the Centre's decision to fence the Indo-Myanmar border and scrap the Free Movement Regime. In the letter sent through state governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, the MZP expressed concern and opposition to the Centre's decision to fence the Indo-Myanmar border. It said that fencing the Indo-Myanmar border and scrapping the FMR will "divide" the ethnic Zo people living in India and Myanmar. "Although the Zo people have been divided by the administrative division since the colonial period and international boundary in post-colonial era, we do not feel separated", the organisation said in the letter on Monday. "It (FMR) enables us to participate in each other's funeral, marriage ceremonies, pay visit to patients at home, participate in religious meetings, and engage in local-level sports tournaments. The decision to terminate the FMR regime will take away these essential aspects and will

Nagaland Cong Committee stages protest, alleges violence against Nyay Yatra

Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee staged a protest demonstration at Congress Bhavan, Kohima, on Monday, and condemned the alleged acts of violence against the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra convoy in Assam

Manipur CM meets representatives from 10 political parties to find solution

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said he has chaired a meeting with representatives of 10 political parties to address the current situation in the ethnic violence-hit state. He also said "constructive discussions" were held during the meeting at the CM secretariat on Sunday. "Chaired a meeting with representatives of the 10 political parties at my secretariat to address the current situation in Manipur. "Constructive discussions were held, reflecting a united commitment to navigate challenges and work collectively for the well-being of our state," Singh said on social media. After Sunday's meeting, Congress Legislative Party leader Okram Ibobi said the "10 political parties have urged the chief minister to seek an appointment with the prime minister and his intervention to end the more-than-8-month-long crisis". "Protecting the lives and properties of the people is the duty of the state government and the state has the right to ask the Centre for manpower and tools required f

48-hour strike disrupts normal life across Manipur's Imphal valley

Normal life was disrupted across Manipur's Imphal valley on Saturday due to a 48-hour strike called by a committee formed in connection with the recent killing of a 23-year old village volunteer. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising leaders of civil society organisations, has called the strike that began at 5 am. The village volunteer was killed in a gunfight between two warring communities in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on January 17, officials had said. Markets and other business establishments remained closed in Imphal valley, while public transport services did not operate. Attendance in offices was also reportedly thin. No untoward incident has been reported so far, a police officer said. The hill districts, however, were not affected by the strike. "We had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh in connection with the killing. However, there has been no response from the government... the JAC claimed in a statement. The committee has demanded the ..