Nominee slams Centre

Itanagar, March 20 : The Congress candidate for Arunachal West parliamentary constituency, Takam Sanjoy, today blamed the Centre’s “flip-flop” policies for the region’s woes.

He told reporters here today, “I must admit that our government at the Centre has been instrumental in developing the other parts of the country but has neglected the Northeast.” He said as a result, militants had gained ground.

He said the Northeast’s 50-year-old history of insurgency had badly hit development in the region.

Besides, the Congress governments at the Centre had been neglecting “a frontier state like Arunachal Pradesh” while distributing doles “till Prime Minister Manmohan announced a Rs 24-crore package for the all-round development of the state”.

He also said the people of the state that shared a border with China always lived in fear of aggression from the neighbouring country besides bearing the brunt of insurgency in Tirap and Changlang district that bordered Myanmar, Nagaland and Assam.

“Blame it on the flip-flop policy of the Centre in tackling security matters,” Sanjoy said.

He said militants had gained ground in the region because of the weak mechanism of the Centre and added that initiating development projects was the only way to bring the misguided youths back to the mainstream.

He promised to strive to solve the Chakma-Hajong issue if elected. “The Chakma and Hajong issue has been put on the backburner. But I will work earnestly to find a solution to the imbroglio by initiating a dialogue among the Centre, state government, Chakma leaders and the representatives of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union,” he added.

Arunachal traders protest against extortion

 ITANAGAR, feb 1 – In a bid to protest the repeated demand notes being served on the traders allegedly by different covert and overt organisations, the trading community of the State capital and its adjoining areas such as Nirjuli and Banderdewa on Thursday downed their shutters for more than four hours.

The traders resolved to move the police against any bid to extortion, and to bring such cases to the notice of the district authorities for taking measures to contain the menace.

Time and again, the traders, especially non-tribals, are at the receiving end of bandh calls, donation and extortion notes, and threats of dire consequences if they fail to meet the demands of such organisations.

The businessmen are the worst victims during any bandh call as they not only lose business but have also to meet the demands of the bandh sponsors, said Arunachal Chamber of Commerce & Industries (ACCI), the apex organization of traders of the capital complex.

Downing their shutters, the traders, under the banner of ACCI and Bazar Welfare Committees of Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa, have unanimously decided to stand united to bring an end to such activities.

Although the local administration of Papum Pare district, had already banned the collection of donations on occasions more than once, it has no impact at all, as various groups and organizations were targeting the individual traders in groups and threatening them of dire consequences. Some organizations threatened a few of the traders to even pack up in case of failure to meet their ransom, said the ACCI president Techi Lala and general secretary Tarh Nachung, in a joint press statement here.

Assam govt alleges Arunachal violating status quo

Guwahati, Jan 7 : The Assam government today stood firm on evicting any encroachment by neighbouring states and appealed them to maintain status quo along the disputed land.

''The Assam government has maintained status quo along the disputed areas, with a Border Dispute Commission disposing the claims and counter-claims. We urge the neighbouring states also to do so but if they try to encroach, our government won't lie low,'' state Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain informed the Assembly.

He was replying, on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, to a Zero Hour notice moved by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Arunachal Pradesh setting up a check gate inside Assam land under Bihpuria revenue circle in North Lakhimpur district.

The district administration had evicted the check gate on December 29, the minister informed, adding the Lakhimpur administration had repeatedly asked its counterpart in Papumpare district to stop the construction of the new check gate about 600 metres inside Assam and had also drawn the attention of the Centre.

''It was only after Papumpare administration did not heed our requests that our officials evacuated the check gate,'' Mr Hussain said.

On the reported 'quit notice' to Assamese people in Arunachal Pradesh in the aftermath of the eviction drive, he said Assam government will take all necessary steps to ensure safety of its people.

He added that additional forces could also be deployed depending on the need.

To a separate Call Attention Motion by Independent Legislator Pranab Kalita on the border row with Nagaland, Mr Hussain said the disputes were being settled by a Border Dispute Settlement Commission and till further notification, both the states would be maintaining status quo.