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03/31/2006: "ow, Rio under profit scanner- -Cong in campaign to disqualify"

Now, Rio under profit scanner- Cong in campaign to disqualify CM NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph
Dimapur, March 30: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio today found himself in a spot of bother with the Opposition Congress demanding his resignation from two offices of profit. The party also sought Rio’s disqualification on the ground that he was unconstitutionally holding the twin posts of chairmen of the Nagaland Sports Council and the Nagaland Bamboo Mission. The chief minister hurriedly convened a cabinet meeting to discuss the development on the sidelines of the North East Agri Expo in the state’s commercial hub.
As news of Rio and his colleagues going into a huddle spread, Congress leaders speculated that the chief minister had already resigned from the sports council. The chief minister’s office was quick to deny it. The cabinet meeting, which continued till late in the evening, adopted a resolution stating that the office of the chairman of the sports council was “not one of profit” and that Rio was heading it by default because he was the sports minister, too.
The cabinet also contended that the post was exempt from the purview of the Nagaland Disqualification of MLAs Act, 1964. No appointment letter is issued to the chairman of the sports council. Seeking to turn the tables on the Congress, several legislators of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) submitted a memorandum to the governor stating that the leader of the Opposition should be disqualified because he was “enjoying an office of profit”. The legislators claimed that the office of the leader of the Opposition was one of profit because the incumbent enjoyed the rank of a cabinet minister and received perks. This office is not exempt from the provisions of the Nagaland Disqualification of MLAs Act, they said. Earlier in the day, the Congress submitted a memorandum to Governor Shyamal Datta and sent a copy to the Election Commission. For the Opposition, raising the issue and fetching some brownie points was itself reason for a minor celebration.
“Since the decision on the issue is pending before Parliament, the Election Commission may not comment. But this (the Congress’s tirade) will certainly affect Rio,” a senior party leader said. The Congress mentioned in the memorandum that by appointing several legislators to “offices of profit”, the chief minister had jeopardised their position. In another memorandum to the governor, PCC president Hokheto Sumi sought “appropriate action” against chief secretary Lalhuma and additional chief secretary Lalthara for attending a March 6 function commemorating three years of the DAN government. The boot was, however, on the other foot in adjoining Manipur. The Okram Ibobi Singh government was forced to ready an ordinance to protect seven legislators holding offices of profit from disqualification.
FGN Golden jubilee celebrated at Nokhu village The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MARCH 30 (MExN): The Republic Day Golden Jubilee of the Federal Government of Nagaland was celebrated at Nokhu Village in Khiamniungan Region on March 22nd 2006. Brig.(Retd) S.Singnya was the Chief guest of the celebration.
“Despite the prevailing unstable situation in our land today, thousands of people from different walks of life turned up to participate in the celebration which signifies the will and determination of the people to serve the Naga Nation”, a press communiqué issued by Zaleo, Secretary of Killo (Home) Affairs Federal Government of Nagaland stated.
Penglang, the Executive Secretary of Khiamniungan Baptist Churches Association said the invocation prayer followed by presentation of special songs by Nokhu Village Youth and Naga Women Federation. In his address, the Kedahge of the FGN, Brig. (Retd) S.Singnya urged the people to accept reality and come forward with renewed determination to serve the Nation in the cause of Naga Nationalism. Awards and commendations were conferred to personnel who had contributed outstanding services to the nation in the national service. The Pastor of Nokhu Baptist church said the benediction to conclude the meeting. The Cultural bonanza providing merriment and jubilation to each other and everyone was followed by the Golden Jubilee Feast.
“The Golden Jubilee celebration was an occasion where everyone made a solemn vow afresh to be loyal and faithful in the service of the Nation”, the FGN stated.
NE can become Foreign Exchange earning bowl of India: Nyeiwang The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MARCH 30 (DIPR): Parliamentary Secretary for Horticulture, Nyeiwang Konyak is of the view that there is tremendous scope and potentiality for intensive development in the entire NE Region due to its homogenous and diverse agro climactic and geographical conditions. He was addressing a seminar on ‘Emerging Areas of Commercial Interest in North East Region’ at the NE Agri expo 2006 on 30th March.
‘If proper attention is given, the entire region can become the foreign exchange earning bowl of India’, stated Nyeiwang. He however lamented that the region lacks infrastructural facilities, communication and marketing networks besides lack of awareness of technical know-how about various commercial interests. He said that farmers of the region are economically backward as a result of which the farmers cannot afford to invest initial expenditure for development of hi-tech commercial farming which is more expensive but more remunerative.
Nyeiwang said that the region lacked proper and regular marketing, terminal linkage which are essential to exploit the immense potential resources.
Drawing the attention of the various officials from the government of India and the NE States, organizations, Nyeiwang appealed to them to make a note that the entire NE States ‘do require very special attention and consideration for generous assistance in all round developments, especially in the various Agri and Allied activities for the uplift of rural economy in this region. Nyeiwang stressed on the needs to sensitize production patterns to changing conditions of demands. ‘Marketing aspect shall be thoroughly thought of before preparing commercial production plan’, he added. He also appealed to concerned departments to build up strong extension education network and mass media so that the advance technologies are transferred to the grassroots level with all necessary assistance and package of practices for implementation.
Chairing the proceedings Principal Secretary & APC, Alemtemshi IAS gave a brief account of how the north East Agri Expo was initiated and expressed his awe at the amazing response the Expo has generated with over fifty investors and more than seventy exhibition stalls from the industries sector. He also said that India’s traditional image as a land of teeming hungry millions is being removed as evident from the meeting of heads of states with Indian leaders.
Secretary, Sericulture, Government of Nagaland Tovili Sema delivered the welcome address. Presentation were made by Director, CBTC, Guwahati, Dr. Kamesh Salem on ‘Bamboo for socio-economic upliftment of NER’, Head, Agriculture, Entomology, ICAR, Umiam, Dr. NS Azad Thakur on ‘Bamboo flowering and its implications on environment and rural livelihood’. Other topics included ‘Honeybee species for commercial apiculture in NER’ by Head, Entomology AAU, Jorhat, Prof. L.K. Hazarika, ‘Up skilled technologies for apiculture in NER’ by Sr. Scientist, Ento. ICAR, Umiam, DR. AN Shylesha, ‘Potentiality of apiculture in NER’ by Reader, GPB, SASRD, NU, Dr. Kigwe Seyie, ‘Floriculture-an emerging trade for poverty elimination in NER’ by MD, Zopar Export, Bangalore, Rajesh Prasad and ‘Technological support for promotion of floriculture in NER’ by Associate Prof, ( Floriculture) AAU, Jorhat, Dr Madhumita C. Talukdar. Dzuvinuo Theunuo
EC asks Assam's neighbouring states to seal borders New Kerala
New Delhi: In a bid to ensure a peaceful and violence-free assembly polls in Assam, the Election Commission today asked the neighbouring states to seal their borders with Assam ahead of the first phase of polling on April three.
In a communication to Chief Secretaries of Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, the EC has asked them to step up measures to seal the borders with Assam.

This measure would help in checking cross-border movement of extremists and disruptive elements into Assam which would witness two-phased polls on April three and ten.
As many as 65 assembly constituencies would go to polls in the first phase of polling.
The full Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon had reviewed the security environment in the state during its visit on March 17 and 18.
Rebels attack rail site Nagareal.com
Guwahati, March 31: Breaking the lull in violence just ahead of the Assembly elections in Assam, militants belonging to the Jewel Garlosa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) gunned down a worker engaged by a railway contractor and critically injured another at Retzole in North Cachar Hills district yesterday. NC Hills superintendent of police A.R. Laskar said the incident occurred around 9 pm when a group of suspected DHD (Jewel) militants in black masks targeted a labour camp. The rebels opened fire from sophisticated weapons, injuring two of the workers — Basu Patra (25) and Gopinath Mandal (50). Patra succumbed to his injuries on the way to Haflong Civil Hospital around 1 am today.

The condition of Mandal, who was admitted to the same hospital, is stated to be critical.
The workers, hired by a private firm, MK Engineers, were engaged in gauge-conversion work. Both the labourers are from West Bengal. The police said the attack was in random retaliation to an operation carried out by the security forces against the group late last year in which two of its cadre were killed and a huge cache of arms seized.
However, other sources said the attack was a fallout of the contractors failing to pay a hefty amount demanded by the outfit. An operation has been launched to apprehend the militants in the densely-forested area of Retzole where the labour camp is located. NC Hills deputy commissioner A. K. Baruah, the superintendent of police and other district administration officials rushed to the spot with security reinforcements immediately after the incident.

The police said seven rounds of empty cartridges of AK-47 assault rifles were found on the spot. The rebel group is a splinter faction of the DHD led by Dilip Nunisa, which has entered into a ceasefire with the Centre. The Jewel faction has repeatedly turned down the Centre’s peace overtures. The faction was floated in 2003 after Jewel Garlosa — one of the founders of the outfit — broke away from the main group.
The group’s activities are primarily confined to NC Hills and Karbi Anglong, particularly in Dhansiri and Howraghat areas. The DHD is fighting for a separate homeland for the Dimasas.
The outfit also claims that Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, is their ancestral land and was only “temporarily” included in the then Naga Hills district under the Sixth Schedule.
The DHD further claims that the temporary inclusion of Dimapur in the state of Nagaland was evident in a statement reportedly made by Jawaharlal Nehru, who told the then Naga leaders that Dimapur would be excluded from the state within a span of 25 years.
Congress plot rebounds Morung Express News Dimapur | March 30

The ploy of the Opposition Congress in Nagaland to unseat Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio from his chair appears to have taken a reverse route. The Nagaland Peoples’ Front today said the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had already passed a legislation known as the Nagaland State Legislative Members (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964 which says the offices of parliamentary secretaries, chairman of any committee, board or authority appointed by the government or any office under the government, which is not a full time office, and not remunerated by salary or fees, has been exempted from disqualification under Article 191 of the Constitution. The Congress had earlier sought the resignation of Rio by saying that he was holding the posts of chairman of both the Nagaland Bamboo Mission and the Nagaland Sports Council. The hunter has apparently become the hunted. “It is now found that the Office of Leader of Opposition, which has been given the salary and other facilities, similar to a Cabinet Minister, is not included in the list of exemptions in the above Act of 1964,” an NPF release signed by its Press Secretary R Paphino said. It is obvious that Leader of Opposition I Imkong is the prime target for disqualification for holding office of profit, it said. “It will be advisable if the CLP also study the existing provisions of relevant Acts before demanding the resignation of any other Members of the Legislative Assembly, who are, in fact, not liable for disqualification, lest it boomerang on their leader.”
Saying that during the 10 year Congress rule, the then Chief Minister SC Jamir had been holding the post of Chairman of the State Sports Council, the NPF questioned, “If the Congress thought that this was an Office of profit, then why raise the issue only now?”
Further, the demand of the President of the Nagaland Congress for action against the two senior most bureaucrats of the State has been termed as an apparent reflection of “the growing desperation of the Congress party.”
“Many similar official functions had been held in the State Banquet Hall in the past, where the Chief Secretary either chaired the function or gave the welcome address.”
DAN MLAs seek Imkong’s disqualification The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MARCH 30 (MExN): Nine MLAs of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) have written to the Governor of Nagaland asking for the disqualification of Leader of Opposition I Imkong from the Nagaland Legislature by referring to Article 192 read with Article 191 of the Constitution of India. The MLAs- Naiba Konyak, Heno, Hewoto, Tarie Zeliang, Hukavi, MC Konyak, Deo Nukhu, Nyemli and Khutovi-
today said, “The Office of the Leader of Opposition is an office of profit.”
According to the complaint, the Jangpetkong representative has been persistent in his demand that his pay and perks should be hiked to that of a Cabinet Minister in the State. “He has written to the Secretary of the Assembly in this regard. A copy is enclosed,” the Governor was told. Imkong is said to have “consistently raised this matter in the Business Advisory Committee also though the matter did not come under the jurisdiction of the Committee.” He is also said to have written to the Speaker for granting him some of the hiked pecuniary benefits from retrospective date.
The Leader of Opposition’s office is one of profit as it is not in the exempted category as enumerated in the Nagaland State Legislature Members (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964, the MLAs said.
“The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 specifically exempts the office of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament from being deemed as an office of profit,” it said.
“While he pursued a legislation for profit, he did not pursue with same vigour a legislative amendment for exempting the office from being deemed as office of profit fearing that any such pursuit for the latter purpose may expose him to the public.”
Sonia woos minorities Nagaland Post Chaygaon (Assam), March 30 (PTI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi today assured the minorities that they would not be "harassed" after the scrapping of the IMDT Act. Addressing her last rally at the Chaygaon Mini Stadium here during her day-long whirlwind election tour of the state, Gandhi said that to ensure that minorities were not harassed, the UPA government amended the Foreigners' Act after the IMDT Act was scrapped.
''The amended Act will ensure that nobody is harassed for the wrong reasons'', Gandhi said.
She further said that there was no difference between the AGP and BJP during whose rule in both the state and Centre, "Assam suffered a lot". ''During the NDA government's rule in the Centre and AGP government in the state, Assam suffered due to lack of development and poor law and order situation'', she said. Gandhi further claimed that during AGP's rule people were afraid to venture out in the dark but soon after Congress came to power, the situation changed for the better.
''The state government was successful in removing fear from the minds of the people and had also initiated the process of talks with militant outfits. Gun is not the solution but talks within the framework of the Constitution can be held and the process has already begun'', she added. Listing the achievements of the Congress government in Assam, Gandhi said the state had no debt and salaries were being paid to government employees on time.
She alleged that some vested interests were out to create disturbances, particularly on the eve of elections, but the people were aware of the evil forces. ''Congress has always refrained from indulging in dirty politics as done by the AGP and BJP who have compromised the interest of the state'', she said. Sonia further listed the achievements of the UPA government at the Centre under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and described the National Rural Employment Programme in which atleast hundred days of wages have been guaranteed. The Congress president appealed to the voters to bring the party back to power.
''Your vote is very valuable and this will decide the future of the state. The evil forces should be given befitting reply'', she added. Earlier addressing another election rally at Nazira, Gandhi accused the "BJP of being a communal party which will destroy the harmonious situation that exists in the state among the different communities". She said that the "Congress was the only party that can ensure that national security was not compromised".
‘Separation of judiciary not a threat to customary law’ The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MARCH 30 (MExN): Replying to a news report carried in The Morung Express titled, ‘Village Chiefs say no to separation of judiciary’ which appeared in the March 29 issue, Assistant Solicitor General of India and a senior advocate Ketulhu Meruno today said, “Separation of judiciary from the Executive has nothing to do with our customs or customary laws.” By citing Article 371-A of the Constitution, the legal representative said Naga customary law is protected by the very same Article. “In other words, the Constitutional Rights can be interpreted only by the Higher Judiciary and not by the Lower Judiciary and in view of that, Nagas have nothing to lose or fear from the separation of Judiciary but stands to gain by the separation.”
Meruno said once the judiciary is divorced from the executive, then the executive becomes only an organ to implement the laws (bills) passed by the legislature and the functions of the judiciary is to ensure that the implementation of laws are done justly and not in arbitrary manner. “In fact, by separation of Judiciary from the Executive, the only responsibility of maintaining the Customary Laws and Practices of the Nagas shift upon the Judiciary and in my opinion, the Judiciary is the best organ to do so. The disjointing of the two pillars of government will allow justice to be delivered without fear or favour”, he said.
Lalhuma has dreams unlimited on rural Nagaland The Morung Express DIMAPUR, MARCH 30 (DIPR): Sharing his fantasies on the Nagaland Rural Scenario, during the conference on Rural Development entitled Development through decentralization at the on going NE Agri Expo 2006, the Chief secretary of Nagaland, Laluma today said that he dreams of village to which Urban folks literally scrambled to on holidays in order to escape the noise, congestion and pollution of he town and breathe the unpolluted air and relax themselves in the well maintained rest house maintained by the villagers, swim in the crystal clear river and take long walks in the unspoiled forest, eat home cooked food and return to the towns/cities to go about their tasks with renewed vigour. He dreams of a rural Nagaland where funds percolate down to the VDBs and fruits of development seen-living standard of people substantially increased, fire prone thatch roofing and bamboo walling replaced by CGI sheets and brick walls, black topped all weather roads crises-crossing the villages- mini bus transporting the rural folk- trucks loaded with surplus products winding their way to the market in the town- cold storages and go-downs dotting the landscape stocked with agricultural and horticulture produces awaiting the next consignments to be loaded- village granaries full to the brim- CPO go-downs closed down for want of buyers- forest rejuvenated- feeding the thirsty fields- each village jealously maintaining and guarding its own reserved forests and, water catchments areas- hunting and fishing strictly regulated- water sources and water supply systems managed by the people- no more work charged workers.
Another Sapna as he terms it motivated and educated teacher enthusiastically imparting meaningful education to the children of the future and nurturing moulding them into respectable and useful citizens- school building that looks like centres of learning and not run down sheds that resemble cowsheds- that are carefully maintained by the villagers supported by their own funds, donated materials and voluntary labour- effective and functional village education managing the schools.
On the Animal and Veterinary front the Chief Secretary visualizes healthy cows loaded down with milk contentedly mooing in the meadows munching away the rich fodder blanketing the slopes, sty stocked with pigs and sows- chicken in their hundreds clucking away in their pens- the ponds literally chocked with fish wholesalers and retailers making a bee- live for the villagers- haggling over prices- producers turning dictators- flouring village co-operative handling all the marketing, feed productions and animal health care- small scale cottage industries humming with productive activities generating rural employments and resource- markets all over the country ‘MADE IN NAGALAND’ being looked upon with respect and quiet admiration. Beside many others, Lalhuma’s dream includes Micro hydel projects generating enough power to meet rural requirements of lighting sustaining village industrial units and the down sites storing precious water to irrigate command areas of agricultural land- conventional source of energy and cooking slowly replaced by improved chullahs, bio-gas plants, solar and wind energized, street lights- village dispensaries, manned by the people well stocked with medicines- the concept of dedicated bare-foot doctors of the Chinese pattern revived.
Whether these dreams could be realized and translated into reality depends on the citizens of Nagaland, he said. Lolano & Mhathung
The Roots Today's Editorial March 31 The Morung Express
Human cultures have through time adopted and adapted diverse habitats and utilized, altered and nurtured resources to meet countless everyday needs. Consequently, the process of resource harvesting and domestication of plants and animals have stimulated interdependence between natural and human-induced biodiversity. There is no doubt that horticulture over the last eleven thousand years has come to occupy a crucial place as an agricultural enterprise, attracting investors and indicating its potential towards economic growth. Its value is further amplified in its scope to increase productivity and employment growth to address poverty.
Though horticulture provides an array of options and possibilities, it has nonetheless been a very difficult issue where it has involved mega-corporates in relation to indigenous peoples, their land and resources. Bio-diversity has been an essential asset and need of indigenous people, who have over the years practiced the use of land and resources in ways consistent with their value, knowledge system and way of life. However, with the advent of corporates, whose primarily objective is profit-making, it has brought these two different paradigms and values in conflict with each other. Central to this conflict has been the questions of land ownership and sustainable management of resources. This has necessitated creating alternative paradigms that addresses the vacuum caused by diversion of subsistence modes of production that has for generations served the purpose of meeting the needs of the family and community. Land and related resource rights are elementary to indigenous peoples existence, since they constitute the basis of their economic livelihood and are the source of their spiritual, social, cultural and political identity. Dominant development approaches have however viewed them as non-productive and detrimental to the supposedly modernizing aspirations of states. As a result, many developmental policies are directly or indirectly weakening and affecting indigenous modes of production. In the name of development, various policies have dispossessed indigenous peoples of their lands and natural resources; undermining their dignified survival. At this vital point in time, when Nagas as indigenous people are exploring ways to define affective modes of production to meet their needs, it is essential to engage in a public and democratic discourse to generate solutions from indigenous perspective. Tragically, the repetitive cycle of having ‘expertise’ from non-indigenous experiences with state-centered paradigms has often led to solutions derived on convenience and interest. Such approaches have proven to be unsustainable and detrimental to the survival of indigenous people. A vital lesson from the Expo teaches us that it is time to invest on indigenizing modes of production and strengthening local knowledge systems, so that, a paradigm that affectively increases production and respects the values and dignity of the people can be realized. Throughout history, peoples and societies have transformed dramatically when new ways to increase food production has been realized. Perhaps modernizing the indigenization of production is a respectful solution that finds new ways to use land and to maximize quality of life.
Govt-student body talks fail to yield results From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, March 30 – The formal negotiations between Manipur Government and All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur over educational infrastructure development in the hills have failed to achieve results though the talks are likely to resume.

With the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the chair, a meeting between the striking student leaders from the hills and government officials in presence of senior Cabinet ministers was held at the former’s conference hall this afternoon at 3. However, the talk wound up without any fruitful understanding. It is learnt that ATSUM leaders looked unhappy when the government tried to table a five-point Memorandum of Understanding.

“We are ready to withdraw the agitation once they fulfill our demands,” a leader of ATSUM told this reporter. “How can we sign an MoU without getting a Cabinet decision on our demands for its implementation”. Confirming that they had climbed down to seven points for the Government to implement, the student leader opined that “if the government is interested in our demands,we’ll continue to talk with them”.
Even Chief Minister Ibobi who inspected the progress work of the construction this afternoon informed the media that his government will continue to talk with ATSUM to bring an amicable solution without delay. But till date there is no sign of lifting the indefinite economic blockade imposed on the two National Highways 39 and 53 passing through the state since March 25 midnight.
Earlier in the meeting, Government proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the striking student body, but latter were not ready to do so on certain grounds, sources said.
On the demand of adequate teachers, the government assured that required number of Mathematics, Science, Arts Graduate and Undergraduate teachers in the hills on contract basis with special preference to local candidates will be available “immediately”.

Similarly it assured two separate Directorates of Education (Schools) for Hills and Valley over and above redesignation of Deputy Director (Tribal Development) as D.O in Hill districts. It further assured that the reservation rules will be formulated within three weeks.
At the same time a committee to be headed by Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh will be constituted to examine the matter of conversion of Grant-in -aid schools into government schools in accordance with the government policy.
In most of the assurances, government fixed three weeks time to put their action into motion. “ We don’t bother about it, but we bother about the implementation of our demands that is developmenent of educational infrastructure in the hills properly,” he added. The student body had raised 13-point charter of demands to be implemented by the State Government.
Due to the economic blockade, the number of goods-laden vehicles lying stranded on the two National Highways has risen to over 120. Reports said over 80 vehicles are stuck at Mao, the border hill town on NH-39 while at Jiribam (NH-53) bordering Assam, the number is said to have risen to 21 and two at Kangpokpi.

Another blockade on the anvil The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Mar 29: The Zeliangrong Students Union, Tamei area, and the Kuki Students Organisation, Sadar Hills area have announced their intent to launch an indefinite blockade on both NH-39 and NH-53 from March 31 onwards if the agreement reached earlier between the student bodies and the state chief minister for development of the IT road is not implemented in letter and spirit. The student bodies also expressed deep resentment over `interference` by education minister Francis Ngajokpa in the road development work, and have demanded his removal from the state council of ministers.
In a statement the student bodies said the renovation work of the road had begun as per the agreement reached between them and the state government, but owing to interference by Francis Ngajokpa, the letter of intent for the work could not be issued till today.

The student bodies strongly condemned Francis for asserting that adequate funds are unavailable for construction work of the IT road, despite the assurance given by the chief minister that sufficient funds will be sanctioned for the road improvement work.
They demanded that Francis should be dropped from the council of ministers for his anti-development attitude towards the hill areas.
They also demanded that the construction work should be continued by the contractors proposed by the student bodies, and not by Francis`s. They further urged the works minister to honour the agreement reached between the student bodies and the government and not to be mislead by Francis. Our Tamenglong correspondent adds: Expressing deep anguish over the government`s failure to repair the 39.5 stretch of Sangrung (Khongsang) - Tamenglong road in Imphal-Tamenglong road via Sangrung village, the Zeliangrong Student`s Union Manipur have declared indefinite picketing of government offices from March 30.

Informing this, Taluiyang Kahmei, coordinator ZSUTD said the union would take up several agitational steps including the office picketing, adding other stronger steps would follow if the government failed to take up appropriate action to materialize the demand within early stage of the office picketing.
The ZSU also announced that plying of government vehicles in the national highway - 53 would also be checked, adding essential duties including power, water supply and health related works would be exempted from the purview of the strike, said the coordinator.

Meanwhile, the eight edition of the Rani Gaidinliu memorial women`s football trophy, 2006 is undergoing here at Mini Stadium. Freedom Women`s Sporting Organisation and Zeliangrong Women`s Union have entered the final while Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Tamenglong and West Chiulon Youth Club would be playing for the third place tomorrow at the same ground. Thaithuilung Pamei, IAS, deputy commissioner, Tamenglong will grace the closing ceremony on March 31 at Mini Staidum, Tamenglong.