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Take active role in West Asia, Syrian Prez tells India
Kargil happened because of lack of visualisation: General Malik
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Toxic Watch slams Assocham study on waste projects
After Mehta, another activist found murdered
Panel studying proposal on
registration of all marriages
Panel for budgetary provision with
new laws
Army chief to visit Russia
next week
Arushi Murder Case
Kalam begins ‘lead India movement’ for youth
SP threatens stir over women quota Bill
VHP’s campaign to save Ganga
Shopkeeper’s murder
Power firm in spot over
Assam floods
Cong wary of BJP-AGP ties
Govt not averse to talks with ULFA
Gorkhaland Talks
Agriculture can transform North-East: Sangma
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Take active role in West Asia, Syrian Prez tells India
New Delhi, June 18 Assad also called for cooperation between India and Syria in the fight against terrorism, while emphasising that there was tremendous potential for expanding trade and economic relations between the two countries. Kicking off his five-day visit to India, the first by a Syrian leader in 30 years, Assad said India not only had an important role to play in Asian affairs but also at the global level. India and Syria signed three major agreements pertaining to the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes, multilateral promotion and protection of investments and cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The Syrian leader held extensive talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lasting about an hour. An external affairs ministry spokesman said the situation in West Asia figured prominently during the discussions. The need for progress in various tracks of the peace process, an early implementation of relevant UN resolutions and the need for greater involvement of all significant regional and international participants were discussed. In this regard, noting recent developments, the two leaders agreed to stay in close consultation on the next steps in the peace process. Efforts aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and commercial cooperation between India and Syria, the encouragement of joint ventures in a variety of areas, including in Syrian phosphatic fertilisers, hydrocarbon and power sectors, were highlighted in the talks. India offered to conduct a consultancy study on the integrated development of the Syrian phosphatic sector. BHEL has bid for the 500 MW Al-Zara power project in Syria. Indian participation in the Syrian banking sector and the possibilities of cooperation in the information technology sector were also discussed. Attaching great importance to the visit of their President, Syrian officials were confident that bilateral relations would get a major boost as a result of the visit. They hoped that the exchange of bilateral visits at the highest level would become more regular as there were virtually no issues on which the two countries differed diametrically. Even on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, Syria has held the view that it was a matter between India and Pakistan and the two countries should resolve it bilaterally. India and Syria have also cooperated at various international forums, including the United Nations. “There is no reason why the India-Syria relations should not get an impetus in the days to come,’’ a member of the Syrian delegation said. Assad himself was very confident that his visit would herald a new beginning in the India-Syria relations. “We are living in a turbulent region and India always supported our causes. We expect India to play a more active role in the West Asia peace process. We expect to have cooperation on different issues, fight terrorism, having more trade between Syria and India,” he said after he was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan this morning. Besides meeting top Indian leaders, Assad also addressed a luncheon meeting organised by the Indian Chambers of Commerce at which he wooed the captains of the Indian industry to invest liberally in his country. On the problem of rising food prices, he said the issue could be tackled only through global cooperation.
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Kargil happened because of lack of visualisation: General Malik
New Delhi, June 18 Referring to the assumption in military strategy that despite all efforts to prevent it, there may be a war, he said those who found it "irritating or doubtful, I would like to remind them of the Kargil war that broke out within two months of the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan signing the Lahore Declaration with much fanfare." This assumption, he said, was, therefore, "a reminder to the strategists to visualise security threats, the possibility and nature of conflict and to always remain prepared for such an eventuality." In a foreword to a book, 'Indian Army Vision - 2020' authored by Brig Gurmeet Kanwal( retd), Malik also said that military history showed that "nations who neglect this historical determinism make themselves vulnerable to military surprise, defeat and ignominy." Without referring to the Kargil conflict, he also pointed out that it had seldom been possible to forecast the time, place, scope, intensity and the tenor of a conflict and stressed that security plans should cater to the "complete spectrum of conflict." Defending the Indo-US nuclear deal, the former Army chief blamed "lack of ability to generate hard power" and the tendency among politicians to "fixing each other than fixing outsiders" for the "hullabaloo" over the India-US Civil Nuclear deal.
— PTI
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Toxic Watch slams Assocham study on waste projects
New Delhi, June 18 “It is a perversion of the waste management. Urban wastes is a growing urban problem, and the industry is eyeing it as a potential money spinner. Garbage is a management problem and merits a management solution not a technological quick fix,” it said here. The NGO said waste was wasted natural resources and it was unsustainable to generate more and more waste, hence instead of treating it merely as an economic good, any intervention must be examined in the context of waste minimisation, making waste less toxic and reducing its environmental impact. In the Indian context, it was a fact that the livelihood of millions of people depended on waste recycling, it added. Referring to the Assocham study on Mitigating Climate Change: The Indian Perspective? released on June 12, it said the study failed to note that the composition of Indian municipal solid waste (MSW) was quite different from that of the US and Europe; its distinctive features were of the low calorific value, high moisture content, high proportion of organic matter, Earth, sand and grit. The Toxic Watch said the problem of waste was not only of its quantity but also its nature. There were two main components of Indian urban waste; the biodegradable component consisting mainly of food items, kitchen waste, and so on; and the nonbiodegradable component comprising plastics, metals, and others. “The multibillion-dollar worldwide waste industry sells the promise that waste as a mixed commodity is fine and there is no need for segregation or segmental approaches,” it said. “Treating energy as the sole focus for waste treatment is not only unsustainable from the point of energy economics, but also distorts waste management, since it does not automatically lead to waste minimisation and sustainable waste behaviour. The issue becomes more complex if high-heat thermal technologies, such as incineration, pyrolysis or gasification are used for waste treatment,” it said. — UNI
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After Mehta, another activist found murdered
New Delhi, June 18 Now, another sordid tale has surfaced, this time of a naib sarpanch from Orissa's Koraput district, who was recently found murdered in Narayanpatna.
Narayan Hareka (38), an activist of the Orissa Adibasi Manch, was last seen at the block headquarters asking for data on NREGA implementation in the area. While the local police has, as usual, closed the case after registering an FIR for death in an accident, Hareka's colleagues at Koraput see it a case of murder, and allege contractor-police nexus. Narayan was opposing corruption, liquor brewing, private money lending and land alienation by non-tribals in the area. “He died a terrible death. His right eye had been pulled out, throat slit, right arm virtually in pieces and face severely disfigured. Such selective injuries don't happen in accidents. It's a murder. I wish the police can see it," says Kantamani Hareka, Narayan's wife, who, along with Anukaran, the NGO with which Narayan was associated, have asked the Orissa Chief Minister to look into the pilferage in NREGA works and other social security schemes in Narayanpatna block. They have also requested SP, Koraput, and top Orissa police officials to hold crime branch inquiry into the case. Speaking to The Tribune, some members of Anukaran said the local police had recently traced the tractor of a non-tribal local contractor, which, they claimed, trampled over Narayan when he was driving his bike. "We don't believe in this accident theory. Narayan was eliminated as he had opened the corruption notebooks against local contractors after getting elected as naib sarpanch in the gram panchayat at Borigi”.
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Panel studying proposal on
registration of all marriages
New Delhi, June 18 The proposal, prepared by commission member Tahir Mahmood, suggests enactment of a central law making registration mandatory for all marriages in the country. Mahmood said today that his proposal, if approved by the commission and accepted by the government, would be a big step towards making registration of all marriages compulsory. The proposal assumes significance in the light of the Supreme Court’s order last year on compulsory registration of marriages of couples belonging to all religions across the country. The court had directed the states and union territories to frame necessary rules and reiterated that marriages should be compulsorily registered in respect of persons who are citizens of India even if they belonged to various religions. The apex court had held that compulsory registration of marriages of all religions would be a step in the right direction for prevention of child marriage, a practice still prevalent in many parts of the country. The court had said that one way to curb the practice was to make it legally compulsory for all to register their marriage, mentioning their age at the time of wedlock.
— PTI
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Panel for budgetary provision with new laws New Delhi, June 18 Set up on February 15 last to suggest a framework so that every Bill introduced in Parliament is accompanied by judicial assessment impact, the task force has said assessment should be scientific to estimate extra caseload a new Bill or legislation may add to the burden of courts. "Such impact assessments must be made in respect of Bills that are introduced in Parliament as well as Bills introduced in the state legislatures," states report, which the task force, under the chairmanship of Justice M. Jagannadaha Rao submitted to union law and justice minister H.R. Bharadwaj today. The report takes into account the existing burden on the courts that are expected to adjudicate matters pertaining to the laid laws, within the available infrastructure and resources. Justice Rao today referred to the prevailing inadequacies in infrastructure needed for judicial administration. India has only about 14,000 courts, even as new laws are passed every day without any thought to the extra burden that they mean for the judiciary. "There are about 2.5 million cases still pending in our courts. We need a five-fold increase in the current strength of courts to dispose of these cases. Hence, the necessity of scientific assessment of new legislation which entails extra expenditure on extra cases that may arise if the Bill is passed by Parliament or the state legislature," Justice Rao said.
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Army chief to visit Russia
next week New Delhi, June 18 General Kapoor will meet Russian defence officials and senior military officials. He will visit Russian Land Forces Tank Division, Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy and North Caucasus Military District. During his interaction with senior defence and military officials of Russia, General Kapoor will discuss issues related to military cooperation. An Army spokesman said the visit would further the defence cooperation between the two nations and cement India’s ties with Russia that are time-tested and based on continuity, trust and mutual understanding.
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CBI interrogates Durranis
Noose tightens around Krishna Parmindar Singh Tribune News Service
Noida, June 18 Meanwhile, the noose is tightening around the neck of Talwar’s compounder Krishna, who, according to the CBI, has confessed to his role in the double murder. The agency has booked Krishna for the murders. Today, the details of the lie detection tests conducted on Rajesh Talwar, Nupur Talwar and Krishna were made known. Nupur, Rajesh Talwar and Krishna in their replies, according to the CBI, had made an attempt to conceal much, but their heartbeats and other reflexes had saved them. Krishna was asked: “How did you kill Arushi. “I did not kill her”. “Why did you kill her with Khukri”. “I did not”. “Do you have a Khukri?” “No I don’t have a Khukri”. Here, according to the CBI, was the catch. Then the CBI told him “we have recovered a Khukri from your home. Have you seen a Khukri”. “No I have not”. Then Krishna stumbled: “Hem Raj had asked for a Khukri. I had carried and given him on May 15.” “Did Hem Raj kill Arushi?”. “How do I know I was not in Hem Raj’s room that night.” “Did you have enmity with Hem Raj?”. “No.” “Where is Arushi’s mobile phone?. “I do not know.” “Did Arushi visit clinic often.” “She used to visit clinic along with Durrani’s daughter Neha sometimes.” Krishna said he had closed the clinic at 1.30 pm on May 15 and returned the keys at night. “Where were you on May 15 night.” “I was at my house- L-14, Sector 25.” All the time he kept grumbling, “Why I have been arrested. I am innocent. Please release me.” Krishna’s replies had provided many clues to the CBI. In replies to various questions, Krishna told the investigating agency that he rarely visited the Talwar house, used to go to Anita Durrani’s house occasionally and just knew Durrani’s domestic help Raj Kumar. He said Talwar and Anita were good friends. According CBI sources, Krishna also tried to implicate Rajesh Talwar in his replies. The CBI’s investigations are progressing around all these replies. According to CBI sources, Anita Durrani’s interrogation will be on the basis of replies given by Durrani’s domestic help Raj Kumar to the CBI earlier. The agency’s purpose is to guage the proximity in relations between Rajesh Talwar and Anita Durrani from their interrogation and various tests.
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Two more servants grilled
Noida, June 18 The move itself confirms that the CBI is still groping in the dark about the mystery of the double murder that has rocked the nation’s psyche. Vijay Mondal worked in the house across Talwars’ and was known to Hemraj and Krishna. He was picked up by the CBI officials this morning and had to undergo a lie-detection test. According to a CBI source, the questions put to Vijay were mostly related to the incidents on the night of the murder and his whereabouts.
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Kalam begins ‘lead India movement’ for youth
Aligarh, June 18 The former President was here as a chief guest in the 56th annual convocation of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Conveying that youth can make a difference to society by contributing in the areas of literacy, environment, social justice, minimising rural urban divide and national development, Kalam said, “The youth development has multiple dimensions.” The youth, who works hard with a career goal, can altogether serve his family, society, nation and humanity, the former President claimed. Of 6.6 billion people, two-thirds were living below the poverty line, while 50 per cent of the population even do not have access to safe drinking water. Many people were not even getting quality education, he noted. “Therefore, I have started a Lead India 2020 Movement with the mission for young students based on the self-designed 10-point oath,” Dr Kalam maintained. He urged the students of AMU to come up with “out of the box” solutions to help people below poverty line gain access to quality education or even safe drinking water. Kalam, who has authored the inspirational work, “Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India,” said: “An ignited mind is the most powerful resource on the earth, above the earth and under the earth.” The mother, father and primary schoolteacher were the three sources to build a youth with righteousness in the heart, he added. Turning to Wipro chairman Azim Premji, who was present on the dais, he said Aligarh should also get a taste of “Wipro knowledge and its mantra for achieving success based on hard work, customer’s delight and a bit of luck.” Kalam and Premji were conferred with honorary doctorates for their devoted efforts in the development of the country. — UNI
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SP threatens stir over women quota Bill
Lucknow, June 18 Talking to the media at the party headquarters, Mulayam Yadav said the rallies would be attended by members from the SC/ST, OBCs and minority communities. Other like-minded leaders like JD (U)’s Sharad Yadav and RLD’s Lalu Yadav would also come forward to support the rallies, claimed Mulayam Yadav. Clarifying that his party was not against reservation for women but was merely opposed to the Bill in its present form, Mulayam Yadav cited three reasons for his opposition. According to him the first and the foremost reason for their resistance was that the draft Bill did not have any provision for women belonging to SC/ST, OBCs and minorities. “If the Bill is passed in its present form, it will upset the democratic system and will not even benefit women,” he feared. Yadav demanded the inclusion of reservation for women belonging to the deprived sections of society who have historically been denied an opportunity to be heard. Elaborating on his demand, he said, “If the Bill is passed in its present form only women belonging to well-heeled families and wives of bureaucrats would get a chance to enter Parliament, while others would continue to get a raw deal.” The second demand was regarding the reservation of women within political parties. Mulayam contended that every party should have 15 per cent and not 33 per cent reservation for women. “Any party not conforming to this should automatically lose its registration,” he suggested. The SP that has consistently opposed the women reservation Bill also argued that it should be the prerogative of the political parties and not the Election Commission to decide which seat was suitable for women candidates. Demanding the deletion of the clause that calls for the rotation of seats reserved for women, Mulayam said this would undermine the relationship between the candidate and the voter. “The elected candidate will not serve the constituency with the required dedication as she would not be sure if she would be representing it the next time.” Charging the Congress-led UPA government of trying to hurriedly pass the Bill before the Lok Sabha elections next year, Mulayam Yadav said meetings of the standing committee were being held in the national Capital at an “alarming frequency” so as to resolve the contentious issues. He did not even spare Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who, he said, had given a categorical assurance of not pushing the Bill till a consensus was evolved.
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VHP’s campaign to save Ganga
Dehra Dun, June 18 In a letter released from the banks of the Ganga at Uttarkashi, Agarwal alleged that it was Hindu leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi and U.K. Chaudhary, who signed on the dotted line on the issue of unhindered flow of the Ganga over the Tehri dam in the Joshi committee formed by former Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee in 2002. “Murli Manohar Joshi sits in the Marg Darshak Mandal meetings of the VHP while Chaudhary finds a place in the committee of “Ganga bhakts” formed by Baba Ramdev,” he said. The VHP at its meeting held at Hardwar on June 15 and 16 had decided to extend support to Agarwal and decided to start an agitation under the leadership of yoga guru Baba Ramdev to “save” the Ganga. Agarwal wrote that VHP chief Ashok Singhal ignored the plea for an apology from Murli Manohar Joshi on the issue. He also questioned the wisdom of starting an awareness programme on the Ganga by Baba Ramdev after his decision to undertake an indefinite fast. Terming Uttarakhand Chief Minister Khanduri as a “businessman”, he said while Khanduri talked of closing down power project on the river, in the same breath he talked about power needs and compensation. He cautioned the Hindu community to be cautious of such leaders. Meanwhile, his condition deteriorated further on the sixth day of his fast. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister today declined to take up the issue with the Centre to end the stalemate. “I am willing to talk to anyone provided the Centre talks to me on the issue,” he told the media today. Earlier, he had kicked the ball into the court of the Central government to wriggle out of the situation by suggesting that the Union government should first take a decision to stop power projects on the Ganga. Agarwal had asked him to stop the two power projects of Maneri Bhali-phase-I and II and shelve the proposed power projects between Gangotri and Uttarkashi.
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Police yet to make headway
Vikas Vasudeva Tribune News Service
Roorkee, June 18 Pradeep Sahdev was allegedly shot dead by three persons in the main market here on June 3. Sources revealed that members of the gang had been absconding since the killing.The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against three suspects, belonging to the gang. However, it has failed to make any arrests. The sources said the police was now planning to prepare a secret plan to nab the suspects. Earlier, a police party had left for Muzzafarnagar and Meerut in UP and Udamsinghnagar in Uttarakhand to look out for the suspects , but it proved to be a futile exercise. "We are investigating the matter thoroughly and the initial leads have hinted at the involvement of the 'Chinu Pandit' gang in the crime," said a police official requesting anonymity.
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Power firm in spot over
Assam floods
Guwahati, June 18 Stating that the release of water from the Neepco dam upstream might have caused the devastating flood, besides the incessant rains in Arunachal
Pradesh, CM Tarun Gogoi informed that an inquiry committee headed by the state’s additional chief secretary Alok Party had been entrusted to visit the Neepco project site to find out if the power company was responsible for the disaster. “If found guilty Neepco will be asked for adequate compensation given that the current wave of flood has caused damage worth over Rs 70 crore in north Lakhimpur district alone,” Gogoi said. Meanwhile, the Assam government asked Neepco to forewarn the district administrations in north Assam before waters were released from the dams upstream. The power company has also been asked to release waters in several flows instead of in one go to save downstream areas from devastating flash floods. The deputy commissioners of flood-prone north Assam districts have been asked to keep in regular touch with their counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan to keep tab on water levels in rain-fed rivers flowing down from those areas to Assam plains. The Assam government has decided to set up a separate state disaster mitigation fund to make the necessary fund available during any major disaster.
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Cong wary of BJP-AGP ties
Guwahati, June 18 Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said, “The
AGP, which calls itself the champion of regionalism, is now knocking at the doors of the BJP to stay in reckoning in the state
politics.” Gogoi was referring to the recent meeting of senior AGP leaders with the BJP president Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. The AGP-BJP meeting in New Delhi has created ripples in the political circles back home as speculations are rife about both parties trying to forge some sort of understanding before the next general election to put up a joint fight against the Congress. Alarmed at the AGP-BJP overtures, Gogoi today said the AGP was no longer a regional party but a party of ‘self-seekers and opportunists’ who bank on others to further their political careers. “The AGP has so many masters ranging from the BJP to the All- Assam Students Union
(AASU). The party dropped its plan to re-unite with the splinter group led by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta as soon as the AASU warned it against the overture,” Gogoi said lampooning the
AGP. However, AGP spokesman Apurba Bhattacharjee in reaction to Gogoi’s comment said that it would be prudent for the Congress to mind its own business as its image had taken a serious beating after the arrest of former state education minister Ripun Bora by the CBI on bribery charge. The former minister is now lodged in Tihar jail. Regarding Ripun Bora issue, Chief Minister Gogoi today said that the Congress as per laid-down norms would expel him from the party if he was convicted. He also said the party would never provide a ticket to anyone who has been charge-sheeted in any case.
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Govt not averse to talks with ULFA
Guwahati, June 18 This was conveyed by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi while interacting with the media here today. He said, "Even a sizeable section of the ULFA, if not the entire group, is welcome to have dialogue with the government. In doing so, we are not trying to split the ULFA. It is up to them whether they split or not." The Chief Minister's statement is construed significant in view of media reports quoting the Assam police sources about the 28th battalion of the ULFA sending feelers to the Assam police proposing to come over ground and enter into a ceasefire. The Chief Minister, however, said that no concrete decision had been taken till date to enter into a truce with the ULFA or a section of it. Meanwhile, in a statement issued to the media, the self-exiled chairman of the ULFA, Arabinda Rajkhowa termed baseless the media reports about the 28th battalion of the outfit getting in touch with the Assam police with a proposal for truce. The militant leader dismissed it as a propaganda by Assam and Indian governments to create mistrust and rift within ULFA ranks. The 28th battalion of the ULFA is the most active battalion of the outfit. The battalion has been under tremendous pressure from the Indian Army because of sustained operations of late. The battalion was mainly involved in all major strikes in eastern Assam areas including mass killing of Hindi-speaking people. In an attempt to lure ultras to come over ground, Gogoi also disclosed that the Assam government had evolved a much better rehabilitation package than the existing one for the benefit of the ULFA militants willing to give up arms and join the mainstream. The existing rehabilitation package includes a monthly stipend and vocational training. The new rehabilitation package is likely to have some cash component too as one-time grant to help surrendered ultras come in terms with their new life in the mainstream.
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Buddhadeb invites, GJM rejects
Kolkata/ Darjeeling, June 18 “We are for a tripartite meeting. It should be in Delhi. The Chief Minister can be present. We can talk to him there,” GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said. Sticking to the demand for Gorkhaland, Gurung, on his part said, “There has not been any change in our stance. We want a tripartite meeting.” Earlier, chief secretary A.K. Deb told mediapersons in Kolkata that the Chief Minister had written again to the GJM inviting it for talks. In his letter, the Chief Minister referred to the all-party resolution passed here yesterday to resolve the crisis politically through discussions and formally invited Gurung to Kolkata for discussions. “Please come and sit for discussion,” Deb quoted the CM as having stated in his letter to Gurung. The fresh move came a day after an all-party meeting here passed a resolution unanimously seeking a political solution to the Darjeeling impasse through sustained dialogue. — PTI
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Agriculture can transform North-East: Sangma
Umiam, Meghalaya, June 18 “Agriculture and tourism industry can transform the scenario in the north-eastern region to a large extent, which can help generate employment opportunities in the region,”
Sangma, a former Lok Sabha Speaker said. Sangma was addressing the inaugural function of the two-day conference on “Agricultural development in NEH Region, Opportunities and Challenges” at the Indian Council Agriculture Research Centre here. The Meghalaya Planning Board chairman also urged the ICAR to do research on the food habits of the north-east
tribals, development of medicinal plants and technology transfer to help the farmers.
— UNI
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Amitabh Asia’s ‘sexiest veggie man’ HC refuses to give custody of minor to parents 41 freedom fighters honoured in Goa 3 held for kidnapping minor Software engineer held for cheating banks Security to be tightened at museum near Corbett Park 
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