RAT-HOLES MINES IN JAINTIA HILLS,MEGHALAYA AND ITS CHILD LABOURS

A few fortunate kids would bury their heads inside books rather than inside dark inhuman rat-hole mines of Jaintia hills, thanks to the initiative of some journalists from India and France.

Sunil Pradhan and Gautam Rai (names changed) are just a few victims of child labour. They have been scrapping coal from the dangerous rat-hole mines of Jaintia hills district for years now.

But, after a team from France 24 channel came to report about child labour in the coal mines and subsequently saw the plight of children pledged to sponsor the children’s schoolings and take them off the mines. Some Indian journalists too have taken the same initiative.

Now Sunil and Gautam would be lodged in the Pashupati boarding school on the Indo-Nepal border. Both the kids say they are looking forward to experience the new world under the Sun.

The kids belie their age of 14 years and speak maturely about the “dangerous world” they live in. They claimed to have seen several people die in the mines due to roof collapse, flooding and infighting.

“There is lot of fight after consumption of alcohol and gambling. We have seen it and want to leave this place. We got into mining to support our families who are very poor and have no source of income,” Sunil and Gautam echoed.

Mine owners pay about Rs. 1500 for ten coal filled carts measuring about two sq meter. The children said they need two-three days to fill those carts labouring from 6 am in the morning to 3 pm in the afternoon.

“We frequently fall sick as the mines are on most occasions flooded with water. Moreover, Malaria is very common near the mining areas,” the two children said.

The state government remains a helpless bystander to the whole issue as it says that mines are privately owned and therefore the mining department has no say over these unregulated mines.

In fact, Meghalaya deputy Chief Minister in-charge mining Bindo Lanong dismisses the presence of children inside the mines " as children playing and not working there as child labours."

Due to this, there are conflicting figures as to how many children are working in these rat-hole mines. NGOs give an astounding figure of 70,000 children; the government’s claim is 220.

“Some of the international companies are now inquiring if coal is mined by children in Jaintia Hills. They are going to stop buying the coal if that is the case. We have presented our case to them,” Hasina Kharbih of Impulse NGO fighting for the children’s right claimed.

US SHAM UNIVERSITIES AND RADIO-COLLARING

The message is loud and clear, the US government is trying to intercept and shut down “sham Universities” to avoid relay of last year’s unpleasant radio-collaring episode of Indian students.

Director US Consulate General, Kolkata, Chad P Cummins speaking to the Assam Tribune said today the US government considers such bogus Universities and schools as a “huge problem” and investigation is on to weed them out.

Last September, several Indian students fell prey to a sham University called Tri-Valley in US, California. Some of the students who enrolled in the University were later radio-tagged to monitor their movement by US immigration officials. That led to an uproar in India.

Post the radio-collaring incident, the US government is taking a closer look at some of its policy loopholes to avoid recurrence of “unsuspecting” students being victimised by sham Universities.

One of the tricky issues being looked into is about US Universities and schools having the right to enrol foreign students without being necessarily accredited.

Taking advantage of this loophole in the policy, several sham Universities mushroomed and acted as fronts to run immigration rackets.

In fact, after the 9/11 attack, the US has increased its surveillance on foreign students because some of the terrorists who rammed into the twin towers were aviation students in the US.

The Consular official was here to interact with students of St. Anthony’s college and encourage them to enrol in US Universities. He said during the interaction that students must get in touch with US consulates in the country for better information of schools and Universities to avoid being victims of fraud.

Cummins also advised students to go through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement department’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to get better insight into US schools and Universities. SEVIS has a list of approved schools and Universities.

The US government is also directing all Universities and schools to provide clear details about its accreditation status, alumnae and the courses offered under the new policy being worked out.

“There are a few wrinkles in the policy that needs to be ironed out and once that is done it would benefit foreign students,” Cummins added.

MEGH WARRANT OF PRECEDENCE, MLAs WAY ABOVE TEACHERS

Legislators are listed fourth in the warrant of precedence in Meghalaya, India and comparing Members of Legislative Assembly with teachers is like differentiating between potatoes and apples.

Independent legislator Manas Chaudhuri making a comparison between teachers and public representatives in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, said: “people ask me, 'when teachers don’t get pension, why should MLAs get.' I tell them because the difference between the two is like potatoes and apples.”

He said MLAs’ position was much higher than teachers as they are listed number four in the warrant of precedence after the Governor, Speaker, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers in the state.

Warrant of precedence is the list of protocol through which individuals and organisations are assigned their position as per their importance by the government.

Chaudhuri, who was education minister in the previous NCP-led MPA government, came up with the comparison during introduction of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya (Members’ Pension) (Amendment) Bill, 2011.

He was demanding higher pension amount for ex-MLAs and said the Rs. 10,000 monthly pension and Rs. 3000 medical allowance was demeaning for the stature of MLAs who are public representatives.

The Mawprem legislator demanded that through further amendments in the Bill the pension slab for ex-MLAs must be fixed at Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 5000 for medical allowance.

Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Parliamentary Affairs, Rowell Lyngdoh rejected Chaudhuri’s suggestion stating the new Bill has raised the pension amount from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10,000 which was a 100 per cent increase. Moreover, the medical allowance was increased from Rs. 750 to Rs. 3000.

He said the decision to raise the pension slab was taken by the Cabinet based on the recommendation of a cabinet sub-committee. “The present pension of ex-MLAs is considered adequate and cannot be raised further,” Lyngdoh said.

Chaudhuri further pointed out the basic pay of sitting MLAs is Rs. 5000 and therefore the pension of MLAs cannot be more than the basic pay of sitting MLAs and insisted the Bill must be corrected.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma then intervened and said if required the basic pay of sitting MLAs would be rectified to avoid anomalies, but not the pension amount of ex-MLAs. The Bill was later introduced and passed by the House.

ONLY THE DIVINE AUTHORITY CAN COUNT THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

Refugees, illegal migrants, foreigners and of course Indians would form part of census 2011 that would populate the mystical and diversified country called India, but not the fabled “Indian Babylonians" of Mizoram!

Considering themselves as children of God the Babylonians have refused to enumerate themselves in the current census operations, much to the disappointment of the Indian government.

Living in a world of complete isolation and mystery the Babylonians are a secretive sect, living in some districts of Mizoram, with the belief that they have nothing to do with the “outside” world.

The sectarian group has shut their doors to the outside world and would not allow “others” to come to their homes in times of wedding or funerals or any other social events. They have even stopped sending their children to schools, so that they are not influenced by the outside world.

The reason to abstain from the current census according to the Babylonians is simple: “only the divine authority has the right to count the living and the dead. Not humans.”

“These are non-believers,” a rather piqued Pu Lal Thanhawala the Chief Minister of Christian majority state of Mizoram said after the Babylonians refused to enumerate themselves in the current census operations.


Secretary of North East Christian Council, Reverend R Lalnunzira, however, disagrees. “Babylonians are Christians and the Church have always wanted them to return into the mainstream, but it has been difficult convincing them as they do not want communication with the outside world,” the Church leader said.

The Babylonians are somewhat similar to the Mennonites and Amish people of North America. The Mennonites and Amish too do not communicate with the outside world and have even shunned modern technology and prefer living a lifestyle much as the way people lived in the Biblical era.

The Mizoram Chief Minister emphasising the importance of the census operations said, the government wants to head count those who are living in Mizoram similar to the rest of the country.

“If they (Babylonians) don’t say about their numbers it leaves a small, but, significant blank in our efforts to formulate welfare schemes for the entire population of Mizoram.” But, so far all efforts of the Mizoram government have been futile to convince the Babylonians to be part of the census.

The 2011 census would definitely throw many surprises in the coming days, but the missing “Babylonian” population is much on expected lines and shall remain as fabled as they were for centuries.

FOX IN THE CHICKEN COOP:MEGHALAYA

Heard about the proverbial “fox in the chicken coop,” but never: “Speaker vacated the residence in May 2008; there was no trace of the Rs. 11.81 lakh-poultry coop!”

Sounds bizarre, but its true. The Assembly secretariat incurred a loss of Rs. 11.81 lakh due to submission of a “fictitious bill” for construction of a poultry coop at the official residence of former speaker, MM Dangoo.

But, what takes the cake is that when the speaker vacated his official residence neither the coop nor a single chicken was present at the residence!

“Approval of such construction (poultry coop) at the official residence (speaker) from the public money was not only unethical but also unauthorised,” the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report castigated.

This is not the first instance that the CAG has unearthed financial mismanagement during Dangoo’s tenure as a Speaker of the legislative assembly.

Dangoo did not hand over goods installed in his residence before vacating his official residence in May 2008.

Included in the list of items were: two Sony LCD TV 50 inch worth Rs 7,87,500, one set of PIV Lenovo worth Rs 1,40,712, one air conditioner worth Rs 1,92,440, three wall fan worth Rs 23,400.

A cycling machine, tread mill, weight machine, pixna, TFT monitor, revolving chair (one each) were also purchased by the then speaker.

Moreover, two dining tables worth Rs 1,03,500 a 2857.14 sq m of carpet worth an amazing Rs 23 lakh were purchased .

Security-related items such as CCTV, additional cameras, intercom PABX valued at Rs 1.94 crore were also not returned. In all goods worth crores of rupees were missing after Dangoo vacated his official residence.

Meanwhile, the poultry coop’s construction was done by a contractor without “detailed plan, estimates, administrative approval and technical sanction.” Besides, no tender was called to assess competitive rates, the CAG report said.

Non-existence of the poultry coop indicates a fraudulent payment of Rs. 11.81 lakh has been made on fictitious bill – now that’s making mincemeat of public money.

HAMARA PAISA HAMARA HAQ

Going with its slogan: “ our money our right,” the Shillong declaration of the 3rd National Right to Information Convention today resolved that the central government must subject “all public expenditure under social audit.”

It was by far one of the most crucial of the other 11 resolutions passed in the Shillong Declaration and was only included after the strong insistence of RTI activist, Aruna Roy. She was amply supported by some of the country’s prominent figures in the field of judiciary, media and bureaucracy.

Initially, it was decided that just ten resolutions would be passed and those were read out and adopted. But Roy in the end intervened and strongly advocated that the social audit of all public expenditure must be included in the list of resolutions.

“It is important, we are here to fight corruption...If the government can have social auditing in the case of NREGA then why not for all other programmes,” she reasoned. Eventually, the resolution was adopted.

Apart from, the social audit, some other very crucial resolutions were passed having direct bearing on the northeast.

One of them being security and intelligence forces must not be exempted from scrutiny under section 24 of the RTI Act and this exemption must be removed immediately so that these agencies fall directly under the purview of RTI.

“It is irrational to exempt security and intelligence agencies under section 24 of the Act. This is not in the interest of national security,” said the speaker while announcing the resolutions.

Another vital piece of resolution was that there must be transparency in religious institutions and they must also be transparent about the manner they use “public money.”

It goes without saying that many religious institutions have kept their accounts under a strict code of secrecy and many feel they are not used for the purpose they were meant for, hence the resolution.

The other important resolution includes bringing banks, international financial agencies, private sectors, NGOs under the RTI. The resolution also said all Private-Public-Partnership and Public-Private projects must be brought under the Act.

Some of the other resolutions included setting up of a Right to Information Council to better implement the Act, circulation of draft legislations for wider consultations, transparency in the appointment of State and Central Information Commissioners, protection of RTI applicants and activists.

Besides, creation of anti-corruption commission like Lokpal, Autonomous Councils under RTI and suo moto disclosure of government schemes and programmes were the other resolutions adopted after the three days of deliberations.

INDIA A SHAM DEMOCRACY RULED BY ELITES

India is a “nominal democracy” with “political families and a few elite” continuing to rule the nation since its independence, unfairly.

Former Chief Election Commissioner, James Michael Lyngdoh who is in Shillong to attend the national convention on Right To Information said, five percent elite and political families are ruling the nation since the country’s independence and he therefore considers India a sham democracy.

“To say that elections in the country are conducted free and fair is absolutely laughable,” the outspoken Lyngdoh said, who himself took many powerful politicians to task for grossly violating the election process, during his tenure as CEC.

He said “rich candidates and people connected with political families” almost always have their way out in dictating the terms of the elections in India.

Unless, he said, the five percent elite and political families are held accountable to make way for an equalitarian society, India cannot remotely consider itself a democracy. “I cannot think of a democracy without competition,” he said.

Lyngdoh was pessimistic when asked if India would soon witness an outburst like the Arab world: “I don’t see it happening for a long time now.”

He blamed the present caste system in India as a road-block for an uprising like Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and other nations.

“The caste system is like an extended family. They take refuge in each other for security, because politicians have kept them helpless over the years. Unless they get an alternative this would continue and India would remain divided,” he cited.

The Ramon Magsaysay award winner said disparity in resource sharing and social equilibrium can be restored somewhat through writ petitions, public hearings and social networking.

Strongly advocating the adoption of the Whistleblowers’ Act, he said, India must take the cue from the United States and enact the Act immediately.

“10 to 12 whistleblowers were killed in India. Like the US the whistleblowers must be provided safe houses and maintenance and in the event of their death, take responsibility of their families,” he suggested.

Terming the Right to Information Act as “symbolic,” he nonetheless said: “willy-nilly we have to deal with the Act.”

Indo-Bangla trade - old school of thought must go...

Bangladesh is unworried about trade deficit with India, saying such “old school of thought” has to make way for economic prudence of value-addition and subsequent export.

“Comparing trade balance is an old way of thinking. Bangladesh is willing to import more from India so that goods can be value-added and later exported to lucrative European and other markets,” Bangladesh’s commerce minister, Muhammad Faruk Khan said here after his meeting with Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

The trade balance between the two countries is heavily tilted towards India’s favour. While Bangladesh export goods worth $ 3 million to India, its import from India is about $ 4 billion annually, the Bangladesh commerce minister said.

He added Bangladesh is willing to import goods from Meghalaya which is mineral-rich. Coal, Limestone and agro-products are some of the items Bangladesh imports from Meghalaya.

“We are buying Limestone, fruits and boulders and exporting back to India as cement, fruit juice and stone chips. Give us anything we are willing to buy for their worth,” Khan said, underlining the importance of value-addition.

On reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers, he said, Bangladesh is also willing to remove trade barriers by modifying some of the country’s law and wants India to reciprocate the gesture.

Khan said he was willing to take matters related to law to his country’s Parliament and try removing the obstacles for bilateral growth of trade and commerce between the two countries.

“In three months time all legal hurdles would be removed to boost trade. I am willing to take the matter in the Parliament,” he stated.

With relations between the two countries improving, India has decided to favour Bangladesh by reducing customs duty on 4,800 listed Bangladeshi items, besides extending a $ 1 billion loan last year.

In March this year, two border Haats along Meghalaya’s border with Bangladesh would be re-opened since their closure from the early 70s under a pilot project. Ten more Haats would be opened after gauging the success of the two Haats.

Emphasising the need for infrastructure development and creation of new Land Custom Stations, Khan said, a task force would be formed between the two countries to give Indo-Bangla trade a new direction.

Assam ranks third in the country and takes the number one position in the northeast in terms of areas under wetland, but, these vital ecosystems are under constant threat from climatic change and human interference.

Assam has 9.74 percent of its total geographical area under wetlands. There are major 7731 wetlands and another 11736 minor ones covering a total area of 78438 square kilometres.

The figures were provided by scientists at the North Eastern Space Application Centre recently from the first Atlas on Wetlands Studies of the Northeast.

In fact, Assam ranks third in the country after West Bengal and Gujarat in terms of wetland cover. The total wetland area in India is 7.8 million hectare of which the north-eastern states have a share of 1.6 million out of it.

Deepor Beel in Assam is one of the important wetlands of the country, however, rapid infrastructure development and human encroachment is threatening the existence of this important ecosystem.

Deepor Beel is also an important bird sanctuary where migratory birds from different parts of the globe come here annually. Various aquatic life forms are also found in this wetland.

“These wetlands form an important lifeline for aquatic creatures and migratory birds,” said TS Singh scientist from Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad during release of the atlas.

Apart from Deepor Beel, Rudrasagr in Tripura and Loktak Lake are the other important wetlands found in the region.

Meanwhile, with global warming being a realistic concern, scientists say, it’s important to monitor these vital ecosystems from time to time to help their preservation as these wetlands also help in carbon reduction.


“Regular update of the status of these wetlands is significant in view of the immense pressure on the existence of these ecosystems due to development activities and human interference,” the scientist said.

North Eastern Council secretary, UK Sangma who released the atlas said the study would go a long way in understanding these wetlands and help in conservation efforts.

“Wetlands are an integral part of our ecosystem and it’s important that all the stakeholders are educated about these water bodies,” Sangma said.

THE RELIGIOUS CHAKRA OF CRICKET

Religion may have been one of the sparks that ignited the communal flare-up between the Rabha and Garo Communities, but an unscripted religion of India – Cricket - is helping douse the flame of hatred between the two sides.

Garos and Rabhas fought it out in a 20-20 cricket match in strife-torn Resubelpara in East Garo Hills district, Meghalaya, on Martyr’s Day on January 30 that commemorates the death anniversary of the greatest proponent of non-violence in the world - Mahatma Gandhi.

The match was held between Baijengdoba-XI and Resubelpara-XI at Resubelpara Stadium with a capacity of about 10,000 crowd from both Rabha and Garo communities from at least six nearby villages thronging the stadium to cheer their favourite team. Resubelpara-XI won the match by ten runs in a stiff battle.

Happily, in both the teams there were equal numbers of representation from the Garo and Rabha communities. In fact, police and BSF personnel were also in the teams from both the communities.


“There is lot of trauma and shock in the two communities. And we thought Cricket can provide solace to ease the grief to a little extent as the sport is considered as some sort of a religion in India,” DIG Border Security Force Tura sector, Gajendra Singh Chaudhary told the Assam Tribune over the phone from Tura.

The idea to have the match was mooted first by the BSF after carefully gauging the ground situation in which the border guarding officers thought that the villagers needed an outlet to move on with life. The force was equally supported by the district administration.

“Cricket is perfect. It is part of the cultural way of life in India now. Cricket we thought would provide the necessary balm. So we organised the match with representation from both communities. Moreover, there were cultural programmes showcasing the best of both the communities,” Chaudhary said.

During the event, Rural Development Minister, Frankenstein Momin was also present. He was accompanied by local NCP MLA, TD Shira.

The ethnic clash between the two communities left ten people dead, many more injured and about 50,000 people displaced so far. The BSF say anti-social elements are still trying to stoke the embers of the clash.

“We are taking elderlies from both communities to areas where they hear about rumours. And they speak to their respective community members to find out the truth,” said.

The eight companies of BSF and the Army deployed in the area are also trying to bring in Psychiatrists from Guwahati, in some of the villages that have been ravaged by the violence, to provide counselling.

Its not certain when the festering wounds of both communities would heal, but the BSF say that with a little prayer, a little bit of trust and love both communities would find their own spaces, who share so much in common.

NO FDI IN MEGHALAYA

Meghalaya today decided to do away with a clause in the draft mining policy that “encourages foreign direct investment” in the mining sector.

“Foreign direct investment and technology by overseas corporate bodies and NRIs would be encouraged for mining, exploration, value addition in mineral sectors and environment protection as per the Government of India policy,” the draft mining policy notified in September 24, 2009 said.

But owing to opposition from local miners - especially those engaged in coal mining - has put the draft policy in cold storage for the past few years. The government after notifying the policy invited stakeholders, environmentalists, NGOs and experts for their inputs on the policy.

The coal miners immediately put their foot down, stating foreign direct investment would put them out of business and wanted the government to do away with such a policy.

Deputy Chief Minister, Bindo Lanong minister in-charge mining and geology said the government after two rounds of talks with all the stakeholders, NGOs, and experts finally decided to do away with foreign direct investment clause. He said, the government would “no longer encourage foreign companies to invest” in this sector.

The state has a total coal reserve of 640 million tones, besides 5,000 million tones of limestone reserve and other minerals like Uranium.

The government earlier, while drafting the policy said foreign direct investment would help streamline the mining sector in terms of environment protection and introduction of new technology in a state mining where mining is being done in an unscientific manner.

Asked if the decision was retrogressive to discourage foreign companies, Lanong in an ambiguous manner said: “the decision was not to encourage, but there was no bar on foreign companies to enter in the sector.”

Now, it’s not certain how the decision to discourage foreign direct investment would affect French cement giant already engaged in Limestone mining in Shella and Nongtrai in East Khasi Hills district and sending it to its cement plant in Chattak, Bangladesh.

The company also proposes to set up a Rs. 1000 Greenfield integrated cement plant having a capacity of 1.1 million tonne in Jaintia Hills district.

“The state government cannot take decisions alone there are a host of agencies and the central government who would all have a say into the matter,” Lanong said when asked about Lafarge.

Meanwhile, Lanong said the new draft mining policy would soon be taken up in the Cabinet for approval.

MEGHALAYA DOES NOT WANT A "SINGING" CHIEF MINSTER

The war of words between the Sangmas got high-pitched today with Opposition Leader, Conrad Sangma saying, Meghalaya needs a responsible rather than a “singing Chief Minister.”

According to Conrad, Chief Minster Mukul Sangma was busy “singing and partying” even after ethnic riots broke out in Garo Hills, the opposition leader from the Nationalist Congress Party today accused.

Days after the ethnic riots broke out on January 1, Mukul was found in a party singing and didn’t accord the necessary importance to stump the violence, the opposition said.

Mukul is a known music fan and doesn’t shy away from handling the mike and has even a music album to his credit.

“The Chief Minster was partying and singing in Goiragiri (near Tura, headquarters of West Garo Hills district) after ethnic riots broke out in East Garo Hills,” Conrad accused in a press meet today.

The ethnic violence has claimed the lives of five people, seven were seriously injured and many times that number fled their homes for safety.

Stating that Meghalaya can do without a “singing Chief Minster,” Conrad said, Mukul should have acted in a responsible manner in tackling the law and order situation than involve in parties at that crucial juncture.

“We don’t want a singing Chief Minster, but someone who takes his work responsibly,” Conrad hit back after Mukul yesterday said Union Minster for Rural Development, Agatha Sangma was defying the district administration’s advice and visiting disturbed areas that could inflame the fragile law and order situation.

Calling Mukul a “nervous Chief Minster,” Conrad said the he was shying away from visiting the affected district and displaced people so far and dared him to do so, as his sister and father (Agatha and Purno A Sangma - former Lok Sabha speaker) were doing.

He said, Agatha was visiting the affected people to help them, in her capacity as a legislator from Garo Hills and Union Minister and never defied the district administration’s advice.

The opposition leader said the Chief Minster should have called an all-party meeting to take everyone into confidence to tackle the situation. “He (Mukul) must have taken the initiative to solve the issue, instead he is indulging in blame game,” he added.

UNION MINISTER DEFYING DIST ADM'S ADVICE:CM

Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha Sangma is trying to inflame the law and order situation in riot-hit areas by visiting disturbed places against the district administration’s advice.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said here today he would register his government’s strong complaint to the Prime Minster about Agatha Sangma’s “distasteful behaviour” and to prevent her from such future “misadventure.”

“This is a distasteful behaviour. When the state government is trying to normalise the situation her movement in disturbed areas against the district administration’s advice would only worsen the law and order situation,” Sangma said at a press meet.

Attacking Agatha, her father, Tura MLA and NCP leader, PA Sangma of heeding advice of the district administration, the Chief Minster said, the attack on Agatha and her father on January 7 in one of Goalpara’s relief camps was a result of such misadventure.

“They went into the camp against the advice of the district administration and anything could have happened, the situation could have gone out of hand,” Mukul said.

Purno and his daughter escaped a mob fury when inmates of the Chotamatia relief camp in Goalpara gheraoed the politicians and tried to attack them. Troops were rushed in from Goalpara and had to fire in the air and also lathi-charge to disperse the mob.

“They (Purno and Agatha) are trying to take political mileage out of the situation instead of helping the state government,” Mukul said.

Terming Agatha as a “junior Union Minister,” Mukul in his sharpest attack on Purno, Agatha and her brother Conrad Sangma (Leader of the Opposition), reminded them that he was the Chief Minster.

“I am the Chief Minister. Are they (father-daughter-son trio) competing with the state government? They have not spoken to me till date to inquire about the situation and I wonder if they have done so to the Assam Chief Minster,” Mukul said.

The feud between Mukul and Purno-Agatha-Conrad has been bitter and at times turned ugly with personal attacks on each other. The NCP has been criticising the state government and particularly targeting the Chief Minster on a host of issues.

The NCP blamed the present Congress-led government of letting the present ethnic-strife of going out of control. Both Mukul and the NCP have claimed credit for timely deployment of troops in the riot-hit areas and visit of Union Home Ministry officials.

Meanwhile, Union Minster of state for Water Resource, Vincent Pala has been drawn into controversy for saying in a news channel that villagers would be able to sort out the ethnic violence in Assam and Meghalaya on their own.

He today apologised for his observation, stating, he was not aware of the ground situation and hence made the comment.