Northeast India

Sikkimese feel betrayed as Article 371F violated: SDF chief Chamling

SDF supremo Pawan Kumar Chamling claimed that the Sikkimese people feel betrayed as Article 371F, which guarantees special provisions for Sikkim, was violated. The former chief minister, in a telephonic interview with PTI, also alleged Sikkim had become a hotbed for political violence and sought President's rule to ensure a free and fair election in 2024. According to Article 371F, only the descendants of Sikkim subjects (those who lived in the state before its merger with India) whose names were mentioned in the 1961 register are Sikkimese with rights to own land, get state government jobs. They were also exempted from paying income tax. But now, the Financial Bill, 2023 redefines Sikkimese as any Indian citizen domiciled in Sikkim, extending to them the same benefits as that of the original inhabitants whose forefathers' names were in the 1961 register, Chamling said. This violates Article 371F, which was the basis for the merger of Sikkim with India in 1975. People of Sikkim fee

After scripting history in polls, Naga women denied 33% quota in ULBs

Scripting history, two women were for the first time elected in the February 27 elections to the Nagaland assembly

India's northeastern region will be gateway to South East Asia: MoS Singh

He said that the PM-DevINE showcases the importance being attached to the development of the northeast region by the government as 'New Engine Growth of India'

Railway line to Kohima to be completed by 2026: Northeast Frontier Rail

NF Railways CPRO Sabysachi De on Tuesday asserted that the construction work has been going on in full swing and they are fully confident to complete the project within the deadline

Focus on logistics policy at PM GatiShakti workshop for NE states

The two-day regional workshop on PM GatiShakti National Master Plan -- organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry -- concluded here on Saturday, with more than 140 officials and industry players taking part in the session. The theme for the second day was National Logistics Policy. States, including Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, gave presentations on their respective logistics policy, she said. DPITT Special Secretary (Logistics) Sumita Dawra said that these workshops are facilitating wider adoption of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy across states and Union territories (UTs), in the spirit of cooperative federalism. Such initiatives bring more vigour and build synergy among different stakeholders resulting in mutual learning among states or UTs and central ministries or departments, she said. On the first day, the workshop had focused on ways to strength

PM Modi likely to flag off Northeast's first Vande Bharat on April 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off the first Vande Bharat Express of the northeast, connecting Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri, on April 14, a senior official said on Friday. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has already begun preparatory work for the grand launch of the fastest train of India in this region. "Yes, it is true that Vande Bharat Express will be launched soon in Northeast. We are targeting April 14 to launch this special train when the prime minister will be visiting Guwahati," the official told PTI on condition of anonymity. The PM, during his visit, is also set to witness a Bihu performance by 11,140 dancers and drummers, in their attempt to register it as the "largest recital of the folk dance form" in Guinness World Records.

Amritpal's 4 aides brought to Assam; to be kept in Dibrugarh Central Jail

Four aides of absconding Sikh radical preacher Amritpal Singh have been brought to Assam's Dibrugarh district on Sunday, according to police sources.

Assam gets approval for 12th medical college with a new one at Nalbari

The number of medical colleges in Assam will increase to 12 with a new one at Nalbari getting approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC) to start MBBS course from 2023-24 academic session, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday. The chief minister termed it as a historic accomplishment for the state with four new medical colleges being set up in just one year. We've reached another milestone! Delighted to share that Nalbari Medical College has been recognised by National Medical Commission with approval to admit 100 MBBS students, Sarma wrote on Twitter. State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta, in a statement, said with the latest approval, the total number of MBBS seats in the state will increase to 1,500. The Assam government, he said, has set a target of increasing the number of medical colleges in the state to 24 by 2026 .

Assam: Students, others brought to CID HQ in class 10 board paper leak case

Several students from various parts of Assam were on Wednesday brought to the CID headquarters here for questioning in connection with its investigation into the alleged leak of a question paper of the class 10 state board exam, an officer said. The number of arrests in the case remains at three, he said. "We have detained students, teachers and others across Assam. They have been brought to Guwahati for further questioning," the CID officer said. He, however, refused to share any further details. Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh on Wednesday morning reached Dibrugarh from where around six students have been detained so far. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, talking to reporters outside the assembly here, said that the CID is investigating to get to the root of the paper leak. "Some students and others have been arrested or detained so far. But we have to be patient and need to wait for the CID probe to be over to know from where the paper leak originated," Pegu said. The

Arunachal developing infrastructure along international borders: Deputy CM

The Arunachal Pradesh government has initiated several infrastructure development programmes in areas of the northeastern state bordering China, Bhutan and Myanmar, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said in the assembly on Thursday. Under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), infrastructure has been developed in 65 model villages, the deputy chief minister said. Mein was responding to a question by Congress MLA Ninong Ering on the steps taken by the state government in view of the construction activities carried out by China along the international border with India. For developing the education sector, four new Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas (VKVs) and four such existing schools have been upgraded under BADP with an estimated cost of Rs 80 crore, he said. Moreover, eight model schools have been established in the border area during 2017-18, the deputy chief minister said. To address infrastructure gaps at the border, development projects such as road connectivity, foot ..

PM Modi begins 2-day NE visit; to attend swearing-in ceremonies in 3 states

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday began his two-day visit to the Northeast, where he will attend the swearing-in ceremonies in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland, and also hold a closed-door meeting with the Assam cabinet. The PM arrived at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, where he was received by Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and senior cabinet ministers and officials. From there, he left for Shillong aboard a helicopter. In Meghalaya, he would be received by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda, who had arrived in the hill state on Monday, along with Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma. Modi will attend the oath-taking ceremonies of Conrad Sangma-led government in Meghalaya and Neiphu Rio-led council of ministers in Nagaland. He will return to Guwahati in the evening and hold a closed-door meeting with the Assam cabinet before retiring for the night at Koinadhara state guest house here. The prime ..

Sikkim to get 5G services before Independence-Day: Union Minister Vaishnaw

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said Sikkim will get 5G services before Independence Day this year. Addressing a function here after releasing a postal cover titled 'Go Green, Go Organic', the Electronics and Information Technology Minister said the Centre has proposed to cover all villages in the country with 4G and 5G services over the next 18-24 months and work was already in progress. "Sikkim will get 5G services before August 15 this year," he said. Vaishnaw said the Sevoke-Rangpo railway project was underway at a good pace and the development of Sikkim will get a fillip with the commissioning of the project. "The Centre may consider extending the railway network beyond Rangpo and it was working on three alignments, one of which will be finalised in consultation with the state government in the future," he said. The Union minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally taking a deep interest in the ongoing infrastructural projects in northeastern states.

Rivals say 'Mar jaa Modi' while country says 'Mat jaa Modi': PM Modi

PM Modi said that the election results depict people's faith in democracy, adding that the Northeast is neither far from Delhi nor from the heart

Candidate more important than party in Meghalaya, says Deputy CM Tynsong

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday asserted that an individual candidate was more important than a party in the hill state. The NPP leader, who won from Pynursla constituency, said the party hoped to get an absolute majority, but a different mandate was given by the people. "In Meghalaya's politics, individual candidates matter more than the party. It is the nominees who win the elections, not the party," Tynsong told PTI after his victory was announced. "We expected to cross the magic number on our own. We did not expect such a divided mandate," he added. Though the NPP had run the outgoing government in alliance with five other parties, it fought the 2023 assembly polls alone. Asked about the next course of action, the deputy chief minister said, "We had hoped for forming the government alone, but the electorate has given a different mandate. We don't have any option but to go for a coalition government." He, however, declined to comment anything on wh

BJP alliance likely to return in Tripura, Nagaland; trailing in Meghalaya

In neighbouring Meghalaya, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) won 6 seats and was leading in 19, while the BJP was leading in 3 seats

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to decide on alliance with NPP: Meghalaya BJP leader

BJP Meghalaya leader Sanbor Shullai on Thursday said that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will take a call on an alliance with the state's ruling National People's Party (NPP)

Votes set to be counted in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland today

The BJP, which has replaced Congress as the dominant party in the northeast, is optimistic of its prospects in the three states

No hung assembly, NDA will form govt in all three NE states: Himanta

Asserting there will not be hung assembly in either Tripura, Nagaland or Meghalaya, as predicted in some exit polls, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the NDA will form the government with an absolute majority in all the three northeastern states. Sarma, the NEDA convenor, said no NDA (National Democratic Alliance) partner will go into any alliance with either Congress or the Trinamool Congress. "There will be no hung assembly. The NDA will form the government in all the three states," he told reporters here. When asked about candidates for the chief minister's post in the three states, he said there will be a status quo in Tripura and Nagaland. "Tripura will have a BJP CM, while we are in a coalition government in Nagaland," the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor said. For Meghalaya, the CM will be decided after considering the number of states won by the BJP. Elections were held in Tripura on February 16, and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on Febru

India approves $3.9 bn hydropower project near China border in northeast

Dibang, which will be built over more than 5,000 hectares (12,360 acres) of forest land, faces similar risks, according to Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator for nonprofit South Asia Network on Dams, River

Magnitude 3.7 quake jolts Meghalaya's Tura, 2nd in less than 5 hours in NE

An earthquake of magnitude 3.7 on the Richter scale occurred rocked Meghalaya's Tura in the wee hours of Tuesday, the National Center for Seismology informed.The tremours were felt at 6.57 am, 59 km north of Tura.The depth of the earthquake was reported to be at 29 kms."Earthquake of Magnitude:3.7, Occurred on 28-02-2023, 06:57:18 IST, Lat: 26.04 & Long: 90.11, Depth: 29 Km, Location: 59km N of Tura, Meghalaya," read a post on the official Twitter handle of the National Center for Seismology.This is the second earthquake in the northeast region to be reported on Tuesday.Earlier, in the small hours of Tuesday, an earthquake of magnitude 3.2 struck the Noney district of Manipur, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).The quake struck around 2.46 am, at a depth of 25 km."Earthquake of Magnitude:3.2, Occurred on 28-02-2023, 02:46:39 IST, Lat: 24.67 & Long: 93.66, Depth: 25 Km, Location: Noney, Manipur, India," the NCS said in a tweet.Meghalaya, on Monday, polled