GUWAHATI, December 16: The CPM, an alliance partner of the AGP, has fallen out with the former over the signing of the memorandum of understanding on fiscal reforms with the Centre. The CPI has already announced that it will oppose the MoU. "We will never allow the government to be duped by the Centre's anti-people policies which if agreed upon would prove to be detrimental to the state," CPM leader Hemen Das said here today. Reacting to the state finance department's "go-ahead" to the government, Das said, "This is how the bureaucrats feel. We, the politicians, will never toe their line. All we need now is to put up an united fight against the Centre's economic policies." The finance department had recently advised the AGP-led government to accept the Centre's proposal and sign the agreement albeit with some modifications. It had submitted a detailed report after the government asked it to evaluate the Centre's proposal. "We will resist being fooled by the Centre. Why do we need to sign such an agreement when there are enough ways and means to pull the state out of this bankruptcy? All that we have to do is to evolve clear-cut policies," Das said. Reacting to the Centre's directives to the state government to freeze all appointments and abolish 50 per cent of the vacant posts every year, Das said it would further compound the unemployment problem. The state government is the only source of employment generation in Assam, he said. "If we accept these clauses, the law and order situation in the state will deteriorate further," he said. The CPM leader stressed expediting land reforms to generate more revenue. More than two lakh bighas have been encroached upon by the tea gardens, he said adding that settlement should be given in respect of those land where eviction was not possible. Das said "massive land encroachment" has taken place at Barpeta and Nagaon districts. Of the 11 lakh bighas of char land, settlement has been paid for only one lakh bigha, he said. This has deprived the state government of substantial land revenue, he said. Accusing the state government of "rampant corruption," Das said those involved in real estate vigilance were indulging in illegal activities. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 17, 1999)

IMPHAL, December 16: The principal bench of the Gauhati High Court has stayed the proceedings of the disqualification case against Manipur Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh. The principal bench passed an interim order yesterday following a petition by Speaker Karam Babudhan Singh. Earlier, a single bench of the high court had ordered the Speaker to initiate proceedings against the Chief Minister within 15 days from the date of receipt of its judgement. The directive was issued on the basis of Congress legislator Y Erabot Singh's petition saying the Speaker was sitting on his application demanding disqualification proceedings against the Chief Minister who split the Congress in December, 1997 while holding the post of the Speaker. He had subsequently formed the Manipur State Congress Party and headed the next government. Erabot Singh had said in his petition that a Speaker cannot join or form another party while in office. The court yesterday fixed the date of the next hearing on February 3. The term of the present Assembly, elections for which are slated for February, expires in March next year. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 17, 1999)

SILCHAR, December 19: The Mizo National Front (MNF) swept the village council elections held in the state on Thursday. It bagged 297 of the 403 seats. The Mizoram People's Conference and the Congress ended up winning 64 and 33 seats respectively. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga attributed his party's victory to the "continued faith of the average Mizos in the programmes as well as the functions of the MNF government over the past one year." Mizo law: The Mizoram Cabinet will enact a law in the Assembly to utilise land occupied by the Assam Rifles for public and government purposes when the paramilitary force shifts to Zokhawsang from the heart of the capital city, a top government official said today, reports PTI. Chief secretary HV Lalringa said a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Zoramthanga yesterday decided to enact a law to ensure that the land vacated by the Assam Rifles is not given to private parties. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 20, 1999)

IMPHAL, December 23: Manipur Police have registered a case against the All-Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) for allegedly snatching files from government offices. The students' union has been carrying on an agitation demanding the unconditional release of three top leaders who are now lodged in Imphal's Sajiwa jail. Unidentified men, suspected to be AMSU volunteers, snatched several important government files from Imphal East's public works department and treasure office yesterday. They had reportedly told the staff of the two government offices that they would continue their agitation until the three leaders were released. The three AMSU leaders - its president P Premananda, secretary-general, O Ratankumar and finance secretary H Chandeshore Sharma were remanded in judicial custody last month after they were arrested on the charge of having a nexus with militants and extorting money from businessmen. Sources said the police registered a case against AMSU following a directive from Chief Minister, W Nipamacha Singh who is now in New Delhi to meet Union home ministry officials. The police have also launched a hunt to track down the youth who were responsible for snatching the files. AMSU has stepped up its protest by putting up road blockades in various parts of the state. Though AMSU activists were prevented by the police from picketing at the heart of Imphal city, they continued their agitation in the rural areas and outskirts of the city. More than 10 AMSU activists were also jailed in the follow-up action by the police. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 24, 1999)

GUWAHATI, December 26: Suspended Asom Gana Parishad legislator and former minister Atul Bora today announced the formation of a new political party, the Trinamool Gana Parishad. Formed to "safeguard the interests of the state", the party includes former Speaker Pulakesh Barua and AGP ideologue Krishnagopal Bhattacharyya. Dissident AGP leader and former home minister Bhrigu Kumar Phukan is a notable omission from the new party. Bora said Phukan was not roped in because he was already associated with the fledgling Asom Jatiya Sanmilan and was "negotiating" with deposed food and civil supplies minister Digen Bora for the formation of a new government "by the turn of the year". The suspended AGP leader said a convention of the Trinamool Gana Parishad would be held here on February 8. The party's reception committee office would be inaugurated on January 19, he added. Bora said the Trinamool Gana Parishad was not averse to alliances with other parties, provided they shared its concern for the state. Bora said the party would keep alive the "fire of regionalism" and its prospective allies should also adhere to the same policy. Accusing Mahanta of resorting to "secret killings" to keep insurgents in check, the former PWD minister said such steps could not be condoned under any circumstances. Bora ruled out a merger with the AGP even if Mahanta stepped down as party chief. "Stepping down as the party president while retaining the Chief Minister's chair will be a joke. Mahanta has the AGP under control, but has sacrificed the interests of the people," he said. Reacting to the formation of the Trinamool Gana Parishad, the Chief Minister said it would not have any effect on the AGP. Claiming the support of all party workers, he said, "Bora's lie about having the backing of some AGP legislators will soon be exposed." (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 27, 1999)

IMPHAL, December 30: The Manipur government has set up a one-man inquiry commission of Patna High Court judge Justice (retd) SK Homchaudhuri to probe the alleged nexus between the All-Manipur Students' Union and militants. The commission will also probe the AMSU's alleged involvement in extortion. A notification issued by state chief secretary H Jel Shyam said the commission will submit its report within a month. The state government had decided to constitute an inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act sometime back, but the process was delayed due to non-availability of judges. Initially, the state Cabinet had decided to appoint a sitting judge of the high court to head the inquiry. Since no sitting judges were available, it decided to appoint either a sitting or a retired judge of the high court. The controversy over AMSU surfaced when Assam Rifles arrested its president P Premananda and secretary-general O Ratankumar for their alleged links with militants and on charges of extortion. AMSU finance secretary H Chandeshore Sharma was arrested after Assam Rifles nabbed United National Liberation Front militant Manjit Singh from his house. Official sources said at least 14 AMSU leaders were now lodged in Imphal's Sajiwa jail. Though AMSU denied links with the banned UNLF, the Assam Rifles claimed that they had evidence to substantiate the charges. Assam Rifles had recovered several incriminating documents from a UNLF hideout and an AMSU office. It is a difficult situation for the Manipur State Congress Party-led coalition government which would not prefer to antagonise the students on the eve of Assembly elections. But it is also answerable to the Centre. The Union home ministry had asked the state government to book the three AMSU leaders under the National Security Act (NSA). But, the government refused to comply with the instructions and instead ordered the inquiry. AMSU activists had launched an agitation demanding unconditional release of their arrested leaders. Chief minister W Nipamacha Singh, however, said his government could not release the leaders unconditionally as the matter was under the purview of court. The arrested AMSU leaders were remanded to judicial custody by the Imphal chief judicial magistrate after they refused to apply for bail. The students' union also rejected the government's decision to constitute an inquiry commission. BSF jawans injured: Two Border Security Force personnel were injured when suspected People's Liberation Army militants attacked their company post at Khudengthabi on Imphal-Moreh highway last night. Official sources said nearly 40 militants armed with automatic weapons attacked the BSF post from its northern side at midnight. The jawans retaliated using search lights and two-inch mortars. The insurgents retreated after an hour-long encounter, sources said. The two injured jawans are Amal Banerjee and R Prabhakaran. Banerjee, who received head injuries, was said to be critical. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 31, 1999)

GUWAHATI, December 31: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) has termed 'unfortunate and irresponsible' the recent statement of the Union Home Minister in the floor of the Parliament wherein he dismissed the demand for creation of a separate Bodoland State. In a statement the ABSU general secretary, Nathu Ram Boro, called upon the Union government to rethink on the matter and come out with concrete steps to solve the vexed Bodo problem. The students body highlighted the need for all sections of Bodo community to remain united in their fight for a separate Bodoland state and devise all possible means to achieve their goal. Criticising the government's attitude towards the Bodo people, the ABSU expressed serious concern over police harassment on innocent Bodo people. The Union termed it a provocation on part of the police and security forces and sounded warning against all such designs. The Bodo students organisation is concerned over the tension prevailing along the Assam-Nagaland inter-State boundary areas and condemned the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) ultras for letting loose a reign of terror by resorting to looting, arson and killing of innocent people in the disturbed area. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; January 1, 2000)