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Campaign ends for Oct 13 poll officially

Tough challenge ahead for confident Congress

ATNS with inputs from UNI

ITANAGAR, Oct 11: The campaigning for the Oct 13 poll has officially ended this evening. However, the official deadline will not stop many deals from being clinched.

Unofficially, the campaigning has entered into last crucial stage for the candidates as the last 48 hours prior to the poll is make or break stage in many constituencies. No matter what the Election Commission of India says, absolutely nothing stop the candidates from putting in all efforts to capture power!

With a keen contest on the cards, the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh is leaving no stone unturned to make the wind blow in its favour for the October 13 Assembly elections.

With the emergence of the NCP and first-timer Trinamool Congress as strong contenders in the electoral battle, it would not be an easy sail for the Congress to keep its track record intact.

The party, which won 34 seats in the 2004 elections, is facing a tough challenge this time.

Meanwhile after wrapping up the  campaigning, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee Nabum Tuki while addressing a press conference said that party is confident of forming the government on its own.

''The contribution made by the party for the growth of Arunachal cannot be compared with others and we are confident that peoples’ mandate will be in our favour,'' a visibly confident Tuki said.

Though political pundits here were of the opinion that anti-incumbency factor would play a crucial role in the prospects of the Congress with many dissident leaders contesting elections from other platforms, Mr Tuki claimed that it would not be a major factor.

''Despite the anti-incumbency factor, our party will emerge as the party with thumping majority,'' he commented and admitted that the factor was likely to affect the party in certain Assembly constituencies but it would not hamper the poll prospect.

NCP seems to have become a headache for the Congress party, at least on the surface. The dilemma has led the Party leadership to clarify at every given opportunity that though the both parties are allies at centre, it has a separate role in the state. The rumours that some section of Congress leadership is supporting NCP and AITC have not helped either!

State Congress Committee Chief Nabum Tuki said that NCP should stop forcing itself on Congress. Despite our warning not to pile on us, NCP leaders would not stop, he said. They have been misleading the voters by claiming that Congress and NCP are together. This is far from the truth; Tuki said while adding that Congress would form the next government on its own.

Tuki further dubbed the NCP as a party without principle and commitment for the people of the state.

On the other hand, Indian National Congress today said that BJP has resorted to its old tactic of fooling the people.  President Nabum Tuki while rubbishing the BJP “claim” that developmental activities were initiated during its short tenure in the state, said that BJP has always basked at someone else’s efforts. Tuki said that it is for the people to see who did what for the state while stating that development in the state picked up after UPA government took charge at the centre. He further said that Congress is in its own league and citizens are witness to it.

 

P/Pare issue stern order to prevent booth capture

ITANAGAR, Oct 11: The 2 District Magistrates of Papumpare and Capital complex Bidol Tayeng and Padmini Singla, IAS respectively along with their 2 SPs have reviewed the security preparedness for the poll day. To ensure that the polls are not disrupted by booth capturing or EVM damage, as happened in the last Parliamentary Election in April, 2009, the 2 District Magistrates have decided to deal with the situation with firm hands. The 2 District Magistrates have issued order to the Executive Magistrates to use police force including lathi charge on any element trying to capture booth or attempt to handle or damage the EVMs on the day of poll.

If situation demands, the 2 District Magistrates would also not hesitate to issue firing order to avoid any kind of situation like the last Parliamentary Election.

Meanwhile, the District Magistrate, Capital complex the District Magistrate, Papumpare have issued Executive Orders restricting the movement of private vehicles in the Capital complex and the adjoining areas on the day of poll. Police check points / nakas have been put up in number of locations in Capital complex to check attempts of multiple voting or attempts to disrupt polling process.  

All the check posts of the district at Hollongi, Banderdewa, Gumto and Kimin will also be sealed on the day of poll so that no bogus voters from Assam can cross over to Papumpare district.

 

Tirap Elections to be telecast live

Khonsa, Oct 11: Following the successful webcast of live feed from a few polling stations over internet during the Parliamentary Elections 2009, Tirap is all set to repeat the telecast during Assembly Elections 2009 as well. And this time on a much wider scale. The live telecast will be available from 7:00 am onwards on the day of Polling on the District Website – www.tirap.in

Any user who wants to see the live feed can access this website and people worldwide can see the conduct of polls in Tirap on a real-time basis. Unlike Lok Sabha Elections, no additional software needs to be installed by any viewer to have access to this feed which will be directly available over the web.

 The polling stations chosen this time are those that have had problems related to crowd control in the past. Dwelling on the system’s advantages, DEO-cum-DC Ankur Garg IAS mentioned that this system not only helps keep a complete check on the poll proceedings but is also a check on the rowdy elements who are likely to disrupt the poll proceedings. Whereas miscreants may destroy a stationary video camera installed at a polling station, live feed will immediately relay the photo of the trouble-maker over the internet and act as a greater deterrent. Further, the feed can also be seen by media offices and political parties and this would largely erase all doubts that one could have on the freeness or fairness of polls.

The use of this innovative technology during Lok Sabha Elections had won appreciation of CEO Office Itanagar and Election Commission of India – both had seen the live feed in Itanagar and Delhi respectively on the poll day. Additional measures such as deploying micro-observers and using videographers are also being deployed in vulnerable areas.

It may be recalled that Tirap is a remote District on the Myanmar Border which has been declared as a ‘Disturbed Area’ and where the Armed Forces Special Power Act is in operation. Both the factions of NSCN are engaged in a bloody turf-war here for the last over 10 years which has led to many casualties. Further, the District has a very tough and challenging geographical terrain due to which physical monitoring becomes very difficult. Of the 163 polling stations in the District, 66 have been identified as critical. Some of these problems will be successfully addressed by the ‘live-feed’ experiment.

 

Mechukha beckons

Correspondent

ITANAGAR, Oct 11: These days, otherwise quite Menchuka-Tato constituency is bustling with activities, thanks to election. One of the most beautiful places in the state, many pockets in the constituency is still inaccessible.  However the candidates have put in all possible efforts to ensure that they reach the people before the d day.

The sheer spread of geographical area is a challenge in itself. There are 36 polling stations in Mechuka Assembly Constituency spread across four administrative circles of Mechuka, Monigong, Tato and Pidi. The constituency is a mixed bag of many tribes.

Apart from Membas which are in a mojority, Bokars, Ramos and Pailibos, there is a considerable Tagin population as well.

Though there are four candidates in the fray, the main contest is between INC’s Pasang Dorjee Sona and NCP’s Tsering Naksang. Bote Yuto (PPA) and Tako Puning (AITC) are the other two candidates.

A Congress choice for the constituency Pasang Dorjee Sona, is a lawyer and a keen photographer. A product of Delhi university he is a member, Task Force, Ministry of Food Processing, govt of India.

Good delivery of Public delivery system is one of the priorities of the young leader who started his career with the NSUI. Health, education, road and Air connectivity and tourism promotion are other in the priority list.

Pasang says that if necessary infrastructure is put in place, Menchuka would be an international tourist’s destination.

Tsering Naksang quit his government position as district research officer to stand for the election. A Delhi School of Economics product, Naksang has been involved in social work and student politics since school days. My aim is to bring about a success story of all round progress, peace and prosperity in the thitherto neglected and backward border subdivision of Mechukha, he says.

The people would decide whom they want to send as their representative. Nevertheless, not only the people of the constituency but others as well would keep a watch what efforts  the elected representatives would  put to ensure that Menchuka takes its rightful place in the world.

 

Allegation politically motivated: BJP

ITANAGAR,  Oct  11:  Reacting the news report that workers of state BJP president attacked somer non-tribal tea garden workers in Pasighat West constituency yesterday,  the BJP today said that the allegations are  unfounded, fabricated,  politically motivated  and  frustrated move by the Congress.

Condemning the allegations, the party said that  rather several BJP workers and party candidates were attacked and attempted kidnap by the Congress leaders in several parts of the state for which the party had sought strong security arrangement.

The Congress by just throwing false allegation on the BJP candidate and state BJP president, Dr. Tangor Tapak can not hide the fact of several hundreds of illegal and bogus voters who were enrolled as the tea garden workers, the party said.

With the campaigning ends this evening the BJP is confident of winning in 13 seats, the Party said and appealed the  people of Arunachal Pradesh to exercise their adult franchise without any fear.

 

Polling personnel airdropped!

SEPPA, Oct 11:  The polling personnel, security men, videographers and micro observers for Bameng, Lada, Chayang Tajo and Sawa assembly constituencies in East Kameng district were airlifted to their assigned polling stations by Pawan Hans helicopter today.

The elections process in Seppa is being carried out peacefully under the supervision of DEO Pige Ligu. District administration officials and security personnel are patrolling the streets in order to thwart any untoward incident.  Movement of private vehicles, barring the political candidates’ vehicles and of those with plying permits will be prohibited on the poll day. (DIPRO)

 

Voting goes live in Bomdila

BOMDILA- Oct 11: Moving in tandem with the changing times, the District Election Office have set the mechanism rolling for live coverage of voting, incidentally, in 13 polling stations on 13th in the district. Undoubtedly, this would facilitate monitoring of the activities going around the concerned polling stations from the Control Room set up at Deputy Commissioner’s office. The live coverage would be accessible through Yahoo messenger at dirang HDEW19, dirang HDWW20, Yewang21, Rupatowneastwing, Rupa-townww28, Rupavillage29, Tengamarket3, Singchung4, Ubhalukpong38, Upper-bhalukpong38a, lower-bhalukpong39, lower-bhalukpong39a and at Dahung7 with the password-election 123.

This live coverage of voting process in the selected polling stations is another step forward in ensuring that

latest technology find place in the district. The voting process in the selected locations will be observed in the Control Room to ensure that these selected locations are under the direct supervision of the District Election Office. These locations have been selected on the basis of broadband connectivity available at these places and also to serve as a deterrent for any element who wants to disrupt the poll activity in any manner. The NIC office Bomdila, is burning the midnight oil to ensure that everything goes well on 13th in respect of the live coverage of voting.

Arrangements have also been made to install Closed Circuit Television with night vision facility at the entrance of the Strong room where the Electronic voting Machines and Non-EVM materials would be kept.

The use of webcams for the live coverage of counting during the last Parliamentary Elections in the district was very successful and widely appreciated. The district has its own official website ‘westkameng.nic.in’ and all details / matters related to the Assembly Elections 2009 in the district can be accessed in the profile, titled-Election.

The District Election machinery is leaving no stone unturned to ensure voters turnout and to let them exercise their Adult Franchise and choose their representative, who would work for the all-round development of their area.  

 

AITC candidate Laeta Umbrey hits back

Correspondent

ROING, Oct 11: Sitting MLA and candidate of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Laeta Umbrey from Roing constituency on Sunday hit back at Congress and alleged that under the leadership of former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP, Mukut Mithi the township and public have largely failed to get actual benefit despite him occupying top portfolios in various disciplines.

Addressing the last election rally, he told gathered crowd that crucial local issues were ignored during the reign of Mithi.

He assured public that as a local MLA his prime prerogative will be to manage the available resources and utilize development funds efficiently.

He further told that he always believed in staying back in his own constituency to oversee development activities rather than holding up at Itanagar or in Delhi. During the period of my tenure I have done what I had committed to public and if elected I will pursue the remaining work left, promised  Umbrey.

He added that if elected in the next five year, he could give top priority to peace & development, opening of new college, streamlining of the PDS, regularization of casual workers, housing facility to poor villagers, promotion of tourism and encouragement of games & sport

Young ZPM Anjiti Menjo from Iduli block in his short speech said that promise made by national leaders of Congress like V Narayanswami and Vincent Pala, during their visit to town would not solve the problem of town. He further went on to add that local problems can only be understood by grassroots leader like Umbrey and is hopeful that he brings in more development to the area. He appealed to the public to elect right candidate for the all around development, peace and tranquility of the township.

 

Empty show-rooms, courtesy elections

Taba Ajum

ITANAGAR, Oct.10: Even before the festive season arrived, the vehicle showrooms across the state are witnessing frantic sale activity ever since elections fever started gripping the entire state. While election officials may be claiming to strictly imposed model code of conduct, there is no denying that candidates have been bestowing gifts to the prospective voters to woo them to their side. Testimony to this can be drawn from gradual emptying of vehicles, especially in two wheeler segment from showroom across the capital complex.

While the four wheeler segment has not witnessed any drastic high in sales, it is the two wheeler section which has seen heavy sale in the last few days coinciding with rise in political heat.  Mr Suraj Kumar Nag, General Manager, with a Yamaha showroom in capital, says, “I do agree that since the month of September sales have manifold in our showroom. In this month only we have till now sold more than 30 bikes and whole October month is left. So, obviously election had some effect in our sale.” Further proof of bikes sale skyrocketing can be witness from the closing of two brand showroom as they were running out of stock. While officially they have given some different reason for closing their shutter, many believe that they went out of stock as demand increased in the last few days. While bike dealers are laughing all the way to bank, same cannot be said for four wheeler shops. “For us election has not brought much change and as such we usually witness heavy demand through out the year,” says Mr Pranab Kumar Patowary of Maruti Suzuki outlet.

An official from TATA MOTORS informs that initially there was increase in the number of inquires but gradually it waned down as they follow strict guideline in selling vehicles to the new buyer.

With just few days more left for voting one should not be amused if sales of vehicles from all section increase in coming days. It does not matter  from which end money are flowing in as on rare occasion that public get chance to get back at politicians with their demand.

As of now, nobody is complaining if they are offered gifts and for many people this is the beginning of early festive Diwali season.

 

Democracy and we

Ranjit Sinha

Nature has its own way of evolution, so as the society and the way of life. We can not bring forceful changes in society nor do we expect miracle for blissful society. And hopefully, the happenings in our largest democracy are also going with the time.

The presence of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), revived People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), Janata Dal (U), besides the BJP, ideological and traditional rival of the INC has given new direction to this years’ Assembly election campaign. The people of state have been lucky enough to get glimpse of leaders which include number of union ministers including Prime Minister of India and taste the sermons of democracy at least this election time.

May be it is the first and last chance for poor villagers in interior areas who barely can afford to visit Capital Complex to get back at politicians with their demands. This ofcourse happens once in five years.

Interestingly, a voter through the open letter to this daily, refused to share his time with the politicians who were making us to believe that they were striving hard to preserve the sanctity of democracy in election time.

He was almost sure that the agenda inscripted in the party manifestoes are only to lure voters; nothing more, nothing less.

Of course, if we believe the unconfirmed complaints of the voters, sporadic violence in many parts of the state has become a regular feature of this election and offering of ‘gift’ plays an important role in this different kind of festival. It is another thing that except the political parties, even intellectual groups and NGOs prefer to keep mum and close their eyes. Responsibility and honesty find little space to perform.

Some observers feel that weather has dampened the spirit of the Congress workers as their role model and youth icon Rahul Gandhi and AICC chief  Sonia Gandhi could not make it to Arunachal to campaign. But the Congress leaders in the state have some reasons to feel good, as they got a chance to sing the chorus “PM package” when PM himself came to campaign in front of thousands of people.

BJP which derives its strength from their ideology and believes in strong ‘cultural nationalism’, also did not lose its heart after former Lokh Sabha MP and bright young leader of state  Kiren Rijiju deserted the party and joined INC just before the commencing of assembly election. The party could not field as many candidates as it did in last assembly election, but  is still hopeful of playing a meaningful role and bringing a change in political dynamism.

NCP and new entrant TMC which are also in the INC list of opportunists have relatively shown a strong presence with rigorous campaign as many national leaders poured into the state. On the other hand, PPA with its ideology of strong regionalism has also left no stone unturned to tighten its belt and to snatch some assembly seats. Besides these, JD (U) also strived hard to at least make a beginning in this tribal state.

As usual, allegation and counter allegations are making headlines all over. Though people have nothing to do with mudslinging of political parties, it makes sense for political parties and their loyalists. After all, every vote counts.

We as voters are in the threshold of maturing democracy. Let us hope for new dawn with vibrant and charismatic leaders in the helm of affairs.

 

Elect spiritual people

On the eve of voting in Arunachal Pradesh, spiritual guru and founder of Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reveals his take how our elected representatives should be.

The goal of politics is to bring good governance and increase material, emotional and physical comfort of people. Similarly, the aim of spirituality is to boost morality and human values. Both politics and spirituality need to go hand in hand.

For good governance, spirituality is necessary. Only spirituality can invoke commitment, care and confidence. Spiritual people live the values, which are absolutely essential for those in governance. A leader has to be a samadarshi, one who sees everyone as being equal; satyadarshi, who moves with the Truth; paradarshi, who is transparent in action; doordarshi, being broad-minded and a visionary; and priyadarshi, embodying love and compassion.

Ideally, one fights an election to serve the people, not to take pleasure in power. When a seat of power is used for pleasure or prestige rather than a means to serve, the whole society becomes infested with corruption, lacks growth, and undergoes a moral degradation. Fear and insecurity grip the society and paralyse the humanness.

Often you hear ministers threatening to resign if they don’t get their way. It is foolish to take pride in resigning from one’s post of responsibility as though one is doing a sacrifice. Ministership is not a luxury which you can take pride in renouncing. Similarly conferring a ministerial post on someone is demanding their best service, not conferring a reward.

Most political leaders lack education in true service. Few are above the boundaries of race, religion and nationality. Being stuck, they do harm to themselves and others. Like any other profession we need to have a system for educating politicians. A certain level of social education and maturity is needed to shoulder responsibility. Every minister must be able to ignore the sycophants around him or her and learn to listen to their own inner voice, their own divine guidance, what they innately know to be right and wrong.

We have to get out of the politics of hate and mistrust. True politics is to care for all people and not to hate a section of the society on the basis of caste, religion, ideology, or language. When service for the people become the main aim of politics and not power or pleasure, any country will develop much faster as everyone will be competing to serve better instead of for personal gains. Unfortunately that has not always been the case.

My heart aches when I see the distrust and hatred among the people and their leaders. Today when parties come together, they do so because of common enemies rather than common goals. Much time is wasted in mud-slinging and undoing what the other has done. Opposite parties must work together for the progress of the country. Satyuga (golden period) will be when opposing parties work towards one goal -  making the poor self confident, the rich a generous giver, the educated not crooked, and the innocent not foolish.

The need of the hour is a prejudice-free political system. Consensus can emerge only when politicians learn to drop prejudices of religion, caste and gender. To be able to drop prejudices, politicians need to widen their sense of belongingness. This can happen only when they are free from stress and gain a spiritual perspective.

Spirituality makes people honest and committed and this is necessary to create a corruption and crime-free society. When spirituality and politics don't coexist, then you have corrupt politicians and pseudo-religious leaders. At a time when society is divided on the lines of political ideologies and religions and moral values are denigrating, spirituality can unite the hearts and minds of our people. Today, both religion and politics need reform. Religion has to become more spiritual to allow freedom of worship and broader to encompass all the wisdom in the world and politicians have to become more righteous and spiritual.

(Courtesy: The Art of Living Arunachal Pradesh)

 

NCP  regrets wrong information

ITANAGAR, Oct 1I: The Nationalist  Congress Party(NCP) today  clarified that  only Toni Ribu, INC president of Old Deka village had actually joined NCP along with his supporters. The INC panchayats  have not actually joined NCP as  reported in NCP press release which was published on Oct 10 last.  

Regretting the ‘inadvertent mistake’, the party said that it occurred due to communication gap between the village level workers and district level team. The fault was on our part, the NCP said.

 

 

Environment V/s Development

By Ipra Mekola

Activism of environment & wild life protection are always considered to be a job of social workers, sporting Shabanam bag and beard. Developmental agencies never take environment protection as inclusive to development. “Addressing environment issues is somebody’s job. We are for development” say the people with contracts of construction of buildings and roads. Sometimes even organisations like BRO and Govt. agencies have such views.

It is the need of the hour to understand our close association with nature. Can we balance both the balance of nature and the progress of human race? Nobody can exist disassociated from nature. The selfish attitude of ours creates the wall of separation between humans and nature. Nature will withdraw all her blessings and turn against man. Unimaginable will be nature’s reaction, if we continue to be adamant for the development “exclusive of concerns for the nature & wild life”.

It will be appropriate to site one such case (of locking horn) now going on at Mayodiya in Lower Dibang Valley. Mayodiya, is a growing tourist hotspot, which falls under Mehao Wild Life sanctuary and where during winter, one can even find red Pandas apart from Mishmi Takins and black bears. The BRO was considering construction of additional resting structures at Mayodiya. Being a Member of State Advisory Committee of Wild Life, I raised issues related to massive man made changes to the wild life habitat. The issue was discussed in long meetings with officials of BRO and district administration and the work was halted.  

However, now BRO going to extreme, purposefully delaying the maintenance of present road, (the only road leading to Anini via Mayodiya) saying that environmentalists have objections.  

This is the time and place where it is possible to chart a new path in economic development avoiding the ecological devastation. Nature does not wait for anybody for our deeds to correct, nor does it deviate from its own law “the law of nature”. Let’s not forget the nature, amidst all our diverse views.

In our country, each time whenever the development like tourist complex, road broadening, housing complex, business establishments, factories, IT parks, marketing complexes etc. are thought, environment is always sidelined. At the very outset, the first and foremost casualty is the trees on way, without a thought of relocating or substitute planting. And even if it is done (for the sake of shouting environmentalists), many a times it is just names’ sake. Here are some of the examples, what we lost;

Since 2005, in Delhi 38,000 trees have been cut in the capital by MCD, NDMC, DDA, the Public Works Department and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for various projects.

The Northern Railway has recently given permission to cut 3,000 trees to facilitate the expansion of Anand Vihar Railway Station.

In Mumbai suburbs, at least 100 trees around the Powai Lake have been sacrificed for a jogging track.

As part of a Bangalore road-widening project, 91 roads leading to the new Bengaluru International Airport have lost up to 30,000 trees.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has come up with “environmental” reasons for felling 6,000 old trees and converting existing local parks into a BSP statue complex. The State claimed grandiosely in an affidavit that “60,000 trees will be planted in and around the park.”

The Forest Department in Punjab has said 1.11 lakh trees in the State would be cut under phase V of the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) in four districts, including Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

(Compiled from various news sources)

We take plantation for granted, not knowing that such magnificent trees cannot be created overnight and take decades of hard work, care and patience. There is no

surprise that in Arunachal, the Supreme Court imposed a blanket ban on all timber mills taking into account the rampant cutting of trees for more than two decades. When we woke up, Arunachal had already lost many tree species.

We are not only cutting the trees but also cutting very survival and dependence of various species, birds, animals, reptiles, ants, earthworms, insects and.....the list is very long. Even a dead log is full of live activities and a home of many species. In UK, US and Australia, there are specialists to save the trees. They are called “Tree Surgeons”. The people there have developed a lot of environment sensitivity and treat the trees as human beings.

We definitely lack this sensitivity, the vision, management skills and governance. By building tourist complexes in the midst of wild life sanctuaries, in the guise of development, we forget, we remove the wildlife from the wild, promote man-animal conflict and pave the way for poaching and to add to this, a great loss of a host of other species of flora and fauna. The loss is constant with each single specimen pushing the dreaded word -  “extinction”.

Development can be achieved with environment sensitivity, we call it Holistic development. The BRO needs to consider the environment protection issues raised are not against the development but to trigger thoughtful thinking on Holistic development. Stoppage of maintenance work of existing road has nothing to do with issues raised for new construction in the area. Hope, the concerned authorities will wake up before the people and nature lose their patience.

While going for the development in such places, it is necessary to take into account the busy visitor’s traffic, unrestricted vehicular movement, unimaginable amount of garbage and plastic dumping by visitors and easy access to wild life without the presence of law enforcement agency on spot. If not, in the name of development, what we will be called “protectors or predators” of wild life and environment?

(The writer is a campaigner of “Save Hoolock Gibbon” and a member of State Advisory Committee of Wild Life)  

 

No supply on Oct 13

ITANAGAR: Arun Dairy pasteurized milk packets will not be supplied in the Capital Complex on Oct 13 as the collection of raw milk and production of pasteurized packaged milk has been hampered due to electioneering.

 

Meditation camp

ITANAGAR: The Brahma Kumaris Rajyoga Centre is organizing a 3 days Raj Yoga Meditation free training camp at its local centre here both in morning and evening from Oct 16-18 Oct. for the benefit of masses.

 

Resignation

ITANAGAR: Itanagar Capital Complex District BJP Mohila Morcha unit general secretary  Yajak Pakba, Papum Pare district Yuva Morcha Sakti Kendra president Gyamar Siang  along with their supporters resigned  from the BJP.

 

Expulsion revoked

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) in an order revoked the expulsion order of Mita Mihu, ZPM, Anini, Mipi Aliney in party interest.

 

 

October -  12

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Nobel Peace Prize:  Does Obama deserve it?

Madam,

The Nobel Prize is a Sweden-based international monetary prize. The award was established by the 1895 will and estate of Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel. It was first awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace in 1901. An associated prize, The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, was instituted by Sweden's central bank in 1968 and first awarded in 1969.  The Nobel Prizes in the specific disciplines (Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature) and the Prize in Economics, which is commonly identified with them, are widely regarded as the most prestigious award one can receive in those fields. The Nobel Peace Prize conveys social prestige and is often politically controversial. The Nobel Peace Prize was one of five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel. The Peace Prize is presented annually in Oslo, and is the only Nobel Prize not presented in Stockholm.

According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

U.S. President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, in part for leading the United States to play "a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting," according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Committee also cited Obama's "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and "attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons." President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for giving the world "hope for a better future" with his work for peace and calls to reduce the global stockpile of nuclear weapons. Nobel officials said their stunning pick was meant to build momentum behind Obama's initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.

Other side of the coin, adding to the torrent line of controversies back year’s peace prizes, many observers expressed surprise or downright disapproval at the Nobel Committee's decision to honor Obama for what they see as his ambitions rather than his achievements.

U.S. President Barack Obama was nominated the day after inauguration and then elected for the award just 8 months into his administration. Siv Jensen, leader of Norway's main opposition party the Progress Party, has stated that "It is just too soon... It is wrong to give him the peace prize for his ambition. You should receive it for results." Obama himself has stated that he does not deserve the award.

If we look yesteryears, the award given to Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, Tho and Henry Kissinger were particularly controversial and much-debated. The Kissinger-Tho award prompted two dissenting Committee members to resign. Like wise, awarding the prize to President Barack Obama early in his presidential term has generated debate about the timing of the award in relation to the recipient's actual achievements, particularly in light of President Obama being office for less than two weeks before the February 1 nomination deadline.

I agree with those who are not sure that he deserves it, and say it’s to early. I'm accustomed to hearing about people being awarded this prestigious honor for having completed something substantial related to the name of the award, not just for having the potential to do so. Obama has said that battling climate change is a priority. Obama has been slow to bring troops home from Iraq and the real end of the U.S. military presence there won't come until another few years. In Afghanistan, he is seriously considering ramping up the number of U.S. troops on the ground and asking for help from others, too. What I analyzed is -to soon and early, he has little contribution so far, he is in early stage and only to a beginning of the act. It seems to be a bit early for this. He certainly has the potential to make real progress toward world peace; I'm just not sure he's done it yet. Despite all odds, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize will inspire Obama to deliver on the ambitious agenda for change that he outlined throughout his campaign and has been working on it.

Concluding at this time, I would like to outline another criticism of the peace-prize “the notable omissions”, namely the failure to award individuals with widely recognized contributions to peace. The list includes Mahatma Gandhi, Corazon Aquino, Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II, Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, Oscar Romero, Jose Figueres Ferrer, Steve Biko, Raphael Lemkin, Abdul Sattar Edhi and Irena Sendler. In particular, the omission of the Indian leader Gandhi, who was nominated five times in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and, finally, a few days before he was murdered in January 1948. In 1948, the year of Gandhi's death, the Nobel Committee declined to award a prize on the ground that "there was no suitable living candidate" that year.

Yours,

GR Biswakarma

On E-mail

 

 

 

Jaago Janta Jaago

Madam,

Through your esteemed daily I would like to draw the attention of the common people -- the aam aadmi. As the polling day is approaching, the heart beat of the political parties is running as pumping parade. No wonder each party wants to attain the throne. It is being the highest and topmost platform to play with the emotions of the aam aadmi. Its been ages hearing those pronounced promises later being utterly false.

Every candidate dreams of a new Arunachal, good road connectivity,  water and food supplies. We know what these party candidates are up to which need not be explained. But we stay unmindful.

Aspiring leaders, what we really need is a change! Many know millions of Indians do not even know where Arunachal is? Remaining few who have slight knowledge are either informed Arunachal is a remotest jungle backward state. Yes you heard it right. This is the reputation our state holds in the rest of India. We don’t really see Arunachal being the no.1 state or Itanagar a metropolitan city in these 5 years for sure. We neither demand that nor have the representative the capability to do so. But at least Itanagar achieving the status like that of Gangtok or Shillong will bring a hope. Look at the sanitation, road, transportation, health and hygiene all in chaotic form at the capital city, no wonder the situation much worse in the districts. A single constituency enhanced by quality will mean development of the state. But I don’t see a single ray of improvement. Our state is dooming in the name of light, the light signifying destruction. There are numbers of leaders winning in series possessing zero records of development in their constituencies, yet again they tend to win. Yes, who? We are responsible for this!

Every now and then the topic of corruption is being dragged. But it’s we who are corrupted and provides a way for corruption to exist. Blaming game must be out. Much has been tolerated. Now its high time we act right, to vote right. But again then to vote right we need the right representative (hardly contesting). I appeal/request the general masses especially the youth to come forward and start a new era of ever shining and happy Arunachal free of all hassles. Vote the right person who can cater the needs of all. Guide, create awareness. Change is the need of the hour! Jaago Janta Jaago !!

Yours,

Arun Siram

Chandranagar

Itanagar

 

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