Assam

Cong workers deaths: Rahul, Priyanka slam BJP govts; say 'must get justice'

Democracy and Constitution have been murdered again in BJP-ruled Assam and Uttar Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday after two party workers died in the two states during protests allegedly due to police excesses. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit out at the BJP and termed the deaths as "extremely heart-rending". Rahul Gandhi expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and said they have the right to full justice. "Democracy and Constitution have been murdered again in BJP-ruled Assam and Uttar Pradesh," he said in a post on X. Across the country, the Congress party is conducting satyagraha in support of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constitution, he said. During this, the death of our Congress workers Mridul Islam in Guwahati and Prabhat Pandey in Lucknow "due to police excesses" is very sad and condemnable, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. "The lions of Congress will continue to fight for truth and the ...

Bhutan king, Assam CM discuss promotion of regional economic development

Sarma assured the Bhutanese leadership of the Assam government's steadfast commitment and cooperation to bolstering trade infrastructure along the India-Bhutan border in Assam

Assam CM lays foundation for 220 crore Jorhat town water supply scheme

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation stone for the Jorhat town water supply scheme and also launched a series of transformative initiatives, aimed at fostering growth and progress in Jorhat district.CM Sarma, addressed the "long-standing issue faced by the people of Jorhat," to facilitate safe drinking water to the people."The Drink from Tap (DFT) project will involve a financial outlay of Rs. 220 crore which will ensure clean and uninterrupted 24X7 water supply by leveraging advanced technology and modern infrastructure," read a statement from the Chief Minister's Office.These initiatives span across various sectors, including Education, Industries & Commerce and Public Enterprises, Revenue and Disaster Management, and Finance, and aims to underline Assam Government's commitment to the overall development of the state and the well-being of its people."It may be noted that this event marks a significant phase in the government's "12 Days of Development" ..

Opposition calls Assam 'banana republic' over NRC-Aadhaar linkage decision

Opposition Congress and Trinamool Congress on Thursday criticised the Assam government's decision to make NRC application a pre-condition for obtaining an Aadhaar card, stating the state has turned into a "banana republic" under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP. In an effort to link the Aadhaar card with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Assam government on Wednesday decided that all applications for the unique identity card will be rejected if the applicant or their family had not applied for the NRC. The decision was taken in view of infiltration attempts by citizens of trouble-hit Bangladesh, Sarma said at a press conference. "The problem of fake beneficiaries is huge in Assam. Government data itself shows how crores of public funds was wasted in the implementation of PM Kisan," deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said in a post on X. Sharing a news link of PTI on the Aadhaar-NRC decision by Assam Cabinet, he said people in the state are paying GST, cess

Assam aims to complete nearly 200K PM Awaas Yojana-Gramin houses by 2026

The Assam government has set a target to complete the construction works of nearly 2 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in the state by 2026.Assam Panchayat & Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass told ANI reporter, "Earlier our target was 20 lakh houses. Out of which we have already constructed 19.52 lakh houses. Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given us 1.72 lakh additional houses, and we have already completed the construction works of 10,000 houses."We hope that every eligible household in the state will get PMAY houses soon. Our Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma also told us that, if it is necessary, the Mukhya Mantri Awas Scheme will also be implemented," Dass said.Earlier, with a focus on inclusive development and fulfilling the dream of "Housing for All" in the state, the Assam Budget 2024 earmarked a staggering Rs 600 crore under the Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin to ensure shelter for every citizen.The Assam minister ..

No Aadhaar card to persons who did not apply for NRC, says Assam govt

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting in view of an infiltration attempt by citizens of trouble-hit Bangladesh, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press conference here

Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pays tribute to martyrs of Assam movement

From 1979 to 1985, Assamese people fought against infiltrators... I pay my tributes to all those who sacrificed their lives for their country in the Assam movement, he said

DRI seizes 123 kg Methamphetamine in H1FY25; max cases in Assam, Mizoram

Seizures of the narcotic drug Methamphetamine have increased in the northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram in the current year, with the DRI confiscating 123 kg of the contraband during April-September. Methamphetamine, also known as 'ice' or 'crystal meth', has become a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies in India, particularly through the porous northeastern borders. According to a report by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the smuggling trend indicates that Methamphetamine is being illegally brought into India through sea routes in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. For smuggling, the drug is brought to coastal hamlets like Rameswaram, Tuticorin and Nagapattinam, concealed within specially designed compartments in buses, trains, or cars. From these locations, it is smuggled across the maritime border to Sri Lanka through mid-sea transfers involving Indian fishing boats. In the first half of FY 2024-25, DRI seized 123 kg of methamphetamine in 11 cas

Assam CM Sarma expands Cabinet, 4 new ministers take oath in Guwahati

Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to four new ministers - Prasanta Phookan, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul and Rupesh Gowala

Hotels in Assam not to host B'desh nationals till attacks on Hindus stop

Hotels in Barak Valley of Assam have announced they would not host any Bangladesh national till attacks on Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country stop. Barak Valley, which comprises three districts of Cachar, Sribhumi (formerly Karimganj) and Hailakandi, shares a 129-km-long border with Bangladesh's Sylhet region. "The situation of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh is concerning. We cannot accept this in any way. We have, therefore, decided to stop hosting any national from that country in all the three districts of Barak Valley until the situation improves and atrocities on the Hindus stop. This is our form of protest," Barak Valley Hotel and Restaurant Association president Babul Rai told reporters on Friday. "The people of Bangladesh must ensure that stability returns to the country. Only if the situation improves, we can reconsider our decision," he said. A few days ago, Bajrang Dal had asked organisers of an ongoing global expo in Silchar to close down

Sonowal seeks apology from Congress for its 'total failure' in Northeast

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday sought an apology from the Congress for its "total failure" in bringing development in the Northeast. He also said that the Northeast has now become a place of peace and prosperity under 10-year rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a press conference here, Sonowal said during the long rule of Congress governments -- both at the Centre and in the eight state governments of the Northeast -- the region remained backward with little or no development. "It was a total failure of the Congress. The Congress should seek forgiveness from the people of the Northeast. I demand an apology from the Congress," he said. However, under the Narendra Modi government, the Northeast has seen all round development with construction of roads, highways, bridges, airports, railway lines, ports, AIIMS, higher education institutions among others. "Because of the initiatives taken by the prime minister and Home Minister Amit Shah, most of the insurgen

Around 75 tunnel projects worth Rs 49,000 cr under construction: Gadkari

Around 75 tunnel NHAI projects entailing investment of Rs 49,000 crore are under construction in the country, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said. Addressing the 'World Tunnel Day 2024 Conference on Safe & Sustainable Tunneling', the Minister for Road, Transport and Highways said that huge potential lies in the tunnel sector in India. "Our Prime Minister has a dream to make India the world's third-largest economy. For this target, we need to have an international standard of infrastructure in the country. Our government has given the highest priority for the development of good infrastructure in the country," Gadkari said. There is huge potential for tunnels. NHAI has completed 35 tunnel projects of 49 km in length costing Rs 20,000 crore, he said. Around 75 tunnel projects of 146 km in length are ongoing in the country at a cost of Rs 49,000 core, while 78 tunnels projects worth Rs 1.10 lakh crore are upcoming in the country which would cover a distance of 285 km, Gadkari ...

Serving beef, consumption in public places in Assam to be banned: Sarma

The Assam government has decided to ban serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday. A decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet to amend the existing law on beef consumption to incorporate the new provisions. "We have decided to ban serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotel and public places," he told a press conference here. Sarma said the current law on beef consumption is strong but there has been no prohibition in consumption of beef at restaurants, hotels and religious or social gathering so far. "Now, we have decided to make the law stronger to put a complete ban on consumption of beef in public places too in Assam," he said. The chief minister said the meeting of the state cabinet, which he attended virtually from Delhi, also decided to broaden the road connecting Guwahati's Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi airport to the city from four lane to six lane. He said a cab

Spear Corps commander Pendharkar reviews operational preparedness in Assam

GOC Pendharkar interacted with the troops and lauded them for their dedication to duty

Situation in neighbouring Manipur will impact Assam, says Himanta Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that the situation in neighbouring Manipur will have an impact on the state. Additional police forces have been deployed in Barak Valley which shares a border with violence-hit Manipur to ensure no spill-over effects. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Cachar district, Sarma said, I think the situation in Manipur will definitely have some impact on Assam. That is why we have deployed additional police forces in Barak Valley to see that nothing spills over to Assam." The Barak Valley of Cachar district shares a border with Jiribam of Manipur. The ethnically diverse Jiribam, which was largely untouched by the clashes in Imphal Valley and the adjoining hills, witnessed violence after the mutilated body of a farmer was found in a field in June this year. More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Z

Ready to ban beef in Assam if Congress writes to me: CM Himanta Sarma

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he was ready to ban beef in Assam if state Congress chief Bupen Kumar Borah writes to him, seeking such it. Responding to the allegation that BJP distributed beef to win the Muslim-dominated Samaguri, which was under Congress control for five consecutive terms, Sarma said he was happy that the opposition party raised the matter. "Samaguri was with Congress for 25 years. Congress losing a constituency like Samaguri by 27,000 votes (sic) is the biggest shame in its history. It is Congress's defeat more than BJP's win," he told reporters after a party meeting here on Saturday. BJP's Diplu Ranjan Sarmah defeated Congress' Tanzil, son of party MP Rakibul Hussain, by 24,501 votes in a bypoll last month. "But amidst sadness, Rakibul Hussain said one good thing that eating beef is wrong, isn't it? He said that it was wrong for Congress-BJP to win elections by offering beef to voters," the CM said when asked about the MP's reported comment. "I want t

Assam will send teams to Jharkhand to study 'two-three things': CM Himanta

In a tit-for-tat response, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he would send two delegations to study a few things in Jharkhand, days after his counterpart Hemant Soren took a cabinet decision to despatch an all-party team to study the plight of tea tribes in the northeastern state. Sarma, however, did not specify the areas of concern for the Assam government for deciding to send inspection teams to Jharkhand. "In our cabinet on December 5, we will make some decisions regarding visiting some Jharkhand areas. We will also go and see two-three things there," he told reporters after a BJP meeting here on Saturday night when asked about the Jharkhand government's decision to send a team to Assam. Hours after JMM leader Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 14th chief minister of Jharkhand on November 28, his government approved the formation of an all-party panel to study the plight of the "marginalised" tea tribes in Assam. "We will be happy if somebody looks after us because we

Embrace challenges, transform every crisis into opportunity: Piyush Goyal

In his speech, Piyush Goyal reflected on the aspirations for India as it moves toward celebrating 100 years of independence in 2047

Samsung, Hyundai looking at Indian shipbuilding industry: Sarbanda Sonowal

Sonowal is opening up the Indian seas and ports to the world. In an interview with Dhruvaksh Saha and Shreya Jai in New Delhi, he talks of about the ministry's plans

In 1st Cabinet meet, Soren forms panel to study Assam tea tribes' plight

Hours after JMM leader Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 14th chief minister of Jharkhand, his government on Thursday approved the formation of a panel to study the plight of the "marginalised" tea tribes in Assam. The decision, taken in the first cabinet meeting of the Soren government, came against the backdrop of the poll battle between the JMM-led coalition and NDA, in which Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma repeatedly raised the issue of the "predicament" of Jharkhand's tribal community due to alleged large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh. "In Assam, tribes from Jharkhand are being marginalised. A large number of original inhabitants of Jharkhand are residing there. We have decided that an all-party panel will study the ground situation there. The panel will submit its report to the Jharkhand government," Soren said while briefing the media on the decisions of his first cabinet meeting. Sarma was the BJP's election co-in-charge for Jharkhand. Soren had raised the issu