Archive for April, 2008

Demand to stem usury to help farmers – The Statesman

Monday, April 28th, 2008

A concrete planning is yet to come up from the government with an objective to save the farmers from usury. Till date around 33 per cent farmers throughout the country received loan from government banks for cultivation. Another 67 per cent are still dependent on money lenders. Ultimately a good number of farmers every year commit suicide after running into debt.
In order to save agriculture and farmers Swaminathan Commission last year proposed to the UPA government to create a fund in the Budget for providing agricultural loans to the farmers at the rate of 4 per cent. But the proposal is yet to be implemented. Last year, the farmers of the country were worst affected. In order to save them the UPA government has decided to waive farm-loan amoun-ting to Rs 60,000 crore amount of agricultural loan. “We welcome this decision. But it is heart rending that still farmers are getting loan from bank at the rate of 11 to 14 per cent interest.On the other hand the corporate sectors in some cases are receiving loan at the rate of less than 11 per cent interest.
“Very soon we will press the UPA government to implement the proposal of Swaminat-han Commission for the benefit of agriculture and farmers. “If they fail to implement the proposal of the Swa-minathan Commission for the benefit of agriculture and farmers we will organise a movement against them through out the country,” said, the president of All India Bank Employees Association Mr Rajen Nagar in Raiganj last night where he attended the 5th Joint Conference of Bengal Provencial Bank Employees’ Association & All India Bank Officers’ Association of North Dinajpur district held in the conference hall of Raiganj merchant Association.
Mr Nagar also said that in terms of providing loan all the banks are prefering corporate sectors for which the agriculture of the country is neglected. As a result price hike remains uncontrolled.This is making the rich richer and poor poorer.
Apart from Mr Nagar,the state civil defence minister Dr Sreekumar Mukherjee also attended this conference as chief guest.He also demanded UPA government to make a policy by which the banks are forced to allow farmers a loan at lower interest.

Tension over death of Congress activist’s wife – The Statesman

Friday, April 25th, 2008

RAIGANJ, April 25: Tension looms large over Elenga village in Raiganj after a housewife, identified as Saleha Khatun(30), wife of a Congress supporter Mr Dukhia Mohammad, was found hanging from the ceiling of her house this afternoon. Congress leaders of the area suspect the involvement of CPI(M) activists behind this death.
It was learnt that ten persons were injured in a clash between the CPI-M and Congress activists on 20 April. Six houses including the house of Mr Habibur Rahaman, a grampanchyat candidate of the CPI-M were torched. Saleha’s husband Mr Dukhia Mohammad was also involved in the clash. Mr Mohammad fled the village after the clash and learnt of his wife’s death after he returned home today.
The sabhapati of Raiganj panchayat samity and a Congress member Mr Baren Roy said: “CPI-M activists would frequently visit Mr Dukhia Mohammad’s house and threatened his wife. Dukhia found his wife hanging fro the ceiling of the house when he returned home after attending namaz at a mosque in the village.”
Mr Omshed Ali, secretary CPI-M zonal committe said: “The CPI-M activists have nothing to do with the incident.”
Mr Pradip Chakraborty, IC, Raiganj police station said: “We have not received any complaint yet. However, the body has been sent for postmortem and police patrolling has been intensified in the village to protect any untoward incident following the death of the woman.”

Bhupalis ~ a big threat in Raiganj – The Statesman

Thursday, April 24th, 2008

The threat of the KLO is back and this time in association with the Bhupalis, who are Bhutanese citizen of Nepali origin. The 1 lakh plus Bhupalis reside in seven refugee camps in Nepal ever since they were thrown out of Bhutan in the late 80s.
A number of Bhupalis were arrested in Siliguri recently in connection with the 3 April Champasari blasts and subsequent recovery of explosives from different parts of the town. The police have learnt that wanted KLO militant Dhanonjoy Sen, who had taken refuge in Bangladesh during the police hunt, has returned to Assam and could come into north Bengal to disturb the panchayat poll process. According to the inspector general of police, north Bengal Mr KL Tamta, Sen is trying to establish links with the Bhupalis. “The wanted KLO militant, who is trying to set up links with the Bhupalis and other militant groups could try to destabilise peace in the region, particularly during the panchayat elections. Under the circumstances, we have sought cooperation from the neighbouring states,” said the IGP, north Bengal.

Centre to announce policy on Greenfield airports soon (New Kerala)

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

NEW DELHI, April 17: With a view to meet the growing air traffic need, the Centre will soon announce a policy on construction of Greenfield airports across the country.

Dasmunsi honoured (IE via Yahoo! India News)

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi has been selected outstanding parliamentarian for the year 2007. A committee headed by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and including External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha K Rahman Khan and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh as members, chose the five-term Lok Sabha member for the …

Dasmunsi honoured (Express India)

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi has been selected outstanding parliamentarian for the year 2007.

Meet India’s outstanding Parliamentarian (rediff.com)

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Dasmunsi, who is currently the Union Information and Broadcasting minister, was till recently the minister for Parliamentary Affairs too. An avid sports lover, he is the president of the All India Football Federation since 1988 and has also been a member of the FIFA Standing Committee.

Dasmunsi chosen for Outstanding Parliamentarian Award, 2007 (Outlook India)

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Union Minister P R Dasmunsi has been chosen for the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for the year 2007. Parliament sources said that a Committee headed by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee chose Dasmunsi for the award.

Villagers may boycott polls – The Statesman

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Villagers may boycott polls
The Statesman, India – 18 Apr 2008
RAIGANJ, April. 18: Residents of Kurmanpur under Harirampur police station of South Dinajpur district recently formed Kurmanpur Gana Sangram Committee and

Raiganj bazaar bandh today – The Statesman

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Raiganj bazaar bandh today
The Statesman, India – 18 Apr 2008
RAIGANJ, April 18: More than 24 hours have passed since a fruit seller was shot dead and a contractor was injured at Mohanbati Bazaar in Raiganj yet police