Meghalaya Times

Agartala/Shillong, April 23 (IANS): Following the direction of the union government, Tripura and Meghalaya will ban the sale, manufacture and distribution of gutka (tobacco-laced areca nut pieces) and pan masala (a chewing mixture), officials said Tuesday.
Health department officials of Tripura and Meghalaya said that both the states have already taken initiative to ban the sale, manufacture and distribution of gutka, khaini, pan masala and other chewing products containing tobacco or nicotine.

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS): India on Tuesday said it has asked China to maintain the status quo that existed before the April 15 incursion by Chinese troops in the Depsang area of the western sector of the India-China boundary, even as External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said there was no need for diplomatic-level talks to resolve the issue.
"There is no need for diplomatic-level talks," Khurshid said, and added that local military commanders from both sides would hold discussions "to work out a solution at flag meetings, as they have been doing in the past".

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Staff Reporter

SHILLONG, April 19: The proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is being subjected to opposition again as the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya(GCCM) on Friday expressed discontent  over the matter.

In a meeting of the Meghalaya’s Grand Council of Chiefs on April 19, the institution has resolved to file a petition with the Centre to strongly oppose the proposed move by the MHA for amendments to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The institution was of the opinion that the proposed amendments violate principles on which the tribal Institutions in Meghalaya are formed.

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Staff Reporter

SHILLONG, April 19: The Assam government, while submitting documentary evidences on the activities of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 stated that it wants that the ban on these organizations be extended.

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Staff Reporter

SHILLONG, April 19: The opening of accounts in the form of 4 elected representatives of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Manipur Legislative Assembly elections had sparked discussions over whether the Mamata Banerjee led TMC will spread its wings in the northeastern part of the country for 2014 Lok Sabha General Election.

Similar speculations arose before the recently concluded Meghalaya Assembly February 23 polls of 2013. The initial news was that the party will be fielding candidate for the elections; this was coupled and affirmed by visit of few grand TMC chiefs.

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DIMAPUR, April 19: North East Helpline, an organization set up to cater to grievance for Northeastern people serving in metro cities like Delhi has reported a case of alleged harassment of two northeastern girls at the Magique Restaurant in Saket, Delhi.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 18: Meghalaya state NCP legislator Sanbor Shullai was re-elected to the post of Meghalaya Deputy Speaker for second consecutive terms on Thursday and created a history of sort by becoming the first legislator to be re-elected to the post for the second term. He was elected unopposed as the Opposition did not field any candidate to contest for the post.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 18: The Congress -led MUA II coalition government on Thursday pushed through the Meghalaya Lokayukta (Amendment) bill, 2013 despite stiff opposition in the Assembly.
However, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma assured the House that further amendments will be made to strengthen the Lokayukta.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 18: The Congress led MUA - II coalition government on Thursday said it has not detected any cases of ‘benami-transaction’ in the state even as the Opposition Bench demanded the government must “revisit” the ‘Benami-Transaction Act, 1980’.
“No cases of ‘benami-transaction’ have been detected in the state so far,” Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said in the course of his reply during the Question Hour in the Assembly on Thursday.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 18: The district police deployed in West Khasi Hills district on Tuesday arrested one 21 – year old mother for allegedly killing her nine month old baby, police said.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 18: The Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) has pointed out that the financial health of Meghalaya for the year for 2011-12 has deteriorated compared to the last four years.
The CAG report, which was tabled in the state assembly by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on the last day of the Budget Session on Thursday, viewed the state fiscal position in terms of key parameters like revenue surplus, fiscal deficit and primary deficit.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 18: In the name of development the world is facing a serious problem of deforestation which in turn is making life hard to survive for common man. Trees are an essence of life because the world was made in such a way that the ecological balance is maintained.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 17: Citing problems of illegal encroachment by the Defence Authority, HSPDP legislator from Nongkrem, Ardent Basaiawmoit on Wednesday demanded the state government to “shift” all Defence establishments from the capital city.
“The problem of illegal encroachment by the Defence Authority has always taken place from time to time and as long as we allow their establishments to be in the residential areas of the city, these problems will keep on coming up,” Basaiawmoit told the Assembly.

BOSTON/WASHINGTON, April 16 (IANS): Three people, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed and 144 injured as terror revisited the US with two massive explosions targeting the Boston Marathon within 12 seconds of each other. President Barack Obama vowed that those responsible would feel the "full weight of justice".
The two successive blasts Monday afternoon rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon, world's oldest annual marathon.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 16: Meghalaya government has been directed by the Gauhati High Court to strictly enforce the directives issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoE&F) with regard to violation of Forest Conservation Act, 1980, by cement companies in Jaintia hills and accordingly must submit the report within three months.

Staff Reporter
TURA, April 16: Acting quickly on the inputs of rape of a 13 year old in Tura, the police has registered a case against one Edmund Ch Momin of Tura. The case has been registered after the admission of the accused to the alleged rape in a meeting of Maharis after it was revealed by the daughter of the accused.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 16: Meghalaya Excise Minister Zenith Sangma on Tuesday admitted that he has no information on the legal age for consumption of alcohol in Meghalaya during the ongoing assembly session.
He said, “I have no information on the legal age but the provision of law will be enforced” on the floor of the House while replying to a Cut Motion moved by National People's Party (NPP) legislator James K. Sangma.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 16: Meghalaya Government is keen to help homemade wine sector grow as a Small Scale Industry (SSI) and bring it within the ambit of the State Excise Policy.
Meghalaya Excise Minister Zenith Sangma told the Assembly on Tuesday that the government is examining proposals to bring the homemade wine sector in the loop of the state excise policy so as to encourage locally produced wines find outlets in the state.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 15: Due to heavy inflow of Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) in the market, the BSF officials feel the strong need for people’s participation in this regard as such inflow is destabilizing the Indian economy.
“There is a need for the local populace to take active participation in order to stop the inflow of FICN in the Indian market,” a BSF official said adding “India shares 2,429 miles of border line with Bangladesh. The quality of this fake currency is of high quality and it is very difficult to identify from the original notes.”

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, April 15: NGOs in Meghalaya, under the banner of Campaign for Independent Lokayukta in Meghalaya (CILM), have taken their fight for a strong and effective Lokayukta Act in the state to a whole new level by petitioning the UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to use her power and make the Congress led Meghalaya government to legislate the act in line with the central Lok Pal and Lokayutak Bill, 2011.