Anirudha Bhakat

Guwahati: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, while sharing his thoughts on the politics and development, said that Assam will become a model state by using politics as a tool of development.

Guwahati : With the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 drawing closer, not all seems to be well between the CPIM and the Congress – two key players within

Assam: Serious objections have been raised by various individuals and organisations for showing the Muslim community in a poor light during a cultural procession on Monday. Though the University authorities have tendered an apology, the row still exists. The Bodoland University in Kokrajhar was observing its varsity week. As part of the festival, a cultural procession was taken out on Monday. However, in the procession, two students dressed as Muslims were seen being dragged and beaten by another student dressed as a policeman. As soon as the video went viral, the All Bodoland Minority Students’ Union staged a protest outside the University and demanded an unconditional apology. The ABMSU alleged that the Muslim community has been shown in a bad light and the name of the prophet has been mocked upon. “The way they depicted the Muslim community is not acceptable. They tried to show us as criminals,” said a protesting ABMSU leader. “We demand an apology from the authorities. Bodoland University has a discriminatory attitude towards Muslims. You will not find a single professor or teacher from the community in the University, though it is a Central University,” the ABMSU leader said.The varsity officials have meanwhile tendered an apology stating that it was completely unintentional.

Guwahati: The INDI Alliance is still in a deadlock over seat sharing in Assam as the Congress has decided to contest from 13 seats out of 14 not

Dibrugarh: Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate for Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency in Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal filed his nomination papers today.

Lakhimpur: Following the resignation from the Congress party, senior leader and sitting legislator Bharat Narah and his wife former Union Minister of State Ranee Narah, both have been incommunicado.

Lakhimpur: Following the resignation from the Congress party, senior leader and sitting legislator Bharat Narah and his wife former Union Minister of State Ranee Narah, both have been incommunicado. Sources close to the family have informed that both are in hibernation and are currently in their hometown Lakhimpur. After being denied Congress candidature from the Lakhimpur constituency in Upper Assam to his wife Ranee Narah, Bharat Narah initially stepped down as the chairman of the Media Committee of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and later resigned from the party through a letter he sent to the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. Ever since his resignation, both husband and wife have been incommunicado. Meanwhile, though several top Congress leaders of the state have appealed to Bharat Narah not to resign from the party, no formal reply has been seen from his end. Sources within the Congress party have to say that Narah feels dejected as, despite his and Ranee Narah’s profile in the Congress party, Ranee was denied a candidature this time, to facilitate a new entrant. Stating that all options are open for both Bharat and Ranee, a source close to the family has confirmed that they are yet to take a final call in regards to joining any other political party. There are also reports that Narah might join the BJP ally Asom Gana Parishad, a party he was a founding member of. However, Republic Media Network has confirmed through multiple sources that the chances of Narah’s joining the BJP are higher. Without giving any specific reason behind it, the source close to them said that both of them are taking some time to take a final call. “Both Bharat Narah and Ranee Narah had held several important positions in the Congress party as well as the government in the past, so it’s not easy to take a sudden call. They will first interact with their close team members and supporters in the constituency and will reveal the cards,” said a confidante. It may be mentioned that Bharat Narah has served as a minister several times since 1985, whereas his wife Ranee Narah was Union Minister of State in the UPA government.

Imphal: Fresh violence erupted in Manipur on Saturday with heavy cross-firing reported since 8am at the tri-junction of Imphal East, Kangpokpi, and Ukhrul districts, particularly at Moirangpurel in Imphal East and Kangpokpi.After two days of cross-firing between Heirok in Thoubal District and Tengnoupal, the situation escalated today at Moirangpurel, where armed miscreants from Kangpokpi and Imphal East clashed with each other.The violence continued past 1 PM as village volunteers from the valley districts retaliated against armed militants from Kangpokpi.According to villagers, the conflict was instigated by the Kuki militants who'd “built bunkers near their settlement”, prompting village volunteers to respond, which in turn led to the confrontation.Manipur police vehicles too were reportedly targetted as the officials arrived on the spot to tackle the situation.While members of the Kuki community were believed to have fled the spot, at least two injured militants were reportedly neutralised.With the government and security agencies having taken control of the area, situation has been brought under control.

Imphal: A massive cyclonic hailstorm – lasting for more than 15 minutes – struck Manipur on Sunday afternoon, damaging properties worth crores of rupees, Republic has learnt.According to initial reports, several houses have been damaged and power supply is disrupted in several areas across the valley with electricity in many areas yet to be restored completely. Meanwhile, road blockades due to uprooting of trees have hampered the assessment of the damage caused by the storm.Road blockades due to uprooting of trees have hampered the assessment of the damage caused by the storm.Taking to Facebook, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh urged the affected residents to contact their respective district commissioner with photos of the damage for getting required assistance.The hailstorm, preliminary reports suggest, was so powerful that parts of the valley were blanketed with 4-5 inches of hail, resembling a landscape covered in thick snow.Several houses have been damaged and power supply is disrupted in several areas across the valley with electricity in many areas yet to be restored completely. Restoration work is underway.

Assam’s politician Debolal Gorlosa has reportedly kept the wild Burmese red serow in captivity at his residence in Haflong, Dima Hasao.