Dear Mr Barah

Thanks very much for the update.As I understand Norway has a very high standard 
of living and therefore find shortcomings in the way we live. 

In any case the problem is now solved.

Regards

-bhuban



.



-----Original Message-----
From: assam-request <[email protected]>
To: assam <[email protected]>
Sent: Fri, Jan 27, 2012 6:30 am
Subject: assam Digest, Vol 78, Issue 25


Send assam mailing list submissions to
[email protected]
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
r, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
[email protected]
You can reach the person managing the list at
[email protected]
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
han "Re: Contents of assam digest..."

Today's Topics:
   1. Re: Diplomatic Row Between India & Norway (Pankaj Barah)
  2. Re: assam Digest, Vol 68, Issue 31 (ranenkumar goswami)
  3. Re: [assam] Republic Day of India Celebration by New York
     Times in 2012 (Bhuban Baruah)
  4. Re: [assam] Republic Day of India Celebration by New York
     Times in 2012 (Bhuban Baruah)


Attached Message


From:
Pankaj Barah <[email protected]>

To:
[email protected]

Subject:
Re: [Assam] Diplomatic Row Between India & Norway

Date:
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:02:19 +0100



Dear all,
Latest update: Norway NRI case: Uncle to get custody of kids
ttp://ibnlive.in.com/news/norway-nri-case-uncle-to-take-custody-of-kids/224141-2.html

Background information:
Child right laws in Norway are very strict. It is applicable to
ll children residing in Norway irrespective of their  gender, nationality,
thnicity, religion.  It was Abhigyan's (one of the two children)
“erratic” behaviour at school which made the school authorities suspect
hat he was probably not being brought up well. The child protection
ervices people started visiting the Bhattacharya household for an hour
very week and decided that Sagarika was not capable of looking after her
hildren as she “was in depression, tired and had no patience”. They said
he mother “over-fed” her child, fed with fingers and the boy slept with
is father.
Among the reasons listed by Norwegian child welfare authorities for taking
way the three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter of an expatriate
ndian couple were unsuitable toys and clothes, insufficient room for the
hildren to play in the house and the son not having his own bed.
The couple, Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, have battled the Child
elfare Services in Stavenger, 500 km from the Norwegian capital, for the
ast eight months against these and other perceived shortcomings in their
arenting.
It began when, acting on complaints from the local child care centre at
tavenger, where Anurup works as a geo-scientist with American firm
alliburton, the couple were placed under observation by the area's
tate-run Child Welfare Services.
After a few visits, on May 12, 2011, child welfare workers took away the
hattacharyas' son, who was then two, and five-month-old daughter and
laced them in an emergency shelter.
Four days later, the parents appealed the case before the County Board,
hich hears appeals in child welfare and social cases.
The Board was sympathetic to the couple. This is what it said:
“The county has noted that there is a danger that the child could fall down
rom the bathinette and hurt itself. During the case, it became clear that
he couple does not own a basinette/diaper-changing table. The child's
iapers are being changed on a bed, an arrangement much lower than a
raditional Norwegian basinette/diaper-changing table.
*‘No accidents'*
“To this point, there have been no accidents while changing the diapers of
he child… The most important and conclusive point being: There was no
mergency in the home prior to the Child Welfare Services' first visit in
he family home. The problems occurred after representatives from the Child
elfare Services arrived in the home. The mother got scared when it dawned
n her that the Child Welfare Services' might place her children outside of
heir own home. That was a difficult situation, but the problems of this
ituation should have been solved in a different and more thought-out way,
s opposed to deciding to send the children to an emergency shelter.”
On the 23rd of May, the county board concluded: “The requirements of the
aw for emergency decisions of this kind were not fulfilled when the
ecision was made. The conditions for maintaining the decision are not
ulfilled either… In the short term, there is reason to believe that the
onditions of the home will change, as the parents of the mother are coming
o Norway to help their daughter. The decision to place the children
utside the home is hereby cancelled.”
*New turn*
The Child Welfare Service appealed the sentence in the city court of
tavanger, where the case took a new turn.
Its list of complaints against the parents was long. It said it had “severe
oubts” about the parents' ability to take care of their children, stating
hat its main concern was that the mother did not “maintain” the children's
motional needs.
The mother had admitted to slapping the son at one point, but the Child
elfare Service noted that this was something she had never done again
fter she became aware that it was illegal under Norwegian law.
Further, it listed other reasons, such as the house not having sufficient
oom to play, and toys that were not age-suitable for the children, the son
ot having his own bed, or linen or suitable clothes for his size.
*Mother's behaviour*
It expressed concern over the way the mother interacted with the infant
aughter. Noting that she handled the daughter with “sudden movements” it
oncluded she was unable to hold the child in a proper way. It said that
he when the mother breast-fed the infant, she put her on her lap without
olding her, holding the head against the breast, but not close to her body.
The court decided that both the children would be taken from their home,
nd that the time the parents would be allowed to meet their children would
e set to two hours, twice a year.
The court also pointed out that the grandparents' visit to Norway, which
he county board had emphasised as positive for the family, was for a
imited time and would not have an effect on the children's situation in a
ong term perspective.
It described the family situation as “constant and urgent.”
When the Bhattacharyas' children were taken away from them, their daughter,
hen aged five months, was still breast feeding.
The two siblings are now in two different “ethnic” foster homes.
Earlier, the Child Welfare Services had suggested that the parents be
llowed to meet the children twice a year for two hours each, but the
ountry board revised it in November that the two cannot be reunited with
heir parents until they turn 18 in 2026 and 2028; until then, the two
hildren would be allowed to spend three hours a year with their parents,
n three separate visits, lasting an hour each.
As per recent update They could receive a good news soon.
ttp://www.ndtv.com/article/india/norway-vs-nri-parents-childrens-paternal-uncle-to-get-custody-170291
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/norway-custody-row-grandparents-likely-to-get-custody-as-compromise-169759&cp>


egards,
Pankaj Barah
rondheim, Norway

 Dear Friends:

 The following letter, reproduced, points out how nationalities can differ
 in parenting a child. It appeared in the daily Telegraph,UK, this morning.

 -bhuban


 By Dean Nelson, New Delhi.


 The parents were told the children will remain in foster care in Norway
 until they are 18 and that they will only have occasional contact with them.

 Norwegian officials have so far resisted calls for the children to be
 reunited with their grandparents in India pending an inquiry, and now
 India's external affairs minister has called for the children to be
 repatriated.

 The case has provoked an outcry in India, where mothers constantly push
 food into their toddlers' mouths and children often sleep in their parents'
 bed until they are six or seven.

 Sushma Swaraj, parliamentary leader of the opposition Bharatiya Janata
 Party, suggested the decision betrayed an ignorance of Indian culture.

 "I do not know the logic behind the Norwegian laws. One thing is clear –
 they do not know the Indian culture and sensibilities. The snatching of two
 little kids from their parents in Norway is shocking. I cannot imagine what
 parents and kids must be going through," she said.













Attached Message


From:
ranenkumar goswami <[email protected]>

To:
[email protected] <[email protected]>

Subject:
Re: [Assam] assam Digest, Vol 68, Issue 31

Date:
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:34:57 +0530 (IST)



Befitting reply to boycott call, scribes celebrate Republic Day
uwahati, January 26: Journalists and other patriotic citizens gathered in the 
uwahati Press Club premises on Thursday to celebrate the Republic Day in what 
an be called yet another befitting reply to the boycott-mongering militants.
   Hoisting the National Tricolour, senior journalist Hiten Mahanta said it is 
he courage and determination of the people that has again and again foiled 
ecessionist attempts to arm-twist the patriots not to celebrate the 
ndependence and Republic Days. Because, at the end of the day, it is the people 
pon whose support insurgency survives. Without people’s support insurgency 
ithers away. So, Army and other security operations are only one side of the 
tory, Mahanta pointed out and added that insurgency is a failure because there 
as no taker among the people to the call for an independent Assam. Even the 
andful of journalists, who at one time sided with the militants, have now 
hanged their tone in sync with the changed situation.     
    Earlier, senior journalist Rupam Baruah explained the significance of the 
ay and underscored the need to remember the martyrs who died in those days to 
ake sure the fellow countrymen could live. Baruah also deplored the move by 
ome circles to portray Jana Gana Mana, the National Anthem, as a composition by 
abindra Nath Tagore to eulogize George the Fifth. It was a great patriotic song 
edicated to the people of India, he asserted.
  Later, a procession was taken out, where the participants raised slogans 
pholding the concept of the Indian nationhood and condemning all moves to 
enounce it. Those who attended programme included Nava Thakuria, Ranen Kumar 
oswami, Mukul Kalita, Sabita Lahkar, Dhiren Baruah, Jagadindra Ray Choudhury, 
oumyadeep Dutta and Kishor Giri.
    
                                        



----- Original Message -----
rom: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
o: [email protected]
c: 
ent: Thursday, 31 March 2011 12:00 PM
ubject: assam Digest, Vol 68, Issue 31
Send assam mailing list submissions to
   [email protected]
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
   http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
r, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
   [email protected]
You can reach the person managing the list at
   [email protected]
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
han "Re: Contents of assam digest..."

oday's Topics:
   1. Elections in Assam (Arindam Garg)
  2. Article (rupam baruah)
  3. Article (anitak goswami)
  4. (no subject) (anitak goswami)
  5. Re: Fwd :: Major Scams of North East (Babul Gogoi)
  6. let the party begin !!!!! (Ram Dhar)
  7. celebrations across India after the win (Ram Dhar)
  8. cricket madness -  just being essentially Indian :-) (Ram Dhar)
  9. video - frenzied celebrations in India (Ram Dhar)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
ate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:27:19 +0530 (IST)
rom: Arindam Garg <[email protected]>
o: [email protected], [email protected],
   [email protected],    [email protected],
   [email protected],    [email protected],
   [email protected]
ubject: [Assam] Elections in Assam
essage-ID: <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Dear All,

lections are round the corner in Assam. Having spent most of my life outside 
ssam, I would be voting in Guwahati after a long time. I thought of penning 
own a few things on the elections?which may interest many of you outside.

) You can?t open the news channels. Speaker after speaker is making promises. 
ow I wish that even if they do half of it, a lot would be achieved.

) You can?t travel. I made the mistake of visiting Arunachal for some work. The 
highway was blocked by rallies. On top of that there was a call for Bandh in 
onitpur? District by the Adivasis and they were sitting with poisoned arrows on 
the highway. A car of one marriage party was set ablaze. I had to wait till 5 
pm 
in the evening to move with an escort. The next day there was again a call for 
a 
Bandh in entire Sonitpur District and believe it or not, the call was given by 
n aspirant of the Congress party who failed to get the nomination in his 
onstituency. One man holding an entire district to ransom for not getting a 
omination. Is there a law against this or this is possible in a democracy, I do 
not know. 

) Congress Office, Rajib Bhawan in shambles. First a bomb blast and then its 
wn workers tearing it apart. Workers in the sense, ticket seekers who did not 
et their nominations and their supporters.
4) Himanta Biswa Sarma seems to be the star campaigner for Congress. He is 
verywhere. 

) Prafulla K Mahanta contesting from two seats. AGP?asking for votes in the 
ame of everything but infiltration, the very plank on which the party was 
ormed?and so many youths died and became martyrs. 

) Sarbananda Sonowal, star campaigner for BJP. Intentions seem genuine, but not 
sure what impact he would have outside Upper Assam Districts. Infighting is in 
ull force in BJP like the other parties and yes their Guwahati office was also 
andalized as well and of course by their own party workers.
7) Population of Ghy city has already gone down. Yes true. Businesses are 
uffering as the labour force comprising mostly of migrants has gone back to the 
villages to vote. Not sure why they have gone early. Maybe for freebies being 
istributed.
8) Good MLAs need to come in.Thats what all parties say.?The problem is where 
re they.Leaving aside a few, most of them are in politics for making money and 
ot for any social cause. And I have not heard or seen any person being 
ominated who does not have a sizeable net assets list. For some MLAs, assets 
ave grown by 3-4 croses in the last year.And that too in the publicly declared 
igures. The real nos may be very different.?So much for democracy.
Voting possible from outside. Do vote. Assam needs good people to vote and vote 
or genuine people. I know that it is easier said than done. I myself do not 
now whom to vote for in my constituency. There?s not much to choose.... 

Arindam Garg


------------------------------
Message: 2
ate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:07:31 +0530
rom: rupam baruah <[email protected]>
o: [email protected]
ubject: [Assam] Article
essage-ID:
   <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
*From The Assam Tribune, March 30, 2001, Wednesday*

-----------------------------
Message: 3
ate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:43:37 +0530 (IST)
rom: anitak goswami <[email protected]>
o: [email protected]
c: [email protected], [email protected],
   [email protected]
ubject: [Assam] Article
essage-ID: <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
?
Assam poll and ethnic 
ragmentation
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
anen Kumar Goswami
? 
?? Assam is approaching yet another Assembly 
lection.
he fractured verdict in last Assembly polls and wafer-thin majority the
arties had got in the previous ones are a warning against making any 
weeping
orecast about the outcome this time around. Electorate behaviour wise,
re-1985 Assam and post-1985 Assam are not the same. The Assam movement 
hat
ad started in 1979 ended in 1985 with the signing of the Assam Accord,
olarised Assam's society along ethnic and religious lines. It was quite
atural that the voter verdict would also reflect that. The 
olarisation,
isible in all elections since then, reached a high point in 2006. 
??? But before
oing into that, let us pay a glance at voter participation. Here too, 
985 was
 landmark. Voter turnout, since then has remained among the highest in 
he
ountry. Assam's electorate has arguably shown more mature political 
esponse
o the democratic process than many of the more populous, and perhaps, 
ore
olitically volatile States. In 1985, of the 98,82,684 voters,? 78,27,860 
xercised their franchise, the
urnout percentage being 79.21. In 1991, the number of voters was 
,18,92,170
f whom 88,79,984 cast their ballots, the percentage of polling being 
4.67. In
996, of the 1,21,19,125 voters 95,64,434 exercised their franchise and 
he
ercentage of polling was?? 78.92. In
001, the polling percentage was 74.63 as 1,08,35,651 of the total 
,44,39,167
oters turned up at the polling booths. In 2006, the number of voters 
as
,74,34,019; of them 75.77 percent cast their ballots. This enthusiastic
articipation in the electoral process tells a very is significant tale.
his
ives a lie to the claim of those worshipers of the gun who say the 
eople of
ssam have lost faith in Indian democracy. 
????? The Assam
ovement leaders formed the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) at? a
onvention at Golaghat on October 14, 1985.
he polarisation in Assam's society began to show. In 1985 polls, the 
ave the
GP piggybacked on handed it a vote share of 34.84 per cent and 63 
eats, one
hort of absolute majority. The party had to secure the support of three
ndependents and welcome them into the party fold to enter the corridors
f
ower. Minority leaders, opposed to the Assam movement, organised 
hemselves in
 new party called the United Minorities Front (UMF). It secured 10.85 
er cent
otes and 17 seats. Emergence of the UMF was a clear signal that those 
ho
pposed the anti-alien movement had a strong voice, loud enough to be 
eard in
he Assembly. The CPI-M got 4.48 per cent votes and two seats. 
???? In 1991,
he Congress, under the leadership of Hiteswar Saikia secured 29.93 per 
ent
otes and 66 seats, while the AGP got 17.93 per cent and 19 seats. The 
atun
som Gana Parishad (NAGP), the breakaway faction of the AGP got 5.45 per
ent
nd five seats. Emerging as an electoral force to be reckoned with for 
he
irst time, the BJP got a vote share of 6.55 per cent and 10 seats. The 
PI
ith a vote share of 2.47 per cent got four seats and the CPI-M with a 
hare of
.85 per cent could lay its hands on two seats. 
???? In 1996, an
GP-led four-party alliance captured power in the State. The AGP got 
9.70 per
ent of votes and bagged 59 seats. The Congress, with a vote share of 
0.56 per
ent, got 34 seats. AGP's alliance partners CPI secured 1.95 per cent of
otes
nd three seats, the CPI-M secured 1.94 per cent votes and two seats and
SDC
ot 1.98 per cent votes and came out winners in five seats. The BJP had a
ote
hare of 10.41 per cent and four seats. In 2001 elections, the Congress 
nder
he leadership of Tarun Gogoi bounced back to power securing 39.75 per 
ent of
otes and winning 71 seats. Its strength subsequently rose to 78 as 
even more
egislators including NCP's three joined the party. The AGP had a vote 
hare of
0.02 per cent and 20 seats and the BJP with a vote share of 9.35 per 
ent
agged eight seats.
??? Now, let's
ave a closer look at the 2006 election. Here, we rely on a 
omprehensive study
y the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) under the 
uidance
f renowned psephologist Yogendra Yadav. According to Yadav, the way 
ssam
oted in this election could be called a story of political and ethnic
ragmentation that had followed the Assam movement. The process reached 
ts
ogical culmination this time around. The Congress bagged 53 seats with a
ote
hare of 31.08 per cent. The AGP tally was 24 seats with a vote share of
0.39
er cent. The Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF-H) got 11 seats 
ith a
ote share of 3.72 per cent and the newly-formed Assam United Democratic
ront
AUDF) bagged 10 seats with a vote share of 9.03 per cent. Yadav says 
hat now
he era of coalition politics finally arrived with the Congress falling 
0
eats short of a majority. The party benefited from a divided 
pposition. The
wing against the ruling party was the weakest in the smallest region, 
he
arak Valley, where it gained two additional seats despite a drop in 
otes. In
pper Assam, the CSDS says,?the largest region that has been a 
raditional
ongress stronghold, it lost 10 percentage point votes. But the party 
as
itting on very large margins here, thanks to big wins in 2001 
lections. The
ongress managed to win 30 seats here, a modest loss of eight seats 
ompared to
he last (2001) time.? 
???? What
appened at the roots of the society manifested itself in the electoral 
rena
n 2006. Beneath it lay the ethnic fragmentation of the electorate. The
ost-poll and the exit poll conducted by the CSDS confirmed the 
mpression that
he AGP was the first choice of the Assamese-speaking Hindus, who had? a fear 
urking in their minds that they might
ecome a minority in their own State. Among the Bengali-speaking Hindus,
he
SDS shows, the Congress was nearly matched by the BJP. As many as 36 
er cent
f Assamese-speaking Muslims and 38 per cent of Bengali-speaking Muslims
oted
or the Congress. An overwhelming majority of the Scheduled Tribe vote 
ent to
olitical parties outside the mainstream. In short, each party appeared 
o be
n ethnic party. The AGP and the BJP secured 60 per cent of their 
upport? from their core constituencies: Assamese 
nd
engali-speaking Hindus. The AUDF secured two-thirds of its votes from
engali-speaking Muslims. For the BPPF (H), two-thirds of its vote 
eservoir
omprised Bodo ethnic groups. Yet, the CSDS says, the only exception was
he
ongress, which secured? electoral support
rom all communities. 
???? It is worth
 recall here that the AUDF was born following the Supreme Court verdict
n
005 which declared that the Illegal Migrants Act (Determination by 
ribunals)
ltra vires the Constitution. A leading section of Muslims alleged that 
he
ongress had not done what could have been done to retain the Act. This
iscontent crystallised in the form of AUDF. In 1985,? a
imilar discontent had given birth to the
MF. It is difficult to avoid the?
onclusion that the AUDF is the latest version of the UMF giving 
oice
o a feeling? of? insecurity
mong the minorities in face of
he continuous demand for detection and deportation of illegal 
oreigners. The
erdict in 2006 clearly reflected this feeling.?
vents as recent as the 2010 Barpeta violence over the NRC pilot 
roject
riggered further polarisation of public opinion. We can safely predict 
hat
he 2011 verdict will also bring this fragmentation to the fore. 
??? All this
oes not mean that Assam's elections are only about ethnicities, though 
rom
985 onwards, it is playing a decisive role. Other issues like 
orruption,
evelopment, intra-party dissidence and factors like anti-incumbency 
lso weigh
n the voter's mind. Big dams are another issue that can influence the 
oter's
ecision this time in many areas. Militancy, talks and law and order are
ther
ssues. There are certain to be area-specific issues too. But the big 
uestion
s: will these issues decisively erase the boundaries of ethnic
ragmentation??? 
?
( The Assam Tribune, March 30, 2011, Wednesday)???????? 


-----------------------------
Message: 4
ate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:45:56 +0530 (IST)
rom: anitak goswami <[email protected]>
o: [email protected]
ubject: [Assam] (no subject)
essage-ID: <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Assam poll and ethnic 
ragmentation
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
anen Kumar Goswami
? 
?? Assam is approaching yet another Assembly 
lection.
he fractured verdict in last Assembly polls and wafer-thin majority the
arties had got in the previous ones are a warning against making any 
weeping
orecast about the outcome this time around. Electorate behaviour wise,
re-1985 Assam and post-1985 Assam are not the same. The Assam movement 
hat
ad started in 1979 ended in 1985 with the signing of the Assam Accord,
olarised Assam's society along ethnic and religious lines. It was quite
atural that the voter verdict would also reflect that. The 
olarisation,
isible in all elections since then, reached a high point in 2006. 
??? But before
oing into that, let us pay a glance at voter participation. Here too, 
985 was
 landmark. Voter turnout, since then has remained among the highest in 
he
ountry. Assam's electorate has arguably shown more mature political 
esponse
o the democratic process than many of the more populous, and perhaps, 
ore
olitically volatile States. In 1985, of the 98,82,684 voters,? 78,27,860 
xercised their franchise, the
urnout percentage being 79.21. In 1991, the number of voters was 
,18,92,170
f whom 88,79,984 cast their ballots, the percentage of polling being 
4.67. In
996, of the 1,21,19,125 voters 95,64,434 exercised their franchise and 
he
ercentage of polling was?? 78.92. In
001, the polling percentage was 74.63 as 1,08,35,651 of the total 
,44,39,167
oters turned up at the polling booths. In 2006, the number of voters 
as
,74,34,019; of them 75.77 percent cast their ballots. This enthusiastic
articipation in the electoral process tells a very is significant tale.
his
ives a lie to the claim of those worshipers of the gun who say the 
eople of
ssam have lost faith in Indian democracy. 
????? The Assam
ovement leaders formed the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) at? a
onvention at Golaghat on October 14, 1985.
he polarisation in Assam's society began to show. In 1985 polls, the 
ave the
GP piggybacked on handed it a vote share of 34.84 per cent and 63 
eats, one
hort of absolute majority. The party had to secure the support of three
ndependents and welcome them into the party fold to enter the corridors
f
ower. Minority leaders, opposed to the Assam movement, organised 
hemselves in
 new party called the United Minorities Front (UMF). It secured 10.85 
er cent
otes and 17 seats. Emergence of the UMF was a clear signal that those 
ho
pposed the anti-alien movement had a strong voice, loud enough to be 
eard in
he Assembly. The CPI-M got 4.48 per cent votes and two seats. 
???? In 1991,
he Congress, under the leadership of Hiteswar Saikia secured 29.93 per 
ent
otes and 66 seats, while the AGP got 17.93 per cent and 19 seats. The 
atun
som Gana Parishad (NAGP), the breakaway faction of the AGP got 5.45 per
ent
nd five seats. Emerging as an electoral force to be reckoned with for 
he
irst time, the BJP got a vote share of 6.55 per cent and 10 seats. The 
PI
ith a vote share of 2.47 per cent got four seats and the CPI-M with a 
hare of
.85 per cent could lay its hands on two seats. 
???? In 1996, an
GP-led four-party alliance captured power in the State. The AGP got 
9.70 per
ent of votes and bagged 59 seats. The Congress, with a vote share of 
0.56 per
ent, got 34 seats. AGP's alliance partners CPI secured 1.95 per cent of
otes
nd three seats, the CPI-M secured 1.94 per cent votes and two seats and
SDC
ot 1.98 per cent votes and came out winners in five seats. The BJP had a
ote
hare of 10.41 per cent and four seats. In 2001 elections, the Congress 
nder
he leadership of Tarun Gogoi bounced back to power securing 39.75 per 
ent of
otes and winning 71 seats. Its strength subsequently rose to 78 as 
even more
egislators including NCP's three joined the party. The AGP had a vote 
hare of
0.02 per cent and 20 seats and the BJP with a vote share of 9.35 per 
ent
agged eight seats.
??? Now, let's
ave a closer look at the 2006 election. Here, we rely on a 
omprehensive study
y the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) under the 
uidance
f renowned psephologist Yogendra Yadav. According to Yadav, the way 
ssam
oted in this election could be called a story of political and ethnic
ragmentation that had followed the Assam movement. The process reached 
ts
ogical culmination this time around. The Congress bagged 53 seats with a
ote
hare of 31.08 per cent. The AGP tally was 24 seats with a vote share of
0.39
er cent. The Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF-H) got 11 seats 
ith a
ote share of 3.72 per cent and the newly-formed Assam United Democratic
ront
AUDF) bagged 10 seats with a vote share of 9.03 per cent. Yadav says 
hat now
he era of coalition politics finally arrived with the Congress falling 
0
eats short of a majority. The party benefited from a divided 
pposition. The
wing against the ruling party was the weakest in the smallest region, 
he
arak Valley, where it gained two additional seats despite a drop in 
otes. In
pper Assam, the CSDS says,?the largest region that has been a 
raditional
ongress stronghold, it lost 10 percentage point votes. But the party 
as
itting on very large margins here, thanks to big wins in 2001 
lections. The
ongress managed to win 30 seats here, a modest loss of eight seats 
ompared to
he last (2001) time.? 
???? What
appened at the roots of the society manifested itself in the electoral 
rena
n 2006. Beneath it lay the ethnic fragmentation of the electorate. The
ost-poll and the exit poll conducted by the CSDS confirmed the 
mpression that
he AGP was the first choice of the Assamese-speaking Hindus, who had? a fear 
urking in their minds that they might
ecome a minority in their own State. Among the Bengali-speaking Hindus,
he
SDS shows, the Congress was nearly matched by the BJP. As many as 36 
er cent
f Assamese-speaking Muslims and 38 per cent of Bengali-speaking Muslims
oted
or the Congress. An overwhelming majority of the Scheduled Tribe vote 
ent to
olitical parties outside the mainstream. In short, each party appeared 
o be
n ethnic party. The AGP and the BJP secured 60 per cent of their 
upport? from their core constituencies: Assamese 
nd
engali-speaking Hindus. The AUDF secured two-thirds of its votes from
engali-speaking Muslims. For the BPPF (H), two-thirds of its vote 
eservoir
omprised Bodo ethnic groups. Yet, the CSDS says, the only exception was
he
ongress, which secured? electoral support
rom all communities. 
???? It is worth
 recall here that the AUDF was born following the Supreme Court verdict
n
005 which declared that the Illegal Migrants Act (Determination by 
ribunals)
ltra vires the Constitution. A leading section of Muslims alleged that 
he
ongress had not done what could have been done to retain the Act. This
iscontent crystallised in the form of AUDF. In 1985,? a
imilar discontent had given birth to the
MF. It is difficult to avoid the?
onclusion that the AUDF is the latest version of the UMF giving 
oice
o a feeling? of? insecurity
mong the minorities in face of
he continuous demand for detection and deportation of illegal 
oreigners. The
erdict in 2006 clearly reflected this feeling.?
vents as recent as the 2010 Barpeta violence over the NRC pilot 
roject
riggered further polarisation of public opinion. We can safely predict 
hat
he 2011 verdict will also bring this fragmentation to the fore. 
??? All this
oes not mean that Assam's elections are only about ethnicities, though 
rom
985 onwards, it is playing a decisive role. Other issues like 
orruption,
evelopment, intra-party dissidence and factors like anti-incumbency 
lso weigh
n the voter's mind. Big dams are another issue that can influence the 
oter's
ecision this time in many areas. Militancy, talks and law and order are
ther
ssues. There are certain to be area-specific issues too. But the big 
uestion
s: will these issues decisively erase the boundaries of ethnic
ragmentation??? 
?
( The Assam Tribune, March 30, 2011, Wednesday)?? 


-----------------------------
Message: 5
ate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:33:52 -0800
rom: Babul Gogoi <[email protected]>
o: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
   world    <[email protected]>
ubject: Re: [Assam] Fwd :: Major Scams of North East
essage-ID:
   <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
http://leagueofindia.com/resource/memorandum-president-india-bjp-president-nitin-gadkari-scams-north-east-india

-----------------------------
Message: 6
ate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:29:18 -0400
rom: Ram Dhar <[email protected]>
o: <[email protected]>
ubject: [Assam] let the party begin !!!!!
essage-ID: <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

ndia beats pakistan  to enter World cup Final...
he game which stopped the entire subcontinent today .....


mood of  billion strong people  captured in these pics
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/image/508731.html?page=2
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/gallery/508660.html#
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/gallery/508660.html#
sonia ,rahul all tensed 
ttp://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/image/508768.html?page=1
the most striking picture
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/image/508757.html?page=1
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/gallery/508660.html#
                            
------------------------------
Message: 7
ate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:01:13 -0400
rom: Ram Dhar <[email protected]>
o: <[email protected]>
ubject: [Assam] celebrations across India after the win
essage-ID: <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

ictures  : cricket fans  across India
ttp://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/photos/?album_id=10087&cat=CRICKET&pagesize=71#photos
http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/photos/?album_id=10107&cat=CRICKET&pagesize=18&p=4#photos
twitter was  abuzz
http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/photos/?album_id=10105&cat=CRICKET&pagesize=16#photos

 billion voices congratulate   our players

ttp://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/photos/?album_id=10097&cat=CRICKET&pagesize=23#photos
                            
------------------------------
Message: 8
ate: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:57:05 -0400
rom: Ram Dhar <[email protected]>
o: <[email protected]>
ubject: [Assam] cricket madness -  just being essentially Indian :-)
essage-ID: <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

nteresting read
http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-sheela-bhatt-finds-answers-to-mohali-madness/20110330.htm
 
                         
------------------------------
Message: 9
ate: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:33:18 -0400
rom: Ram Dhar <[email protected]>
o: <[email protected]>
ubject: [Assam] video - frenzied celebrations in India
essage-ID: <[email protected]>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

un , fun.......... people have forgoten we have to still win the final !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grSupe368SQ
Delhi -
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFchX_dcZzk
IIT khargapur-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJvxLXdK5tY
Indians in England
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNn4hGevSv4
Bangalore
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmRSWghkQZU
amritsar
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7b8WKGNTmo
Ny times reports oncricket fever in  the city among the immigrants 
ttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/nyregion/31cricket.html
Mumbai
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8awGEuP1xw
                           
------------------------------
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nd of assam Digest, Vol 68, Issue 31
************************************






Attached Message


From:
Bhuban Baruah <[email protected]>

To:
[email protected]

Cc:
[email protected]

Subject:
Re: [Assam] [assam] Republic Day of India Celebration by New YorkTimes in 2012

Date:
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:43:20 -0500 (EST)




ear Friends:
New Work Times, India Link, has the following today (27 01 2012):
>From the Archives: Republic Day 1958
New York Times celebrated Indian Republic Day yesterday by recalling its 
ditorial written more than a half-century ago. What a marvellous idea! 
Images of Republic Day 2012
India's Political Blasphemy
 repeat
-bhuban







Attached Message


From:
Bhuban Baruah <[email protected]>

To:
[email protected]

Cc:
[email protected]

Subject:
Re: [Assam] [assam] Republic Day of India Celebration by New YorkTimes in 2012

Date:
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:43:25 -0500 (EST)




ear Friends:
New Work Times, India Link, has the following today (27 01 2012):
>From the Archives: Republic Day 1958
New York Times celebrated Indian Republic Day yesterday by recalling its 
ditorial written more than a half-century ago. What a marvellous idea! 
Images of Republic Day 2012
India's Political Blasphemy
 repeat
-bhuban




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