Rajnath to chair NEC meet in Shillong on July 9
Shillong, July 2: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will chair here from July 9 the 67th plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC), a regional planning body of eight northeastern states, an official said on Monday.
Governors and Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura -- who are also members of newly reconstituted NEC -- will attend.
On June 13, the Union Cabinet brought the NEC under the direct control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Union Home Minister is the ex-officio chairperson of the council.
Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jitender Singh will be its Vice Chairman.
The first session of the NEC meeting will include tabling of an action-taken report on the 64th plenary and approval of the draft annual plan of NEC for 2018-19 by the council.
Other topics to be discussed include infrastructure and connectivity in the region, in which officials from ministries of road transport and highways, railways, water resources, civil aviation, power, tourism and human resource development will participate.
NEC officials said that the repositioning of the council will provide a forum for more comprehensive discussions on inter-state matters.
Under the new arrangement, the NEC will now also perform the tasks undertaken by various zonal councils pertaining to inter-state issues like drug trafficking, smuggling of arms and ammunition, and boundary disputes.
The NEC has been instrumental in setting in motion a new economic endeavour aimed at removing roadblocks to development of the northeastern region.
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Report on Sambhal mosque survey likely to be submitted to local court; security tight in district
Sambhal(UP) (PTI): Security was stepped up across the district ahead of Friday prayers and the likely submission of a report on the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid here by the court-appointed ASI team following claims that a temple once stood at the spot.
Tension has been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site.
Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said security measures have been reinforced at sensitive religious sites in the area and around the court in Chandausi.
The lawyer for the Hindu side, Gopal Sharma, said the court hearing on Friday will see the plaintiff's side present their reply, and the court commissioner is expected to submit the findings from the survey conducted on the disputed site.
"Our further action will be determined after the survey report is reviewed," Sharma said.
Shakeel Ahmed Warsi, the lawyer representing the Muslim side, said they are fully prepared to present their case.
"We have all the necessary evidence, and we will first request a copy of the survey report before strongly presenting our side in court," Warsi stated.
Violence erupted on November 24 as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson. Four people died and scores of others were injured in the violence.
The situation remains tense, and local authorities are closely monitoring the developments to maintain peace and order.
