DSC-A Clinches the Dree Football Tournament 2008 trophy

Though there was only three votes in the Arunachal Diary Poll, but they predicted pretty correctly. DSC-A has clinched the Dree Football Tournament 2008 title by beating AHSA by 1 goal to nil 4-3 in a tie breaker.

The celebration is on full swing with traffic at Hapoli Township being jammed by the supporters and team members, who has taken out procession in their vehicles. Oh! How I wished I had my camera handy with me to capture the moment.

Well, time to join the celebration now.

Dree Football 2008 Finals scheduled today..

Spain beat Germany by 1 goal to nil to clinch the EURO-2008 title. We too could have had the Dree Football Tournament 2008 winner yesterday but for the interview for post in Police Department.

You may ask what's the connection with Dree Football Tournament Finals and the interview?

Well, it seems majority of the players who were to play the finals yesterday had applied for that interview and as such the Dree Football Committee considering their career, rescheduled the finals today. The match will be played at 1200 hrs.

Watch out this space for updates on the match.

Dree Football 2008 Finals scheduled today..

Spain beat Germany by 1 goal to nil to clinch the EURO-2008 title. We too could have had the Dree Football Tournament 2008 winner yesterday but for the interview for post in Police Department.

You may ask what's the connection with Dree Football Tournament Finals and the interview?

Well, it seems majority of the players who were to play the finals yesterday had applied for that interview and as such the Dree Football Committee considering their career, rescheduled the finals today. The match will be played at 1200 hrs.

Watch out this space for updates on the match.

Getam Apang & Naren Rai released-Has the ordeal of Apang Family ended?

The 10 days ordeal of family members of Getam Apang, youngest son of former CM Gegong Apang and Naren Rai ended on 27^th June, when the abducted duo walked free from their abductors to Holongi police station to be united with their family members.

But hey! Wait. Has the ordeal of family members of Getam Apang really ended?

Not so, if we go by the reports appearing in the media. Gegong Apang has been accused of staging the kidnap drama by family members to gain political mileage by Dorjee Khandu.

"It is unfortunate that Getem and his music teacher were abducted from the heart of the state capital, but what can the government do if family members are involved in such crimes?" Khandu, who had dislodged Apang in April last year after revolting against him, told a press conference here.

He said "It is unfortunate that political mileage was sought to be derived by attempting to show my government in poor light." (link)

However, the former CM Gegong Apang has denied the charge that the kidnapping was handiwork of the insider and has demanded CBI probe into the abduction.

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang, whose youngest son returned home from captivity, today demanded a CBI probe into the kidnapping and denied the charge that it was the handiwork of an insider.

Addressing a press conference soon after the one convened by the Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, Apang said, "How can a relative kidnap my son at gun point".

A maternal uncle of Getem Apang and two others were arrested in connection with his kidnap and the Chief Minister had said his government could not be blamed if family members were involved. (Full story here)

Well, only proper investigation into the kidnapping case would tell if the entire abduction case was or was not a drama orchestrated to gain political mileage and to put the ruling government in a poor light. But the government has to agree for sure that the law and order in the twin capital Township of Naharlagun and Itanagar is deteriorating and needs immediate attention.

Getam Apang & Naren Rai released-Has the ordeal of Apang Family ended?

The 10 days ordeal of family members of Getam Apang, youngest son of former CM Gegong Apang and Naren Rai ended on 27^th June, when the abducted duo walked free from their abductors to Holongi police station to be united with their family members.

But hey! Wait. Has the ordeal of family members of Getam Apang really ended?

Not so, if we go by the reports appearing in the media. Gegong Apang has been accused of staging the kidnap drama by family members to gain political mileage by Dorjee Khandu.

"It is unfortunate that Getem and his music teacher were abducted from the heart of the state capital, but what can the government do if family members are involved in such crimes?" Khandu, who had dislodged Apang in April last year after revolting against him, told a press conference here.

He said "It is unfortunate that political mileage was sought to be derived by attempting to show my government in poor light." (link)

However, the former CM Gegong Apang has denied the charge that the kidnapping was handiwork of the insider and has demanded CBI probe into the abduction.

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang, whose youngest son returned home from captivity, today demanded a CBI probe into the kidnapping and denied the charge that it was the handiwork of an insider.

Addressing a press conference soon after the one convened by the Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, Apang said, "How can a relative kidnap my son at gun point".

A maternal uncle of Getem Apang and two others were arrested in connection with his kidnap and the Chief Minister had said his government could not be blamed if family members were involved. (Full story here)

Well, only proper investigation into the kidnapping case would tell if the entire abduction case was or was not a drama orchestrated to gain political mileage and to put the ruling government in a poor light. But the government has to agree for sure that the law and order in the twin capital Township of Naharlagun and Itanagar is deteriorating and needs immediate attention.

Dree Football Tournament 2008

AHSA and DSC-A enters final

Despite having decided to cover the Dree Football Tournament 2008 right from the beginning and update about it in the blog, I couldn’t do so. The reason being I came to know about it rather quite late when the tournament was in the midst. Unlike preceding years, perhaps because of ‘Panchayat Polls’ and counting of votes thereafter, this years Dree Football Tournament was not publicized as it were done earlier. Or, may be the Dree Sports Secretary had publicized but I failed to notice it as I was engrossed in Euro 2008. But when I came to know about it, I could have started covering it but for the disruption in broadband connection owing to the landslide due to June 14th torrential rain which cut-off Ziro from rest of the world (more on this in some other post) and still it has not been restored.

This year the total participating teams were the same as that of the last year tournament. However, this tournament saw very interesting ups and downs with ‘Hot Favorites’ being knocked out of the tournament and the ‘underdogs’ making it to the finals.

League Match between HSC and Siiro Sports Club

In the first semi-finals on 25^th June, the ‘underdogs’ AHSA drubbed the defending champions HSC by 1-0 while in second semi-finals played on 26^th of June, DSC-A beat SLSC by 1-0 to enter the finals. The final would be played on 29^th of June.

During the second semi-finals, a tragedy struck. The overcharged crowd, in a zeal to support their teams had climbed up the CGI terrace of nearby building but the CGI terrace collapsed under the weight of 100’s of supporters injuring one seriously and score others with minor injuries.

Going by the performance of AHSA during last year tournament, never in my wilderness I thought that it would reach finals. But this tournament, it was smooth sailing for the team who didn’t even lost a single match till the finals. They even beat their opponent in the finals during the league match. So going by their performance this tournament, my bet is on AHSA.

'The underdogs'-AHSA team warming up

Update: Below is the building that caved in due to the weight of overcharged crowd (the debris had been removed when I took the snap)

Dree Football Tournament 2008

AHSA and DSC-A enters final

Despite having decided to cover the Dree Football Tournament 2008 right from the beginning and update about it in the blog, I couldn’t do so. The reason being I came to know about it rather quite late when the tournament was in the midst. Unlike preceding years, perhaps because of ‘Panchayat Polls’ and counting of votes thereafter, this years Dree Football Tournament was not publicized as it were done earlier. Or, may be the Dree Sports Secretary had publicized but I failed to notice it as I was engrossed in Euro 2008. But when I came to know about it, I could have started covering it but for the disruption in broadband connection owing to the landslide due to June 14th torrential rain which cut-off Ziro from rest of the world (more on this in some other post) and still it has not been restored.

This year the total participating teams were the same as that of the last year tournament. However, this tournament saw very interesting ups and downs with ‘Hot Favorites’ being knocked out of the tournament and the ‘underdogs’ making it to the finals.

League Match between HSC and Siiro Sports Club

In the first semi-finals on 25^th June, the ‘underdogs’ AHSA drubbed the defending champions HSC by 1-0 while in second semi-finals played on 26^th of June, DSC-A beat SLSC by 1-0 to enter the finals. The final would be played on 29^th of June.

During the second semi-finals, a tragedy struck. The overcharged crowd, in a zeal to support their teams had climbed up the CGI terrace of nearby building but the CGI terrace collapsed under the weight of 100’s of supporters injuring one seriously and score others with minor injuries.

Going by the performance of AHSA during last year tournament, never in my wilderness I thought that it would reach finals. But this tournament, it was smooth sailing for the team who didn’t even lost a single match till the finals. They even beat their opponent in the finals during the league match. So going by their performance this tournament, my bet is on AHSA.

'The underdogs'-AHSA team warming up

Update: Below is the building that caved in due to the weight of overcharged crowd (the debris had been removed when I took the snap)

Ayodhya Crisis: A Report from Heaven

-G. Tallo

I look at the date on my watch. It is June 18, 2008. A familiar face flashes on the TV screen as soon as I put the TV on. It is Mr. Lal Krishna Advani again. His renewed call for RAM MANDIR in Ayodhya is the headline today. I am reminded of the fateful day of December 6, 1992… On the 5th December, 1992, when so-called RATH YATRA entered Ayodhya, it had caught attention worldwide. Whole world was gripped with fear and filled with awe to witness what was happening- one of the worst incidents of the free India. And Heaven was not unaffected. Here is a delayed report from Heaven:

Ever since his war with Ravana there had never been such a large gathering of devotees in his name. Then it was largely monkey, now it was man. Lord Rama could understand how devoted they were! For apart from reading Ramayana and worshipping him as God, they maintained the record of the very spot of his birth which he had forgotten himself. So, today he was literally overjoyed to watch such a large crowd of devotees with bows and arrows, hammers and spears in Ayodhya.

Many influential gods in Heaven showed deep concern over the fear and horror of damaging the MASJID. But he did not heed them. “Don’t you worry,” he told the worried Sita. “They are my followers. Such an untoward incident will never happen. They cannot take the path of violence for I have taught them the great lessons of non-violence, forbearance and universal love.

In the meantime, although he did not preach his face and the Muslims do not worship his idol, it was expected of Mohammed the prophet to be worried and immensely disturbed at this moment. But he was calm as usual. “There’s nothing to go panic,” He told his friends. “It is a testing time for Muslim brethren. I’m sure they will prove that they are no fanatics. Even if the MASJID is brought down to dust, there will be no bloodshed for they will not retalliate. Instead they will keep cool and win the hearts of Hindu brethren with their overflowing love and a greater MASJID will be rebuilt in its very place, incase it is demolished.

Yet the God, who is the most powerful of gods and men, knew what was going to happen. He was fed up of all these nonsensical happenings in the name of religions. The religions were founded so that it shows the path of truth and righteousness to the mankind, so that the man live in peace and love one another. But it has been recorded that many deadly wars have been waged in the name of religion. Besides, many innocent men have also been robbed and opressed in the name of religion. So, today in great fury, He passed a historic judgement, to all the representatives of religion, in the parliament of Heaven.

“You were sent to earth to show the path of truth and righteousness to the man,” said the God. “But you have divided the mankind by inventing religions, which is a serious fault in your part. Because you have divided the mankind, you are sending back to earth to free the man from the bondages of religions. You preach them the philosophy of universal love and brotherhood and peaceful co-existence among the man. Mind you, so long as mankind is divided in the name of religions, the door of heaven will be closed on you.”

As soon as the news spread, a crowd of Satan led by the lord of Satan demonstrated outside the parliament of Heaven stating that this judgement of God will transform the earth into graveyard. The lord of Satan further said, “Man’s existence is not possible without religion.”

Ayodhya Crisis: A Report from Heaven

-G. Tallo

I look at the date on my watch. It is June 18, 2008. A familiar face flashes on the TV screen as soon as I put the TV on. It is Mr. Lal Krishna Advani again. His renewed call for RAM MANDIR in Ayodhya is the headline today. I am reminded of the fateful day of December 6, 1992… On the 5th December, 1992, when so-called RATH YATRA entered Ayodhya, it had caught attention worldwide. Whole world was gripped with fear and filled with awe to witness what was happening- one of the worst incidents of the free India. And Heaven was not unaffected. Here is a delayed report from Heaven:

Ever since his war with Ravana there had never been such a large gathering of devotees in his name. Then it was largely monkey, now it was man. Lord Rama could understand how devoted they were! For apart from reading Ramayana and worshipping him as God, they maintained the record of the very spot of his birth which he had forgotten himself. So, today he was literally overjoyed to watch such a large crowd of devotees with bows and arrows, hammers and spears in Ayodhya.

Many influential gods in Heaven showed deep concern over the fear and horror of damaging the MASJID. But he did not heed them. “Don’t you worry,” he told the worried Sita. “They are my followers. Such an untoward incident will never happen. They cannot take the path of violence for I have taught them the great lessons of non-violence, forbearance and universal love.

In the meantime, although he did not preach his face and the Muslims do not worship his idol, it was expected of Mohammed the prophet to be worried and immensely disturbed at this moment. But he was calm as usual. “There’s nothing to go panic,” He told his friends. “It is a testing time for Muslim brethren. I’m sure they will prove that they are no fanatics. Even if the MASJID is brought down to dust, there will be no bloodshed for they will not retalliate. Instead they will keep cool and win the hearts of Hindu brethren with their overflowing love and a greater MASJID will be rebuilt in its very place, incase it is demolished.

Yet the God, who is the most powerful of gods and men, knew what was going to happen. He was fed up of all these nonsensical happenings in the name of religions. The religions were founded so that it shows the path of truth and righteousness to the mankind, so that the man live in peace and love one another. But it has been recorded that many deadly wars have been waged in the name of religion. Besides, many innocent men have also been robbed and opressed in the name of religion. So, today in great fury, He passed a historic judgement, to all the representatives of religion, in the parliament of Heaven.

“You were sent to earth to show the path of truth and righteousness to the man,” said the God. “But you have divided the mankind by inventing religions, which is a serious fault in your part. Because you have divided the mankind, you are sending back to earth to free the man from the bondages of religions. You preach them the philosophy of universal love and brotherhood and peaceful co-existence among the man. Mind you, so long as mankind is divided in the name of religions, the door of heaven will be closed on you.”

As soon as the news spread, a crowd of Satan led by the lord of Satan demonstrated outside the parliament of Heaven stating that this judgement of God will transform the earth into graveyard. The lord of Satan further said, “Man’s existence is not possible without religion.”

Do We Really Need ‘Reservation’?

-By G. Tallo

Gujjar intensified their movement for ST status. Bandhs and violence that ensued took toll of lives and properties. The economy of the country suffered huge loss. The stir hogged headlines for quite sometime.

Let us not blame Gujjar communities for what they demand and what they did. Let us also not blame Mrs. Vasundhara Raje, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, for the promise she made to the Gujjar, during the 2003 assembly elections, to garnered their support. Spell of the ‘reservation’ is hard to resist- we know that. It is so enticing to common people, so effective a tool for the political parties and so very essential for the successive governments in New Delhi to remain in-action.

I am told that the provision for the ‘reservation’ for SCs and STs was made in the Indian Constitution to reduce disparities, in term of social, economic, political and educational status, which existed at the time of the independence among the various communities of the country. This provision was to be valid for ten years. In these ten years, it was supposed that the government would take such remedial measures as to bring the disadvantaged communities to an equal footing with their more advantageous counterpart.

Ten years elapsed, twenty years elapsed…it is sixty years now. The disparities that existed sixty years back have widen further. The provision of reservation has been extended since and is still there. Rather it has been made more accommodative. Various categories of OBCs have also been included under the provision of reservation. Now it is turn for the Gujjar under separate category of ST. (For the Justice Jasraj Chopra Committee was not much convinced about Gujjar communities having ‘tribal’ characteristics.)

I sympathise with the Gujjar and for that matter with the other communities who are struggling and making sacrifices to get ST status. However, the fact remains that the so called ‘quota reservation’ is an eyewash and a deceptive ploy of the New Delhi. It is more to show the outside world and the people concern that the Government cares for the welfare of less privileged communities and is doing the needful.

I belonged to a ST community. I do not see much how ST status helps. District headquarters in Arunachal Pradesh are yet to be connected with all-weather roads, not to speak of rail and air connectivity. We are groping for basic amenities of life. It is so when the states’ native inhabitants are all STs. In our work place, in government organizations and PSUs, we suffer humiliation, not for our inefficiency, not for our lack of capabilities, but just for being ST. I wonder if we need ‘reservation’ in this globalise world. I for one would go for all-round development to reservation.


P.S.: Find out about G. Tallo here. His profile has been updated.

Do We Really Need ‘Reservation’?

-By G. Tallo

Gujjar intensified their movement for ST status. Bandhs and violence that ensued took toll of lives and properties. The economy of the country suffered huge loss. The stir hogged headlines for quite sometime.

Let us not blame Gujjar communities for what they demand and what they did. Let us also not blame Mrs. Vasundhara Raje, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, for the promise she made to the Gujjar, during the 2003 assembly elections, to garnered their support. Spell of the ‘reservation’ is hard to resist- we know that. It is so enticing to common people, so effective a tool for the political parties and so very essential for the successive governments in New Delhi to remain in-action.

I am told that the provision for the ‘reservation’ for SCs and STs was made in the Indian Constitution to reduce disparities, in term of social, economic, political and educational status, which existed at the time of the independence among the various communities of the country. This provision was to be valid for ten years. In these ten years, it was supposed that the government would take such remedial measures as to bring the disadvantaged communities to an equal footing with their more advantageous counterpart.

Ten years elapsed, twenty years elapsed…it is sixty years now. The disparities that existed sixty years back have widen further. The provision of reservation has been extended since and is still there. Rather it has been made more accommodative. Various categories of OBCs have also been included under the provision of reservation. Now it is turn for the Gujjar under separate category of ST. (For the Justice Jasraj Chopra Committee was not much convinced about Gujjar communities having ‘tribal’ characteristics.)

I sympathise with the Gujjar and for that matter with the other communities who are struggling and making sacrifices to get ST status. However, the fact remains that the so called ‘quota reservation’ is an eyewash and a deceptive ploy of the New Delhi. It is more to show the outside world and the people concern that the Government cares for the welfare of less privileged communities and is doing the needful.

I belonged to a ST community. I do not see much how ST status helps. District headquarters in Arunachal Pradesh are yet to be connected with all-weather roads, not to speak of rail and air connectivity. We are groping for basic amenities of life. It is so when the states’ native inhabitants are all STs. In our work place, in government organizations and PSUs, we suffer humiliation, not for our inefficiency, not for our lack of capabilities, but just for being ST. I wonder if we need ‘reservation’ in this globalise world. I for one would go for all-round development to reservation.


P.S.: Find out about G. Tallo here. His profile has been updated.

Reactions to the ban on 'Aaj Ki Awaz'

It’s not me alone, but the people seem to have taken cognizance of ban on ‘Aaj Ki Awaz’-a local news programme and are discussing about it in a forum and even started an online petition campaign to lift the ban on press.

Also, the local media too seem to have taken notice of the ban and has raised their voice, though meekly and in an indirect way.

The editor of the local daily ‘Arunachal Front’, Pradeep Kumar, in the ‘Beyond the Horizon’ column of it’s June 2^nd issue, taking a dig at the apathy shown by the authorities towards the local electronic media has lamented the Prashar Bharti and Union Information & Broadcasting Minister, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi for not being able to start a local news bulletin at DD Itanagar, even after the latter’s promise to start within 15 days time. Though he was not directly referring to ‘Aaj Ki Awaz’, but what I felt was, he was taking a dig at authorities through Doordarshan and ‘News and Views’.

“Though Doordarshan has a huge establishment here with 100-odd staff members on its pay roll, it has failed to start a local news bulletin despite the costly equipments commissioned in 1993 getting rusted day by day.

For a few years it broadcast, privately produced news capsule ‘News and Views’ whose producer Taro Chatung became a household name but it was discontinued abruptly since May 2005 for reasons best known to New Delhi mandarins.”

Further he goes on to say that 'Doordarshan’s dog in manger policy has left the Arunachalees high and dry in an age of proliferation of audio visual medium of communication and that DD has no right to deprive people of Arunachal Pradesh to go without news and a peculiar situation has arisen where people of Arunachal are bombarded with global news but are deprived of the information on what is happening in their own state’.

Rightly said, neither DD nor the local authority has the right to deprive people of the information on what is happening in the state. What do you say?

Reactions to the ban on 'Aaj Ki Awaz'

It’s not me alone, but the people seem to have taken cognizance of ban on ‘Aaj Ki Awaz’-a local news programme and are discussing about it in a forum and even started an online petition campaign to lift the ban on press.

Also, the local media too seem to have taken notice of the ban and has raised their voice, though meekly and in an indirect way.

The editor of the local daily ‘Arunachal Front’, Pradeep Kumar, in the ‘Beyond the Horizon’ column of it’s June 2^nd issue, taking a dig at the apathy shown by the authorities towards the local electronic media has lamented the Prashar Bharti and Union Information & Broadcasting Minister, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi for not being able to start a local news bulletin at DD Itanagar, even after the latter’s promise to start within 15 days time. Though he was not directly referring to ‘Aaj Ki Awaz’, but what I felt was, he was taking a dig at authorities through Doordarshan and ‘News and Views’.

“Though Doordarshan has a huge establishment here with 100-odd staff members on its pay roll, it has failed to start a local news bulletin despite the costly equipments commissioned in 1993 getting rusted day by day.

For a few years it broadcast, privately produced news capsule ‘News and Views’ whose producer Taro Chatung became a household name but it was discontinued abruptly since May 2005 for reasons best known to New Delhi mandarins.”

Further he goes on to say that 'Doordarshan’s dog in manger policy has left the Arunachalees high and dry in an age of proliferation of audio visual medium of communication and that DD has no right to deprive people of Arunachal Pradesh to go without news and a peculiar situation has arisen where people of Arunachal are bombarded with global news but are deprived of the information on what is happening in their own state’.

Rightly said, neither DD nor the local authority has the right to deprive people of the information on what is happening in the state. What do you say?

Panchayati Raj Election results out-INC sweeps major ZPM seats at Apatani Plateau

Seems like people has mastered the art of prediction of election results; well, atleast in the Apatani Plateau. Based on the peoples prediction of results, I had predicted earlier who will win the ZPM seats from the 6 constituencies, and the final results are not that different. Out of 6 ZPM seats, 4 were bagged by INC and 1 each by NCP and independent candidate. The results are:

1. Hari: Smt. Hage Yassung (INC)
2. Hija: Smt. Nada Dumi (INC)
3. Kalung-Reru: Nani Tani (NCP)
4. Diibo: Bamin Siri (Independent)
5. Hong: Tilling Doley (INC)
6. Hong: Hibu Uma (INC)

Now, it is to be seen if these elected representatives live upto the expectation of people who has voted them and how much development they would bring in the 'grass root' levels as was promised during their campaigning.

PRI Election Results Update (9:45 PM): (Based on Local Media reports) (ZPM Berth only)

1.Papum Pare

• Doimukh: Tana Bado (INC)
• Upper Balijan: Nabam Chukia (INC)
• Lower Balijan: Kabak Takam (NCP)
• Taraso: Nabam Eka (INC)
• Mengio: Nabam Bate (Ind)
• Kimin: Bamang Yayu (INC)-won earlier uncontested
• Results for Borum, Sagalee, Leporiang and Toru awaited

2.West Siang

• Liromoba: Toi Romin (INC)
• Yomcha: Jarsa Gamlin (INC)
• Darak: Badam Boje (INC)
• Kamba: Yali Karbak (INC)
• Along East Upper: Link Lollen (INC)
• Along East Lower: Jomkir Naso (INC)
• Tirbin: Gokar Lombi (INC)
• Gensi: Taken Mara (INC)
• Payum: Taken Yasing (INC)
• Basar:Kenmar Basar (RJD)
• Daring: B. Jirdo (Ind)

Panchayati Raj Election results out-INC sweeps major ZPM seats at Apatani Plateau

Seems like people has mastered the art of prediction of election results; well, atleast in the Apatani Plateau. Based on the peoples prediction of results, I had predicted earlier who will win the ZPM seats from the 6 constituencies, and the final results are not that different. Out of 6 ZPM seats, 4 were bagged by INC and 1 each by NCP and independent candidate. The results are:

1. Hari: Smt. Hage Yassung (INC)
2. Hija: Smt. Nada Dumi (INC)
3. Kalung-Reru: Nani Tani (NCP)
4. Diibo: Bamin Siri (Independent)
5. Hong: Tilling Doley (INC)
6. Hong: Hibu Uma (INC)

Now, it is to be seen if these elected representatives live upto the expectation of people who has voted them and how much development they would bring in the 'grass root' levels as was promised during their campaigning.

PRI Election Results Update (9:45 PM): (Based on Local Media reports) (ZPM Berth only)

1.Papum Pare

• Doimukh: Tana Bado (INC)
• Upper Balijan: Nabam Chukia (INC)
• Lower Balijan: Kabak Takam (NCP)
• Taraso: Nabam Eka (INC)
• Mengio: Nabam Bate (Ind)
• Kimin: Bamang Yayu (INC)-won earlier uncontested
• Results for Borum, Sagalee, Leporiang and Toru awaited

2.West Siang

• Liromoba: Toi Romin (INC)
• Yomcha: Jarsa Gamlin (INC)
• Darak: Badam Boje (INC)
• Kamba: Yali Karbak (INC)
• Along East Upper: Link Lollen (INC)
• Along East Lower: Jomkir Naso (INC)
• Tirbin: Gokar Lombi (INC)
• Gensi: Taken Mara (INC)
• Payum: Taken Yasing (INC)
• Basar:Kenmar Basar (RJD)
• Daring: B. Jirdo (Ind)

'Aaj Ki Awaz'-local news programme axed from Itanagar-Naharlagun Cable TV Network

The local electronic media in the state would never flourish; perhaps because of their ignorance to ‘Broadcasting Acts’, ignorance towards journalism ethics and above all may be because it is managed by non professionals without journalism background.

The memory is still etched in my mind when about a decade back, denizens of twin Capital Township of Naharlagun and Itanagar would rush back to their homes or in the event they are not in a position to make it to their homes, would make it a point to be near ‘Idiot-box’, wherever they are, to catch on the 15 mins local news programme ‘News and Views’ aired from Doordarshan Itanagar, every evening at 7.30 pm. It was produced for DD Itanagar by bureaucrat turned video film maker turned journalist and NE TV media awardee and NETV correspondent for Arunachal, Taro Chatung and it became an instant hit gripping the psyche of Arunachalees. It became hit not because the content was good or the presentation was awesome-in fact, with the kind of accent and the questions put during interview, it was rather comical; but because the journalist-cum-anchor-cum-editor-cum-producer would put the questions to politicians that the masses always wanted to ask but a conventional media would not dare to. However, when the popularity of ‘News and Views’ was at it’s peak, it was taken off-the air rather haphazardly with Doordarshan Authorities citing denial of further extension to the programme.

The void left by ‘News and Views’ was filled by another local news programme ‘Aaj ki Awaj’ quite some years later. It was produced by a Hiba Kaha and unlike it’s predecessor 'News and Views', it was beamed through local Cable TV service. Devoid of any electronic news media in the state, like it's predecessor News and Views, Aaj ki Awaj too became an instant hit among the masses. Quite recently, it even celebrated it’s 250^th episodes in a grandiose manner by inviting Bollywood singer Udit Narayan. Alas, their rejuvenation was short lived. Exercising the power under section 19 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the Papum Pare Deputy Commisioner has prohibited the transmission or re-transmission of 'Aaj Ki Awaz'. The ban came after it was found that the programme was violating the section 5, 6(d) and 6(e) of Cable Network Rules 1994.

The DM in an order issued today under section 19 of the Act, the copy of which was released to the Press, said that the channel has been airing it's programme without registering with the registering authority or without permission from the authorized officer thereby violating section 5 of Rules 1994.

It has been found violating section 6(d) of Cable Network Rules 1994 by airing programme for over a year which are "defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths," the order said, adding it blatantly violated section 6(e) by "encouraging or inciting violence or presenting news items against the maintenance of law and order."

-Arunachal Front

No doubt, any agency violating the law should be dealt with strictly, but in this particular case what amazed me is the timing. Why now? Why after 250^th episodes and not before? Was it not violating the rules earlier? Besides, aren't the charges quite flimsy, especially section 5 of Cable Network Rules 1994. Whom is it applicable to-'Aaj Ki Awaz'-a news programme or the Cable TV Service Provider, who was airing the programme?

Inadvertently, a comparison is drawn between 'News and Views' and 'Aaj Ki Awaz'. Both were known for it's 'straight forwardness' leaving the interviewee in an awkward position. Now I only wonder, did both the programmes became victim of their 'straight forwardness'?

Links:

• Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995

'Aaj Ki Awaz'-local news programme axed from Itanagar-Naharlagun Cable TV Network

The local electronic media in the state would never flourish; perhaps because of their ignorance to ‘Broadcasting Acts’, ignorance towards journalism ethics and above all may be because it is managed by non professionals without journalism background.

The memory is still etched in my mind when about a decade back, denizens of twin Capital Township of Naharlagun and Itanagar would rush back to their homes or in the event they are not in a position to make it to their homes, would make it a point to be near ‘Idiot-box’, wherever they are, to catch on the 15 mins local news programme ‘News and Views’ aired from Doordarshan Itanagar, every evening at 7.30 pm. It was produced for DD Itanagar by bureaucrat turned video film maker turned journalist and NE TV media awardee and NETV correspondent for Arunachal, Taro Chatung and it became an instant hit gripping the psyche of Arunachalees. It became hit not because the content was good or the presentation was awesome-in fact, with the kind of accent and the questions put during interview, it was rather comical; but because the journalist-cum-anchor-cum-editor-cum-producer would put the questions to politicians that the masses always wanted to ask but a conventional media would not dare to. However, when the popularity of ‘News and Views’ was at it’s peak, it was taken off-the air rather haphazardly with Doordarshan Authorities citing denial of further extension to the programme.

The void left by ‘News and Views’ was filled by another local news programme ‘Aaj ki Awaj’ quite some years later. It was produced by a Hiba Kaha and unlike it’s predecessor 'News and Views', it was beamed through local Cable TV service. Devoid of any electronic news media in the state, like it's predecessor News and Views, Aaj ki Awaj too became an instant hit among the masses. Quite recently, it even celebrated it’s 250^th episodes in a grandiose manner by inviting Bollywood singer Udit Narayan. Alas, their rejuvenation was short lived. Exercising the power under section 19 of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the Papum Pare Deputy Commisioner has prohibited the transmission or re-transmission of 'Aaj Ki Awaz'. The ban came after it was found that the programme was violating the section 5, 6(d) and 6(e) of Cable Network Rules 1994.

The DM in an order issued today under section 19 of the Act, the copy of which was released to the Press, said that the channel has been airing it's programme without registering with the registering authority or without permission from the authorized officer thereby violating section 5 of Rules 1994.

It has been found violating section 6(d) of Cable Network Rules 1994 by airing programme for over a year which are "defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths," the order said, adding it blatantly violated section 6(e) by "encouraging or inciting violence or presenting news items against the maintenance of law and order."

-Arunachal Front

No doubt, any agency violating the law should be dealt with strictly, but in this particular case what amazed me is the timing. Why now? Why after 250^th episodes and not before? Was it not violating the rules earlier? Besides, aren't the charges quite flimsy, especially section 5 of Cable Network Rules 1994. Whom is it applicable to-'Aaj Ki Awaz'-a news programme or the Cable TV Service Provider, who was airing the programme?

Inadvertently, a comparison is drawn between 'News and Views' and 'Aaj Ki Awaz'. Both were known for it's 'straight forwardness' leaving the interviewee in an awkward position. Now I only wonder, did both the programmes became victim of their 'straight forwardness'?

Links:

• Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995