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Formation United Liberation Front of Asom(ULFA) was formed by Bhimakanta Buragohain, Rajiv Rajkonwar alias Arabinda Rajkhowa, Golap Baruah alias Anup Chetia, Samiran Gogoi alias Pradip Gogoi, Bhadreshwar Gohain and Paresh Baruah at the Rang Ghar in Sibsagar on April 7, 1979 with the aim of establishing a “sovereign socialist Assam” through an armed struggle. ULFA is a well structured organization clearly partitioned into two wings, political and military.

Activities It initiated major violent and destructive activities in 1990. Following which Indian government declared it a militant group from Assam among many other North-East Indian militant groups and military operation started against it in 1990. The Government of India accuses ULFA waging a proxy war on the behalf of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan and DGFI of Bangladesh against India. ULFA collects funds by smuggling, extortion of businessmen, bureaucrats and politicians and bank robberies. It has close relations with other separatist organizations like NDFB, KLO and NSCA (Kaplang).There is no doubt that ULFA is fighting a war on behalf of the ISI and does what the ISI wants. US state department has listed it under “Other groups of concern”.

Cease-Fire 12 commanders of the ULFA’s deadliest squad, the 28th battalion has declared cease-fire and called for an end to their 30-year rebellion. But it is unclear whether the cease-fire signaled a possible end to the fighting or merely an internal split in rebel leadership. ULFA’s peace move has been welcomed by the Government of India. But analysts say that peace talks should be held with the entire ULFA as a group, not with some factional leaders. They say lasting peace was unlikely to return to Assam, a state of 26 million people, until peace talks are held with the entire ULFA leadership.

Drama For last one month political developments in India have aroused everyone’s curiosity to know what happens next. Every thing has happened like a sensational Hindi movie with dramatic turns. UPA has collapsed because of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s obsession to go ahead with the Indo-US n-deal and the Left parties’ determination to stop it at any cost. PM’s statement in the mid air while going to attend G-8 summit in Japan, Left’s decision of withdrawing the support to the UPA government and government’s signal to the IAEA Board of Governors to go ahead, are the twists and the turns that are similar to a well knit plot of some drama.

Dramatic Turns Throughout whole of the political crisis PM has been presented as a hero struggling for a noble cause and the other as villains. But government’s signal to the IAEA Board of Governors to go ahead with the deal even without proving its majority in the Lok Sabha is the cause of concern. Only a day ahead Pranab Mukherjee had assured the Left that the government will go ahead with the n-deal only after proving its majority in the Lok Sabha but in the midnight’s dark IAEA has been given the green signal. This is second time that the PM has done the opposite what Pranab Mukherjee had said.

Horse-Trading Government’s haste with the n-deal and the Smajwadi Party’s dramatic decision of supporting the ‘divorced’ Congress government are the clear indications of the wrong motifs. Except it Left was not shown the IAEA draft instead of its repeated efforts and on the other hand it dramatically had become available on some US sites. And now government is going to prove its majority when even its new ally SP is not sure about the stand of its own MPs. Congress is in hunt of MPs and have lured many small parties. It clearly indicates horse-trading.

Draft The draft India has submitted to IAEA is in itself ambiguous as some of its key clauses may raise questions. One clause of the draft that has raised questions is that India “may take corrective measures to ensure uninterrupted operation of its civilian nuclear reactors in the event of disruption of foreign fuel supplies.” But has not been clearly stated what these “corrective measures’” will be. Then there is Hyde act that is being seen as the threat to nation’s sovereignty.

There is no doubt that India should not be dependent on any other country for the fulfillment of its energy requirements but it can not be done at the cost of sovereignty. It is everyone’s right to express its view. All the questions left has raised should be answered. Manmohan government has gone ahead with the n-deal in an undemocratic way. Government should not have gone ahead without discussions in the parliament because India’s future is concerned with it and it is going to affect everyone in long term.

Withdrawal Reacting to the statement of the Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh, Left parties on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of support to the United Progressive Alliance Government over the issue of the Indo-US nuclear deal. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday had declared that his Government would “very soon” approach the IAEA board of governors to move forward on the N-deal. Left parties announced that they would meet the President on Wednesday, July 9 to withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance Government.

Meeting It must be recalled that Left was supporting the Manmohan led UPA Government from outside. The Left includes CPI (M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP. Leaders of the left parties separately met the president Pratibha Patil on Wednesday and handed her over their letters of withdrawal of support to the UPA government. They in a joint letter asked her to direct the Prime Minister to prove his majority in the Lok Sabha. Another meeting of the UPA-Left Committee on the issue of N-deal was scheduled to be held on July 10.But is was rendered “meaningless” since the Prime Minister had announced that the government would approach the IAEA Board of Governors very soon. 

Stand Earlier, all the Left parties had decided that if the Government approaches the IAEA Board of Governors they will withdraw their support to the UPA government. Left parties after an hour long meeting sent a, letter, copies of which was circulated to the media also, to the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, expressed that their was nothing left in the UPA-Left committee’s proposed meeting on July 10 in view of PM’s remarks of going ahead with the n-deal. They held Prime Minister solely responsible for whole of the political problems and the uncertainty.  

  SP Support On the other hand Mulayam Singh Yadav led Samajwadi Party which has 39 MPs has announced that they will vote in favour of the UPA government to save both the N-deal and the government. SP had earlier consulted with scientists, intellectuals and experts including the former President APJ Abdul Kalam. It is being said that Congress has also got the support of Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh and HD Deve Gowda. Left and BJP are opposing the N-deal. They have raised questions and have doubts regarding some of the terms of the IAEA agreement. Left parties were also demanding the full text of the draft IAEA agreement.

Second Step It was another unexpected step that the UPA government took without consulting its alliance partners. Before going to Japan the prime Minister had announced that the government has decided to go ahead with the n-deal. It irritated the Left parties who retaliated in the form of the withdrawing their support to the UPA government. And now the government has given their nod to go ahead with the n-deal by forwarding the draft text to the IAEA board of Governors. This is the second step that government has taken in haste and that revealed PM’s obsession with the n-deal and Left’s determination to stop it at any cost. This is absolutely contrary to Pranab Mukherjee’s earlier statement that government will approach the IAEA Board of Governors after proving its majority in the Parliament.

IAEA Draft agreement has been circulated to all the 35 members of the Board. Chairman of board is in touch with the other members and very soon the date will be finalize for a meeting when all the members will sit and the agreement will be considered. A meeting of the Board is scheduled to be held on 28^th of July. It is the possibility that the draft text can be discussed in that meeting.

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Encouragement Latest developments are very encouraging in relevance to the India’s pursuit of n-energy. Prime Minister has attended the G-8 summit in Japan where all its member nations and some others met on the sidelines of the summit. He has succeeded in winning the support of about 15 nations including the G-8 nations. It is the encouraging sign as most of the nations are the members of the IAEA and NSG. Except it US has vowed to support the Indian government in it effort to clinch the n-deal.

Energy Options India is one of the fastest growing economies and its energy needs are increasing many folds day by day. It is the necessity of the time to ensure the energy supplies in the future. India meets its most of the energy needs by importing petroleum products from Middle East. Political developments in the Middle East and rising petroleum prices are a threat to the energy supplies. India’s dependency on Middle East for energy needs can force India to compromise with its sovereignty. Though India was having discussions with Iran and Pakistan regarding the Gas Pipe line but Pakistan’s internal problems and Iran’s confrontation with US over the n-issue discourages the government in New Delhi. Keeping in view the energy needs in future n-deal is the only option left and Indian government has done the right thing by choosing it.

Top Order Indian entered the final of the Asia cup by defeating Sri Lanka with six wickets remaining in hand. India chased down the target of 309 with 19 balls to spare, after loosing four wickets, exhibiting their batting prowess to perfection with their top order firing in unison to score an easy 6-wicket win over Sri Lanka. Both the openers, Virender Sehwag (42) and Gautam Gambhir (68) gave a flying start putting on 92 runs from 70 balls. Sri Lanka’s inexperienced bowling attack could not stop their free flow. Sri Lanka suffered for resting both the frontlines bowlers — veteran Chaminda Vaas and the prodigious Ajantha Mendis. Both the openers kept the asking rate always lower than the required rate of 6.18 per over.

Middle Order After them it was Raina and Skipper Dhoni who took the charge. Raina cashed the opportunity provided by fate when he was dropped on 11 and made 54 runs. Dhoni kept his nerves held and scored 67 runs. He fell to Muralitharan clean bowled in 38^th over. Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma played with cool heads and the target was reached with 3.1 overs in hand. Yuvraj scored the winning runs.

Sri Lanka Everything happened as the Sri Lankans wanted to-they won the toss, took first strike, and put up a big total on the board but at the end their total of 308 runs proved to be too small for the strong Indian Bating line-up. Though they played in a controlled manner and had reached 217 for 3 but their lower order batsmen could not perform well and they lost wickets at regular intervals. They scored 308 runs for eight with half centuries from Chamara Kapugedera (75), Captain Mahela Jayawardene (50) and Chamara Silva (50).Sri Lanka’s hopes to score quick runs in the final overs and post a big total dashed in 46^th over when Silva’s got run out after reaching his 50.

Improvements Though no Lankan could dominate beyond a point, bowlers still conceded many and fielders also dropped catches. Both these fields of the game have worried the Indians a lot in the past also and they should be more careful about them when they will be playing in the final of the Asia Cup against the same side.

Release Both the much awaited films Aamir Khan’s JAANE TU… YA JAANE NA and Harry Baweja’s LOVE STORY 2050 hit the screens in less than 24 hours. Jaane Tu.. Ya Jaane Na is released with 473 prints worldwide, which includes 282 analog prints, 81 digital screens and 110 prints overseas. It opened in theatres on June 3. While Jaane Tu… is being promoted as Imran’s debut film, his first appearance in front of the camera was with Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. In that blockbuster, he had played Aamir’s character as a child. Mansoor Khan-helmed QAYAMAT SE QAYAMAT TAK, starring two newcomers Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla, was focused on teenage love, with parental opposition acting as an obstacle.

Story JAANE TU… YA JAANE NA is a love story as well, but the execution of the subject makes all the difference to the similar love stories made in the past. Basically it is a simple tale about a group of friends, it focuses on one couple that’s in love, but is in a state of denial. There is a girl rich, tongue-in-cheek, dominant and aggressive and the boy has had a middle class upbringing and is submissive, soft-spoken and calm. Though they are extremely different but both are extremely close to each other. Opposites attract and so do they but not as lovers, as friends. They long for each other’s company and still wonder why close friends and parents believe that they are in love. But they find their respective ‘special someone’ when they realize that love is not about finding a perfect someone, it’s about feeling perfectly happy with an imperfect partner.

Film is an ordinary love story that does not have a great beginning but it picks up as it nears the interval. It is only the casting that has saved the film from being a just another youth film or a campus love story.

Bandh Several highways across the country were blocked and some trains were stopped on Thursday in response to the band called by BJP and the other Hindu Organizations. BJP and VHP workers took to the streets in support of their shutdown in protest of the revocation of the land allotment to the Amarnath shrine board in Jammu and Kashmir. After holding Jammu hostage for the past few days, the saffron brigade is taking out protest marches in several parts of the country. Several states have been brought to a complete halt with protestors taking out processions. Mobs, across the country, clashed with police and were lathicharged at several places.

Clashes At some places curfew was imposed after the communal clashes between two communities broke out when the bandh supporters forcibly tried to close down the shops and the locals resisted the attempt. According to a BJP leader “the impact was more visible” in BJP ruled states. Roads were blocked and shops and business establishments remained closed in a few areas in Delhi. VHP’s international general secretary Praveen Togadia claimed that their call of strike has got a good response.

Curfew People continued defying prohibitory orders to hold anti-government protests even on Thursday, the fourth day of agitations in Hindu-dominated Jammu. On Thursday angry mobs set ablaze a few abandoned houses in a town forcing the authorities to deploy army at communally sensitive places. Some Shiv Sainiks allegedly attacked a Hurriyat leader’s house in Jammu. They are demanding allotment of forest land to the SASB. Government’s all appeals to calm down have been rejected by the people.

Political Games J&K land row has divided the people on the basis of the religions. Central as well as J&K state government has done a very little to defuse the tension. They kept on playing their political games when Kashmir was burning. Now the fare has spread to the other parts of the country, they will start playing another political game called “blaming game”. Each and every party is trying to gain by applying maneuvers while the PM is obsessed with the nuclear game.

Rule Bharatiya Janata party is   an Indian political party that is presently in the opposition. In 1996 it emerged as a single largest party in a hung parliament and then in 1999 came into power by forming a alliance that was led by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee .The NDA alliance completed its five year regime in year 2004. Though it emerged again the single largest political party but it could not form the government. One of the main achievements of the government of the NDA alliance was the nuclear tests performed during its rule.

Origin It grew out of a nationalist organization–the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. RSS is mainly related to the Hinduism. Jana Sangh was founded as a political wing of RSS in 1951.in 1977 Jana Sangh and Janata Party jointly fought the elections which defeated Indira Gandhi and the Congress (I). Ultimately, because of intra party tensions Jana Sangh activists left the Janta Party and a new party named BJP was established. The BJP was formed in April 1980, under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee.It follows mainly follows the RSS ideology.

Ideology It projects itself as a champion of the socio-religious cultural values of the country. It sees itself as rising to the defense of Indian culture, and Indian religious systems. Self reliance, strong economic growth, foreign policy driven by strong nationalist agenda, and strong national defense are the main goals of the party. It is the only one well structured political party that has ever seriously challenged the power of Indian National Congress. The Party aims at establishing a democratic state which guarantees to all citizens irrespective of caste, creed or sex, political, social and economic justice, equality of opportunity and liberty of faith and expression.

Goals BJP follows mainly the agenda of Hindu Nationalism. Some of its chief goals are to repeal the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, ban on cow slaughter and forcible religious conversions, the construction of the Ram Janmnhoomi temple in Ayodhya and to achieve the full territorial and political integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.

Strike Millions of truckers went on an all-India strike early Wednesday, barring fuel and other essential commodities, parking up their vehicles to protest high taxes and rising fuel bills. The strike is called by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), which claims the support of all state transporters’ association with a combined fleet size of 48,00,000 trucks. Talks to end the strike had collapsed after Highways and Road Transport Minister T R Baalu said it was not possible to roll back a hike in toll tax.

Grievances The transporters feel that they have been at the receiving end of various Central governments over the years. They are not happy with the “Frequent hikes in diesel prices”. Except it they are opposing the Canter’s toll tax policy and the decision to bring them under the service tax net”. It is also being said that oil firms were forcing the truckers to buy costlier branded diesel but the Indian Oil Corp - country’s largest transport fuel retailer - has maintained that the cheaper fuel was freely available. The price difference between branded and normal diesel has gone up from 50 paisa per litter to Rs.2.25 a litter.They had alleged that the government was getting huge benefits on the basis of international crisis on crude oil prices and on the other hand truckers were being forced to buy premium diesel at higher and unregulated prices.

Effects Truckers are the lifeline of the Indian economy. If they go on an indefinite strike then its consequences can be worst beyond one’s expectations. If their indefinite strike turns into a lengthy strike then it would threaten not only goods supplies but also industrial output. Diesel sales could drop sharply. Public is Already reeling under inflation and it could further trouble the people in form of shortage of food items and essential commodities and increased prices. Truckers’ contribution in the Indian economy can not be expressed in figures but they and their demands have always been ignored by the government of India that has ultimately left them with no other option but to go on an indefinite strike. The AIMTC had written several times about their various problems to the related ministries and departments, but no one responded. This is the newest problem, the central government is facing, and if it goes on for a long time unaddressed then government will have to face the fury of the public that is already not happy with the economic planning of the ‘eminent economists’.

Briber In a startling revelation, the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) was jolted on Tuesday by another controversy with its secretary B R Gulati being accused of receiving a bribe to select dope-tainted lifter Shailaja Pujari for the Beijing Olympics. An IWF official had revealed that Gulati had allegedly accepted an amount of Rs. 5 Lakhs as bribe to select Pujari instead of Monica for the Olympic Games. It was Monika who was actually selected for the event.

B R Gulati The IWF secretary B R Gulati has, however, dismissed the allegation as “rubbish and baseless” and said he had never done such a thing right through his career as a sports administrator.

Rules Weightlifter Monika had fetched one silver and two bronze in 69 kg in the Asian Championship in Japan in April-May to make it to the Olympic Games for India, along with Shailaja was short listed for the final selection after a trial at Army Sports Institute in Pune. As per the rule, the national federations usually prefer the quota winner to contest in the Olympics unless that player is unfit or unavailable for the event.

Trials The IWF, however, decided to hold the trials to select the best athletes for the Beijing Games and Monika and Shailaja were short listed. Only one will be named to represent the country in the Olympics while the other would be kept as reserve. The final selection is scheduled to be held on July 15. Gulati had defended his decision of holding another trial by stating that it was not only Monica’s effort but was also of whole of the team’s that Indian had finished fifth. It was because of the points secured by the whole team that Indian had got the fifth position in the points table in the Asian Championship.

Ban on IWF It should be recalled that Shailaja was caught for doping earlier and because of her IWF had to face ban for two years. After Indian Hockey Federation, IWF is the second games’ body that is going through the crisis because of such allegations. Any one can smell fool play form the poor performance of the Indians in the field of games. There is no doubt that there are some people in every game’s selection committees who are not impartial. They have spoiled the career of many brilliant players.

Rains Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on Tuesday morning and caused flooding in several parts of the city and its suburbs that disturbed normal life. It was another morning of monsoon mayhem for the city with several areas submerged and trains running late, compelling civic authorities to ask people not to step out of their homes. Heavy rainfall of 200 mm was recorded in Colaba in South Mumbai by the Regional Meteorological Department. While in Santacruz it was142.9 mm.

Floods Many low lying areas that include Bandra, Sion, Chembur, Ghatkopar, Andheri had been logged into water up to one and a half feet.except it many other low lying areas like the Milan Subway in Santacruz West, an arterial traffic junction, and the Malad subway in north Mumbai as well as Wadala, Mahim, Worli and Parel in south Mumbai had been completely submerged. Traffic got disrupted on the Mumbai-Pune expressway because of landslides. Flooding was reported in many low-lying areas and suburbs.

Drainage System Before the start of the monsoon season the municipal commissioner had said that the drainage system will be able enough to handle even 400 mm of rainfall in a day. But all the promises proved to be wring when Monday’s heavy rains put whole of the storm water drainage system under strain that could handle only about 40 mm of rainfall per hour.

Traffic Several stations were waterlogged that affected the rail services badly. Central Railway services came to a complete halt due to water logging between Kurla and Vidyavihar suburbs. However, trains on the Western and Harbour lines were running late by 15 to 20 minutes. Even flights from the international airports were delayed by an hour and a half. Many schools and the educational institutions had to declare a holiday and children who had had already reached there were asked to return home.

Past Experiences This is the second time that the city is facing the situation. Last year too, the city and its suburbs had gone through the same experience. It must be recalled that the city was badly hit on July 26, 2005 when rains virtually flooded India’s financial capital and life there came to a standstill for few days with all major routes submerged in flood water. City Municipal Council is more responsible for the present crisis than the nature because it has not taken the adequate steps to counter such situation though it has already gone through the same experience several times in the recent years.

Headlines Harman Baweja is all over the news as his debut film ‘Love Story 2050’ nears its releasing date. He has been in news more for his affair with Priyanka rather than his new flick to be released soon. The grand premiere of his film is scheduled to be held in London on Wednesday, July 2 where Harman will be present along with the cast and crew of his debut film ‘Love Story 2050’.

Releasing Place “It was something which we had planned six months in advance. I believe my entire team has already done a lot of promotions in India. There are many Indians living in London who are as much into Bollywood as we are and we thought it would be absolutely unfair for us not to come there and share our film with them and hence we decided to have the world premiere in London. So far I have received an extremely warm response from people in London, be it through e-mails or phone calls and I am really looking forward to the premiere” said Harman. He shared all the details of the grand premiere, “I am really looking forward to the world premiere of my film ‘Love Story 2050’ in London. The premiere is on Wednesday July 2, 2008 at the Cineworld theatre in Feltham. This is the same place where the premiere of ‘Krrish’ was held few years ago”

Story and Technology Sun Microsystems is the technology partner for the movie, which is directed by Harry Baweja. ‘Love Story 2050′ marks the company’s first association with the Indian Film Industry. The film, a love story between Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra set against a sci-fi backdrop, makes extensive use of technology and special effects in creating a time machine which transports the characters to Mumbai in the year 2050 with flying cars, 200 storied buildings, robots and sky rails. A robot, in the film, will also be seen playing a major role along with a computer-generated teddy bear, which appears to be more than just a toy. All eyes are now set on ‘Love Story 2050’ when audience will see its hero and its lovable teddy bear.

The Gang The several hundred vigilante women of India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state’s Banda area proudly call themselves the “gulabi gang” (pink gang), which had taken upon it the onus to free the society of corruption. The gang has waged a war against the ‘wrongdoers’, the corrupt government officials and the violent husbands. The Gang shot to the limelight in April 2006 when it hijacked trucks laden with food meant for the poor that was being taken to be sold for profit at the market by corrupt officials. Later, action was taken against the wholesaler.

Formation The gang, based in Banda district, one of the poorest parts of Uttar Pradesh, has got them a name because of its strict dress code, pink sarees and blouses. The women in pink have thrashed men who have abandoned or beaten their wives and unearthed corruption in the distribution of grain to the poor. They have sworn to root out corruption in the police force and deliver ruthless summary justice to anyone believed guilty of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Sampat Pal Devi, a 46 year old woman, leads the “pink gang”. Gang has even unearthed wrongdoing among politicians despite the fact that its members are drawn from the lowest ‘dalit’ caste at the bottom of Indian society.

 Works Members of the Gang always carry a lathi (stick) for protections or to use to beat the wrongdoers. The gang has consistently been both praised and criticized for taking the law into its own hands. Some of the gang members have been hit by a variety of criminal charges. But they remain unrepentant. They already have done some work in combating crime and corruption in the area. Evan the local police favored their style of functioning. They are termed as,” not a gang in the usual sense of the term but as a gang for justice. They have remained away from political parties and NGOs because,” they are always looking for kickbacks when they offer to fund”. It is not only a women’s group but a movement that is against the social injustice, child marriages and corruption.