Sonakshi Sarkar

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has suspended spokesperson Shaizuddin Ahmed effective immediately due to disciplinary violations related to comments made against a specific community on social media. This decision was communicated through an order from Bedabrat Bora, the chairman of the APCC media department. This action marks the second instance of disciplinary measures taken by the APCC within a short period, following a show-cause notice issued to Pankaj Saikia, the APCC Joint Secretary, for inappropriate remarks about former state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah. Saikia has been given a 24-hour window to respond to the notice.

Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota conducted a thorough review and joint inspection of the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moran in the Dibrugarh district on February 14. Accompanied by the state DGP and senior Indian Air Force officials, Kota focused on significant aspects of the visit, particularly the arrival of the PM's aircraft at Northeast's first highway-based emergency landing strip along the Dibrugarh–Moran route. He meticulously assessed various factors including security arrangements, traffic management, crowd regulation, and the technical readiness of the emergency landing facility. Additionally, Kota reviewed trial runs that began on February 8 and instructed…

Assam's tea industry, one of the largest in the world, is at a critical juncture, requiring innovation and structural reform as emphasized during the 88th Annual General Meeting of the Assam Tea Planters’ Association (ATPA). The region, which produces approximately 1.25 to 1.3 billion kilograms of tea annually—half of India's total—is facing an economic challenge where despite global tea production increasing from 1.5 billion kilograms in 1950 to nearly 6 billion in 2023, prices have fallen, squeezing profit margins for producers. Industry leaders have highlighted the need to transition from merely increasing production to enhancing value through quality, branding, and…

Aaranyak, a leading biodiversity conservation organization, in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), hosted a comprehensive awareness and sensitization program on vulture conservation at Sibsagar Commerce College. The event sought to educate students and faculty about the crucial ecological roles vultures play and emphasize the urgent need for their protection, as articulated in an Aaranyak communiqué. Wasima Begum, a conservation official from Aaranyak, highlighted the dangers posed by harmful bacteria found in animal carcasses and discussed how vultures act as nature’s "sanitation workers," preventing disease spread by effectively disposing of dead animals. She underlined the ecological services vultures…

In an effort to strengthen its grassroots election network, the Indian National Congress organised a training camp for Booth Level Agents (BLAs) covering all 222 booth committees under the 83rd Margherita Legislative Assembly Constituency in Assam. The training programme was held on February 5 at the Margherita Congress Bhawan and was attended by a large number of party workers, booth representatives, and local leaders. The programme was organised by the Margherita Block Congress Committee with the aim of preparing party workers for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. Booth Level Agents play a key role during elections, as they work at…

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has served a show-cause notice to Pankaj Saikia, the Joint Secretary of APCC, following allegations of inappropriate comments he made regarding Bhupen Kumar Borah, the former state Congress president. The notice, issued by Bipul Gogoi, the General Secretary (Organisation) of APCC, highlights that the APCC President, Gaurav Gogoi, has brought these comments to attention. Saikia is required to respond within 24 hours to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him for violating party discipline.

The Anti-Smuggling Unit of the Customs Division in Guwahati successfully intercepted a wildlife trafficking attempt by seizing four elephant tusks weighing a total of 9.60 kg. This operation took place in Hazarikapara, located in the Sipajhar area of Assam's Darrang district, following the acquisition of specific intelligence by customs officers. The intelligence indicated that an individual was in possession of the tusks and actively seeking potential buyers. Consequently, a team of customs officers conducted a search at the individual's residence, resulting in the recovery of the contraband items. The elephant tusks have been confiscated under the Wild Life (Protection) Act…

Gauhati University has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the family of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala to preserve his artistic legacy. Agarwala, a significant figure in Assamese art and culture, created around 300 songs and various films, influencing generations and shaping Assamese identity before his passing in 1951. The MoU marks the start of a collaboration to preserve, document, and digitize Agarwala's original manuscripts, film scripts, letters, and architectural sketches held by his family. These materials will be archived at the Krishna Kanta Handiqui Library for academic research and public knowledge, adhering to established archival practices. The Vice Chancellor…

A group of prominent citizens has urged the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to take suo moto cognizance against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his repeated communal remarks. In a letter, notable Assamese intellectual Hiren Gohain and former DGP Harekrishna Deka, alongside other civil society members, expressed deep concern over a series of statements made by Sarma. They argue that these remarks can be interpreted as hate speech, executive intimidation, and vilification of the 'Miyan' community, which consists of Muslims of Bengal origin.