Assam BJP's plea to ULFA on unrestGUWAHATI: The Assam unit of BJP on Sunday appealed to the banned ULFA to clarify whether they were involved in the sporadic incidents of kidnapping political party workers and arson cases in different parts of the State. Releasing the BJP manifesto at party office here, its president Narain Chandra Barkatoki has expressed doubt about the ULFA's involvement in such incidents and said it could have been done in name of ULFA by vested interests or it could be a conspiracy. He also urged the ULFA to withdraw their ban on election process in the State.IGNOU studiesNEW DELHI: IGNOU, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, is launching a certificate and diploma programme in youth and development through the distance education mode from July. Prof RG Takwale, vice-chancellor, IGNOU and Prof Prabha Chawla, director, School of Continuing Education and programme coordinator, said this would be a major step in making education international.Takwale added this was the first international programme to be launched by IGNOU. The second programme, now getting ready, would be lab technicians training at science laboratories.Cine stars fetedCALCUTTA: Renowned Bengali film actor Soumitra Chattopadhyya and Hindi film actress Waheeda Rahman are among those who have been nominated by the All India Critic's Association for the 23rd annual Gandharva and Apsora awards. AICA general secretary Ramen Ghosh said here on Saturday that their life long devotion and contributions to respective spheres had been taken into consideration by a panel of judges while deciding about the nominations. While Chattopadhyya will be given the award for his contributions to Bengali films, Waheeda Rahman has been nominated for her contribution to Hindi films.Poll official heldAGARTALA: A presiding officer,Trilochan Palain was arrested here on Saturday night following his refusal to perform election duty on February 16. Stating this,sub-divisional officer of Sadar sub-division Subash Das, who was also the returning officer of four assembly constituencies,said on Sunday morning that the office was a lecturer.
