Assam mulls lowering excise on liquor Guwahati, August 3 (IANS): Reduce taxes to reduce prices. Which is precisely what the Assam government is mulling to prevent liquor being bootlegged from neighbouring states. "There is huge smuggling of IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) brands to Assam from neighbouring states like Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, where the prices are less. This is causing revenue loss for Assam. We are comparing the prices of different IMFL brands with our neighbouring states. Our plan is to lower the taxes, which will...check the revenue loss to the state," Assam Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya told IANS in an interview. The proposal awaits cabinet approval, he added. Top KNLF cadre killed in Manipur Imphal, August 3 (PTI): Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) general secretary Lalmoi Haokip was killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in the hill district of Churachandpur in Manipur, the police said today. The killing occurred ahead of the proposed dialogue with Kuki militant groups this month. The assailants attacked Haokip using hand grenades and firearms around 8 pm yesterday and he died on the spot, a senior police officer said. As Lalmois wife rushed to her husbands help, she sustained splinter injuries and was taken to hospital. She is now out of danger, the police officer said. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on July 27 said both the state and the Centre will initiate dialogue to bring a settlement concerning Kuki militant groups. The KNLF is a part of the Kuki militant groups, which is observing Suspension of Operations (SoO), with both the Centre and the state government. Currently, more than 20 Kuki militant outfits are observing SoO under the conglomeration of two umbrella bodies categorized into the the United Peoples Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO). Myanmar not setting up trading zone at India border Nay Pyi Taw, August 3 (IANS): The Myanmar government will not set up a trading zone on its border with India due to insufficient basic requirements and poor potential trading, a top commerce official told the House of Representatives here. When asked by parliamentarians on Wednesday if there was a plan for the move, Deputy Commerce Minister U Aung Htoo said that the Tamu trading point has been opened since 1995 but the trading value has been only $45 million, accounting for only 0.6 per cent of the total trade volume of all border trading points, reports Xinhua news agency. For the purpose of promoting trade between the two countries, a series of joint committee meetings related to bilateral trade, border trade and border-market were held. Top officials from both sides also had extensive discussions on opening a trade zone in Htantalan in Myanmar's Chin State and a new trade zone in Pan Khwar in India's Mizoram State. According to official statistics, Myanmar-India bilateral trade amounted to $1.743 billion in the last fiscal year 2016-17. Rahul Gandhi visits flood affected Lakhimpur in Assam Amtola, August 3 (PTI): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday visited Assam's Lakhimpur district which is the worst affected in the flood-ravaged state He crossed Ranganadi river in a small boat to reach this remote area and visited Amtola. The overflowing river had broken an embankment and caused large-scale destruction of human habitation and farmlands here. "There are floods in Assam and I thought I must come to meet you and hear about your pain and understand the situation," Gandhi told people here after listening to their problems. "I will fight for compensation, that is your right," he said. He said that Congress workers have been asked to help rebuild houses damaged by flood waters besides providing relief to the affected families. Darjeeling unrest: Ahluwalia demands political dialogue New Delhi, August 3 (IANS): BJP MP S.S. Ahluwalia on Thursday called for a political dialogue for a peaceful solution to the unrest in Darjeeling and urged the West Bengal government to avoid repressive measures. Ahluwalia, the Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling, also urged the agitating political parties and groups in the hill district to come forward for the dialogue. "As an MP, I urge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and all the groups fighting for the cause to find a peaceful solution. There cannot be a solution by repressive measures," Ahluwalia told reporters here. Ahluwalia, also a minister in the Modi government, urged the protesters to create an atmosphere for the talks. "I demand them to withdraw the agitation. There must be talks among all the stakeholders. Peace must prevail there. Create an atmosphere for political dialogue. A way can be found only through democratic process," he said. He said he has witnessed all the tripartite talks related to the demand of separate state of Gorkhaland. "Decisions are not taken on roads. Laws are not formulated on roads," he said. Ahluwalia's remarks came after an all-party delegation, including the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), met him in Parliament. He said the delegation will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submit a memorandum.
