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Britain to set up a network for venture capital funds to India
New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) Britain today announced the setting up of a network for providing venture capital funds to Indian entrepreneurs to establish their own businesses.
"I announced here today and I hope that it may be of interest to many of you who want to start their own businesses that we are creating a new network which would provide venture capital funds," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said at an entrepreneurship summit here.
He said it would help a new generation of Indian entrepreneurs to set up their own businesses to get access to capital which sometimes was not available.
Brown said the venture capital fund will be for "ideas in India which can be developed in Britain and ideas in Britain which can be developed in India".
Brown, who is on a two-day visit to "build stronger and strengthening relationship", earlier underscored the need for stronger economic ties, closer coordination on global issues like climate change and reform of international institutions besides cooperation in education and scientific fields. PTI
Grant SC/ST quotas in judiciary: Buta Singh
Phagwara (Punjab), Jan 20 (PTI) National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Buta Singh today demanded SC/ST quotas in the judiciary and said the issue of dilution of its powers would be raised in Parliament to prevent judges from "meddling" with its functioning.
"First, the Commission was not constituted on time and when it was done seven months back, the Delhi High Court ruled that its powers area recommendatory," he told reporters here.
He said the five-member panel was a constitutional body and demanded an amendment in Parliament to bring it under 9th Schedule "so that the judiciary cannot meddle with its powers and functioning".
He said the matter of dilution would be taken up in Parliament and demanded SC/ST quotas right from the level of sessions judge to chief justice besides reservation in educational institutions, private sector and other areas not covered so far.
Commenting on the turban row, Singh said he would try to meet French President Nicholas Sarkozy during his visit to India on Republic Day and raise the issue.
"The rights of Sikhs and minorities in France should be respected," he said on the banning of the Sikh religious headgear by that country. PTI
Brown arrives,seeks closer cooperation in fight against terror
New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) Hailing India-UK ties as "partnership among equals", British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today pitched for intensified bilateral cooperation in fight against terrorism with particular focus on closer security coordination at airports and seaports.
Arriving here on a two-day visit to "build stronger and strengthening relationship", Brown underscored the need for stronger economic ties, closer coordination on global issues like climate change and reform of international institutions besides cooperation in education and scientific fields.
Brown and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold talks tomorrow on a wide range of issues, covering bilateral, regional and global subjects.
"I expect cooperation against terrorism is intensified in the years to come and I will talk these very issues when I meet Prime Minister Singh," he told reporters here soon after his arrival on a maiden visit as British Prime Minister.
He referred to the arrest of 14 people, including two Indians, in Spain yesterday in connection with an alleged terror plot and said the development raises "questions on how we can cooperate internationally" in the fight against terrorism.
"What I would like to see is greater contact between our two countries in winning the battle of hearts and minds, isolating extremist ideologues who try to poison the minds of young people and the views they have," Brown said after an interaction with a women's group. PTI
CPI(M) favours code of conduct for media
New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) CPI(M) today favoured putting in place a code of conduct for both print and electronic media and prohibition of cross media ownership.
The draft political resolution released by the CPI(M) for its coming 19th Party Congress said corporatisation of the media has taken place at a rapid pace.
"The entry of FDI into the media, where 26 per cent foreign capital is allowed, has made a section of the media more pro-western, anti-political and anti-Communist," it said.
The party was of the view that "purveying of mindless violence, sex and obscurantism has grown exponentially with the proliferation of the electrics media." "In the name of freedom of the media, naked commercialisation has become rampant and unethical practices overlooked," it said and sought a code of conduct for print and electronic media.
The code should be formulated in consultation with professional media organisations, it said.
Also, it demanded prohibition of cross media ownership to restrict growth of monopolies.
Releasing the draft, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said newspaper owners should not be allowed to start television channels and vice versa.
The party said it would campaign to reverse the entry of FDI in print media.
On the functioning of Prasar Bharati, the party said it should be developed as a public broadcasting service both for television and radio which is presently not the case. PTI
Indian bowlers best in the world: Venkatesh Prasad
Perth, Jan 20 (PTI) Basking in the glory of the historic win in the third cricket Test against Australia here, a jubilant Indian bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad today declared that the visiting side had the best attack in the world.
"I've always been saying that our bowlers are the best in the business," said Prasad.
"When you've got a good wrist and seam position, obviously the ball swings with the breeze here in Perth." "Second, they have got the pace as well bowling around 135kmh, sometimes 140kmh, so they can trouble any batsman, any batsman in world cricket today," he told reporters.
On yesterday's 72-run win which has brought the series alive, Prasad said the Indians succeeded as they stuck to the principle of KISS (Keep It Super Simple).
Prasad said India won because they banked on their strengths instead of trying to match Australian bowlers' speed.
"Anil (Kumble) has been stressing all along that we should follow the Indian strength which is to rely on seam and swing. There is no point in trying to be a Brett Lee or Shaun Tait," Prasad told reports today.
"The best thing about Indian bowlers is that their seam and wrist position is always outstanding. It makes my task easier," he added. PTI
Fans incensed at Sourav sacking
Kolkata, Jan 20 (PTI) Irate fans of Sourav Ganguly burnt an effigy of BCCI president Sharad Pawar as protests erupted in the metropolis over the former skipper being sacked from the national squad for the coming Triangular series in Australia.
Incensed at Ganguly being kept out of the team, around 40 cricket buffs gathered near his residence at Behala and raised slogans against the selectors and Pawar.
They set fire to an effigy of Pawar and beat it with shoes and chappals.
"Bring dada back", demanded the fans, holding posters and banners.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) described Ganguly's sacking as "grave injustice" and said it would lodge a strong protest to BCCI.
"What has been done is totally wrong, grave injustice is being done to him", says CAB joint secretary Samar Pal.
"It seems Dhoni did not want him in the side. Dhoni is more comfortable with juniors so he is in favour of axing seniors. But we will not sit idle. We will lodge a strong protest", Pal told PTI. PTI
Anand beats Polgar, Humpy scores first victory
(The Netherlands), Jan 20 (PTI) World champion Viswanathan Anand defeated the strongest woman player on earth, Hungarian Judit Polgar, in the seventh round to record his first victory in group 'A' of Corus Chess tournament here.
The victory, coming at post half-way stage of the Category-20 tournament, has revived Anand's hopes in the tournament and the Indian can now hope to catch up with the leaders with a similar result in rounds to come.
In group 'B', Grandmaster Koneru Humpy scored her first victory at the expense of GM Michal Krasenkow of Poland. Humpy displayed top form and perseverance playing white.
More good news came for the Indian contingent as GM Parimarjan Negi also won a fine game against Irina Krush of United States in group 'C' and P Harikrishna played out a draw with Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia in a group 'B' encounter.
Magnus Carlsen of Norway remained in sole lead after settling for a draw with former world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria.
The Norwegian took his tally to five points out of a possible seven and remained a half point adrift of Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Levon Aronian of Armenia who defeated Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan who stands sole fourth on four points.
Aided by the victory, Anand is now on joint fifth spot with 3.5 points in his kitty. PTI
Ganguly, Dravid miss cut as selectors invest in youth
Mumbai, Jan 20 (PTI) Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman, who made significant contributions in the current Test series against Australia, were on Sunday left out by the selectors in picking up of the Indian squad for the tri-series Down Under, also featuring Australia and Sri Lanka.
Left-hand batsman Suresh Raina and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla were recalled to the side that also includes wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Kaarthick, who is already with the Test team in Australia. Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who played the last ODI series against Pakistan, was also left out.
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah announced the 16-member team after a meeting of the selection committee for India's one-off Twenty20 match against Australia on February 1 and the subsequent tri-series.
The omission of Ganguly came as a surprise as the elegant left-hander had been in very good nick in both the one-day and Test matches.
Explaining reasons behind ignoring Ganguly and Dravid, Shah said, "The emphasis was on fielding abilities and they wanted a young fielding side for the series. That's why you see a lot of youngsters in the side."
The team, to be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has Sachin Tendulkar as its most experienced batsman.
Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh, who struggled for runs in Australia and has injured his knee, was retained as the vice-captain of the team, which the selectors said has been picked keeping the future in mind. PTI
34 LTTE men killed in Sri Lanka Army offensive attack
Colombo, Jan 20 (PTI) Stepping up the offensive against the LTTE sans the ceasefire, Sri Lankan army today killed at least 33 rebels, including two women, in the embattled north and lost one of its soldiers.
Troops launched an attack and killed four militants in Madhu and Periyathampane areas of North-western Mannar today, the army said.
The army found bodies of two women LTTE cadres after it attacked a line of LTTE bunkers 500 meters south of Adampan in Mannar.
In Jaffna, one soldier was killed in the Kilaly frontline that came under mortar fire last evening, the Defence Ministry said. "Troop retaliated and suppressed the militants' indirect fire," it said.
Despite the raging gunbattles and recent string of attacks by the LTTE after Colombo scrapped the 2002 ceasefire on Jan 16, the government said that it will continue with the Feb 4 Independence Day celebrations, though an additional 4,00 troops will be deployed in the capital to bolster security.
On the Nagarkovil front in Jaffna, troops attacked LTTE bunkers and killed two LTTE cadres yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) reported.
On the Vavuniya front, troops stationed in Vilattikulam confronted with a group of rebels on Saturday morning, the MCNS said. Ground troops confirmed that four militants were killed in the incident, it said.
At Mullikulam in North-western Mannar, troops attacked a group of militants and killed three rebels yesterday, the army said. PTI
Maoists say they will take up arms if polls are put off again
Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Jan 20 (PTI) Accusing the monarchy of using agitating groups in Terai to disrupt the crucial Constituent Assembly polls, the Maoists in Nepal have threatened to take up arms again if the April 10 vote is put off for the third time even as two Madhesi groups announced a fresh stir.
"The cremation of the institution of monarchy will be done with the holding of the Constituent Assembly polls," CPN-Maoist's second in command Baburam Bhattarai said at a joint election rally in the eastern Nepal town of Biratnagar.
"(But) The royalists are trying to use some legitimate demands of the Terai as a means to disrupt the polls. If the Madhesi people danced to their tune and disrupted the polls, the achievements they have made so far through democratic movement would slip away from their hands," he said.
The Maoist leader said monarchy was already "dead" with parliament passing resolution declaring the country a republic, subject to ratification by the Constituent Assembly.
"Maoists have locked up their arms but they are still capable to make bombs and use arms in case the polls are sabotaged," he said referring to the guerrilla army that was confined to cantonments under UN supervision following the 2006 peace deal.
Nepal's Terai region, which witnessed large scale violent protests last year from Madhesi community which is demanding greater share in the country's politics and economic resources, appeared to be on the boil again ahead of the polls with two groups announcing a fresh stir.
The Samyukta Madhesi Morcha and Madhesh Terai Loktantrik Party have announced protest programmes in southern Nepal from Jan 23 claiming that the seven-party unity government was ignoring their demands. PTI
Pak to get new F-16s
Islamabad, Jan 20 (PTI) The US has begun upgrading Pakistan's existing F-16 fighter fleet and placed orders for the latest version of the jets to be supplied to the country.
The Pakistan Air Force's F-16s are being fitted with the latest avionics and other equipment. At the same time, the US administration has placed orders with Lockheed Martin for the latest version of the F-16 for Pakistan, said Foreign Office spokesman Mohammed Sadiq.
Pakistan had ordered and paid for 28 F-16s in 1988 but these were never delivered as the US administration imposed sanctions on the country two years later for pursuing a nuclear weapons programme.
"The planes currently being used by the PAF are being fitted with the latest avionics and other equipment. This up-gradation will make them the most modern planes," Sadiq told The News.
The PAF will soon start receiving the new F-16s that have been ordered by the Pentagon, he said. Sadiq did not give details about how many new F-16s would be supplied to Pakistan.
Pakistan had inducted 42 F-16 jets in the 1980s and about 35 of the jets are currently in service with the PAF. These are currently being upgraded to extend their life. As part of the upgrade, they will be equipped with improved radars, a helmet-mounted targeting system and electronic warfare management systems.
Media reports have said that the US Defence Department has ordered 18 new F-16s for Pakistan, which will be delivered by 2010. Pakistan also has the option to order 18 more new jets. PTI
Caparo eyes one billion dollar business from India
New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) Swraj Paul-led Caparo Group today said it will raise its investment and exposure in India to achieve an over six-fold increase in turnover to USD one billion within the next ten years.
"We are growing fast and very keen on continuously investing in India. We plan on doing at least a billion dollars of sales here in the next 7-10 years," Group's CEO Angad Paul told reporters after British Prime Minister Gorden Brown inaugurated the group's auto part manufacturing unit.
The Rs 83 crore facility at Greater Noida, which caters to auto makers such as Honda, is already operational but was formally inaugurated by Brown at a function in the capital. PTI
Aus has "golden opportunity" to work with booming India: Swan
Melbourne, Jan 20 (PTI) Indicating a major shift in its international focus towards New Delhi, Australia has expressed the hope that India, the world's second fastest growing economy, may cushion it from a global economic downturn.
"Australia has a golden opportunity to work more closely with India to pursue our common economic interests," Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said.
"I want to explore ways to institute closer ties between the Indian Ministry of Finance and the Commonwealth Treasury," he told 'The Sunday Age'.
According to most credible projections, India will be the world's second largest economy, behind China, by 2050, with developments there to have a major impact on Australia's economic prospects.
Already it is Australia's fastest growing export market over the past five years and now the fourth-largest export destination for goods, with Swan saying that he has moved to establish contact with Finance Minister P Chidambaram to institute closer economic ties. This will include working closely with India in international forums such as the G-20.
"Part of the Rudd Government's mission is to modernise the economy, so modernising our relationships with key economies is a vital component of that," Swan said, adding "my cabinet colleagues and I know how crucial the Indian economic relationship is to the prosperity we build for families into the future." Swan's focus on New Delhi follows Trade Minister Simon Crean's first official visit to India last week, where he held meetings with Indian officials and business leaders. India is Australia's fastest growing major market for both goods and services, increasing at a rate of more than 30 per cent a year. PTI
Toyota recalls 20K Innovas to repair defect
New Delhi, Jan 20, (PTI) Japanese auto major Toyota is recalling about 20,000 units of its popular multi-utility vehicle, Innova, in India to repair a defective part that could lead to oil leakage.
"The problem, we have found, is in the differential carrier mounting nuts, which becomes loose, and on long usage could lead to oil leakage. It has been detected in about 20,000 Innovas," Toyota Kirloskar Motor Deputy Managing Director KK Swamy told PTI.
He said Innovas manufactured only between April and October 2007 have been recalled to repair the faulty part.
"This is still a small number considering that the total number of Innovas on the road is about 1.3 lakh. Also, we have experienced this problem only in India, probably due to the road conditions here as the same vehicle elsewhere in the world are not facing any such problems," Swamy added.
The company said it would take about an hour to repair the faulty part. If the part was not repaired, in worst scenario it could lead to stalling of vehicle.
Innova is Toyota's best selling vehicle in India and it sold 34,786 units in the April-December period of the ongoing fiscal. PTI
Textile, apparel export declining: RBI study
New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) The country's total exports may be rising at around 20 per cent but overseas sales of textile, apparel and handicrafts have declined during the first five months of this financial year, according to Reserve Bank data.
"Exports of textile and textile products and handicrafts continued to register declining trend," RBI said in a study on India's foreign trade 2007-08.
There was a three per cent decline in apparel and 16 per cent fall in silk textile export in dollar terms, it said.
Export of textile and products declined due to reduced off-take by major markets such as the US, the UK and Italy.
The country's exports to the US in April-October declined to 3.2 per cent in value terms as compared to 6.8 per cent in the corresponding period last year, while in quantity terms the exports recorded a 1.9 per cent growth, according to the US Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel.
The Prime Minister's Economic Advisory has also pointed out that "absolute declines in cotton yarn, fabric and made-ups, apparel, natural silk textiles and handmade carpets. The decline in the value of exports of such items when measured in India rupee is obviously larger".
The rupee has risen more than 15 per cent in the past year-and-a-half due to huge capital inflows. The appreciation has hit exporters hard, forcing the government to announce packages amounting to around Rs 5,200 crore.
The Council had favoured another package for labour intensive sectors such as textiles. "The impact of the appreciation of the Indian rupee vis-a-vis the dollar and other major currencies has been a major source of concern," the Council had said in its economic review. PTI
US urges OPEC to raise oil output
Dubai, Jan 20 (PTI) The United States has asked the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to raise its oil output to meet the growing energy demands.
"I think it is possible for an increase in supply over a period of time because there is adequate reserve in the Kingdom," US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said during a visit to Riyadh yesterday.
"The new energy reality means the world must develop safe, reliable, clean, affordable and diverse energy supplies" he was quoted as saying by Arab News.
The US official stressed that the world needed a more diverse group of energy suppliers and a more diverse network of energy supply routes.
Quoting the recent World Energy Outlook, Bodman, who met his counterpart Ali Al-Naimi yesterday, said the world's primary energy needs will grow by 55 per cent by 2030.
"This alone creates for the world a set of energy challenges that require the active involvement of energy producer and consumer countries. And no one nation or a sector can meet them alone", he added. PTI
Nagesh takes a “commercial break” with ‘Bombay To Bangkok’
Shambhu Sahu
Film: Bombay To Bangkok
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Cast: Shreyas Talpade, Lina Christensen, Vijay Maurya and
others
Nagesh Kukunoor is one director in Bollywood who’s expected to come up with something unusual every time he directs a film. The expectations soared, and especially, after his last two mainstream and critically acclaimed films ‘Iqbal’ and ‘Dor’.
But with his latest offering ‘Bombay To Bangkok’, Kukunoor disappoints big time because here he attempts a usual romantic comedy. It's quite same same and not really different.
Shankar (Shreyas Talpade) is a small time chef and happy with his normal middle-class existence. But that’s till he finds a bag full of money in his restaurant which belongs to a Khan ‘bhai’ (Naseerudin Shah in special appearance). While Shankar plans to flee to Dubai with the money, Khan’s son Jamal Khan alias Jam K – a wannabe rapper-turned-gangster – wants his money back. And then comes the chase in which
Shankar keeps the money in medicine cartons and disguises himself as a doctor to flee the country. But he lands in Bangkok instead of Dubai.
There he meets Jasmine (Lina Christensen) a Thai girl. She works as a medical camp volunteer during day time while as a masseur at a body shop in the evening. But this Indian virgin falls in love with her despite not liking her second profession which she thinks is the holiest way of making people happy.
However, the language barrier between the two lovers of different cultural background, might remind you of yesteryears’ Kamal Hasan-Rati Agnihotri starrer ‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’.
Meanwhile, since the hero is running out of money he must find the bag which is at a far away place from the medical camp where he is Dr Bhatavedkar, a sexologist. He prescribes Viagra to the poor Thais there and becomes a hero.
Then he goes in search of his money with his highly-professional girlfriend who agrees to help him after receiving first installment of her payment. And so begins their joyride in which they meet Jasmine’ s Bollywood crazy uncle who offers them a night stay and money for fake stories of Aishwarya Rai. In the meanwhile, they dance at a disco, fight over Indian and Thai names only to ‘kiss’ and make up
later but the story goes nowhere.
Shankar finds his money, and returns it to the rapper-gangster. But the director chooses a poor plot of medicine smuggling for its climax for which Jasmine is accused and arrested. Now, it is anybody’s guess that hero will find the real culprit and get his girl back. And that’s why this film is no way a true Nagesh Kukunoor film, though he shows his creative brilliance in some parts.
A high point of which - and the film as well - is the rap-loving gangster Jam K (Vijay Maurya). He is adorable and funny. But just like the film, even this character is under developed. Otherwise, he could have easily joined the league of famous funny Indian creations like ‘Circuit’ (played by Arshad warsi in ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ and ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’).
There are few more moments like Shreyas giving Viagra for the first time, Jam K finding love in a Psychologist, etc.
Shreyas acts well but can’t match up to his performance in ‘Iqbal’ and ‘Dor’ simply because scripts of those films were much more powerful than this. With all those few intimate and kissing scenes perhaps, he's gearing up for the potboilers Bollywood has been known for. Lina also does well for herself.
Since this is Nagesh's first out-and-out masala film, it is like the director has taken a ‘commercial break’.
Let Farha Khan – the queen of masala flicks - reign over the genre, Nagesh. Your fans will wait for what you do the best – make films with substance. PTI
With drop in temperature, heart patients stand at risk
New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) With temperatures dropping again in North India due to the winter which seems to be playing hide and seek this time, doctors point out that heart patients need to take extra care as winters cause heart troubles.
"Yes, it is a fact that people with heart problems need to take more precaution in winters. Chances of increasing one's heart troubles is high when the temperature is low,' says Dr Umesh Gupta, Senior Cardiologist, Umkal Hospital.
Cardiologists in the city point out that the heart has to work harder in winters because blood vessels constrict to help the body maintain its heat. Besides this, doctors point out that respiratory diseases such as flu and asthma are on a high in the season, which causes load on the heart and also because of high blood pressure.
"It is not just that. During the cold season people tend to consume more alcohol, in order to keep warm, which also aggravates pressure on heart", says Dr. Gupta.
The adverse effect of chill is not just limited to heart but also to knees and bones as well. "Because of low temperature, people tend to forgo their excirces. Moreover, if not properly dressed with warm clothes, the bones too face the brunt," says Dr Sanjay Sarup, Pediatric Orthopedic at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. PTI
Northeast to unravel its hidden wonders on Republic Day
Soma Chakraborty
New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) More in news because of insurgency, Northeastern states will go all out to showcase the flora and fauna as also their rich archaeological and cultural heritage in their tableaux participating in the Republic Day parade.
Capturing the beauty of the region's wildlife, its magnificent architectural heritage and diverse socio-cultural traditions, the northeastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh are all set to roll their fascinating tableaux down the majestic Rajpath as part of the Republic Day Parade in the Capital on Saturday morning.
Meghalaya, which is the home to some of the exquisite varieties of butterflies in the world, will present its float titled 'Butterflies of Meghalaya'.
"Meghalaya is an abode of splendid varieties of butterflies, some of which are indigenous only to the state," says B Kharsamai, Public Relation Officer of the Meghalaya government.
"Our attempt will be to project Meghalaya as a natural storehouse of exquisite butterflies," he adds.
Out of about 1000 species of butterflies found in India, about 250 species are present in Meghalaya alone. Some of the indigenous exquisite varieties of butterflies found in Meghalaya are Blue Peacock, Kaiser-E-Hind, Leafs-Butterfly, Dipper, Bhutan Glory,Yellow Orange Tip, Vagrant, Common Blue Bottle and Red-Breast Jazebel.
Tripura, the green picturesque hilly land of mythology, will showcase ‘Unakoti’, a pilgrimage center.
"Unakoti literally means 'one less than a crore' is an ancient Shaivite pilgrimage centre in North Tripura District of Tripura. PTI
In Meghalaya, its time for political divorces and remarriages
Rituraj Borthakur
Shillong, Jan 20 (PTI)It has been the same every time on the eve of elections and this time too it is no different.
Legislators and political leaders in Meghalaya are on a resignation spree, with as many as three of them quitting the respective parties so far, an independent MLA and a Congress district council member shifting allegiance and speculation flowing thick and fast that more senior politicians may follow suit.
First it was the resignation of the former Chief Minister JD Rymbai from the Congress. The veteran Congressman, who served the party for over two decades, joined the United Democratic Party (UDP) protesting the denial of ticket by the Congress.
The four-time MLA, who replaced DD Lapand as the Chief Minister for over eight months last year, said, "I was being sidelined by the party. I kept on asking why, I didn't get an answer. I had to quit." Close on the heels, two legislators of the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP), an ally of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, shifted their allegiance to the UDP.
Mawlai MLA PT Sawkmie and Mawsynram MLA DP Iangjuh said they resigned from the MDP to bring back the unity among the regional parties and respect the sentiments of the people.
Like Rymbai, both also resigned from the Assembly membership to avoid action under the anti-defection law.
With the resignation of the duo, MDP president and Forest Minister MN Mukhim will be left as the single representative of the party in the assembly. PTI
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