Guwahati
Speaker Disqualifies 9 Assam Congress MLAs
Assam Assembly Speaker Pranab Gogoi on Monday disqualified nine Congress MLAs, who had defected to the BJP recently after falling out with the party leadership, from House membership with immediate effect. The MLAs are Piyush Hazarika, Kripanath Mallah, Pradan Barua, Bolin Chetia, Pallab Lochan Das, Rajen Borthakur, Abu Taher Bepari, Jayanta Mallah Barua and Binanda Kumar Saikia. They were among those who had raised the banner of revolt demanding Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s ouster. Congress Chief Whip Nilamani Sen Deka had on December 1 sought disqualification of the MLAs, who were already expelled by the party. Pradan Barua said they would challenge the decision in Gauhati High Court.
Chandigarh
Bishop Bats for Green Christmas in Amritsar
P K Samantaroy, Moderator for the Church of North India and Bishop of Amritsar diocese, has directed all the 27 Dioceses under his tutelage to take initiative to celebrate a ‘Green Christmas’ this time by not using plastic materials, saving water and energy and adopting a sustainable lifestyle. He also asked the office-bearers of schools, colleges and churches to observe a tree plantation drive in January and July seasons. In a meeting organised by Dilbir Foundation with World Wide Fund For Nature and the Christian faith, both Protestants and Roman Catholics, adopted a Green agenda for 2016.