Islamabad, Nov 30 (ANI): Urging the caretaker federal cabinet of Pakistan to show “neutrality” in their day-to-day affairs, President Pervez Musharraf today said the first and foremost priority of the interim set up was to hold free, fair and transparent elections.

“Your neutrality will be of critical value and you must make every effort to demonstrate it through your actions,” Musharraf said in his address to the caretaker cabinet led by Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Soomro at his Camp Office.

A day after he took oath as a civilian President, asked the caretaker government to ensure sustainability of economic upsurge and maintenance of law and order situation in the country.

The caretaker administration must maintain law and order, particularly in the provinces, by ensuring that nothing disrupts the electoral process, The News quoted him, as saying.

Musharraf stressed that the gains of the past eight years need to be consolidated through continuity of policies and actions, saying that Pakistan must keep moving on the development track.

Asserting that peace and security were vital in an environment where Pakistan was combating an upsurge in terrorism, he said all situations of conflict must be avoided.

Pointing out that he was a firm believer in freedom of media, the retired general said that it was free to criticize the policies and actions of the government, including himself. However, he urged it to avoid misreporting, sensationalism and defamation that were not acceptable in any free and civilized society. (ANI)

By Ravinder Singh Robin

Amritsar, Nov 30 (ANI): Sikh devotees, who visited Pakistan to celebrate the 538th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, today returned to India via Wagah border.

The devotees said they were overwhelmed with the hospitality of the people of the neighbouring country during their stay.

However, few of them felt that the prevailing unrest in Pakistan disrupted the religious program.

About three thousand strong Sikh jatha had gone to Pakistan on November 21 to attend the function.

Amrik Singh Vachhooa, leader of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) Jatha, said that he did not observe any fearful atmosphere in Nankana Sahib, but the Pakistan Government has advised the local management committee not to take out procession on the occasion.

“Since there was nothing to worry about security at Nankana Sahib, the Pakistan SGPC should have allowed Sikh devotees to take out nagar kirtan,” said Sunil Bhatia another devotee. (ANI)

Amritsar, Nov 30 (ANI): The Congress party today sought the intervention of Prime Minster Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in the installation of a portrait of slain rebel Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale at a Sikh museum in the Golden Temple premises.

Former Congress MLA Raj Kumar demanded that a criminal case should be registered against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC).

Welcoming the installation, Pritpal Singh, convener of American Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (AGPC), questioned as to why the SGPC changed the schedule of the installation without informing the Sikh Sangat.

Gurwinder Singh, president Sikh Council, Italy, also felt that by rescheduling the installation ceremony without intimating the Sikh community, the SGPC deprived many to take part in the event.

Meanwhile, several Sikh organizations have raised eyebrows over the installation of the portrait.

Bhindranwale was one of the main architects of militancy in Punjab and was killed during Operation Bluestar on June 6, 1984.

In 2003, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee had declared Bhindranwale a “martyr”. (ANI)

Gulmarg (J-K), Nov 30 (ANI): One of the country’s premier hill resorts Gulmarg received this season’s first snowfall today, after which the whole town was covered in a thick white blanket of snow.

This brought cheers to both the tourists, who enjoyed snowfall, and to the locals, who depend on the tourists for their livelihood.

Snowfall started early this morning after three months of dry spell. Besidesulmarg, which is 55 kilometres north of Srinagar, there were also reports of moderate snowfall in tourist resorts of Sonamarg and Pahalgam, at Sadhna pass in Kupwara district and the Jawahar Tunnel area in Qazigund.

Meanwhile, the air traffic between Srinagar and other parts of the country was restored today after four days.

Five flights, including two special planes carrying Haj pilgrims and an Army chartered plane, landed and took off at the Srinagar international airport in late afternoon. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed the hope that the trade and investment agreement between India and the European Union would materialise before the next summit meeting.

He said this at a press conference after a meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates at the ongoing EU summit, which is part of India’s ongoing dialogue with the EU for discussions on areas of mutual interest and to build on the strategic partnership with them.

“India and European Union are now engaged in negotiating a broad based trade and investment agreement. Two rounds of discussions have taken place. We are hopeful that by the time next summit takes place, this agreement will be in place and if it does materialize, that would make a further significant contribution to the development of our relationship,” said Singh.

Socrates also sounded optimistic about trade relationship between India and the European Union.

“This was a summit of results and achievements. It was very clear for us that after all these years of cooperation, we achieved several results. In all the programs we made, we achieved results that honour very much both parts. And, the mutual confidence between the two parts is very clear during the summit. These achievements and results are expressed in the two agreements we signed in this ceremony,” said Socrates.

India and the EU expressed their determination to further strengthen the strategic partnership and to cooperate at the global level for the cause of peace, security and sustainable development.

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and the Trade Commissioner of the European Commission, Peter Mandelson, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the first Multi-annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for 2007-2010 earlier in the day.

The European Commission conceptualises multi-annual economic and development cooperation programmes to be implemented in partner countries through their country strategy papers (CSP).

The CSP generally covers two consecutive MIPs of three to four years and the MIP, in turn, defines priorities for spending an indicative budgetary break down for the programme period.

The current CSP is for the period 2007-2013 and the indicative budgetary allocation by the EC is of 460 million euros divided into two MIPs of 260 million and 200 million euros for 2007-2010 and 2011-2013 respectively.

The MoU signed is for the first MIP, the proposed duration for that is from 2007-2010. It is a medium term commitment undertaken by the EU to contribute to the ongoing developmental programmes initiated by the Government of India.

With the support of the EU’s assistance, the MoU is expected to provide further fillip to the ongoing programmes in the health and education sectors in India.

European trade officials want to deepen discussions on sensitive areas with India such as removing barriers to trade in services, intellectual property protection and public procurement, which they say is not transparent.

The EU is India’s largest trading partner, accounting for a fifth of India’s total trade, and is also one of its most important sources of foreign investment. (ANI)

Jaipur, Nov 30 (ANI/Business Wire India): Chief Minister Vasudhara Raje inaugurated the Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit here today.

A total of 242 investment proposals for the state worth Rs 1,55,077 crore were committed by leading Indian and multinational companies across sectors. These investments span in several sectors, including agriculture, education, power, healthcare, industries, IT and communication, mines, SEZ, technical education and tourism.

In her inaugural address, the Chief Minister presented a compelling case for emergence of Rajasthan as one of the most dynamic investment locations in the country.

Welcoming the captains of Indian Industry, media and delegates, Raje said, “It is a matter of great delight that the business community has responded with such enthusiasm to the ‘Resurgent Rajasthan Summit’. This proud moment has come after a lot of hard work and single-minded focus on building a strong foundation and a proactive and growth oriented policy framework.”

“Rajasthan is poised to step into a bright future. I urge all our partners; industry, people of Rajasthan and media to come together and seize the opportunity to realize inclusive development and high-growth for our beautiful state,” she added.

Among those present on the occasion were Narpat Singh Rajvi, Minister of Industries, Rajasthan, KV Kamath, MD and CEO, ICICI Bank, D C Samant, Chief Secretary, Rajasthan, Habib Khorakiwala, President, FICCI and Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI.

The two-day summit has been organized by the Rajasthan government in collaboration with FICCI. The Summit has witnessed huge participation from delegates representing close to 850 organizations, including Honda Siel, Reliance, Fortis, Bharat Hotels, Vedanta Group Plc., Genpact, Narayan Hrudalaya and others. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval to the revised proposal from Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) for providing quality services to Tax-payers and other stakeholders by consolidating its information technology infrastructure.

These services include implementation of the Customs EDI system to a total of 162 locations and introduction of an electronic workflow based system in Central Excise and Service Tax covering all Central Excise and Service Tax Offices.

The approval entails an outlay of Rs.598.97 crore over a period of five year period, includes creation of data center facilities, wide area network connecting 582 buildings and computing facilities at 1200 offices, a government release said. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that the government was concerned over the alleged harassment of ethnic Indians in Malaysia.

Reacting to the reported harassment incident, Singh said the government is concerned whenever any Indian is in trouble anywhere in the world.

“This is a matter which concerns us,” the Prime Minister said at a joint press conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates.

Singh and Socrates, who is head the European Union at present, were addressing the media after their talks here.

Meanwhile, the issue was also raised in the Parliament. Several parties demanded that the Centre should take up the matter with Malaysia.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in his statements in both Houses that the government “deeply solicitous” for the welfare of people of Indian origin living abroad, and that he was in touch with Kuala Lumpur on the issue.

“We have friendly relations with Malaysia and we are in touch with the Malaysian authorities in the related matter,” he said.

Earlier this week, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi sought Manmohan Singh’s intervention in the issue, and urged him protect the rights of Tamils in Malaysia.

This came after Malaysia’s de-facto justice minister Nazri Aziz reportedly told Karunanidhi over telephone to mind his own business after the official complained about Malaysia’s treatment of its ethnic Indians.

“This is Malaysia, not Tamil Nadu,” Aziz was quoted as saying, adding: “This has got nothing to do with him… lay off.”

Some ethnic Indians were allegedly harassed during a rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force in Kuala Lumpur on November 25. (ANI)

By Lokendra Singh

Jaipur, Nov.30 (ANI): Rajasthan’s colourful Safas or the piece of cloth used for turbans, are today a synonym of Rajasthani culture. They are steadily becoming a quintessential part of Indian weddings, irrespective of place.

Thanks to media attention on the Rajasthani turbans’, it is today a craze to wear Rajasthani turbans on the wedding day.

Wedding season is on and the Jaipur’s safa manufactures are having a hectic time meeting the increasing demand while enjoying a brisk sale.

“The sale is very high this time. And workload has also increased. We hardly get time to eat food. We come here early morning and stay her till late night till 12 o’clock and sometimes work for entire night. It takes a lot of time,” says Kishan Kumar, a turban maker.

One such safa-maker is 26-year-old Kishan Kumar in Jaipur’s Badi Cahupar Market who is compelled to spend 16 hours these days to meet the huge demand of Rajasthan safa.

Earlier, only the bridegroom used to wear a turban. But, today, various close relatives have also started wearing turbans while attending a wedding. This has led to a surge in demand for turbans.

Different types of turbans are used for different occasions. On wedding occasions, particularly, multi-coloured turbans are worn by men symbolising closeness to the bridegroom.

“We feel very nice after wearing turban. We feel that we are very close to the groom. It gives a different impression to the viewers; as they think that we are someone really special to the groom and we are here to have a bash with him on his wedding,” says Lalit, brother of a groom.

“The best thing about a wedding is wearing a turban. Badi Chahupar, market in Jaipur in is famous for its turbans. Although turbans have become very costly now but one gets married only once in a lifetime so it doesn’t matter much,” says Roshan, a bridegroom.

For most of the people, the Rajasthani Safas are a joy wearing them on the wedding occasion. But for the people in Rajasthan it is symbol of prestige that they carry on their head with tremendous pride.

Over 1,000 shops deal in wedding turbans in Jaipur with each shop selling around 1,000 to 1,500 marriage turbans during the wedding season.

There are around 200 expert artisans involved in the art of turban making. The price range for turban begins with rupees 100 and may cost up to rupees 5,100.

Safas’ grace reflects how locals have treasured its elegance as turbans while influencing people beyond their State. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30: The Delhi High Court today dismissed of Ashok Malhotra’s plea for his release from jail in connection with a multi-crore land scam.

The Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Reva Khetrapal headed bench rejected Malhotra’s petition in which he had claimed that his custody was illegal, as he had already spent the required number of 90 days behind bars during investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Malhotra, the kingpin of the scam, prepared fake and forged documents in the name of non-existent applicants to grab plots unlawfully, claims the CBI.

On August 6, the CBI arrested the Delhi-based contractor while he was giving an interview to a private news channel (Zee News) in Noida.

Malhotra’s residences were raided by the CBI on July 27 and August 2.

After a raid at his residence, it was found that Malhotra possessed 17 luxury cars with VIP number plates, Rs 17 lakh in cash and about seven kilograms of gold.

Malhotra, however, claims that his property is not even worth Rs 10 crore and that all of it is well documented.

There are allegations that Malhotra in connivance with five DDA officials fraudulently acquired plots in the Dhirpur area that were meant for the resettlement of slum dwellers during 2000-02. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for a 100 per cent Centrally sponsored Scheme of post-matric scholarship for students belonging to the minority communities.

The scheme will be launched during the financial year 2007-08 targeting 15 lakh scholarships for the eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) period.

The scholarships will be awarded to students from the minority communities, fulfilling the merit-cum-means criteria, studying in the country’s Government or private higher secondary schools/colleges/universities, including residential Government institutes, eligible private institutes elected and notified in a transparent manner by the State Government / Union Territory Administration concerned and technical and vocational courses in Industrial Trade Institutes (ITIs)/Industrial Trade Centres (ITCs) affiliated with the National Council for Vocational Training.

“The scheme has the potential to lift the economic condition of minority communities, which in turn, will contribute to the economic development of the country,” said a government release. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval to the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) plan to acquire six Handymax Bulk Carriers of about 57,000 Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT) each at price of 44.90 million dollars.

The acquisition of vessels would allow partly replacement of the ageing Handymax fleet of the company which would be due for scrapping in the near future.

Acquisition of vessels would augment the Indian dry bulk carrier tonnage as also the share of Indian Lines in India’s overseas trade.

Employment of Indian flag vessels for the trade would result in net foreign exchange savings for the country.

The CCEA also gave its approval for revised cost estimates regarding implementation of “Deepening of Channel at Paradip Port” at a revised estimated cost of Rs.253.359 crore.

The Project is likely to be completed within 60 weeks. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will visit Dhaka tomorrow to hand over the aid pledged by India with a sense of urgency following a severe cyclone hit Bangladesh on November 15.

Pranab will convey solidarity of the people of India to those affected by the cyclone, which resulted in heavy loss of life and widespread destruction in coastal areas.

During his visit, Pranab will meet Bangladesh Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury. He will survey some cyclone affected areas and meet the victims.

Over the last few days, the Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft have been expeditiously delivering relief materials consisting of medicines, tents, blankets, ready-to-eat meals and portable water-purifiers to Bangladesh.

An IL-76 aircraft left New Delhi this afternoon for Dhaka carrying the last consignment of relief supplies. Mukherjee is expected to formally hand over this consignment to the Bangladeshi authorities tomorrow.

As announced by the External Affairs Minister earlier, India is also sending essential food items such as food aid, including rice, wheat and milk powder, worth nearly 100 crore rupees to Bangladesh. Delivery of these items is being expedited. One such consignment consisting of more than 9,000 metric tonnes of rice reached Chittagong (Bangladesh) during the Ramadan.

Earlier, following torrential rains, which caused mudslides in Chittagong in June 2007, India had also extended 10-million-dollar cash assistance to Bangladesh.

In a gesture, India has also lifted the current ban on export of rice with respect to Bangladesh allowing it to import 50,000 metric tonnes from India. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today demanded a statement from the UPA government on media reports of a key witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that he was very much traceable after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) decided to close the case against former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler.

Raising the matter in the Parliament, BJP’s Ravishankar Prasad said, “Since the minister, under whom CBI comes, is present in the house he should make a statement.”

A Delhi court is likely to scrutinise the CBI’s decision to close its case against Tytler in the riots case.

The CBI in its chargesheet of September 29 claimed that Jasbir Singh, who had allegedly heard Tytler inciting a mob for killing Sikhs, could not be examined as he was currently settled in the US, and his whereabouts were not known.

Two Sikh organisations – Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee and November ‘84 Carnage Justice Committee – had on October 4 moved an application seeking a copy of the said chargesheet, so as to aid them in filing a petition against the agency’s claim.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Sanjeev Jain directed senior counsel H S Phoolka, representing the Sikh bodies, to furnish address of Singh as he claimed that the witness had expressed a desire to come forward and record his testimony in the case.

“As I understand, you rely upon the testimony of Jasbir Singh. Give me his address and I would direct the CBI to trace him,” the ACMM said, while directing the counsel to furnish the address of Singh on December 6.

According to the chargesheet, Singh in his affidavit before the Nanavati Commission on August 31, 2000 had averred that “he had overheard Tytler rebuking his men on the night of November 3, 1984 … for nominal killing of Sikhs in his constituency.”

The court, however, did not accede to the request of the counsel for copy of the chargesheet. It had issued a notice to the agency on application of counsel. The CBI raised its objections submitting there was no provision of law which entitled a “third party” such copies.

The case relates to an incident on November 1, 1984 — in the aftermath of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — when a mob of angry protesters set afire Gurdwara Pulbangash, killing three persons. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): India and the European Commission today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the first Multi-annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for 2007-2010.

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Trade Commissioner of the European Commission, Peter Mandelson, signed the MoU during the India-European Union (EU) Summit here.

The European Commission conceptualises multi-annual economic and development cooperation programmes to be implemented in partner countries through their country strategy papers (CSP).

The CSP generally covers two consecutive MIPs of three to four years and the MIP, in turn, defines priorities for spending an indicative budgetary break down for the programme period.

The current CSP is for the period 2007-2013 and the indicative budgetary allocation by the EC is of 460 million euros divided into two MIPs of 260 million and 200 million euros for 2007-2010 and 2011-2013 respectively.

The MoU signed is for the first MIP, the proposed duration for that is from 2007-2010. It is a medium term commitment undertaken by the EU to contribute to the ongoing developmental programmes initiated by the Government of India.

With the support of the EU’s assistance, the MoU is expected to provide further fillip to the ongoing programmes in the health and education sectors in India. (ANI)

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): An Indian Air Force (IAF) transport plane carrying relief materials for the victims of the cyclone that hit Bangladesh recently left for Dhaka from here today

The plane is carrying the fourth consignment consisting of relief materials including tents, blankets, ready-to-eat food packets and medicines, which is part of a package of one million dollars that India has pledged.

“We are taking around 35 tonnes of relief materials, which include medicines and food,” said Wing Commander Jitender Narula.

Bangladesh has also received aid offers totalling around 90 million dollars from various countries and agencies, officials said.

A severe cyclone struck Bangladesh on last November 15 with 250 kph winds that whipped up a five-meter tidal surge.

Around 3,500 people were killed by cyclone Sidr, making it the deadliest in 16 years. Thousands more are missing or injured and aid workers and officials say at least two million people have been displaced.

According to the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the death toll in the country may cross 10,000.

Southern Bangladesh is often hit by cyclones, but experts say the latest is a category four storm, the most powerful so far in the season.

In Bangladesh, 500,000 people died in a 1970 cyclone. A similar storm claimed 143,000 lives in 1991. (ANI)

Islamabad, Nov 30 (ANI): Former premier Benazir Bhutto has formally launched her election campaign saying that the recent actions of President Pervez Musharraf would help improve the political environment in Pakistan.

Bhutto conveyed this during a meeting with a delegation of US Senators who called on her.

Following the meeting, US Senators told reporters that Bhutto expressed the hope that Musharraf’s announcement on the lifting of the emergency and other measures would help improve the political environment.

She would also be announcing her party manifesto for the general elections slated for January 8.

Later, Benazir Bhutto left for Rawalpindi, where she would be meeting PPP candidates, and give them directives for the general elections.

Meanwhile, the National Accountability Court (NAC) has adjourned its hearing into cases against Bhutto and her spouse Asif Ali Zardari till December 15.

The court is hearing six cases against the couple, The News reported. (ANI)

Patna, Nov 30 (ANI): The Bihar Police today clashed with women health workers in Patna during a protest rally by the latter.

The health workers of the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) scheme, which provides basic health services in the villages, were protesting against the non-payment of their salaries.

The workers claimed that they have to be paid salaries for almost two years.

Workers were in negotiations with the state government, which failed and thousands of women workers took to the streets.

The crowd was later dispersed and traffic that had been disrupted was eased up.

Many women protesters were reportedly injured in the clash. (ANI)

Lahore, Nov 30 (ANI): An Indian woman, who spent 17 long years in Pakistan, will finally leave Lahore for Delhi on Friday night and is expected to be united with her family on Saturday.

Yellamilli Kejiamani, born to a Christian family in Sakhinetialli Mandal village of Godaveri District in Andhra Pradesh, succeeded in reviving her contacts with her family back in India.

Kejiamani said that she is very happy and cannot further wait to see her family.

Rao Abid Hamid, a senior official at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said “Kejiamani was brought to Pakistan in 1990 by Riaz from Kuwait where both of them had been working.”

“Riaz, a resident of Lahore, snatched everything she had and burnt her passport. He also tortured her before throwing her out of his house six months after she had reached Pakistan,” added Hamid.

“After losing her Indian passport, she only had a residence registration card and the phone numbers of her family members,” said Hamid.

It was through these phone numbers that the Indian authorities were able to verify her credentials and that must have helped her case.

She spent the next 10 years of her life in obscurity.

During this time she also lost her senses. Then she met Muhammad Amin, a cook, who took her to his house and provided shelter to her.

But soon her presence in his house started causing trouble for him. His neighbours filed a case against him for keeping a woman in his house without legal permission.

“Under pressure, Amin shifted her to his native village in Sahiwal District and arranged a paper marriage with her after giving her a Muslim name, Ayesha,” said Hamid

Her cousin who lives in England also came to know about her whereabouts in Pakistan.

“My father is a tenant of Kejiamani’s cousin in England. The landlady told him about her cousin, and we started working on how to help her reunion with her family,” said the man who has been hosting her in Lahore.

Hamid is surprised how quickly the situation turned in to her favour. After he wrote a letter on September 24, 2007, to the Indian high commission in Islamabad, she was granted an Indian visa.

This could not have happened, however, if Amin had not helped her to get a Pakistani identity card and a passport. (ANI)

By Peter Alex ToddGuwahati, Nov 30 (ANI): The surrendered ULFA cadres who are staying at the rehabilitation camp in Kalbari in Tamulpur subdivision of Baksa district in Assam fell that they have had a rebirth.

Now, they have no fear for their lives and do not have to hunt for their next meal.

They are learning various vocations. Some are learning driving and some others are trying to operate computers.

“One of us is learning computer and ten of us are taking training in driving. We are altogether eleven here,” said Nager Rabha, a cadre.

Nager Rabha added: “We are getting good training here. We are hopeful that with whatever training we are getting here, we will be able to lead a normal and better life in future.”

These cadres have plenty to say about their past life, about ULFA and its policies. They are still in a daze and trying to reconcile with the present reality. They are happy with this positive turn in their lives.”Whatever we are learning here we want to apply those things when we return to the mainstream. In this way we hope we will go hand in hand with common people,” said Amit Das, another cadre. In the last three months, more than 250 militants have come back to their homes.

Never before has there been such a mass exodus from ULFA on a such large scale in such a short span of time. (ANI)