Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Cong Will Not Get More Than 30-40 LS Seats: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the Congress will not get more than 30 to 40 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and post elections there will be a decline of the grand old party.

Speaking at the Republic TV Summit 2024, the Assam CM also mentioned that his wish is that the Congress should be reduced to 11 seats but that would not happen.

“My wish is that they (Congress) should reduce to 11 (the number of players in the Indian Cricket team) but it would not happen. Congress will not get more than 30 to 40 Lok Sabha seats. They have already become a regional party. After staying in that party for years, I am predicting that in many state there would be a regional Congress, not a national one.”

He also predicted that family politics will cease to exit after the Lok Sabha polls and the emergence of development based politics.

“Post-election, You will see a decline in Congress and an end to family politics. No family politics will survive in this country after this election. A new politics will emerge where people will compete for development,” he said.

He further said that the grand old party have nothing to silence the development journey of the Prime Minister.

“PM Modi recently inaugurated projects in Assam worth 16,000 crore. The day after tomorrow, he will again visit. On March 23, he will lay the foundation of 30,000 crore investments. Wherever he is visiting, you can see what kind of development is taking place. Now Congress is not questioning the numbers, they have nothing to silence the development journey of the Prime Minister. PM has proposed development,” he added.

“This is just a trailer of what has happened in the last 10 years. The whole picture is yet to be seen,” Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted.

The Assam CM emphasized that one has to analyse the Prime Minister from his larger vision. Was it, not Delhi that hosted the G20 summit? He could have taken it to Gujarat. Is it not indirectly helping Kejriwal enhance the National Capital?

Further, speaking on him being an Anti-Muslim, CM Himanta Biswa said that anyone can visit Assam and see the love and affection he gets from the Muslims.

“I am anti-Owaisi or anti-Rahul Gandhi, but when it comes to the Muslims, anyone can come to Assam and see the Muslim-dominated areas, that is how much love and affection I get from them. These customs of having two marriages are not in the Holy Book Quran. One should respect the holy book of every religion,” he said.

“Every state of the northeast is not the same. The Manipur crisis was between two communities but the fact was that neither Meiti nor Kuki was criticising the BJP because they had reconciled to the fact that it was our issue and they met us with that only. Indian government announced to fence the India-Myanmar border. Meities are welcoming it but Nagas, Kukis, and Mizos are opposing it. There is a lot of contradiction in the North-east. These are not created by the BJP it was there since the beginning. Nobody is criticizing PM Modi. Have you seen any Kuki or Meiti people criticising the Prime Minister?” CM Himanta Biswa said. (ANI)

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Law For Polygamy

Working To Make Robust Law For Polygamy, UCC: Assam CM

The Assam government is working to make robust legislation for polygamy and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday.

“We are working to make robust legislation for polygamy, aligning it with Uttrakhand UCC. Earlier, it was coming under civil offence, but we know we are thinking of making it a criminal offence, and after having a discussion with central leadership, a decision will be taken,” said Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Recently, the Uttarakhand State Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill 2024.

A Uniform Civil Code (UCC) means that all sections of society, irrespective of their religion, shall be treated equally according to a national civil code, which shall apply to all uniformly. They cover areas such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption, and succession of the property. (ANI)

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Modi To Begin Two-Day Visit to Assam From Feb 3

Modi To Begin Two-Day Visit to Assam From Feb 3

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Assam after accepting their invitation beginning on February 3.

The visit assumes significance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

CM Sarma said that during his two-day visit, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone and dedicate several welfare works worth over Rs 11,000 crore to the people.

In a post on social media platform X, he said, “I share this with immense joy that in a great honour for us Hon’ble Prime Minister
Shri
@narendramodi ji has gracefully accepted our invitation to visit Assam and spend a day with people here. Hon’ble PM will be in Guwahati on the 3rd and 4th of February to lay the foundation stone and dedicate several welfare works of over Rs11,000 crore to the people”.

The CM further said in his post that he chaired several preparatory meetings today ahead of his visit.

According to the reports, the Prime Minister will also address a mega public rally in Guwahati on February 4.

The Office of Assam’s Chief Minister said in a post on X that CM Sarma also reviewed all arrangements pertaining to the visit and directed officials to ensure its grand success.

The Office of Assam’s Chief Minister said in a post on X,” In view of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ‘s visit to Assam, HCM Dr @himantabiswa chaired a series of meetings with various departments at Lok Sewa Bhawan today. HCM reviewed all arrangements pertaining to the visit and directed officials to ensure its grand success.”(ANI)

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam CM Asks State Police To File Complaint Against Rahul

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday instructed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to register a case against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly “provoking crowd.”

The Congress leader is leading the party’s Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Earlier in the day, Congress workers who were stopped from entering Guwahati city clashed with Assam police.

In a post on social media platform X, chief minster Sarma said “Naxalite tactics” were alien to the Assam’s culture.

“These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such “Naxalite tactics” are completely alien to our culture. I have instructed DGP Assam Police to register a case against your leader Rahul Gandhi for provoking the crowd and use the footage you have posted on your handles as evidence. Your unruly behaviour and violation of agreed guidelines have resulted in a massive traffic jam in Guwahati now,” Sarma said on X.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier today claimed that he was not allowed to interact with students of the state.

Heavy security was deployed at Khanapara Area, the entry point of Guwahati for the Yatra earlier this morning. A large number of police were present at the scene to stop the yatra from entering Guwahati.

Rahul Gandhi was seen addressing party workers standing on top of a bus. Assam Congress took to social media platform X to state “CM @himantabiswa has been using every ploy to derail the #BharatJodoNyayYatra right from day 1, whether by using his goons, @assampolice or administration. Tearing off posters, banners, hoardings & finally barricading the Yatra down at Batadraba. While a roadshow was allowed when @JPNadda Ji visited Guwahati, today the yatra was not allowed through the city citing security reasons. APCC president @BhupenKBorah led the protest against police oppression. Our fight for justice will continue…”

Rahul Gandhi earlier said that efforts are being made to enslave students of North East and India, adding “There is no need for any student to be afraid.”

He also alleged that the Home Minister of the country had given instructions to prevent him from meeting students of Assam.

“We are being stopped everywhere. The Home Minister of the country picked up the phone and called CM Himanta and said that Rahul Gandhi should not meet the students of Assam. That’s not important whether Rahul Gandhi comes here or not. What’s important is that the students must be allowed to listen to whomever they want to. But it is not happening in any schools and colleges in Assam. You are being told that you cannot speak your language. You are being told that you cannot have your history,” he said. (ANI)

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Mizoram’s Measured Approach

Mizoram’s Measured Approach And Search For Peace In Assam

The strategic and also commercial importance of the seven north-eastern states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura and also what is described as the brother state Sikkim cannot be overemphasized. All these states combined have common borders with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan. Security aspect aside, the north-east if given a robust infrastructure and commercial acumen could emerge as an important gateway for trade with neighbouring countries. As it would happen, the potential of the region, which is a rich mosaic of culture and social practices, has very largely remained unexplored because of continuing indifference of mainland powers that be and people in general to the north-east.

Such being the reality causing despair among north-easterners for not being able to meaningfully participate in and benefit from economic progress happening elsewhere in the country, it is good that the largely overlooked region left to fend for itself and periodically the scene of internecine conflicts has now Lalduhoma as chief minister of Mizoram. But what is so special about Lalduhoma that he could become the agent to bring national focus to a long overlooked group of states?

As an IPS officer who looked after the security of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and subsequently became a member of the Lok Sabha from Mizoram in 1984, Lalduhoma is familiar with the goings on in Delhi. His recent first trip to the capital and apparently productive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and some other ministers go to confirm while he will maintain the distinct identity of Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) without aligning with either the Congress or BJP in any way, in true federal spirit he will be seeking the Centre’s help for the state’s development. Lalduhoma conducted himself in true federal spirit during his maiden trip to New Delhi as CM and seemed to have secured assurances of development from central ministers.

What actually is the outcome of the 74 year old Mizoram CM’s visit to Delhi? He came to the capital soon after the Union government announced the plan to build a fence over a 300-km stretch of unfenced boundary with Myanmar and also end the 40 year old free movement regime, allowing people living on both sides of international border to travel within 16 km into each other’s territory without visa. New Delhi’s compulsion to build the fence along the border with a disturbed country is well understood. Mizoram is hosting more than 31,000 individuals belonging to the Chin community from Myanmar who had to flee their country following a coup by the army in February 2021. Now, close to 10,000 displaced people from Manipur, victims of ethnic violence, have taken shelter in Mizoram.

It goes to the credit of Mizoram and all the local parties that they are bearing the burden of sheltering and providing basic support to refugees from across the border and also to Kuki-Zo community members despite fund crunch. That the CM has been able to secure some help from New Delhi in looking after displaced people is clear from what Lalduhoma said on his return to Aizawl: “Even though the Centre can’t accord refugee status to the Myanmar nationals, it is ready to collaborate with us in providing relief to them. People from Manipur, who fled their homes due to ethnic violence, will also be looked after with help of the central government.”

Thankfully, New Delhi took cognisance of the fact that the Chin community from Myanmar and Kuki-Zos from Manipur have common ethnic ties with the Mizos. Lalduhoma was bold enough to tell Modi that the Chin people “are not strangers, but brothers with identical blood running through our veins.” To the relief of the newly minted Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government, Lalduhoma secured assurance from Shah that New Delhi though would not grant refugee status to people from Myanmar, it would not ask them to leave till normalcy was restored in their country. Moreover, there will be handholding of Aizawl in looking after the people from Myanmar and Manipur.

ALSO READ: Methodical Mizoram Votes For A Change

A much bigger challenge for Lalduhoma will be to ensure that the 12 priority programmes of ZPM government are implemented within 100 days and 2024 becomes the year of financial consolidation. The new regime having embraced economic development as the mantra says redemption will come with investments coming from the centre, particularly in infrastructure development and private sector making use of the state’s “rich natural resources.”

The Christian dominated Mizoram has a rate of literacy much higher than the national average of 77.7 per cent. Despite this, the employment scene, particularly among the young, has remained dismal. Before the last election in which ZPM won 27 of 40 seats, Mizoram was governed by the Congress and Mizo National Front (MNF) by turn. Both were found wanting in creating an environment for investment. The apathy of the centre was also palpable. In fact, Aizawl found New Delhi to be distant and domineering. That also is a common experience of other north-eastern states.

The other day, the country was witness to unbound rejoice in the Union Home Ministry and also in Assam government, which is ruled by BJP, over the signing of a ‘peace accord’ with pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), led by Arabinda Rajkhowa. But such celebrations may be premature and peace in the north-eastern state may still be eluding, for Paresh Baruah heading the more aggressive and militant ULFA (Independent) has stayed away from the peace agreement.

A fugitive from his own country and reportedly moving in Myanmar-China border areas, Baruah has made his participation in peace talks difficult, if not impossible by insisting on the government conceding his demand for discussion on sovereignty. Thankfully, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed the hope that it is only a matter of time before Baruah returns to the mainstream and “joins the peace process.”

ULFA formed four decades ago has a chequered history and the combined outfit was responsible for a series of violent acts in different parts of the state resulting in a couple of major army operations and also dismissal of the first Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) government for its failure to tame insurgency. ULFA militants would carry out disturbingly large insurgency operations striking terror and then disappear in their camps in Bangladesh.

Mercifully, the Sheikh Hasina government removed all such camps and steadfastly refused to play host to ULFA militants from across the border. The split between the pro-talk group and the obstinately uncooperative ULFA wing in finding a solution to contentious issues involving identity, land ownership and claims to natural resources of indigenous population has remained beyond repair.

Howsoever recalcitrant Baruah may still sound from the foreign base, he knows that the tripartite accord to which Rajkhowa group is a signatory has taken some steam out of his sovereignty campaign. The three principal features of the accord that would certainly make Baruah sit up and take note are: The highly controversial and sensitive Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), giving Army extraordinarily large powers is lifted from85 per cent of the state; proposed investment of around Rs1.5 lakh crore for a number of development projects and third, delimitation of the majority of assembly seats that should work to the advantage of indigenous communities. Shah has promised “tome-bound implementation of the terms of memorandum of settlement by the centre and the Assam government.” People will be watching the earnestness of the government in implementing the clauses of the agreement in letter and spirit.

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Badruddin on vegetable prices

Sarma Creating Divide Between Muslims And Asamese: Badruddin Ajmal

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal on Saturday accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of trying to separate Asamese Muslims from the youth with his remarks on the rising prices of vegetables in the state.

Speaking to media persons at Garigaon in Guwahat, the AIUDF chief claimed that Assam CM Sarma’s statement that “Miya” (Muslim) vendors were responsible for the price rise of vegetables in the city was demeaning and hurtful towards the minority community.
“The CM said people from the Miya community will not be allowed to sell vegetables and spices in Guwahati. This kind of statement isn’t appropriate for the chief minister of a state. He is the head of the state and it isn’t right for him to be making such remarks. We are disheartened by the CM’s remarks,” Ajmal, also a perfume baron, said.

The AIUDF chief alleged further that Sarma’s statement creates a chasm between the Muslims and the other Asamese people, including the youth.

“By making such statements, the Assam CM is trying to separate the Muslims from their fellow Asamese brothers and sisters. The government will have to bear the responsibility for any unrest that this statement foments,” the AIUDF chief warned.

Earlier, on July 13, the Assam CM said the soaring prices of vegetables in state capital, Guwahati, was largely because of the fact that the vendors largely belong to the “Miyan” (Muslim) community.

“Miya vendors are responsible for the rising prices of vegetables in the city. Most of the vendors, who are selling vegetables at inflated rates, are from the Miyan community,” CM Sarma told reporters earlier.

Reacting to Sarma’s remark, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief, Asaduddin Owaisi, said, “There is a mandali (group) in the country, who will blame Miyan-ji even when a buffalo does not give milk or a hen does not lay eggs in their homes. They would, perhaps, not hesitate to blame their personal failures on Miyan bhai as well.” (ANI)

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Refuge In Assam After Violence

Aim To Withdraw AFSPA From Assam By Year End: Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that the state is aiming to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA) completely from the state by the end of this year.

“We will also rope in ex-military personnel to train our police force,” CM Sarma tweeted.

As part of the sequel undertaken to bring about police modernization in Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday attended the first-ever conference of the commandants at the Police Training Centre in Dergaon.

“AFSPA will be lifted from the entire state by November. This will facilitate the replacement of CAPFs by Assam Police Battalions. However, the presence of CAPFs as required by law shall be in place,” one of the highlights from his speech made at the conference stated.

Delivering his introductory speech, Chief Minister Sarma said that considering the important role played by the commandants and the Assam Police Battalions, the commandants; the conference will be organised every six months.

The conference has been organised to help the Assam Police Battalions transform them into vibrant bodies capable of meeting their mandate.

While the Disturbed Areas notification under AFSPA was removed by the Centre from the entire state of Assam last year, it was still in force in about nine districts and one sub-division of another district.

However, starting April 1, 2023, the notification was lifted from one more district in the state, which meant that AFSPA was restricted to only eight districts of Assam.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 is an act of the Parliament of India that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. According to the Disturbed Areas Act, 1976 once declared ‘disturbed’, the area has to maintain status quo for a minimum of 3 months. (ANI)

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Assam Arunachal sign border dispute

Assam, Arunachal Sign Border Dispute Agreement In Presence Of Amit Shah

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here in the national capital in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve the long pending border dispute along the boundaries of both northeastern states.

The MoU was signed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Prema Khandu.
Speaking on the occasion, Amit Shah said, “The signing of an agreement for the settlement of an inter-state boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is a very big achievement. Today, we have crossed the milestone for the establishment of a developed, peaceful and conflict-free northeast.”

The Assam cabinet on Wednesday approved the recommendations given by 12 Regional Committees formed by the state government to resolve the decades-long border dispute issue with Arunachal Pradesh.

Earlier in March 2022, Assam and Meghalaya governments had signed a historic agreement here in the national capital to resolve their 50-year-old pending border dispute.

The agreement was signed between Assam and Meghalaya two months after a draft resolution was submitted by the chief ministers of the two states to Amit Shah on January 31 for examination and consideration by the MHA.

The governments of Assam and Meghalaya had come up with a draft resolution to resolve their border disputes in six of the 12 “areas of difference” along the boundary. (ANI)

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‘A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in Assam; Big Boss Is Watching It Quietly’

‘A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in Assam; Big Boss Is Watching It Quietly’

Nazimuddin Siddique from Assam feels that arrests in the name of child marriages are an extension of the NRC to enforce a tactical eviction of Muslims from the state

Child marriage is a long-standing problem in Assam. No right-thinking person can support this social malaise. But the question is: how do you stop it. Assam is one of the poorest states in the country. Child marriage exists here due to poverty, illiteracy, lack of awareness, and social exclusion. The solution to such social practices is long-winding but this government wants a quick and surgical remedy, with use of brutal force.

The state is making arrests of the alleged child marriage violators even when these persons married years ago and now have families to feed. They are arresting the sole breadwinners of such families. Will that be stemming a malaise or causing additional miseries on poor families? I do not have the data but child marriage is prevalent across all communities in Assam. The government could not stop child marriages when it took place; but it is punishing the people for its own failure. Do they even realize the scale of the underlying humanitarian disaster? Over 4,000 people have already been arrested. Where will it stop?

Many believe, and not without reason, that this is just another tool to harass Muslim electorate of Assam. This is not the first time when a legal instrument is being implied to target Muslims, be it the NRC (National Register of Citizen) or eviction drives. The government which is duty bound to look after the welfare of its citizens, is rendering them homeless and selectively so. (Read APCR report on Assam clampdown here)

Many Hindus were also arrested but the scale of arrests is tilted in favour of Muslims. Reports also suggest that Hindus arrested under the provision usually get bail. The way you can violate the human rights of Muslims, you can’t do with Hindus.

Siddique says it is easy to arrest a Muslim in India nowadays

Arresting a Muslim is the easiest thing in India nowadays. Civil society among Hindus is vocal. Surprisingly and unfortunately they remain silent, by and large, when it comes to the rights violation of Muslims. Muslims in Assam are systematically facing evictions, encounters, NRC, doubtful voter, and now child marriage crackdown. It is heart-wrenching.

ALSO READ: ‘Child Marriage Yet Another Ploy To Target Muslims In Assam’

I feel the judiciary needs to step in and put an end to such injustice. As per reports, Assam recorded 161 incidents of police action in the first 13 months of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma taking charge in May 2021. These incidents resulted in the death of 51 people while 139 others were injured. Numbers came down when the court interfered.

I am thankful to Gauhati High Court for its intervention in child marriage arrests too. The HC come down heavily on the Assam government for slapping laws such as POCSO against the accused of child marriage cases. It looks like the judiciary is the only way out for the oppressed now. But we all know the process itself is the punishment. Our Constitution guarantees the right to equality and life with dignity. If the government fails to do that, then the judiciary must hold the government of the day for its failure.

I am also disappointed at the apathy of the Centre in this episode. Himanta Biswa Sarma can go to any length in targeting Muslims. He does not need any sanctions from the Centre. We know how will the Central leadership act or react. The Big Boss in Delhi is watching the humanitarian disaster unfold right before his eyes, but won’t bat an eyelid.

The narrator is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University

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As told to Abhishek Srivastava

Law For Polygamy

Assam Govt Launches Projects Worth ₹680-Cr In Nalbari

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday arrived at Nalbari on a day-long visit during which he launched as many as 12 projects aimed at transforming the district into one of the most progressive ones on all fronts in the State.

The total cost of the 12 projects comes to about Rs 680 crore.

Among the projects launched today is the district Sports Stadium Complex at Sariahtoli to be executed at the cost of Rs 51 crore, beautification works of Nalbari town at the cost of Rs 106 crore, the integrated Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex at an approximate cost of Rs 50 crore, upgradation of Government Politechnic Institute and Industrial Training Institute at the cost of Rs 5 crore, a science centre and planetarium with the first-ever 3D projection system in the State, to name a few.

Several road development projects running into an aggregate of nearly Rs 200 crore were also launched.

Addressing a public meeting at the upcoming district Sports Stadium Complex at Sariahtoli, the Chief Minister exuded confidence these initiatives would go a long way in meeting the aspirations of the residents of Nalbari district.

The Chief Minister stated that these initiatives have the potential to radically transform Nalbari district into one of the most progressive districts on multiple fronts in days to come.

He appealed to the people of the district for their cooperation and support in the government’s endeavour for their socio-economic and educational uplift.

He also announced that he would look into the possibility of construction of a state-of-the-art modern sports stadium at Samata.

The Chief Minister stated that in the next couple of months, projects worth a whopping Rs 40,000 crore would be either inaugurated or launched across various districts. The wave of growth and development that has been unleashed by the current regime in the State is a manifestation of the importance welfare of all sections of the society is being accorded, he added.

Referring to the period when one had to resort to strikes and demonstrations to get a genuine popular demand fulfilled, Chief Minister Sarma said genuine aspirations are being taken care of by the current regime on its own, as it understands the pulse of the public.

The Chief Minister also spoke about various initiatives aimed at the welfare of the public, especially those aimed at poverty alleviation, while appealing for mass participation in these programmes.

He appealed to the economically disadvantaged families which were left out of the Orunodoi scheme in its first phase to apply without fail for the upcoming Orunodoi 2.0.

He also sought the public’s cooperation in achieving the intended aims of Mission Basundhara 2.0. Appealing to those involved in paddy cultivation to avail of the paddy procurement scheme, the Chief Minister said this has been launched to ensure there is no distress selling by farmers to middle-men and unscrupulous traders.

He said instructions have been issued to all Deputy Commissioners to take strict actions against any trader found to be purchasing paddy from cultivators at below Rs 2,040 per quintal. (ANI)

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