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www.morungexpress.com
The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 83
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www.morungexpress.com
Thursday, March 27, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
To study history means submitting to chaos and nevertheless retaining faith in order and meaning Court orders Sahara to pay 100 billion rupees to release chairman Roy on bail [ PAGE 8]
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Gwyneth and Chris Martin: ‘We’ve consciously uncoupled’
‘Make customary law more equitable’ [ PAGE 2]
Myanmar census could inflame ethnic tensions [ PAGE 9]
[ PAGE 11]
What do I know about t naga political issue? I am a MLA cum political adviser not a national worker.
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Are Nagas ready to forgive their past hurts and reconcile for a better future? Yes
no
Others
Cooperate with NFHRCC: ENPO DIMAPUR, MARCH 26 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has made an appeal to all concerned “not to politicise or hamper the NFHRCC’s activities for construction of the Nagaland Foothill road.” The ENPO, in a press release, stated that the project is “a historic mission and an extraordinary one because it came into being through the initiatives of the tribes hoho on behalf of the entire public to bail out the Nagas from the clutches of humiliation and unreasonable frequent harassment being faced by us.” While extending its solidarity, the ENPO has appealed all concerned to give full co-operation to the NFHRCC, “considering the vital project as common interests of the entire Nagas as a whole.”
GPRN/NSCN responds to NTTU DIMAPUR, MARCH 26 (MExN): The Ministry of Forest and Natural Resources , GPRN/NSCN has clarified to the Nagaland Timber Trader’s Union (NTTU) that there is a strict order to all GPRN/NSCN region authorities and military units to desist from collecting tax from timber transporters, since taxation is centralized. While regretting the reported illegal collection at various points by various region and military units, the GPRN/NSCN, “in order to monitor and prevent such unauthorized collection,” has requested the NTTU to furnish “receipt and other evidence of alleged GPRN/ NSCN member involved in illegal collection from timber transporters to the undersigned.” A press note issued by the MIP, GPRN/NSCN informed that clarifications on the matter can be made at 9436821378/8575884373.
A poster of India’s ruling Congress party vice president Rahul Gandhi is seen in print as part of the party’s election campaign material in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, March 26, 2013. India’s struggling Congress party appealed to its main constituency of poor voters in an election manifesto unveiled Wednesday that promises new jobs and more funding for education and health care. The country’s 814 million eligible voters head to the polls starting April 7. (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI, MARCH 26 (REUtERs): India’s ruling Congress party, facing a likely general election defeat, defended its economic track record over a decade in power and sought to woo voters with offers of further costly welfare measures. The party, controlled by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and its scion Rahul Gandhi, is expected to lose due to public anger over graft scandals, high inflation and an economy growing at its slowest pace in a decade. Unveiling its election manifesto on Wednesday, the party said it would lift 800 million people - almost as many as have the right to vote - into the middle class and raise gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 8 percent within three years. Appealing to its core constituency of poorer voters with a call for inclusive growth, Congress proposed new rights to include guaranteed access to health, pensions, housing and even “to entrepreneurship”. “Growth by itself is not sufficient,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told an event at which Congress president Sonia Gandhi made a rare public appearance in support of son Rahul’s leadership of the party’s flagging campaign. The 50-page policy document was long on policies to redistribute wealth with fewer proposals on how to generate it,
reflecting a left-leaning heritage that predates independence in 1947. The nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which opinion polls show winning the most seats in the election starting on April 7, is expected to unveil a more pro-business manifesto next week, party sources said. FISCAL BURDEN The Congress proposals risk further straining public finances, already under duress due to weak tax receipts and high public spending. Already, party programmes like guaranteed paid work and subsidised grain for 67 percent of India’s population cost about 1 percent of GDP. The party contends that these have helped pull 138 million people more than the combined population of Britain, Spain and Australia - out of poverty on its watch. The manifesto “suggests that the focus will be on getting the economy back on track”, Nomura economists Sonal Varma and Aman Mohunta said in a research note. “However, the entitlement-based policies will continue and will be widened to cover housing and health, which will entail a higher fiscal cost,” they said, adding that farm subsidies would be inflationary. Related news on p8
release pending salary: rMsA teachers longleng LONGLENG, MARCH 26 (MExN): Teachers from Longleng, under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, have demanded the immediate release of salaries from October 2013 till date, including arrears. A press note from Hongpa Phom and Joseph Phom, on behalf of the RMSA teachers in Longleng, questioned the District Education Officer, Longleng “for his failure to release the salary of the Longleng RMSA teachers on regular basis, despite the sanction and directive of the higher authority to release the salary regularly.” The teachers also questioned as to why the salary/ arrears of 2013 for Longleng district “is kept pending for such a number of months, while the rest of the districts are being paid regularly, as per the directives of the RMSA/DoSE.”
They demanded “valid reasons” for the current situation and asserted that they would “not tolerate the non-uniformity in payment with the rest of the other districts.” It was cautioned that the teachers would resort to agitation and boycott of classes by April, if the concerned authority fails to release the pending salary. The teachers also informed that on March 29, a meeting will be held at the PSC Office Longleng at 10:00am and directed all members to attend. “Attendance will be taken and if any member fails to turn up, they would be doing so at their own risk and the house will not be held responsible for any issues affecting them,” it cautioned. The teachers further requested that DEO Longleng “to be in station, for better co-ordination.”
ne couple assaulted in Delhi C M Y K
KOHIMA, MARCH 26 (MExN): A couple from Manipur was assaulted by a group of people in Munirka, Delhi on March 25, at around 11:00 pm. Vice President of the Naga Students Union Delhi, J Maivo Woba informed that the assault resulted from an altercation be-
Dzeko double helps City beat United
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–Hermann Hesse
[ PAGE 12]
Parties target ‘inclusive’ ‘Vote without fear’ Triangular contest in growth in election pitch Nagaland LS election Modi assures people of prosperity, development
The Morung Express POLL QUESTIOn
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tween “the wife and her landlord,” when the former had asked for keys to the main gate of the residence, which was locked by the latter. It was informed that the wife had asked for the keys in order to venture out and meet her mother, who had just arrived in Delhi. A
row commenced, following which, the landlord called eight to nine people, who then started assaulting the couple. The victims of the assault were admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi. Sources informed that an FIR has been filed and that seven people have been arrested.
BULANDsHAHR, MARCH 26 (IANs): BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Wednesday urged people to remove the “corrupt Congress” and vote for his party, assuring them of prosperity, development and a bright future. “You give us 60 months and we will give you an India of your dreams,” he told a large gathering in Bulandshahr of western Uttar Pradesh. Addressing his first ‘Bharat Vijay’ rally in Uttar Pradesh, the Gujarat chief minister targeted the Congress and accused it of price rise, inflation, bad governance and rising unemployment in the country. Alleging the opposition parties were rattled at the growing acceptance of the BJP across the country, Modi said such parties were now chanting the “secularism raga” to stop him. “Whenever I say let us talk about development and other serious issues, these parties say first discuss secularism,” he said while taking a jibe at the Congress plank of secularism. Talking about the Sachar Committee report and various other minority-oriented schemes funded by the union government, the BJP leader said all that the Congress has done for minorities was to fool them with false promises. In a move aimed at touching a raw nerve of sugarcane growers in the region, Modi said many sugar mills were running in his state too but no arrears were pending and farmers were happy and prosperous there. “This area was known as the sugar bowl once and now the area has become bitter for farmers here,” he said in a reference to pending arrears running into several hundred crore rupees.
Nagaland CEO points out need to address systematic failures
KOHIMA, MARCH 26 (MExN): Chief Electoral Officer for Nagaland, Sentiyanger Imchen has appealed to the citizens of the state, especially first time voters, to come out and cast their votes without fear and be part of the largest democratic exercise in the world. He said this at the inaugural function of the three day Voter’s Awareness Campaign on March 26 at Red Cross Conference Hall, Kohima. The CEO informed that the Election Commission of India has recently started a programme, called the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), with the objective of citizens’ participation in the democractic process. Observing that elections are a complex process, Sentiyanger Imchen said that SVEEP is not only about creating awareness but it also aims to inform people on various elections laws and procedures. While acknowledging the SVEEP activities carried out in Nagaland, he however observed that Nagaland, being tagged as the state with the highest turnout, was not because of awareness but due to certain systematic failures like proxy and multiple voting and booth capturing. Towards this end, he felt that more awareness needs to be created, laying emphasis on one man one vote. The Nagaland CEO further informed that the State Election Department has partnered with YouthNet and NBCC, in order to encourage young voters in exercising their franchise and also to facilitate clean elections. Delivering the welcome address, Assistant Director, Directorate of Advertising and Visual Pub-
KOHIMA, MARCH 26 (MExN): The list of contesting candidates for election to the Lok Sabha from Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency has been notified on March 26, following the last date for withdrawal of candidature. Returning Officer, Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency & Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Nagaland, Temjen Toy, in a notification, listed the contesting candidates as Neiphiu Rio, from Tuophema Basa village, Kohima, Naga People’s Front (NPF); KV Pusa, Old Minister Hill, Kohima, Indian National Congress (INC) and Akhei Achumi, Naharibari, Dimapur Socialist Party (India). The Returning Officer also held a meeting with the General Observers, Manjit Singh and AL Deva; Expenditure Observer, Sushil Kumar Singh and representatives of political parties on Wednesday. Presiding over the meeting, the RO observed that this was an appropriate time to start good electoral practices, since the number of candidates was
less as compared to Assembly Elections. He also explained some new introductions by the Election Commission of India, such as the NOTA (none of the above) option in the EVM. He stressed on the importance of maintaining correct expenditure accounts and timely filing of these accounts as and when called for. The Observers explained that putting up of banners was prohibited and that there is no limit on the number of vehicles that can be used for campaigning, provided that proper permission is obtained and the number of vehicles used is reflected in the expenditure account. They also requested that the members of the political parties should associate themselves with the various processes that will be starting, like randomization of Polling Parties, EVMs etc. The representatives of the political parties raised some points of doubt like whom to approach for landing permission, permission for holding rallies etc, which were later explained and clarified.
licity (DAVP), Manikant Thakur informed that the DAVP, in collaboration with the Election Commission of India (ECI), is running the Voters Awareness Campaign across the country to encourage voter’s participation. “More participation means stronger democracy,” he added. The programme was compered by APRO, DIPR Lolano Patton, while vote of thanks was proposed by Deputy Director, DIPR Kevizayieno. After the inaugural function, the CEO
inaugurated the photo exhibit on voter’s awareness, displayed by DAVP in collaboration with ECI and supported by the CEO office Nagaland. The campaign on voter’s awareness will continue till March 28, and from March 27, live EVM demonstration will also be given for creating awareness, especially to first time voters. College students, officials from the election department, media persons, AIR, field publicity and DDK were also a part of the programme.
Ao organizations endorse AcAUt Morung Express news Mokokchung | March 26
Members of Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland today arrived at Mokokchung and held a programme at the Town Hall, attended by representatives from various organizations, village councils, ward chairmen and members from the business community. Prominent among the organizations that attended today’s programme were the Ao Senden (Ao Hoho), Watsu Mungdang (apex Ao women organization), Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), Mokokchung Town Aor Telongjem and the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) etc. The programme, which was organized by the MCCI under the aegis of the Ao Senden, sent out unanimous messages that the Ao Society supports the “peoples’ movement” initiated by ACAUT. Ao Senden president, Prof. Sangyu Yaden, while declaring that the Ao Senden has already endorsed the ACAUT movement, asked ACAUT to be transparent in its dealing since it is a non-political organization working for the welfare of the people. Saying that ACAUT has attracted all
Please systematize your taxation: KK Sema Morung Express news Mokokchung | March 26
Former bureaucrat and writer, Khekiye K Sema, who was the main speaker at today’s ACAUT Nagaland programme, appealed to the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) to systematize their taxation system. Khekiye, who is a bold writer and a firebrand orator, said that ACAUT Nagaland is not here to fight the “factions” and that the people are not saying that they will not pay taxes. “(All we are saying is) Please, please systematize your taxation,” said Khekiye. Dwelling on the Naga political issue, Khekiye asked, “who or which faction holds the mandate of the 1951 Plebiscite?” None of the factions hold the 1951 mandate, because every faction declares that they are fighting for Naga sovereignty, said Khekiye. He said that the Naga National Movement is an honorable movement which has the support of the public; however the people want only “one the right thinking citizens in the society, Prof. Yaden asserted that the people of Nagaland are yearning for a change in the society. Besides, while pointing out that there is no society in the world which does not pay tax, the Ao Senden president said that the Naga people are willing to pay tax; however it is the multiple taxes which are burden-
sovereignty.” He therefore appealed the NPGs to come together under one umbrella, take the moral support of the public so that the people can stand by them and pay one tax. Saying that the NPGs are collecting taxes for their personal use, Khekiye challenged whether the public “can have the courage to ask the factions how their tax money is being used.” He said that the public knows well how their tax money is being spent by the NPGs because it is evident from the fancy cars driven and big buildings being built by the “underground functionaries.” In this regard, he said that the public are the ultimate taxpayers because whatever money is being extracted from the business community is being recovered from the public ultimately. He said that a time comes in everyone’s life to make a serious decision; that decision making time has come to Nagaland. Therefore, he asserted that it is time to make an individual decision to say “we will pay one tax to one government.”
ing the Naga people today. He further encouraged the ACAUT Nagaland to tie up with the business community in the town while initiating different actions. The Watsu Mungdang president also declared that it is always ready to cooperate with ACAUT Nagaland in its endeavor against unabated taxation and corruption.
Khekiye maintained that the UGs or the factions will have to listen to the people of Nagaland, because no organization can survive without revenue. He encouraged the Ao community leaders to take a strong decision and give leadership on the issue of one tax one government, which would be a big encouragement for other tribes too. “All eyes are on the Ao Senden and the Aos on what you can do on this subject matter,” said the former bureaucrat. Khekiye also said that ACAUT is not only against unabated taxation from the NPGs but also corruption in the Nagaland State Government. He maintained that whichever party might be in power, a government system must operate as a government system, free of corruption and in a transparent manner. He therefore appealed for a “cleanup” of the government system of corruption so that our children would grow up under a corruption free government.
The AKM representative also declared that whatever decisions the Ao Senden takes with regard to ACAUT Nagaland, the AKM will stand behind it. ACAUT Nagaland member, Tia Longchar, highlighted about membership drive for ACAUT Nagaland and handed over some membership coupons to AKM and so-
cial media administrators. The membership is free of cost and once registered as an ACAUT member, one should be ready to fight against unabated taxation and corruption in the society, said Tia Longchar. Confederation of Indian Industries Nagaland Chapter Chairman, Aotoshi also spoke at the programme.
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