C M Y K
C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
WednesdAY • december 28 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 353 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
Follow the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions SKorea ruling party split could provide opening for UN chief
Assam court summons Kejriwal in defamation case
Public Information
All press statements, memorandums, articles, reports and news related documents should be sent to the official email address:
morung@gmail.com
Press releases will be accepted only till 8:00 pm Editor, The Morung Express
Chelsea make it 12, Giroud rescues Arsenal PAGE 12
Rice scam charge mis-projected: TR
‘Working Group’ of Six NNPGs extend greetings DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 27 (MExN): The Working Group of six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), comprising of the GPRN/NSCN, NSCN (R), NNC/FGN (N/A), FGN/NNC, NNC/NPGN and the NNC/GDRN has conveyed festive greetings. A press release from the Working Group prayed that the “Lord of all Nations, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob will guide and bless the Naga people with renewed hope and vision towards our common objective.” “As the New Year approaches, may we rekindle friendships, cherish and preserve fond memories of family, friends and comrades. May we also find courage to forgive those who wronged us in the past and seek forgiveness from others for our mistakes,” it said. “Jesus Christ brought reconciliation between God and man. It is our duty to reconcile with our fellowmen. On this festive season, leaving aside all our ideological differences, we would like to wish our Naga people everywhere a prosperous year filled with peace, love and compassion. May we walk tall in Christ during this festive season and throughout the year,” the Working Group hoped.
T R u T H — Dalai Lama
PAGE 03
PAGE 09
o F
A Jet Airways aircraft is seen after it skidded off the runway before takeoff at an airport in Goa, December 27. (REUTERS)
NPCC releases 17-point ULB election manifesto
•• To reservation Tosupport support women women reservation in inULB ULB election election •• To manage drains, sanitation To manage drains, sanitation and andsolid solid waste waste •• To bring out a blueprint for To bring out a blueprint for sewage sewage systems •• To set up independent pricing To set up independent pricing commission commission Morung Express News Dimapur | December 27
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has reiterated its stand on the 33 percent women reservation in the Urban Local Bodies (ULB). Launching the manifesto for the ULB elections 2017 in Dimapur on December 27, NPCC president, K. Therie maintained that the Congress supports the Nagaland state government’s decision to hold the ULB elections and also the reservation of seats for women. “(The Congress) Decided to participate in the ULB Election and have welcomed 33% Women reservation.
Women participation in the process of decision making is important to have balanced thinking in planning,” said Therie at the launch held at the Congress Bhawan. The manifesto contained a 17-point objective which largely outlined the party’s vision on municipal management. It included besides others undertakings to bring out a blueprint for sewage systems, to facilitate daily markets, proper weights and measures, enforcing veterinary inspection on meat products, setting up independent pricing commission, bringing a ‘Mother Dairy’ system, maintaining graveyards and providing crematoriums etc. According to Therie, this is the first time a political party in Nagaland has prepared manifesto for ULB elections. The party’s disapproval of the demonetisation exercise was also raised with Therie stating that the Union government urging a shift to cashless transactions is not practical
in a largely rural state like Nagaland. “We do not have the infrastructure while more than 80% do not have bank accounts. In this backdrop, asking the people to use plastic money makes no sense. It is without proper impact assessment on the rural poor people particularly.” Holding that the economy India had before November 8, 2016 will be difficult to replace, he said that the impact on the people continues in multiple forms with farmers, traders and entrepreneurs incurring colossal losses. “We hope that the urban voters who are the elite voters in Nagaland and who will represent entire Nagaland will not send a wrong signal to the Government of India and the (state) Government of Nagaland.” Queried how many women candidates the party will be fielding, Therie replied that it has not been finalised yet. Without giving a number, he added that many aspirants are coming forward.
MVC ban conduct of ULB election with 33% women reservation DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 27 (MExN): The Medziphema Village Council (MVC) has reiterated its earlier resolution to ban the conduct of Town committee election with provisions to include 33% women reservation. The MVC also warned all intending candidates not to file nominations for Medziphema town council. “If any individual files nomination for the same in contravention
to the village council resolution, he/she should also be ready to bear the consequences at his/her own risk and peril,” it cautioned. The statement from MVC comes as a reaction to the Nagaland State Government notification for conduct of town committee elections that appeared in the local dailies on December 23, 2016. The MVC said it would not allow the conduct
of the election on its soil with women reservation in force. It argued that the incorporation of women reservation in Naga public institution is totally against the traditional and social practices of the Nagas. The MVC also maintained that the government is expected to listen to the wishes of the people but instead, it had decided to overrule the wishes and expectations of the people by
notifying the date of the elections. Therefore, in tune with its earlier resolutions, the MVC said it will not allow the conduct of Town council election under its jurisdiction unless “provision for women reservation is deleted.” It also sought to reiterate that the MVC is not against the conduct of town council elections but against the reservation of women in it.
Black investment in Naga accounts, guns
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 27 (INDIA ToDAy): Rings of launderers and arms suppliers are pumping illicit wealth into tax-exempt bank accounts of local tribes and, worse, as investments in guns in the country's remotest northeastern parts, an India Today investigation has discovered. Last month, banned cash flew into Nagaland by the planeload, sparking a lot of scrutiny and media frenzy. But few credible leads emerged as to who actually might be turning black money into white in the farthest hinterlands - and how. As part of its incisive exposes of underground cash mafias, India Today's special investigation reached the most distant corner of the nation's northeast and busted a racket of launderers and gunhouses trading scrapped currency. In Dimapur, Nagaland's main city, underhanded operatives were found to be help-
ing black-money sharks park their loot in safe hideouts. Posing as a marble dealer, India Today's reporter met a money tout, Noor Mohammad, who agreed to facilitate stashing of void currency in accounts of tribal people. "There are ten to 15 accounts of a single family. But you wouldn't like to have accounts from a single household. You need four or five accounts from separate people," he advised. "These Naga people pay no taxes. They don't even pay 25 paisa in taxes." He suggested depositing money in Naga accounts in separate installments till Dec 30. "I'll get my cut. So I will have to do it for you," he remarked. Middleman like Noor Mohammad were found to be abusing a provision of IT law that keeps tribals of Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh outside of the income-tax net.
But Naga accounts aren't the only haven tax thieves are exploiting in the northeastern region. For them, buying weapons as instruments of investment has also emerged as a viable option, the India Today investigation discovered. Aided by massive corruption, several firearm suppliers in Dimapur were seen organizing weapon permits even for non-residents, that too in exchange for dissolved banknotes. Viraj of Sarmati Gun-House in Dimapur demanded Rs 1.40 lakh for a single license for a .32 pistol. "This is the license rate. "The pistol price will be separate," he explained. This shady network seemed to be well entrenched into the system. Viraj then brought in a man, who identified himself as staff of the state's police department. "I am a typist in police. I am in the arms section,” said David Kibami. "Don't worry.
Nothing will happen." Kibami and Viraj quickly promised to arrange a gun license for India Today's undercover reporter. "It will be made from here," Kibami said. After guaranteeing a gun license, Viraj offered his wares to invest the reporter's fictitious black money in. "We will get it (the black money) adjusted in the weapon. By that time, you'll also get your licence," promised Viraj. An accomplice, called Vikas, then presented his current account for Rs 80 lakh. He quoted a fee of 25 percent. "We have to bribe the sales tax inspector as well. We have to show everything in the book. But it's a yearly account. We'll have your money settled in there," Vikas said. "There shouldn't be any problem for adjusting Rs 80 lakh. Right?" prodded the reporter. "There's no problem for an amount up to Rs 80 lakh," Vikas replied.
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 27 (MExN): Nagaland State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, who also holds the portfolio of Food & Civil Supplies, today issued a statement with regard to reports alleging siphoning of rice meant for beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. In a statement issued through the CMO, Zeliang claimed that the whole case has been “misinterpreted and misprojected in the media wherein it was depicted that corrupt activities are taking place with the assumed blessings of the Government.” The CM informed that the Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India had clarified that the Ministry is not in a position to make up for the loss arising out of spillage and wastage during the process of transportation/ storage. “And since beneficiaries in the State have complained on numerous occasions that they do not get the full amount of grain as prescribed, the department, on query raised by the Chief Minister, had pointed out that it had written to the stockists on November 4, 2016, permitting them to repack the rice in durable plastic bags as requested by them to ensure that the right proportion of rice is packed and reach the beneficiaries,” the CM said. He added that there is a “misconception” implanted in the minds of the public that departmental supply of rice can/ should only be in jute bags. “However, these jute bags, owing to improper handling while transportation, develop damages which lead to spillage and wastage of food grain, thereby, resulting in inaccurate/ shortfall in weight when the bags reach the targeted group. While it is a fact that rice should be packed in bags which enable aeration to the grains, considering that the repacked rice would reach the beneficiaries in a matter of days for distribution, it was considered that it would be best to repack the bags,” the CM informed. Nagaland, he meanwhile added has a total of 47,500 ration card holders under AAY covering a population of 2,09,657, and a total of 2,37,434 ration card holders under PHH covering a population of 11,93,928. A total of 14,03,579 people in Nagaland are covered under the NFSA. The Government of India allots food grain according to the number of ration card holders and not a kilogram more or
less. “And as spillage and wastage of grains in various stages of transportation and storage process invariably takes place, it is inevitable that some shortfall at the beneficiary level occur,” the CM stated. CM informed that he has on several occasions, asked the beneficiaries as well as the general public to bring it to his attention if they do not get the prescribed amount of food grain. He further informed that repackaging has been permitted for the first time on an experimental basis and the Department will be asked to make changes in arrangements, if necessary, based on the feedback received. As such, he stated that the Secretary, Food & Civil Supplies had clarified earlier that the department had allowed stockists to experiment with repackaging from jute bags to other durable bags and from 100 kg bags to 50 kg bags for convenience of loading and unloading to destinations. The CM termed it unfortunate that “this department-approved repackaging has been projected in the media that the repacked rice bags were meant for the open market, which is far from the truth, and which, if proven to be true, in itself amounts to a criminal activity requiring stringent action on the part of the Government.” The CM asked the public to first give the repackaging process a chance and see if the beneficiaries get their due share, “before jumping the gun and crying foul, blaming and criticising as if one has some political axe to grind.” He further opined that since NFSA is a new scheme in Nagaland, “everything may not be perfect or up to everyone’s expectations.” The CM however expressed determination to make the FSA a success and welcomed suggestions from concerned individuals or groups to come forward with their suggestions to achieve the target of enabling the beneficiaries get what they ought to get. Meanwhile, the CM also directed stockists/ transporters/ distributors or officials to ensure that the right quality and quantity of food grain reaches the beneficiaries on time, and cautioned that any compromise on the quality or quantity of food grains under NFSA would not be tolerated or condoned. He also appealed to the public to cooperate with the department in making the programme a success.
Not being just a beauty queen Imlibenla Wati on her motivation to contest in the upcoming Mokokchung municipal council election from general category Morung Express News Mokokchung | December 27
On Monday, when Imlibenla Wati, who had recently stepped out of the podium after crowned as 1st runner-up at the Miss Super Talent World, 2016 announced her desire to contest in the Mokokchung Municipal Council election from Aongza Ward, it virtually and literally created a rumble in the social media platforms and the kitchen hearths. With mixed reactions in the social media platforms, bloggers argued why a 21-year old beauty queen, at such a young age and with no political experience, should be driven to a “dubious corrupted world of politics.” At the kitchen hearths, the murmur of consternation as to why a “little girl” should dare throw away her educational career and even consider contesting for a position where she has “no rightful share.” In between, the fate of whether the Mokokchung Municipal Election would be held or not also remains to be seen - with an obstinate Ao Senden unyielding in its stand to grant consent for the conduct of the municipal election if the 33% women reservation is in place. Imlibenla, however, is not seeking a seat to the municipal council through the women reservation quota but plans to contest from general category-which means contesting head-to-head
Imlibenla Wati
with the men folk. Taking to The Morung Express, Imlibenla on Tuesday sought to enlighten on her decision and motivation to contest for the municipal election. Her primary impetus is good leadership. “I always had a hope and desire that our children should inherit a better tomorrow compared to the world we lived and was willing to work towards that. As I travel around and saw the blessings of good leadership and proper laws in other countries, it educated on me the value of good leadership. And being a daughter of Mokokchung, I want to contribute to my hometown as a member of MMC,” she stated. Imlibenla also has her election
manifesto ready. It prioritizes on economic freedom with focus on the common people. According to the beauty queen, she intends to cut down on regulations so that the underprivileged can more easily participate in the market economy thereby contributing towards their prosperity. She also envisions introducing policies that will strengthen women economic involvement through entrepreneurship, invest in building infrastructure and public health and apply innovative and environmentally friendly methods of waste management. Quoting Margaret Thatcher, her mantra is, “Economic freedom is where all our other freedom depends.” Imlibenla also argued that being young, as was the apprehension of many, is not a problem but a solution. “We need to move away from the politics where we see youth as a problem to be solved by politicians. Youths are not a problem but a solution to many of our problems,” she asserted. According to Imlibenla, she expects to bring the voice of the youth to be articulated in the table of decision-making and more policies being implemented to expand the arena of women participation in our economy. At 21, if Imlibenla who is currently pursuing her BA LLB, gets the go ahead to contest in the municipal election, she will inarguably be the youngest contender.