C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
The Morung Express
Dimapur Vol. X issuE 35
www.morungexpress.com
“
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
”
I am a violent man learning to be nonviolent
saturday, February 7, 2015 12 pages Rs. 4 – Cesar Chavez
India knows religious tolerance, govt tells Obama
Singer Shreya Ghoshal ties the knot
Formulation of State policy on women suggested
[ PAGE 8]
[ PAGE 11]
[ PAGE 9]
[ PAGE 2]
TransAsia plane engines lost power before crash
Morung Express news Dimapur| February 6
The Morung Express Poll QuEsTion
Vote on www.morungexpress.com SMS your anSwer to 9862574165 Is the ‘VIP Culture’ impacting the quality of leadership in Nagaland state? Yes
no
others
Power deptt informs DIMaPur, FebruarY 6 (MexN): The Executive Engineer for Transmission, Kohima has informed that power supply to Wokha, Tseminyu and Pughoboto areas has been interrupted since 11:32am, Friday. Speaking to the Morung Express, the Executive Engineer informed that the interruption in power was caused due to a fault in the 132 kv transmission line. He assured that line checking and restoration party are “on the job” to restore power to the areas at the earliest. The Executive Engineer informed that power to the affected areas is expected to be restored by Saturday.
India urged to protect transgender people
C M Y K
New York, FebruarY 6 (IaNS): Indian authorities should fully enforce a Supreme Court ruling to protect the rights of transgender people and help end discrimination and abuse, Human Rights Watch said Friday. They should also credibly investigate several recent incidents in which police allegedly abused transgender people, the US-based body said in a statement. In April 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that transgender people should be recognized as a third gender and not only enjoy all fundamental rights but also receive special benefits in education and jobs. “India’s Supreme Court last year finally recognized the rights of transgender people to vote, to get education or to find a job,” Human Rights Watch said. “Now it’s up to the authorities to enforce the ruling by prosecuting those that target transgender people, denying their right to live in dignity and without persecution.” Nearly a year after the Supreme Court’s judgment, implementation has stalled, even as recent attacks on transgender communities highlight their vulnerability, Human Rights Watch said. In particular, section 377 of the Indian penal code, which criminalizes samesex relations among consenting adults, has made both transgender people and homosexuals vulnerable to police harassment, extortion and abuse, it said.
Andy Murray to marry in April [ PAGE 12]
can secularism survive india’s right-wing?
‘India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith’
let him keep it until some other arrangement is made.
C M Y K
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has yet again been seen falling short of secular credentials. A government advertisement for the 66th Republic Day on January 26, 2015, used a ‘watermark of the original Preamble’ of the Indian constitution, and dropped the two key words ‘secular and socialist’ from it. The Preamble declares India to be a ‘Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.’ There is a real threat to secularism under the present BJP government, opined a research scholar from Delhi, Sunep Ao. When BJP’s alliance partner, the Shiv Sena, demanded ‘permanent deletion’ of the two key words from the Preamble altogether, top BJP leaders like Ravishankar Prasad, Union Telecom Minister backed it and Minister of State for I&B, Rajyavardhan Rathore justifies it. “As a political wing of Sangh Parivar, BJP will trigger such threats to secularism in the near future. The recent attacks on churches at the heart of National Capital, reconversion in the name of Ghar Wapsi can be attributed to it,” said Ao.
A calculative experiment? For Niketu Iralu, the BJP’s actions over the past few months are “deliberate and well targeted.” “The BJP is testing waters to see the reaction of the people,” he said. However, leaders at the helm are not reacting to protests deliberately, thereby “dignifying” the protests, he added. Secularism, whether social or political, is based on the well-being of humans through immunity to religious overtone. The ruling dispensation may deny it but the general opinion is that they are tacitly supporting fringe elements, said Rev. Dr. Wati Aier. It is a subtle approach by hardliners in the party. It as a dangerous trend for minorities, said Prof. Temsula Ao, wondering how the government could make such a mistake on “such an important document in such on momentous occasion...I am very uncomfortable to see fringe elements coming to the forefront disrupting the harmony of the nation.” Subin Denis, the Delhi State Vice-President of Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and a research scholar at JNU was most outright in his denuncia-
‘India does not discriminate on basis of religion, caste, creed’
Catholic Bishops from different indian states participate in a candle light vigil to protest against recent attacks on churches in the indian capital, as they assemble outside st. Antony’s Church after attending the 27th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of india in Bangalore on February 6. (AP Photo)
tion, “The demand that the word secular be deleted from the Preamble of our Constitution is not surprising when it comes from the very Hindutva forces which were responsible for the assassination of Gandhi.” Let us remember, he said, that during the term of the previous NDA government there was also an attempt by the BJP to “review” the Constitution so that its sectarian agenda could be pursued unhindered. Of course, Socialism has always been anathema to the RSS-BJP policies, he noted. Development plank versus Hindu re-vitalization The BJP seems to be working on a two pronged approach when it comes to
13 year old Naga girl goes missing in Delhi
kohIMa, FebruarY 6 (MexN): A 13 year old Naga girl, Meyinzungla Longkumer, daughter of Imotenjen Longkumer went missing on February 5 evening in South Delhi. Meyinzungla is a Class 8 (eight) student of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya School in Moti Bagh. Imotenjen Longkumer and his family are residents of Mochi
Gaon, Moti Bagh in South Delhi. Robin Hibu, IPS, Nodal officer for North East People in a telephonic interview stated that the girl is said to have been last seen at Satyaniketan market where she had gone to a cyber café for a school project. Hibu further stated that they are personally monitoring the case very closely
and has informed all North East volunteers, NGOs, civil societies and social media forums to help the police locate the girl. A case vide FIR No. 64/15 u/s 363 IPC PS South Campus was registered and investigation is still going on. By February 6 evening, the details and photo of the girl was circulated in social networking sites.
one killed in tuensang Morung Express news Dimapur | February 6
After a brief lull, tension gripped Tuensang on February 6 following a shootout about 1015 kilometers away from Tuensang district headquarters. A 14 year-old boy was killed in the incident, while a woman and an 8 yearold girl went missing in the aftermath. According to the Tuensang police, the shootout occurred in a patch of paddy fields between Sotukur and Chingmelen villages. It started around 9:30 am and lasted for about 45 minutes. The police said that the victim (name withheld) succumbed to injury before he could be taken to a medical facility. Stating that security has been beefed up in the area, it was added that several empty shells of 7.62, 7.65 and .303 calibre ammunitions were recovered from the site of the incident. The day’s violence heightened tension in an area already affected by sporadic incidents of clashes between people. Additional security personnel have been deployed in the area, while the district administration is in the process of meeting villagers and elders to maintain calm. 144 CrPC promulgated The Tuensang district administration has promulgated section 144 of the Cr.PC in the area prohibiting movement or assembly of not more than 3 people. With prohibitory orders (evening to dawn) already in effect in Tuensang town since De-
cember, security was further tightened in the town following the day’s incident.
Nagaland govt beefs up security measures Meanwhile, the Nagaland State Government today issued several directives to address the law and order situation in Tuensang district. A press release from the Additional Chief Secretary & Home Commissioner, informed that it has directed the district administration to take action for deposit of all arms and ammunition in the affected area. “Bond/undertaking will be obtained from the villages in the affected area for maintaining peace under appropriate provision of law.” As per the directive, no activity by the public will be permitted in the disputed area near Chendang Saddle, while the district administration has been directed to submit a survey report of the disputed area to the government. In addition, “(the) District Administration shall send comprehensive proposal for provision of relief or the property destroyed/damaged in Tuensang Town and Chedang Saddle.” The Commissioner, Nagaland has been asked to take necessary action accordingly. The Director General of Police has been requested to constitute a new SIT for investigation into the incidents leading to loss of life and property. It was further informed that two companies of the Nagaland Armed Police are being rushed to Tuensang to augment forces available there. The Nagaland State government has further announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the person killed on February 6.
religious minorities, Kustabh Deka, a faculty in Delhi University opined. “At one level the hype around Modi and his absolute focus on market led growth is trying to show the party going soft on the question of ascriptive identities whereas at the same time the so called fringe elements within the party are given space to propagate rabid Hindutva.” The Hindu concept of themselves is coming alive after almost 800 years of Islamic and colonial rule and they are asserting their identity now, maintained Iralu. While leaders of the Indian national movement made India envisaged a pluralistic society “synthesising” the constitution with secular ethos from all around the
New DelhI, FebruarY 6 (IaNS): Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday said India does not discriminate against anybody on grounds of religion, caste and creed. He was responding to US President Barack Obama’s comment that “acts of intolerance” experienced by all religious faith in India in the past few years would have shocked Mahatama Gandhi. “India is the only country where you find people of all sects of all religions and we do not discriminate against anybody on the basis of religion caste and creed,” he told reporters here. There have been controversy over Obama -- on the last of day his three-day visit to India Jan 27 -- making a strong pitch for religious tolerance, asking that India will succeed so long as it was not “splintered along the lines of religious faith”. The US president Thursday again spoke about the issue in Washington inviting reaction from the Indian authorities.
world, he added, the Hindu National identity was simmering underneath. “Developmental plank is a well mixed project saying development for everyone in India but according to the BJP’s idea of national identity,” he further argued. “The policy seems to be to keep the Hinduvta votes intact and thus cater to the RSS/VHP constituency, and at the same time care to expand into the new middle class in different regions of the country that is seen to have common aspiration linked to lifestyle and market led growth,” added Deka.
would lead to “colossal upheaval,” opined Iralu. Many moderate Hindus have the broader concept of a secular idea of India and what constitutes Hindu “honour and glory.” He foresees “vigorous confrontation” of these ideas—between the moderates and the hardliners—in the coming years. “But the secular idea would prevail. This is what majority of Indians believe and the world expects from India.” The survival of any nation is at stake if you dictate it with religious fervour, argued Rev. Dr. Wati, and the present government, which is enjoying a “honeymoon period,” Will secularism survive? might see the result in the If the policy of majori- future. Being one of the tarian politics continues, it oldest civilisations, oppo-
sition will arise from within, as many well informed individuals will go beyond religious fanaticism. They will keep India’s image as the largest secular democracy alive, he said. Subin Denis also argues that the people of our country will have to unitedly resist attempts to “target and subvert the constitutional values that we hold so dear.” Even US president Barrack Obama, admonishing India’s poor record on religious minorities, argued, “India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith.” The BJP at the Centre will do well to act on this and “rein” in its fringe elements.
connecting with our roots Morung Express news Dimapur | February 6
Despite the rich natural resources, diverse culture and history of more than 200 tribe communities of the North East, the region has remained relatively unknown and one of the most backward, stated the Chancellor, Global Open University, Nagaland (GOUN), TN Mannen. The chancellor today pointed out that even ambitious programmes like the Look East Policy have been more “rhetoric than real” and remained as vision documents only as they have not been implemented on the ground so far. “We have not been able to convert our natural resources into economic advantages so far. That being so, the region stands at a crucial cross-road demanding closer geographical, economic and emotional integration with the mainland India,” Mannen said. The GOUN chancellor was speaking as chief guest at the one-day national seminar and workshop on ‘Conservation and restoration of archaeological monuments of India’s North East: Issues and challenges during the 21st century AD,’ organized by GOUN in collaboration with Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, and the Society for Cultural Heritage for North East India. It was held at GOUN campus, Sodzulhu village, on Friday. Pointing out that archaeological surveys and excavations have remained relatively unorganized and underdeveloped in the North East, Mannen also
National Seminar on the conservation of North East archaeological monuments
Officials of GOUN, ASI and others inspecting the photography exhibition at the one day seminar on “Conservation and restoration of archaeological monuments of india’s North East” held at GOUN campus on Friday.
informed that some NE states including Nagaland are yet to establish a department to deal exclusively with archaeology. “If Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) is primarily concerned with the monuments of national importance, it also has the responsibility to guide and collaborate with the states archaeological departments/directorates, which also look after monuments of lesser importance but nevertheless important” to understanding of the history and peoples of the region, he said. Coming to Nagaland, he said Nagas in the past had very little interaction
with other communities. Mannen said historical sites of other communities are very few like the ‘Kachari ruins” in Dimapur, which, he said is not “well preserved, protected and developed.” He said other sites of importance like Khezhakenoma, Chungliyimti, Maram etc, which were the migratory routes and habitats of Nagas in the past, Khonoma village (the battleground of the British invasion) and Impur (the first Christian missionary headquarter in Naga territory), can all be considered as heritage sites. The chancellor said anghs and morungs of
Konyak tribe, skull collections and the headhunting days of the Nagas also need documentation. “The journey into the past is a search for roots which is very important. This will enhance the wealth of our nation and society immensely and will educate the people”, he added. Mannen also inaugurated the photographic exhibition of archaeological sites in the North East. Head of Department of History & Archaeology, Nagaland University, Prof. N Venuh, who was the guest of honour, in his address dwelled on the constraints and problems relating to archaeological research and excavations in Nagaland, including permission to be taken from village councils for excavation purposes. Prof Venuh said despite the scope for archaeological research in the Nagaland, the state government has not taken keen interest in this particular field. He stressed on the need for collaboration between ASI and Nagaland University to take archaeological research to a new height. Resource persons of the day-long seminar included superintendent archaeologist, ASI Guwahati, Dr. Milan Chouley; director, excavation ASI, New Delhi, Dr. Syed Jamal Hassan; director, Institute of ASI, New Delhi, Dr. SK Manjul and conservationist, Dr. Neeta Das. Vice chancellor, GOUN, DR. HN Dutta, delivered the welcome address and director, GOUN, Dr. Imotemsu Ao, proposed vote of thanks.
C M Y K