C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
FriDAY • June 23 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 170• 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
The highest and most beautiful things in life are not to be heard about, nor read about, nor seen but, if one will, are to be lived Opposition picks Meira Kumar as Presidential candidate
DDADU launches ambulance service
PAGe 08
4 lane project quandary settled: NCSU DIMAPUR, JUNE 22 (MExN): The Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers Union (NCSU) today informed that the 4 lane road project issue has been “amicably settled” with the NSCN (IM). A press note from Vice President of the NCSU, KL Setuo Rutsa and Secretary, Hoshito Assumi informed that the Home Minister of the NSCN (IM) called Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) officials on June 21. “The meeting thoroughly deliberated the matter for communication gap and misunderstanding between the two parties and amicably settled among ourselves,” it claimed. It further informed that work on the project has resumed.
Government assessing feasibility of different time zones in India
NEW DELHI, JUNE 22 (PTI): The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is conducting a study to assess the feasibility of having different time zones in the country. The study is being conducted to give “scientific inputs” on the matter, DST secretary Ashutosh Sharma said. Recently, Pema Khandu, chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, had demanded a separate time zone for the NE. “The DST has been conducting studies on this, looking at what is the potential of energy saving if you have two different time zones,” Sharma said. “One can actually save energy because the sunrise and sunset timings are different, but the office timings are one across the nation,” he added. The study is also expected to cover the overall impact, especially on the transportation system. Leaders from the NE argue that a separate time zone, would increase daylight savings and efficiency. One of the arguments is that early sunrise means that by the time they start their day, almost half the day has passed. This means an early sunset which requires extra use of lights in both homes, offices and public places, hampering productivity. Similar is the case with the archipelagos of the Andaman and Nicobar and the Lakshadweep.
— Søren Kierkegaard
1st Kohima dist inter-school football tournament 2017
PAGe 02
PAGe 10
NBCC, political parties pledge for clean & fair election Our Correspondent
Agreement signed between Nagaland political parties & NBCC
Kohima | June 22
In the run up to the Nagaland State Assembly election which is slated in the early month of 2018, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on Thursday brokered an agreement with the different political parties in the State to pledge for conduct of a free and clean election which the apex church body has been campaigning for since 2012. What can be termed as a significant progress on the clean election campaign journey, at least in the paper, as of now, the NBCC and six political parties existing in Nagalandnamely the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), Nagaland Congress (NC), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (U) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)signed a bond of agreement “before God” after a NBCC- CEC colloquium at the NBCC headquarters, Kohima. “We admit our common failure that the Naga people have not been able to conduct a free and credible election in the State for many years. In this context various political parties in Nagaland met under the leadership of NBCC Clean Election Core Committee,” read the agreement appended by the presidents of all the political parties and NBCC president Rev Dr Mar Atsongchanger
Nagaland political parties leaders with NBCC team in Kohima on June 22. (Morung Photo)
and general secretary Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho. In order to eradicate corruption in a so called Christian dominated society, election malpractices is one major area that need to be cleaned, the agreement pointed out. “We affirm the fact that NBCC and political parties should work together in addressing the evils of elections. Therefore, to realize the objectives of the CEC guidelines, the political parties in Nagaland along with NBCC agree to follow and practice the following principles (See box), signed before God on this day the June 22, 2017 at the NBCC Headquarters, Kohima,” the agreement further stated. The 18 principles or “commandments” that the political parties pledged to stop practicing include
the usual lure and vices of buying votes with money, insisting/forcing clan, khel, village, and family to declare support for a particular candidate bribing voters with money or materials, using support of underground/NPGs for threatening voters etc, which has been the setting of election in Nagaland. Earlier, several political leaders attending the NBCC- CEC colloquium stressed on the need to focus on cleansing the electoral roll for clean election to take place. “The first and foremost thing to do is to clean the electoral roll,” said Z. Lohe of Nagaland Congress while endorsing the concern expressed by Captain GK Zhimomi from the NPCC. At the same time, Lohe also felt that CEC must be an action oriented one.
Former president BJP State unit, Dr. M. Chuba Ao viewed that voters should register their name wherever they live in. Stating that workshop and seminar alone is not enough, NPF working president Apong Pongener stressed on the need to collectively work out the modalities supported by political parties and form a neutral body to push forward the clean election movement. ‘CEC not a campaign against politicians & political parties’ Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) general secretary Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho today said that the Clean Election Campaign (CEC) is not a campaign against the politicians, political parties, not against individuals.
• Shall not buy votes with money. • Shall not insist/force Clan, Khel, Village, and family to declare support for a particular candidate. • Shall not bribe the voters with money or materials. • Shall not distribute party money or provide party-based development work during election time. • Shall not distribute alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicants to voters. • Shall not set up camps in colony/khel/ village/town. • Shall not put up flags and posters on an individual household except in party office and house of the candidate. • Shall not provide feasting, picnic, or go for procession. • Shall not use force, intimidation and undue influence to the voters. • Shall not use the support of under“But it is a campaign for positive change and attitude, to educate the voters if they chose to vote, to vote without false expectation and without being influenced and to use their birthright honorably and with dignity,” he said while addressing the CEC colloquium with Nagaland political parties organized by NBCC here today. Political leaders from NPF, NPCC, NC, DPP, BJP, JD (U) and AAP attended the programme and extended support to CEC. “We are no longer free and fair people. Dishonesty and fear has taken grip of us. Unless we make peace with each other and also correct our ways from where we have gone wrong we will continue to fight among ourselves,” the NBCC general secretary lamented.
ground/NPGs for threatening voters. • Shall have a clear and realistic manifesto. • Shall avoid house to house campaign. • Shall discipline the party workers and educate them with CEC instructed by the NBCC. • Shall not use/spread false propaganda for personal gain. • Shall not be involved in booth capturing and any other activities which are unbecoming of any political party. • Shall deliver peace, justice, and development for our people. • Shall participate in the common platforms organized by the Clean Election Committee. • Shall support NBCC-CEC Guidelines in letter and spirit, and cooperate with all the initiatives of Association level CEC-Core Committee.
Stating that Nagas deserve better, Rev. Dr. Zelhou stressed on the need to put our heads together to find ways and means and develop our strategies and strengthen each other without becoming discouraged. “Today, what is presented before us is to clean up ills of dirty election system that has eaten us away making us impotent in our performances.” He pointed out that “if we can clean the dirty mess of electioneering system in our society more than half of our problem will be solved and we will all be happier people.” “Election is not bad, it is good. In a democratic society it is the process of electing our representatives to power to rule over the affairs of the government and the people,” he said adding that when the ideals of
democratic electioneering process are abused the result becomes devastating. While asserting that CEC is everyone’s business, the church, the society, and the politicians as well, Rev. Dr. Zelhou however said it should not be used to point fingers at each other. “CEC is a movement of Holy Discontent. Our society in general is disintegrating, fragmenting or fragmented and ism has become the order of the day. The five year cycle of selling our votes to vote and buying of votes to power must be put to a stop!” Later in the evening, the NBCC also had a meeting with the different denominational heads including the Peace Channel (Catholic Church), Catholic Church, SBAK (Aizuto), NCRC, Assemblies of God and volunteers.
ACAUT on NSCN (IM)’s failure to clarify on alleged tax demand
DIMAPUR, JUNE 22 (MExN): ACAUT Nagaland on Thursday said it has no option but to come to the conclusion that the “NSCN (IM) does not want Nagaland people to enjoy the fruits of development.” A press note from the media cell, ACAUT reminded that it had on June 18, 2017 demanded that the NSCN (IM) clarify within three-day on the allegations that it had stopped the 4-laning work at NH-29 and threatened to burn down the machineries unless tax is paid by
the contractors working on AH-1. It also stated that unless clarification is made by the NSCN (IM) within the time period, the automatic conclusion would be that “the NSCN-IM does not want Nagaland people to enjoy fruits of development.” However with the NSCN (IM) maintaining silence over the issue and failing to clarify is position, ACAUT said it can only conclude the allegations to be true. In this connection, the
ACAUT stated that henceforth any disturbances upon the firms/contractors working on 4-laning AH-1 by any entity would be a “direct challenge upon all Nagas.” On their part, the contractors/firms should understand that the Naga people are watching the ongoing works with great trepidation- that quality should not be compromised under any circumstances- and therefore, great care should be taken to avoid misunderstand- A muddy quagmire of a road in Phesama area of NH-29. Incessant rain in Kohima district over the past few days have ings, it stated. worsened the road conditions in many areas into muddy heaps. (Photo by Vizokho Zashümo)
India’s population to surpass China around 2024: UN
C M Y K
T R u T H
UNITED NATIONS, JUNE 22 (PTI): India’s population could surpass that of China around 2024, two years later than previously estimated, and is projected to touch 1.5 billion in 2030, according to a UN forecast. The World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said that currently China with 1.41 billion inhabitants and India with 1.34 billion remain the two most populous countries, comprising 19 and 18 per cent of the total global population. “In roughly seven years, or around 2024, the population of India is expected to surpass that of China,” the report said. The 2017 Revision of World Population Prospects is the 25th round of official UN population estimates and projections. In its 24th round of estimates released in 2015, it was projected that the population of India will surpass that of China’s by 2022.
Current world population of 7.6 billion is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100.
The new estimates released here today said that in 2024, India and China are expected to have roughly a population of 1.44 billion each. After that, India’s population is projected to continue growing for several decades to around 1.5 billion in 2030 and approaching 1.66 billion in 2050, while the population of China is projected to remain stable until the 2030s, after which it may begin a slow decline. India s population may eventually see a decline in the half century after 2050 to 1.51 billion by 2100 but it will still be the most populous country in the world. In India, life expectancy at birth will be 71 years in 2025-2030, growing to 74.2 years in 20452050. The under-five mortality rate will decline from 32.3 deaths
under age five per 1,000 live births in 2025-2030 to 18.6 in 2045-2050. The report said the current world population of 7.6 billion is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100. “With roughly 83 million people being added to the world s population every year, the upward trend in population size is expected to continue, even assuming that fertility levels will continue to decline, it said. Ten countries are expected to account collectively for more than half of the world s projected population increase over the period 2017-2050: India, Nigeria, Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the United States, Uganda, Indonesia and Egypt. Among the ten largest coun-
tries worldwide, Nigeria is growing the most rapidly. Consequently, the population of Nigeria, currently the world s 7th largest, is projected to surpass that of the US and become the third largest country in the world shortly before 2050. Further, large and persistent economic and demographic asymmetries between countries are likely to remain key drivers of international migration for the foreseeable future. Between 2015 and 2050, the top net receivers of international migrants are projected to be the US, Germany, Canada, UK, Australia and Russia. The countries projected to be net senders of more than 100,000 migrants annually include India, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan and Indonesia. The report said that in 20102015, around 46 per cent of the world s population lived in intermediate-fertility countries, where women have on average between 2.1 and 5 births over a lifetime.
NPCC: NPF has buried its regional identity by supporting BJP-RSS presidential candidate DIMAPUR, JUNE 22 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Thursday said the NPF party has given final burial to its regional identity and have become a fullfledged proxy party for BJPRSS in Nagaland by hurriedly supporting the BJP-RSS candidate for the Presidential election. “Our belief, culture and way of life have been greatly compromised in the name of garnering benefits of development and good governance which is still a farfetched dream,” NPCC media cell in a press statement said. It therefore criticized the NPF- BJP alliance as “without any principles but based solely on petty benefits,” while adding that “despite BJP calling NPF 200% corrupt and NPF calling BJP anti
Christian party, yet they continue to sail together in a rotten boat.” The NPCC said the upcoming presidential election clearly defines which side of the divide a political party stands on two competing ideas of India-the first being the one bequeathed to us by our founding fathers and framers of our Constitution which led to the establishment of a free India based on liberal democracy, equality of all faiths and pluralism. However, it alleged that this established idea of India is being challenged by the BJP government with, as the Prime Minister Modi himself called, “New India,” adding that this New India is nothing but another term for Hindutva. The core principle of the Hindutva ideology is “one nation, one race, one culture’’
which translates into a Hindu Rashtra, an idea of India that the RSS had been working even before Independence, it pointed out. The country is at a crossroads because the established idea of India is being challenged by the new idea of India labeled in Hindutva package. Every election, in this backdrop, turns into a battlefield for these two competing ideas of India, it said. In this juncture, the NPCC maintained that the ongoing presidential election is no exception and lamented that the “NPF under the leadership of Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu has readily embraced the new idea of India which has nothing to offer our people except infringing on our rights and curtailing our liberties with each passing day.”