March 6th, 2016

C M Y K

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SunDAY • MArch 06 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 63 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue

Trump, Clinton look to extend leads as five more states vote PAGE 09

reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

Kohima | March 5

Assam bandh lifted DIMAPUR, MARCH 5 (MExN): With the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct due to Assam election, the proposed bandh between MarianiNew Sonowal-Mokokchung has been quashed by Assam Government with effect from March 5 afternoon. The infinite bandh was called by various NGOs of Assam for not improving the dilapidated road conditions in that area beside the assurance given by the BRO. This was informed in an official notification issued by ADC Mangkolemba, Imtiwapang Aier on Saturday.

Notification on election to RS KoHIMA, MARCH 5 (MExN): The Election Commission of India has issued a notification on March 4 for holding Biennial election to fill one seat in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). N. Benjamin Newmai, Commissioner & Secretary & Returning officer, Biennial Election to the Council of States, 2016, today issued a notification stating that the last date for making nomination to the seat is Friday, March 11, scrutiny will be done on Saturday, March 12 and withdrawal on Monday, March 14. Polls, if necessary, will be held on Monday, March 21. For the election by the Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the Committee Room of the Assembly Secretariat has been fixed

by Newmai as the place at which a poll will be taken.

T R u T H

— Confucius

Late Sanchez strike earns 10-man Arsenal a 2-2 draw at Spurs

NTHSS completes 25 years PAGE 05

PAGE 12

celebrating ten years of rti in nagaland Our Correspondent

Uh oh. We’re being chased by people in uniforms!

o F

Nagaland Information Commission (NIC) stands as one of the best performing Commissions in the country.

The state has also one the lowest rates of rejection of RTI applications recorded in the country at 0.7% cumulative.

Till date, in the country, only Nagaland and Chhattisgarh have captured gender break-up of RTI applicants and records have shown that only 3% of the RTI applicants in Nagaland are female.

Besides Mizoram, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, Nagaland has also captured the economic profile of RTI applicants belonging to BPL category which stands at 0.27%.

This was stated by Bukchem Phom, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Nagaland during the celebration of “A decade of RTI in Nagaland” here at Capital Convention Centre.

Phom said in order to underscore the success, the Commission assigned Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization to undertake the study on how the RTI has impacted Nagaland. The Commission also conducted a quick audit on proactive disclosures which shows that some degree of discipline in the term of transparency has been restored in the functioning of government in the state.

“Out of the total number of 92 public authorities audited, two are reflected as highly transparent, 45 as reasonably transplant, 43 as limited transparency and 2 as poor level of transparency,” he said.

As transparency regulator in

• • • •

NIC one of best performing Commissions in India Total 16,026 RTI applications received in ten years in Nagaland State has lowest rates of rejection of RTI applications in India Only Nagaland and Chhattisgarh captured gender break-up of RTI applicants

Chief Minister of Nagaland, T R Zeliang delivering his inaugural address at the celebration of “A Decade of RTI in Nagaland” at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima on Saturday. (DIPR Photo)

the state, the Commission has been conscientiously enforcing the Act in its entirety in letter and spirit, without fear and favor, Phom claimed adding that in order not to deny justice to RTI users by delaying justice, the Commission on its part disposes off second appeals and complaints expeditiously on regular basis maintaining the record of no pendency having conducted a total of 186 hearings in 5 years.

However, some cases which stands inquisitively as ‘pending’ have been caused by the deliberate failure on the part of PIOs and Appellate Authorities (respondent) and information seekers (appellant ) to comply with the decisions of the Commission making it difficult to close, he said.

As per the law, defaulting PIOs as well as deemed PIOs were penalized in 36 cases for not furnishing information to the seekers within the stipulated time.

The accumulated amount of penalties realized from such defaulting officers is Rs. 5, 70, 750.

The total number of RTI applications received in various public authorities in ten years stands at 16,026.

Out of which the number of RTI applications received from 2006-07 to 2014-15 was the highest at the district level which recorded at 60% followed by the directorates at 25%, secretariat at 9% and other units at 7%.

The CIC said that the reported instance of some RTI uses being subjected to unwarrant-

ed harassment in the hands of certain village councils, the designated public authorities under this transparency Act, is a disturbing scenario.

While several PIOs and First Appellate Authorities are commendable for usually doing good job, some of them have miserably failed to take cognizance of RTI applications and first appeals, thus, not only denying the seekers of getting the materials at right stage but also burdening the Commission with second appeals for noncompliance.

Of all the appeals preferred to the Commission, Phom revealed that 69% are due to inaction or no action of the Appellate Authorities and 32% are due to unsatisfactory decision of the Appellate Authorities.

Guard against misuse of RTI Act: TR

C

hief Minister TR Zeliang today stressed on the need to be on guard against misuse of the Right To Information (RTI) Act in the state.

“I have come to know that there have been instances of unscrupulous people misusing the provisions of RTI for extortion of money, or for harassment of public officials who do not toe their line,” he said while addressing the celebration of “A decade of RTI in Nagaland” here at Capital Convention Centre.

Zeliang said the Commission should be alert to such kind of misuse, and try to differentiate between the genuine information seekers, and those who misuse RTI provisions for personal benefits or for revenge.

He also stated that there were also instance where public authorities and PIOs are unnecessary harassed due to their ignorance of the RTI provisions.

“The RTI Act requires the public authorities to disclose or furnish that much of information which are available in the records of the department. They are not bound to furnish information which is not in the records of the government, and which is being maintained in the normal course of business,” he explained.

The chief minister said he came across some common RTI applications, which are being addressed to public authorities of many state governments and central government, trying to collect information in a certain format to suit their curiosity, or to suit the needs of their research papers or books.

In such a situation, Zeliang

said, the PIO of the concerned department is not under obligation to do a special research for the applicant, or to manufacture a new document out of the various documents available with the government. The PIO is only required to furnish information or document which is available with the department.

“The purpose of the RTI Act would be better served if all government departments improve their record keeping and retrieval systems, so that all important information likely to be of interest to the citizens are kept in proper format, and they are included in the “standard disclosure” of the department,” he said.

Stating that the RTI Act, 2005 has been widely hailed as a landmark legislation, the chief minister said “its objective is to bring about transparency in all public offices, and thereby to reduce corruption.”

The other objective of the RTI Act is to empower the common people, by giving them the right to know what is going on in government’s offices and other public institutions.

The chief minister believed that the real purpose of RTI Act will be served when the working of the public offices are systematized, better system of record keeping and their retrieval are introduced, when there are more transparency in the decision making processes etc.

The chief minister also called out to all concerned to “put our heads together, so that the RTI Act will become a useful and effective instrument to our society and bring about good governance in Nagaland.”

‘Increase women representation as legislators’ restore our land: rengma Hoho NEW DELHI, MARCH 5 (ANI): Stating that there is a need to increase the representation of women as legislators, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said that political parties must be committed to increase the number of women legislators in Parliament as well as State Assemblies.

Addressing a two-day National Conference on Women Legislators here, the President said that empowerment of women in the country couldn’t be completely ensured until their participation is increased in every field.

The President added that the glob-

al community has to rededicate themselves for women empowerment.

Batting for early passage of the women’s reservation bill, Vice-President Hamid Ansari asked parties to voluntarily increase the nomination of women candidates in elections till the legislation is enacted.

He noted that only 146 women were fielded in 2014 general elections by national parties, which was 9.17 per cent of the total 1,591 candidates and regretted that the gender profile in legislatures and Parliamentary panels on important issues remained woefully unbalanced.

“Giving women constitutional rights to suffrage is one thing but its tangible impact in raising women’s power and influence in polity and society is an altogether different matter,” Ansari said while addressing a two-day maiden National Conference of Women Legislators here.

The Vice-President said despite 47 per cent of the total voters being women during the last Lok Sabha elections, patriarchy and social norms have hindered its full reflection in positions of power. The conference was attended by 300 women MLAs, MLCs, MPs, Union Ministers and Chief Ministers.

urges nagaland state Government

Bringing out what it termed as the “fact DIMAPUR, MARCH 5 (MExN): The Rengma Hoho has asked the Nagaland of its history and territorial demarcations,” State Government to initiate measures to the Hoho highlighted that the Rengma restore the Rengma areas in Assam within boundary lie with Assam in the East with Golaghat and West Naogaon. the administrative control of the state.

While clarifying that in no way is RengAsserting that there is “no dispute of administration or border within the terri- ma’s land disputed between Assam and tory,” Rengma Hoho President Kenyuseng Nagaland, the Hoho also pointed out that Tep, in a press statement on Saturday said there is no legal documents proving that the land should be restored to the land Rengma’s land is a disputed land between Assam and Nagaland. owners as the land belongs to the Nagas.

“Our territories are geographically “Our lands are being encroached by Assam government and forcefully occu- contiguous and are well defined. Our hispied by illegal infiltrators with the help of tory is proved by our existence in the past and in the present which no authority can Assam government,” the Hoho alleged.

It also expressed concern over the challenge,” it maintained.

Asking the Nagaland State Governdisturbing attitude of the State Government that despite the Rengmas submit- ment to restore their land, the Hoho asting enough documents on the issue, it re- serted, “We have every right to administer our own area.” files from 2013 to 2014, according mains in “dyslexia.” to Viranu Ltu, education secretary, ANSCU while assuming that “If all the files were produced before the commission, more discrepancies would have been unearthed.”

Some of the findings of the Vigilance Commission report include the go-ahead given by the department to 17 students who had already been selected in other allied technical courses to sit for NSPMT in 2014.

This violated equal opportunities for other aspiring candidates.

The report also identified the failure of the department to coordinate and communicate with other user department such as viz. forest, sericulture, fishery, horticulture and the failure to maintain basic records of file index register etc.

The recommendations put forward by the Vigilance Commission were: • Recommend the State government to address the problem of poor performance of Naga students in AIPMT exam in all seriousness and examine ways and means to provide quality education at par with other Boards and Universities • Express displeasure on the technical education department for poor record maintenance, serious procedural lapses in run- Sumi Hoho (SH) President, Toniho Yepthomi with NSCN (K) Chairman SS Khaplang at NSCN (K) Council Headquarters at Taka in Myanmar recently during their goodwill misning the department and their sion undertaken from February 15 to 23. Also seen is SH General Secretary Vihuto Asumi inability to coordinate with oth- presenting a bouquet to Khaplang and Sumi Hoho Vice President Khehoshe Yepthomi er user departments. with NSCN (K) Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

ANCSU begins first phase agitation

For justice and equality to all Naga students

Sumi Hoho Peace Mission

Our Correspondent Kohima | March 5

C M Y K

In the backdrop of the State’s failure to meet the demands of the students’ community, the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) on March 5 began its first phase agitation by abstaining classes for two days (March 5 and 7) in all the eleven districts.

On February 17 ANCSU had sent an ultimatum to the Government of Nagaland against the irregularity in the functioning of the Department of Technical Education (DTE) and the discrepancies and loopholes in conduct of exams and distribution of seats for various technical courses by the concerned Department.

In the ultimatum, ANCSU demanded punitive action against the erring officials as per the findings of the State Vigilance Commission report, to initiate process for amalgamation of DTE with Higher Education Department without delay and to allow only the indigenous tribes of Nagaland to appear the technical and allied courses for state reserved quota.

ANSCU president Zhoku Thuluo at a press conference on Saturday in-

Students across the 11 districts, under the aegis of ANSCU, began its first phase agitation in protest against the failure of the State government to address the irregularities and anomalies in the Department of Technical Education.

formed that the government failed to address their demands despite giving a 15 days ultimatum which expired on March 3. “We will continue this agitation till our rights is restored and justice is done,” Thuluo said.

The representations submitted

by ANCSU against the irregularity and anomalies in the DTE are not new. The union had highlighted the procedural lapses in the department in 2014 and 2015 through fact findings.

“Despite the many memorandums, appeals and representations submitted to the State government, no action has been taken so far. We will fight till the end,” Kenivito Christopher Sophi, deputy speaker vowed.

With the beginning of first

phase agitation, ANCSU has warned of harsher agitation if the State government fails to address the demands of the students.

State Vigilance Commission report

On June 29, 2015 ANSCU submitted a representation against the anomalies in the Department of Technical Education (DTE) which was further directed by the Chief Secretary to hand over the matter to the State Vigilance Commission.

The report of the investigation, which took 3 months to complete, was submitted to the Chief Secretary on November 5, 2015.

However, out of 30 files that the Vigilance Commission demanded, the DTE could only produce 8

2

sunDAY 06•03•2016

NAGALAND

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

CM releases NIC 10th anniversary souvenir KTDSSU general conference underway Morung Express News

Our Correspondent

Kiphire | March 5

Kohima | March 5

Chief Minister TR Zeliang today released 10th anniversary souvenir of Nagaland Information Commission (NIC) here at the Capital Convention Centre during the celebration of “A decade of RTI in Nagaland.”

He also released two more books on “Audit of proactive disclosures of Public Authorities in Nagaland for 2015-2016” and “The impact of Right to Information (RTI) in Nagaland for the last 10 years (2006-2016).

“The Nagaland Information Commission in the 10 years of its existence has played an important role for being the watch dog for corruption, nepotism, maladministration in various public institutions and empowering the citizens by making them aware of their rights through the provisions contained in the Right to Information Act 2005,” penned Nagaland’s Governor PB Acharya in the publication of 10th anniversary souvenir.

He expressed hope that the NIC will continue to curb corruption and will uphold and facilitate the right of every citizen of Nagaland through the RTI. “The Nagaland Information Commission has done a good job during the last 10 years of its existence, by creating public awareness and enforcing the provisions of the RTI Act in a quiet and efficient

Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang releases 10th anniversary souvenir of Nagaland Information Commission in Kohima on March 5. (Morung Photo)

manner without courting unnecessary publicity or controversy,” penned Chief Minister TR Zeliang.

He also wished the NIC team all the best in their efforts to enforce the provisions of the RTI Act fairly and effectively.

“The State Information Commission is now well established and provides guidance to citizens and public authorities in implementation of the provisions of the Act as well as take proactive measures to enable the citizens to derive the benefit of open governance,” penned P. Talitemjen Ao, IAS (Retd), former chief secretary Nagaland and former Chief Information Commissioner, Nagaland.

“On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Nagaland Information Commission, it is my earnest hope and wish that through the

collective efforts of the citizens, the public authorities, NGOs, the Nagaland Information Commission, that the avowed objectives of the RTI Act, 2005 would be realized in the not too distant future,” stated Lalhuma, IAS (Retd), former Chief Secretary Nagaland and former Chief Information Commissioner Nagaland.

Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar states “There are visible signs that operation of RTI in the state is increasingly becoming more mature and productive.”

“I salute the Commission for completing a decade long of service to the public. In the same way, I am confident that the Commission will rise up to meet the expectations of the public for many more decades to come,” penned Kevinino P. Meru, former Chief Information Commissioner, Nagaland.

“I believe, as the citi-

zens of the state continue to make use of the RTI Act 2005, it will certainly bring about a transparent and open government,” stated Rev. Dr. Pongsing Konyak, former State Information Commissioner.

Dr. Kuhoi K. Zhimomi, former state information commissioner states “Information relating governance is a right of every citizen. The Right to Information Act 2005, with the basic objective to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government machineries in the democratic system of governance.”

Bukchem Phom, Chief Information Commissioner Nagaland in foreword stated that the NIC, as transparency watch dog in the state, has been diligently enforcing the Act in its entirety, in letter and spirit, without fear and favor.

The 15th general conference of the Kiphire Tuensang District Sumi Students’ Union (KTDSSU) commenced on March 5 at Sikiur ‘B’ village under the theme ‘Exceeding the vision’ with Likhumse Yingbdhongru, PS to Minister Power inaugurating the conference on behalf of the minister.

Addressing the conference, Likhumse asked the student leaders to be true leader and work for the welfare of the society and for the progress of the community. “As a leader we should not work with selfish motive but be an agent of change with the responsibilities we are assigned with so that the society will see peace and progress

A group performs folk dances during the 15th general conference of the Kiphire Tuensang District Sumi Students’ Union at Sikiur ‘B’ village on March 5. (Morung Photo)

during our leadership,” said the PS. Likhumse advised the students to always march for good and it should be two ways traffic so that the society will be a just society. Exhorting the students, Likhumse also said that in this competitive world holding degree alone and

having backward quota will not help but one has to work hard to find a place to survive. He also encouraged the students to have quality education.

SKK President who also spoke on the occasion asked the gathering to be a channel of peace amongst tribe in the district, which

has multi tribal populace.

He also advised the gathering to know the value of time and asked them to make best use of it by blooming with time.

Kihikali Yeptho, Miss sumi 2014 chaired the programme while cultural display and folk dances were the other highlights.

Imkonglemba on success story of SRI method

Kohima, march 5 (mExN): The District Agriculture Office, Kohima organized a monthly meeting of the district heads agri and allied sector including ATMA at DAO conference hall here on March 4 last. Kohima DAO Vizonyu Liezie highlighted the agricultural activities and its achievements within Kohima district.

Commissioner & Secretary For Agriculture And Agriculture Production I. Imkonglemba Ao exhorted the gathering. The APC expressed happiness over the success story of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method under National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

Imkonglemba Ao addressing the meeting on held March 4.

(Morung Photo)

that was adopted by farmers at Tora field, Kezoma.

The SRI is an evolving set of ‘practices, principles, and philosophies’ aimed at increasing the productivity of irrigated rice by changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients. It is learnt that since the in-

troduction of SRI method, the volume of manpower in cultivation activities came down. It also resulted better yield against the traditional practice of paddy cultivation.

Imkonglemba said that time has to focus double cropping to meet growing

demand. He stressed that the land should not be kept idle but utilize the same properly for double cropping.

He stressed on the need to bring convergence of all the programmes in the same location, saying that apart from practice of the main paddy cultivation, maize, floriculture, poultry, piggery, sericulture, fishery pond, oilseeds can also be taken up at Tora field.

Further, the APC stressed on the need to indentify the genuine and progressive farmers.

The programme was followed by Republic Day Award Feast wherein DAO Kohima got the award for consecutive year.

Nagaland Library Mission Accomplished

A recently releAsed book

330 Kgs of Books, 3200 kms of Journey and 1 Dream Source: The Logical Indian

Published by Heritage Publishing House, Dimapur. Paperback, Price- `350. Outlets: Modern Book Depot, Readers Emporium, Heritage Publishing House, Dimapur.

St. John College celebrated Annual Literary Day on March 5 with the theme ‘Spring Potpourri.’ The Principal welcomed the students and encouraged the students to participate in co-curricular activities. The first session comprised of extempore speech, debate, solo and quiz. The second session which was the informal session had students participating in entertainment programmes. The college students’ Council took incharge and organized the programme.

Our follower Mansi Shouche from England got in touch with us. She had a dream to open a library in one remote village in India.

Hemang Chheda and Tejal Rajyagor from Mumbai introduced us to the principal, Lipichem Sangtam, of Agape school in Kiphire village – one of the most remotest villages of India in Nagaland.

This region is so far near the Myanmar border that resources are scarce and children are deprived of good books.

We had an idea to collect old and unused English books from friends and their friends. We, together with the solid support of our philanthropy partners ‘SOMEONE SOMEWHERE,’ Ashiyana Foundation and Jagjit Singh Foundation, started a collection drive and within couple of months we collected beautiful books from all over India and England.

Anil Nair from Mumbai offered us space to keep the books, Nainaz Tengra and Almac Packers from Mumbai offered packaging, Manish Sahu and Rahul B Mehta volunteered from Mumbai for uploading 330 kg of books in train, Indian railways offered immense support, Partha Pratim, Parag Saikia, Priyamjit Yumnum Singh, Himsiringdao Hapila, Sanuj Choudhury of Speed Express and Sanghita Ghosh volunteered in Guwahati, to load these books to another train.

Mr & Mrs Sangtam volunteered at Dimapur to take books further and thus with support of all common and ordinary people, our team member, Agastya Kapoor, could take books to Kiphire, Nagaland, India.

It took him 4 days to reach the village through trains, bus, taxi – facing difficult terrains and cold weather.

The Nagaland mission was not only about establishing a library but also our team member also interacted with student communities and see if together we can make a better world.

They also talked about India’s collective progress, Nagaland’s development and most importantly about self betterment.

We have to mention a special thanks to Indian railways for immense sup-

port and smooth luggage handling. Chaturvedi, Goil from Mumbai LTT parcel office and Praneshwar Das from Kamakhya parcel office did a fabulous job, along with the porter team.

Chitra Singh, popular Indian singer of yester years, and wife of the legend Ghazal maestro Late Jagjit Singh, offered us valuable books that belonged to her only son. This was an exclu-

sive gift for the children.

The Nagaland Library Mission is complete. Thank you to each one of you for being a part, contributing, or just praying silently for us, the mission and the team. This is the power of a common man, technology and social media.

The second phase will be launched soon where you’ll be able to send books directly to Agape school.

SunDAY 06•03•2016

NORTH-EAST

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

3

Maoist Communist Party claim PM's marketing, speeches are responsibility for peace camp attack good but hollow: Rahul Gandhi Indefinite Imphal-Moreh will not get even a single penny, all the money will go to his (Prime Minister's) industrialist fiends," said Gandhi.

The current government at the Centre, he said, was not the government of common people, the salaried class, the workers but of the industrialists.Rahul Gandhi also targetted the union finance minister over his budget, saying: "Arun Jaitleyji has brought a 'Fair and Lovely scheme' through which all the thieves in the country can convert their black money into white."

"However, the people who work for the whole life and take salary and pension are made to pay tax on their PF (provident fund)."

"I want to assure the salaried class that Congress party will fight for you. I will pressurise the government as this government is not your government, this is not the government of farmers and employees but of industrialists only," he said.

Referring to recent incident at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he said there were about 8,000 students of which 1,000 were from the northeast. "If some people have shouted anti-Indian slogan in JNU,

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi arriving to a public rally at Borghat in Assam's Nagaon district on March 5.

you punish them, put them behind bars. But why are you trying to spoil the future of 8,000 students? Why are you trying to spoil the careers of 1,000 students from northeast in JNU? We are going to fight for them," said the Congress vice president.

over 6 lakh new voters in assam The forthcoming assembly elections in Assam will have see a total of 1.98 crore voters including six lakh new or first-time voters exercise their right to franchise, an election official said on Friday.

Assam's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vijendra said there are a total of a total of 1,98,66,496 voters in the state according to the electoral rolls published on January 11 this year and out of this, 6,00,076 voters are new voters, within the age group of 18 years to 19 years.

The wit and wisdom of Purno Agitok Sangma

New DelhI, March 5 (IaNS): Purno Agitok Sangma, former Lok Sabha speaker and acclaimed politician from the northeast known for his wit and humour, who passed away on Friday, said that God had four boxes with him when he created India.

"When God created India and the people of India, he had four boxes to distribute," Sangma said in an article titled "Peace in Northeast" in the book "Peace Initiative - Northeast India Perspective", edited by Thomas Vattathara and Elizabeth George.

"The first one was to be distributed to the people of the North. When God opened it, he found that it was 'beauty'," Sangma, who was serving as the chairman of the Northeast MPs' Forum till the time of his death, wrote.

"The people were not happy at that, they were worried that if the North

35 Bangladeshi nationals arrested in Tripura agarTala, March 5 (IaNS): As many as 35 Bangladeshi nationals, including 24 women and three children, were arrested by Border Security Force (BSF) in Tripura for illegally entering India, police said here on Saturday.

The detention took place two days after police arrested 23 Bangladeshi citizens for illegally entering in India on Wednesday.

"BSF troopers on Friday evening arrested 35 Bangladeshis, all tribals, as they came to market in Raishyabari (in northern Tripura) to sell their products and buy other items," police spokesman Uttam Kumar Bhowmik told IANS. The intruders were later handed over to the police.

The Bangladeshi residents came to Tripura from tribal dominated Chittagong Hill tracts.

The previously detained group came to seek consultation about their ailment from a tribal traditional practitioner.

Northeastern state of Tripura shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh.

However, most parts of the frontier are fenced, mountainous and riverine.

Sangma's body arrives in Tura for funeral on Monday

Purno Agitok Sangma

had taken beauty, what would be left for them? God told them not to worry that he had something special for them," Sangma continued.

He said when God opened the second box, it was the box of "brains".

"Thus, you find most of the thinkers, and those who run this country are from the South. So the people from West questioned that if both 'brains' and 'beauty' are lost, then what is left for them?"

God, wrote Sangma, assured them that they need not worry, and would get

ShIlloNg, March 5 (pTI): The body of former Meghalaya Chief Minister Purno Agitok Sangma was today brought to his native place at Tura where his funeral will take place on Monday.

A special plane carried the body of Sangma from Delhi to Guwahati and therefrom it was flown to Tura in West Garo Hills district in an IAF helicopter, officials said. DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh and his cabinet colleague Kiren Rijiju accompanied the body from New Delhi whereas Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan joined them at Guwahati, Defense spokesman Amit Mahajan said.

Later, Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal joined them at the Borjhar airport en route to Tura, the officials said. At the Tura airport and along the way till his house, thousands of people gathered to have a glimpse of the deceased leader, they said. The former Lok Sabha Speaker died at his residence in New Delhi yesterday. whatever they deserve.

"He opened the third box one and it was the box of 'wealth'. So you find Maharashtra and Gujarat are very wealthy states."

The people of the northeast, Sangma quipped, then asked what was left for them if beauty, brain and wealth were all gone.

"God opened the fourth

box and found that it was the box of 'emotions and ego'. Therefore, we are very 'emotional and ego-centric people'. I would like to add the brighter side of us - we are musical and singing people."

Sangma sent the audience of hundreds into splits when he narrated the same at the Northeast MPs' Forum meet at the Constitution Club in New Delhi in August last year.

"You see, we people from the East have this ego - 'Moi Axomiya', or 'Aami Bangali'," he said during the meeting on August 4.

Sitting beside him were Gaurav Gogoi, Assam MP and son of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, and union Ministers from the northeast Kiren Rijiju and Sarbananda Sonowal among others.

Gogoi was among the 25 Congress MPs who were suspended the previous day from the Lok Sabha for

50 years ago the Indian Air Force bombed its own people David Buhril

M

Scroll.in

The central government led by Indira Gandhi may have been taken by surprise, but the reprisal was swift.

On March 5, four fighter jets of the Indian Air Force – French-built Dassault Ouragan fighters (nicknamed Toofanis), and British Hunters – were deployed to bomb Aizawl. Taking off from Tezpur, Kumbigram and Jorhat in Assam, the planes first used machine guns to fire at the town. They returned the next day to drop incendiary bombs. The strafing of Aizawl and other areas continued till March 13 even as the town’s panicked civilian population fled to the hills. The rebels were forced to retreat into the jungles of Myanmar and Bangladesh, which was then East Pakistan.

arch 5 marks the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Aizawl – the first air raid by the Indian Air Force on civilian territory within the country. This is as good a time as any to go beyond just questioning the morality of the bombing, or the complexities that led to it. It’s time to understand its legacy.

The story began in 1961, when the Mizo Hills were a part of the state of Assam. The Mizo National Front formed on October 28 that year, and asserted its right to self-determination. The group initially adopted a non-violent approach to secure its political objective. However, following intense internal pressure after Colossal destruction human rights violations by security Recounting his memories of that forces in the area, the Mizo National day, Thangsanga, a veteran member Front took up arms. of the Mizo National Front, said the bombing took them by surprise. “Our The battle begins little town was suddenly encircled by On February 28, 1966, the fight- four screaming jet fighters,” he said. ing volunteers of the Mizo National “Suddenly, bullets rained and bombs Front launched Operation Jericho to were dropped. Burning buildings throw out Indian forces stationed in collapsed and there was dust and Mizoram – launching simultaneous chaos everywhere. They hit the heart attacks on Assam Rifles garrisons in of Mizoram, but not the Mizo spirit”.

Aizawl and Lunglei. The next day, the No one had imagined that the Mizo National Front declared inde- Union government would bomb its pendence from India. own territory. The bombing caused Operation Jericho shocked the colossal destruction with some resecurity forces stationed in the Mizo ports saying Aizawl town had caught Hills – the insurgents swiftly man- fire. Fortunately, only 13 civilians aged to capture significant instal- were killed. lations including the government The establishment – including the treasury and the 1st Assam Rifles government and the armed forces – headquarters – both in Aizawl – and kept mum or even flatly denied that Army installations in Champhai and Aizawl had been bombed. Details only Lunglei districts. emerged decades later when several

writers and former insurgents emerged with their accounts of the day the people in Aizwal saw planes shoot fire.

A March 9, 1966, report by the now-defunct Kolkata-daily, the Hindustan Standard, quoted Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as saying that the fighter jets had been sent in to airdrop men and supplies, not bombs. But the question was, why would anyone deploy fighter jets to drop rations?

Marked as the ‘other’ The bombing may have managed to crush the Mizo uprising but it also helped usher in two more decades of insurgency. Following the bombing, the Union government implemented what it termed the “regrouping of villages” in which thousands of Mizos deep in the hills and hamlets of what is now Mizoram were forcefully displaced – their homes and villages burned – and relocated in centres along an arterial highway under armed guard ostensibly so that the Indian state could keep an eye on them.

Though the state of Mizoram was formed in 1987 after the Union government and the Mizo National Front signed the Mizoram Peace Accord, today, Zo nationalism – an ideological formulation of Zo peoples fragmented by the process of decolonisation and spread across India, Myanmar and Bangladesh – continues to assert itself.

The bombing of Aizawl to secure the Indian nation state further paralysed the Mizos from sharing in the notion of Indian nationalism. The excessive action simply helped to cement the feeling of otherness within the Mizos vis-à-vis the rest of India.

five consecutive sittings for causing disruptions over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam scams.

Sangma said that he was very happy that Gaurav Gogoi was suspended from the Lok Sabha because it brought attention to MPs from the northeast.

"I am very happy.

Gaurav is appearing all over the TV channels," he said as the MP in question squirmed and smiled and Rijiju and Sonowal could not help repressing generous grins.

Sangma'a stint as the Lok Sabha Speaker from 1996 to 1998 is remembered for his handling of the house with wit, humour and wisdom.

He also served as a teacher in Don Bosco, Dibrugarh, where union minister Sonowal, the BJP's chief ministerial candidate for Assam for the April assembly elections, was his student.

road blockade called off

IMphal, March 5 (pTI): The indefinite ImphalMoreh road blockade in Manipur, called in connection with the killing of a school teacher since March 2, has been called off with immediate effect by members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), JAC Convenor Mangboi said. Pointing out that the JAC has arrived at an "understanding" with the state government, Mangboi said the agreement was reached after a joint meeting with members of JAC and representatives of the state government yesterday. The indefinite blockade was imposed by members of the JAC after the school teacher, Ts Haokip, succumbed to injuries after being beaten up by suspected NSCN (IM) militants at Aimol Satu village and the alleged failure to nab the accused involved in the incident. curity Force (BSF) and Assam Rifles camps.

The attackers were able to leave the spot without being confronted by the security forces. Police fear that other designated camps could also be attacked in future. "The MCP will not pardon those who are defaming Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. There are reports that the inmates of the camp consume intoxicants, bully the villagers and workers nearby and extort money from the people under different names," a spokesman of the MCP said in a statement here on Friday.

The inmates of the camp denied indulging in extortion or any other objectionable activity. They said they were somehow getting by on the meagre government

stipend. The government was now planning to shift the camp to a more secure place in Bishnupur district.

There is reportedly a mutual agreement among the insurgents to attack those who had come overground after signing the SoO. The SoO signatories also have their grievances -- ranging from mistreatment by the police and the meagre stipend to poor chances of finding gainful employment. Besides, the central government has not taken steps to start talks with the former insurgents.

Starting peace talks with former insurgents becomes difficult when most of the insurgent outfits still refuse to sign the Suspension of Operations, officials here told IANS.

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NagaoN, March 5 (IaNS): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is good in marketing and delivering good speeches but his speeches are often hollow.

"He (Modi) went to Bihar and made promises and assurances but did not fulfill them. He came to Assam also and made good speeches and lofty promises but those proved hollow," said Gandhi while addressing a public rally at Borghat in Assam's Nagaon district.

Ahead of the rally, he also took part in a road show walking five km with thousands of people in the district.

He said the biggest achievement of the Congress government in Assam was its success in bringing back peace to the state in the last 15 years. "We are here to serve people.

However, the present government at the Centre has been trying to help only few businessmen in the country.

"They (businessmen) get everything. Thousands of crores of rupees have come to country's exchequer after recent decline in the petrol prices. But the people of the country

IMphal, March 5 (IaNS): Insurgents of the Maoist Communist Party (MCP) in Manipur have claimed responsibility for the Wednesday night attack on a "designated camp" of surrendered militants in Imphal east district.

Though the "designated camp" was attacked with automatic rifles, hand grenades and other lethal weapons for over 20 minutes, no inmate was injured.

A "designated camp" is a place inhabited by insurgent groups that sign Suspension of Operations -- or ceasefire -- with the state and central governments.

Under Suspension of Operations (SoO), the government forces and insurgents stop attacking each other and try to create conditions for a peace process and political settlement.

The insurgents also start to get a modest amount of stipend from the government.

In Manipur, at least 18 insurgent groups have signed the SoO with the state and central governments. There are still dozens of other outfits that continue to wage guerrilla warfare against security forces (and sometimes other armed groups) in support of their demands.

The attack on Wednesday took place despite the camp being located within 500 metres of a police station, a police commando camp, as well as Border Se-

4

sunDAY 06•03•2016

Business

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Electrification of 6,000 out of 18,500 villages completed: Govt

New Delhi, March 5 (PTi): Electrification has been done in 6,000 of the 18,500 unelectrified villages and the renewable energy capacity has reached 39.5 Giga Watts, a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was told.

At the two-and-a-half hour meeting to review the progress of key infrastructure sectors here on Friday, Modi also took stock of the progress in 'Housing-for-All' programme and directed officials concerned to expedite its implementation, using a judicious mix of modern technology and local build-

ing materials and techniques.

Sectors like power, coal, housing, ports and Digital India were reviewed in the meeting.

The meeting was also informed of the progress in providing mobile connectivity to villages affected

by Left Wing Extremism where 1,371 towers have so far been installed, a PMO statement said on Saturday.

"The Prime Minister was informed that the progress of electrification of all unelectrified villages is proceeding at a rapid pace," the statement said. Out of the approximately 18,500 unelectri-

fied villages targeted under the Prime Minister's rural electrification programme, about 6,000 have already been electrified, the meeting was told.

The Prime Minister was informed that the progress of the initiative is being tracked in realtime using sophisticated technology applications, including geo-tagging, it said.

With regard to renewable energy, Modi was told that significant progress has been achieved towards the target of 175 Giga-Watts (GW) capacity by 2022, with the total installed renewable energy capacity already reaching

39.5 GW. "Officials explained that off-grid solutions such as solar panels are being used to reach remote and inaccessible areas in states such as Arunachal Pradesh," the statement said. The progress in distribution of LED bulbs across the country was also reviewed.

Coal India Limited has achieved a 9.2% increase in production this year, as compared to an average of just 3% growth over the last five years, the statement said. The Prime Minister called for immediate measures to scale up the speed of providing broadband connectivity to all

Gram Panchayats.

He was informed that 12 important tourist locations have been provided public Wi-Fi connectivity when he inquired about the progress in this area.

Reviewing the ports sector, the Prime Minister instructed officials to work urgently on improving the average vessel turnaround time at major ports, in order to bring it in line with international standards.

Drastic reduction in the timeliness for border compliance and measures for boosting coastal shipping within the country, were also discussed, the DC Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome IAS inaugurating ‘Refuel’ showroom at Aires Mansion, statement added.

Clock Tower junction Dimapur on March 5. (Morung Photo)

World's biggest seed company More trouble for 'Freedom 251,' Adcom to sue Ringing Bells “While speculation is livery' mode of payments Delhi, March by this incident where our threatens to exit India New 5 (iaNS): In a yet anoth- mobile phone has been rife regarding the legiti- for those who have placed New Delhi, March 5 (ThoMSoN reuTerS): Monsanto Co, the world's biggest seed company, threatened to pull out of India on Friday if the government imposed a big cut in royalties that local firms pay for its genetically modified cotton seeds.

Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB), a joint venture with India's Mahyco, licenses a gene that produces its own pesticide to a number of local seed companies in lieu of royalties and an upfront payment. MMB also markets the seeds directly, though the local licensees together command 90 per cent of the market.

Acting on complaints of local seeds companies that MMB was charging high fees, the farm ministry last year formed a committee to look into the matter.

The committee has now recommended about a 70 per cent cut in royalty, or trait fee, that the seed companies pay to MMB, government sources said.

The farm ministry is yet to take a decision on the committee's recommendation.

"If the committee recommends imposing a sharp, mandatory cut in the trait fees paid on Btcotton seeds, MMB will have no choice but to reevaluate every aspect of our position in India," Shilpa Divekar Nirula, Monsanto's chief executive for the India region, said in a statement.

"It is difficult for MMB to justify bringing new technologies into India in an environment where

such arbitrary and innovation stifling government interventions make it impossible to recoup research and development investments," she said.

Shares in Monsanto India dropped as much as 7 per cent to a near 2-year low before ending down 2.4 per cent.

MMB does not publish revenue figures or say how much it contributes to Monsanto's overall revenue.

Separately, MMB has filed a case in a Delhi court, challenging the authority of the committee to determine the trade fee agreed upon by MMB and a number of Indian seed companies.

In a partnership with Mahyco, US-based Monsanto launched a GM cotton variety in India in 2002 despite opposition from critics who questioned its safety, helping transform the country into the world's top producer and second-largest exporter of the fibre.

In a ruling last month, the Competition Commission of India, the fair trade regulator, said there were indications that MMB had abused its dominant position in the country and asked its director general to complete an investigation within two months.

The government-appointed committee has also recommended cutting Bt cotton seed prices to about Rs 800 for a packet of 400 grams. Currently Bt cotton seeds are being sold between Rs 830 and Rs 1,100 in different parts of the country.

er blow to Noida-based startup Ringing Bells Pvt. Ltd. that last month launched with much fanfare the world's cheapest Rs.251 (less that $4) smartphone, domestic feature phone brand Advantage Computers' (Adcom) on Friday announced it would take legal action against Ringing Bells.

During the launch last month in the presence of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi in the capital, Ringing Bells unveiled “Freedom 251” and distributed some “prototypes” to the media which turned out to be Adcom handsets, Adcom's founder and chairman Sanjeev Bhatia said.

Later, Ringing Bells president Ashok Chadha told IANS that they only gave Adome handsets as “samples” to a section of the media and the real “Freedom 251” will be a new product with all promised features.

“We are deeply grieved

presented to masses for Rs.251, and therefore, would not hesitate from taking any legal actions against the company, in case the entire fiasco impacts Adcom's brand name or subsequently we face any other kind of losses," Bhatia said in a statement on Friday.

"Yes, it is true that although we sold the handsets to Ringing Bells earlier, like we sell Adcom mobiles to lakhs of users, we were absolutely unaware of the reselling plans of the company in question," he added.

"Furthermore, we still haven't been able to evaluate their pricing policy as we sold the handsets at Rs.3,600 per unit (to Ringing Bells),” Bhatia said.

Earlier, the Noida offices of Ringing Bells were found shut on Thursday over land ownership issues with Noida Authority.

Ringing Bells issued a statement on Friday that they should not be dragged in any controversy over this issue.

leisure

macy of our occupying the premises we operate from, i.e. our corporate office at B-44, Sector 63, NOIDA 201301 in Uttar Pradesh, we wish to make it clear that the current dispute regarding the nature of business conducted at the property is between NOIDA authority and our landlord,” the company said.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also questioned Mohit Goel, CEO of Ringing Bells, this week over the pricing of the smartphone.

Ringing Bells has also claimed to have paid back the money it generated from the first 30,000 prebooking orders on the first day of the sale this month.

Chad ha had announced that the Rs.251 (less than $4) "Freedom 251" smartphone customers will be required to make payment only when the smartphone is delivered to them.

"The company has decided that we will, henceforth, offer 'cash on de-

Daily Cross WorD ACROSS 1. Narrow fissures 6. Among 10. Calamitous 14. Papal court 15. Greek letter 16. Midmonth date 17. Ignorant 19. Views 20. having a mast 21. Historic period 22. Cover with asphalt 23. Ringworm cassia 25. Metalwares 26. Shopping center 30. Speaks 32. Opposed 35. Stretchable 39. A natural resin 40. Mountain range 41. Armory 43. Retirement benefit 44. Jettison 46. Male offspring 47. Religious fathers 50. Cereal and soup _____ 53. Buttocks 54. Eastern Standard Time 55. A musical interval of eight tones 60. A Maori club 61. Loud 63. Lascivious look 64. Roman emperor 65. Planet 66. Being 67. At one time (archaic) 68. Infections of the eye

CROSSWORD # 3523

Govt to mandate 'AHO' for two-wheelers from 2017

New Delhi, March 5 (eTauTo): In a bind to make roads safer for two-wheelers in India, the government has reportedly decided to mandate 'Automatic Headlamp On' (AHO) in two-wheelers from 2017. This means, from April 2017, twowheelers in India, like some of the high-end bikes and the daytime running lights (DRLs) that we find in cars, will come with headlights that stay on as long as ignition is on. While officially the new AHO headlights will be offered from next year, KTM India has already equipped its updated series of Duke and RC bikes with auto headlamp function as standard fitment.

Essentially, the twowheeler manufacturers will now remove the on/ off switch seen on the right handlebar located between the engine kill switch and the electric start button. This means, henceforth new bike owners will not be able to switch off the headlamp when the bike is turned on, which will help in improving overall visibility. DRLs or AHOs are currently mandatory in

several developed markets and the government is trying to mandate this rule in India as well. This has been a feature in European countries since 2003.

Apparently a Supreme Court-appointed committee on road safety had earlier pushed the proposal.

The committee has emphasised on the point that AHO has been found beneficial in reducing crashes involving two-wheelers in many parts of the world. It has been told that experts from automobile safety said AHO has improved visibility of and for two-wheelers during day and at dawn and dusk. According to a report, two-wheelers accounted for being the single category of vehicles that have met with the highest number of fatal road crashes (32,524) in 2014.

As of now it is not clear whether two-wheelers from every segment will get auto headlamps as mandatory or just a particular category. In any case, currently bike manufacturers like Kawasaki, KTM and Harley-Davidson offer auto headlamps as standard fitment in midsegment bikes.

SUDOKU

Simple Rules - There is just one simple rule: “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.”

Game Number # 3510

an order for the 'Freedom 251' smartphone. This will ensure further transparency and clear any misgivings," Chadha said.

The company plans to give 25 lakh handsets in the first phase before June 30.

Taking the world by surprise, Ringing Bells launched "Freedom 251" smartphone that, it said, has been developed "with immense support" from the government.

As the makers of the smartphone went to town with claim of being part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" and "Digital India" initiatives in the last few days, a top government official clarified on Thursday that the government has nothing to do with the "Freedom 251" smartphone.

"This is not a government project. 'Make in India' team has nothing to do with this," wrote Amitabh Kant, secretary of the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), in a Twitter post.

Answer Number # 3509

9. Early 20th-century art movement 10. Deprive 11. Something to shoot for 12. One of the Canterbury pilgrims 13. S S S S 18. Lyric poem 24. Cashew or almond 25. Coach 26. Mother 27. Food thickener 28. Young girl 29. Written material 31. If not 33. 9 9 9 9 34. Fraud 36. Threesome 37. Press 38. Tins 42. Crayfish 43. Church bench 45. They cast ballots 47. Big name in computers 48. Hillsides 49. Douses 51. A parcel of land 52. Barges 54. Feudal worker 56. Gait faster than a walk 57. Breezy 58. Sheltered spot 59. Terminates 62. Excluding

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SundAY 06•03•2016

NAGALAND

official summoned for NTHSS completes 25 years RailTel road damages at Mangkolemba Education is not merely about learning to read and write: Neiphiu Rio Morung express news Dimapur | March 5

North Town Higher Secondary School (NTHSS), Chumukedima has completed 25 years. The school commemorated the silver jubilee on March 5 with Lok Sabha MP and former Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio gracing the occasion as the chief guest.

From a thatch house in 1991 to a massive 3-storied RCC building today, the school has come a long way since; along the way shaping the lives of many a young mind. Terming the pioneers of the school as visionaries, Rio, in his address, stated that where NTHSS stands today is the result of the pioneers’ sacrifice and devotion.

“The world today is about quality education,

nthss campus as seen today. (inset) Lok sabha MP and former Chief Minister, neiphiu rio addressing the silver jubilee celebration of nthss at 7th Mile, Chumukedima on March 5.

not merely about learning to read and write. I’m proud this school is imparting quality education.” By ‘quality education’, Rio said that it implies a holistic focus to “impart skills and skilling students and become somebody” and not be a liability. At a stage where job avenue in the government

set up has been saturated, he held that skills and skill building will empower the present generation of students to be self-reliant.

According to Rio, the notion that “government job is the best option” is now passé and has to be eradicated for good. It has to be sub-planted by an

urging that would encourage children to excel in their studies and become employable educated people, he said. Stating, “Ignorance is not an excuse,” he added that moulding and preparing for challenges ahead, while cultivating discipline and integrity must be the mantra.

maNgKolEmba, march 5 (DiPr): The Mangkolemba Sub Divisional Planning & Development Board (SDPDB) today discussed the huge road damages in the subdivision caused by the activities of RailTel. During its monthly meeting held at the ADC office, the Board decided that the Nodal Officer of RailTel will be given 10 days time to meet Executive Engineer, PWD and ADC to discuss the matter.

Failing to comply will result in suspension of their work in the sub-division.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of ADC & Vice- Chairman, SDPDB, Imtiwapang Aier.

Welcoming all the Board members, he briefed on the bandh that was called by various NGOs in Assam and the recent situation relating to Assam-Nagaland border areas.

Deliberating on the agenda submitted by Changdang Village Council seeking assistance for construction of Agri -Link road, the Board decided that a proper physical verification will be undertaken by DBs and after considering its feasibility, the Board will forward the matter to the department concerned.

The ADC also placed the report regarding the village tour undertaken by the SDPDB members to Alongkima circle/ Changkikong range on February 9 and 10. After discussion and verification, all the departments concerned agreed to forward the findings to the Head of Departments for further necessary actions.

The Board also decided that the next SDPDB members’ village tour will be on March 17 and 18 covering Longchem circle/ Japukong range.

Finance Secretary informs National Science Seminar held in Kiphire Transaction to be done on non-transaction days in March Kohima, march 5 (mExN): Finance Secretary, Government of Nagaland, has informed that the following non-transaction Wednesdays – March 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2016 and nontransaction Saturday – March 19, 2016 have been declared as transaction days both in Treasuries and Banks in all districts.

In an office memorandum, the Secretary, Y Kikheto Sema, further informed that the non-transaction Saturdays – March 12 and 26, which have been declared as working Saturdays for Government employees in Kohima by the Home Department

vide Notification No.GAB/ GEN/21/2010 dated 29th February 2016 (flagged "X') shall also be declared as transaction days for Treasuries and Banks in Kohima.

All departments have been requested to ensure that proposals for issue of DA/DL are submitted to the Finance Department on or before March 21, 2016 (Monday) except for those proposals under CSS, NEC, NLCPR, etc, which may be sanctioned and credited to the State account only at the fag end of the financial year.

Departments may also ensure that all requisite de-

tails for issue of DA/DL are furnished along with their proposals for facilitating Finance Department to examine and dispose the matters without delay, the memorandum said.

All departments are to ensure that the DA/DL issued by Finance Department are presented to and passed by the Treasuries on or before March 29, 2016 (Tuesday). The Finance Secretary categorically mentioned that no claim for cash payment will be entertained in the Treasuries after March 29, 2016, except on the strength of DA/ DL issued by the Finance Department.

CTCSU Mission Committee visit AVBM

A student receives certificate during the National Science seminar conducted by the department of education in Kiphire on March 5. (Morung Photo) Morung express news Kiphire | March 5

Asula from El-Beth School emerged the winner of the National Science Seminar conducted in Kiphire by the Department of Education on March 5. The event, graced by Dr Tinojungshi

30 from various NPGs join NSCN (R) DimaPur, march 5 (mExN): The NSCN (Reformation) has welcomed 30 people from various Naga Political Groups – NSCN (IM), GPRN/NSCN, NSCN (K), FGN – who had joined its fold recently.

A press release from Secretary, MIP, NSCN (R) informed that among the 30 people, nine were from NSCN (IM) - One Major, one Captain, three 2nd Lieutenants, three Sergeant Majors, one Sergeant; three

the CtCsU team with aVBM functionaries.

NaKachari, march 5 (mExN): A team of the Mission Committee of Clark Theological College Students’ Union (CTCSU), Aolijen paid a courtesy visit to Assam Valley Baptist Mission (AVBM) today at its headquarters at Nakachari in Jorhat district of Assam and had fellowship with the members of the Mission.

A press release from Er. Temsu Wathi Ao, ScientistD & District Informatics Officer (NIC), Mokokchung and President, AVBM noted that

since the year 2012, the students of Clark Theological College under the syllabi of CTC Holistic Program have been visiting the churches located in the foothills of Assam-Nagaland sector in collaboration with the Assam Valley Baptist Mission.

This arrangement has been found to be very beneficial for both the stakeholders, the release said.

During the programme, the President of AVBM lauded the proactive role played by the Mission Committee of the CTC Students’

Union for the last couple of years and hoped that the good relationship will continue. Nimrudh Mandal, Evangelist of AVBM presided over the combined prayer fellowship, where the CTC team shared their testimonies and exhortation with a special number.

The CTCSU Mission Committee was led by Apotho Poji (BD-V), Tanwang (BD-I), Moazungla Longchar (BD-IV), T. Shongmeth (BD-II), Aghali Swu (M.Th-II), and Akangtemsu Yaden (BD-V).

Chang, ADC Kiphire as guest speaker, was held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Kiphire.

Dr Tinojungshi Chang stated that science education should be encouraged and supported by all to move forward together and achieve progress of the na-

tion. Sharing his experiences, he said science subject is not at all hard as one thinks; it only needs sincerity and effort to grasp it. He added that studying science gives many opportunities as there are also many science and mathematics teachers posts vacant in the district. Appreciating the students for responding positively to the seminar, the guest speaker also asked the students to make best use of the platform so they learn while they are still student.

Panda, DEO Kiphire stressed on the importance of the day and shared on the life story of CV Raman in whose name Science Day is observed. Altogether 14 participants from 8 schools took part in the National Science Seminar organised by the District Education Office, Kiphire.

from NSCN (K) - One Sergeant Major, one Sergeant, one Corporal; two from FGN - One Major, one Lieutenant; and sixteen from GPRN/NSCN - Two Captains, four 2nd Lieutenants, three Sergeant Major, One Lieutenant, two Sergeants, two Corporals, two Privates.

“The home comers have stated that they have lost their confidence with their respective leadership and repose their faith and confidence under the vi-

sionary and dynamic leadership of His Excellency president Y. Wangtin Naga and P. Tikhak, who always strife and lead the Nagas and its future with a positive attitude toward the cause of the Naga Nation,” stated the press release. The NSCN (R) further expressed gratitude to the “home comers” for their “bold and wise decision in the right time in order to determine the future of the Naga peoples and Nation as well.”

More mourn PA Sangma’s death DimaPur, march 5 (mExN): Former Member of Parliament, Lok Shabha from Nagaland, W Wangyuh Konyak has expressed shock at the death of Purno Agitok Sangma, popularly known as PA Sangma, on March 4 in New Delhi. Wangyuh in a condolence noted said that he had known Sangma since 1996 when the latter was the speaker of Lok Sabha. “In his demise North East has lost a prominent figure and created a vacuum in political

fronts,” he stated. Wangyuh along with his family further extended condolences to the bereaved family.

Meanwhile,theNagaland Garo Tribal Council (NGTC) and Nagaland Garo Mothers’ Association (NGMA) also expressed shock and pain at the demise of PA Sangma.

“His contribution for the people cannot be measured nor compared with his death.

We have lost a visionary and dynamic leader,” stated a condolence message issued

by NGTC General Secretary.

The two organizations remembered Sangma as a man of honesty and dignity who was always concerned for the poor and downtrodden. He always emphasized on unity and preserving culture and tradition and always kept in touch with the council, the note said. The organizations further prayed that God will grant solace to the departed soul and also conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

Pochury men in traditional attire browse their mobile phone during cultural festival at shilloi Lake, Lütsam on March 3. the phone network in the area is poor causing communication problem. shilloi Lake, a tourist destination under Meluri sub division of Phek district is 280 km away from state’s capital Kohima. infrastructure in the form of rural tourism project has been created for visitor’s comfort. (Morung Photo by Chizokho Vero)

Mex FiLe Monthly Kiphire DPDB meeting held KiPhirE, march 5 (mExN): The monthly District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) meeting of Kiphire was held today with its Vice Chairman and Deputy Commissioner of Kiphire A. Chumremo Odyuo as chairperson. The Vice Chairman welcomed the gathering and reviewed the agendas of the last DPDB, where various departments were asked to respond to the agendas which were discussed during the last DPDB meeting. The DC also initiated the new agendas where verification report in respect of work charged and casual employees and registration of Shukyahru were also discussed. The District Veterinary department presented the department activities to the house.

AKMWP convenes general meeting Kohima, march 5 (mExN): The Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) will hold a general meeting on March 9, 4:00 pm at 2K Hotel, Lady Mills Road, Officer’s Hill, Kohima to discuss some important issues pertaining to Kohima Town. Stating this in a release, AKMWP General Secretary Thejao Sekhose requested all presidents and secretaries of the 19 wards and unit panchayat under Kohima municipalities to attend the said meeting without fail.

Dead body found in Dimapur DimaPur, march 5 (mExN): Dead body of a man (around 40 years) identified only as Rahul Choudhary was found inside a room at Kuda village in Dimapur on March 5. The victim is reportedly from Tripura and living alone, a press release from PRO, Dimapur Police said, adding the cause of death is suspected to be natural and the room was found locked from inside. The body has been kept at the District Hospital for Post Mortem examination. Claimant for the body or relatives and friends have been requested to contact East Police Station, Dimapur.

NPCC informs its officials, members Kohima, march 5 (mExN): AICC observers will participate in the commemoration of 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar cum Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee delegates’ leadership training programme scheduled to be held on March 11 and 12 at Congress Bhavan, Kohima. Therefore, NPCC Working President Ayang Aonok in a press release has requested all PCC Members, District Presidents, General Secretaries and all Frontals to participate in the training.

Seminar on energy conservation Kohima, march 5 (mExN): To create awareness on energy efficiency and conservation, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India and Nagaland State Designated Agency (NSDA) on energy conservation will conduct a seminar on March 9 at 12:00 noon at Japfu Christian College, Kigwema. Resource person from M/S Novotech Environmental Engineering Pvt Ltd, Kolkata will give a PowerPoint presentation on energy conservation to the college students.

Veterinary Aid Camp at Phesama

Kohima, march 5 (mExN): 164 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) (Home & Hearth) NAGA and 14 Field Mobile Veterinary Hospital conducted a Veterinary Aid Camp at Phesama village in Kohima on March 1 and treated 627 animals. According to a press release from PRO (Defence), Kohima, the villagers expressed gratitude to Commanding Officer and all ranks of 164 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) (Home & Hearth) NAGA and Capt Rahul Sharma, Medical Officer, 14 Field Mobile Veterinary Hospital for their assistance and contribution. Village Council Chairman Vimedo Chuse also expressed hope that Assistant Pastor, Koinonia more such Military Civic Action programme would Baptist Church shared on be organized in future, the release added. the topic ‘Spiritual nurture and growth’. Neibalie said lacking in the nurturing of Birthday GreetinGs sprit will lead to instability even if there is physical growth and that the word of God is the only way to nurture the spirit. Further, Turning 18 is amongst he added that the word of most beautiful things in life.

God, fellowship and prayer is the way of nurturing the I feel so blessed to have a sisspirit. Stating that growth ter like you. You’re simply comes from God, he called heaven-send. Thank God upon the people present for he brought you into this to nurture and depend on world because without you this world would be missing God for the growth.

Meanwhile, the or- a star! U shine even more ganising committee of the beautifully every year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Transformation Crusade has invited everyone to GROGEOUSLY BEAUTIattend the last day of the FUL SISTER. With lots of love n good crusade at Kohima Local Ground on March 6 and re- wishes Adi Imdang, Putu, ceive the blessings of God. Ajung & Aien

12-day Transformation Crusade in Kohima ends today

Kohima, march 5 (mExN): The 12-day Transformation Crusade in Kohima, which started on February 24, continues to draw thousands of worshippers every day, according to a press release received here.

On March 3, Rev. Neivotso Neikha, Mission Director, Northeast India, CRC was the speaker. Rev. Neivotso said that everyone needs a transformation today and that “we must not look to the idols of the world but to Jesus Christ.” Citing James 4:4, he exhorted the congregation that whoever is in friendship with the world needs deliverance, the press release informed.

Stressing that whatever one needs will be met

if one seeks His kingdom and righteousness first, he called upon everyone to confess their sins and make oneself clean to receive. Further Rev. Neivotso said that the truth will be known and it will set “us” free, while reminding that the truth is the gospel and the gospel is Jesus “who came and died for us and rose again.” Meanwhile, he told the congregation that the future depends on their decision and that God has prepared a place for all who took the right decision.

In the afternoon, Sungkum Jamir spoke on how to deal with alcoholics. Stressing on understanding the alcoholics, the rightful approach, he said that reviving their faith in prayer and meditation will improve

the conscious contact with God for their recovery.

Jamir also holds informal ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ meeting at his residence every Sunday evening at 3:30 pm with recovering addicts. For any further help, one may also contact 9612002938/ 9612935676.

Meanwhile, on March 4, Rev. Zotuo Kiewhuo, Pastor, Koinonia Baptist Church, the speaker, asserted that today the society needs a man like Moses and Paul. Terming the crusade as an uncompromised crusade, he forewarned of the manifestation that may occur after the crusade ends “because of the exposing and much destruction in the realm of the dark.” In this, he exhorted the congregation to be

equipped and render help.

Citing Colossians 3:23 (NKJV), he said all must do works for the Lord because there is a reward in Heaven for all of it. The attitude of “us” in doing good works, he stated, must be in tune with God as said in Deut.6:18 – “Do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord.” Rev. Zotuo added “we should not do to please man and one will receive reward if one has the right attitude towards God.” On March 5, Speaker Rokopra Mekro, Asst.

Pastor, Koinonia Baptist Church informed that the twelve day long crusade was organised to expose the “Devil’s machineries and expand the kingdom of God.” Mekro stated “we” can be “broken vessels”

walking a life enslaved in depression, frustration and rejecting oneself, but God wants to redesign that broken life and for that one has to surrender to God. “God is our beautician therefore and we must allow him to beautify us...We are God’s treasure and special in His sight and can never be in rejection if we come to God,” he asserted.

Quoting from John 8:34, “Whosoever committed sin is a servant of sin,” he stated that in the obedience of the word of God there is freedom and there is joy when one comes closer to God. In order to be successful person in life, “we should pray, hear the word of God and have faith,” he added.

Earlier in the afternoon session, Neibalie Kiewhuo,

Dearest Moala (Baby)

6

The Chalkboard

SunDAY 06•03•2016

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

_____________________________ Because Children Matters

Lets Get Busy Crafty Monster Bookmark

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his fun and simple bookmark came out of inspiration from Kari and Becky at UCreate. We all attended a conference a few weeks back and got to talking about how people come up with creative ideas. It can simply come from naming 2 supplies like googley eyes and pipe cleaners. Then Becky said how about a bookmark, so this Monster Bookmark idea was born. This would be a great gift for Dad for Father’s Day, along with one of our favorite books, What Dad’s Can’t Do by Douglas Wood.

WYour amazing child o W

Cut out a 3 inch x 5 1/2 inch rectangle out of cardstock paper. You’ll need to cut out the nose. You can use a razor blade, scissors, or a paper cutting tool. I made 2 slices down the middle. Then finished off the rounded nose using my scissors. Don’t go all the way through, keep the nose flapping in the center.

Learning to Read and Write

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amilies are their children's first teachers. As a family member you begin teaching your baUsing a couple of glue dots, glue the googley eyes bies about language as onto the top of the cut out nose. Then punch a hole at the top of the bookmark. Add a pipe cleaner through and twist it together. You can then bend or curl the top of the pipe cleaner to give it a silly look.

time your children are preschoolers, they know a lot about language. You have spent many hours listening, talking, reading, and writing with them.

you welcome them into Children learn about the world with smiles and caring words. You respond language when their famto your children's coos, ilies: • Listen and talk with babbles, early words, and their children a lot simple sentences. By the

• Read out loud to their children every day • Keep reading and writing materials where children can reach them on their own • Show children how they use reading and writing to learn, have fun, and get jobs done

Facts Corner

Sound Facts Supplies for a Monster Bookmark: • pipe cleaners • googley eyes • cardstock paper • glue (I love glue dots for this) • hole punch • scissors or paper cutting tool

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earn some interesting facts about sound that you might not have known. Understand how sound waves come from vibrations and how your ears give you the ability to hear them. Find out what the speed of sound is, how sound relates to music, the meaning of acoustics and much more.

Now it’s ready for a book to mark. If this is a gift for Father’s day, you can write a special note on the front or back of the bookmark, or even add stickers or ribbon to give it some flare.

Being Special Quotes every Special Needs Parent should read & share!

“Until you have a kid with needs.” – Uwe Maurer special needs you have no idea “One of the great things of the depth of your strength, tenacity and resourcefulness.” that any community can do is not teach tolerance, but live “Motherhood is about rais- tolerance, not talk respect, ing and celebrating the child but live inclusivity.” – Michael you have, not the child you Pritchard thought you would have. It’s “Parents of children with about understanding that he special needs create their is exactly the person he is supposed to be and that, if you’re own world of happiness and lucky, he just might be the believe in things that others teacher who turns you into the cannot yet see.” person you are supposed to “Most people see what is, be. – Joan Ryan” and never see what can be”“We have no special needs Albert Einstein “Our minds are as differchildren. Just children…with ent as our faces; we are all special travelling to one destination-

happiness; but few are going ciate small victories, there is things that by the same road.” no need for a finish line.” happen in our lives put us directly on “The best and most beau“The sources of hope are the path to the best thinks that tiful things in the world can- the the sources of life itself. will ever happen to us.” not be seen or even touched- That’s why hope persists, even “Storms make oaks take They must be felt with the when experience reason, heart.” – Helen Keller and knowledge all say there roots”- proverb is no reason to hope. Hope “I wanted a perfect end“As special needs parents we does not calculate odds… don’t have the power to make it is prepared for either sun- ing. Now I’ve learned the hard life “fair,” but we do have the ny or stormy weather. To way, that some poems don’t rhyme and some stories don’t power to make life joyful.” choose hope is to choose life. have a clear beginning, mid“Sometimes I just stop and To choose hope is to choose dle, and end. Life is about not thank God, for having differ- love.- Chicko N. Okazaki knowing, having to change, ent plans for me than I had for “The disability is not the taking the movement and myself. I have been blessed problem. The accessibility is the making the best of it, without with a miracle.” knowing what’s going to happroblem”- Mohamed Jemni pen next. Delicious Ambigu“Once you learn to appre“Sometimes the difficult ity.” –Gilda Radner

Once Upon a time ...

BELLING THE CAT

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he Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan

to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she

was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived

in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said: "I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."

All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought

hidden pictures Winter Find the hidden object

of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said: "I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good.

But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"

Moral: It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.

• Sound comes from vibrations. These vibrations create sound waves which move through mediums such as air and water before reaching our ears.

• Our ears vibrate in a similar way to the original source of the vibration, allowing us to hear many different sounds.

• Dogs can hear sound at a higher frequency than humans, allowing them to hear noises that we can’t.

• Sound is used by many animals to detect danger, warning them of possible attacks before they happen.

• Sound can’t travel through a vacuum (an area empty of matter).

• The speed of sound is around 767 miles per hour (1,230 kilometres per hour).

• The loud noise you create by cracking a whip occurs because the tip is moving so fast it breaks the speed of sound!

• When traveling through water, sound moves around four times faster than when it travels through air.

• The scientific study of sound waves is known as acoustics.

• Although music can be hard to define, it is often described as a pleasing or meaningful arrangement of sounds.

• The sound of thunder is produced by rapidly heated air surrounding lightning which expands faster than the speed of sound.

FAITH LEAF

SunDAY 06•03•2016

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES, MESSAGES, POEMS & SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

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I know that my Redeemer lives Selie Visa Scripture passage: "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes-- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:23-27 It is well with my soul: In 1873, a Christian lawyer from Chicago named Horatio Spafford placed his wife and four children on the luxury liner Ville de Havre sailing from New York to France. Spafford expected to join them in about three or four weeks after finishing some business. But except for his wife he never saw them again. The trip started beautifully. But on the evening of November 21, 1873, as the Ville de Havre proceeded peacefully across the Atlantic, the ship was suddenly struck by another vessel, the Lochern, and sank a mere thirty minutes later, with the loss of nearly all on board.

On being told that the ship was sinking, Mrs. Spafford knelt with her children and prayed that they might be saved or be made willing to die, if such was God's will. A few minutes later, in the confusion, three of the children were swept away by the rising waves while she stood clutching the youngest. Suddenly the youngest child was swept from her arms. She reached out and caught the baby's gown. Then the baby, a little girl, was lost again. Mrs. Spafford became unconscious and awoke later to find that she had been rescued by sailors from the Lochern. But her four children were gone.

Back in New York, Horatio Spafford was waiting for news of his family. And at last, ten days later (after the rescue ship had reached Cardiff), it came. "Saved alone" was his wife's cable message. That night Spafford walked the floor of his rooms in anguish, as anyone would have done. But this was not all. For as he shared his loss with his Lord, a loss which could not be reversed in this life, he found, as many have, that peace which passes all understanding. Toward morning he told a friend named Major Whittle, "I am glad to be able to trust my Lord when it costs me something."

Spafford left the next day for England to be with his wife. When his ship came to the place where the Ville de Havre was rammed and sunk -- where his four precious children were lost to him in this world -- he leaned upon the rail and thought these words that he later wrote into a hymn: "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea-billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him: Spafford said: "I am glad to be able to trust my lord when it costs me something." In these words of Spafford echoes the words of Job about God even as he sat in his pain on the dung heap – “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.”

Job 13:15 Job spoke quite literally of how his family and friends had turned against him. In any society nothing hurts more than rejection by one's family and friends, but what could be worse in a patriarchal society than to have children ridicule the patriarch?

He knew he was innocent and sought above all else

to be vindicated. His compassionless counselors had reiterated their impersonal theology that declared him guilty. He felt that God was angry with him and had become the enemy who attacked and crushed him.

He perceived that he was alone in a cruel and amoral world. There was no one left who understood, no one to plead his cause or bear witness to his innocence.

Deserted by loved ones, Job needed radical friendship, not theological banter. Job's appeal failed. His counselors had deserted him. Believing that he was at the point of death, Job felt he had nothing to lose by speaking out. With no hope left of proving his righteousness, Job looked to the future, leaving his case with posterity.

Job's hope in the midst of despair reached a climax.

Slandered by his friends and with death imminent, Job looked to the future where his Defender waited. Job saw himself a murder victim. He depended on his Redeemer to testify for him but also to set the books straight. God, who had become his enemy, would become his friend.

Our Redeemer does live: Job sees that there is a Redeemer. He sees God's love and justice beyond his present conditions. "And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God." If Satan was the public prosecutor trying Job's faith, then there must be a public defender to plead Job's case. If God is a holy judge -- far removed from our sinful condition, then there must be a mediator to bridge the chasm between God’s throne and human need. Job knows that his Redeemer lives and that this Redeemer will someday stand upon the earth.

Our redeemer does live and he has stood upon the earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Not one of us knows what the Believing in God’s righteousness: future holds. But we do know who holds the future. So we Job has lost everything that he has treasured--his can say, whatever comes, "it is well with my soul."

God, the friend of the innocent: He believed in God's power to raise the dead and had a desire and hope that God would set a time and raise him and then he would see God with his own eyes.

Job expected to see God. Job was convinced that even if he died, he would live again to witness his own vindication.

As an innocent sufferer, he finally realized that God himself would appear to him, whom he would see with his own eyes; then Job would learn that his God was not alienated or unconcerned but was his friend.

Emotion will never sustain devotion

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Perry Noble

et’s be honest, there are times when it is really easy to follow Jesus, and then there are times when it is really difficult.

For example, when I am in a worship service and the song is powerful, it’s easy to follow Jesus.

When I am sitting on the beach, listening to the waves and looking at the ocean, it’s easy to follow Jesus.

When I am sitting on my back deck on a cool winter morning with a cup of coffee in my hands and watching the sunrise, it’s easy to follow Jesus.

But …

Let someone cut me off in traffic …

Or someone get in the 10 items or less line with 12 items …

Or, hypothetically, let American Airlines lose my wife’s luggage …

And then it’s not easy to follow Christ.

So, how do we follow Jesus—even when we don’t feel like it?

That’s a GREAT QUESTION … and, I think the answer is found in a hymn I remember singing in church when I There are times when it is really easy to follow Jesus, and then there are times when it is rewas a child … ally difficult.

“I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.”

Following Jesus isn’t something we determine based on how we may feel in a particular moment in time, but rather a daily decision to follow Christ—EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD. Many times the breakthrough we want happens AFTER we make the DECISION to follow Christ, and then continue to do so even when it seems nearly impossible and others think we are crazy.

So, if you are having a tough time— it doesn’t mean you are ungodly, it means you are human—and the BEST THING we can do when we experience something like this is sing this hymn over and over again in our mind— knowing that tough times should not push us away from Christ, but rather draw us closer to Him. Perry Noble is the founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina. The church averages 26,000 people during weekend services at multiple campuses throughout the state. Perry is a gifted communicator and teacher, convicted about speaking the truth as plainly as possible. God has given him a vision and a passion for helping people meet Jesus, and each week he shares God’s word and its practical application in our daily lives.

What Ruined Contemporary Worship

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Don Chapman

or most of my life I’ve been a huge advocate of contemporary worship. I nearly got thrown out of the church I grew up in because in my early 20s I formed an ensemble that sang the dangerous, worldly and mind-blowingly contemporary song called “Carry the Torch” for the Sunday night “special music” (here’s a Youtube video of the song from some church somewhere— our version probably didn’t sound much different). The pastor then had to preach a message about me the following week to assure the congregation I wasn’t of the devil.

Needless to say I’m thrilled that the nonsense of the traditional worship wars have died off. Isn’t it wonderful to have the freedom to do just about any music you want these days?

(Yes, even dance-pop!)

So for most of the mid’90s to the mid 2000s things were great—you still had spiritually minded worship directors who were doing the job because of a calling (certainly not for the salary, because there wasn’t much of one). According to my poll, less than 20 percent of church music directors are full time, even in this day and age.

But then something happened that has absolutely ruined contemporary worship: the CCM industry collapsed.

In CCM’s heyday, a young, hopeful artist would make her way to Nashville, get plugged into a church (probably Christ Community in Franklin,) make connections, stumble upon a record deal, make a CD and start touring with a more established CCM artist. Those days are over for the most part.

As the CCM industry started to die in the mid 2000s, young, hopeful artists would still move to Nashville looking for a deal. They’d even attend Belmont,

make an independent CD since they couldn’t get a deal, fail and end up in a worship leader job.

Now a young, hopeful CCM artist who really has no interest in being a worship leader goes straight into a worship leading job so he can make a living in music—there are simply no record deals to be had. Incidentally, I just heard about a famous worship leader who has “made

it” to the point that they no longer have to be tied to their church. So they’ve left their worship leading job, hoping to live the life of a ’90s CCM artist. We’ll see how long that lasts.

This explains the craziness of today’s megachurch contemporary worship.

Seriously, it’s insane. I can’t tell you the megachurches I’ve visited where I have never heard five of the six songs in their

One perspective on some of the difficulties facing modern worship praise sets. Let me elaborate: I consider myself somewhat of an expert in worship music, make my living arranging worship music, and have never heard most of the worship songs in megachurch praise sets.

How does this happen? An article I posted this week says it succinctly: To be thoroughly contemporary necessitates a slavish allegiance to the new, the current, the hip, the cool and the commercial.

Contemporary worship leaders aren’t

family, his farm, his wealth and his health. He has only one thing left -- his certainty that he is innocent. He has done nothing to deserve this. He has suffered far more than he could ever have deserved. It was not fair. It was not right.

Job was a prosperous man. He had a large and happy family whom he loved. He was also a good man. In fact, in all the earth there was none better. That is why Satan sought permission by God to try Job's faith. Satan not only takes away Job's children and possession.

But when this fails to make Job curse God, he covers Job from head to toe with a loathsome and painful skin disease. Job's condition is so miserable that his wife urges him to curse God and die. But he rebukes her and accepts his condition as coming from God -- whom he refuses to criticize. Job's friends are no more help than his wife. Soon he is left alone. Although Job can see no justice in his present situation, he believes God's ultimate righteous character.

leading worship—they’re performing it. That’s why they must have new songs every week. A friend of mine is a hipster guitarist in a megachurch and even he is sick and tired of the constant onslaught of new songs. But then again, his worship leader is … a failed CCM artist who has ended up in a worship leader job. The guitarist laughed: “Can we not repeat at least ONE song that’s six months old?”

It’s a bizarre insecurity on the rock star worship leader’s part—he’s terrified of repeating a six-month-old song for fear

of being dated and out of touch.

This also explains the ridiculous, unsingable keys of modern worship. The rock star worship leader, most likely a high tenor, must pitch the songs in the perfect key to fit his voice. And those keys unfortunately are not accessible by the mere mortals in the congregation (not that they could sing those songs anyway since they’re all new every week and nobody knows them).

Glenn Packiam urges us to not paint all megachurches with a broad brush. Glenn, I hear you, and I can imagine there are megachurches out there, somewhere, who are doing things right.

But gee whiz—the megachurches I visit, all across the country, all seem to have this same rampant rock star problem. It’s not the songs—it’s the performers who are more interested in their hipness (how they look, how they sound and what they sing) than helping people connect to God in worship.

This problem is not exclusive to megachurches, either. However, if I’m visiting a megachurch, it’s usually one of the top 25 in the country—the ones hosting conferences and setting the precedents smaller churches are copying.

Is change in the air? From blogs and social media, I’ve read countless articles in the past few months where those mere mortals in the congregation are fed up—and speaking out. Change unfortunately won’t take place until pastors stop hiring those exciting rock stars and start hiring true worship leaders and directors who are called.

Arranger/composer Don Chapman is the creative energy behind several websites devoted to contemporary worship: HymnCharts, WorshipFlow, and WorshipIdeas.com. He's the editor of the weekly WorshipIdeas newsletter that is read by over 50,000 worship leaders across the world.

How to fight addiction in a pornographic culture Voddie Baucham Desiring God

In five minutes, Voddie Baucham exposes the pornographic nature of our culture and provides men and women with a key tool necessary to fight addiction

T

he following is a lightly edited transcript.

Young men and women struggle with pornography. I think one of our greatest mistakes is that we talk about pornography only in terms of young men. There are young women who struggle with pornography. Not in the same way, not in the same numbers, but it is real.

We live in a pornographic culture and that is one of the things that makes it very difficult. We have been so inundated with pornography and as a result we are desensitized to pornography. The line at which we will say, “That is pornographic,” has been drawn so far out into the realm of the inappropriate that we have people who dress pornographically and they are not bothered by it and we are not bothered by it anymore.

One thing that I say to people in this area is that we need to recognize that we are living in a pornographic culture. The reason I say that is because part of dealing with the root of pornography is acknowledging the fact that we have been desensitized to it.

Let’s say that there is a pornography scale of one to ten and ten is full on—I am engaging in the worst examples and extremes of pornography. Well, I think culturally we probably live every day around a three or four, just in commercials and just in the things that we become desensitized to.

So if I am living at a three or four and a five or a six really doesn’t bother me anymore, then when I get to a nine, my goal in dealing with somebody who is at a nine is not to say, “Come back to a five or six.” My goal with them is to say, “I want you to recognize not just that this is an issue, but that even those things that are down here in the areas that we are not even bothered by are issues.” Not so that the person becomes afraid of looking around, but so that the person becomes aware of their need for Christ to cleanse their minds, not just of the website where I am watching pornographic sex, but also of my lack of sensitivity to those everyday examples of pornography that are around me.

If I go on accepting them and am no longer bothered by them, to that degree I am setting myself up so that the leap from that five to that nine is a very short leap. It is not just so that I won’t leap over into the worst of pornography. But it is so that I can understand the dignity inherent in human beings made in the image of God and how my embrace of a pornographic understanding of my fellow man, my fellow woman, is the embrace of the destruction of their dignity.

If I see a young woman who is presenting herself in a pornographic way and that is not bothering me, I have just said something about the dignity of that woman, as made in the image of Christ. Until that becomes an issue for me—not in the sense of walking around with my eyes blocked off, but in the sense of asking for God’s grace and asking him to appropriate that grace in me even at that level—until I am there, I am not really dealing with this issue of pornography. And ultimately, when it comes down to it, not only is it that issue of the inherent dignity and value of human beings made in the image of God—the not defrauding my brother and my sister—but also this idolatry of believing that it is OK to use another human being in order to gratify myself in any way, sexual or otherwise.

So what I want to do when dealing with this issue of pornography is to uproot and uncover all of that so that we cannot just have this sort of legalistic response: I am not going to do that and I am going to put things in place so that I don’t do that anymore.

We need a response that goes all the way back to the cleansing of our minds to be able to appreciate one another as being made in the image of God and not just accepting this ordinary pornographic predisposition that has become so normal.

Voddie Baucham (@VoddieBaucham) is dean of the seminary at African Christian University and previously served as Pastor of Preaching at Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, TX. He has authored numerous books, academic journals, and magazine articles.

Readers may please note that, the contents of the articles published on this page do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

8

SundAY 06•03•2016

INDIA

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

indian women reclaim public spaces, defying male critics MUMBAI, MArch 5 (ThoMson reUTers FoUndATIon): It began with two Indian women hanging out on Mumbai streets in defiance after a series of violent crimes against women. It has since grown and even spread to Pakistan, as women assert their right to public spaces in male-dominated societies.

The Why Loiter? street campaign was inspired by a book of the same name, that examined the risks for women on Mumbai's streets. It came as an intense spotlight fell on women's safety in India following the 2012 fatal gang rape of a student on a bus in Delhi and the 2014 rape of a woman by her Uber taxi driver in Delhi.

While the 2012 gang rape triggered massive protests and led to the tightening of rape laws in India, some of the reaction to it and the Uber rape blamed the victims, said Sameera Khan, co-author of Why Loiter?

"It's the same blame game every time: why was she out that time of night?

Why was she alone? Or who was she with? It's all so hostile, and made out to be the victim's fault," said Khan in Mumbai.

"But why is it okay for women to only be out at certain times or for certain reasons? Why should anyone question a woman's right to be in a public space

at any time?"

The number of rapes in India rose by 9 percent to 33,707 in 2014, according to official data. The country's conservative and patriarchal attitudes mean victims of sexual assault are often shunned by their families and communities and blamed for the violence perpetrated against them, say activists and lawyers.

While the numbers of working women and female students are on the rise in India, it is unusual to see women out by themselves at night. In a Thomson Reuters Foundation poll of 15 of the world's major cities, Delhi ranked as having the fourth most dangerous transport systems for women.

Mumbai, India's financial hub, is regarded as being safer, but attitudes toward women in public spaces are just as conservative, said Neha Singh.

Singh leads women on walks and bicycle rides in various parts of the city with other women, and curates a blog called Why Loiter? The women have encountered men who follow them and heckle them, and policemen telling them to go home.

"The concept that women, like men, can just be loitering in a public space, without doing anything else, is so alien

NatioN Briefs

Sonia 'unwell', say Cong sources new delhI, MArch 5 (PTI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi today skipped the first-ever Women Legislators' Conference organised here as she is "unwell".

The Congress chief was to address the inaugural session of the Conference along with Speaker of Bangladesh legislature Shirin Chaudhary, Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Party sources said Gandhi could not participate in the Conference organised by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan as "she is unwell". The meet aims at providing a platform to women legislators across the country to interact and learn from their counterparts, women Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, MPs and eminent women in the judiciary and bureaucracy.

Woman gang-raped by former colleague, his friend GUrGAon, MArch 5 (IAns): A 21-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped on Wednesday by her former colleague and his friend after being lured by the promise of help in finding a job, a police officer said here. A case of gang-rape has been registered against Keshav and Karn Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hawa Singh said on Saturday. Both the accused are about 24 years old. The victim hails from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh and has been living in a village near Manesar in Guragon district of Haryana, Hawa Singh said. The victim said in her complaint that she had worked for a few months with Keshav in an insurance company.

"Now I was jobless and Keshav said he was arranging to find me a job. He called me at IMT Manesar Chowk on March 2 for an interview in a company," the woman said in her complaint. "I was taken to an isolated area on Faridabad road and sexually assaulted in the moving car," she said. "We have registered a case of gang-rape and are investigating it further," Hawa Singh said. No arrest has been made yet.

Cartridge cases found in luggage, two NRI women detained KolKATA, MArch 5 (PTI): Two NRI women passengers were today detained at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose international airport here after empty cartridge cases were found in their luggage. The CISF personnel detected the cartridge cases while scanning the handbag of Piyali Dey and her daughter Anamika, who were scheduled to board an Emirates flight to Dubai on their onward journey to Italy, a police officer of Airport Police station said. The mother-daughter duo, who are being interrogated, are residents of France.

Proposal of taxing EPF withdrawal likely to see partial rollback new delhI, MArch 5 (IAns): Following widespread concern over the proposed tax on withdrawal from the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) contributions, the goverenment is contemplating to give relief to people but without a complete rollback, said informed sources. According to sources, a meeting between the officials of Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the finance ministry and the labour ministry took place on late Thursday and discussed the EPF tax issue. The RSSaffiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which has also opposed the proposal and demanded a complete rollback, also said that government is considering their demand."We are talking to government representatives and they are considering our concern. We are in regular touch with them. We hope some announcement in a day or two," BMS general secretary Vijesh Upadhyay told IANS. The BMS leaders have met Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and some other government representatives in this regard.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to make the announcement when he replies to the debate on the Budget in parliament. In his budget speech on February 29, Jaitley said that 60% of withdrawals from the provident fund accounts will be taxed on contributions to be made after April 1. The aim is to make India a more insured and pensioned society, he said.

Conflict is a great equaliser, say female war correspondents new delhI, MArch 5 (IAns): Men think women are weaker, but that is not true, especially in the context of surviving in or reporting from conflict zones, say women from such areas or women correspondents with experience of reporting there.

Participating in a panel discussion on the topic "Conflict, Gender and Media" organised by the International Association of Women in Radio & Television, independent filmmakers Iffat Fatima (Delhi), Shahd J.S. Al Hindi (Palestine), Samah Al Khwaja (Palestine) and journalist Patricia Mukhim (The Shillong Times) discussed the challenges faced by women living in conflict zones, while journalists Suhasini Haider (The Hindu), Maya Mirchandani (NDTV), Ellen Barry (New York Times) and Aunohita Mojumdar meanwhile related their experiences as war correspondents. The two sessions were moderated by veteran journalists Pamela Philipose

and Nupur Basu respectively.

Speaking of the challenges women living in conflict areas face, Mukhim said that trials and tribulations faced by women in the conflict zones seldom come to the fore as women have no voice. “The conflict is thought to be a 'man' thing. So women have no voice,” she said, adding the mainstream media dehumanises the conflict.

Speaking about conflict in Kashmir, Fatima said that what troubled her most - and many others like her - was the “normalisation of militarisation”. “Militarisation is complete lack of imagination,” she said. Haider, Mirchandani, Barry and Mojumdar described the challenges they faced while covering conflict, which is considered a men-only affair. Barry said that perceptions about women covering war and conflict were changing and now most of the world's leading news organisations were not hesitant to deploy female journalists in conflict zones.

A woman speaks on the phone on a special train for ladies while travelling in Mumbai, where there are two trains every day except Sundays, that are reserved only for women. (Reuters Photo)

Air India to fly longest flight with all-women crew

to them," she said.

"They immediately think she must be a prostitute or somehow inviting trouble and must be told off or sent home," said Singh, after a rehearsal of a play called Loitering, to be staged on March 8 to mark International Women's Day. The campaign has prompted a demand to relax curfews in Indian colleges, where women have stricter curfews than men, and a movement in Paki-

new delhI, MArch 5 (IAns): Air India will commemorate International Women's Day on March 8 by operating the longest all-women flight on its longest route on Sunday. The Delhi-San Francisco flight, which will cover 7,831 nautical miles (approximately 14,500 km) in a total of 17 hours, is the first long-distance flight wholly operated and supported by an allwomen crew, an airline official claimed.

The flight will be managed by a 14-member crew, apart from the four pilots led by Captain Kshamta Bajpai. The flight dispatchers and flight engineer will be women, while the line safety and safety audit will be conducted by women and the

stan called Girls@Dhabas, referring to the no-frills restaurants typically frequented by young men.

In India, recent campaigns including #SelfiewithDaughter and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Beti padhao, beti bachao' (educate your daughter, save your daughter) have helped increase awareness of women's rights.

New Delhi is now one of 25 cities which are part of the United Nations' safe cit-

ies project, with measures to improve street lighting, install toilets, set up helplines and strengthen laws on sexual harassment.

Municipal officials however, admit that ending sexual violence will also need sustained public campaigns that dispel sexism and challenge gender stereotypes.

"We cannot, as a nation, claim progress until women can feel safe anywhere at anytime," said Singh.

load and trim staff will also be women.

The aircraft used is Boeing 777-LR which is scheduled to take off at 02.35 a.m. on Sunday morning from Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport and travel at an average speed of 500 km per hour. It will return here on the International Women's Day on Tuesday.

Additionally, the national carrier will operate 20 domestic flights with all-women crew on March 8. Air India was the first airline to operate an all-women flight way back in 1985 to mark International Women's Day, and last year it operated two allwomen crew flights on the domestic and two on the international sectors.

SC will ensure laws conform to Constitution: Judge Disturbing inputs' about terror AhMedABAd, MArch 5 (PTI): The Supreme Court is the "ultimate arbiter" of the Constitution and it will ensure laws passed by Parliament conform to the statute book and they are "faithfully obeyed", a judge of the apex court said today.

"We (SC), as a body, are given the greatest power to see that the law (enacted by Parliament) conforms to the Constitution and are faithfully obeyed. I have no doubt that this institution will always stand up to this great task," Justice Rohinton Nariman said while delivering a lecture on 'Judiciary least dangerous branch?' here.

He maintained that Indian judiciary had been conferred enough power by Constitution to ensure that verdict delivered by it is enforced by the Executive.

The Constitution gives the SC the "power of complete justice in every cause of matter," and "every authority in this country is bound to enforce its judgement", he said.

Justice Nariman said being the final court, the SC has lived up to the expectations of the founding fathers of the Constitution by ensuring people's rights are protected in "both ordinary and extraordinary times".

"Not only do we have Article 32

(the right to Constitutional remedies), but also a very important Article 145(3), which, to the best of my knowledge, is not in any of other Constitution (in the world). The Article makes this branch (SC) the ultimate arbiter of the Constitution.

"A minimum of five judges will tell us what the Constitution means," he said, delivering the 11th Justice P D Desai Memorial Lecture here.

"Apart from this, the High Courts have been given vast power under Article 226, and the Supreme Court has very vast appellate jurisdiction under the Article 126, perhaps the vastest in the world," Justice Nariman said.

Andhra minister's son booked for harassing woman hyderABAd, MArch 5 (IAns): Hyderabad police on Saturday booked an Andhra Pradesh minister's son and his driver for misbehaving with a woman.

Ravela Sushil -- son of Andhra Pradesh Minister for Social and Tribal Welfare Ravela Kishore Babu -- and his driver Ramesh were booked for stalking under section 354(D) of the Nirbhaya Act. The action came within hours after police served notice to Sushil under section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Sushil has been asked to appear before Banjara Hills police station.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Venkateswar Rao said that if he failed to appear within 48 hours, action will be taken according to the law.

The police officer denied that there was any attempt to shield the minister's son in the case. Two police teams have also been constituted to track him down.

The police swung into action after women's groups threatened to launch an agitation if Sushil was not booked and arrested. Another police officer said the minister conveyed to the police that his son was ready to give himself

up before the police.

Earlier, a case for harassing a woman was registered on Friday against Sushil's driver M. Appa Rao. The incident had occurred on Thursday evening in posh Banjara Hills neighbourhood when Sushil, sitting in his car, allegedly intercepted a woman, held her hand and tried to drag her inside.

The woman said the driver passed lewd comments and both of them asked her to sit in the car.

After the woman called for help, locals manhandled the two. Both were later brought to the police station. On her complaint,

police registered an FIR only against driver Appa Rao but let off Sushil.

Some television channels broke the story on Friday and reported that the minister's son was not named in the FIR. A counter-case has been registered against the mob on a complaint

by Appa Rao who alleged that his owner's son was attacked by a few people.

Meanwhile, the minister said whether the crime took place or not will be established during police investigation.

Kishore Babu has made it clear that nobody will interfere in the case.

attack, says Army commander

PAThAnKoT, MArch 5 (PTI): There are some "disturbing" inputs about a terror attack in India aimed at creating the "maximum media impact" during the Shivratri festival and the ongoing Parliament session, a top army commander disclosed here on Saturday with an assurance that steps have been taken to deal with it "There are security-related problems today. You know, Maha Shivratri is coming. There are inputs which are disturbing but notwithstanding that extra care has been taken," Western Army Commander Lt Gen K J Singh told reporters here on the sidelines of a function When asked to elaborate, he refused but said such events are planned to create "maximum media impact" "See elaboration is neither required nor warranted. These events (terror attacks) are planned to create maximum media impact and when can you create a media impact when Parliament is in session, when a festival is taking place, so both happen to be going on.. So that is why, there are inputs but we have taken steps against that. I must assure you of that," he said The General Officer

Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Western Command went on to add that such "mischievous" activities will not deter a great nation as the Indian Army is fully geared to meet any eventuality "We want to tell whoever has got this mischievous intentions that nothing can deter us, one Pathankot, one Arnia, one Janglot, once more Samba, cannot deter us. This nation is too great. Indian army is fully organised. We will take care of every situation," Lt Gen Singh said When asked about inputs that some Pakistanbased terrorist commanders were in touch with their Kashmiri counterparts, he said, "there are certain inputs. There are certain indications. I should only tell you this much that we are fully prepared for that."

With regard to the detection of a tunnel in Jammu on the International Border with Pakistan, he said it had helped avert a major terror attack He added that a survey will be carried out in all the border areas to see if there are any more such tunnels, for which a team of officials of Home Ministry and other security agencies has been formed.

Kanhaiya may prove to be dangerous opponent of BJP Amulya Ganguli

A

IANS

pattern appears to have evolved in parliament with Rahul Gandhi sticking to his postsabbatical practice of breathing fire and Narendra Modi making a sober, if occasionally sarcastic, response befitting his age and stature.

Last Thursday, Modi's derision was more acidic than ever when he hinted that Rahul had grown in years but not in wisdom.

It was a jibe which recalled Winston Churchill's somewhat more sophisticated dig about Clement Attlee being a modest man with much to be modest about.

However, if the Congress has quietly gulped the virtual insult, the reason is that the heir apparent's diatribes have begun to sound rehearsed, an impression which was confirmed by the fact that Rahul has begun to look rather too frequently at a written script.

The Congress vice-president also has to realise that more than anger, it is humour and mockery which

draw cheers. No one demonstrated this oratorical aptitude more than Kanhaiya Kumar, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader, whose speech at the campus following his release from jail has overshadowed what was said in parliament.

Kanhaiya is likely to prove to be a more dangerous opponent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the near future than almost all the other present-day opposition politicians since he reflects Arvind Kejriwal's chutzpah without the latter's baggage of a querulous nature and a less than shining record in governance.

Modi may have also played into his hands by avoiding all the controversies which have put his government on the back foot.

Among them is the use of the charge of sedition as a political tool, as the JNU student union president has alleged.

But these issues have been in the air for quite some time. It is the unrest in the universities like JNU, Hyderabad and Jadavpur,

BJP leader expelled for offering money to cut Kanhaiya's tongue BAdAUn (UP), MArch 5 (PTI): The BJP Yuva Morcha leader, who had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for cutting off JNU Students union leader Kanhaiya Kumar's tongue, was today expelled from primary membership of the party for six years.The president of district unit of BJP, Harish Shakya, said that the party has expelled district president of BJP Yuva Morcha, Kuldeep Varshnay for six years. Shakya told reporters that party has nothing to do with Varshnay's controversial statement. Varshnay had yesterday announced Rs 5 lakh prize money for cutting off the tongue of Kanhaiya Kumar. who he had alleged Kanhaiya Kumar, a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student union leader, shouts slogans before addressing a meet was speaking against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ever since he was released on bail. in New Delhi, India on March 3. (Reuters Photo) which have hit the headlines in recent weeks along with the renewed "hate speeches" of saffron hardliners which have been seen as the BJP's preparatory exercise for the coming round of elections.

His intervention was also needed in dousing the tension aroused by the speeches of Union Minister of State Ram Shankar Katheria, which showed how Hindu communalism continues to simmer within the BJP. In this context, what is strangeisthepromptnesswith which Union Home Minister

Rajnath Singh gave a clean chit to Katheria although he had left no stones unturned to snare Kanhaiya in the sedition charge although his efforts have now been nullified by the high court.

It is Modi's inability to deal with blatant biases of this nature in favour of the culpable saffronites which have led to criticism from the US government and the Western media and academics, as at the time when the "intolerance" of the present dispensation was being talked about.

If he is unwilling or un-

able to do so, Kanhaiya's charge that every tactical and strategic move of the Hindutva camp is manipulated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will begin to ring true.

It is not without reason that the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat, has chosen this moment to say that everyone should be encouraged to chant Bharat Mata ki jai, a favourite slogan of the ABVP and the saffron camp. Evidently, the RSS does want the focus to shift from the "anti-nationalism" of the faculty and students in the

"dens" of extremism in JNU and Hyderabad, as several BJP ministers have alleged.

There is little doubt that Modi is the only BJP leader who will be listened to, for the collapse of the sedition charge against Kanhaiya has eroded the credibility of the likes of Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani. The latter is also involved in a privilege motion for having misled parliament. The confrontation between the former chaiwallah and the student from a poor family in Bihar will be widely watched inside and outside the country.

SundaY 06•03 •2016

WORLD

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

9

Arrest of Lula, hero to millions, in corruption probe stuns Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, MARch 5 (REutERs): Rising from a shoeshine boy to become Brazil's first working class president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is a hero to millions of Brazilians and the very face of change in Latin America's biggest country.

His detention for questioning on Friday in a massive corruption probe may also make him a symbol for many Brazilians of another trend: the end of impunity for the nation's powerful.

A 70-year-old metalworker and union leader who governed Brazil from 2003 until 2010, Lula presided over an economic boom that raised Brazil's profile on the world stage, lifted more than 40 million people out of poverty and enabled him to hand pick a successor candidate, President Dilma Rousseff.

But that has all fizzled, with Brazil in recession, Rousseff scrambling for political survival and millions of Brazilians lamenting a lost chance for their country to enter the ranks of developed nations.

Now, prosecutors allege that Lula's administration oversaw a huge kickback scheme through Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras that provided funding for the campaigns that kept his Workers' Party in power for the past 13 years.

"We could never have imagined what's happening now in Brazil," said Gil Castello Branco, founder of Contas Abertas, a government accountability watchdog in the capital, Brasilia. "Civil society is now truly be-

lieving in a new era, with less corruption and impunity."

Lula was not formally charged on Friday and was released after three hours of questioning by police.

But prosecutors say there is strong evidence that illicit money was used to finance Workers' Party campaigns and that Lula received payments and favours from companies in exchange for contracts with Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the company is officially known.

Lula has denied breaking any laws.

After his release on Friday, he appeared at the Workers' Party headquarters and returned to the fiery rhetoric that marked his rise as a labour leader. He characterized his detention as a "media show" and said he would "hold his head high" to fight what he considers a political witch hunt.

"Today is the day of indignation. It's the day of a lack of democratic respect, the day of authoritarianism," Lula told a crowded room of cheering supporters. "I felt like a political prisoner this morning."

'FOREVER CHANGE BRAZIL' Prosecutors said the kickback investigation has yielded no evidence that Rousseff broke any laws.

But the president, whose approval ratings have spent much of the last year in single digits, already faces a court probe into financing of her 2014 re-election campaign and separate impeachment proceedings in Congress over budget rules.

In November, when the

Former Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva waves to supporters as he arrives at his apartment building after being detained for questioning in a federal investigation of a bribery and money laundering scheme in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 4, 2016. (Reuters Photo/Paulo Whitaker)

Petrobras investigation escalated with the arrests of more than 20 business leaders, Rousseff said the probe could "forever change Brazil" and must "hurt whoever must be hurt."

Little could injure the ruling party more than a criminal conviction for Lula, who

remains its figurehead.

He has weathered previous corruption scandals, including revelations in 2005 of a massive vote-buying scheme in Congress that nearly ended his first term.

Since then, scandals have brought the downfall of key

aides and ruling party operatives. Slowly but surely that has spelt a stunning reversal of fortune for a political movement that won power after decades of fighting Brazil's entrenched elites.

Lula's ascent was a storybook tale that many came to see as a

metaphor for modern Brazil.

Rising from an impoverished infancy in Brazil's northeast and a childhood migration to the industrial suburbs of São Paulo, he worked as a shoeshine boy and laundry clerk before completing a vocational course that got him a job in a car factory.

His gruff but magnetic personality enabled him to rise in Brazil's labour movement, which led massive strikes against a military dictatorship that finally fell in the mid1980s. Lula voiced the anger of a working class that powered Latin America's biggest economy even as it remained marginalized.

As Brazil returned to democracy, Lula helped found the Workers' Party and in 1986 was elected to Congress with more votes than any other legislator.

He ran for president three times unsuccessfully as most of Brazil's middle- and upper-classes viewed him, with his rants against the rich elite, as a radical.

In 2002, he shifted course, donning suits, trimming his beard and promising to respect Brazil's financial commitments. His election coincided with the start of a decadelong commodities boom during which China ravenously bought Brazil's iron ore, oil, soybeans and other exports.

Lula leveraged soaring exports to expand welfare and encourage lending by public banks, policies that created millions of jobs and sparked a consumer boom. He raised Brazil's profile globally, strengthening diplomatic ties

with other developing nations and luring marquee sports events, like the 2014 World Cup and the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

When he left office in 2011, with approval ratings over 80 percent, he had successfully ensured the election of Rousseff, his hand-picked successor.

DARK SIDE Soon, though, a dark side of the Lula legacy began to emerge. The commodities boom faded and Brazil's economy soured, revealing how little the country had done to diversify during the good times. Economic growth of 7.5 percent in 2010 steadily ground to a halt.

In 2013, demonstrations erupted nationwide as Brazilians protested against everything from poor public services to corruption and the billions of dollars being spent on sports events. Shortly thereafter, police began following questionable money trails that led to Petrobras and elected officials.

Once expected to run for the presidency again after Rousseff 's term, Lula now registers no better than opposition politicians in polls simulating a 2018 election.

Those who still support him are stunned.

"I feel anguish to see what is happening," said Claudio da Silva, an unemployed worker in São Paulo who rushed to the airport where Lula was questioned on Friday to join a crowd of onlookers. "Lula is a guy of humble origins, who rose to the top from the bottom, who left a legacy of social gains and a better Brazil."

Philippines seizes Trump, Clinton look to extend leads as five more states vote NKorean cargo ship MANIL A, MARCH 5 (REutERS): The Philippines said on Saturday it had seized a North Korean freighter that was covered by harsher United Nations' sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear programme.

Manila will also deport the vessel's 21 North Korean crew and will await a U.N. inspection team from the United Nations, foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message. "In compliance with the United Nations resolution, the North Korean ship in Subic will be impounded and not allowed to leave port," he said.

The 6,830 deadweight tonne (dwt) cargo ship Jin Teng was one of the first sanctioned North Korean ships to enter a foreign port since the tightened sanctions were passed unanimously by the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. Thirty-one North Korean ships are on the list.

"The world is concerned over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and as a member of the UN, the Philippines has to do

its part to enforce the sanctions," said Manolo Quezon, deputy presidential spokesman told reporters.

The ship, flying a Sierra Leone flag, arrived on February 27 and was unloading palm kernels.

"We have sent teams to guard the ship until we get the formal order from the government," said Commander Armand Balilo, coast guard spokesman.

On Friday, the coast guard barred the ship from leaving port, citing safety deficiencies found during an inspection. The inspection was conducted after the U.N. passed the resolution against Pyongyang. The U.N. resolution said the 31 ships were "economic resources controlled or operated by Ocean Maritime Management and therefore subject to the asset freeze".

The Jin Teng has called at Palembang, Indonesia, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, since the beginning of this year, ship tracking data available on the Reuters Eikon Terminal showed.

WAshINGtON, MARch 5 (REutERs): Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton each look to strengthen their front-runner status when five states hold presidential nominating races on Saturday, as Trump tries to weather a barrage of blistering attacks from his party's establishment. Trump, the controversial New York billionaire who has opened a substantial lead in delegates over his presidential rivals, will be vying to rack up more wins in Republican contests in Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine.

Polling has been scarce in all four states, which together account for just 155 delegates, and the contests will be open only to registered Republicans. The exclusion of the independent voters who have helped Trump's surge adds an air of uncertainty to the latest round of state-bystate contests to pick nomi-

nees for the Nov. 8 election to succeed President Barack Obama.

Since winning seven of 11 contests on Super Tuesday, Trump has come under withering fire from a Republican establishment worried he will lead the party to a resounding defeat in November's elections.

Mainstream Republicans have blanched at Trump's calls to build a wall on the border with Mexico, round up and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants and temporarily bar all Muslims from entering the United States.

Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, called Trump a phony and a fraud who was playing American voters for suckers, and 2008 nominee John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, said Trump's foreign policy views were uninformed and dangerous.

But the anti-Trump forces

A combination photo shows Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) in Palm Beach, Florida and Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (R) in Miami, Florida at their respective Super Tuesday primaries campaign events on March 1, 2016. (Reuters Photo)

have a short window of about two weeks for stopping the caustic businessman, who has accumulated 319 of the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination at July's Republican national convention, outpacing second-place rival Ted Cruz, a U.S. senator from Texas, who has 226 delegates.

On March 15, the delegate-rich states of Florida,

Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and North Carolina will vote.

Both Florida and Ohio use a winner-take-all method to allocate delegates, making the stakes in those two states particularly high. If Trump takes Florida and Ohio he would be nearly impossible to stop. There are a total of 358 delegates at stake in the five states vot-

ing March 15, including 99 in Florida and 66 in Ohio.

On the Democratic side, voters in Louisiana, Kansas and Nebraska will weigh in on Saturday on the race between Clinton, the former secretary of state, and Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont.

Polls show Clinton with a big lead in Louisiana, which has a large bloc of the African-American voters, who helped her roll up victories across the South on Super Tuesday, but the caucuses in less diverse Kansas and Nebraska could be more suited to Sanders. The three states have a total of 109 delegates at stake. Clinton has opened up a big delegate lead on Sanders, who might have a tough time making up the difference. All states in the Democratic race award their delegates proportionally, meaning Clinton can keep piling up delegates even in states where she loses.

China says defence spending pace to slow and to improve intelligence Ointment developed BEIJING, MARch 5 (REutERs): China said on Saturday it will raise military spending by 7.6 percent this year, its lowest increase in six years, but vowed to protect its maritime rights amid disputes in the East and South China Seas and improve intelligence gathering.

The 954.35 billion yuan ($146.67 billion) figure is only around a quarter of the U.S. Defense Department budget for 2016 of $573 billion, but comes at a time of rising concern over China's intentions in territorial disputes. The increase is the first single-digit rise since 2010, following a nearly unbroken two-decade run of doubledigit jumps, and comes as China's economy slows. It was announced on Saturday at the start of the annual meeting of parliament, but had been flagged by an official who gave a rough figure the previous day.

President Xi Jinping is seeking to drag the People's Liberation Army, the world's largest armed forces, into the modern age, cutting 300,000 jobs and revamping its Cold War-era command structure.

However, the reforms have run into opposition from soldiers and officers worried about job security and few details have been released as to what will happen to those laid off.

Premier Li Keqiang told the opening of China's largely rubber-stamp parliament that the country will "strengthen in a coordinated way military preparedness on all fronts and for all scenarios". "We will work to make the military more revolutionary, modern and wellstructured in every respect, and remain committed to safeguarding national security," he said. "We will make steady progress in reforming military leadership and command structures and launch reform of the military's size and structure as well as its policies and institutions."

"EcONOMIc hEADWINDs" The official Xinhua news agency attributed the slowdown in the pace of defence spending to "rising economic headwinds and last year's massive drawdown of service people".

China's Defence Ministry, in a commentary on

A military band enters the Great Hall of the People ahead of the opening session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China on March 5. (Reuters Photo)

its website, described the slower pace as "appropriate". "It certainly doesn't mean the Chinese people's dreams of a strong country and military will be impacted upon," it added.

Beijing is feeling public pressure to show it can protect its claims to the South China Sea after the United States began conducting "freedom of navigation" operations near islands

where China has been carrying out controversial reclamation work and stationing advanced weapons.

A draft of the five-year plan, a blueprint for the country's aspirations from this year through to 2020, said China would strengthen its capabilities in maritime law enforcement and "appropriately handle" infringements of its maritime rights, though it gave no details.

The Global Times, a widely read tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily, said that for many Chinese the smaller increase "was a bit of a disappointment", but called for understanding. "There is no need to spend hugely to catch up with the U.S., which seeks to keep its global military presence. China's regional military deterrence

aimed at national defence has been taking shape."

The five-year plan also said China would improve its national security "technology and equipment construction" and raise the country's intelligence gathering abilities.

China, the world's second-largest economy, is increasingly exposed to international crises like the Middle East but has little experience at dealing with them, unlike established powers like the United States and Russia.

Underscoring the sensitivity of China's defence spending, about a dozen senior officers approached

by Reuters on the sidelines of parliament declined to comment on the matter. In a government-arranged interview the previous evening, Chen Zhou, a researcher at the Academy of Military Science, said a more modern army needed better training and this is where defence funds should be spent.

"Investment in troop training needs to increase, as only this way can we allow our military to walk down a path of military professionalism."

to combat skin cancer

sANtIAGO, MARch 5 (IANs): Chilean scientists have developed an ointment that early trials have proved effective in combating melanoma, the most aggressive variety of skin cancer, the media reported on Saturday.

The cream, said the University of Santiago on Friday, has been made by a research team from its faculty of chemistry and biology and contains a plant that is endemic to the South American country, Xinhua news agency reported.

It is currently in the early stages of testing and being applied to animals, and so far it has proved to be an effective solution for melanoma, according to Sofia Michelson, who along with Claudio Acuna led the research team.

Every year between two and three million people all over the world are diagnosed with melanoma, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures.

The experts' main objective is to find a mecha-

nism that can counteract the organism's progression before the presence of a tumour.

The ointment is for external use and should be applied every third day for a period of about a month, during which the application zone should be protected, said the researchers.

The medication contains an extract of a shrub that can be found between the Chilean regions of Coquimbo in the north and Biobio in the south, they added, noting that the substance affects the viability of the tumour cells.

After applying the ointment on animals, the researchers were able to more than double the animals' life expectancy compared to other conventional medicines.

Another advantage of the treatment is its low cost, said the researcher, pointing out that there are already a lot of products available to fight general cancer, "but many of them are expensive".

10

SunDAY 06•03•2016

SPORTS

THE MORUNG EXPRESS

Miller heroics blast safrica past australia

DURBAN, MARch 5 (ReUTeRs): David Miller smashed an unbeaten 53 as South Africa claimed a three-wicket victory over Australia in the first Twenty20 International at Kingsmead on Friday.

Set 158 for victory, South Africa reached their target with four balls to spare as Miller blasted his highest score in the format off 35 deliveries and rescued the home side's flagging chase.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia made a rollicking start and were 69 for one after six overs, thanks largely to Aaron Finch’s 40 from 18 balls.

But once the powerplay was over and South Africa got leg-spinner Imran Tahir into the game, the pace slowed and wickets started tumbling.

Australia managed only 88 for eight from the next 14 overs as Tahir (3-21) and David Wiese (2-16) did an excellent job in restricting the tourists. If it were not for Mitchell Marsh's fine 35 from 25 balls, the home

public discourse

Reflection on Transformation Crusade

T

South Africa's Kyle Abbott (L) and David Miller celebrate beating Australia in their first T20 International cricket match in Durban, South Africa, March 4. (REUTERS)

side would have been chasing considerably less.

South Africa’s reply could not have got off to a worse start as AB de Villiers was out first ball trying to guide a Nathan Coulter-

Nile delivery to third man but only succeeding in picking out wicketkeeper Peter Nevill. When they slipped to 95-6 one ball shy of 13 overs, the touring side were favourites, but Miller

constructed an innings that was a mix of power, timing and composure to see his side home. Australia handed a debut to leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who recorded figures of 0-26 in his four

overs. The teams are using the series as a warmup for the World Twenty20 that starts in India on Tuesday.

The second of three matches will be played in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Suarez returns to Uruguay Kewhimia Open Sekrenyi Badminton c’ship held squad after biting ban MONTeVIDeO, MARch 5 (ReUTeRs): Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is set to play his first competitive international later this month since being banned for biting an opponent at the 2014 World Cup after he was called up on Friday for qualifiers against Brazil and Peru. Barcelona's Suarez was suspended for nine games after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup in Brazil. He was among 28 players named in Oscar Tabarez's squad to face Brazil away in Recife on March 25 and Peru in Montevideo four days later, the Uruguayan FA announced on Friday. Uncapped Genoa midfielder Diego Laxalt and Manchester United right back Guillermo Varela were called up for the first time. Uruguay are second in the 10-team South American standings behind Ecuador with three wins in four games. The top four qualify automatically for the 2018 finals in Russia while the fifth-placed team goes into an intercontinental playoff against a team from the Oceania zone.

KO h I M A , M A R c h 5 (MexN): Jesevotuo Belho and Kekhriezazo Mepfhuo was today crowned the champion of the Kewhimia Open Sekre-

Phek District Sports Association informs

New FIFA boss Infantino takes budget flight to cut costs

PheK, MARch 5 (MexN): The Phek District Sports Association will be organizing its 1st Athlete cum 33rd Meet from March 15 to 17 at Pfutsero Sports Complex. Murohu Chotso, Deputy Commissioner Phek and Sangmai C. Imlong have consented to grace as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively. The Association will also like to tender our humble apology to all the affiliated units of PDSA for the change of date which was due to some unavoidable circumstances.

Winners and organizers of Kewhimia Open Sekrenyi Badminton championship pose for lens at Kohima Indoor Stadium on March 5. (Morung Photo)

LONDON, MARch 5 (IANs): New FIFA president Gianni Infantino started his reign by taking a budget flight to his first significant meeting, in order to cut the costs of the world football governing body.

The 45-year-old new FIFA boss flew to Bristol from Geneva on the low-cost easyJet airline on Friday ahead of the weekend's International Football Association Board AGM in Cardiff, reports Xinhua. "I came with easyJet today because it was the best option to

nyi Badminton championship organized by Kewhimia Badminton Club held here at the Kohima Indoor Stadium. Atsü Miachio and Medolhou Solo

Bristol and then Cardiff. I always take the easiest and best option. I had to go to UEFA to say goodbye to the executive committee," Infantino said on Friday.

"The traffic was terrible from Bristol to Cardiff which meant I was a little late. We are normal people and we have to behave like normal people.

"There will be occasions when I have to take a private plane, if I have no other way to go somewhere, if it's too complicated or I need to go to three

stood runner-up. Altogether, 20 teams participated in the championship. The championship was held only for the men's double category.

countries in the same day.

"I will not now start travelling only easyJet. I will always take the best option. Everyone in FIFA should be working to optimise the costs.

"This was my job at UEFA when I was general secretary.

I will give the philosophy from the top. One of my priorities has always been to optimise the costs because we have to be responsible what we do with the money, which is not our money.

It is football's money."

No proof of 2006 World cup vote buying, beckenbauer under pressure

FRANKFURT, MARch 5 (ReUTeRs): There is no evidence of vote-rigging in the awarding of the 2006 football World Cup to Germany, says a report into the scandal which piled more pressure on former World Cup chief Franz Beckenbauer over a payment to a disgraced ex-FIFA official.

"We have no proof of vote buying," Christian Duve of the Freshfields law firm, commissioned by the German Football Association (DFB), told a news conference on Friday. "Although we cannot rule it out completely."

He said his firm had not been able to talk to everyone involved, including Sepp Blatter, the former president of world football's governing body FIFA who has been suspended from football over a separate, wide-reaching corruption scandal. Beckenbauer, Germany's former World Cup-winning player and manager, was already under pressure to deliver answers over a 6.7 million euro ($7.34 million) payment to FIFA in 2005.

The report shows he transferred 10 million Swiss francs ($10.06 million) in 2002 via a Swiss law firm's account to a company owned by then-FIFA official Mohamed Bin Hammam, the former president of the Asian Football Confederation who was banned from all soccerrelated activity in December 2012.

The World Cup affair, which has shocked soccer-mad Germany, was triggered by the pay-

Soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer pauses to look out on the city on top of the Empire State Building during an event to celebrate the start of the New York Cosmos 2015 season, in New York April 17, 2015. (REUTERS)

ment from the German FA (DFB) to FIFA in 2005 which the DFB said last year was the return of a loan via FIFA from former Adidas chief Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

Der Spiegel magazine alleged it was used to buy votes. Duve said the payment from the DFB had been transferred to FIFA in 2005 but was not intended for the opening ceremony gala as was indicated in documents. "It was immediately transferred on to an account of Louis-Dreyfus," Duve said. Interim DFB president Rainer Koch did not know why the money had to be sent to Dreyfus via FIFA. "I still don't understand why it had to go through FIFA," he said. Sports equipment maker Adidas, a long-

time DFB sponsor, has said it was unaware of any such payment.

BECKENBAUER PAYMENT The report also identified a series of payments totalling 10 million Swiss francs from Beckenbauer via the Swiss bank account of a law firm to scaffolding company Kemco in Qatar, the owner of which was Bin Hammam. The payments were made in 2002, some two years after Germany was awarded the 2006 tournament.

"They landed somewhere in Qatar, this (company) is under the influence of Bin Hammam. But anything beyond that is speculation. We had the task of presenting the facts," said Duve, who added

that some documents were missing from the DFB headquarters.

"You could connect the payment with the FIFA re-election of Blatter or for the 2006 (World Cup) vote but that would be pure speculation." Beckenbauer, who has admitted making mistakes but has denied any wrongdoing, could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Football's world governing body FIFA said it welcomed the report and would incorporate the results into its own current investigation but said "many questions still remain to be answered".

DFB's Koch said there was a "complete failure of mechanisms at the DFB which cannot happen again". He blamed former DFB chief Wolfgang Niersbach, who resigned last year and faces a tax evasion probe over the payment, for not informing the DFB board in the summer of 2015.

"We will not be drawing any quick conclusions," Koch said. "We will study this report and discuss it and we will also wait for the tax authorities' investigation before drawing any conclusions."

Niersbach said in a statement he understood the board's position, adding that he was busy investigating the affair at the time but did "regret" not informing his colleagues.

"Although I have not yet had the chance to read the entire report... I am strengthened in my conviction that no votes were bought for the World Cup," he said.

he year 1972 marked the Billy Graham crusade in Nagaland and is considered to be the greatest revival crusade in our land till date.

Indeed it brought a tremendous change and transformation to the Naga people.

The impact of thiscrusade remains fresh to many peopleeven to this day. With the on-going transformation crusade, it reminds us of the bygone days of spiritual revival and restoration. In this place,the demonstration of the work of the Holy Spirit through healings and deliverance from the bondage of Satanism is not only witnessed but the total transformation of the hearts of our people. This religious festival is a call to the Naga Churches to come together and pray for the rebuilding of our broken walls and homes.

Although there are some misconceptions arising within Christendom about this crusade; a person attending the services will automatically feel the genuineness of the Spirit of God manifesting in the place. It is truly a vision from the Lord to revive and restore our people back to where we began. The spirit of oneness and collaboration of all denominations in one place gives a picture of hope to our land. These religious festivals are the only way to revive our people again. Psalmist 85:6 declares, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?Believershave been praying to God fordecades to bring a true revivalin the land and these religious Crusades are the door to God’s answer to their prayers.

The Transformation crusade started in 2013 with the theme “Arise and Shine,” (Isa. 60:1) having a positive response from people to the message of God’s word. We believe God gave the convenor, KhotuoYaotsu, the same burden for our people as that of evangelist preacher ReinhardBonkkefor the African people. This year we had the opportunity of being a part of this Crusade. At the first convention all the organisers, officials, counsellors, volunteers gathered, and the convenor gave a short reflection on the three types of God’s servant; Serving God for fame and publicity, serving God with a burden for the lost souls and lastly, serving the Lord out of compulsion or for earning a livelihood. The talk really brought out the truth to the table. It also helped us realize that Godis raisingleaders like Moses and Nehemiah in our times that have a true burden for our people.

The first day kicked off with a miracle where God once again proved that He was not an impotent but an omnipotent God. It began to rain during the first day heavily around 4-5pm and everyone was worried about the response of the people for the crusade.So all the organisers, officials, volunteers and counsellors who were present in the ground gathered with one voice and one spirit prayed to God to control over the rain and miraculously the rain stopped within 5 minutes and Kohima is a witness to it.

From the day 1, the responses of the people have beenrespectable where thousands of people cameflocking to be a part of this festival. Many have responded to the altar call of Jesus to rededicate their life to Jesus Christ. Many have been set free from the shackles of sin and Satan and a legitimate rejoicing was seen when the sons and daughters of God were totally freed. It is said in Luke 15:7 “I say to you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Likewise, this crusade has observednot just one single soul but hundreds of souls coming to Christ and is apparent that Heaven must be rejoicing over the transformation crusade here in our land.

But on the other hand, our heart grieves for those people who are confined to their own comfortable homes criticizing what they have not seen with their eyes.

With the promotion of several other cultural and traditional festivals, the Church has no other option except to popularise this kind of religious crusades by blending all different churches in one common platform to pray and intercede for our land.

These inter-denominational crusades will bring proper understanding and cooperation among different churches to become more united in the pursuit of our common goals, that is, in preaching the gospels and making disciples of all nations.

Recently, there was a poll taken in Morung Express on whether the religious Crusades are really having a significant effect in Naga society and out of 100, 42% voted as yes, 45% voted as negative and 13% others uncertain, which is quite surprising because most of the number of believers in the Church today began their journey with Christ in religious crusades but not in an institutionalised Church. Not only that, scores of drug addicts, alcoholics, and substance abuses are being transformed through these religious crusades.

Most of the believers in the pews today are a result of religious crusades. Therefore, if religious crusades are not organised, the number of members in the churches will decrease rapidly. These religious festivals are the ways and means for the churches to increase and thereby make a positive impact upon our society.

Now, having said that, the Transformation Crusade has positively impacted upon our land in a very huge dimension; it has brought towns and families together, it has brought spiritual awakening in the lives of the believers, demolished the enemies territories, it has brought kingdom of God in the satanic dominated areas, and has ultimately, brought our people together. Although the crusade will come and go, it has not gone without its imprint every time. Hence, our people need to encourage more of these religious crusades in our towns and localities. God bless.

HusezoRhakho& Vebu Khamo, Kohima Bible College.

All problems can be resolved in the way of Christ

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ccording to Capi dated 2.3.16, the present C.M T.R. Zeliang is to appear before the court in connection with his educational qualification. Court’s judgement is punishment if found guilty and settlement in the way of Christ is a matter of mending and healing . The way of Christ is repentance , confession , apology and forgiveness . One who forgives is the real winner.

The Church or Church Council can take responsibility for the case and upon confession and asking for excuse , there should be forgiveness and the case should be withdrawn . Followers of Christ are to follow His teaching as He said , “ And you stand praying , if you hold anything against any one , forgive him , so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins .” (Mark 11:25) Rev. L. Suohie Mhasi

God is Good

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King had a male servant who, in all circumstances always said to My king, do not be discouraged because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes. One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king, the servant managed to kill the animal but couldn't prevent his majesty from losing a finger. Furious and without showing gratitude, the King said; if God was good, I would not have been attacked and lost one finger. The servant replied 'despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good and everything He does is perfect, He is never wrong'. Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his servant. While being taken to prison, he told the king again, God is Good & Perfect.

Another day, the king left alone for another hunt and was captured by savages who use human beings for sacrifice. On the altar, the savages found out that the king didn't

have one finger in place, he was released because he was considered not "complete" to be offered to the Gods. On his return to the palace, he ordered the release of his servant and said; My friend, God was really good to me. I was almost killed but for lack of a single finger. I was let go. But I have a question; If God is so good, why did He allow me to put you in prison? His servant replied; My king, if I had not been put in prison, I would have gone with you, and would have been sacrificed, because I have no missing finger. Everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong. Often we complain about life, and the negative thinking in us kills the positivity in us...so think positive and trust God at every moment....God knows why he choose you to read this message today, please bless someone with it by sharing it. God is good and perfect!! Thank God....Be in Gratitude Dr. R.K. Behera, Patkai Christian College

March for Jesus

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riginally, Martius (March) was the first month of the Roman calendar. In their geographical region, the grips of winter are just beginning to lose their hold in March. It makes sense that a year should begin as a new season of life begins too. Before the popularization of this symbolic word for the god of war, Mars was actually fertility and agricultural deity. It gives the meaning of the continuation of life, fertility, sex, procreation in human, plant and animal realms. Also March embodies a kind of reigniting of the hearts and consciousness of humankind. It marks the beginning of spring season.

All monthsdo have significant meanings and symbols, but this month has a special package for human being as it symbolise the beginning of a new life. This March marks the budding of new seedlings that sprouts to life after much struggle within its own bud. It reveals all the beauty that is stored within the soul of nature. It gives

a ray of hope to human kind that there is hope even after a weary winter. Spiritually, it speaks of being born again by water and the spirit. The dry and parched land will once again be showered with the rain from heaven. The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (popularly known as Good Friday and Easter Sunday) gives true meaning to this month of March. Significantly, it is a symbol of life to the lifeless and revitalizing all that is about to die.

March is a verb in English. Hence, the word calls for action and movement. It denotes that activities should be done. This month calls forth to people to march together for unity and progress. The march is a march from mortality to immortality, death to life, from gloom to joy and from being weary to being strengthened by the Lord. The March from bondage to freedom also symbolize the month. This month is a march for Jesus.

Vebu Khamo, Kohima Bible College

Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect the outlook of this paper nor of the Editor in any form.

Sunday 06•03•2016

EntErtainmEnt

Nagaland music fraternity goes out of the box!

Morung express entertainment

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n a breakthrough initiative, a group of musicians successfully pulled off a workshop designed to help upcoming Naga musicians. The workshop was held with the goal to unite Naga musicians and provide support and practical assistance to all musicians.

A great opportunity to exchange ideas and fresh insights and experiences, the workshop titled, “Out Of The Box” hosted a series of discussions which touched all arenas of the music industry. Musicians under the banner “Dimapur Music Community” were the people behind this initiative, but a remarkable fact is that the workshop was sponsored through collective contributions made by several musicians from their own pockets!

Yanpvuo Kikon, Founder, Indihut and Naga Blog, spoke on “Marketing Strategy” giving the young musicians a much needed insight on how to go about with online marketing. He also presented an analysis on the global and local industry trends, how to make money online, and how

technology has changed the music industry. He also opined that music festivals have the potential to open up avenues not only for musicians, but for other local entrepreneurs too.

Yanren Kikon, Managing Partner of International Agency Network Ltd gave a brief overview on booking and tour planning. With his extensive experience in live tours and bookings, Yanren shared valuable tips and strategies for bands and managers.

Musicians Nise Meruno and Alobo Naga shared a discussion on the theme “Professionalism”. Having toured widely all over the

country and several countries abroad, the two acclaimed musicians shared their experiences. Nise spoke on the importance of social networking. He also advised the upcoming musicians to maintain a wonderful personality both off stage and on stage, saying, “You have to breathe, look, act and live like a musician.”

He also cited personal incidents where he came not only under criticisms but even physical attacks. “As musicians, even though we might not be after fame, we become visible and sometimes that leads us to vulnerable situations. But that hasn’t stopped me from

doing the things I love,” he stated positively. Atsung Jamir from Audio Garage also shared his technical expertise in the area of “Sound Engineering”.

Gugs Chishi, Director, Music Task Force (MTF) spoke on “Role of Government as a facilitator”. He shared that the MTF concept was also born out of the box. He admitted that the government is the poorest performer in terms of getting results, but that does not mean it is confined to its limitations. “We look for every opportunity and ideas that come to us.

And just as much as we accept the fact that we do not

have raw infrastructure in Nagaland, the role of the government becomes easier when we can walk part of the road with you,” he addressed the young crowd of musicians. He also opined that the young, upcoming musicians are the most important facet of the music industry today.

The organizers also encouraged musicians from other districts to hold similar meetings in their respective districts, since it is not possible for all musicians to gather at one place.

The workshop was attended by several musicians from other districts, and various other Naga artistes.

Freida Pinto to play Mowgli’s mother in ‘Jungle Book: Origins’

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ctress Freida Pinto says she is portraying Mowgli's adoptive mother in ‘Jungle Book: Origins’. In an interview with etonline.com, the Indian actress opened up about her upcoming

role in Warner Brothers' motion capture live-action adventure adaptation of ‘The Jungle Book’, based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling.

"I play Mowgli's adoptive mother, so I'm very, very excited about it," Pin-

to said. "I read 'The Jungle Book' and watched the TV series in India growing up, and for me, to finally be part of the film that reminds me so much of my childhood is just amazing," the 31-year-old added.

"It's one of those films that I feel, no matter what age group you are, you're going to enjoy that film, and I feel like it's been a while since I've done something like that, because most of my films have not been good

enough for children. A little too intense, so I'm very happy to finally be doing a film that can be (watched by kids)." Director Andy Serkis's adaptation of the classic tale is set to hit theatres in October 2017.

Source: IANS

Urmila Matondkar marries Mir Mohsin Akhtar

U

rmila Matondkar, who is best known for her performance in several 90s blockbusters like Rangeela, Kaun and Mast, has tied the knot with businessman-model Mir Mohsin Akhtar. The actor's marriage comes close on the heels of that of another 90s' heroine - Preity Zinta. Zinta walked down the aisle with Gene Goodenough on February 28 this year.

Urmila's marriage was a low-key affair, with only friends and family in attendance. Her husband, Mir Mohsin Akhtar, is a businessman and model, who hails from Kashmir. The

actor's marriage ceremony took place in Mumbai on Thursday (March 3) afternoon, a report in Hindustan Times said.

The Tribune has quoted Urmila as saying, "We kept it an exclusive wedding with just family and friends at the celebration, since our families wanted the wedding to be a lowkey affair. We mutually decided to keep it private.

We seek your blessings as we embark on this new journey."

Urmila and Mohsin are said to have met during designer Manish Malhotra's niece's wedding back in 2014. The two then began dating and have now tied

the knot. Mohsin is reportedly 10 years younger to Urmila. He has done several modelling assignments in the past, and now deals in Kashmiri-embroidery business.

The 42-year-old actor ruled Bollywood back in the 90s. With films like Satya, Rangeela, Ek Hasina Thi and several other box-office hits to her credit, Urmila made a name for herself in the Hindi film industry. The actor has been missing from the silver screen for several years now. Matondkar made her debut in Marathi films with the 2014 movie Ajoba.

Source: IndiaToday

Benedict Cumberbatch, Jude Law to sponsor child refugees

B

ritish celebrities Benedict Cumberbatch, Jude Law, Dominic West, Gillian Anderson, Juliet Stevenson, Stephen Daldry and Brian Eno have joined hands to offer their support amid the growing refugee crisis in Europe. Each of the celebrities will sponsor an unaccompanied child in the 'Jungle' camp in the French port town of Calais, the centre for those hoping to cross into the UK, said The Hollywood Reporter.

According to Citizens UK organisation, 150 children in the camp have legal rights to reunite with family members in the UK, and the celebrities have signed up to a buddy system in which they will visit the

C M Y K

Country music singer Joey Feek dead at 40

C

She is in Heaven. The cancer is gone. The pain has ceased. And all her tears are dry," Rory wrote. "Though this is, and has been, a time of many tears of sorrow, it has also been a time of countless tears of joy. There have been too many beautiful moments to count or even begin to share...but I try," he added.

Rory also wrote about Joey's struggle to deal with cancer. "When a person has been through as much pain and struggle as Joey's been through, you just want it to

be over. You want them to not have to hurt anymore, more that you want them to stay with you. And so, it makes the hard job of saying goodbye just a little easier,” he added.

Joey was diagnosed with cancer in June 2014, just a few months after she and Rory welcomed Indiana, who was born with Down's syndrome. The cancer eventually spread and in October doctors revealed there was nothing they could do for Joey.

Source: IANS

Seen in this image are the Next Superstar winner Priya Gupta, 1st runner up - Temsutula Longkumer, 2nd runner up - Payal Purkhastra. Lorence Kachari, CEO Wrecking Ball studio and entertainment and one of the youngest directors organized the show. The judges for the finale were Miss Asia Rewati Chetri, Bollywood producer Rebecca Source: PTI Changkija with host Georgina Pienyu.

Nicole Kidman joins UN’s campaign to end violeNce agaiNst womeN

I

ountry music singer Joey Feek has died of cancer. She was 40.

Joey passed away in her hometown of Alexandria, Indiana, on Friday after a long battle with cervical cancer, reports femalefirst. co.uk.

Her husband and music partner Rory Feek, 50, took to his blogging account and shared the news of her death. The couple got married in 2002.

"My wife's greatest dream came true today.

kids in France or their British connections and contribute towards legal and humanitarian costs.

"We call on the British and French authorities to immediately make provisions for the safe passage of all the unaccompanied minors and refugee children identified by Citizens UK with verified family connections to Britain," the celebrities said in a statement.

"We are each buddying with one unaccompanied minor to ensure that they receive the humanitarian support they need and to personally insist that both governments honour their obligations to these children," the statement added.

n the lead up to International Women's Day on March 8, one of Australia's most recognised females has leant her face to the plight to end violence against women.

Nicole Kidman is fronting the UN's Face It Together campaign which asks people around the world to share a photo of themselves as a pledge of support.

A goodwill ambassador to the United Nations herself, the 48-year-old actress is seen smiling mildly on the campaign's website before her features start to slowly morph into those of other participants. A man with a shaved head and glasses appears out of the outline of Nicole's face first, with those of other men and women following thereafter under the tagline of 'the face opposing violence against women'.

An accompanying video uses the example of the Pacific where violence is at epidemic levels with two in three women experiencing it in their lifetime. It explains: 'Violence against women in the Pacific region is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights.

'One of the least prosecuted crimes, one of the greatest threats to peace, security and development.

'In their lifetime, anywhere from 66 to 100 per cent of women will experience violence. Violence is reinforced where its allowed to stay hidden and the survivor's voices remain unheard.'

Doing her part to promote the campaign, Nicole shared her photo to her official Facebook page writing: 'I joined the face opposing violence against women. 'Pledge your image too, and make a donation to support UN Women's work to end violence against women and girls.

Let's #FaceItTogether.' As a goodwill ambassador, Nicole last year drew criticism after she fronted a new ad campaign for Etihad Airways.

In an open letter, the Association Of Professional Flight Attendants argued that Nicole's commercial endeavours were in direct opposition to her role with the UN as the airline company 'are wellknown in our industry for their discriminatory labour practices and deplorable treatment of female employees'.

Source: MailOnline

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World TT: India wins two golds Indian eves beat Luxembourg 3-1 in the event final of the Second Division, while their male counterparts overcame a stiff Brazil 3-2 here.

Manika Batra beat Tessy Gonderinger 3-1 to provide India with a 2-0 lead in the women's team final.

C M Y K

Kua L a Lu M P u r , March 5 (PTi): Indian men’s and women’s team scripted history by clinching the gold medals at the World Table Tennis Team Championship with superb victories over Luxembourg and Brazil respectively here today.

Indian eves beat Luxembourg 3-1 in the event final of the Second Division, while their male counterparts overcame a stiff Brazil 3-2 here. India had sealed its entry in the Champions Division last night after reaching the finals.

Incidentally, this was the first time ever that the women’s team kept a clean slate - eight wins - in the first and the second stages. The men, on the other hand, bounced back after losing their only group match against Nigeria to achieve

the exceptional honours.

In the women’s team final, Mouma Das gave a winning start to her team when she defeated Danielle Konsbruck 3-0 in a quick burst. Manika Batra then put behind yesterday’s loss and began with a bang, leading 2-0 against Tessy Gonderinger, who managed to grab the third game. However, Manika clinched the fourth game to win 3-1 and provide India with a 2-0 lead.

Despite the cushion, K Shamini was unable to take advantage and lost her singles to Sarah De Nutte in straight games but Manika beat Danielle 3-0 in the reverse singles to wrap a memorable win for India.

“It was a great experience for all of us. We will remember this feat at KL for a long time to come,” said

Manika Batra after completing the win. “I am happy I started well and our combined efforts and consistency throughout have paid us dividends,” added Mouma. In men’s team final, Harmeet Desai hogged the limelight as India eked out a narrow win.

With two hard-fought wins yesterday, the team management decided to rest Achanta Sharath Kamal in the final against Brazil today. But it seemed to be a wrong decision with India trailing 1-2 despite Harmeet pulling one back after Soumyajit Ghosh lost the opening rubber.

Worse was to come when Anthony Amalraj, who led 2-1 in the third rubber, went down to Thiago Monterio, putting India in a precarious position. However, Ghosh made amends with a fantastic 3-0 win over Cazuo Matsumoto to keep the team hopes alive.

Harmeet then played the decider and he lost the first game but the Indian held his nerves to restore parity. The real turnaround in the rubber came when, trailing 6-9, Harmeet kept his cool and closed it down to 9-10.

Then when he deuced at 10-10 for the first time, it was a tense moment. After saving two game points and two deuces Harmeet won 15-13, much to the relief of the Indian camp.

Sharath said: “It is like a dream come true for me and the team because by 2018 if I am still in the team, we will be playing in the Championship Division for the first time,” said the ace Indian.

Late Sanchez strike earns 10man Arsenal a 2-2 draw at Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld, centre, is challenged by Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez, right, and Danny Welbeck during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the White Hart Lane stadium in London, Saturday, March, 5. (AP Photo)

LONDON, March 5 (aP): Alexis Sanchez's late goal rescued a point for 10man Arsenal in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday after Francis Coquelin's sending-off sparked a turnaround in a thrilling Premier League game between the title-chasing north London rivals.

Coquelin was shown a second yellow card in the 55th minute for a reckless foul when Arsenal was 1-0 ahead thanks to Aaron Ramsey's first-half goal.

Within seven minutes,

Spurs had gone in front on goals by Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane at White Hart Lane.

However, Sanchez scored in the 76th minute from a shot that Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris arguably should have saved, sealing a draw that will be celebrated by league-leader Leicester.

Ahead of its game at Watford later Saturday, Leicester is two points in front of second-place Tottenham and five clear of third-place Arsenal.

Coquelin's sending-off was a turning point, coming when Arsenal looked composed and in charge after taking the lead.

The Frenchman didn't need to make the tackle on Kane — the striker was near the sideline and Arsenal's defense was in decent shape behind him. Coquelin hung his head immediately after giving away the foul. Sure enough, the referee came over and brandished the second yellow card.

Suddenly, Spurs were on the front foot. Stand-in

Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina saved Kane's shot when standing behind the goalline, with technology indicating the ball hadn't completely crossed the line. Then came the two quickfire goals as Alderweireld stroked in a volley from close range in the 60th minute before Kane curled in a stunning effort from a tough angle at the edge of the area in the 62nd.

But there was still time for another twist as Hector Bellerin fed Sanchez, who raced through and swept

in a low finish that Lloris couldn't keep out despite getting a hand on it.

Spurs had more of the ball in the final stages though Arsenal could have won it, with Ramsey delaying on his shot after running through on goal to allow Kevin Wimmer to perform a last-ditch tackle.

"I am proud of the spirit we showed, and the response," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "I never questioned the character of this team. You have to respond on the pitch."

India meet confident Bangladesh in Asia Cup final Back injury rules West Indies'

MirPur (BaNgLaDesh), March 5 (iaNs): Unbeaten in the tournament with four consecutive wins, India will be wary of slipping up at the last hurdle when they meet hosts Bangladesh in the final of the Asia Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Sunday.

The Indians have seemed virtually unstoppable in this tournament.

The batsmen have done well on the green wicket while the bowlers, especially the pacers, have exploited the favourable conditions well. With the youngsters proving their mettle and a few veterans making successful comebacks, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men will take away several positives from this tournament ahead of the World Twenty20 at home.

Among the bowlers, veteran pacer Ashish Nehra has been in superb form.

The 36-year-old has taken five wickets in three matches, but the statistics does not do full justice to his per-

MS Dhoni at India's practice session on the eve of the Asia Cup final, Mirpur, March 5.

formance. Fellow opening pacer Jasprit Bumrah has also chipped in with effective performances.

Young all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been the most successful among the Indian bowlers with seven wickets in four matches.

The excellent performance by the bowlers has been backed up by the batsmen with Virat Kohli leading the pack. Opener Rohit Sharma has also been in good knick while

Yuvraj Singh, 34, celebrated his comeback with a crucial knock against arch-rivals Pakistan and bettered it with a crucial inning against Sri Lanka.

The only point of concern is continuing poor form of opener Shikhar Dhawan.

Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were allowed to come off the bench in the last group match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and

performed admirably. But they are unlikely to retain their spots, with Nehra, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja expected to return for the final.

Placed at the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings, India are overwhelming favourites on paper against the 10th ranked hosts. The group stage match between the two teams saw India complete 45-run victory. But the final will be a

different matter.

Bangladesh have developed a habbit of punching above their weight and are expected to put up a spirited fight in front of a capacity home crowd. Apart from the sole loss against India, they have won all their group matches, defeating highly rated opponents Sri Lanka and Pakistan and minnows UAE. Pacers Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain have been excellent with the new ball while Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah have put in vital contributions with the bat. Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, and Shakib Al Hasan have performed well on occasion, but have been somewhat inconsistent. The hosts will take inspiration from their 2-1 One-Day International (ODI) series victory over India last year.

With the World T20 starting next week, emerging as kings in their own continent will give the title winners a major boost before they set out to take on the world.

Simmons out of World Cup

KiNgsTON, March 5 (reuTers): West Indies have dropped batsman Lendl Simmons from their Twenty20 World Cup squad owing to a back injury, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said on Saturday.

"The 31-year-old righthanded top-order batsman will remain in Trinidad to continue his rehabilitation," the WICB said. "A replacement player will be named in the coming days," it said in a statement.

Simmons, who has played 34 T20Is with a top score of 77, joins allrounder Kieron Pollard on the sidelines after a knee injury forced him to decline signing a player contract for the tournament in India. Spinner Sunil Narine, who is still working to fix his illegal bowling action, and Darren Bravo, who has opted to focus on the longer formats of cricket, withdrew from the West Indies squad last month.

The Caribbean team, currently in Dubai, are due to arrive in Kolkata on March 7 ahead of the global event which they won in 2012.

West Indies will have warmup matches against India next Thursday and Australia on March 13. They have been drawn in Group One of the Super 10 stage where they will play alongside England, South Africa, Sri Lan-

ka, and one of the qualifiers from the first round.

SquAD: Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor

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