May 21st, 2016

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C M Y K

www.morungexpress.com

saturDaY • MaY 21 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 138 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

o F

T R u T H

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy — John Adams Public notice

C M Y K

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reflections

By Sandemo Ngullie

EgyptAir crash: Belongings, debris found at sea PAGE 09

cong protests misuse of MGnreGA bJP in Assam: Windfall or

challenges for nagaland? Morung Express News Dimapur | May 20

NPCC President K. Therie and others during a protest dharna in front of Raj Bhavan Kohima on May 20. (Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero) TG won the bout, but the challenger beat him on points.

OKING HOSPITAL, KOHIMA

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Our Correspondent Kohima | May 20

The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today staged a dharna across the state in the respective DC office premises “to deliver the rights under MGNREGA to the people.” In Kohima, after staging a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan, the NPCC submitted a memorandum to Governor P.B. Acharya and demanded that an impartial Inquiry Commission headed by a retired High Court Judge be constituted within a month’s time to investigate and take necessary and appropriate action to implement the Act effectively. The memorandum stated there is a drought-like situation due to lack of money circulation in the rural areas across the state. It reminded that District Congress Committees submitted a representation demanding 100 days’ wage be realized to each entitled household, to their respective deputy commissioners on February 2, 2016. However, the NPCC lamented there has been no reply till date and alleged that the state government has misused the Act by “refusing to give job cards to the employees, pressuring VDB Secretaries and VCCs to sign blank cheques, avoiding to conduct social audit, misinterpreting the meaning of convergence by diverting 50% of the MGNREGA money as VIP discretion and not implementing 100 days employment and wages as guaranteed in the Act.” Addressing the gathering, NPCC president Kewekhape Therie alleged that “the state budget vanished within the council of Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs, government employees and few contractors.” He added that the NPF government

has misinterpreted the meaning of convergence. “In the guidelines the meaning of convergence is understood, to convert other department funds to enhance the 100 days employment. But government has converted 50% of wages money into MLA discretion and are completely misused according to their whims for political party interest,” he said. Therie also alleged that “50% of the fund was taken by minister, department and MLAs.” “Officers claim its top direction and top money. Officers also claim we are helpless as small government servants. Government has willfully violated the Act and Guidelines,” he said. “According to internet it shows state has drawn Rs. 199.47 crores during 2015-16. Where has the money gone if only 3 days wage was paid?” Therie asked. The NPCC chief said that many VDB secretaries admit they were pressured to sign blank cheques. “When asked why one should sign knowing there is going to be corruption; they reply, that officers threaten them, that, the village fund will not be released,” he claimed. Therie further said that it is wrong for the VDB Association to interpret MGNREGA guidelines saying 100 days wage is not mandatory. “100 days employment is guaranteed under the Act. MGNREGA is not just guideline alone but is an Act of Parliament,” he stated. He informed that the NPCC would continue their demand until job cards are distributed, 100 days wages achieved and the guidelines fully implemented without discrepancies. Later, the Kohima District Congress Committee led by its president Kevi Vizo also submitted a memorandum to the Kohima Deputy Commissioner. Related news on Page 5

The BJP’s victory in Assam by dethroning the 15-year Congress rule on Thursday can either prove to be a windfall or lead to greater challenges for Nagaland State - expressly on the issue of illegal migrants, political and social analysts voiced on Friday. Keeping in mind that the BJP had ardently promised to make Assam free of “Bangladeshi infiltrators” if voted to power, there is a growing apprehension that mass influx of illegal migrants will start flowing into Dimapur, the gateway to Nagaland. Assam’s biggest election issue was illegal immigration. Relatively, the issue of influx of illegal migrants to Nagaland is not unfounded. It is geographically directly linked to Assam from where illegal migrants reportedly infiltrate into the state with possession of dubious documents supporting their Indian citizenship. Some, they acquire from Nagaland itself. In the 2016 Assam election recently held, it was reported that thousands of suspected illegal migrants residing in Nagaland, particularly in Dimapur, Niuland and Athibung made a beeline to participate in the Assam electoral process. “Time is approaching for mass exodus of illegal migrants to Dimapur. High time for Nagaland State government and civil societies to become more alert,” cautioned a concerned Naga residing in Assam, who is an expert in the issue of illegal migrants and history of Assam-Naga boundary issue. According to him, with the onset of BJP, and with Chief Ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal at the helm of affairs, the illegal immigrant issue would be dealt a firm hand. Besides, the ongoing National Register of Citizens (NRC) process to identify illegal migrants is expected to be more stringent now. This, he said, may not go down well for Nagaland as it increases the

the change of guard with optimism of developing better ties. Nagaland, currently governed by NPF-led DAN government with TR Zeliang as Chief Minister also has BJP as a partner. In the last decade, relationship between the two neighbours had mostly been sour or brusque as serving Chief Ministers of both the states failed in sustaining the friendship reportedly enjoyed by Dr SC Jamir and Hiteswar Saikia during their chief minister-ship. The unresolved Assam-Naga border issue has also exacerbated further the tension between the two. This is one key point, which Nagaland state wishes to resolve. “We will see better Assam-Nagaland ties under the BJP led government in Assam,” BJP’s Mmhonlumo Kikon, who is Parliamentary Secretary for Labour & Employment (Including Skill Development) and Border Affairs told The Morung Express. According to the Border Affairs Parliamentary Secretary, the previous Congress led government was not keen on solving the border issue. “We expect a positive response towards an amicable settlement of the border issue,” he said. Further, there is the ‘old friends’ angle. Kikon maintained that Sarbanabda Sonowal is an old friend of the Nagas, who was “engaging with us right from the time he was All Assam Students Union (AASU) president.” According to Wathi Ao, a concerned citizen, the civil societies of both Assam and Nagaland should join to sensitize whatever issues between the two states to the new government in Assam. Ao also said Nagaland government should also take steps to improve the rapport with its counterpart. Chief Minister TR Zeliang, on Thursday, Nagaland expecting better while congratulating Sonowal said he ties with new govt in Assam With BJP and its allies led by Sar- was looking forward to a “much better bananda Sonowal set to form a gov- working relationship with the new BJP ernment in Assam, Nagaland is eying government in Assam.” possibilities of an influx of illegal migrants if left unattended. Dr Khekugha Muru, co-chairman of ACAUT Nagaland said the Nagaland State government could begin its task to stop infiltration of illegal migrants by bringing Dimapur under the purview of Inner Line Permit (ILP) zone. New Field Check Gate and Dillai Check Gate to Assam should be made into ILP zone so that influx can be checked effectively, Dr Muru further pointed out. Sounding positive that with the BJP coming to power, the nerve centre of infiltration and sheltering of illegal immigrants would be put to an end, Dr Muru said other North East states should take advantage of the opportunity that is about to open. “Nagaland in particular must not to miss this historic opportunity or we will be overrun by illegal migrants,” he said while adding, the government has to wake up on this. The demand for ILP in Dimapur is one of the key objectives of Survival Nagaland (SN), a pressure group formed to address the issue of “unchecked” and “unmonitored” influx of illegal immigrants in Nagaland. “It is very clear on what the BJP will do in Assam to weed out illegal migrants. And it is also clear that they will start running towards Dimapurthat is unless the state government tackles the issue at the earliest,” SN member Daniel Swu said. He said that once they (illegal migrants) enter Dimapur, it becomes difficult to tackle the issue, compounded by the fact that documents are also easily accessible in the state. In 2014, Survival Nagaland had claimed that there are at least 5 lakh illegal migrants of Bangladesh origin in Nagaland, though their claim cannot be verified.

NSCN (K) says it remains true to reconciliation & sovereignty Cabinet clears ordinance to defer NEET for a year

DIMAPUR, MAY 20 (MExN): The NSCN (K) today claimed that it is the only entity that remains true in its commitment to the 2009 Covenant of Reconciliation (CoR) basing on the “historical and political rights” of the Nagas. In a press statement released by the MIP to the media, the NSCN (K) said that the CoR signed by the “highest political leaders S.S.Khaplang, Isak Chishi Swu and Singnya representing respective Governments in the year 2009 was in fact conditioned by the locus the historical and po-

litical rights of the Nagas”. The CoR, NSCN (K) stated, therefore clearly underlined the need to reconcile on the premise of the ongoing “Naga Sovereign Independent” struggle inclusive of all the Naga’s ancestral domains. According to the NSCN (K), the “historical and political rights” precisely mean the sovereign independent Naga republics prior to British and Indian forceful occupation of Naga country. It asserted that “the NSCN/ GPRN led by SS Khaplang still uphold and adhere to this principle of reconcili-

ation and the accusation that Khaplang backed out from the process as alleged by NSCN (IM) is a complete distortion of truth.” It also stressed that various accords and agreements at several stages of the struggle had in the past attempted to side track “Naga sovereignty” and appease few selfish sections of “pseudo-nationalists.” This it said had caused “irreparable divisions, fratricides and wanton killings within.” Therefore, having experienced the past bitterness and to prevent further recurrences of such political

tragedy, the NSCN (K) led by Khaplang had whole heartedly welcomed the holistic reconciliation approach initiated by the FNR basing on this “political and historical rights,” the press statement asserted. However, the NSCN (K) stated that its commitment to “Naga Sovereignty” appeared to have been a stumbling block to certain partners of the 2009 Covenant of Reconciliation, whom it alleged, were then contemplating on exclusive settlement with Government of India. “The NSCN (IM) ostensi-

ble call on reconciliation and its interpretation of “Covenant of Reconciliation” may therefore be understood from their present position vis-a-vis Framework Agreement signed with India and similarly Khehoi camp and its emphasis on exclusive settlement for the Nagas of Nagaland state,” the NSCN (K) pointed out. It emphasized that “The covenant stands relevant only to S.S.Khaplang led NSCN/GPRN for it is the only entity that remains true to commitment on reconciliation and Naga sovereignty.”

r&b Minister on bad roads in nagaland Our Correspondent Kohima | May 20

Following a campaign for good roads initiated by the Concerned Citizen of Nagaland (CCN), Minister for Roads & Bridges, Y Vikheho Swu today said people need to first understand the entire reason for bad roads in the state. While appreciating the CCN for initiating such a move, the Minister during a press conference today said: “Every citizen has every right to express their grievances to the government or any authority. What concerns us is that when people want to take up issues concerning public welfare they must first understand the issue thoroughly. Otherwise it will end up projecting only one side of the issue and this may send a lot of wrong information to the general public.” He underlined that PWD R&B is responsible for the major length of roads, followed by the National Highways department, and other

stretches come under the Municipal Councils, BRO, and General Supply roads (GS) which is under the army, and respective villages. The Minister observed that one factor for bad roads is that line departments like Telecom and PHE contribute to premature wearing away and damage caused by digging channels for cable lines or pipe lines, without taking permission from the departments. He informed that in most cases after laying cables or pipe lines the openings are left without proper recovery. “We see leakages of water from the pipe line running out on the roads surface and also creating seepage’s underneath that leads to creating pothole, much earlier than expected,” he added. Secondly, he noted that in many places the public does not give sufficient space for road construction, including the “right of way.” He also stated that side drains are clogged due to garbage dumped by public, thereby affect-

ing longevity of roads. Citing the land ownership issue as another problem, he said “Landowners in many cases have negatively contributed to the developmental works including roads. Firstly, not allowing others to work on their land causes great delay in execution of works. Secondly, unethically disturbing the progress of construction works throughout if they wish to do so.” The Minister however conceded that poor workmanship is a major problem. This, he stated is where the department comes in, wherein, first and foremost proper Detailed Project Reports must be provided. He stressed on the need for supervision of works and urged contractors to follow the work specification provided by the department. “Our roads are bad because government does not have enough money for repair and maintenance of roads,” he added while pointing out that the centre does not provided fund for repair and mainte-

nance. The Minister divulged that before 2014, fund was provided to the state through special category funding. After lifting of special category funding, R&B was affected the most, he said, as fund for maintenance has come down to Rs. 40 crore from Rs. 200 to Rs.300 crore. He concluded that the government, contractors, public and land owners all need to take responsibility on this issue.

Nagaland requires Rs. 350 Crore each year for road maintenance

The Minister revealed that Nagaland requires a minimum of Rs. 350 crore each year to maintain the existing roads. He however said that the state is recieving only Rs. 40 crore per year. He further revealed that the department is contemplating bringing out a road maintenance policy, while also informing that the maintenance policy will be put up in the cabinet and hopefully approved.

NEw DElhI, MAY 20 (IANS): The union cabinet on Friday gave its nod to an ordinance to defer, for one year, implementation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which has been made mandatory for medical entrance across India following strong objections from some states, sources said. The ordinance, which puts on hold the Supreme Court’s May 9 ruling ordering the implementation of NEET from this year, was

cleared in a cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, official sources said. This step of the government has come a great relief for thousands of students who were preparing for medical examination across the country this year. Many states and members of parliament, across spectrum of political parties, had raised concern over the apex court ruling. Related story on Page 8


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