May 25th, 2016

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www.morungexpress.com

wednesdAY • MAY 25 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 142 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

P o W e R

The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others Public notice

C M Y K

Delivery Time Effective June 2016 Please note that The Morung Express has a new publication deadline of 8:00 p.m., for all documents including press releases, articles and other news items. Any documents received after the new 8:00 p.m., deadline will be published in a later issue. The implementation of the 8:00 p.m. deadline for submission of press releases has enabled us to go to print early. As a result, beginning in June 2016, The Morung Express will now be available in the early morning hours in Jalukie, Tseminyu, Wokha, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, Mao Gate and Senapati. This is in addition to Dimapur and Kohima. We appreciate your continued support. The Morung Express

Kohima Police asks public to be vigilant while buying used cars

Morung Express news Dimapur | May 24

By Sandemo Ngullie

OKING HOSPITAL, KOHIMA

DAN celebrates thanksgiving service of 2 years completion of government under TR leadership Kohima | May 24

Party workers and supporters of lok sabha MP neiphiu Rio wait outside Dimapur Airport to receive him with banners and placards of welcome on Tuesday. (Photo by Caisii Mao)

MLA Ngullie dares NPF president to produce TR’s educational certificate

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ormer Minister and present MLA in the Nagaland Assembly, Thomas Ngullie today challenged the NPF President and DAN Chairman Dr. Shurhozelie to produce the educational certificate of Chief Minister TR Zeliang to the Naga public and the nation. Addressing the reception rally to receive MP and former Chief Min-

all the blames upon him. Rio also said on August 22, 2015, he and former Rajya Sabha MP, Khekiho, had written a letter to NPF president, Dr. Shurhozelie, stating that the reconciliation within the NPF party as announced had not been achieved in the true sense and urged for “true reconciliation to take place under an atmosphere of accommodation, unity and oneness in the true and traditional spirit of the regional cock symbol party.” Again, on January 26, 2016, Rio informed he had written another letter to the NPF president stating that “even after the discussion and assurance given by you there has been no consultation by party leaders or elected members regarding party affairs or govern-

ister Neiphu Rio at Dimapur Airport, the senior leader regretted that the state of affairs in Nagaland had crossed the limit. Citing the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose educational qualification was questioned by the Delhi Chief Minister, Thomas said that the national BJP President Amit Shah and Union Fi-

ment matters with me at any point of time till date. No information/communication regarding the Naga issue or party matters have reached me even during the process of reconciliation.” Since the two letters, Rio said the NPF president had never initiated anything to resolve the issue. Instead, he was served two show notices by the Party president through newspapers within a span of ten days, Rio added. He urged to the NPF leadership to “rethink” on the suspension order. Reiterating that resolving the Naga issue was uppermost in his mind, the Lok Sabha MP said at the present critical juncture, Naga people, especially the youth, must not remain

nance Minister Arun Jaitley had produced the educational qualification certificate and mark sheet of the PM to the nation. Why cannot Dr. Shurhozelie produce the mark sheet of TR Zeliang to the Naga people, Thomas questioned, and demanded that the president of NPF should come clean on the issue.

silent but come out to support the peace process and the “Framework Agreement” so that they do miss the numerous opportunities that await them. “History is important but our future is more important. We should not remain silent to individual interests superseding Naga interest,” Rio said and concluded with the slogans “Long live Nagas” and “We stand for truth.” Former minister, Imkong I Imchem, MLA, who was also earlier suspended from the NPF, said the people should condemn the “autocratic” and “dictatorship” functioning of the NPF party. Referring to the beginning of internal crisis within the NPF, Imchen asserted that demanding change of leadership can

never be termed as “anti party” as in a democracy, leadership is subject to mandate of the people and majority group. Senior political leader Thenucho, said it was disturbing to witness the current trend of politics within the regional party and Naga society and said this was contradictory to the politics of visionary leaders like late A Kevichusa and others. Founding member of NPF Manipur unit, A Abongmei, in his address said Nagas of Manipur would never forget Rio’s contribution to the welfare of Nagas of Manipur. “Because of Rio, NPF is now a well established and popular political party in Manipur. It is really painful to hear the suspension of our leader”, Abongmei said.

The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Co-ordination Chairman, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu today said certain forces have been working from within the Naga People’s Front (NPF) party, thereby affecting the minds of the public. “It was unfortunate that the smooth functioning in the government and also peace in Nagaland had been continuously disturbed by a group of desperate and power monger leaders,” he said while addressing the thanksgiving service of 2 years completion of DAN government under the Chief Minister-ship of TR Zeliang here at the State Banquet Hall. “We were all aware and seen that some people were continuously playing ‘dog in a manger policy’ for mere greed of power. As a result, Nagaland had become a land of rumors and false propaganda with full of confusions for some people,” he said. Dr. Liezietsu added that serving ultimatums to the government even on small issues which could be solved easily through dialogue, are sometimes suspected to be the off spring of those forces. He however claimed that the DAN government “remains strong and stable.” Dr. Liezietsu, who is also President of NPF, termed the coming together of all 60 NLA legislators as one of the achievements during the last two years of DAN. “This was done for political reasons to fulfill the aspiration of the Naga people who want peace desperately,” he said.

Naga political issue top priority: CM

Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang meanwhile assured that facilitating the ongoing dialogue for peaceful resolution to the Naga political issue remains the top priority for his government. “This is the main motivating factor that has united all the 60 legislators to form an opposition-less government, as well as the Nagaland Legislator’s Forum on Naga political issue, by sinking all our differences of the past,” Zeliang said.

Chief Minister of nagaland TR Zeliang speaking on the occasion of completion of two years of the DAn Government at the state Banquet Hall on May 24, 2016. (DIPR Photo)

He reminded that the Parliamentary Working Committee of that Forum had met several national leaders in Delhi to brief them about the Naga issue. “We have also met various Naga political groups for exchange of views and ideas on how to achieve Naga unity, and work together for the common Naga cause,” he said. The CM claimed that the Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India “can be said to be the indirect outcome of all these joint efforts…” “…the spirit of unity and oneness exhibited by the House across party lines which I believe had given him the courage to go ahead with signing of the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM),” the CM said. Zeliang further appreciated the Naga Hoho, ENPO, NMA, Nagaland GB Federation, NSF, ENSF and various religious organizations for reasoning and moving together with one vision for early solution to the Naga political issue. The CM then informed that his government has envisaged bringing out a ‘Vision Document’ for Nagaland. The document, he stated among the others, is to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains & vegetables, horticulture, meat, eggs, milk etc. Other priorities will be to exploit mineral resources, to achieve vast improvements in the roads, power, water supply, health care and education. “We will do our best to reduce unemployment amongst the youth through industrialization by bringing private investments in the state, and through skill development and vocationalization of secondary education etc,” he further said. Related news on page 5

NPCC shocked over JMFC, Peren, transfer order Smart City tag eludes Kohima again had passed a judgment on April 26 that transferred the case to be heard by the JMFC, Peren. A press release from NPCC Working President, P Ayang Aonok, expressed “shock” to have come across the recent transfer order. The NPCC reminded the “competent authority” that the present “cross transfer of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Peren and Phek

appears to be a sudden arrangement which has created doubts on the functioning of judiciary.” “Under the circumstances it may not be advisable to conduct the case in Peren, since T.R Zeliang belongs to Peren district,” noted the NPCC. Thus, in order to have a “fair trial of the case,” it suggested that the case be shifted to a nearby district court.

Nagaland DRDA employees without salary for more than eight months Morung Express news Kohima | May 24

The District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) employees in Nagaland have been working without any salaries for more than eight months now. On May 24, representatives from the 11 districts arrived at the Rural Development Directorate to submit a representation requesting the department to release the pending salaries on or before Contact: - 0370-2290080 0370-2290146 May 31. The DRDA staff in Nagaland comprises of more than 300 employees, and over the last The Morung Express eight months, the entire staff from the Project Poll QuEsTion Director to the office peon has been deprived Vote on www.morungexpress.com of their salaries. The duration of non-payment of salaries sMs your answer to 9862574165 varies from district to district. For the DRDA Should Companies, Contractors and NGOs staff of Longleng, it has been a year since they receiving work-contracts and were deprived of their salaries. On the other financial aid from the State hand, DRDA officers in Dimapur have not Govt be transparent and held received their salaries for one year and two accountableto public scrutiny? months. “I have stopped going to office for the last six months. No pay, no work,” said a Yes no others DRDA employee at Kiphire. Ambulance service: 24x7 Advance life support with trained paramedics; Equipped for transportation of critical and trauma patients.

Forces within NPF disrupting smooth functioning of govt: Dr. Shurhozelie

our Correspondent

Kohima, may 24 (mExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has now informed, and expressed concern over the transfer order given to the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Peren, right after the Gauhati High Court (GHC), Kohima Bench, referred TR Zeliang’s educational qualification case to be tried by the JMFC, Peren. The GHC, Kohima Bench,

Pushing, shoving, pushing, shoving, … oi, quit acting like educated people.

Lowry, DeRozan star as Raptors stun Cavaliers to tie series PAGe 12

Am I suspended for working for the truth? Rio questions NPF

reflections

T R u T H

— Albert Schweitzer

PAGE 05

‘We are fighting for the truth’

In an open defiance to the suspension order served to him by the NPF Party, former Nagaland chief minister and Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio, today said he was not afraid to speak and work for truth. “Why the suspension? Is it for speaking and working for the truth? I am not afraid because God and the Naga public are with me… we are fighting for truth, Naga people and not for our own interests”, the Lok Sabha MP said. Addressing hundreds of party supporters and public at the Dimapur Airport on his arrival from Delhi, Rio narrated the events of the crisis within the NPF party, which began with the tussle for the seat of chief minister, which he had vacated to contest for the lone Lok Sabha seat. After vacating his seat, Rio said the NPF leadership instead of openly consulting all party MLAs went on a silent “signature campaign” and chose TR Zeliang as the chief minister. However, Rio said in good faith he supported Zeliang as the chief minister but trouble started when the three NCP MLAs who merged with the BJP were disqualified by the Speaker. “They were the first one to rebel, it was not my working,” he said. The Lok Sabha MP said in the midst of the disqualification issue of the three NCP MLAs added with growing dissent from other NPF MLAs, senior NPF legislator Kaito Aye approached him claiming that the latter had the majority support of NPF MLAs. Rio said all throughout the crisis, he had insisted that in true democratic manner, majority should prevail but that the other NPF group chose to heap

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While some have stopped attending office, majority of the employees continue to go to office and offer their services despite the Government’s failure to provide their salaries. The reason, according to some of the employees, for the non-payment of salaries has been due to the State’s failure to provide it’s 10 per cent share. Earlier on September 9, 2015, the employees submitted a representation. “They said they will look into the matter but we didn’t get any response,” the employees lamented. “We are taking loans to survive. For those who are staying in rented houses, they have been chased out of their homes,” said Kepingtad Newmai, JE, DRDA Kohima. Another employee mentioned how they have to pay their children’s admission on credit. The recent representation demanded that if the department is unable to resolve the salary issue on or before May 31, the department should “revert all the DRDA employees supposed to be in foreign service back to the parent department in a rational way.” Failing which, it cautioned that the employees may be compelled to resort to agitation or strike.

• Lucknow tops Fast Track competition; 13 more Smart Cities announced • North East Cities Agartala and Imphal make it to the list of Smart Cities Morung Express news Dimapur | May 24

Nagaland State capital Kohima tryst for the ‘smart city’ tag suffered another disappointment on Tuesday as it failed again to figure in the list of 13 cities selected based on the marks scored by them in the Fast Track competition. The list was announced at a conference on the occasion of two years of the Government in office, by Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Venkaiah Naidu. A PIB report of the event informed that the selection of the 13 cities was based on the marks scored by them in the Fast Track competition and the benchmarks set by the top performers in the first round of Smart City Challenge competition in which the first 20 cities were selected from among 98 mission cities. Lucknow topped the list of winners of the Fast Track competition conducted for 23 cities from as many States and Union Territories by improving the quality of its smart city plan by 19%. Other winners of Fast Track competition were - Warangal, Telanagana (13%), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (27%), Chandigarh (9%), Raipur, Chattisgarh (25%), New Town Kolkata (11%), Bhagalpur, Bihar (25%), Panaji, Goa (9%), Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (26%), Imphal, Manipur (27%), Ranchi, Jharkhand (27%), Agartala, Tripura (25%) and Faridabad, Haryana(12%). With the selection of these 13 cities, 25 States/UTs are now covered under Smart City Mission.

Naidu stated that the 13 cities substantially improved their smart city plans by addressing the deficiencies identified in the first round of competition by ensuring better profiling of respective cities in terms of infrastructure gaps and baseline service levels; ensuring consistency between citizens’ aspirations and action plans etc. Other cities that participated in Fast Track Competition were: Namchi, Sikkim (ranked 14) Aizawl, Mizoram(15), Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh(16), Dehradun, Uttarakhand(17), Kohima, Nagaland(18), Oulgaret, Puducherry(19), Silvassa, Dadra, Nagar & Haveli(20), Kavaratti, Lakshdweep(21), Diu, Daman & Diu(22) and Shillong, Meghalaya(23). Another 40 would be selected during 2016-17 and the remaining 40 during the next financial year.

Why again?

While Kohima was not included in the first 20 list, its hope was renewed when it was included amongst another 23 smart cities provided with an opportunity to upgrade their proposals on fast track basis in March. The Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) had roped in consultants from Voyants Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Gurgoan for the proposal. However, Kohima failed to make the cut again. The Nagaland Sate capital appears to be lacking in most parameter stipulated in the criteria. For instance, with an overall score of 893 out of 2000 points, Kohima was ranked a “slow mover” ranking 60 out of 73 cities in India surveyed for cleanliness during the

‘Swachh Survekshan-2016’ survey announced by the ministry on February 15. The ranking of Kohima seems to have suffered most on parameters of service level status. The city scored low in all variables such as Public & Community Toilet Provision, Processing and Disposal of Waste Management. Kohima also appear to be lagging behind in the City Level Evaluation (30%) and Proposal Level Evaluation (70%). The former evaluates credibility of implementation city vision and strategy and the latter evaluates the impact of proposal, cost effectiveness of smart city plan, innovation and scalability, processes followed. Consultation with citizens, especially the vulnerable section and usage of social media, community, mobile governance and accommodation of contrary “voices” forms the crux of the strategy and planning. Interestingly, in the Kohima Smart City Poll - Fast Track Stage Poll on Government of India portal (https://mygov.in/group-poll/ kohima-smart-city-poll-fast-trackstage/), citizens voiced out various issues like lack of parking space; road condition, traffic violations – for vehicles & pedestrian, traffic congestion & pollution, promotion of nonmotorized transport, security and road re-design, and re-alignment, improving walkways and beautification as major areas needing changes. The stakeholders in Nagaland State should incorporate these concerns and rejig its mission to make it to the list in the next round in June.


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