C M Y K
www.morungexpress.com
MonDAY • MAY 01 • 2017
DIMAPUR • Vol. XII • Issue 117• 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
T R u T H
Character is a by-product; it is produced in the great manufacture of daily duty — Woodrow T. Wilson Pope urges mediation to end North Korea crisis, avert devastating war
Inter school peace colloquium held in Peren
PAGE 09
PAGE 02
By Sandemo Ngullie
No chopper service on May 3 DiMApUr, April 30 (MexN): The Nagaland State Transport today informed that state helicopter services will not be available on May 3 due to inspection and scheduled maintenance. The NST, in a press note today, asked people to bear with the inconvenience.
NTTU urges Peren DC to revoke notification DiMApUr, April 30 (MexN): The Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) has taken strong exception to the notification issued by Deputy Commissioner, Peren, dated January 11, 2017, which stated that vehicles carrying log and timber would not be allowed to pass through District HQ Peren, without prior permission from the competent authority with effect from April 30, 2017. The NTTU in a press release issued by its president Kevise Sogotsu, informed that after receiving the notification, the Union submitted a representation seeking revocation/cancellation of the said notification and the representation was received by the DC’s Office, Peren, on April 26, 2016. “It is hereby made known to one and all that, if our request is not accepted then we will be compelled to take necessary legal action as per the law of the land, as this affects our business and directly hampers our livelihood, which is guaranteed under Article 14: Right to Equality, Article 19 (1): Freedom of profession, Trade and Business and Article 21: Right to livelihood which is enshrined in the Constitution of India”,the release stated. Appealing to the authority concerned to cancel/revoke the stated notification in the interest and welfare of the timber trading community as submitted in the representation, NTTU affirmed that in the event of failure on the part of the authority concerned to do so, the Union would be compelled to seek redressal of its grievances from the appropriate court of law.
C M Y K
PAGE 12
‘Dump ViP culture and embrace ePi’
reflecTions
Good news Doctor. Those coma patients in the iCu ward…They’re all waking up, thanks to our creaking and banging doors.
Aizawl FC win I-League title to script history
New Delhi, April 30 (iANS): Calling for cleansing the Indian psyche of the “deeply entrenched” VIP culture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said ‘VIP’ must be replaced by ‘EPI’ -- Every Person is Important. Speaking on a range of issues in his radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi also said that the South Asia Satellite to be launched by India on May 5 will go a long way in addressing the region’s economic and developmental priorities. The Prime Minister also urged the young to step out of their comfort zone. “The red beacon used to be fixed atop a vehicle but slowly and steadily it permeated into the psyche and got firmly entrenched in the mindset. The red beacon has gone for good but nobody can say with cerProtesters dressed as the earth and U.S. President Donald Trump pretend to fight during the Peoples Climate March tainty that it has also disapnear the White House in Washington DC, us on April 30. A sea of protesters swarmed in front of the White House on peared from the mindset,” sunday to voice displeasure with President Donald Trump’s stance on the environment and demand that he rethink said Modi, adding there plans to reverse the climate change policies backed by his predecessor. (REUTERS) was disdain for VIP (Very Important Person) culture in the country. “The concept behind the ‘New India’ is that EPI should replace VIP. EPI Morung Express news As per the Traffic po- curred as there was re- from Longkong village means Every Person is Imlice, the three persons portedly no witnesses to and were identified as Dimapur | April 30 portant. We should accept were on a scooter, which the incident. Keyangluba Imsong (38 the importance of 125 crore While stating that in- years), Limalepzuk LongThree people were killed was suspected to have Indians,” said Modi, asking in a suspected hit and run been hit by another ve- formation of the incident kumer (45 years) and people to collectively strive case in Dimapur on Sun- hicle. All three were was received around Limakumzuk Jamir (35 to flush out the VIP culture. day, April 30. The incident found unconscious and 12:15 pm, the Traffic po- years). Talking about space A case has been regisoccurred at the National sprawled on the road, the lice said that the three diplomacy, Modi said the Highway (NH) 29, near Traffic police said, while were rushed to the HK tered and alert was soundSouth Asia Satellite was an the NAPTC RP gate in adding that it could not Hospital where they suc- ed at all check-posts, the appropriate example of Inbe ascertained how it oc- cumbed. They hailed Traffic police added. Chumukedima. dia’s commitment towards
Three die in suspected hit & run
the region. “The capacities of this satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asia’s economic and developmental priorities. “Natural resources mapping, tele medicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact -- this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region,” he said, describing it an important step by India to enhance cooperation with South Asia. The communication satellite GSAT-9 will be launched using the Indian Space Research Organisation’s heavy rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09). All South Asian countries, except Pakistan, are part of the project. Stressing on the importance of having practical knowledge along with theoretical, Modi asked the young to move out of their comfort zone and gather new experiences and skills. Urging them to experiment and satiate their curiosity on various subjects, Modi suggested youngsters to travel in unreserved rail coaches. “What you cannot learn in a year, you will learn in that crowded train travelling without any reservation for 24 hours.” He also asked them to play with poor children.
“Have you ever thought what changes will come in the lives of those kids who live in abject poverty when they get an opportunity to play with you. I believe that if you go there once, your heart will tell you to go back again and again. This experience will teach you a lot.” Modi also expressed concern over people being too engrossed with technology and asked youngsters to “self-evaluate whether the human element within yourself is getting frustrated”. Observing that climate change was no more confined to the academic world, Modi said “nature has changed the rules of the game”. “The heat we used to experience in May-June is being felt in March-April this year.” He said the government will on Monday release a stamp to mark the occasion of the 1,000th birth anniversary of Saint Ramanujacharya. He also spoke on the relevance of Buddha’s philosophy. “The world today is undergoing a plethora of problems such as violence, war, annihilation, the arms race. Amidst this atmosphere, the philosophy of Buddha comes across as extremely relevant,” said Modi. Modi said he will be paying tributes to Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka on the occasion of UN Vesak Day that celebrates the birth of Gautam Buddha.
A resolution is not enough, nagaland Power Dept: Widening gap nPcc to nagaland state BJP between revenue and expenditure
DiMApUr, April 30 (MexN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today stated that “if there is any truth in the minds of the State BJP to safeguard the Christian faith and identity of Nagas…just a resolution is not enough.” In a press note today, the NPCC President, K Therie said that if the state unit of the party is serious about their commitment towards the Christian faith, it should “join secular front to fight the nuisance designs of RSS and BJP.” “For the first time we have heard that the State BJP is coming to some sense hearing the cry of the people,” it said, while adding that “we cannot underestimate RSS, the guardian of BJP, for no war is greater than an ideological war.” “It all began in 1925 with the objective to have a Hindu Nation with racial purity rule as their philosophy. It has 6million volunteers deeply trained and 6,000 schools educating RSS ideology. BJP workers are all hardcore RSS. No BJP General Secretary is married so that they can
devote full time. They always plan long term programmes. The RSS think-tank is one of the longest serving think-tanks planning against the principles of secularism,” the NPCC alleged. “To demean and forget Christian holy days like Christmas Day, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, the BJP Government has declared them as official functioning days. Hindi and Sanskrit is compulsory in schools. There is a proposal to read the Bhagwat Gita as the National Book. These programs and changes are long term programmes in just three years of BJP,” the NPCC stated. Warning that “the danger is near and real,” the Congress claimed that “when they get majority in the Rajya Sabha and in the number of States, they will force the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) where Special Provisions under Art. 370 and 371(A), (B), (C), etc., will become dormant.” On that day, it cautioned “we will lose our identity.” The UCC, it claimed, would “mean to RSS a Hindu Nation, Hindu religion, one personal law and one tax.”
our Correspondent Kohima | April 30
In 2015-16 the revenue collection of the Nagaland State Power Department increased to Rs. 112.73 crores in 2015-16 from Rs. 99.35 crore, indicating an increase of 13.47 crore over the previous year. However, taking into account the expenditure of Rs. 249.07 crore in 201516 incurred in power purchase, the revenue collection accounted for 45.27 per cent of the expenditure, according to Nagaland Economic Survey 2016-17 tabled in the recent state assembly session here by Parliamentary Secretary
for Economics & Statistics, Tovihoto Ayemi. The survey report added that the average power purchase rate of power is Rs. 3.24 per unit while the average rate of sale is Rs.4.62 per unit. The operating deficit corresponding to the revenue receipt is due to extensive rural electrification for low density load with long transmission network accounting for high transmission losses, leading to loss of revenue and increase in the rate of power purchase without improving the operating efficiency. This widened the gap between revenue and expenditure. And Nagaland being a
welfare state, tariff is structured according to affordability of the consumer. Therefore, despite increase in expenditure, on account of low tariff for certain section of the population, revenue collection is low. The survey report also stated that billing efficiency percentage was 63 per cent in 2009-10 but over the years there has been a fluctuating trend and during 2015-16 it came down to 55 per cent. Collection efficiency has also decreased over the years from 94 per cent in 2009-10 to 58 per cent in 2015-16. To improve efficiency in the collection of revenue
and to facilitate consumers in payment of their electricity bills, online payment facility were introduced in the towns of Dimapur, Kohima and Chumukedima during 2016-17 under the Restructured Accelerated Power Department & Reforms Program project. In 2017, seven more towns are targeted to be covered with this facility. The State Power Department caters to approximately 2.43 lakh consumers of which domestic category consumers constitute almost 80 per cent. Agriculture and irrigation consumption is categorized as lowest with consumption of only 1 per cent.
Regional satraps keen on a consensus candidate to occupy President’s post
New Delhi, April 30 (iANS): With the countdown to the battle for Raisina Hill having already The Morung Express started, leaders of “secuPoll QuEsTion lar” parties are making a beeline to 10, Janpath, to Vote on www.morungexpress.com discuss ways to counter sMs your answer to 9862574165 the Modi-Shah juggernaut Does the Nagaland through a consensus cangovernment need to didate for India’s top coninitiate an honest and stitutional post when Presopen review of the ident Pranab Mukherjee’s Prohibition Act with all stakeholders? Why? term ends in July. The parleys are still in a preliminary stage and it Yes no others is too early for anyone to Do you feel that the pinpoint a candidate, but overall performance of according to informed civil servants in Nagaland sources the regional paris improving? Why? ties are keen on a candidate Yes 29% from among them, instead no 49% of from the Congress. 22% others Earlier this week, NaDetails on page 7 tionalist Congress Party
(NCP) chief Sharad Pawar called on Congress President Sonia Gandhi to discuss a joint opposition candidate for the presidential election. Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) PresidentNitishKumar,JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja and Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury have all met Gandhi. In fact, it all started after Nitish Kumar met Sonia Gandhi last week and asked her to take the lead in identifying a consensus candidate for the Presidential elections, which need to be held before July 25, the day when Mukherjee’s term expires.
“There is no other way out (but finding a common candidate). India’s Constitution is in danger, its Preamble’s ideals are being attacked. If a Sangh Parivar member becomes India’s Constitutional head, the Constitution itself will likely be reviewed, which will not be good for Indian democracy,” JD-U Spokesman K.C. Tyagi told IANS. He said parties may reach a consensus by the end of May. They would, of course, not open their cards at this stage, though a few names including those of Sharad Pawar and Sharad Yadav are alreay doing the
rounds. “Soniaji telephoned me and I went to meet her. We discussed putting up a common candidate for Presidential elections. But
regional satraps with the Congress’ knack of playing big brother in all situations. “The problem is wherever the Congress is big it is not willing to take the smaller parties along. And in the places where it is small, it seeks the lion’s share from the bigger parties,” a senior leader of a big regional party who did not wish to be named told IANS. Citing a recent example, the leader said that in the Karnataka by-elections recently the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) helped the Congress by not fielding candidates and the Congress candidates won. “But the Congress said it has won on its own. It re-
Regional parties to discuss strategy on non Congress candidate no names were discussed,” Raja told IANS. “The candidate has to be a consensus candidate,” he added. However, cobbling a grand alliance -- for the immediate challenge of Presidential elections and for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls -- will not be easy given the disenchantment of some
fused to acknowledge the help it got from the JD-S,” he added. “Some secular parties are maintaining a false arrogance. Until they touch down with practicality and reality, it will not be easy to defeat the BJP,” another opposition leader said. However, Raja said: “I don’t know what others say about the Congress because all said and done, the Congress is the largest opposition party and so it should take the lead.” But he added in the same breath that the Congress cannot unilaterally decide the presidential candidate. Add to this enchantment the ambition of some of the regional satraps who at the fag end of their ca-
reers are wishing to enjoy a leisurely sunset sitting in the sprawling lawns of the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan, and you know they are in no mood to listen to the terms of engagement to be dictated by the big brother. Also, the fight is close, with scales not tilting clearly to any one side. “It will be an interesting contest. Including all non-NDA parties, we have around 35,000 more votes as compared to NDA, but there would be disruptions (tor-phor). Amit Shah and Modi are expert in torphor,” Tyagi said. “We want to fight this election as the saviours of the Constitution and the idea of India versus the vidhvansak (destroyer),” he said.
2
MonDAY 01•05•2017
NAGALAND
Addl. Director & HoD Municipal Affairs sssumes office
KohIMA, APRIL 30 (DIPR): Dr. Toshimanen Ozukum has assumed office of the Additional Director & HoD Municipal Affairs Department with effect from April 6. Henceforth, all DO/UO letters and other official correspondence may address officially or personally to the Additional Director & HoD Directorate of Municipal Affairs, located below AG office in Kohima.
Fisheries Dept impart training
DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (DIPR): The Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Nagaland led by Chief Executive Officer (FFDA) Dimapur, Dr. Vimezo Kire along with technical staffs imparted training to 25 fish farmers, on culture of Indian major carps and Exotic major carps at Bade Village Panchayat Hall on April 26. The Department also distributed 350 kg of floating fish feed, 450 kg of lime and training manual "Handbook on culture of Indian major carps and Exotic major carps" to the fisher folks of the village.
ZSUN biennial conference
DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): The 22nd Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Nagaland (ZUSN) biennial General Conference will be held on May 11 and 12 at St Xavier College Hall, Jalukie Town under the theme “Confronting our Realities.” Khekaho Assumi, Secretary, Youth Resources & Sports, Government of Nagaland will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest and Raitu Chawang, President Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) will be the Guest of Honour. The Chief Host for the Conference would be TR Zeliang, Chairman Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) and Pakinzinliu Chawang and Paukizone Meriam will be the Comperes. The election for the next tenure of ZSUN Office Bearers would be conducted during the last day of the Conference on May 12.
NSCW legal awareness prog
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Inter school peace colloquium held in Peren
DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): An Inter-school Peace Colloquium on Peace-Building and Peace Showcase was organized by the Peace Channel, Peren Chapter at St. Xavier Hr. Sec. School, Jalukie on April 29 with Peidoding Heraang, Headmaster, Christian School and RK Janthuiyang John, Project Coordinator, Peace Channel as the resource persons. The event organized by Peace Channel, saw the participation of 6 peace club established schools in Jalukie, specifically, St. Xavier Hr. Sec School, Govt. Hr. Sec. School, Christian School, Ibaung Thou Memorial School, Ikiesing Memorial School and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Peren. Speaking on the topic, “Peace and Peace-building in our society”, Peidoding Heraang stressed on
Resource person, Peidoding Heraang, Headmaster, Christian School speaking at the Inter-School Peace Colloquium on Peace-Building and Peace Showcase at St. Xavier Hr. Sec. School Auditorium, Jalukie.
the importance of Peacebuilding through moral purity. He projected the students and youths as a strong force in bringing about change in our broken society. He also acknowledged the founder of Peace Channel, Dr. Fr. CP Anto and encouraged the students to carry for-
ward the legacy of what the founder has done, so that the younger generation lives in a better place and environment. He also urged the students in building and spreading peace by being responsible students, resolving conflict in their own capacities and not
turning a blind eye to the element leading to distortion in our society. RK Janthuiyang John also spoke on the values to attain inner peace which consist of love, sacrifice, empathy, equality, discipline, generosity and justice. He said that one cannot give to others what one
doesn’t have. Likewise, Peace cannot be given to the other persons unless we have it with ourselves. Thus, he added that in order to achieve universal peace, it should start from oneself which will slowly expand to the family, community, religion and the world at large. Earlier, the welcome
speech was delivered by Khenenle, teacher animator, SXHSS and Words on behalf of SXHSS was delivered by Fr. Salas Ngade, Vice Principal. A multimedia presentation on the Peace Channel was also showed and the vote of thanks was pronounced by P David Ndang, Peace Channel, Peren District Coordinator. Through the program, the students and the participant have been disseminated the knowledge of the different symbols of Peace, prominent figures and personalities in peace, children’s perspective of peace, an idea on how to be a peace-builder by avoiding conflict and other peace concepts through group song - ‘Heal the world’ and choreography. The program was attended by more than 210 participants.
Rural Development Department Awareness programme on holds Performance review meeting GST conducted in Kohima
DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): The Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) in association with National Commission for Women (Delhi) will be organising a series of one day legal awareness programme on ‘Human Trafficking’ across the state. NSCW informed that the programmes are scheduled at Town Hall, Pughoboto on May 2; Town Hall Zunheboto on May 3; and De Oriental Grande, Kohima on May 5 at 10 AM respectively. NSCW has invited all concerned NGOs, Tribal Hohos, Women Hoho, DGs, GBs, Student Bodies, Church Leaders, Local Police and legal aid services officials to partici- Minister RD, C.L John, Secretary RD, Kelei Zeliang and Director RD, Metsubo Jamir during pate in the said programme in its respective jurisdiction. the Performance Review Meeting at Kohima on April 29. KohIMA, APRIL 30 (MExN): A Per- beneficiaries. It may be mentioned that formance Review Meeting (PRC) of the PMAY-G aims to provide a pucca house department of Rural Development was with basic amenities to all houseless and DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): The Razeba Public Or- conducted today at RD Directorate under households living in kutcha and dilapiganisation has convened its Consultative Meeting at RPO the chairmanship of Director RD, Met- dated house by 2022. To ensure that assisHall, Razeba, 10:30 AM on May 6. All the Unit Chairman subo Jamir. The day-long meeting deliber- tance is targeted at those who are genuand Secretaries, Ex. Presidents, All the VCC’s and Secretar- ated on programmes related to MGNRE- inely deprived and that selection process ies, Head GB’s, Youth Chairman and Secretaries, Students GA, PMAY-G and other State Sponsored is objective and verifiable, he advised folUnion Presidents and Secretaries, Women Society Chair- Schemes under Rural Development de- lowing the guidelines strictly for identifyperson’s and Secretaries, President and Secretaries Razeba partment. ing deserving households. Range Youth Society, Pastor and Catechists and Officers He also highlighted and discussed on Addressing the gathering of PDs, have been requested to attend the meeting positively. BDOs, JEs, SOs and other departmental issues concerning MGNREGA, status of staffs, minister RD, C. L. John stressed on EFMS in all districts and blocks, opening of the importance of abiding by the Central individual bank accounts, IHHL-toilet conGovernment orders and to strictly follow struction to cover 100%, Angawadi Centres DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): The 32 Assam Rifles the guidelines provided for all the differ- and the necessity to put up signboards for under the aegis of HQ 6 Sector Assam Rifles, on April 27, ent schemes. projects to facilitate geo-tagging. organised a mid-day meal programme for children of He also urged upon the BDO’s and JE’s Pointing out that there were no guideEbenezer Orphanage Home, Lengrijan, Dimapur. The lines earlier, he stated that times have how- to be more sincere and dedicated in disevent was organized as a goodwill gesture on behalf of As- ever changed and there now exist many charging their duties as the success of the sam Rifles to needy children of Orphanage home and was rules and regulations for implementation department depends on their performancattended by a total of 27 children and staff, informed an of central schemes. Towards this end, he es and further directed them to follow the AR press note. The 32 AR further assured of provisioning called upon all to be more cautious while guidelines while implementing schemes all possible assistance for development and betterment selecting beneficiaries and while execut- and to comply with the instructions of their of children in future, it added. ing their powers and duties. He also urged immediate controlling officers. Zeliang further delivered a powerpoint them to expedite all pending projects and to complete all ongoing schemes without presentation on the functions of VDBs and communitisation, with an aim to educate further delay. Secretary RD, Kelei Zeliang IAS, while the officers on the actual functioning of KohIMA, APRIL 30 (MExN): The Directorate of High- chairing the interactive session focused on VDBs so that they are thorough in their er Education organised a farewell programme in hon- PMAY-G and reminded them of the guide- knowledge and information while disour of its outgoing Director, I Alempokba on Saturday, lines provided while identifying eligible charging their duties. April 29 in the conference hall of the directorate. Speaking on behalf of the officers and staff of the directorate, Menuokholie Kire, Joint Director described him as the most cheerful Head of Department (HoD), understanding, likeable, approachable and a man of style, who has brightened the department in many ways. Expressing KohIMA, APRIL 30 and encouraged to particiSwacch Bharat Amthat they have enjoyed working together as a family, he (MExN): The Directorate pate in the cleaning out- bassadors, Hokogba Chisi, said that the valuable and innovative ideas of the outgo- of Prisons, Nagaland and side the jail premises in the Vizopal Chaya, S. Suponging Director will always be cherished. Further congratu- all the prisons in Nagaland Prison Directorate. About meren Jamir and T. Khonlating him on successfully completing 35 years of service, embarked upon a Swachh 20 prisons inmates under- go were present during the he wished the outgoing Director a long and a happy re- Bharat Abhiyan in Kohima took the exercise outside entire Abhiyaan, both entired life. Parliamentary Secretary for Higher & Technical and all jails in Nagaland on the jail premises/wall while couraging and participatothers were engaged in the ing in it. Speaking about Education, Deo Nukhu said that the outgoing Director is April 29. The DG Prisons, all staff effort within the jail. In all the Mission, on behalf of all a younger person but expressed, “we are good friends and I hope that we will continue to be good friends in the near and the Swachh Bharat Ab- other jails, the inmates and other Brand Ambassadors, future also.” Meanwhile, the outgoing Director of High- hiyan Brand Ambassadors staff actively engaged them- S Supongmeren Jamir said er Education, I. Alempokba thanked the Directorate for participated in the efforts selves in the cleanliness that while Swacch Bharat is arranging such a memorable farewell. The farewell pro- in Kohima. Kohima DEF campaign, cleaning the jail primarily to keep our environment clean, prisoners gramme was chaired by the Additional Director of Higher personnel also participated premises from within. Speaking on the occa- could also try to cleanse by providing security and Education, Kuholi Chishi. She also gave the welcome adsion, Rupin Sharma IPS, DG their minds and hearts dress. Other highlights of the event included invocation manpower. The highlight of the pro- Prisons, CD & HG highlight- and channelize their enerby Dr. Apeni Lotha, Principal, Mt. Tiyi College, Wokha; grammes was the partici- ed the Swacch Bharat Mis- gies, in a positive direction. short speech by Ngangshikokba, Principal, Dimapur pation of prison inmates in sion and its importance and He also asked the inmates Government College, and special number by Naga Idol Swacch Bharat Mission. The exhorted upon the inmates to take this opportunity to 2009, Topeni Assumi. inmates of the District Jail to keep the premises clean reform themselves and beKohima were also allowed and participate with fervour. come productive compo-
Razeba Public Org meeting
32 AR organises mid day meal prog
Higher Education Dept bids farewell to Director
KohIMA, APRIL 30 (DIPR): An awareness programme on Goods and Services Tax (GST) was held with the Chief Secretary, Pankaj Kumar as the chief guest on April 29 at APO Hall, Kohima. Speaking at the programme, the chief guest said that the introduction of technological transaction in banking system would be efficient and helpful for shopkeepers and traders as well as in government sector for easy transfer of taxes and other government benefits. Adding that Goods and services tax was more favorable as Nagaland is mainly a consuming state, where production and export is very less. He stated that this system will increase the revenue and urged the participants to take the opportunities to participate in trainings and awareness programmes for the benefit of whole economy and for the betterment of the state. He also informed that July 1 is the tentative starting date by Central and State government for the implementation. Chief Commissioner for Customs and Service Tax, Shillong Zone, SK Panda said that the Goods and services Tax campaign is being held to create aware-
Chief Secretary, Pankaj Kumar addressing the participants at the awareness programme on April 29 at APO hall Kohima. (DIPR Photo)
ness to the people to give boost to foreign investment, seamless flow of input tax credit throughout supply chain, efficient neutralization of taxes to make export more competitive, increase economic activities and reduction in compliance costs and multiple records not required to be maintained for different taxes. He also requested the Commissioner of Taxes Nagaland to carry forward the message and to create awareness in colleges and universities so that the youngsters would aware of GST for brighter state. Commissioner of Taxes Nagaland, Asangba Chuba Ao, IAS while giving his PowerPoint presentation said that the benefits
of Goods and Services Tax was to reduce in cascading of taxes, overall reduction in prices, self regulating tax system, consumption based tax, protection of domestic industry etc. He informed that the workshops with trade bodies, Bussiness association and tax practitioners would be completed the month of April to May 2017 in all the districts. The programme was jointly organised by the central Excise and Services tax and Excise Department, Dovernment of Nagaland. Vote of thanks was pronounced by Commissioner Central Excise Shillong, G. Panmei. Altogether 250 traders and shopkeepers attended the programme.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan in Nagaland jails
9 AR dedicates Bore Well in Zuketsa Town
DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): The 9 Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ 5 Sector, IGAR (N) constructed and dedicated a Bore Well to the people of Zuketsa, Leshemi and Lasumi of Pfutsero Sub Division on April 25. The Bore Well was inaugurated by Colonel Rajat Tyagi, Commandant, 9 Assam Rifles and Sinokha, Head GB of Zuketsa Town, informed a press note from Lt Col Amitabh Sharma PRO, HQ IGAR (North). In his inaugural speech, Commandant assured that AR will always continue to bring basic amenities at the doorstep of locals in future too, it added. The inauguration was attended by Zuketsa Town Council Chairman, Kevizu and other village members and local populace.
32 AR nabs alleged arms dealer
DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): An alleged arms dealer was arrested during a search operation in general area of Veterinary Colony, Burma Camp, Dimapur by security forces on April 26. The operation was launched by 32 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters IGAR (North) alongwith police representatives based on specific information, an AR press note informed. During the search, one Pt 22 mm Pistol with magazine was recovered from an individual identified as Nurul Huk (24 yrs), a resident of Burma Camp, Dimapur District, it said. He revealed that he had been involved in procurement and smuggling of arms, it maintained adding that apprehendee along with the recovered arms and items were handed over to East Police Station, Dimapur for further investigation.
nents of the society. On the occasion, keeping in line with the recent Govt decision to ban/remove the Red/VIP beacon, the VIP light on the official vehicle of DG Prisons CD
& HG was also removed. The vehicle beacon was removed by a prison inmate and handed over to Vizopal Chaya in a symbolic gesture. The Prison Directorate thanked everyone who par-
NSLSA attends National meet of Para Legal Volunteers
DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): With a vision to strengthen the manner in which Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) work at the grassroots and find a way forward for the challenges being faced by them, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) attended the two days National meet of PLVs with the theme ‘Soldiers for Legal Services Institutions at Grassroots Para Legal Volunteers’ organized by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in association with Delhi State Legal Services Authority at New Delhi on April 29 and 30. The five NSLSA members attending the meet are Nino Iralu, Member Secretary NSLSA and Special Judge TDP Vigilance Commission, TucunoVamuzo, Secretary Longleng DLSA and CJM, B. Yemlong Chaba, PLV Tuensang DLSA and Zonal Best PLV 2016, L. Pukho Meyo, PLV Tu-
Nagaland State Legal Services Authority team at the national meet in New Delhi.
ensang DLSA and Medochutuo Kiewhuo, PLV Kohima DLSA. Justice J.S. Khehar, Chief Justice of India and Patron-in-Chief NALSA inaugurated the event. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Min-
ister of Law and Justice and Electronics and Information Technology delivered special address, while Justice Dipak Misra, Judge Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman NALSA pro-
nounced the keynote address. This was followed by technical sessions focusing on subjects such as role of PLVs in spreading awareness about availability of legal services, mainstreaming of legal aid through CSCs by attaching PLVs, best practices adopted by PLVs: overall perspective, role of PLVs in implementing scheme of NALSA and concluding remarks and way forward. Judges of Supreme Court of India and Judges of High Court who are also the Secretary and Chairman of State Legal Services Authority were the speakers in the technical session. B. Yemlong Chaba, PLV Tuensang DLSA and Zonal Best PLV 2016 also gave a presentation at the national meet. Member Secretaries, SLSAs, Secretaries of DLSAs and selected PLVs from all over the country participated in the meet.
ticipated in the programme, including inmates, staff of the entire Prisons department and jails, DEF Kohima, NAP and brand ambassadors, to make the occasion a success.
New Village Guard Barrack Building at Thoktsor
DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (DIPR): Parliamentary Secretary for Land Revenue, Village Guard and Women Resources Development L. Khumo inaugurated the New Village Guard Barrack Building at Thoktsor Village on April 28 as chief guest. Speaking on the occasion Khumo said that the present government led by Dr Shürhozelie and TR Zeliang has enabled the people of far flung areas like Thoktsor Village to development. He said that we must be thankful to the government and further called for peace in the society. The program was chaired by W. Muthong VCC. Welcome address was delivered by N.Khupanthong Hd. GB, Special number was presented by Leahoi Associate pastor woman. Vote of thanks was delivered by M Puchai GB.
Monday 01•05•2017
NORTH-EAST 3
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
suspected 'cattle thieves' Transporters attacked again in Manipur Two lynched in Assam's Nagaon Newmai News Network Imphal | April 30
For the second time in less than a fortnight transporters were attacked again by gunmen along the National Highway-2. A driver was hit by a bullet in the attack. However, the driver’s condition is reported to be out of danger. Reports suggest that around 5:30 am today some unidentified gunmen fired at goods laden trucks when they reached a place called Changoubung in the newly created Kangpokpi district. In the attack a driver of an oil tanker was hit by a bullet in his arm. Reports stated he is out of danger. The oil tankers were heading for Imphal from Khatkhati in Assam escorted by CRPF. Meanwhile, a massive combing operation was carried out in the Changoubung area by a combined team of police from Kagpokpi district, Imphal West district, Thoubal district and Bishnupur district, according to sources. No group has claimed re-
One of the oil tankers seen here after a bullet was fired at it on April 30 on National Highway-2 in Manipur. (NNN Photo)
sponsibility for today’s attack on the transporters. One of the oil tankers was seen hit on its windshield by a bullet. All the oil tankers have reached Imphal. On April 18 last, gunmen attacked loaded oil
tankers near Kangpokpi, some 60 km north of Imphal. In the attack, a tanker each loaded with diesel and petrol were hit by bullets. Interestingly on April 21, four Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) cadres involved
in the April 18 attack on oil tankers in Kangpokpi district of Manipur were arrested by police. Director General of Police (DGP), L.M. Khaute had said on April 21 that the four arrested KRA cadres were involved in the firing incident of the oil tankers
on April 18 at S.Golai between Kangpokpi and Changoubung. The police officer alleged that these KRA cadres were also involved in many other crimes like kidnapping of drivers, detention of vehicles, extortions, firing at passenger vehicles at Henbung, etc. It can be noted here that, All Manipur Petroleum Transporters’ Association had met Chief Minister N Biren Singh in Imphal hours after the April 18 attack on transporters and had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging him to provide adequate security to the transporters along the National Highways leading to Manipur. The Association had also said that the “drivers have been facing hardship due to the activities of ‘anti social elements’ along the National Highways” for decades. The All Manipur Petroleum Transporters’ Association had also threatened to stop fetching goods if such unwanted incidents continued.
Guwahati, april 30 (pti): In a case of cow vigilantes going to the extremes in Assam, a mob today lynched two men in Nagaon district suspecting them to be cattle thieves. Senior police officials said the men, aged between 20-25 years, were severely beaten up by the mob, who alleged that they were involved in cow theft. "When the police reached the spot, they were being thrashed by a mob of villagers near Kasamari grazing reserve under Nagaon police station," Nagaon superintendent of police Debaraj Upadhay told PTI. "The team immediately
took the men to hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries," he added. The mob continuously thrashed them with sticks while chasing them for about 1.5 km, from Kasamari in Nagaon police station area to Jajori police station area, he said. Upadhay said the men were identified and their parents have registered a complaint with the police. An FIR has been lodged and investigation is on, the SP said, adding no arrest has been so far. Asked if it is a case of "cow vigilantism", the senior official said a lot of cattle theft incidents have
happened in Nagaon. "In this case, I got reports that some people saw the two men trying to take away cows from the field and called more people from the village. When a large crowd gathered, they started thrashing them badly," he said. The SP has assured of an "impartial enquiry" into the episode. Although some incidents of cattle thieves being thrashed by mob have been reported from Assam earlier, this is the first casualty after cases of cow vigilantism have been reported in recent times across the nation.
Assam DSP arrested for objectionable comment against woman BJP lawmaker
Guwahati, april 30 (iaNS): A in the Assam Secretariat in Dispur. Although Deputy Superintendent (DSP) of Assam Bora did not name anyone, in his post, he Police was arrested on Saturday for mak- made it clear to who he is referring to. He was produced in the court of the ing an objectionable comment on social media against a woman legislator of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Kamrup on Saturday, who released him on bail. ruling BJP, police said. Assam Director General of Police The CID arrested DSP Anjan Bora following departmental and criminal pro- Mukesh Sahay said that law will take its st ceedings against him. The state unit of own course. "Whenever someone violates the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also the service rules, law will take its course," he said adding that there will be departlodged an FIR against him. Guwahati, april 30 (iaNS): As- juice, coffee or tea, and meals relevant Bora, an Assam Police Service officer, had mental action against him. sam on Sunday got its first Shatabdi Ex- to time of day of the journey," said the a few days back posted on Facebook that one Bora, however, stood by his charges ShilloNG, april 30 (pti): Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd press with Minister of State for Railways minister. of BJP's woman legislators had been running and claimed that he has got enough eviHe also called upon the people of a prostitution racket from her office chamber dence to prove them. (BSNL) Chief General Manager K K Saxena said the company Rajen Gohain flagging off the train from will set up 111 base towers in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura Dibrugarh. The new Shatabdi Express the region, specially the rail users, to train (No. 12085/12086) will run be- take care of railway property and conto improve customers service and its reach in these states. sider it to be their own. He appealed to "We are adding 111 new Base Transceiver Stations (Towers) tween Dibrugarh and Guwahati. "There was a long-standing demand the people not to damage the interior or in our NE-1 circle comprising Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripufor better rail connectivity with Guwa- exterior of a beautiful train like Shatabdi ra," Saxena who heads the circle told reporters here. He said 56 of these towers will be in remote Meghalaya (ex- hati from Dibrugarh and the Dibrugarh- and keep it clean. Saying that Prime Minister Narenisting 244), 9 in Mizoram (existing 141) and 46 in Tripura (exist- Guwahati Shatabdi Express would fulfil ing 386) which will add to 771 existing towers in these states as that demand of the people," said Gohain dra Modi placed special emphasis on Newmai News Network the development of the northeastern while flagging off the train. part of the phase 7 project costing Rs 50 crore. The Shatabdi Express trains are region, Gohain assured the state that the Aizawl | April 30 According to the BSNL NE-1 circle chief, each of these among the fastest and most prestigious Railways would continue to work for detowers is expected to cater to a population of 5000 people. With the State Government The state-owned telecom operator, which caters to 14 per trains of the Indian Railways along with velopment in the region. The train will have 10 AC Chair Car of Mizoram failing to meet cent of the 1.24 crore customers in the region, saw a 1 per cent Rajdhani and Duronto trains which coaches and 2 luggage-cum-generator the demand for immediate connect metro cities with other imporincrease in its market share in the past one year, the official said. transfer of required numBoth NE-1 and NE-2 (comprising of Assam and rest of NE tant cities from the point of view of tour- cars. The train will have seven interme- ber of doctors at Chamdiate stoppages. The total fare, which states) cater to about 17.4 lakh customers of which 8.7 lakh are ism, pilgrimage or business. "The train would have latest fully includes charges for food, for one adult phai District Hospital latest in NE-1 circle, he said. by April 30 being put forth Earlier, Saxena announced the launch of 3 new plans costing air-conditioned LHB Coaches to pro- passenger from Guwahati to Dibrugarh by Champhai Joint Action less than Rs 400 for prepaid services where customers can avail vide safety and extra comfort. Travellers will be Rs 1,095 and between Dibrugarh Committee (CJAC), the would be provided with bottled water, and Guwahati will be Rs 1,010. free calls and data costing less than Rs 2 per GB. meeting of the JAC decided to intensify the demand for posting of more doctors at the district hospital. Champhai town since April ricain and a general doctor The JAC said that an 18 to protest against short- as an immediate need and "indefinite strike" would age of doctors at the Cham- set April 30 as deadline. Asked about the time- tailed project report was said, "If those people want such as poaching and an- be imposed on all govern- phai District Hospital. The KolKata, april 30 As the government (pti): Six tigers would be frame for their relocation, prepared in consultation to be relocated, we are thropogenic pressure, that ment offices in Mizoram- agitation was supported could not meet the demand relocated to Buxa Tiger Re- he said, "It may be done with Wildlife Institute of ready to shift them and give have caused the low popu- Myanmar border Cham- by all civil society organ- when the deadline lapsed, India and Global Tiger Fo- them the package they are lation and local extirpation phai town from May 3. isations and later received the meeting of CJAC on deserve (BTR) in north Bengal within this year". The big cats, to be air- rum. entitled to for the purpose". of the species have been However, educational in- mass support. from Assam as part of a plan cided to intensify the agitaOn whether relocation Vyas said that special addressed", wildlife con- stitutions and banks would for augmentation of tiger lifted, would be put in an The agitation launched tion by calling an indefinite population in the reserve enclosure for seven days of tiger is feasible at Buxa protection camps were servationist Belinda Wright be exempted from the "in- by Champhai district head- strike on government ofwhich was approved by the for acclimatisation and af- where there was human being set up to keep a vigil told PTI. definite strike". quarter of MZP turned vio- fices from May 3. "The tiger reserve has National Tiger Conserva- ter that those tigers would disturbance, he said, "The and monitor the situation The meeting decided lent on April 20 resulting in Meanwhile, the governbe released in the reserve. technical committee of in BTR. suffered from shortage that May 1 and 2 would be torching of four government ment is working to recruit tion Authority (NTCA). Sighting of tiger was not NTCA, which is its highest Many tiger experts of frontline staff, lack of "preparatory days" for peo- vehicles and a private car 26 new doctors to meet "The technical committee of the NTCA has given reported for long in Buxa body, has given its approval have, however, raised protection, large-scale il- ple to buy food grains and parked at Champahi deputy shortage of doctors in the questions about the relo- legal grazing, forest fires, do office works by visiting commissioner's office garage state. However, a media its approval for the aug- even as forest department for the plan". The agitators, consist- report quoted officials of Vyas said, "Habitat im- cation of tigers at Buxa say- constant anthropogenic government offices. “An inmentation of the tiger pop- claimed the presence of at ulation in Buxa", state Chief least three tigers in BTR, provement work is being ing that it would not yield pressure, widespread tree definite strike on all govern- ing mostly of students, also Mizoram Public Service Wildlife Warden Pradeep which is located in Alipur- done and steps are being any fruitful result unless felling, dolomite mining ment offices would be called pelted stones at DC office Commission ( MPSC) who duar sub-division of Jalpai- initiated to improve the villages were shifted from (largely across the border from May 3 as part of the in- and damaged some win- will conduct the recruitVyas told PTI here. prey base and grassland to the core areas of the tiger in Bhutan but which affects tensification of the agitation dow panes. "Six tigers, two male guri District. ment as saying that recruitAt least 15 students in- ment of 26 new doctors The forest department make the situation condu- reserve. the landscape)", Belinda demanding the posting of and four female, would "The relocation of wild who is also executive direc- more doctors at Champahi cluding a woman were in- may not be possible before be relocated to BTR from had taken up tiger aug- cive for tiger relocation." On the existence of hu- tigers should only be con- tor of Wildlife Protection District Hospital,” a leader jured in the tussle between mid-June this year. neighbouring Assam", he mentation plan in Buxaof CJAC said, adding that the police and the protesters. Jaldapara for which deman settlements in BTR, he sidered when the factors, Society of India, said. said. strike will not affect educaSubsequently, the agitional institutions and com- tation against shortage of mercial banks. doctors was taken over by INTERVIEW AT Meanwhile, CJAC has CJAC involving all civil soDBYC, ITANAGAR called a public meeting of cieties in the town. all civil societies operating The JAC is demanding FOR ADMISSION TO: V Shivshankar ing 1,528 fake encounter deaths in negated or bypassed. If the position account the peculiar facts and cir- in Champhai town on May posting of a surgeon, a pae*DE PAUL Manipur in the last decade. The maintained by the order contin- cumstances and did not take into 1 to chalk out strategies. diatrician, a pharmacist, a The Wire INTERNATIONAL court had pulled up the army for ues, it may, one day, be well-nigh account the express contents of Sponsored by the influ- 'jail doctor' and two mediRESIDENTIAL In a huge setback to the Centre, the human rights violations in the fake impossible to maintain peace and statutory provisions and their in- ential student body, Mizo cal officers at Champhai SCHOOL & COLLEGE, Supreme Court has re-affirmed encounters. Last week, the same security, it argued. terpretation, especially in conso- Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or Mizo District Hospital. MYSORE. its July 2016 order which said that bench reserved its verdict on the The Centre maintained that the nance with the ground realities Students’ Federation, agiThe JAC had earlier deClasses V to XII the army and Manipur police had issue of setting up a special inves- Indian army, in the given circum- under which the forces are posted tation has been launched manded the state govern(ICSE) & Graduation. killed innocent people in the guise tigation team to probe specific in- stances, has to take quick decisions in the Manipur region. The govern- in Mizoram’s eastern ment to transfer a paediatof encounters with militants. stances of excesses including mur- which cannot be dissected later ment had held that no army action Contact: 9436062834 The court in its order had held der and rape. A judgment on the on, like an ordinary murder ap- against such suspected insurgents that the army cannot use excessive same is expected shortly. peal. The action taken by the army in frontiers and difficult terrain can force under the provisions of the In its judgment, the apex court during operations cannot be put to be equated to a “public order” or a राष्ट्रीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस् नािाऱैंड नािाऱैंड राष्ट्रीय प्रौद्योगिकी संथानस्थान Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act had said that if members of the judicial scrutiny. It submitted that “law and order” situation. It cannot NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NAGALAND (AFSPA) or the Unlawful Activities armed forces are deployed and the principle of judicial scrutiny be expected that the army during Chumukedima,OF Dimapur, Nagaland - 797 103 TECHNOLOGY NAGALAND Prevention Act (UAPA) to deal with employed to kill citizens of the cannot be applied in insurgency the currency of such operations –NATIONAL INSTITUTE militants or insurgency. country on the mere allegation or operations in the state of Manipur which generally last two-five minChumukedima, Dimapur, Nagaland - 797 103 RECRUITMENT FOR TEMPORARY FACULTY Chumukedima, Dimapur, Nagaland - 797 103 While upholding this order, suspicion that they are ‘enemy,’ by the security forces. utes – must consider the possibilAdvt.No: NIT-N/Advt/Recruit/0001/2017 dated 29-04-2017 a five-judge constitution bench then not only the rule of law but The curative petition noted ity that the army officer concerned RECRUITMENT FOR TEMPORARY FACULTY comprising Chief Justice J.S. Khe- also democracy would be in grave that it is a well-known fact that the might one day be tried for particiRECRUITMENT FOR FACULTY Applications are invited for the NIT-N/Advt/Recruit/0001/2017 Temporary Faculty, with TEMPORARY designation as Assistant Professor in the Advt.No: dated 29-04-2017 har and Justices Dipak Misra, J. danger. It said that the use of ex- northeastern region has also been, pating in the operation. Departments of Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, NIT-N/Advt/Recruit/0001/2017 dated 29-04-2017 Chelameswar, Madan B. Lokur cessive force or retaliatory force by post-independence, prone to the The government said the im- Advt.No: Applications are invited for the Temporary Faculty, with designation & Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronics & and Uday Lalit dismissed as ‘no the Manipur police or the armed activities of insurgent and militant mediate effect of the impugned Electrical as Assistant Professor in the Departments of Computer Science & merits’ the curative petition filed forces of the Union is not permissi- groups from the China and Myan- judgment is that it has hampered Instrumentation Engineering, Sciences and Humanities in National Institute of Technology Nagaland. Electronics & Communication Engineering, Electrical & by the Centre to re-open the case ble. It had directed that the Indian mar region. There is a constant the army’s ability to respond to The Engineering, appointment will be initially for limited period, for upcoming semester (Odd Semester 2017Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, that held the army responsible for army and other paramilitary forces threat from armed militant groups Applications insurgent and terrorist situations. are invited for2018). the Temporary Faculty, with designation as Assistant The contract may be renewed for one more semester (Even Semester 2017-2018) based upon Professor in the Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering, Sciences and Humanities in the killings in the guise of self-de- cannot use “excessive and retalia- and, therefore, there is need for Denying the violation of human the performance. The application form duly filled in all respect along with the attested copies of National Institute of Technology Nagaland. fence and insurgency. tory force” in Manipur and that all counter insurgency operations Departments rights in these encounters, the govof Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Generally, curative petitions allegations of such excessive use of through the armed forces in con- ernment said “human rights and necessary documents much reach to The Registrar, National Institute of Technology Nagaland, The appointment will be initially for limited period, for upcoming Dimapur-797103, Nagaland on or before 21-05-2017 by 5.00 p.m. Incomplete are filed after the court dismisses force must be probed. junction with the Manipur police. respect for the life of a human be- Chumukedima, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronics & semester (Odd Semester 2017-2018). The contract may be renewed the review petition and though the Seeking to recall this order, the These anti-insurgency/militant op- ing are kept on the highest pedes- applications will not be entertained. for one more semester (Even Semester 2017-2018) based upon the Centre wanted a fresh hearing in Centre said the findings and con- erations also hold out a threat to the tal” as reflected by the data showEngineering, and The Humanities inform National Institute ofDIRECTOR Technology performance. application duly filled in all respect along withNagaland. the open court, this curative petition clusions have far reaching ramifica- lives of the armed forces person- Instrumentation ing that only 10% of insurgents Sciences was heard by the judges in the CJI’s tions on the security and integrity of nel since the insurgents/militants died in army operations between attested copies of necessary documents much reach to The Registrar, appointment will be initially for limited period, for upcoming semesterChumukedima, (Odd Semester 2017chamber and dismissed. the territory of India, especially in wield deadly weapons inclusive of The 1990 and 2015. National Institute of Technology Nagaland, On July 8, 2016, the top court certain parts of the country. The the latest automatic fire weapons. In the end, however, none of Dimapur-797103, Nagaland on or before 21-05-2017 by 5.00 p.m. had given this ruling on a PIL filed protections available to the armed Disagreeing with the court’s 2018). these arguments cut any may ice with The contract be renewed for applications one more semester Semester 2017-2018) based upon Incomplete will not be (Even entertained. by the Extra Judicial Execution forces under statutes such as AFS- far reaching findings, the Centre the Supreme Court, which let its Victim Families Association alleg- PA and UAPA have been completely said the order failed to take into the original order stand. The application form duly filled in all respect along with the DIRECTOR performance. attested copies of
BSNL to set up 111 base towers Assam gets its 1 Shatabdi Express in M'laya, Mizoram & Tripura
Mizoram district to intensify agitation over shortage of doctors
6 tigers to be relocated from Assam to Bengal as part of national policy
SC upholds order against use of excessive force by Army in Manipur
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NAGALAND
necessary documents much reach to The Registrar, National Institute of Technology Nagaland,
4
mOndAY 01•05•2017
BUSINESS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Protectionism could hit Indian exports, says FIccI survey New Delhi, April 30 (iANS): The protectionist trends gaining strength in the developed world could have an adverse impact on India’s export performance, industry lobby FICCI said on Sunday. “While global growth is improving gradually with most parts of the world showing better performance, the rising tide of protectionism and advent of inward looking policies to promote growth and jobs ‘at home’ couls impact export performance,” the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry said in a release here, citing its latest Business Confidence Survey.
This comes at a time the Indian industry is already grappling with low demand as most companies are not getting the benefit of credit flow at lower rates, Ficci said. Around 67 per cent of the participants in the Ficci survey responded in the negative when asked if they have benefited from the lower cost of credit. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here on Friday that India has been a big beneficiary of globalisation in the way of foreign investment, especially at a time when private domestic investment has been sluggish. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into India in 2016 jumped
18 per cent to a record $46.4 billion, at a time when global FDI inflows fell. Moreover, investments by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) into Indian equities and bonds in March hit a record high in about 15 years. Overseas investors bought $8.84 billion worth of Indian shares and bonds during March in the biggest monthly inflow since 2002. The FICCI survey, conducted during this MarchApril, saw the sampling of nearly 185 companies. It said the impact of the November 8 demonetisation of high-value currency seems to have ebbed at a much faster pace than earlier anticipated.
Bank of India (BOI) is looking for Officers and Managers The Bank of India (BOI) has released an employment notification inviting candidates to apply for the positions of Officer (Credit) and Manager. The last date for submission of online application is May 5. VACANCY DETAILS Total posts: 670 NAME OF THE POSTS: Officer (Credit): 270 Manager: 400 EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION: The candidates interested in applying for this post should be holding a degree (graduation) in any discipline, with minimum 60 per cent marks, along with MBA/PGDBM/ PGBM/PGDBA from an institute of repute (two/three year programme)/ post-graduation degree in commerce/science /economics or Chartered Accountant or ICWA or Company Secretary A certification in computer course for minimum three months or information technology. AGE LIMIT: Officer: The age of the candidates applying for these posts must not exceed 30 years and must be minimum 21 years. Manager: The age of the candidates applying for these posts must not exceed 35 years and must be minimum 23 years. PAY SCALE Officer: The selected candidates will be getting a monthly salary of Rs 23,700 to Rs 42,020. Manager: The selected candidates will be getting a monthly salary of Rs 31,705 to Rs 45,950. SELECTION PROCEDURE: The candidates will be selected on the basis of an online test and/or personal interview. HOW TO APPLY: The candidates interested in these posts are required to apply at the official website www.bankofindia.co.in IMPORTANT DATES The last date for submission of online application is May 5. The last date for the payment of online fee is May 5.
New Delhi, Apr 30 (pTi): Indias telecom subscriber base, mobile and landline combined, touched the 1.18 billion mark at the end of February 2017, growing 1.17 per cent over the previous month, according to regulator Trai. The market growth was propelled by the addition of 13.75 million mobile users during the month. The demand for once- popular landline phone has been dwindling as the cheap mobile handsets, coupled with falling tariffs and freebies, have led to an explosion in cellphone connectivity. Over the past few months, operators including newcomer Reliance Jio and incumbents like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone have been doling out attractive offers and unleashing highdecibel marketing campaign to woo customers. “The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,174.80 million at the end of January 2017 to 1,188.5 million at the end of February 2017, showing a monthly growth rate of 1.17 per cent,” as per
CROSSWORD # 3930
Answer Number # 3926
the data by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). The urban connectivity went up to 692.15 million in February-end, from 681.15 million in January-end, a growth of over 1.6 per cent. The pace of growth of rural connectivity was slower at 0.56 per cent. Rural telecom users increased to 496.39 million from 493.65 million during the same period. The Indian telecom market, the second-largest in the world after China in terms of subscriber base, added 13.75 million mobile customers in February. This pushed up the total mobile subscriber base to 1.16 billion. The wireline connections, which have been losing sheen over the last few years, remained flat with subscriber base stagnant at about 24.35 million. Lesser number of people sought network port outs in February compared to the previous month. Nearly 5.6 million subscribers submitted requests for mobile number porting in Febru-
ary, compared to 6.24 million placing such request in January this year. “In February 2017, 5.67 million subscribers submitted their requests for mobile number portability (MNP),” Trai said. With this, the cumulative requests increased from 261.06 million at the end of January 2017 to 266.73 million at the end of February since implementation of this facility nearly seven years ago. Cellular industry body COAI Director General Rajan Mathews believes that the MNP numbers need to be seen in the broader context of the overall subscriber base of India and not on a standalone basis. “In some markets like the US and Europe, the MNP ratio is nearly 3-5 per cent of the overall base whereas in India, the number is much smaller,” he said. The facility of number portability allows mobile subscribers to retain their numbers when they relocate from one service area to another or wish to change their operator.
rect Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement earlier this month. “This would mean that the financial institution would prohibit the account holder from effecting any transaction with respect to such accounts,” the Finance Ministry said. “The transactions by the account holder in such blocked accounts may, thereafter, be permitted once the self-certification is obtained and due diligence completed,” it added. FATCA of the US makes it mandatory for overseas financial institutions to give information about non-resident US account holders or face withholding tax. An inter-governmental agreement between India
ACROSS 1. Value 6. Break 10. Swear 14. Ancient Greek marketplace 15. Anagram of “Note” 16. Ear-related 17. Pizazz 18. Street 19. Falafel bread 20. Temporary 22. Damson 23. Mug 24. Broom 26. Associate 30. Provide food for 32. Not rented 33. Swim, run and cycle race 37. Put away 38. Inhabit 39. Overhang 40. Casks 42. Trainee 43. Lariat 44. Commands 45. Cream (cooking term) 47. Actress Lupino 48. Voucher 49. Contemplation 56. Elevator (British) 57. Story 58. Japanese stick fighting 59. Doing nothing 60. Brother of Jacob 61. Twined 62. Equal 63. Lairs 64. Delete DOWN 1. Drift 2. Leer at 3. Lion sound 4. Snip 5. Green bean 6. An elongated leather strip 7. Newbie (slang)
8. A Freudian stage 9. Plinth 10. Brown pit viper 11. Practical 12. A stomach exercise 13. Fraud 21. Gist 25. Damp 26. Silence 27. Savvy about 28. On-line journal 29. An open letter 30. Doctrine 31. Afflicts 33. It was (contraction) 34. Stow, as cargo 35. Not under 36. Catches 38. Abandoned 41. An unskilled actor 42. Make a crunching noise 44. Lyric poem 45. Scold 46. A shoulder firearm 47. Blockage of the intestine 48. Paper holder 50. Lack of difficulty 51. Custard dessert 52. Rip 53. Ancient Peruvian 54. Poems 55. Connecting point
Answer to Crossword 3929
and the US was signed in August 2015 for the implementation of the FATCA, to ensure tax is paid on the income generated from abroad. Under Indian income tax rules, financial institutions have to obtain selfcertification and carry out due diligence in respect of all individual and entity accounts opened between July 1, 2014, and August 31, 2015. This was required to have been done by August 31, 2016, failing which the accounts were to be blocked. The Central Board of Direct Taxes had on August 31, 2016, indefinitely extended the deadline for complying with the selfcertification norm.
O
R
IMAGe IMPort InteGrAtes KnoCK LIGHt MArCH nIGHt PoLL rAIsed rAnCH sCArLet sPACe todAY trACe trAde trAMP trUtH worLds YoUnG
D
TaHaMZaM
cates that consumers in India believe chocolate to be beneficial and convenient – seemingly the key reasons behind the growth of the country’s chocolate confectionery market both in value and volume,” Mogelonsky said. India’s chocolate confectionery market has had a strong CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 19.9 per cent, in retail market value between 2011 and 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.6 per cent from 2016 to 2020, the research said. It said that over two in five Indian consumers (44 per cent) find sweet or sugary snacks like chocolates and cakes to be healthy, while over one in three (35 per cent) Indians believe these snacks provide them with energy. According to the research, 43 per cent of Indians consume sweet or sugary snacks like chocolate and cake between lunch and dinner, with over half (53 per cent) reporting that they tend to snack in between meals because they get hungry. As many as 19 pert cent of Indian consumers would like to see a wider variety of natural snacks that have no additives or preservatives, it said.
std code: 03871
(formerly senapati)
Police station Fire Brigade
222246 222491
Civil Hospital
232224
emergency
229529 229474
MH Hospital
227930 231081
Fire Brigade
2222952
Faith Hospital
228846
naga Hospital
2222916
shamrock Hospital
228254
oking Hospital
2243339
Zion Hospital
231864 224117 227337
Bethel nursing Home
2224202
northeast shuttles
08974997923
Police Control room
228400
Police Traffic Control
232106
KoHIMA Ps/oCs Contact numbers
east Police station
227607
west Police station
232181
CIHsr (referral Hospital)
242555 242533
dimapur Hospital
224041 248011
KOHiMa
north Ps
std code: 0370
8575045501
Officer-in-Charge 8575045510 south Ps
8575045502
Officer-in-Charge 8575045520 Zubza Ps
8575045508
Officer-in-Charge 8575045518
Apollo Hospital Info Centre 230695/ 9402435652
Chiephobozou Ps 8575045506 Officer-in-Charge 8575045516
railway
131/228404
tseminyu Ps
Airport Indian Airlines
229366 242441 225212
Khuzama Ps
8575045507
Officer-in-Charge 8575045517 8575045505
Officer-in-Charge 8575045515
Chumukedima Fire Brigade 282777
W AGree ALone ArCAde AttIC BLood BoUQUet CoAt deBtor eArtH eVerY FIGHt FLAMe FLAre FLoAt Forest ForGet GrAVe GrIMe Heed
New Delhi, April 30 (pTi): India is a nation of chocoholics and the country has one of the world’s fastest growing chocolate markets which posted a huge 13 per cent sales growth last year, according to a research. The research conducted by London-based global market firm Mintel states that while the chocolate sales in other nations have stagnated, India consumed 228,000 tonnes worth of chocolate in 2016. Australia and Indonesia consumed 95,000 and 94,000 tonnes worth of chocolate respectively in 2016. India (13 per cent) and Poland (2 per cent) were the only two markets to see sales of chocolate grow last year. The sales in the US, the UK, Germany and France flat over this period, while sales fell in Russia (-2 per cent), Brazil (-6 per cent) and China (-6 per cent), it said. “Chocolate confectionery had an uneven year in 2016. Volume sales in developed markets remained flat, while the picture was a bit brighter in emerging markets, like India, where sales generally fared better,” said Marcia Mogelonsky, Director of Insight, Mintel Food and Drink. “Our research indi-
std code: 03862
DiMaPUR
Simple Rules - Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Game Number # 3927
September 2017, showed nearly 65 per cent of the companies expect better sales performance, 42 per cent expect profits to increase, and 40 per cent expect to invest more than their current investments levels. Moreover, while 27 per cent plan to hire more, making additions to their workforce, nearly 54 per cent of respondents felt that current economic conditions are “moderately to substantially better” compared to the previous six months. The economy is expected to do even better in the coming six months according to 79 per cent of the participating companies.
New Delhi, April 30 (iANS): Accounts of those individuals and entities who have not provided self-certification by April 30 will be blcked by the Indian government from Monday, it has been announced. This would be done in order to comply with the provisions of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). “The account holders may be informed that, in case self-certifications are not provided till April 30, 2017, the accounts will be blocked, which will mean that the financial institution will prohibit the account holder from effecting any transaction with respect to such accounts,” the Central Board of Di-
Telecom subscriber base in India among world’s fastest India grows to 1.18 billion growing chocolate markets
leisure
SUDOKU
“Results of the Business Confidence Survey indicate that the impact of demonetisation move of the government seems to have ebbed at much faster pace than earlier anticipated,” FICCI said. “With remonetisation of the economy at a much advanced stage, things seemed to be turning normal for the corporate sector. In the latest survey, confidence level has seen a rebound, touching an eight-quarter high, vis-à-vis a drop seen in the previous survey wherein confidence was hit due to a demand squeeze caused by demonetization,” it added. The outlook, pertaining to the period April-
Accounts sans FATCA certification to be blocked from Monday onwards
Kezocha Ps
8575045549
nikos Hospital and research Centre
232032, 231031
nagaland Multispecialty Health & research Centre
women Cell 8575045509 248302, 09856006026 Officer-in-Charge 8575045519
eden Medical Centre
248722 /248288
S
E
A
R
C
Officer-in-Charge 8575045538
Control room
H
8575045500 (Emergency No. – 100)
FiRE STaTiONS
KoHIMA soUtH: 0370-2222952/ 101 (O) 9402003086 (OC) KoHIMA nortH: 7085924114 (O) dIMAPUr: 03862-232201/ 101 (O) 9856156876 (OC) CHUMUKedIMA: 7085982102 (O) 8732810051 (OC) woKHA: 03860-242215/101 (O) 8974322879 (OC) MoKoKCHUnG: 0369-2226225/ 101 (O) 8415830232 (OC) PHeK: 8414853765 (O) 8413822476(OC) ZUnHeBoto: 03867-280304/ 101 (O) 9436422730 (OC) tUensAnG: 8414853766 (O) 9856163601 (OC) Mon: 03869-251222/ 101 (O) 9862130954 (OC) Kiphire: 8414853767 (O) 9436261577 (OC) Peren: 7085189932 (O) 9856311205 (OC) LonGLenG: 7085924113 (O) 9862414264 (OC) we4 woMen HeLPLIne 08822911011 WOMEN HeLPLIne 181 CHiLD weLFAre CoMMIttee Toll free No. 1098 childline
MOKOKCHUNG
std code: 0369
Police station 1 Police station 2 Police station Kobulong Police station tuli Police station Changtongya Police station Mangkolemba Civil Hospital
9485232688 9485232689 9485232690 9485232693 9485232694 9485232695 2226216
woodland nursing Home
2226263
Hotel Metsüpen (tourist Lodge) 2226373/ 2229343
CURRENCY NOTES BUY (rs) seLL (rs)
Us dollars sterling Pound Hong Kong dollar Australian dollar singapore dollar Canadian dollar Japanese Yen euro thai Baht Korean won UAe dirham (Aed) Chinese Yuan
62.9 80.3 7.82 47.46 45.07 46.36 56.89 67.41 1.77 0.0538 16.57 8.84
65.74 84.18 8.71 49.79 47.28 48.63 60.08 70.95 1.97 0.0599 18.46 9.85
monday 01•05•2017
NAGALAND
‘Together towards a safer community’ Dimapur, april 30 (mExN): A one day training on disaster management, under the theme ‘Together towards a safer community,’ was organised by Community Development Specialization students of North East Institute of Social Science & Research (NEISSR) on April 29. It was organized in collaboration with Civil Defence and Home Guards, Dimapur, led by Platoon Commander, Thesuohie Angami. Speaking on the occasion, Angami informed that Nagaland lies in the 5th seismic zone of earthquake prone area and highlighted the measures to be taken before, during and after the disaster. The trainees were also trained on Cardio Pulmo-
NEISSR students and faculty with the resource team and guest after the training on disaster management held on April 29.
nary Resuscitation (CPR), Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (FBAO), Emergency Method of Rescue, Bandaging and Bleeding control along with practical demonstration. The chief guest, Sashitemjen Imchen, Entrepreneur, said that deforesta-
tion is one of the major causes of disaster and pointed out from statistical facts that Nagaland is covered by 85% landslides and earthquake prone areas which have resulted and will still result in loss of life and property. Dr. C.P. Anto spoke on four steps of disaster man-
agement i.e. preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. A press note added that through the programme trainees were equipped with skills and knowledge which are important for social workers in reaching out to the people.
St. Paul’s Sanis lays foundation for new building Dimapur, april 30 (mExN): The foundation for a new three-storey school building of St. Paul School, Sanis was laid down with a special programme today in Sanis. Lawrence Gligliotti, Programme Manager, Catholic Mission, Australia laid the foundation stone and unveiled the plague on the occasion while it was blessed by Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the Bishop of Kohima on April 29. Rev. Fr. Mathew Mhabemo, Centre in-charge of Sanis, Jose Sebastian; construction supervisor of the diocese, Thomas Toretkiu; Sisters of the Divine Providence; Pastors from different churches; Village leaders; Catholic community; and parents and students attended the event.
The Bishop, speaking on the occasion, said that the long cherished dream of having good school building for the St. Paul School, Sanis was being realized with the support from the
diocese of Bathurst, Australia and the presence of Lawrence was very significant. Return their good gesture by being responsible persons, especially by inculcating values to the gos-
MEx FILE
ENGOA general conference on May 2 kohima, april 30 (mExN): The Eastern Nagaland Gazetted Officer’ Association (ENGOA) will hold its 19th General Conference at Niathu Resort Dimapur on May 2 at 10:00 am. Minister for Health & Family Welfare P. Longon will be the chief guest while
S. Khoiwang, President ENPO will be the guest of honour. ENWO president Birila Tokiu and ENSF president Sepili L. Sangtam will be the special guests. The conference will also witness presentation of N.I Jamir Award for excellence
in govt. service in Eastern Nagaland. All the ENGOA members have been requested to reach the venue by 9:00 am. All ENLU members and five representatives each from ENPO, ENWO and ENSF have been invited to the conference.
pel and living by them, thus making a small difference to the society, he urged. During the short felicitation programme various items were presented by the school children and the community.
328 post offices in Nagaland Our Correspondent Kohima | April 30
With 328 post offices in operation during 2014-15, the postal and communication facilities in Nagaland have been growing steadily in recent years, according to Nagaland Economic Survey 2016-17. Dimapur district with 55 post offices has the largest number, followed by Mokokchung district with 52 and Kohima district with 49. Longleng district recorded the lowest number with only 7.
HYS organises social work on Parshuram Jayanti Dimapur, april 30 (mExN): The Hindu Yuva Sanga (HYS) celebrated the Parshuram Jayanti on April 28 by organising a Social work cleaning the premises of the Shiv Mandir at Army Supply Road, Dimapur. Parashurama Jayanti is celebrated as birth anniversary of sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The Friends of 80 plus, Kohima village conducted their 12th Foundation Day on April 30 at Khedi Baptist Higher Secondary School. Out of the 175 octogenarians, 70 turned up for the program. Friends and well wishers also attended the program. A medical checkup with different specialties was also conducted at the Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima.
Two suspected NSCN (K) cadres held loNglENg, april 30 (mExN): The 44 Assam Rifles has claimed the arrest of two suspected NSCN (K) cadres during an operation in Kanching village on April 28. A defence press release identified the two as Maj Yimer Phom (50 years) and Lt Amung (30). The two were subsequently Pre-primary students of MGM Higher Secondary School took part in a fancy dress handed over to Tuli Police Station for further investigation, the release informed. competition.
ZACLF celebrates Mental Health seminar held at Builders Hostel april 30 50th anniversary mokokchuNg, (mExN): A seminar on MenZuNhEboto, april 30 (mExN): The Zunheboto Area Church Leaders’ Fellowship celebrated its 50th anniversary from April 28-30 at the Sumi Baptist Church Zunheboto. Delegates comprising Church workers, Deacons, GBs (Kukami) from all the 18 constituent churches under Zunheboto Area attended the grand celebration. Kasheli Rotokha, Women Pastor SBCZ, Riehuope Khel perform a folk dance during the Silver Jubilee celebration of Miiluo Shefiiri Kiigharii at Meluri Local Ground on April 29. Morung Photo Rev. Hukugha Jimo, ES SBAK (NM), Rev. Honito Chophy, Pastor SBC Mokokchung, and Rev. Yevito Sumi, Sr. Pastor SBCZ, were the main speakers. Kivikhu Achumi, DAO Zunheboto, and Hukavi Jimomi, Parliamentary Secretary for Jails, Science & Technology, and NKVIB, also exhorted the gathering. Earlier on April 29, the Jubilee stone was unveiled by Rev. Hukugha Jimo, ES, SBAK (NM).
tal Health was held at Builders Hostel, Salangtem Ward, Mokokchung as a part of its extracurricular activities on April 28. Alemzungla Longkumer, Clinical Psychologist, District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) was the resource person at the seminar. During the same, Alemzungla brought awareness of different mental illnesses such as Major Depression Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Delusional Disorder and various others, along with their symptoms. She also highlighted the present scenario of Mental Health in Mokokchung. A press release stated that
Students of Builders Hostel with the resource person and others during the Mental Health seminar held on April 28.
through the seminar, the students learnt how to identify if they or others around them are suffering with a mental health problem
and how to get help without feeling ashamed, knowing that everyone suffers from such problem at some point of time.
Christian library inaugurated in Dimapur 5 discharged by NSCN (R) Dimapur, april 30 (mExN): A new Christian Library of inspirational movies, music and books at Link Road, opposite King David School, Dimapur was formally inaugurated by Mughavi Zhimo, Director, Airport Authority of India, Dimapur, on Saturday last. Dedication prayer for the library Officials of the Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress (NPYC) with DYC Tuensang during was conducted by Pastor Vikato a state-wide tour to Tuensang on April 26. Swu. Proprietor Bokato Yepthomi gave thanks to the Almighty and said that the library has been opened on membership basis. Suitable for all ages, all the resources of movies, music and books will be available for free for members. The library will be open from Monday to Saturday.
40 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters IGAR (North) presented ten Solar Street Lights to Wangti village, Mon District on April 29. The solar street lights installed by Assam Rifles were received by the village council members and was followed by an interaction.
As part of their ongoing training at District Hospital Mon, trainees of the 2nd Phase of the Induction Training Programme for the State Government Employees of Mon District went for field visit and cleaned the surroundings of the hospital on April 26. The trainees were led by Er. N. Moa Longkumer, Dy. Director (Training) & Nodal Officer for ITP, Tsenthungo E. Ngullie, EAC, Mon, Dr. Kechongol Sophie Medical Superintendent Mon and Imlibenla Jamir, Lecturer ATI. (DIPR Photo)
Dimapur, april 30 (mExN): The NSCN/ GPRN (Reformation) has issued “force discharge” to five of its cadres from “national service with immediate effect”. A press release from the MIP NSCN/ GPRN (R) stated that they were found “indulging in ‘anti-social activities’ which is against the ‘Yehzabo’ of the government.” The five were identified as Kiheto RCM, Mughavi S.O., Aghato Khapur, Vikiho Khapur, and Toluka Raja Peyu. The MIP further informed the general public not to entertain them in any way on matters relating to the NSCN (R). Meanwhile, the NSCN (R) has also issued a discharge order to one Ghuito, Raja Peyu, on “health ground” and further wished him good health.
Kuzhami Union Kohima preps for silver jubilee kohima, april 26 (mExN): The Kuzhami Union Kohima is all set to celebrate its Silver Jubilee on May 6 at Ura Academy Hall, Mission Compound Kohima. Kewezii G. Kenye, MP Rajya Sabha will exhort the gathering while anniversary speech will be delivered by MLA Neiba Kronu. M.K. Mero, Commissioner & Secretary for Veterinary & Animal Husbandry will release a souvenir. Greetings will be shared by Kuzhalhii Zawe President. The function will be chaired by KUK vice president Dr. Kewepfuzu Lohe while welcome address will be delivered by KUK president Neilo Khape. Introduction of new office bearers will be made by Nomination Committee Convenor Welhitsolo T. Mero.
6
Monday 01•05•2017
IN FOCUS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
The Power of Truth
The Morung Express volume XII Issue 117 By moa Jamir
Are Nagas chauvinists?
S
uperintendent of Police, Kohima, Joseph Hesso (IPS) at a recent event stated that there has been an “increase in the incidences of violence against women in Nagaland State.” Giving an overview of present status of violence against women in the State, he informed that the highest number of such cases involved rape, molestation, kidnapping, attempt to murder, and human trafficking propagated through the medium of modern technology. This must have elicited uncomfortable disquiet and chagrin among traditional purists who never shy away from proclaiming the ‘egalitarian’ credentials of Naga society. Most of them argue that Nagas are not misogynists and they are ‘not against’ women, invariably adding that ‘Women have been protected and treated equally since time immemorial.’ Women are happily patronised through the lens of ‘time immemorial,’ conditioning both sexes to perpetuate and nourish the attitude. It gets validated in socio-political institutions and invariably affects our thoughts and actions. Know your place in society. Many women, I assume, must have heard this at some point of their life, if not from their supportive parents, in societal interactions casually raised either consciously or sub-consciously. There was even a time when people would smirk at a Naga girl attaining higher education. This has hopefully changed. Defying a hitherto existing hegemonic order is considered ‘waywardness’, an assertion which regularly gains momentum when an issue arises. Whenever an incident involving violence against women arises, particularly outside, the most typical assumption is that the victim must be at fault. Besides being a victim, she has to also prove her innocence. If the incident occurs to a male counterpart, however, he is considered a victim of ‘acute racism’ that exists in mainstream India. In a civilised society, male chauvinism has no room, the Supreme Court ruled on April 28. “A man should not put his ego or, for that matter, masculinity on a pedestal and abandon the concept of civility. Egoism must succumb to law. Equality has to be regarded as the summum bonum (highest goods) of the constitutional principle in this context,” stated the ruling of a bench comprising of Justice Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar. Incidentally, in Nagaland, legal awareness programs on gender rights are hardly ever attended by men—in Naga society, it is men who need this awareness most of all. Many of us dwell in an elusive vision that once the protracted Naga imbroglio is resolved, every vice in the society will magically melt away. Nothing can be far from the truth. We are envisioning a majestic Shangri-La, ex-ante, without addressing what the existing incongruities might generate in an ex-post situation. Can there be an ‘inclusive mechanism’ of cooperation in Naga society today that cuts across age, gender, class, tribe, denominations and the urban-rural divide? A group of Naga intellectuals recently discussed this at a gathering in Kolkata. The Naga gathering encouraged various social movements for positive change taking place in the Naga context, particularly the younger generations, to “take proactive initiatives and shoulder responsibilities in creating a cohesive vision.” Discarding paradoxes of an internalised patriarchy could be a good starting point for these initiatives. For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com
lEfT WING |
Beh Lih Yi Reuters Foundation
Village heads take on human traffickers in rural Indonesia
I
n Saepudin's village of Kebonpedes on Indonesia's Java island, it is so common for women to leave to work as domestic helpers abroad that one local neighbourhood is dubbed the "Jeddah block". It has earned the nickname because 80 percent of the women living there have taken up jobs as maids in Saudi Arabia, one of the major destinations for Indonesian domestic helpers besides Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Indonesia has prohibited its citizens from travelling to the Middle East to work as maids since 2015 after cases of abuse, but traffickers still target women and continue to find ways around the ban to meet soaring demand in the region. Indonesian women had said they were beaten up, sexually abused by their employers and often had their pay withheld. Under a new pilot project, village heads like Saepudin in rural Indonesia - where most of the women are recruited have been empowered to take on human traffickers in a bid to crack down on the illegal practices. "(The recruiters) make all sort of false promises. We keep seeing cases of our women being abused, beaten up and not getting paid," Saepudin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in Kebonpedes. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) project involves 13 villages in the Sukabumi district. The area has been frequently targeted by traffickers and saw 4,000 cases of maids having been recruited to go to the Middle East last year. The U.N. migration agency works with the villages to formulate local laws to counter the illegal practice, and train officials to prevent residents from falling prey to traffickers. Heavy decentralisation of power in the Indonesian archipelago has granted local authorities a degree of autonomy in drawing up their own regulations. A key part of the programme is educating village heads about how to spot women who might become trafficking victims. Indonesians who plan to work overseas need to obtain permission from their village chiefs before travelling, and Saepudin said he now questions the women about where they are planning to go and who recruited them. "If they fail to give a satisfactory answer or show the necessary documents, I will refuse to sign the consent letter," he explained. Some of the laws that villages have introduced to combat traffickers include making recruiters report to local chiefs, and making it illegal to lie to women when they are being persuaded to go abroad. "Local leaders are often unaware of the prevalence of human trafficking in their areas," IOM Indonesia spokesman Paul Dillon said. "Now they're coming around to understand how destabilising it can be for an entire community when its young women and men return broken from their experiences overseas." Officials said they were hopeful the project would help raise awareness of the dangers of human trafficking, and encourage more villagers to come forward to report the crime. "Trafficking in persons often begins with unscrupulous recruitment," Sujatmiko, a senior official from the Coordinating Ministry of Human Development and Cultural Affairs, said in a statement. The initiative is expected to be introduced in the East Nusa Tenggara province later this year, one of the major areas for maid recruitment. Maids make up more than a third of the 6 million Indonesians working abroad.
C O M M E N T A R Y
Akshay Ranade The Diplomat
Confronting China: Lessons from an Ancient Indian Text
Kautilya’s Arthasashtra provides a blueprint for responding to a rising China
T
he Dalai Lama’s recent travel to Arunachal Pradesh and the Indian government’s full support for the visit, despite China’s expressed displeasure, was assumed by many Indian analysts to signal a much needed change in Indian policy toward China, where assertiveness from one side might not be replied in kind. While India’s stance no doubt needs to be appreciated, it is rather early to jump to such conclusions. It is true that the new government in New Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown an inclination to experiment with a new approach toward China, but there have been notable flip-flops in the way Modi manages his China policy. An increasingly assertive China in India’s neighborhood is a concern and India must devise a sustained policy approach in response. This sustained policy framework can be based on ancient India’s magisterial political treatise, Kautilya’s Arthasashtra – a masterpiece which details various aspects of statecraft. With regard to China, Kautilya’s twopronged policy prescription of dvaidebhava (the dual policy) and mantrayudh (war by counsel) can provide a great insight into how India can devise a concrete China policy framework. In Asia, the rise of China has translated into increased assertiveness – both in the South China Sea and now in the Indian Ocean Region. China’s formidable naval presence in the Indian Ocean, “all-weather” friendship with Pakistan, growing influence in Nepal and Bangladesh, and increasing border skirmishes in Arunachal Pradhesh all are glaring indicators of China’s intentions. The much-traded liberal argument that the deep-rooted economic engagements between the two countries would limit the possibility of the confrontation doesn’t seem to convince anymore. Instead, an increasingly assertive China is likely to arrest India’s geostrategic and national interests. The most decisive counter therefore is to prepare for a disguised cold war in the region, which is imminent by its early signs. At first, the new Modi government seemed to have identified this reality and promised a muscular stance to protect India’s interest vis–à–vis China. The first early indication of this came on the very first day of the government, when Modi invited every head of state in the region to his swearing-in ceremony, but consciously avoided inviting anyone from China. Even the Tibetan prime ministerin-exile was present at the ceremony, which evidently irked the Chinese. But since then, the policy seems to have gone astray. Recall Modi’s historic visit to Mongolia and the applause it received in scholarly circles in India. The visit was dubbed by many as a firm indication to Beijing that if China can meddle in the Indian Ocean Region, India can return the favor in China’s backyard. The Dalai Lama’s visit to Mongolia in 2016 was seen as rejoinder to India’s new diplomatic offensive and Mongolia was believed to support India in this as it accepted the visit despite glaring Chinese warnings. But when it came to supporting
Mongolia after the Chinese clamped down on trade in response to the Dalai Lama’s visit, India could offer nothing but consolatory dispatches. As a result, Mongolia apologized for its misplaced bravado and pledged never to host the Dalai Lama again. A similar retraction was seen when India revoked a muchtouted visa for a Uyghur leader-in-exile following pressure from China. It’s therefore legitimate to fear that the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh might again turn out to be more empty posturing. Amidst the flip-flopping, India needs a well-defined roadmap with identified milestones to protect its interests vis-a-vis an assertive China. Kautilya’s Arthashatra, which details almost every aspect of statecraft, has the detailed foreign policy prescriptions India needs, and also strategies for waging “war” in many forms. Contemporary realities negate the possibilities of outright war, but war-games and strategic one-upmanship are likely to continue. Referring to the classical text of Arthashatra can provide a great insight as to how to deal with these strategic games. In particular, the two-pronged strategy of dvaidebhava and mantrayudha can frame India’s response. Dvaidebhava Dvaidebhava, or the dual policy, is Kautilya’s prescription for a ruler with relatively weaker position compared to his adversary. Conventionally, dvaidebhava is explained as a two-pronged strategy simultaneously used by the ruler, which includes befriending one king and practicing hostility against the other one. That, however, is the textual prescription; today’s sub-continental realities merit a more nuanced application. The success of a similar strategy in the Indian case will primarily depend on how effectively the South Asian neighborhood as a whole (and not just any particular state) is consolidated to establish diplomatic clout that can be effectively leveraged with China. India probably is the only aspiring “great power” that has not been able to effectively consolidate its regional dominance. China, on the other hand, has managed these relations very well and now maintains a formidable presence in India’s entire neighborhood. To counter this growing influence, India must re-invent its relationship with its neighbors. One of the direct ways to do this is by re-energizing dormant regional multilateral initiatives, which have direct strategic implications. To India’s advantage, there already exist forums which can be utilized to forge constructive partnerships. The forums — like the Bay of
Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Mekong–Ganga Cooperation (MGC), and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) — have long remained comatose and India shares part of the blame for this. It has not realized the strategic potential of these forums and, as a dominant player, has not substantially invested in them. These three forums, with distinct geographical spaces, could be effectively used to build partnerships and create a diplomatic constituency favorable toward India in their respective regions, all of which have direct implications for India-China relations. There are coinciding interests – counterterrorism, anti-piracy, economic and trade issues, regional connectivity, and tourism, among others – on which entrenched partnerships can be built. These could serve as good entry points to further build up toward defense partnerships. Apart from the existing arrangements, India should actively aim to create new ones and structure them in a manner that would best suit New Delhi’s strategic interests. These new arrangements must consciously focus on Afghanistan and Central Asian states. Unfortunately, the Central Asian states, despite being of critical importance and sharing deep civilization connections with India have only peripherally appeared on India’s strategic radar. There have been sporadic initiatives like Connect Central Asia, Look North, and Extended Neighborhood, which have tried to bridge the gap; however, these initiatives saw little substantial progress. China, on the other hand, has a large presence in the region as compared to India. China no doubt has a geographic advantage of direct connectivity, which India lacks, but there are areas like counterterrorism and defense partnerships where a lot more can be achieved. India’s entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization can further provide a boost, but India must independently plan and forge other arrangements that are mutually incentivizing.
ernment seems to have been working on the first element quite consciously but faltered on the second count, as was evident in the Mongolian case and in the revoked visa incident. Insofar as building diplomatic leverage is concerned, the Modi government has consciously attempted to build stronger partnerships with the United States and Japan, the two most crucial players in the game against China. This has manifestly disturbed the Chinese. Modi’s outreach marked a corrective policy navigation from a time of despondency and indecisiveness in these crucial relationships. India’s closing in with the United States is a possible indicator that both nations share the strategic aim of checking an assertive China. Chinese displeasure reaffirms this possible conclusion. Under Modi, this bilateral relationship has taken a new turn; foundational agreements like the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) are step toward a more robust relationship. Though both nations share their difference in other spheres, including trade and climate change, their willingness to cooperate in their coinciding spheres of interest is notable. Insofar as Japan is concerned, political similarities and common strategic objectives between the two countries are bound to bring them closer. With increasingly aligned interests and Japan moving toward a more selfreliant and proactive defense posture, it goes without saying that Japan is India’s natural ally. Apart from the extra-regional powers, India must forge greater defense partnerships with its immediate neighbors, as well which primarily includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. India must create an atmosphere where the neighbors feel that they have lot to gain with their partnership with India. These entrenched networks of partnerships can provide the necessary clout required to play diplomatic games with China successfully. Only when one has this formidable clout cane the policy of mantrayudha work effectively. One thing is clear: the rise of China has changed the geopolitical equations entirely. The consequent re-ordering of the world calls for new power dynamics. India must be ready to adapt to these changing dynamics. Under Modi, forging and strengthening new partnerships has given the right direction in the pursuit of a decisive policy vis-a-vis China. One of the major changes Modi has brought to strategic thinking in India is that he has decisively halted the Nehruvian inertia in policy thinking. India under Modi is not apprehensive about experimenting with new power combinations. What India now needs is a framework to sustain this policy. India must continue its realism-driven geopolitical pragmatism if it effectively wants to checkmate China and safeguard its national interests.
Mantrayudha Mantrayudha, or war by counsel, refers to the diplomatic maneuvers Kautilya prescribes in situations when the costs of open war disproportionately outweigh the gains. The alternative strategy, then, is to use diplomatic posturing to make a point, as Kautilya viewed effective diplomacy as subtle Akshay Ranade is a Research Scholar at the Center for International Poliact of war. The success of this strategy, tics, Organization, and Armaments however, depends majorly on acquired (CIPOD), School of International diplomatic leverage and the nation’s ability to stand to the counter-offen- Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. sive from the adversary. The Modi gov-
Indigenous group takes Brazil to court in landmark case sam Cowie
Thomson Reuters Foundation
A
n international human rights commission has accused Brazil of failing to obey its own constitution and ringfence ancient tribal territories in a landmark court case that pits the state against indigenous people. Brazil could be forced to pay damages if it loses the trial in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which is hearing evidence from both sides in Guatemala. "This case could strengthen the fight of indigenous people, who continue to have their rights threatened in Brazil," said Raphaela Lopes, a lawyer at Global Justice, a non-governmental organisation that is supporting the case. The case seeks to end a vicious dispute over land which the indigenous Xucuru people say has dragged on for 27 years, cost it lives and threatens to erode an ancient way of life. "Our case is emblematic of indigenous people across Brazil," Marcos Xucuru, leader of the indigenous group, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone. "More than 20 years after the constitution, demarcating land is still in chaos, during which time violence against indigenous people continues to increase," said Xucuru. Brazil has been a pioneer in setting aside - or demarcating - parcels of land for its indigenous people, a process
meant to safeguard their culture, ward off unwelcome incomers and enshrine legal rights over ancient turf. But activists fear the government is now backsliding on its much-praised commitment to indigenous people, who number about 900,000, as it is rattled by economic and political uncertainty. UNWELCOME FIRST At stake is access to the traditional homeland of the Xucuru and with it the preservation of their customs and economy. Lawyers say Brazil is delaying setting aside the land. Whoever wins, the case sets a precedent. Giorgina Vargas, a lawyer at the court, said this is the first time the Brazilian state stands accused of indigenous rights violations at an international court. In an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, she was unable to estimate what damages the government might face if it lost, saying only the Xucuru had 12 demands in case of victory. The Xucuru come from Brazil's northeastern state of Pernambuco and say they have been waiting 27 years for their land to be fully demarcated. In the interim, several members of the community have been murdered defending the territory, according to prominent human right groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. These include former Xucuru leader Francisco
de Assis Araujo. Indigenous advocacy groups hope that if the case is successful, it could put pressure on the government to conclude a growing backlog of applications for demarcation. The case came to court after the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ruled in favour of the Xucuru a year ago and recommended their case be heard. It said Brazil "must ensure that indigenous members can continue to live peacefully their traditional way of life, according to their cultural identity, social structure, economic system, customs, beliefs and traditions." The hearings are being held in Guatemala, behind closed doors, and the case is expected to last 90 days. Both sides face an April 24 deadline for any new submissions.
WRITE-WING
BACKSLIDING Brazil announced changes to its demarcation procedures in January in a move that campaign groups fear will weaken the rights of communities, already facing mounting pressure from illegal logging and big agriculture projects. According to Brazil' constitution, indigenous people have exclusive rights to their traditional lands. In practice, however, this is often violated. Formal demarcation processes have been launched for 339 areas, accord-
ing to the Social and Environmental Institute, a charity that monitors rights violations. Demarcation would offer tenure, as well as legal defence against encroaching groups. Experts say farm interests are wielding greater pressure on the government amid recession and political frailty. United Nations officials say Brazil is back-sliding on indigenous rights. The government says it is trying to boost growth by expanding its agricultural sector. The government did not respond to requests for comment. DEATH THREATS Around 11,000 Xucuru live on the contested 27,500 hectare swathe of land. Conflict began in 1989 when the Xucuru mobilised against subsistence farmers who had moved in hoping for tenure. A series of competing claims has further complicated the case. "The state was slow in the process of demarcation and the farmers responded with violence," said Adelar Cupsinski, legal adviser to Brazil's Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), a Catholic activist organisation. In the first court session in Guatemala last month, the Xucuru said demarcation must be completed in 12 months. The group also requested that Brazil publicly acknowledge the violations in national media, set up a community development fund and guarantee protection for its leader from death threats.
Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The morung express, House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur - 797112, Or –email: morung@gmail.com All letters (including those via email) should have the full name and Postal address of the sender. 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.
MonDAY 01•05•2017
PERSPECTIVE
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
The Flip Side of Boredom
N
apoleon Bonaparte remained a headache and heartache for all of Europe for over a decade. He was finally defeated in the famous Battle of Waterloo in 1815. If Napoleon had been victorious in this battle, the political journey and history of Europe would indeed have been very different. All the enemies of Napoleon breathe air of relief when Napoleon was forced to accept defeat at Waterloo. But a person of the caliber and charisma of Napoleon could never be ruled out for a comeback. Even though Napoleon was down after the Waterloo battle, he was certainly not out. Even after Napoleon was inflicted a crushing defeat at Waterloo in 1815, his enemies were certainly still wary of him. Maybe this was the reason why the European rivals of Bonaparte did not feel comfortable about harboring him in any of the high security and sophisticated prisons on European soil. As long as Napoleon’s feet were on European soil (even if it happens to be a highsecurity prison), his enemies would still feel insecure and unsafe. Maybe this was why, after the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was dispatched off to the solitary island of St. Helena situated faraway in Southern Atlantic Ocean. Napoleon spent about six years in the island of St. Helena and finally passed away in 1821. While he was on this island, Napoleon probably thought and planned about escaping from the island and making a comeback into the political arena of Europe to relive his past glories. However, Napoleon was neither able to escape from the island nor make a comeback into European power politics. He lived a lonely and solitary life for about six years in this island and died. Some sources say that Napoleon died of stomach cancer. But most sources say that he simply died of loneliness and boredom. For me, this is startling
revelation. Can somebody really die of loneliness and boredom…especially someone of the stature and caliber of Napoleon? For many years I thought that this statement was an exaggeration and a hyperbole because I did not believe that someone could die of loneliness and boredom. Bur now as I come of age, I have come to realize that loneliness and boredom may actually kill. Loneliness and boredom can be real testing times. The times we spend in loneliness and boredom are really very crucial and critical because it can actually make or unmake our lives. One can actually make the optimum use of loneliness and boredom for good or for worse. As is rightly said, “Our quietest moments are our greatest experiences”. Man can find fulfillment and meaning only when he lives in a society. God also created woman to accompany the man because God thought that it was not good for the man to be alone. Yes, loneliness can be an incredible thing. When a man is left alone to live a solitary life without any contact with the outside world, he may even go insane and mad. All sorts of thoughts, wild imaginations and fantasies, unrealistic ideas and assumptions can enter his mind and ultimately make him unfit for societal life. Under such circumstances he steadily becomes more accustomed to the virtual world rather than the actual world. This is why when a person who has been out of touch with the outside world for a long time comes back to the society, he becomes un-adjustable, easily irritable, odd and wild. And the society would also look at him with raised eyebrows and unsavory regards. Yes, even while in society, we need times to be by ourselves alone in order to reorganize our bearings. In fact, times spent alone by ourselves can prove to be most productive and fruitful. But the fact still remains that man is a social animal and he can find true fulfillment and meaning only in the society. I guess this is what makes the phenomenon of boredom very crucial, critical and vulnerable. Unless we learn to manage our free and boring times effectively, our life can certainly turn topsy-turvy. Many youngsters develop unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking and drug-use in their free and bor-
ing times when they have nothing to do. Thus our free times can prove to be very crucial in determining our fate. It is important that avenues should be created so that young people do not waste their leisure in unproductive and destructive things. Rather we should see to it that the free leisure times of the youngsters are used and diverted productively so as to bring about worthy and desirable outcome not only for themselves but for the whole society. Some people, after retiring from govt. service, roam about aimlessly without any sense of purpose and meaning. After being in govt. service for 30-35 years, many become somewhat lost and outof-place after their retirement. They had been so accustomed to their life as govt. servants that many literally fail to see the life that lies beyond. However, if we can look from a different angle, we will see that our years in retirement can prove to be most fruitful, productive and satisfying not only for ourselves but also for our family, near and dear ones, our society and also the upcoming generations. Once one retires from service, one can thrust himself upon doing things which one had always wanted to do but could not do while in service. One can become a source of joy, encouragement and inspiration to many by simply doing simple unassuming things which usually do not demand much from us apart from our time and presence. It can be something as simple as attending weddings and funerals in the community or devoting more times into church activities and church missions. Or it can even be something as simple as visiting sick and needy people and praying for them. It can also be something like spreading words of support, encouragement, advice and wisdom to others specially the youngsters. Yes, for the avid person with determination to live a fruitful life and leave back a meaningful legacy, the opportunities are indeed limitless. But if one fails to learn, understand and do these simple but meaningful things, the years in retirement can turn out to be the most unsavory, most tedious and most regrettable where you become a burden, headache and a heartache not only for yourself but for your entire family, your near and dear ones and even your neighbors and the immediate society. Yes indeed, it is
Losing my religion for equality Jimmy Carter
enthusiasm and passion for life combined with faith in God that can really make one’s retirement period as lively and exciting like one’s years in college or service. Yes, when someone is interested in something or is passionate and enthusiastic about something or feels a sense of purpose and meaning in life, he is found to be more healthy mentally and physically than others who do not have such passion, enthusiasm or feel such purpose and meaning in life. It is a concern that our educational boards and universities usually take a long time in declaring results like those of HSLC, HSSLC, graduation and post graduation. Students usually have to wait for months for their results after they had sat for the exams. While they wait for their results to be out, many can go astray and fall into bad habits or bad company and lose their focus out of loneliness and boredom in their free time. Therefore it is very important for the parents, elders and teachers to keep the youngsters healthily engaged in meaningful and productive environment so that the youngsters do not lose their sense of purpose and direction even during such trying times when they are young, free and highly sensitive and vulnerable. So the bottom-line is this: everybody encounters loneliness and boredom in life. In the apparent scenario, loneliness and boredom seem to be trivial things with not much part in determining our life, status and fate. But it is certainly not so. The approach with which one handles these phenomena of life can really be crucial in determining how far we would go in life. The way we manage our time of loneliness and boredom can either propel us to unknown territories of satisfaction, success and happiness or it can flush us down the dirty sewer of disappointment, shame, frustration, failure and defeat. Yes, how we spend our free and boring times can prove to be very crucial and decisive. We can either end up doing something so important, vital and productive that it can change our lives altogether for the better or we may end up doing or cultivating undesirable habits that can literally send us down the steep river of deep despair and defeat from where there is no return…………
Kejriwal a dangerous idea: No establishment will let him survive Saeed Naqvi
T
IANS
he wag has a point. The 2017 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, we are being persistently reminded, were won by the BJP handsomely because of a single factor: a Modi wave. Fair enough. But the BJP won the two previous Delhi municipal elections also. Who generated the waves then? The anchors were hopping on their seats in orgasmic ecstasy. "Kejriwal routed, Kejriwal routed." One of them, his mouth protruding like he was about to burst a gole-guppa, thrust his three fingers forward in a gesture of uncontrollable excitement. "Kejriwal is coming third; Kejriwal is third." As it turned out Kejriwal was not third. He came second with 48 seats. Third was the Congress with 30 seats. The BJP, of course, was way ahead of both with 181 of the 270 seats contested. Terms like "routed", "swept away", "finished", "buried", "destroyed", "crushed", "smashed" were used for Kejriwal with such relish that one wondered what words would be pulled out from the Thesaurus for the Congress which had actually come third. Moreover, how can Kejriwal and AAP be "swept away" from the MCD where they never were. Yes, the Congress was annihilated, but the TV anchors seemed uncomfortable with that reality. They would register that detail in tones of unbelievable politeness. This visceral hatred for Kejriwal in the media remains something of a puzzle for me. Having been a pen
pusher and TV anchor for decades, I cannot for the life of me understand "hatred" as an ingredient in a journalist's make-up. In journalism, as in diplomacy, the cardinal principal always was to keep one's balance. The high decibel, partisan hysteria which is the staple at all prime time discussions these days takes one's breath away: the anchor shouts at inconvenient panelists and hands lollipops to BJP spokespersons. I hesitate to lay all the blame at the door of journalists who man today's media. They operate in a particular system of media ownership: he who pays the piper calls the tune. Circumstances were not dissimilar a few decades ago. A proprietor in the classical mould, Ramnath Goenka, for instance, had abiding political interests. He, along with the RSS' Nanaji Deshmukh, was one of the architects of what came to be known as JP's Bihar movement. Subsequently he had a proprietary interest in the Morarji Desai-led Janata government. But keeping these facts in mind, the paper's policy was enunciated by the powerful editor S. Mulgaonkar. There was credibility in the filtration process. The presentation was plausible. It is not for a moment suggested that Kejriwal is God's gift to Indian politics, but he has been quite unambiguous in his opposition to corporate power, xenophobia, communalism and a general militarism. Surely this should be to his credit. Little wonder none of this registers with the media which came into being in the wake of economic liberali-
sation and accelerated globalisation. It was designed to carry advertising which the neo liberal economic policies would boost. A media in the image of Rupert Murdoch became a vogue. This Murdochised media was placed supinely in the service of crony capitalism which revelled in the two-party systems. Whichever party came on top was owned by corporates. I have personal knowledge of even the mainstream Left having its hands in the same till. Rampaging corruption enveloped regimes in Greece, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the US, Indonesia, India, Pakistan -- any country boasting of an electoral democracy. A suffocated electorate began to break out of the two-party straitjacket. The Left surfaced in countries where economic issues dominated -- Syriza and Podemos, both Communist parties, in Greece and Spain, for instance. Islamophobia and anti-immigrant xenophobia were fuelled in societies fearful of the biggest migration in history from West Asia and North Africa following America's 9/11 wars. Marine Le Pen is the direct consequence of such fears. The post-Soviet global establishment, with the US as its central column, weakened considerably after the 2008 economic meltdown. But it is resilient enough to fight and contain the two extremities. The formula is simple: where possible, a right-of-centre formation should be supported. But in a situation where extreme left is in competition with the extreme right, it is the Right which will obtain the vote of confidence. In other words, xenophobia and racism are preferable to anti-austerity politics.
7
Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God
I
HAVE been a practicing Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries. At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities. The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met. In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime. The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in the West. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day. It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family. It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices - as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom. I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy - and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it. The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by former South African president Nelson Mandela, who offer their influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. We have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights and have recently published a statement that declares: "The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable." We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world's major faiths share. The carefully selected verses found in the Holy Scriptures to justify the superiority of men owe more to time and place - and the determination of male leaders to hold onto their influence - than eternal truths. Similar biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers. I am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same Scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn't until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy. The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions - all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.
In the recent French campaign, the Communist Jean-Luc Mélenchon surged ahead of most other candidates. Supposing the run-off on May 7 were between Le Pen and Mélenchon, the establishment would have thrown its full weight behind Le Pen. She would have won. But Emmanuel Macron is a crafty candidate of the establishment in disguise: his En Marche! (March ahead) party is brand new and yet as a former banker he is nothing if not the establishment. Kejriwal's strength and weakness derive from the same fact. He is truly anti-establishment. It was extremely audacious of him to stand on that kind of a platform. The result is there for all to see. He stunned the nation winning 67 of 70 seats in the 2015 Delhi elections. He stood out all the more because his extraordinary success came within months of Modi's victory. He alarmed the establishment, Modi, BJP, Congress, Lt. Governor, Police Commissioner and, above all, the corporate media. Kejriwal, unchecked, was a dangerous idea. He had to be waylaid at every turn. He must be politically exterminated. Providing free water and cheap electricity, Mohalla Clinics to Delhi's poor, despite his hands having been tied behind his back, is no mean achievement. A fearful Congress and the Akali-BJP combine ganged up against him in Punjab but he came second, ahead of the Akali-BJP. True, he does not have the pleaseall-skills of a Macron. It, therefore, remains something of a pity that a duplicitous outreach in multiple directions has to be placed in the category of a virJimmy Carter was president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. tue for success in today's politics.
The Morung Express POLL RESULTS
Do you feel that the overall performance of civil servants in Nagaland is improving? How? Some of those who voted YES had this to say: • Yes on the whole I think the overall performance of civil servants in Nagaland is slowly improving. Of course when I say this, there is so much more that needs to be done, but considering how it was just a few years ago I will say that there has been some slight improvement. Lets hope that this trend will continue. • Yes, to some extent. The younger breed of civil servants seem more dedicated in their work. They are punctual and take their work more seriously. The older generation remains the same. • Yes, recently there seems to be some improvement. This may be because the central government has become more strict and also because there are now many NGOs that are behaving like
• Yes there are been some marked changed in attitude at the EAC to the ADC level. These changes are most welcome. But from the DC upwards the old school still exists.
49%
Some of those who voted NO had this to say: • No, the bureaucracy remains stagnant in our state. They are the ones that hold the real power but decades of unaccounted free style functioning of the administration are taking its toll. YES NO OTHERS • Unfortunately big NO. Rather during the last 12-13 years in our their work. • No, improving only in the know Naga history, majority of our civil how of corrupting more without servants have become like that • No are you joking the civil services have become chamchas of polgetting caught of politicians and underground iticians. At least politicians have a • Not yet brothers. Nexus of these three is limited period to rob the people. • No, who are these civil servants in completely "loading" governance The civil services have a lifetime. Nagaland? They are not civil serin our beloved Nagaland. What vants rather they are public propcan we expect from these peo- • No never improving....its only improving corruption, bribery etc etc erty loader. ple??? Sad to say but they never
29%
22%
and the changing scenario all over Nagaland for official work, they the world our state civil adminisare like school children. tration refuses to grow and keep • Cannot gauge up with times. They are stubbornly • Civil Servants are part of the packaging and parcel to aid the refusing to take more responsibiliLegislative branch...We are tryties in doing their duty. ing to measure without that Some of those who aspect. They work in conjuncvoted OTHERS had this to say: tion with and under directives • Its a very important question. of Legislators sworn to alleFor our state to develop it degiance...Perhaps judging a donpends on the civil servants and keys performance is uncalled not the politicians. Let us refor just as long as it can bear the member that politicians come load.....Our attitudes from the and go but the civil servants outside at most times are unforcontinue. The quality of civil sergiving and uncharitable vants need to improve and catch • I have no idea. I am 22 and don't up with some of our neighborknow. ing states in the Northeast. • To be honest I think it will take When we compare between the another 10 years atleast before a states our civil servants need to the younger officers will be able humble down and work harder. to make decisions at the highest In Nagaland they are the mighty level that will impact the overall officers where people are servperformance of the civil admin-
8
MonDAY 01•05•2017
INDIA
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Global pension funds warm to India's solar power ambitions MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, AprIL 30 (rEUtErs): Some of the world's biggest pension funds, seeking long-term returns on green investments, are scouting for deals in India's solar power sector, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is targeting $100 billion in investment in the next five years. Power demand in Asia's third-largest economy is set to surge as the economy grows and more people move into the cities. India estimates peak electricity demand will more than quadruple in the next two decades to 690 gigawatt (GW), which would require rapid growth in generation and transmission capacity. That potential, helped by cheaper solar material costs and government efforts to curb pollution, is drawing global investors, including Canada's top pension fund managers - Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), and Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan (OTPP). Investors' focus is primarily on solar power generation, funding large-scale solar parks. CDPQ, which has C$270.7 billion ($199
billion) in net assets, says it plans to invest in India's solar sector with Azure Power, a New York-listed firm with about 1 GW of solar capacity under various stages of development. "We plan to do more with them. Our approach is really to pick the right partner and then build a platform that can be sustained over several years," said Anita George, CDPQ's South Asia head, adding she wouldn't rule out investing in other solar ventures in future. Other international investors have already entered India's renewable energy sector, such as Dutch fund manager APG, Canada's Brookfield Asset Management, the private equity arms of Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, and European utilities EDF, Engie and Enel. APG Asset Management, which last year agreed to jointly invest $132 million with India's Piramal Enterprises into solar power, is looking for more deals. "We expect to be able to announce another investment in the Indian renewable energy sector in the coming months," said Hans-Martin Aerts, APG's infrastructure
pression is that solar seems to be more attractive. But it's case by case," she said. India typically logs more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Kim declined to comment on any specific investment plans, but two people with knowledge of developments said CPPIB was scouting for deals. Funding and M&A in India's solar sector amounted to around $1.6 billion in January-March, says research firm Mercom. While deal sizes have been relatively small, some companies such as Japan's SoftBank, along with partners, have pledged to invest $20 billion in Indian solar power generation projects. SoftBank said the timeline for investments would depend on state and central governments. "We remain committed to building a GW-scale portfolio of solar projects in India," said Raman Nanda, CEO of SB Energy, a joint venture of SoftA worker installs a solar powered lamp in a public park in Chennai. (REUTERS/Files) Bank, Foxconn Technology head for Asia Pacific. next year, most of it sup- helped by lower module than doubled its capacity Group and Bharti Enterprises. "We will do this through Alok Verma, an execu- ported by overseas funds. prices and borrowing costs, last year, to 77.42 GW. tive director at Kotak Inand a government drive Suyi Kim, Asia Pacific strategic partnerships." vestment Banking, which AIMING HIGH but that is still only around head at CPPIB, Canada's has advised companies on Solar power generation 4 percent of total power ca- largest pension manager, NOT ALL SUNSHINE None of this comes renewable deals, said he capacity in India has more pacity of about 315 GW. said solar appears more atexpects at least 5 GW of so- than tripled in less than China, the world's big- tractive in India than wind without risk, of course. Investors could face lar power to be added from three years to over 12 GW, gest solar producer, more power. "In India, my im-
'Drugs replacing AK-47s among Punjab's youth'
cHANDIgArH, AprIL 30 (IANs): Having undergone the blood-soaked and emotionally-scarring era of partition and the turbulent 15 years of terrorism -- during which over 25,000 lives were lost -- as well as other upheavals, Punjab is now grappling with a major problem: Drugs. An author who lived through the turbulent times in the 1980s has now warned that the state could be headed for another downward spiral if corrective measures are not immediately taken. "One cannot help compare Punjab then and now;
the difference, if any, is not much. Yes, the major difference is that it is a new weapon -- drugs -- that attract the youth, not the AK rifles. The former is more deadly and ruinous than the latter," senior journalist and a former State Information Commissioner (2007-2012), P.P.S. Gill, has pointed out in his book "Blood on the Green - Punjab's Tryst with Terror" (Bookwell Publishers; 262 pages; Rs 895). Gill, who was witness to the torment of Punjab's terrorism days from the hotbed of Amritsar and
Language debate: DMK slams move to carry Hindi subtitles in regional films
cHENNAI, AprIL 30 (ptI): The DMK on Sunday took exception to a proposal to dub or carry Hindi subtitles in regional movies, calling it an attempt to "force" the language on regional cinema and sought a clarification from the Centre. The DMK will resist any attempts of Hindi imposition, its working president M K Stalin said, referring to the proposal. "While all regional languages must be respected equally, any efforts to bring them under the dominance of Hindi will ruin India's unity and integrity," he said. "The BJP government targeting cinema also as a part of its Hindi and Sanskrit imposition is condemnable. The Centre should clarify on this matter," he said in a statement. Stalin, whose party had
successfully led an antiHindi agitation in the state in the 1960s, said the DMK was ready to "resist and defeat" any efforts of Hindi "dominance." Presidential approval to a parliamentary panel recommendation that the National Film Development Corporation either dub regional movies in Hindi or carry subtitles has come as a boost to Hindi-speaking cinema lovers who want to enjoy regional movies. The Committee of Parliament on Official Language has also recommended that filmmakers submit their script in Hindi to the NFDC and make it available to all concerned. The DMK has been accusing the BJP-led Centre of trying to impose Hindi, a charge rejected by the Union government.
Gurdaspur districts from 1983 to 1990 as the Amritsar-based correspondent of a leading English daily, told IANS: "The problems and situations that led to the birth of terrorism in Punjab continue to exist, and the worst part is that no one seems to be addressing these issues." "In fact, the same or similar strains of persistent disaffection are still at work, gnawing at the Punjabi ethos; religio-political and socio-economic. Prevalent corruption, joblessness, criminalised countryside, societal divisions and dis-
parities are yet to be effectively tackled," Gill, who has been highly regarded in Punjab for his work as a reporter and an opinion-maker, has pointed out in the book. "The same political dispensations, barring change of several characters and actors, are still at play," writes the author, who is unforgiving in his assessment of the roles played by leaders of the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal, the separatists and radicals in the past seven decades. "I too have been through the same tormenting, torturous and scary
times, watching and wondering about why and how of eruption of insurgency, emergence of religio-political tsunami and why these issues, by and large, keep occurring time and again and have remained unresolved so far," he writes in the book. The book details Operation Bluestar (June 1984), Operation Black Thunder-I (April-May 1986) and Operation Black Thunder-II (May 1988), Operation Woodrose (in Punjab's countryside in 1984), the gory and chilling scenes of Hindus and Sikhs be-
ing killed by terrorists, the police and security forces going berserk, the Golden Temple complex in the aftermath of the 1984 Army operation and, subsequently, the unholy acts of various people in the name of religion and security, the killing fields of Green Revolution state and Punjab emerging as a theatre of atrocities. Having been posted in different parts of Punjab since 1975, Gill has been able to report and analyse the situation in the state from his first hand experience.
Trade, terror to be focus of Modi-Erdogan talks
NEW DELHI, AprIL 30 (IANs): Economic ties and cooperation in the fight against terrorism are expected to dominate the bilateral talks Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have here on Monday. Erdogan's SundayMonday India visit comes at the start of a diplomatic blitz he is embarking on after winning a referendum on April 16 which gave him more executive powers as President. India-Turkey trade stands at $6.4 billion, which is much below potential, officials say. Ankara wants a Free Trade Agreement and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to bridge the deficit with New Delhi. With chances of Turkey becoming an European Union member diminishing, Ankara is actively looking to Asia in terms of economic development
and security -- and India is seen as a major partner in this regard. At a media briefing ahead of Erdogan's visit, Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, said the Turkish leader would be accompanied by some cabinet ministers, senior officials and a 150-member business delegation that will take part in a meeting of the India-Turkey Business Forum. She said there was scope for cooperation in areas such as construction, infrastructure development, renewable energy, tourism and film shooting. At a meeting on "India and Turkey's Place in the Rising World" organised here, Kerem Alkin, Professor at the Istanbul Medipol University's Faculty of Business and Managerial Sciences, said Ankara wanted New Delhi to share its experience in power generation.
"There may be negotiations on energy supply during President Erdogan's visit," Alkin said. "We can work together on global energy demand, especially renewable energy." Transportation, communication, logistics, tourism, retail and financial services are other areas flagged by Alkin where the two countries can cooperate. Terrorism is expected to be another highlight of the Modi-Erdogan talks. "Both India and Turkey have been battling terrorism for long and understand the need for acting against this global menace," Ghanashyam said. Turkey has made it clear that it has no objection to India joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Ilnur Cevik, Senior Advisor to President Erdogan, said Turkey would be interested in nuclear cooperation with India "and all
other peaceful countries that seek peaceful use of nuclear technology". Turkey's position on India's bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council is different. Cevik said his country wanted the five permanent members of the world body to give up their veto powers. Turkey is a member of the group called Uniting for Consensus (UfC) that is opposed to expansion of permanent seats in the Security Council. Other members of the group include Italy, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Pakistan, Malta, Costa Rica, Colombia and San Marino. According to Ghanashyam, following the talks on Monday, some agreements that are currently being finalised are expected to be signed. Erdogan last visited India in 2008 when he was the Prime Minister.
payment delays from India's heavily-indebted power distribution firms, and some experts note that the bidding for projects in government auctions is too aggressive, with per unit prices slumping more than 70 percent since 2010. "Getting returns on investments ... and getting paid by distribution companies are the major risks being assessed by foreign investors," said Sumant Sinha, CEO at ReNew Power, a renewable energy firm backed by Goldman. Intermittency - power is only produced under bright sunlight - is another issue, as there are additional costs for using inverters or diesel generators to use solar power at night. "Based on current market conditions and policies, I see a path to 65-70 GW (solar capacity) by 2022, but not more," said Mercom CEO Raj Prabhu. That's still some way short of the government pledge for 100 GW by 2022. "To reach 100 GW by 2022, distribution company finances need to improve drastically, power demand has to increase quickly, and transmission infrastructure needs to keep up," Prabhu said.
In UP, it's saffron, saffron & more saffron
LUckNoW, AprIL 30 (IANs): In Uttar Pradesh, every change in government inevitably comes with a change in -- well, colour. And in "Yogi Raj" the colour is assertively saffron: From jackets, saris and turbans to upholstery, towels and even microphone wires wrapped in saffron cloth. Ministers and legislators in the new dispensation under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are leaving nothing to chance to show the colour of their loyalty. Ministers are often seen wearing orange and saffron "sadris" (Nehru-style jackets in khadi), women ministers bright saris to match, and the only Sikh minister, Baldev Olakh, an MLA from Bilaspur, can often be spotted wearing a saffron turban. For Mohsin Raza, the lone Muslim face in the state government, saffron waistcoats have turned into a habit. The cricketer-turned-politician can invariably be spotted wearing them with a saffron kurta. The seat covers of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's car are a bright orange and most of the ministers can also be seen with bright saffron "chandan teeka" smeared on their foreheads. Colour has, of course, always been crucial in Uttar Pradesh. If it was Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), pastel shades and dark blue were the norm, and the Samajwadi Party (SP) government meant bright red and green. And now, it's saffron all the way. Such is his liking for the colour that the 44-year-old Adityanath likes to sit on chairs that have orange on them. It is for this reason that for the Chief minister, who always wears saffron robes, most chairs, sofas and recliners now have orange upholstery. And where it is not possible, such as at cabinet meetings, an orange towel has replaced the usual white one. And mandarins in the state government are ensuring that when the Chief Minister is at a public event, even microphones and their wires are wrapped in saffron cloth. A senior official admitted that "Maharaj ji (Yogi) has a penchant for the colour and hence, to please and keep him in a good mood... care is taken to ensure presence of saffron". At a recent review of the functioning of the state government, when Yogi Adityanath flew to Bundelkhand -- the first such review held outside the state capital -overzealous officials on the ground picked only "orange" cold drinks for the VVIPs to sip. Even during the oath-taking ceremony earlier and during the manifesto release of the BJP in the run-up to the state assembly elections, which it later won emphatically, many BJP leaders were spotted in saffron, with some even wearing orange socks or a similar coloured "patka" to match. At press conferences and unveiling of plaques of some projects held recently at the 5, Kalidas Marg residence of the Chief Minister, the entire marquee and curtains were in bright orange. Taking its cue from the politicians, a hotel here recently readied a lavish spread at its restaurant, not surprisingly named after Yogi, and the colour of all dishes was orange!
Telangana assembly passes Niti Aayog suggests simultaneous LS, assembly polls from 2024 amendment to Land Acquisition Act
HyDErABAD, AprIL 30 (IANs): The Telangana assembly on Sunday passed amendments to the Land Acquisition Act sent back by the Law Ministry, amid protests by the Congress demanding a discussion on farmers' problems. The amendments to the Telangana Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Telangana Amendment Act, 2016) were passed within 10 minutes in a one-day special session of both the Houses. The legislative council will meet later in the day to pass the amendments. As soon as the assembly began its sitting, Congress legislators were on their feet demanding a debate on the demand for remunerative prices to chilli farmers. Speaker Madhusudhana Chary, however, said the sitting was being held with the sole agenda of passing the amend-
ments and no other issue would be taken up. Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, also the Revenue Minister, moved the amendments passed by voice vote without debate. Immediately after this, the Speaker adjourned the House sine die. The Congress legislators remained seated in the House even after adjournment for some time to register their protest. Later, leader of opposition K. Jana Reddy told reporters that the assembly proceedings were conducted in an undemocratic manner. He alleged that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government was running away from debate on farmers' problems. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also staged a protest near the assembly building to condemn the government's attitude. BJP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members were not
invited to the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the assembly on Saturday citing their suspension earlier during the budget session. BJP members staged a silent protest. Wearing black scarves, they marched from Gun Park to the assembly premises. BJP leader G. Kishan Reddy wondered how they could be prevented on ground of their suspension earlier. BJP members were suspended on April 16 when they stalled the proceedings during the one-day special sitting called to pass a bill on increasing reservations for Muslims and Scheduled Tribes. The Union Law Ministry earlier this week sent back to the state the Land Act for making "suitable amendments" to it. The state legislature had passed the bill two months ago and the same was sent to the Centre for the President's assent.
NEW DELHI, AprIL 30 (ptI): The Niti Aayog has suggested a synchronised twophase Lok Sabha and assembly polls from 2024 so as to ensure minimum 'campaign-mode' disruption to governance. Outlining the details, the policy think-tank has said implementing the proposal may necessitate "a maximum onetime curtailment or extension of some state assemblies". It has made the Election Commission the nodal agency to look into the suggestion and recommended setting up of a working group of stakeholders for deciding a road-map for synchronised elections. A report in this regard needs to be finalised within six months and final blue-print will be ready by next March, as per draft three-year action agenda for 2017-18 to 2019-20. The draft report was circulated among the Governing Council members (consisting of chief ministers of all states
and others) of the Niti Aayog on April 23. The recommendation assumes significance as President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi too, have pitched for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls. "All elections in India should happen in a free, fair and synchronised manner so as to cause minimum 'campaign-mode' disruption to governance. We may begin work towards switching to a synchronised two-phase election from the 2024 election to the Lok Sabha," the Niti Aayog draft report says. "To implement this in the national interest, a focused group of stakeholders comprising constitution and subject matter experts, think-tanks, government officials and representatives of various political parties should be formed to work out appropriate implementation-related details.
"This may include drafting appropriate Constitution and statutory amendments, agreeing on a workable framework to facilitate transition to simultaneous elections, developing a stakeholder communication plan and various operational details," the draft report says. President Mukherjee in his speech on the eve of this year's Republic Day had favoured holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections together. "The time is also ripe for a constructive debate on electoral reforms and a return to the practice of the early decades after Independence when elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies were held simultaneously. "It is for the Election Commission to take this exercise forward in consultation with political parties," the president had said. PM Modi too, had in February, made a strong pitch for simultaneous elections. "It (simultaneous polls) will
cause some loss to all, including us," he had said, and asked political parties to not look at the idea through the narrow prism of politics. "One party or a government cannot do it. We will have to find a way together," he had said. Elections are being held all the time at some or the other place in the country and continuous elections lead to lot of expenditure, Modi had said replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. The Prime Minister had said over Rs 1,100 crore were spent in holding the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and the expenditure shot up to Rs 4,000 crore in 2014. Over a crore government employees, including a lot of teachers, are involved in electoral process and the continuous exercise thus causes maximum harm to the education sector, the PM had said.
MondAY 01•05•2017
WORLD
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
9
ASEAN gives Beijing a pass on South China Pope urges mediation to end North Korea crisis, Sea dispute, refers to ‘improving cooperation’ avert devastating war
MANILA, AprIL 30 (reuters): Southeast Asian countries took a softer stance on South China Sea disputes during a weekend summit, according to a statement issued on Sunday, which went easy on China by avoiding tacit references to its building and arming of its manmade islands. A chairman’s statement of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was released about 12 hours after the summit ended, and dropped references to “land reclamation and militarization” included in the text issued at last year’s meeting, and in an earlier, unpublished version seen by Reuters on Saturday. The outcome follows what two ASEAN diplomats on Saturday said were efforts by Chinese foreign ministry and embassy officials to pressure ASEAN chair the Philippines to keep Beijing’s contentious activities in the strategic waterway off ASEAN’s official agenda. It also indicates four ASEAN members who the diplomats said had wanted a firmer position had agreed to the statement’s more conciliatory tone. China is not a member of the 10-member bloc and did not attend the summit but is extremely sensitive about the content of its statements. It has often been accused of trying to influence the drafts to muzzle what it sees as dissent and challenges to its sweeping sovereignty claim.
(L to R) Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak and Philippine’s President Rodrigo Duterte link hands during the 12th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila, Philippines on April 29. (REUTERS Photo)
China’s embassy in Manila could not be reached and its foreign ministry did not respond to request for comment on Saturday. The statement also noted “the improving cooperation between ASEAN and China”, and did not include references to “tensions” or “escalation of activities” seen in earlier drafts and in last year’s text. It noted, without elaborating, some leaders’ concerns about “recent developments” in the strategic, resource-rich waterway. A Philippine diplomat said it was an open secret that China tries to lean on ASEAN members to protect its interests, but that was not the reason for the unusual delay in issuing the statement. “There are one or two member countries which lobbied for
Iran satellite TV head shot dead in Istanbul IstANBuL, AprIL 30 (reuters): The head of an Iranian satellite television network channel who last year was sentenced in absentia to six years in prison by a Tehran court was shot dead in Istanbul together with a business partner, Turkey’s Dogan news agency said on Sunday. GEM TV founder Saeed Karimian and another Iranian were driving in Istanbul’s Maslak neighbourhood after 8 pm on Saturday when their car was stopped by a jeep and shots were fired, Dogan said. Karimian was found dead by emergency services arriving at the scene, Dogan said. His associate was taken to hospital but could not be revived. It was not clear if there were multiple shooters. The jeep was later found abandoned and burned. Istanbul police declined to comment on the shooting when contacted by Reuters. Dogan quoted the mayor of Istanbul’s Sariyer district as saying initial police findings suggested the shooting may have prompted by a financial disagreement involving Karimian. GEM TV is known for entertainment satellite channels that dub foreign films and Western television programmes into Farsi for Iranians. It also produces movies and TV series. But in Iran, where the government tries to instil Islamic values by strictly regulating popular culture, the satellite broadcaster’s programming has angered authorities, who view it as part of a cultural “soft war” waged by the West. Last year a Revolutionary Court in Tehran tried Karimian in absentia and sentenced him to six years in jail on charges of “acting against national security” and “propaganda against the state”.
US backed militias claim big advance against IS in Syria tABQA, AprIL 30 (reuters): U.S.-backed militias said on Sunday they had made a big advance in Tabqa, a strategically vital town controlling Syria’s largest dam, in their campaign to drive Islamic State from its stronghold of Raqqa, 40km (25 miles) downstream. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group of Kurdish and Arab militias, will wait to assault Raqqa until it seizes Tabqa, its military officials have previously said, but it had made only slow progress since besieging the town early this month. In a statement it circulated on social messaging sites, the SDF said it had captured six more districts of Tabqa and distributed a map showing that Islamic State now controlled only the northern part of the town, next to the dam. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britainbased war monitor, said the SDF had gained almost complete control over Tabqa in its advance. Tabqa was isolated from Raqqa in late March after the United States helped the SDF carry out an airborne landing on the southern bank of the Euphrates, allowing it to capture the areas around the town, including an important airbase, and cut the road. Islamic State still holds several Tabqa districts along the southern bank of Lake Assad and the southern section of the Euphrates dam, including its operations facilities and a hydro-electric power plant. Raqqa now lies in an Islamic State enclave on the northern bank of the Euphrates that measures about 50km at its widest point on an east-west axis and 20km on its longest north-south axis, but with SDF salients stretching almost to the city. Islamic State’s only means of crossing to its main territory on the south bank of the Euphrates is by boat after aerial bombing put the region’s bridges out of service.
some changes in some text in the statement, but not related to the South China Sea,” the source said. Beijing has reacted angrily to individual members expressing their concern about its rapid reclamation of reefs in the Spratlys and its installation of missile systems on them. Another ASEAN diplomat said the statement was a genuine representation of the atmosphere of the Manila meetings. “We respected the Philippines’ views and cooperated,” the diplomat said. “It clearly reflected how the issue was discussed.”
chairman, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, seeks to bury the hatchet with China after years of wrangling over its maritime assertiveness. After lobbying from Duterte, China agreed to let Filipinos back to the rich fishing ground of the Scarborough Shoal following a four-year blockade. The no-nonsense leader set the tone for the meeting on Thursday when he said it was pointless discussing China’s maritime activities, because no one dared to pressure Beijing anyway. As a sign of Duterte’s friendship with Beijing, three Chinese POINTLESS TO PRESSURE navy vessels on Sunday made The softened statement a rare visit to the Philippines. comes as the current ASEAN Duterte will inspect a guided-
missile destroyer in his hometown of Davao on Monday. Duterte’s foreign policy strategy is a stunning reversal of that of the previous administration, which had close ties with the United States and was seen by China as a nuisance. That Philippines government in 2013 challenged Beijing by lodging a case with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013. Two weeks into Duterte’s presidency last year, the Hague court ruled in favour of the Philippines, angering China. But Duterte has made it clear he would not press Beijing to comply anytime soon, and is more interested in doing business than sparring. The final chairman’s statement issued made no mention to the arbitration case. However, it did include in a section separate to the South China Sea chapter the need to show “full respect for legal and diplomatic processes” in resolving disputes. Underlining Beijing’s sensitivity about the arbitration award, the two diplomatic sources on Saturday said Chinese embassy officials had lobbied behind the scenes for that sentence to be dropped, and considered it a veiled reference to the ruling. One diplomat indicated that ongoing moves between China and ASEAN to draft a framework for negotiating a maritime code of conduct may have been a factor in agreeing the softened statement. All sides want to complete the framework this year, although there is some scepticism that China’s would agree to a set of rules that could impact its geostrategic interests.
ABOArD tHe pApAL pLANe, AprIL 30 (reuters): Pope Francis said on Saturday a third country, such as Norway, should try to mediate the dispute between North Korea and Washington, to cool a situation that had become “too hot” and posed the risk of nuclear devastation. Francis said he believed “a good part of humanity” would be destroyed in any widespread war. Speaking to reporters aboard the plane taking him back from Cairo, Francis also said he was ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump when he is in Europe next month but that he was not aware that Washington had made a request for a meeting. In answer to a question about the tensions between the United States and North Korea, Francis said the United Nations should reassert its leadership in world diplomacy because it had become “too watered down”. “I call on, and will call on, all leaders, as I have called on leaders of various places, to work to seek a solution to problems through the path of diplomacy,” he said about the North Korea crisis. Representatives for the White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Francis spoke after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that failure to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes could lead to “catastrophic consequences”. “There are so many facilitators in the world, there are mediators who offer themselves, such as Norway for example,” he said in his customary freewheeling news conference with reporters at the end of each trip. “It (Norway) is always ready to help. That is just one but there are many. But the path is the path of negotiations, of a diplomatic solution,” he said in the discussion, which lasted about 30 minutes. Norway secretly negotiated an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians known as the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. The pope expressed his deep concern over the crisis, saying: “This question of missiles in (North) Korea has been brewing for more than a year but now it seems the situation has become has become too hot.” He said: “We are talking about the future of humanity. Today, a widespread war would destroy -- I would not say half of humanity -- but a good part of humanity, and of culture, everything, everything. “It would be terrible. I don’t think that humanity today would be able to withstand it.” Trump is due in Sicily on May 26-27 for a meeting of the heads of the world’s richest nations. The White House has not yet said if he would be stopping in Rome to meet the pope, which would be an unusual omission for a visiting head of state. Asked if he would be meeting Trump, the pope said he had not yet been informed if a request had been made, but added: “I receive every head of state who asks for an audience”.
British PM May braces for difficult Brexit negotiations Iran’s leader dismisses LONDON/BrusseLs, degree of understanding in if I didn’t believe that,” May be much costlier for Brit- Rouhani’s detente policy AprIL 30 (reuters): London of what kind of com- said in a separate interview ain. British Prime Minister Theresa May expects divorce talks with the European Union to be difficult, she said on Sunday in response to the tough stance taken by EU leaders over the forthcoming Brexit negotiations. EU leaders endorsed stiff divorce terms for Britain at a Brussels summit on Saturday, warning Britons to have “no illusions” about swiftly securing a new relationship to retain access to EU markets and to be prepared for the complexity of issues such as residency rights for EU citizens. “What this shows, and what some of the other comments we’ve seen coming from European leaders shows, is that there are going to be times when these negotiations are going to be tough,” May told the BBC. Brussels is concerned about the British government’s state of preparation for enormously complicated negotiations and over the
promises it will have to make to clinch any kind of deal. EU officials said that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier’s talks with May in London on Wednesday did nothing to ease that concern. German Chancellor
with ITV television. “What I also believe is that, with the right strong hand in negotiations, we can get a good deal for the UK.” May, who came to power after Britons decided last year to leave the EU, has called a national election in an attempt to win a public mandate and a bigger ma-
EU leaders project tough stance ahead of negotiations Angela Merkel, repeating a comment she made after Juncker’s meeting with May, said she was still worried by “illusions” in Britain about the Brexit talks. May reaffirmed her position that she would be prepared to walk away from talks without a deal if she did not like what was on offer from Brussels.
jority in parliament to help to execute her plan to leave the EU’s single market and pursue a free trade deal with the bloc. Many of her European counterparts question whether May really is prepared to take Britain into legal limbo on March 30, 2019, if there is no deal. European Council President Donald Tusk has ‘STRONG HAND’ argued repeatedly that CRUCIAL while such a move would “I wouldn’t have said it be bad for the EU, it would
Nonetheless, leaders stated in their negotiating guidelines, approved within minutes at Saturday’s summit, that they would be prepared to deal with a situation in which talks collapse. The Belgian prime minister warned colleagues against falling into a “trap” set by British negotiators trying to divide them, while others cautioned May that it was in Britain’s interests, too, to ensure the other 27 stick together. Noting the unusually harmonious mood of the summit, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny told reporters: “When the negotiations start and detailed, more complex discussions have to take place, obviously some countries will assign bigger priorities to different issues. “So,” he added with a smile of understatement, “it won’t all be as calm and as measured as today.”
teHrAN, AprIL 30 (reuters): Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has criticised President Hassan Rouhani for saying his detente policy with the West had caused the threat of war to fade as tensions intensify in Tehran before May election. Rouhani, a pragmatist whose election in 2013 led to a diplomatic thaw between Iran and the West, championed in 2015 a landmark deal in which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in return for lifting of international sanctions. A standoff between Rouhani, who is seeking a second term, and Khamenei’s allies, who opposed the nuclear deal, has intensified in recent months ahead of the May 19 vote. “Some say since we took office the shadow of war has been faded away. This is not correct,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by the state media on Sunday. “It’s been people’s presence in the political scene that has removed the shadow of war from the country,” he added. Rouhani faces competition from hardliners who have criticised his economic record, saying detente with the West and nuclear concessions had yet to yield economic benefits. Rouhani urged voters on Saturday to prevent “extremism” returning to Iran, saying the country could face greater authoritarianism if he was replaced by a hardline rival. Among Rouhani’s challengers are Ebrahim Raisi, an influential cleric with decades of experience in the hardline judiciary, and conservative Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former Revolutionary Guards commander.
Trump celebrates first 100 days as president, blasts media HArrIsBurG, AprIL 30 (reuters): U.S. President Donald Trump hit the road on Saturday to celebrate his first 100 days in the White House with cheering supporters at a campaign-style rally, touting his initial achievements and lashing out at critics. Trump told a Pennsylvania crowd he was just getting started on meeting his campaign promises. He repeatedly attacked an “incompetent, dishonest” media, saying they were not telling the truth about his administration’s accomplishments. “My administration has been delivering every single day for the great citizens of our country,” Trump said in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “We are keeping one promise after another, and frankly the people are really happy about it.” The rally occurred on the same day as a climate march at which thousands of protesters surrounded the White House, and it also
coincided with the annual black-tie White House press dinner in Washington. Trump and his staff chose to skip the press dinner because of what he said was unfair treatment by the press. Trump said he was thrilled to be away from the “Washington swamp”. “A large group of Hollywood actors and Washington media are consoling each other in a hotel ballroom in our nation’s capital right now,” Trump said to loud boos from the crowd. “If the media’s job is to be honest and to tell the truth, the media deserves a very, very big fat failing grade.” Trump listed what he said were some of his key early accomplishments, including the successful confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court of Justice Neil Gorsuch and clearing away many regulations on the environment and business. He also listed his approval of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, killing a pending Asian trade
pact, and enhanced security measures that have led to a sharp decline in illegal border crossings at the southern border. He shrugged off his failure to score major legislative victories on his core campaign promises, such as repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act and construction of a Mexican border wall. Trump’s ban on visitors from some Muslim nations was blocked in court. He blamed Democrats for the legislative failures so far and said all of his promises would be kept eventually. “We’ll build the wall, people, don’t even worry about it,” he said. Some supporters in the crowd said they were willing to give Trump more time. “I voted for him and I’ll give him a year. That’s enough time to whip Congress into shape and get some deals done,” said Michael Casciaro, 54, a civilian contractor for the military. Trump said he reversed course on promises
US President Donald Trump appears on stage at a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, US on April 29. (REUTERS Photo)
to name China a currency manipulator because he wanted its help in trying to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. Trump has said all options are on the table if Pyongyang persists in its nuclear development. In an excerpt of an interview with “Face the Na-
tion” of CBS, set to air on Sunday and Monday and conducted during the trip to Pennsylvania, Trump said he would “not be happy” if North Korea conducted a nuclear test. Asked if that would mean military action, Trump said “I don’t know, I mean we’ll see.” Reveling in the cheers
in Harrisburg, Trump made reference again to his upset victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, which he said “carried us to a big, beautiful win on Nov. 8.” Trump left Washington as another in a series of protests against his administration was winding up. Thousands of marchers made their way through Washington’s streets during the People’s Climate March, a protest against Trump’s moves to roll back environmental regulations. Asked by reporters accompanying him to Pennsylvania what he had to say to the climate change protesters, Trump said: “Enjoy the day, enjoy the weather.” After the rally, the White House said the president had signed two trade-related executive orders, one for top U.S. officials to review all U.S. trade pacts for potential abuses and another setting up an office in the White House to advise him on trade-related issues.
10
MonDAY 01•05•2017
sports
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
sunderland relegated, Punjab humiliate Delhi by 10 wickets Vardy rescues leicester
London, ApriL 30 (AFp): David Moyes's sorry Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League after a 1-0 home defeat by Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Allied to Hull City's 0-0 draw at Southampton, the result left Sunderland 13 points adrift of safety with only 12 points to play for this season. "I'm really disappointed," said Sunderland manager Moyes. "I feel for the supporters. They put their heart and cash into the team and my thoughts are mainly with the supporters." Josh King scored the goal that condemned Sunderland to the Championship, converting a pass from Ryan Fraser after a sweeping counter-attack in the 88th minute. Southampton had a chance to give Sunderland a stay of execution, but Dusan Tadic's stoppage-time penalty was saved by Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic. Ask if he will remain in his post, Moyes replied: "To think about it and talk about it now is just too quick. "They're questions for a week or two down the line. I'm not sure it's for now. I'd like to make sure we get Sunderland back in the Premier League." Sunderland have been in the Premier League since 2007, but their return to the secondtier Championship has long appeared only a matter of time. They have been in the relegation zone since September and have not moved off the foot of the table since January. "The league table never lies," said Sunderland captain John O'Shea. "Performances and results are the obvious thing that have brought us down." Victory effectively secured
Sunderland's Victor Anichebe (R) challenges Bournemouth's English defender Adam Smith (L) during their Premier league match at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, north-east England on April 29, 2017 (AFP Photo)
Bournemouth's safety, catapulting Eddie Howe's side up the table to 10th place, 10 points above the relegation zone. Hull's draw at Southampton left Marco Silva's side three points clear of danger, ahead of thirdbottom Swansea City's trip to Manchester United on Sunday. - 'Finish on a high' After a forgettable encounter at St Mary's, Southampton were awarded a penalty at the death when Alfred N'Diaye was penalised for holding Maya Yoshida. Tadic drilled his spot-kick towards the bottom-right corner, but Jakupovic plunged low to his left to turn the ball away and condemn Sunderland to the drop. "It's a really important mo-
ment. If they had scored, they would not deserve it," said Hull manager Silva. "It is a good result. You want more, but it's a good point." With Stoke City and West Ham United also drawing 0-0, the only other goal in the four afternoon games came in outgoing champions Leicester City's 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion. Jamie Vardy settled the game in the 43rd minute, rifling home his 15th goal of the season from Shinji Okazaki's pass down the inside-right channel. After an arduous season for Leicester, last season's fairytale champions have now reached the 40-point mark that usually guarantees survival. "I want Jamie Vardy to fin-
ish on a high," said Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare, whose side sit 11th. "He's scored quite a few of late and I want that to continue." Burnley also took a giant stride towards safety after their first away league win of the season, a 2-0 success at Crystal Palace, left them on 39 points. Ashley Barnes gave the visitors an eighth-minute lead, before substitute Andre Gray's goal five minutes from time put the result of Saturday's late kick-off beyond doubt. "It's been a tough challenge winning away from home in the Premier League," said Burnley manager Sean Dyche. "But the focus and the mentality of the players I thought was outstanding."
MohALi, ApriL 30 (iAnS): Kings XI Punjab dominated with both bat and ball to thrash a rather off-colour Delhi Daredevils by 10 wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match here on Sunday. Medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma played a starring role for Punjab, returning figures of 4/20 to bag the Man of the Match award as Delhi were bundled out for a mere 67 runs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here. Delhi's total was the second lowest in this year's IPL after Royal Challengers Bangalore were dismissed for 49 during their 82run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens last week. Needing only 68 runs for a win, Punjab crossed the line in just 7.5 overs with New Zealand star Martin Guptill smashing a half-century in double quick time. Guptill remained unbeaten on 50 off 27 balls with six boundaries and three sixes. Fellow opener Hashim Amla was not out on 16 at the other end. Punjab, who thus registered the third win of their campaign, are now fifth on the IPL table with eight points. They have not exactly set the field on fire in this edition, losing six of their nine matches and Sunday's performance will no doubt be one of the highlights of their season. Delhi are at the bottom of the eight-team table with just four points from eight matches. Although they have one of the strongest bowling line-ups in the IPL, Delhi have paid the price for consistently unimpressive batting performances which have proved to be their Achilles heel. They have won just two matches so far this year and have suffered six defeats. Earlier, Punjab captain Glenn Maxwell won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first. With the pitch having an ex-
Kings XI Punjab's Sandeep Sharma takes a sharp return catch to dismiss Delhi Daredevils' Shreyas Iyer. (BCCI Photo)
tra bit of moisture due a spell of rain here on Saturday, the Punjab bowlers made full use of the favourable conditions. Sandeep made an excellent comeback to the playing XI after being dropped in the last match. The right-armer produced superb swing and movement off the pitch to trouble the off-colour Delhi batting line-up. The 23-year-old clinched three wickets in his first three overs to put the hosts in the driving seat. Fast bowler Varun Aaron and left-arm spinner Axar Patel picked up a couple of wickets each for Punjab. Delhi lost their first wicket in the opening over when comeback man Sam Billings offered an outside edge to an outswinger from Sandeep for an easy catch to Punjab wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha. Delhi were off to a slow start and got their first boundary in the third over when Sanju Samson dispatched a Sandeep deliv-
ery to the wide mid-off fence. The Punjab pacer got his revenge a ball later when Sanju tried to flick one off his pads to the mid-wicket region. But the ball did not swing as much as he had expected, and taking the toe of the bat ballooned up for a simple catch to Rohit Sharma at mid-off. Sandeep picked up his third wicket in his next over with an excellent caught and bowled effort to send Shreyas Iyer back to the pavilion. Iyer had attempted to drive the ball past the bowler but was outfoxed by the lack of pace. Delhi continued to struggle and Patel picked up a wicket when Karun Nair misjudged the line of the ball only to see it crash into his off-stump. Rishabh Pant was then trapped leg before by Glenn Maxwell and Patel claimed his second victim in the form of Chris Morris as Delhi lost their entire top and middle order within the first nine overs.
public discourse
The importance of Human Rights education in Nagaland - PART-I Kezhokhoto Savi Asst. Professor Kohima Law College, Former President, IHRO, Kohima
T
he recent official visit of the National Human Rights Commission to the state capital of Nagaland had recommended to incorporate ‘Human Rights Education’ into NBSE syllabus and asked the NGOs to create more awareness on Human Rights education particularly to the students. The Hon’ble Governor of Nagaland asked the State Government to set up State Human Rights Commission in Nagaland at the earliest. A human rights activist Kezhokhoto Savi as resource person in one of the human right seminars conducted at Arunachal Pradesh asked the North-Eastern State delegates – “Are the people of North East literate enough on human rights and are they able to stand for their own rights and give due respect to the rights of others? The answer was ‘NO’ and the serious concern was that there was an urgent need to
programme a vigorous defense and promotion of human rights. The educational institutions, colleges and churches are to play an active role in promoting peace, justice and social transformation. Most of the NorthEast Indian states including Nagaland are yet to set up ‘State Human Rights Commission’. As far as the general ‘Human Rights’ scenario in Nagaland is concern, within a span of two weeks, several atrocities and barbaric killing took place in Nagaland, such as the murder of nine persons whose bodies were recovered by Nagaland Police at Pachaspura near Chumukedima on 3rd Jan, 2014, the barbaric attempt to murder on Akivito A. Sumi on 28th Dec 2013 who later succumbed to his injuries, the 21st Dec 2013 incident where the passengers of a Zunheboto bound taxi were assaulted and injured, several rape cases including minor took place, the atrocities meted to the Rengma Nagas of Karbi Anglong from 25th Dec 2013 evening onwards where
Letter to the Editor
several women and children were mercilessly killed, thousands were displaced and kept in several relief camps, villages burnt, properties such as agricultural products and crops were destroyed. The 5th March incident where a young man was lynch to dead by a mob and the dead body was tied to the railing in Dimapur, Nagaland on 5th March 2015. In a police firing on 31st January 2017 two youth were killed in Dimapur and several of them were injured in Longleng while protesting against ULB election in Nagaland. As per the definition given by section 2(1) (d) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, right to life is guaranteed by the Constitution of India. ‘Life’ here means human life” and not mere animal existence. Right to life is guaranteed by Article 21 read with Article 14, 25, 27 and 28 of the Constitution of India. Right to food is universal human rights, which is acknowledged at the regional, national and international levels. The citizen’s right to be free from hunger enshrined
man who had sacrificed his life for the abolition of slavery. Nelson Mandela was one of the great symbols of human rights of our time whose life was committed to human dignity, equality, freedom & justice. Besides the rest of the country, Nagaland is an example of being a slaughter house of human rights. Atrocities on women at home and workplace, insurgency, problems of drugs, rape, alcoholism among youths and adults, child abuse and flesh trade, extortion, anti-Indian mentality, delay in receiving justice and growth of non-humanitarian values are dear indication of violation of human rights, which have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquility of the State. One of the main problems faced by the citizens of this state is the existence of several insurgent groups and the Central Government imposing the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958, amended in 1972. There are two contradictory views on it. While one group feels that it is necessary to
empower the armed forces with special powers in order to combat insurgency movements, the other asserts this extra power given in Act is being misused by the armed forces and has caused too much harm to the civilians. A major theme of the human rights discourse is the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act of 1958 widely seen in the North-East as ‘draconian’. Rights and duties are one of the primary concerns of the human civilization. These are closely connected with liberty, growth, development, dignity, responsibility and welfare of the general community. However, knowledge about human rights is not popular among the citizens of Nagaland. As a result, violation of human rights is so common in Nagaland that the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is defeated considerable number of times. The techno-hyped societies are progressing fast but the human rights, not only among the illiterate sections but also among the literate and educated ones.
AN ADDRESS TO THE INDIGENOUS NON- NAGA TRIBES OF NAGALAND
Peter Rutsa
Kahuto Chishi Sumi
he Naga People's Front (NPF) has reportedly submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister of Nagaland requesting that their party office which is presently located at PR Hills, lodged between Hotel Japfü and the State Academy hall, is exchanged with the 'Capital Convention Centre' which is situated below the roundabout at New secretariat. The signatories have gone on record to say that such an arrangement is "absolutely in the maximum benefit of the government and the party." Odd that the signatories haven't claimed it is also in the "maximum" interest of citizens, Nagas and the capital in particular! This is preposterous! Ridiculous, absurd, hilarious, obnoxious, idiotic, crazy are some words that are being expressed by citizens to describe this exchange offer. Some citizens have infact sarcastically suggested the NPF spare our Capital Convention and rather seek to exchange their valued central office with the Nagaland Civil Secretariat office itself! In all honestly people are not even angry at this proposal, instead people are laughing at their wishful thinking. With due respect to the intellect and technical assessment done by the signatories and the initiators of this proposal, let us ask them not to let their love for the NPF party surpass their love for the capital town, the state and its people. NPF signatories, let the idea go! The well-being of the capital and the welfare of its citizens (which includes your good selves) are much more important than the convenience and comfort of NPF office bearers or the ambition of any political party.
G.B. Hevishe Village, Khaghaboto Range, Dimapur
T
in Article 21 of the Constitution of India, is to be ensued by the fulfillment of the obligations of the State set out in Article 39(a) and 47. The right to food is about freedom from hunger. Therefore, it is very important for the state of Nagaland to effectively implement the National Food Security Act, 2013 without any involvement of wrong diversion and corruption. Many poor people around the world are going to die because they do no not get enough food to eat. Food is basic to human existence and that is why it receives the foremost attention of mankind. Poverty is the main reason for families to send their children to work. Due to child labour is large scale exploitation and deprived of human rights. Children’s rights are human rights. Children are no doubt supreme assets of the country. “Child is the father of man”. The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was a great human rights activist who strongly believed and practiced nonviolence. One of the great American Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was a
I
n the Nagaland of today, where halftruths and misinformation sprout up on a daily basis; where propaganda and outright lies are accepted as the truth; where cherry-picking of historical facts to bolster shaky claims to legitimacy are expounded; and events which depict one in a bad light are either avoided or distorted to strengthen those claims. Where the identities of those putting forth their different claims shift with chameleon like ease, from layman to theologian to politician to freedom fighter; where political fossils are dug up to shore up and plead on behalf of those shaky claims; where the speakers of truth are pilloried by the masters of obfuscation; the ordinary citizen finds himself bewildered and befuddled, reeling like a punch-drunk boxer, under the buffet of so many statements from so many angles. If I, as a Naga of Nagaland, am so puzzled by all this, I can understand how our indigenous Non-Naga Tribes of Nagaland must be feeling completely lost at sea and threatened from all sides. But I request all the Indigenous Kacharis, Garos, Mikirs/Karbis and Kukis of Nagaland to bear with me for a while as I explain to you and all who read this what
indigeneity means:1. When a person explores a new territory, all that he discovers, whether it be plants, animals or human beings are considered indigenous to that territory. All that matters is that they have adapted to the environment of that territory by the time others arrive. 2. In my first article ever to the papers, I stated that, “An Indigenous person of a particular geographical area is one who can show later arrivals the jungles he hunted in, the streams, rivers and lakes he fished in, the wells he drank from, and the forests he cleared to till the land and plant his crops on.”This is the way that humans adapt to our environment, and adaptation to our environment grants us indigeneity. Governments can neither grant you indigeneity nor take away your indigeneity. It is nature that has already decided whether you are fit to be indigenous to a particular territory. The classic example is the Israeli Jew. The Jews came from all over the world to settle in Israel. They came from different environments of the world to Israel; a hot in summer, cold in winter clime, with deserts in some places and swamps in the others. Many found it too harsh a place to live in and returned to their places of origin. But those who stayed adapted to the environment. They drained the
marshes and watered the deserts; they endured the heat and cold to adapt to the land and adapt the land to them; and thus were born the “Sabra”.Israelis born of Jews who had adapted to Israel and its environment, and became indigenous to Israel. A Jew from the U.S.A. or Europe or anywhere else cannot claim Indigeneity to Israel just because he happens to be from the same race and shares the same religion. So never ever fear that your status as an Indigenous Non-Naga Tribe can be taken away from you by anyone or any authority. What nature has granted you in the past cannot be taken away from you today. Just because the modern world has developed means for humans to survive in nearly any environment in the world, a person cannot arrive and claim indigeneity in a place where people have settled and adapted before him. 3. That you, all, are Tribals can never be disputed either. When you have been identified as tribals through your culture, customs, mores and way of life, through the course of history and across the entire geographical region of the North-East of India and Myanmar (in the case of the Kukis); which idiot would try to classify you as Non-Tribals is beyond my imagination. I have heard that the Government of Nagaland has re-classified the Kukis of Na-
galand from, “An indigenous Non-Naga Tribe of Nagaland” to an, “Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland”. If I have been misinformed, I apologise in advance; but if it is true, I request the Kukis of Nagaland not to be alarmed. The Government of Nagaland is always under pressure from the various interest groups with whom they make Unholy Alliances; and being the spineless jellyfish that it is, it trembles and is swayed by every ripple; but immutable facts can never be changed, so no matter what semantics they use, you will always be Tribals. I have said it before, “A diamond is still a diamond even if you call it a stone; and a stone will remain a stone even if you call it a diamond.” The weeds of lies may grow alongside the tree of truth, but the light of day will see the weeds of lies wither and die while the tree of truth will flourish. So I request you to love and cherish the land that your ancestors claimed. For you may count it a misfortune that you are a minority in Nagaland, separated from your kinsmen in other states, but whether it is The Will of God or Destiny, we find ourselves floating in the cesspool that is present day Nagaland; and we sink or swim together. So let us work together to build a better Nagaland for our children than the one we find ourselves in. GOD SAVE OUR NAGALAND
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.
Monday 01•05•2017
EntErtainmEnt
Snoop Dogg debuts autobiographical film
R
apper Snoop Dogg has debuted his autobiographical film "COOLAID: The Movie", which chronicles his life and the pivotal moments that led to the rise of his music empire. The movie, released on Friday is a reflection of Snoop's latest record, also called "COOLAID", and serves as the visual companion to his new music, reports hollywoodreporter. com. Starting from his childhood, the film chronicles Snoop's early dreams of becoming a football player and later the downfall of his involvement with drugs and gang life. Highlighting the start of his music career along with his infamous murder trial, the film sheds light on the highs and lows that come with stardom and how the artiste became a musical force in pop culture today. "This is a piece that is near and dear to me - it's a personal journey of my life," Snoop said. Source: IANS
M Table, a group of Naga musicians felicitated some popular music artistes and bands from Nagaland for their contribution towards music at a programme held today at Bangkok Cafe, 4th Mile, Dimapur. Abiogenesis, SNF Band, Jano Nyekha and Nikolo Tzuzu (seen here is her sister Bethel Tzuzu, Director of Mountain Music Academy accepting the award on her behalf) were presented with mementos by the guests of honour Azo Nienu and Gugs Chishi.
PSY's new instagram account now has 32,000 followers in just 3 Days
T
C M Y K
he King of Gangnam Style is now taking Instagram by storm. PSY has officially joined the social media platform and now goes by the handle @42PSY42. PSY initially posted cartoon image of himself in various personas as he poses his signature dance moves for his hits "Gangnam Style", "Daddy" and "Gentleman." His posts also includes him in costume, having a concert, and clips from his music videos. He has also made sure to include snaps with him hanging out with members of his YG family and collaborators. There was also a snap with him and good friend Rain, SBS Pop Asia reported . While some fans are unsure if PSY's account is legit, it seems that members of the YG family like WINNER's Seungyoon already know that it's the real deal. The artist recently posted on his own Instagram a welcome to his senior as he starts his Instagram journey. The account is also increasing its number of followers rap-
idly. From a single follower on the first day, the account now has 32,500 followers. The creation of PSY's account comes in the wake of YGs announcement that the "Gangnam Style" star is making a comeback after his 1 ½ year hiatus. The fresh album will be the follow up to his "Psy-da" album which featured his
dance hit "Daddy" featuring 2NE1 leader CL. It also featured collaborations with international artists like Dream which he did with XIA and ROCKnROLLbaby, a collaboration with Black Eyed Peas' WILL.I.AM. According to a report by Soompi, PSY is preparing for the release of two
music videos which will be released in time of the album which will feature exciting new collaborations. One of the music will feature his good friend and GI Joe star Lee Byung Hun. The other music video will feature guest artist Son Naeun of K-pop group APINK. Source: KoreaPortal
John Mayer scores record Third No. 1 in same year on top rock albums
J
ohn Mayer's The Search for Everything debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart (dated May 6), marking his unprecedented third leader on the list in 2017. No act had previously landed three No. 1s on Top Rock Albums, which began in 2006, in a single year. Mayer's first full-length since 2013's Paradise Valley debuts with 132,000 equivalent album units, of which 120,000 are pure album sales, according to Nielsen Music. It's the best sales week, in both equivalent units and pure sales, for a rock album in 2017 and the top start since Metallica's Hardwired… to Self-Destruct opened with 292,000 units, including 282,000 copies sold (Dec. 10, 2016). Mayer's third No. 1 of 2017 follows a pair of EPs, The Search for Everything: Wave One and Wave Two, which introduced songs eventually released on the full-length. Wave One premiered at No. 1 on the Feb. 11-dated chart (49,000 units), while Two followed on
March 18 (31,000). Already the record-holder for the most No. 1s on Top Rock Albums, Mayer ups his total to seven leaders. Bon Jovi and Dave Matthews Band rank second with five apiece. The arrival of the new LP sparks 11 of its 12 songs onto Hot Rock Songs, with all 12 having charted to date. The newly released "In the Blood" is the highestranking this week, debuting at No. 13. "Love on the Weekend," the album's lead single, already completed its run and remains the album's highest-charting track on Hot Rock Songs, having peaked at No. 5 (Dec. 10). Mayer has charted 24 total titles on Hot Rock Songs, which began in 2009, trailing only Mumford & Sons (31), Imagine Dragons (28) and Coldplay (27). On the Billboard 200, the new album debuts at No. 2, marking Mayer's seventh to chart in the top two. Three hit No. 1, most recently 2012's Born and Raised. Source: billboard.com
Muno Shiu releases ‘Bloody Tuesday’ featuring Alethea
A
fter successfully releasing of three of his originals, Muno Shio is back with another track titled ‘Bloody Tuesday’ featuring ALETHEA, a girl band from Dimapur. ‘Bloody Tuesday’ is a song inspired and written in tribute to the Naga youths who lost their lives in the ULB uprising in Nagaland, informed the singer. “The simple song portrays that, even though we have lost their precious lives in the unfortunate incident, the cause for which they selflessly stood is not lost and their fond memories will
be forever cherished,” he said in a statement. Recorded and Mixed at Jam Studio 11, Dimapur, lyr-
ics was contributed by Puche Shiu, graphic design by Right Art City and Imdong Ajem. The song
will be available at Indihut, Songdew , onlybafo, SoundCloud and Reverberation.
12
monday 01•05•2017
SPORTS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Joshua knocks out Klitschko
C M Y K
LONDON, ApriL 30 (reuters): Anthony Joshua delivered one of the great nights in British boxing annals by stopping Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round to be crowned IBF, WBA and IBO world heavyweight champion in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Britain's unbeaten IBF title holder earned a sensational victory by knocking down the 41-year-old former champion twice in the 11th and penultimate round before the referee stepped in to save Klitschko from any more punishment. What was hailed as the biggest fight night ever staged in a British ring, watched by the largest crowd for a boxing show in Britain for 78 years, lived up to its billing. It was a thrilling contest which saw both combatants clamber off the canvas seemingly on the verge of defeat and looks destined to be recalled as one of the great heavyweight title fights. Joshua survived a knockdown for the first time in his professional career in the sixth round and looked close to surrendering his unbeaten record until his late bombardment forced the stoppage. In a sensational fifth round, Joshua knocked down Klitschko only to end up hanging on desperately at the end of the round as the Ukrainian launched a remarkable comeback. The veteran had even looked the more likely win-
British boxer Anthony Joshua, right, fights Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko for Joshua’s IBF and the vacant WBA Super World and IBO heavyweight titles at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, April 29. (AP Photo)
ner as he defied a 14-year age gap and was outboxing Joshua in the latter stages until the Briton produced a blistering finish to take his unbeaten record to 19 straight stoppage wins. Both men had to dig deep and both looked close to exhaustion before the 27-year-old Joshua's youth, fitness and sheer power took over in a penultimate round that sent the huge crowd into ecstasy as two barrages sent Klitschko down. "What can I say? 19-
0, three-and-a-half years in the game. As I said, I'm not perfect but I'm trying," Joshua told the cheering crowd from the ring. "As boxing states, you leave your ego at the door and you respect your opponent. So a massive shout out to Wladimir Klitschko." "The best man won tonight and it's a massive event for boxing," responded Klitschko after his second defeat in succession at the hands of a British heavyweight following the
loss of his titles to Tyson Fury 17 months ago after an 11-year reign. "Two gentleman fought each other. Anthony was better today. It's really sad I didn't make it." The fight attracted a gate that had not been matched for a British show since Len Harvey fought Jock McAvoy for the British light-heavyweight title at another London venue, White City, in 1939. The mutual praise between Joshua and Klitsch-
ko echoed the civilised and respectful way the two former Olympic champions had behaved in the buildup to the contest but there was nothing civil about the brutal punishment they dished out to each other. After four rounds of feeling each other out, with Klitschko's movement and Joshua's power quite apparent, the crowd were not prepared for an astonishing fifth round. First, Joshua launched a blistering left hook and followed up with a flurry of punches that saw the Ukrainian drop to his knees and, when he rose groggily, take a standing count. Klitschko suddenly looked old and the end seemed nigh as Joshua roared in to finish the job but that was when he found his champion's spirit in his desperation, landing a big left of his own to leave Joshua in real peril. The Ukrainian continued in the sixth, setting up his opponent with the jab before a huge right cross sent Joshua down. He scrambled off his knees but it did not look as if he would see the eighth round, uncharted territory for the Briton who had won all his previous fights within seven. Yet after Klitschko had, remarkably, looked almost the younger of the two fighters in the stretch, Joshua demonstrated real heart to go with his power as he unleashed a right uppercut that signalled the final assaults on the Ukrainian's scrambled senses.
Aizawl FC win I-League title to script history
Players of Aizawl FC celebrate after winning the I-League.
shiLLONg, ApriL 30 (pti): In one of the biggest achievements in Indian football history, unheralded Aizawl FC today lifted the I-League crown after they held Shillong Lajong 1-1 in a tense match here. Lajong went ahead in the ninth minute through A Dipanda but Aizawl equalised in the 67th minute through W Lalnunfela as the two sides split points in a highly-anticipated match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Despite Mohun Bagan defeating Chennai City FC 2-1 in a simultaneous match in Kolkata, Aizawl ran away with the title to script a fairytale story. Aizawl ended the league on 37 points while Mohun Bagan finished second on 36. They have
won the I-League title in their second season, becoming the first club from the Northeast to bag the title. It was, in fact, the Leicester moment for the Aizawl side as their fortunes turned around in just a matter of a year after they were on the verge of relegation from the I-League last season. Aizawl would not have at all played in the I-League this season as they finished eighth last year but after a few Goan sides pulled out of the country's top-flight league, they got a lifeline to stay afloat. Their feat is comparable to the unheralded English Premier League side Leicester which won the title in 2015-16 season after they were on the verge
of relegation the previous year. A club whose budget is just around Rs 2 crore (Mohun Bagan spend the same amount in buying Sony Norde), it's an achievement of enormous proportion. The match, the Northeast derby, was though not without controversy as Aizawl played under protest after finding out that the title-deciding game would be conducted by officials from Bengal. Aizawl protested because Kolkata side Mohun Bagan were also in title contention and playing a simultaneous match. The Northeastern club said that they have earlier requested the AIFF to appoint neutral match officials from other states.
Quasar TT tournament concludes Bayern take fifth straight Bundesliga crown
KOhiMA, ApriL 30 (MexN): The 1st Quasar Open Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Quasar Club Kohima in collaboration with Kohima District Table Tennis Association (KDTTA) under the aegis of Nehru Youva Kendra Sangathan concluded on April 29 evening at T.T. Stadium, Kohima. 36 participants from different schools from Kohima district took part in the tournament. Results:
Team event (boys) 1st - Model Hr. Sec. School 2nd - G. Rio Hr. Sec. School Team event (girls) 1st - Mezhür Hr. Sec. School 2nd - Model Hr. Sec. School Individual (boys) 1st - Metevito Kintso, Model HSS 2nd - Thineum Imchen, G. Rio HSS Individual (girls) 1st - Thejavinio Rio, Mezhür HSS 2nd Ajano Koutsu, Genesis School
Bottas wins in Russia for his first F1 victory
BerLiN, ApriL 30 (reuters): Bayern Munich celebrated their recordextending fifth consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday after crushing VfL Wolfsburg 6-0 to open up an unassailable 10-point lead over second-placed RB Leipzig with three matches remaining. The Bavarians, who have now won 27 German championships, are on 73 points with Leipzig on 63 after they were held to a goalless draw by Ingolstadt earlier in the day. "It is amazing what this team did again this season in the Bundesliga," said retiring Bayern captain Bayern Munich's players celebrate after the match after winning the Bundesliga. (Reuters) Philipp Lahm. "It is not a like we did this season." dowski netted twice to take Mueller, Arjen Robben and given that we will always Bundesliga leading his league goal tally to 28 Joshua Kimmich were also march through the league scorer Robert Lewan- and David Alaba, Thomas on target as Bayern rode
roughshod over the hosts. "I am extremely happy and we deserved the victory," said coach Carlo Ancelotti. "It was an amazing experience and I want to thank the fans and the club. Now is the time to celebrate." There was no self-doubt within Ancelotti's team on Saturday as they scored three times before halftime, knowing Leipzig had failed to win their match. Bayern finished off the relegation-threatened Wolves with three more goals in the second half, when the hosts were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of former Bayern player Luiz Gustavo. Borussia Dortmund remained in third place on 57 points following their goalless draw against Cologne.
Chelsea march towards title, Spurs keep up chase
Mercedes Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland celebrates the victory on the podium. (REUTERS)
sOChi, ApriL 30 (reuters): Finland's Valtteri Bottas celebrated the first Formula One victory of his career at the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday after jumping both Ferraris at the start and then holding his nerve over the tense closing laps. Championship leader Sebastian Vettel, who had started on pole position alongside Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen, extended his advantage to 13 points with second place after putting Bottas under huge pressure at the finish. The German crossed the line just 0.6 seconds behind a man who joined Mercedes from Williams in January as replacement for retired 2016 champion Nico Rosberg and was finally a winner after 81 starts. "Took quite a while, huh?," said the Finn over the radio as he took the chequered flag, an expletive bleeped out for the listening world as he whooped in a rare outburst of emotion. "Worth the wait." "This strange opportunity came over the winter to join this team and I have to thank the team for making this possible," he added after meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin before spraying champagne on the podium. "First win and hopefully first of many... it's a good feeling." It was the first time in four years, since Raikkonen won with Lotus in Australia in 2013, that a Finnish driver had stood on the top step. Raikkonen made it two Finns in the top three with Britain's Lewis Hamilton, Vettel's closest rival, struggling to match the leaders' pace and finishing fourth for Mercedes. Vettel now has 86 points after the opening four races with triple champion Hamilton, a winner in China, second on 73 and Bottas third with 63.
Mercedes continued their record of winning every Russian Grand Prix since the first in 2014, this time against the odds after Ferrari had swept the front row for the first time in nine years. But their proud boast of also leading every lap around the Olympic Park circuit disappeared when Vettel briefly led following Bottas's first pitstop. After an aborted start, with Fernando Alonso's McLaren breaking down on the formation lap, Bottas seized the lead from third on the grid. The safety car was then deployed after a collision between Renault's Jolyon Palmer and Haas's Romain Grosjean put both out, and the race settled down into a procession before the nailbiting finale. "I tried everything to catch Valtteri. I thought there would be an opportunity on the back straight," said Vettel, winner of two of the first three races for his resurgent Italian team. "I thought there was an opportunity but I was not sure what Felipe Massa would do and ended up losing out," he added, with the Williams driver delaying him at a key point in the chase. "It doesn't matter, though. Big congratulations to Valtteri. It is his day." Red Bull's Dutch teenager Max Verstappen finished fifth with Sergio Perez chalking up his 14th successive points finish for Force India and French team mate Esteban Ocon seventh. Nico Hulkenberg was eighth for Renault, with Massa ninth for Williams and Spaniard Carlos Sainz taking the final point for Toro Rosso. Canadian rookie Lance Stroll finally reached the finish line after three retirements in a row and took 11th place for Williams.
LONDON, ApriL 30 (AgeNCies): Chelsea took a significant step towards the Premier League title on Sunday with victory at Everton, while Tottenham kept their title chances alive with a 2-0 win over north London rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane. The two Manchester clubs - Manchester United and Manchester City stumbled in the race for the top four. A superb second-half strike by Pedro and late goals from Gary Cahill and Willian stretched Chelsea's lead at the top over Tottenham to seven points as they emphatically ended Everton's run of eight successive home wins. Chelsea took time to settle but once Pedro scored their opener -- his first goal in nine matches -the floodgates opened and they became an irresistible force against their hosts. Cahill's eighth of the season and Willian's beautifully worked third inflicted only Everton's second home defeat of the season. "It was convincing but we had to work hard for it," Cahill told Sky Sports. "Pedro's goal was special, at times you need a bit of class to open up a team, that's what he did today. I'm buzzing with that, it's a huge result for us." Spurs relied on secondhalf goals from prolific pair Dele Alli and Harry Kane on Sunday to maintain
Chelsea's Gary Cahill scores their second goal. (Reuters)
their Premier league title challenge. Alli put Spurs ahead in the 56th minute when he followed up after Christian Eriksen's shot was saved. Two minutes later Kane went down in the penalty area under Gabriel's challenge and got up to convert the penalty. Tottenham's victory in Arsene Wenger's 50th North London derby as Arsenal manager ensured Spurs will finish above their neighbours for the first time in 22 years. It was their ninth successive league win and the margin would have been greater but for some fine saves by Petr Cech. City had to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 at
Middlesbrough and United drew 1-1 at home to Swansea. City relied on 20-yearold striker Gabriel Jesus to secure them a point in the final five minutes of their game against a Boro side scenting back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since May 2008. Jesus's vastly more experienced strike partner Sergio Aguero had pulled City level at 1-1 with a penalty before Calum Chambers restored the hosts' lead. A sublime free-kick by Icelandic international Gylfi Sigurdsson gained Swansea a deserved point against United. Sigurdsson's 10th goal of the season, but first in 11 matches, cancelled out veteran Wayne Rooney's con-
tentious penalty in time added on in the first-half when Marcus Rashford made the most out of minimal contact with Swans goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. It will be of little consolation to manager Jose Mourinho that it extended United's unbeaten run to 25 and they have not been defeated at Old Trafford since September 10th last year. Liverpool are third, City fourth and United fifth, with nothing to choose between them. But Mourinho saw two more defenders depart injured in the impressive Eric Bailly on the hour mark and Luke Shaw in just the eighth minute. "We lost players and we lost points, so yes today was
a bad day," Mourinho told the BBC. "We did not look tired and exhausted, we are tired and exhausted. "You cannot isolate the performance out of the context. This is the ninth match of April, it is not human. "We have a squad of 22 that is reduced to 13 or 14 players. The players are very tired. "At the moment, we cannot walk from the bed to the loo and break a leg." His Swansea counterpart Paul Clement said Rashford had "deceived the referee" but added the point enforced their belief they could retain their elite status -- they are two points adrift of fourth from bottom Hull with three matches remaining.
Published, Printed and Edited by Dr. Aküm Longchari from House No. 4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur at Themba Printers and Morung Publications , Padum Pukhuri Village, Dimapur, Nagaland. RNI No : NAGENG /2005/15430. House No.4, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur 797112, Nagaland. Phone: Dimapur -(03862) 248854, Fax: (03862) 235194, Kohima - (0370) 2291952
For news email: morung@gmail.com and for advertisements and circulation contact: (03862) 248854, Fax-235194 or email : morungad@yahoo.com
PO Reg No. NE/RN-722