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tuesDAY • November 24 • 2015
DIMAPUR • Vol. X • Issue 320 • 12 PAGes • 4
T H e
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Combine the extremes, and you will have the true center Modi calls India ‘bright hope’, wants anti-terror front
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A TWIST OF FATE, A With NO scholarships yet; DELIBERATE DESIGN? students continue to suffer • Nagaland ‘legitimately’ has now an opposition-less government • Now in better position to work united on Naga political issue, says CM LATEST COMPOSITION OF 12TH NLA NPF=46 BJP=4 NCP=1 JDU=1 Independents=8 Our Correspondent Kohima | November 23 C M Y K
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Partly by a twist of fate, partly by a deliberate design, Nagaland now has an opposition-less government. That is how a jubilant Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today described the latest development of the eight Congress legislators merging with the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and wiping the face of the Indian National Congress (INC) from the seats of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA). According to the Chief Minister, providence followed the serious internal crisis that threatened to undo the NPF party earlier this year, which had led to a situation where the ruling DAN government was left with no option but to seek a vote-of-confidence at the Assembly. This, in turn, had set in motion certain unforeseen developments in the political alignments amongst the legislators of Nagaland, Zeliang said while addressing a press conference here today. And when the voteof-confidence on the government was taken on the floor of the State Assembly on February 5, 2015, the entire House voted in favour of Zeliang’s government, which the chief minister claimed, is in itself unprec-
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DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has termed the statement made by the Governor of Nagaland and Assam, PB Acharya that “Hindustan is for Hindus’ as unbecoming of a leader of his standing and therefore condemnable. In a press statement, NPCC president K Therie alleged that the utterance by the Governor that India is Hindustan for Hindus has revealed the agenda withwhichhewasappointed to a Christian State like Nagaland. “The Governor should be relieved of his duties of the two States and should perhaps be given time to pursue his religious fervor,” Therie said while adding, “They are the ones creating law and order problems in the nation through their irresponsible utterances.” The NPCC president has demanded that the Governorbereplacedimmediately if he cannot uphold the secular spirit of the Constitution of India.
Corrigendum Apropos to the picture caption that appeared on the front page of The Morung Express on November 23, it is hereby clarified that the person third from left in the picture is Ato Kilonser of GPRN/ NSCN, N Kitovi Zhimomi and not as rendered. The inadvertent error is regretted.
Speaker’s judgment a mockery of anti-defection laws: NPCC Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K Therie has alleged that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker has arm-twisted the antidefection laws to dismiss the disqualification petition filed against former 8 Congress MLAs who violated party directives. “Dismissal of the disqualification petition has disregarded the NLA (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 2003 and by which the Speaker has demeaned the constitutional office that he holds,” Therie said in a press statement received today. He also maintained that accepting the merger of 8 Congress MLAs with the NPF legislature party without even bothering to notify the Congress party was akin to “daylight robbery.” “The Speaker has lost all moral authority to hold the chair since he cannot rise above party politics to uphold the sanctity of the constitution,” the NPCC president went on to add. He further said the judgment of the Speaker is a tight slap and a mockery of the entire anti-defection laws. edented in the history of parliamentary democracy. “This development gave us momentum to try for an opposition-less government,” he pointed out. The chief minister said with subsequent reconciliation within the NPF party, the prospect got even brighter because it followed with the 8 Congress legislators, the only MLAs constituting the opposition bench, deciding to join the government, and to become part of the treasury bench. However, because of certain technical and legal requirements to be completed, the formal merger of the 8 Congress legislators with the NPF legislature party was delayed, Zeliang said. “Now, with the formal approval of the merger by the president of the NPF
party, and its announcements by the speaker of NLA, formally notifying the merger, our effort to form an opposition-less government has become a reality, both de-facto, and de-jure.,” he said. The composition of the 12th NLA now stand with 46 NPF legislators, 4 BJP, 1 NCP, 1 JDU and 8 Independents. The NPF with its standing 46 legislators is the highest tally clinched by any regional party in the history of Nagaland. “Our government is also the first ever opposition-less government in Nagaland,” the chief minister said. He said the main motivating factor towards forming opposition–less government is the desire to strengthen “our efforts to find solution to the Naga
political problem; which has always been at the top of DAN’s political agenda. “…It is not merely for a political slogan and propaganda or for social political points that we have formed this oppositionless government, but it is to strengthen our peace efforts,” said Zeliang. He said merely forming an opposition-less government is not enough. “We really have to sink all our differences on the Naga political issue. We have to act and move forward as one group or entity, and work really hard for the final resolution of the more than six decade old Naga political issue,” the chief minister emphasized. “Now, we are in much better position than ever before to work united for the common cause and goal of the Nagas,” he added. If there was a reshuffle in the DAN ministry in the offing, the chief minister responded that there was none at the moment.
On AR notification to Nagaland media
Asked about the State government’s view on the issue between Assam Rifles and local media over a notification asking the latter not to publish articles from NSCN (K), Zeliang passed the buck onto the Governor while maintaining that it would be discussed with him (Governor) when he returns from Assam. However, NPF president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu said that as far as the party is concerned, “We are with you (Media).”
On November 23, Monday, the ANCSU began a poster campaign—its second stage of agitation—against the delay in release of scholarships to needy students by the Nagaland State Government. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News Kohima | November 23
Lhepong, a student from Kohima College, pooled in some money along with friends to help his neighbour pay a pending rent. “He depends on his scholarship to pay his house rent. Because of the delay in scholarships, he and his brother were almost chased out of their rented house,” says Lhepong. Lhepong’s neighbour is one of many students across Nagaland State who come from low income families and depends on government scholarships to fund their education. With the Nagaland State government failing to pay up the scholarship amount for more than four months now, students are turning to local students’ rights activists, like Lhepong, for help.
The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANSCU) began to agitate on the issue on November 20 by wearing black badges/ ribbons. On the same day, Nagaland’s Directorate of Higher Education assured the release of scholarships to merit students and research scholars. Till date, merit students have not received their scholarships. Moreover, 3516 students studying outside Nagaland were informed that their scholarships will be released only in the second week of December. Demanding that all students receive their scholarship at one go, the ANCSU started a poster campaign on November 23 as its second phase of agitation against the failure of the Nagaland government to release the scholarships on time. They will continue to
wear the black badges/ribbons through this phase. The poster campaign aims to highlight how the government is blatantly denying the college students their rights and privileges, notes president of ANCSU, Zhoku Thuluo, expressing frustration over the silence and lackadaisical attitude of the government despite the Union issuing reminders and appeals. The ANCSU has now ensured a “special attraction” for tourists during the Hornbill Festival if the Government fails to release all the scholarships. Highlighting the lack of transparency in distributing scholarships, Veisounü from NEILIT Kohima wonders if the scholarship sanctioned by the Central government is “to manage government activities or for the purpose of students’
welfare?” A delay of a few weeks is understandable but four months is unacceptable, he reiterates. Students from remote areas pursuing education in the capital and cities who depend on the scholarship to support their education suffer the most, adds Vesounü, who also participated in the poster campaign today. Vimeyiekho Vitso from Kohima College says that the government is “not only hurting our feelings and rights but they are directly or indirectly against quality education because through these scholarships we buy books, pay fees and through that we get quality education—with this, we educate ourselves and our people.” He also questions the Nagaland Government’s promise of engineering and medical colleges when it cannot even distribute basic scholarships on time. “It is a wild dream to talk about engineering and medical colleges because those are plans which need sincerity and honesty. It saddens us that the government is not even able to issue our scholarships on time. We voted for our government with high confidence and it is disappointing and sad that they failed us,” he laments. An ANCSU member affirms that “The image of our state is in our hands. If the government fails to fulfill our demands, we might take a step further. Even if the government gives verbal and written assurance, until and unless the money has reached the accounts of the students we will not stop the agitation. Once the engine of the ANSCU starts, the vehicle has no brakes; we will not stop until we have reached the destination.”
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Police cautions against selling of bank accounts ‘Muffling’ of media is slide
Criminals using accounts allegedly sold by Naga students for fraudulent activities
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): Many bank accounts of Nagaland, belonging to Nagas, especially students are being used by criminals for their fraudulent activities, Nagaland Police revealed today. According to a DIPR reports, SP
(Crime) & PRO, M Tungoe said illegal transactions using these accounts have been detected from States like West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi etc. There has also been allegation that bank accounts are being sold by students/youngsters to unscrupulous elements for easy money without realizing that such accounts can be used for committing crimes. And this leads to difficulty in tracing criminals using these accounts since they belong to others, the SP stated.
In this connection, the police cautioned that original holder of the bank accounts could also be implicated if their accounts are sold and used for criminal activities. Police has therefore advised students leaving their place of studies after completion to close down their accounts unless they intend to continue using them. All banks operating in Nagaland have been instructed to follow strictly the laid down norms and procedures for opening an account, it added.
NIA files charge sheet RMSA candidates indefinite DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charge sheet in connection with the March 26 firing incident in Kohima. Four personnel of the 19 Assam Rifles were injured in the incident. According to an NIA press release, the charge sheet was filed on November 23 at the Special NIA Court set up in Dimapur. The charges were filed against Khekaho Rochill, ‘Finance Secretary’ of the NSCN-K, who was captured by the Assam Rifles following the March 23 firing, and two others. The other two were named as Ranjit Thapa alias Karan and ‘Major’ Kisheto Ayem, Kohima town commander of the NSCN-K. The charges were filed under sections 120-B read with 302,307,326 of IPC, sections 4 & 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, section 25 (1) (B) of the Arms Act and sections 16,18,20 & 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. While a case was registered at the North Police Station, Kohima, the NIA was directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the case. “The case investigation has revealed involvement of other absconding accused persons belonging to NSCN (K). The investigation is being continued into the case to arrest them,” the release added.
agitation from December 1
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): RMSA written exam 2014 qualified candidate forum has decided to go for an indefinite agitation once again starting from December 1 onwards coinciding with the Statehood day and celebration of Hornbill festival. The agitation is being called in relation to the non-conduct of oral examination for sports instructor and for non- declaration of the result of subject teachers. The advertisement for the posts (960 subject teachers and 58 sports instructors) were notified on December 14, 2013; written exam conducted on May 24, 2014, results declared on June 29, 2014 where 2317 candidates were declared as qualified. After many agitation and representation, oral exam for subject teacher was conducted from August 5-11, 2015 but results have not been declared so far. When the forum threatened an indefinite agitation from October 27, the concerned authority assured
them that the results of the subject teacher would be declared within two weeks time followed by handing over of appointment order, the press statement said. Oral examination for the sports instructor would be conducted right after that, the authority is learnt to have assured the members. Following this assurance, the forum had suspended the infinite agitation. However, the deadline has passed and with no result in sight, the forum alleged that the concerned authorities were playing delay tactics while taking advantage of the softness and silence of aspiring candidates rather than solving the issue. Terming the existing system practiced by the government authorities as “daylight robbery,” the forum has urged the apex students’ body and right thinking individual (s) to support the forum and stand against corruption. It has also informed all aspiring candidates to come fully prepared for the agitation.
down to a ‘khakistocracy’
PUDR questions ‘utter silence’ of Nagaland state government; says it stand by ideals of constitution
pressure while trying to take account of the versions of all stakeholders.” The present notification, noted the PUDR, could be seen as “yet another attempt to silence the media if it is not in favour of the armed forces of the state.”
NEw DElhI, NOVEMBER 23 (MExN): The Nagaland episode of armed forces’ censorship of media indicates a slide away from the institutional practices of democracy and the values and foundations of India’s constitution. The Peoples’ Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) stated this today in a public release, condemning the “muffling” of the media through an Assam Rifles notification to Nagaland’s media and terming the incident a slide down to “khakistocracy.” Expressing “deep anxiety” about the state of affairs, the PUDR was “shocked” at the “utter silence” of the Nagaland State Government on the matter. Calling upon the government to “stand by the ideals of our constitution,” the PUDR demanded that the Assam Rifles take back the notification, offer an apology to the media houses, and be brought under appropriate action for trespassing their jurisdiction. It also welcomed the suo motu action of the Press Council of India in calling upon the Director General of the Assam Rifles to give reasons for issuance of such the notification prima facie having an adverse bearing on freedom of press. “Witnessing the longest armed movement for independence in the Indian context, Nagaland has constantly been under laws like AFSPA which give impunity to the state’s armed forces,” stated the body that advocates democratic rights. “In such a scenario, the media has always faced tremendous
Greater concern
For the PUDR, it is a matter of “greater concern” that a paramilitary body, which is supposed to follow the orders of the civilian authorities and the legal establishment, has “taken upon itself to issue notifications of this nature.” “Democracies are not characterized by such actions of paramilitary forces,” maintained the PUDR. Further, the PUDR found the Assam Rifles’ response to the Editors’ joint statement to be “farcical.” In their response, the Assam Rifles had said that the joint statement, and reactions following the same, was an attempt by vested interests to “muzzle the voice of the Assam Rifles.” “Empowered by laws like AFSPA and UAPA, Assam Rifles is one of the state armed forces which routinely violate rights of common people. The very fact that it felt empowered to issue such a notification shows how lame their pretense of helplessness is,” asserted the PUDR. It maintained that such “conviction of power” along with “quick pretense of being the victim” is a “dangerous mix” to be held by a paramilitary force. “While a large number of forums and regions in the country are marred by intolerant vandalism of dominant groups in recent times, the Nagaland episode of armed forces censorship of media indicates a slide away from the institutional practices of democracy and the values and foundations of our constitution.”
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