Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00
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Vol XXIX No. 91
DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2019 Pages 16 ` 5.0
SC sends Ayodhya dispute for mediation in camera
Aus beat India by 32 runs in 3rd ODI
M’laya Cong boycotts Governor’s address
national, Page 7
sports, Page 16
northeast, Page 4
Homecomers boost to state Cong
DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): In a major political development, several veteran Congress leaders have returned to the party fold and more significantly, the “homecoming” event was addressed by the senior most and surviving veteran Naga politician and fivetime chief minister and former Governor Dr. S.C. Jamir, It may be noted that Dr. Jamir was at the helm of affairs when the current leaders of both the NDPP and NPF were also in the Congress till 2002/2003. The homecoming of former Congress leaders was a big psychological boost to the party rank and file although it remains to be seen if the party, which has been on a nose dive can politically resurrect itself. At a programme at the DDCC office to welcome 21 former Congress leaders- some of whom had joined the NPF and some who had formed Nagaland Congress, rejoined Congress (Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee) here on Friday, veteran Naga leader Dr. S.C. Jamir accused regional parties of bringing bankruptcy to
NL road parking fee: DCCI backs NLRBA DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Friday extended its support to the stand taken by Nyamo Lotha Road Business Association (NLRBA) against levying parking fees on vehicles along Nyamo Lotha (NL) Road, Dimapur. In a press release, DCCI said it must have been Regional Transport Authority (RTA)’s decision to levy parking fee and let DMC monitor the system. DCCI, however, said monitoring parking was not the DMC’s duty. It said duty and responsibility of a municipal body was to first look into sanitation and other developmental issues. Instead of utilising its manpower in those areas, DCCI asked “why is the DMC interested in monitoring parking tax and ready to deploy 30 staff for the tax.” DCCI also supported the charges made by NLRBA that the move to levy parking fee only at NL Road hampers business. It said there were also other road stretches where vehicle parking was “messy” and with congested traffic. DCCI has, however, appealed to NLRBA to keep in abeyance its decision to down shutters, saying it would discuss the matter with the appropriate authority.
This is it!
“I’m also stable and intact with those MLAs who checked in yesterday.. We always flock together.” K Y M C
Dr. SC Jamir, K Therie and other Congress leaders at the welcoming programme on Friday.
governance and commercialisation in politics and that Nagas were blinded by materialism. Dr. Jamir lamented that Nagas had been blinded by materialism and allowed BJP to win an unprecedented 12 seats while other North Eastern States, barring Assam, had managed to checkmate the party. He opined that Naga society was in a delirium, adding that NPF was already exhausted while NDPP was only a “stop gap arrangement” to fool the people.
Dr. Jamir said Congress workers should have the courage to tell truth to the people and articulate very clearly that the party can serve, help and lead them. He remarked that the induction programme was being held at an opportune time, adding Congress was solidified. He called for shunning dissents and internal bickering within the party. Claiming that Congress was a party with vision and clear ideology, he asserted that the party would never be uprooted, even as he urged the party
NPF MLAs term NDPP reaction as ‘knee jerk’
DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Responding to the ruling NDPP’s rejection of an internal proposal `by 19 NPF legislators addressed to the NPF legislature party chief T.R. Zeliang to explore an opportunity for an alliance of regional parties (NPF and NDPP) ; NPF described the NDPP reaction as a “knee jerk reaction”. The NPF legislators had asked Zeliang to explore alliance between the two regional parties prior to the Lok Sabha elections as it was genuinely concerned over the burning issues of Naga political solution, Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016y and the political polarisation in the region. NPF said the legislators who met at Kohima decided to write an internal letter to Legislature Party leader to hold consultation with party president on the possibility
of a regional party alliance within the State before the Lok Sabha election. It also felt that any effort for a coalition should be through “a front door approach and not through backdoor approach”. On March 6, a signed letter by 18 NPF legislators addressed to the NPF legislature party leader, T.R. Zeliang, mooted for a “coalition of regional parties- NPF (26 MLAs) and NDPP (17 MLAs). The 18 NPF legislators in their letter to T.R. Zeliang, cited the need to have a stable regional coalition in Nagaland to deliver the goods and “face any eventualities in the upcoming Lok Sabha election”. They also urged upon the party leader to “initiate necessary steps” to realize the objective as cited by formalizing modalities for a regional alliance with NDPP leadership.
workers to be active and propagate the programmes and policies of Congress. In his welcome speech, NPCC president K Therie welcomed the former Congress leaders to the party. Stating that Congress belonged to everyone, Therie expressed hope that with the joining of former leaders, the party would put up a united fight to “combating the BJP and its regional cohorts.” Therie disclosed that more leaders were expected to rejoin the party in the coming days. He also expressed
KOHIMA, MAR 8 (NPN): Nagaland joined rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day on Friday. A function was held at secretariat conference hall here in the afternoon, which was attended by chief secretary Temjen Toy. Speaking on the occasion, Toy asserted that Naga women performed better than men in every aspect and urged them to continue working hard and surge ahead to bring change in the State. He said half of the State’s population comprised women, and called for giving them equal rights. He regretted that domestic violence against women still took place in Nagaland, even as he thanked the 181 women helpline that provides 24hour emergency response to all affected women. He exuded confidence that sooner
than later women would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. In her keynote address, social welfare department secretary Sarah Ritse highlighted key schemes for women like the Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) under the Union Women and Child Development ministry. Ritse explained that the scheme would provide an interface for rural women to approach the government for availing their entitlements and empower them through awareness generation, training and capacity building, while student volunteers would encourage the spirit of voluntary community service and gender equality. In this regard, she said the State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) would provide technical support to the government on issues related to women,
(Cont’d on p-12)
Govt on misuse of Mizoram Governor condemned vehicles resigns; may contest DIMAPUR, MAR 8 against Tharoor (NPN): State government
has termed as a “serious offence and illegal under the provision of law” the plying of government condemned vehicles allotted to VIPs, retired government officers and individuals, with government registration without converting them to private registration. In an office memorandum, secretary Transport, Kenilo Apon, has directed all responsible to strictly adhere to the condition laid down and convert such vehicles to private registration within two-month time from the date of issue of allotment order. Further, the secretary has instructed all state departments to prepare a detailed list of all condemned and allotted vehicles and submit the list to the concerned RTOs and DTOs and concerned SPs to check and put a stop to this ‘misuse of government authority’.
Nagaland celebrates Intl Women’s Day Correspondent
gratitude to all those party workers who have suffered for 16 years in opposition. Delivering shor t speeches, S.I. Jamir, Z Lohe, and Joshua Sumi expressed their happiness in rejoining back Congress fold. They appealed to let past misunderstandings be forgotten as Congress would have to put up a united fight to protect secularism and rescue people of the state by providing a viable alternative in the form of rejuvenated Congress. Giving concluding remarks, NPCC general secretary Capt. GK Zhimomi said that it was a tough decision when some Congress leaders differed with the party decision and decided to part ways more than three years ago. However, he said today’s rejoining of those former leaders puts all past bitterness to rest. Urging party leaders to look at the larger picture ahead, Zhimomi expressed hope that Congress would progress to greater heights with a united stand to deliver hope to downtrodden and suppressed people of Nagaland.
while the district block level centre would provide support to MSK and give fillip to women empowerment schemes, including BBBP in 640 districts to be covered in a phased manner. Additional director Tulula Pongen delivered an introductory note. On the occasion, a theme song for women “Rise Naga Women” was also launched. Its lyrics were composed by Theyiesinuo Keditsu, music by Khyochano TCK and sung by Topeni Assumi. A Data Bank volume-2, a video on women helpline, was released on the occasion, along with launching of MSK one-stop centre. The event was chaired by Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB) secretary and SRCW mission director Daisy Mezhur. The programme was jointly organised by SRCW, NSSWB and social welfare department.
AIZAWL, MAR 8 (AGENCIES): Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan has resigned nine months into his job to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Kerala. He is likely to fight against Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram. “I have resigned as the party wished that I should be in Kerala. I also wished to be in Kerala and hence I have quit,” Rajasekharan told a TV channel, Friday, according to IANS. Rajasekharan was made the chief of the BJP’s Kerala unit in 2015 before he was appointed Governor of Mizoram in May 2018. President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted his resignation, the Rashtrapti Bhavan said in a statement. “The senior leader from Kerala will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls,” said a source in the BJP who asked not to be named. Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi has been given additional charge of Mizoram, the Rashtrapti Bhavan said.
Congress demands probe into ‘missing’ Rafale files; AG now says file not stolen
PANAJI, MAR 8 (PTI): Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said probe into the “missing” Rafale papers should start from Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who had claimed files related to the deal were with him. Parrikar was Defence Minister when the Rafale deal was signed with France. Centre has told the Supreme Court some documents related to the multibillion contract have been “stolen”. Taking potshots at the BJP-led ruling coalition in Goa, Gandhi said like the government has “disappeared” in the coastal state, Rafale papers, too, have gone missing. Gandhi was addressing booth-level party workers under the banner `Jeet Ki Aur’ near here. “Like the government has disappeared from Goa, the files, too, have disappeared. If you want to inquire then start it from Parrikar,” he said. “Parrikar had told Cabinet that Rafale files are with him,” Gandhi said referring to a purported audio conversation between Goa minister Vishwajit Rane and an unknown caller that had references to the deal. AG now claims Rafale documents not stolen from Defence ministry: A day after claiming in the Supreme Court that the documents on Rafale deal had been stolen from the defence ministry, Attorney General KK Venugopal has gone back on his word. He now claims that the papers were not stolen
Rahul Gandhi
and what he meant to tell the apex court was that petitioners demanding a probe into the deal had used “photocopies of the original papers”, which have been deemed secret by the government. “I am told that the opposition has alleged what was argued (in SC) was that files had been stolen from the Defence Ministry. This is wholly incorrect. The statement that files have been stolen is wholly incorrect,” he told PTI, in an apparent damage-control exercise. At the open hearing on Wednesday, Venugopal told the SC that the “documents relied on by the petitioners in their review petitions were stolen from the ministry and should not be relied on”. “It’s a criminal act on the part of petitioners to bring these documents with them. They have come with unclean hands,” Venugopal had said. His comments in the apex court on Wednesday had caused a political storm, with Congress president Rahul Gandhi leading the opposition parties in targeting the government. INS slams govt’s stand on Rafale reportage: Indian Newspaper Society (INS),
the apex body of the print media industry, Friday expressed its outrage over the government’s stand before the Supreme Court on Rafale deal reportage and called for repealing of the Official Secrets Act (OSA). INS statement came days after attorney general KK Venugopal sought dismissal of a petition for a review of Supreme Court’s earlier judgment on Rafale deal on the ground that the fresh plea relied on documents “stolen” from Defence Ministry and that investigations were going on to find out if it was a crime and violative of the OSA. “The INS has expressed its shock and outrage at the reported threat of action under the draconian Official Secrets Act against The Hindu. The threat made in the Supreme Court by the Attorney General, who had appeared on behalf of the government in the Rafale case hearing, is unconscionable and utterly unacceptable in a democracy,” the statement said. INS has asked the government and political parties to come together and “repeal the antediluvian law” as it is sought to be used against the media for publishing “unpalatable truths about the government”. This law has no place in a democracy where the freedom of press to report on governance and administrative decisions is constitutionally protected. The protection extends to the confidentiality of sources, it said.
Night curfew along border
DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Sivasagar, Assam has reinforced night curfew from 6pm to 6am in the 5 km belt in Assam side of Sivasagar district bordering Nagaland with effect from January 22, 2019 for a period of 60 days. In an order, ADM Sivasagar said movement of any person/ group of persons/any vehicular traffics are prohibited during the period of night curfew. However, Magistrate, Security personnel of army/ CRPF/Police and civil officials deployed on duty are exempted from the purview of the prohibitory order. K Y M C