15 April 2023

Nagaland Post

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PM inaugurates NE’s first AIIMS in Guwahati

GUWAHATI, APR 14

(PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated North East’s first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), built at a cost of Rs 1,123 crore here at Guwahati. The super-speciality hospital will provide healthcare to people from Assam and other North Eastern states. The hospital will have an annual intake capacity of 100 MBBS students every year and have capacity of 750 beds, including 30 AYUSH beds.

It may be noted that the foundation stone for AIIMS Guwahati was laid by Modi himself in May 2017. Modi also virtually inaugurated three medical colleges at Nalbari, Nagaon and Kokrajhar.

Each medical college has an attached 500 bedded teaching hospitals with OPD/IPD services including emergency services, ICU facilities & OT facilities.

Modi, who was speaking at a function to dedicate the North East’s first AIIMs, asserted that his government had worked hard to bring the northeast into the national mainstream and accused the opposition of “neglecting” the region and being “credit hungry”.

Modi said his government on the other hand formulated policies by placing

people first. Attacking the opposition, Modi asserted, “We make our policies on the basis of countrymen first ... (but) the opposition is credit hungry and credit hungry people destroy the nation.”

He added, “We work with ‘Seva Bhaav’ (spirit of service) and ‘samarpan’ for the people”. Modi also stressed that his government

had worked hard to ensure dramatic improvement in social infrastructure in the Northeast over the last 9 years. “The Northeast was distant for earlier governments...we have served with dedication to bring it near,” Modi said.

“Social infrastructure has significantly improved in the North East in the last nine years,” Modi said.

He added “what people find amazing is the expansion of the educational and health infrastructure in the region”.

Modi said he was happy “to note that the people of NE have come forward to take the reins of development in their own hands and are marching ahead with development as their mantra”.

Modi claimed that the Northeast had “suffered for decades under family-controlled politics, regionalism, corruption and insecurity” under which development

IPL: Brook ton seals

23-run win over KKR

was not possible and the region paid a “huge price” for this.

He said his “government has worked hard to enhance medical infrastructure and increase in medical professionals.” Prior to 2014, there were only 150 medical colleges in the country but during the last nine years this had increased to 300. Similarly, the number of seats in medical schools had been doubled.

During his one-day visit, Modi also laid the foundation of the Rs 546 crore Assam Advanced Healthcare Innovation Institute (AAHII), a joint initiative of the state government and IIT Guwahati.

The prime minister also launched the distribution of 1.1 crore Ayushman cards to beneficiaries who will be able to avail cashless healthcare medical treatment benefits up to Rs five lakh with these cards.

Trial run for over bridge repair causes worst traffic snarl

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, APR 14

(NPN): In order to assess the traffic flow before commencement of actual rehabilitation works on the road overbridge (ROB) near Hotel Tragopan, the two-day trial run began on Friday during which the city roads witnessed huge traffic snarl.

Some of the worst hit areas were Nyamo Lotha/ Church Road, District Hospital/Railway station area, Nagarjan Road and Walford Colony. Most of the four wheelers took around three hours from Nagarjan bridge to reach the Super Market police point junction, which

Mercury rises to nearly 40oC in many places of NE

GUWAHATI/AGARTA -

LA, APR 14 (IANS): People in several states across the North Eastern region have been experiencing a change in weather with the mercury hovering around 40 degrees Celsius in many places, Met officials said on Friday.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said that maximum temperatures in many places have been varying between 36 to 40 degrees Celsius, which is 5-6 notches above average for this time of the season.

The weather officials also noted that the minimum temperature in many places hovered between 20 to 23 degrees Celsius-- 2-3 notches above the season’s average.

This is it!

India records 11,109 fresh Covid cases; highest since August 21

NEW DELHI, APR 14 (PTI/IANS): India recorded 11,109 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 236 days, while the active cases increased to 49,622, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,31,064 with 29 deaths. While three deaths each were reported from Delhi and Rajasthan, two each were from Chhattisgarh and Punjab and one each from Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh besides nine reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.01 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 4.29 per cent.

The active cases now comprise 0.11 per cent of

the total infections and the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.70 per cent, the ministry said.

Can Omicron, influenza co-infection turn deadly? With India currently seeing a rise in both Covid and influenza cases, many people are likely to be co-infected by the viruses, which can turn fatal if not treated on time, health experts said on Friday.

Increasing genome surveillance and active follow-up may also help, they noted.

“Covid and influenza can coexist in some patients. Flu and all viral infections are virulent if not detected on time and can lead to severe problems, including hospitalisation,” Kuldeep Kumar Grover, head of critical care & pulmonology at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told IANS. “While

both are primarily viral infections, with dual infection patients will be having more cough and nasal symptoms. But if patients are immunocompromised and their immunity is low, they are more likely to have respiratory issues such as breathlessness. These patients normally end up in ICU with severe complications,” he added.

According to biologist Vinod Scaria, the estimates of co-infection between Covid and influenza “are variable, and possibly not so rare as we believe it could be”.

“Co-infections have been associated with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality…,” said Scaria, a scientist at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology.

He stressed the importance of “active case surveillance, follow-up and molecular confirmation of infection”.

All schools to be ‘tobacco-free’ zone from May 1

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 14 (NPN):

State health and family welfare (H7FW) department on Friday launched “tobaccofree school to tobacco-free home” campaign at Little Flower Higher Secondary School, Kohima with commissioner and secretary, H&FW, Y Kikheto Sema as special guest.

normally took 20 to 30 minutes during peak hours. In the same manner, it took nearly an hour from the Super Market police point junction to reach the traffic booth near DHD, which normally took less than five minutes on foot. A commuter

informed this reporter that it took over 10 minutes for his vehicle to move from Popular Bakery to Holy Cross Higher Secondary School.

Traffic personnel were seen regulating vehicular movement even after 10 p.m. as there was heavy jam

along Circular Road, NL Road and New Flyover.

A traffic personnel on duty claimed that they were trying their best to control the traffic, but remarked that nothing much could be done if citizens did not cooperate.

Commissioner of Police

Dimapur police to crack the whip on illegal street vendors

DIMAPUR, APR 14

(NPN): Dimapur police cautioned that punitive action would be taken against street hawkers/vendors illegally occupying the public footpath and roadside vehicle parking areas with immediate effect.

In a notice, PRO Dimapur police noted that public footpath and roadside vehicle parking areas were being illegally occupied by street hawkers/ vendors; especially along Nyamo Lotha Road, New Market, Circular Road and City Tower areas.

Acknowledging that every citizen has the right to a means of livelihood, the police, however, said that such activity should not obstruct or encroach upon any public utility space/ road.

Further, police noted that many street hawkers/ vendors have set up their stalls along the roadside vehicle parking areas which protrudes to the main road, thereby posing obstruction to the smooth flow of traffic.

Also, hawkers/ vendors operating on the public

DIMAPUR, APR 14 (NPN): Drawing attention to the statements issued by various organisations against the Naga Mothers Association (NMA) for what it termed as “instances to sabotage the common interest of our people” Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) has said it could no longer remain “a mute spectator” when some individuals repeatedly defy and go against the “ appeal and directives of our tribal hohos.

footpath have caused the pedestrians to take the main road; which was hazardous. Therefore, the Dimapur police in the interest and safety of the general public and for smooth flow of vehicular traffic, has notified that any street hawkers/ vendors found to be illegally occupying the public footpath and roadside vehicle parking areas would be caused to remove such obstructions and defaulters would be liable for punitive action under relevant provisions with immediate effect.

(CP) Dimapur, Kevithuto Sophie, informed Nagaland Post that additional forces were deployed to regulate the traffic. As it was the first day of the trial run, he assured that appropriate measures would be put in place to ease the flow of traffic.

Speaking at the launching programme, Kikheto Sema disclosed that 700 new cancer cases are registered in Nagaland and 43% of children between the age of 13-15 were tobacco users.

Describing the trend as “alarming”, the com -

missioner & secretary said that the state government has, therefore, declared all educational institutions both government and private in the state of Nagaland as “tobacco-free zone” with effect from May 1, 2023.

He said that out of

about 2684 schools in Nagaland, so far only 356 schools in Nagaland were tobaccofree schools comprising only 13.26%. Kikheto said that tobacco was one the biggest causes of preventable deaths

NSF to boycott personal interview of CSRE

DIMAPUR, APR 14 (NPN): Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Friday announced its decision to boycott the personal interview of the Combined Staff Recruitment Exam (CSRE) 2022 scheduled on April 17 & 18 and also resort to other forms of democratic agitation until the genuine demand of the students and youth was addressed by the authorities concerned.

In a press release, NSF president Kegwayhun Tep and education secretary Medovi Rhi also requested all the aspirants who have qualified for viva-voce to abstain from reporting for the same. They further appealed to the

general public, federating units and subordinate bodies of NSF to extend their full co-operation in the event of the federation resorting to any form of democratic agitation.

NSF reminded that the federation, through an official communique to the chief secretary on November 16, 2022, had demanded reduction of marks for vivavoce component in the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) from the proposed 12.5 % to 5% of the total marks, and the same was reiterated through a reminder on March 8, 2023.

NSF termed the justification given by the board

that the allocation of 12.5% of the total marks could not be rolled due to the provisions enshrined in the Nagaland Staff Selection Board Regulation, 2022 as misleading, since section 45(10) only dealt with the maximum limit of marks that could be allocated to personal interview and that the regulation absolutely did not make any mention of the minimum threshold.

Despite this legitimate demand by the NSF in the interest of the student and youth community that was still unresolved, the NSSB announced the schedule on April 12, 2023 for personal interview of the candidates

AYO debars NMA activities within Angami area SH firm with protecting customary rights, identity

sist from associating or give any kind of platform to the individuals who claim to represent the Naga Mothers’ Association.”

“Frankly, we won’t benefit if we stage a coup. That’s because Pakistan is totally bankrupt.”

In the light of the above, AYO president Kesosul Christopher Ltu and general secretary Neidilhoutuo Sechü declared that AYO: (1) “shall not allow any activities of the Naga Mothers’ Association within Angami jurisdiction; and (2) appeal to the state government, organisations and forums, to “de-

AYO said it was an undeniable fact that many organisations have contributed for the welfare and cause of the people and so also contributions from women have been immense in the course of history. AYO however noted that for the past many years, NMA, which once championed the cause of women, “is now seen to be visibly going astray from its purposes and priorities, with repeated attempts and instances to sabotage the interest of our people.”

Further, AYO said it was of the firm conviction that the role of the present NMA in society has proven to be “detrimental rather

than being constructive” and has compelled almost every tribal women organisation to withdraw its mandate and affiliation from the Naga Mothers’ Association.

AYO pointed out the recent statements by tribal hohos and in particular the stand of the Angami Public Organisation with regard to NMA which it said, evidently conveyed that the present NMA “is being hijacked by some few individuals who have self-appointed themselves as officials and even going to the extent of carrying out the organisation’s activities, according to their whims and fancies.” AYO maintained that its decision “shall remain in force until such a time a mandated team of Naga Mothers’ Association is brought about.”

DIMAPUR, APR 14 (NPN): Sumi Hoho reminded that Nagaland state has been uniquely created out of political compulsion with special provisions to safeguard the indigenous social and customary practices and therefore, it firmly stand in solidarity with all tribal hohos of Nagaland “to protect the rights and identity of the Nagas”.

SH president I.Nikheto Jimomi and general secretary Dr.Vihuto Asumi said the Hoho reiterated the January 13,2023 resolution of tribal hohos of Nagaland that : “Any organisation claiming to represent and stand for the interest of the Nagas, should be routed and mandated through the tribal apex bodies”.

In this regard, the SH leaders reminded that the hoho had recalled “Sümi Totimi Hoho, the apex Sümi women’s body from Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) on February 4,2017 as it became evident that the NMA has lost direction and the SH felt that the good

who qualified for CSRE, 2022.

Consequent to this unfavourable development, they declared that they were compelled to take forth the resolution adopted at the 4thPresidential Council Meeting of the NSF that the federation would resort to democratic forms of agitation and also boycott the personal interview, if the demand for the viva-voce component in all categories was not reduced to 5% of the total marks as against the proposed 12.5 %. They said the units would extend full support to the federation as and when called for the same.

Pochury Mothers’ Association asked to disassociate from NMA

DIMAPUR, APR 14 (NPN): : Pochury Hoho (PH) has directed the Pochury Mothers’ Association (PMA) to immediately disassociate from Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) till such time all agree to come together in the interest of the Nagas.

PH president Chonpa Jurry and general secretary Sierhosie Kajiri also clarified that any individual speaking or releasing any press statement in support of NMA’s agenda from Pochury community with respect to urban local bodies does not reflect the stand of the tribe as they were doing so in their own individual capacity. According to PH, a coordination meeting with its frontal organization including PMA on March 23, 2023 thoroughly discussed on Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 and ULB issue.

PH said it was not against the 33% women reservation on ULB. However, the hoho expressed apprehension that if amendment of the NMA, 2001 was not done, Article 371 (A), which protects the rights and privileges of the Naga Customary Laws and tradition, would be breached.

(L) Road Over Bridge towards Burma camp road (R) Traffic snral in the heart of Dimapur city on Friday. (NP)

H&FW officials with students holding ‘tobacco-free home’ certificates.

Prime Minister Modi during the inauguration of AIIMS Guwahati, Friday. (@narendramodi)

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Nagaland celebrates ‘Ambedkar Jayanti’

DIMAPUR: Nagaland on Friday celebrated “Ambedkar Jayanti 2023”, the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as the “Father of the Indian Constitution”.

Dr Ambedkar, born on April 14, 1891, was a politician, economist, and jurist from India. He was an influential Dalit leader who led the committee that drafted India’s constitution during the Constituent Assembly deliberations. A strong supporter of women’s and labour rights, Dr. Ambedkar was also the first Law Minister in free India.

Raj Bhavan: Governor of Nagaland, La. Ganesan along with the Raj Bhavan staff observed the birth anniversary of Dr.Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and paid floral tributes to the “Father of Indian Constitution” at Raj Bhavan. A press release by PRO Raj Bhavan stated that the governor urged upon the gathering to go through the life history of Dr. B.R Ambedkar who

Governor, La. Ganesan along with the Raj Bhavan staff at the observation of ‘Ambedkar Jayanti 2023’.

had “clear thoughts for everything and suffered a lot for the nation”. Secretary to the Governor, Rajesh Soundarajan highlighted the life history of Dr. B.R Ambekar and mentioned that Dr.Ambedkar was a social reformer, lawyer and political activist.

He said the nation remembers Dr.Ambedkar for his contributions in drafting the Indian Constitution and for standing up for the rights of the Dalit and the downtrodden.

Rajesh said Dr. Ambedkar argued for extensive economic and social rights for

women and reservations of jobs in civil services, schools and colleges for member of ST/SC and others backward classes.

BJP Mokokchung: BJP Mokokchung district celebrated the “Ambedkar Jayanti 2023” by paying tribute to the “Father of Indian Constitution” at BJP Mokokchung office. During the programme, main speaker, general secretary of 27 Mokokchung Town Mandal, Pranab Singh elucidated on the life, aspirations and achievements of Dr. Ambedkar. The programme was chaired

OM Books store dedicated

by the president of minority morcha, Rongsenyanger Aier, general secretary of minority morcha, BJP Mokokchung, Odilepdang Longchar welcomed the karyakartas, and general secretary of BJP Mokokchung district, T Temsu Imchen delivered the vote of thanks.

Commemorating the day, BJP Mokokchung also distributed clothes and rice to the minority community.

MGM College: St. Thomas Mission Society of MGM College celebrated “Ambedkar Jayanti” at the College Auditorium Hall. During the programme, MD Safikul Islam, B. Com fourth semester, encouraged the students to contribute selflessly to the society and devote life to serve humanity by taking an example from the life of Dr. Ambedkar. The programme chaired by Keyitwale of fourth semester witnessed a special dance presentation and concluded with signing of the National Anthem.

‘Black Day’ observed across Wokha

DIMAPUR: Lotha Students Union (LSU) and institutions under LSU jurisdiction on Friday “Black Day” in memory of late Thungkhomo Ezung and late Chumdamo Tungoe who laid down their lives during a silent protest in Wokha Town

First Death a nniversary

The pain of losing you is immeasurable. We know the biggest star in the sky that is shining the most is you. We hope you are living well in the world of the creator.

To us, you were someone special. Someone kind and true, never a day begins or ends without a thought of you.

Loving Wife, Children & Grandchildren

on April 14, 1977. A press release by LSU informed that the union observed the day by organising a short event at LSU Martyr’s Park, Wokha Town. The members also observed a minute of silent prayer. LSU president, Lirhonthung E Kithan gave a brief talk honouring the two martyrs. The LSU officials also visited the burial site of late Thungkhomo Ezung and late Chumdamo Tungoe and visited the fam-

ily members. LSU informed that institutions under its jurisdiction observed the black day with a silent prayer in the morning assemblies and by wearing black ribbon badge while narrating the brief history of the event to the students, as it marks a significant day for the LSU and the Lotha Community in general. LSU recalled that the two martyrs, were shot dead by Nagaland Police at Wokha

1st Death a nn I versary of our beloved Mother

Lt. h ojeli s umi (s hena Old)

Induction

training

for NCS (P)

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, APR 14

(NPN): OM Books Store, which has been shifted from its present premises City Tower to AH Road near Dimapur Sumi Baptist Church was inaugurated on Friday. The store was dedicated and inaugurated by former principal of OTS, Dr. Wati Aier. Guest of honour, OM Books, Hyderabad managing director, KJ Johnny in his brief speech highlighted about OM Books.

DIMAPUR: A six-week special induction training for Nagaland Civil Service (NCS) Probationers (P) 2023 batch was inaugurated on April 11 at Vision, Nagaland Hall, Administrative Training Institute, Kohima.

According to a DIPR report, exhorting the probationers, secretary to the government of Nagaland, P&AR, Akunu S. Meyase said that the training modules has been modified and designed with special emphasis to state, and that the training was expected to be

very beneficial for the new officers. She mentioned that at the training, resource person and the experts would be covering all the important topics and current issues, as well as soft skills for the officers. Earlier, a brief overview of the course was shared by Deepak Sanan; views of the NCS (P) were also shared at the introductory session. The induction programme was chaired by Additional Director (Admin.), ATI and Joint Secretary, Labour & Employment, Bendanglila.

a CKn OWLe DGe Ment

We, the family of Late Imtinuklo Phom would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who stood and shared with us in our sorrow through prayers, time and generous gifts. We would like to convey our deepest gratitude to every individual, relatives, friends, neighbours and all the well-wishers.

We convey our sincere appreciation to:

1. Doctors and Staff of Kohimas Hospital

2. Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso (Dr. Ato)

3. NHAK, Kohima

4. Kohima Phom Baptist Church

5. Phom Union Kohima

6. Hükphang Union Kohima

7. Mongtikang Union Kohima

on April 14, 1977 during a silent procession organised by the union in protest against the inhumane and barbaric act meted out to the then SDO (Civil) Ngurkhuma Mizo, who was manhandled by the Assam Police and Assam Forest Guard while protecting the legal rights for a land dispute at Ralan area under Wokha district.

8. Tamlu Bühü Union Kohima

9. Kangching Union & Fellowship Kohima

10. Yachem Union Kohima

11. Longleng Town Baptist Church

12. Medical Ward, Longleng

Late Imtinuklo Phom

Born on: 09/08/1963

Died on: 30/03/2023

We deeply regret for our inability to mention all the names individually but it is our sincere prayer that our God Almighty bless you all abundantly. We shall remain ever indebted to you all.

K-796/23

Loving Wife, Children, s iblings, Grandchildren and In Laws

15-04-2022

It’s been a year since you left us on this day, but your memories and goodness is still fresh in our hearts and lives! Fondly Remembered. Loving

K-777/23

a CK n OWL e DG e M ent

“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away (Job 1:21)”

a CKn OWLe DGe Ment

Late P. Inakhe a chumi (Born on 28\03\1934 – Died on 10\04\2023)

We, the bereaved family members of our dearest father

Lt. P. Inakhe a chumi would like to express our deepest gratitude to each and every individual who stood by us and comforted us in prayers, in presence and with all materials and financial support from the time of his illness and sad demise on 10th April 2023.

We convey our special thanks to:

1. Dr. Sukhato. A.Wotsa MLA 13 A\C Pughoboto & Family.

2. Dr. Kitaka. S. Wotsa Faith Hospital & Nurses.

3. Mr. Pikuto Kiho, Advocate Principal District & Session Court Dimapur.

4. Natsumi Kukhakulu Dimapur\ Kohima\ Pughoboto.

5. Natsumi Baptist Church.

6. Kitami Baptist Church.

7. Kitami Union Dimapur\Kohima.

8. Kitami Village Council.

9. Kitami Student Union.

10. Thahekhu Village Block 7 fellowship Church.

11. Pughoboto Town Baptist Church.

12. Sumi Aphuyemi Baptist Church Kohima.

13. SABAK Staff Pughoboto.

14. CHC Pughoboto

We regret our inability to thank each and everyone individually. May our mighty God bless you abundantly for all your good deeds. Loving Children, Grandchildren and In-laws

Late v IneIZO Üs OU

11th February 1963 till 25th March 2023

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. – Psalms 116:15

We the bereaved family of Late Vineizo Üsou express our heartfelt gratitude to every churches, prayer centres, organisations, leaders, neighbours, individuals, relatives and friends who stood by us through prayers, emotionally, physically and financially during our time of grief. Words seem inadequate to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone in person but your kindness will forever be remembered in our hearts.

We regret our inability to acknowledge all through this column but would like to express our special thanks to: -

1. Koinonia Baptist Church, Kohima.

2. Koinonia Prayer Centre, Tsiese Basa.

3. Central Baptist Church, Kohima.

4. Peraciezie Baptist Church, Kohima.

5. Living Word Church, Peraciezie.

6. Nagamese Church, Peraciezie.

7. Bethesda Revival Church, Kohima.

8. Bible Society of India (BSI) Kohima Branch.

9. All the Baptist, Revival and Catholic Churches of Nerhema,

K-795/23

Nerhe Model, Nerhe-Phezha and Chiephobozou.

10. All of Nerhemia from Kohima, Dimapur, Chiephobozou Nerhema, Nerhe Model and Nerhe-Phezha.

11. Bayavü Panchayat and Bayavü Youth

12. Bayavü Health and Wellness Centre

13. Government Middle School Bayavü

14. Doctors and Nurses of Bethel Medical Centre, Kohima

15. Doctors and Nurses of Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research, Dimapur.

Loving wife, children, grandchildren, family members, in-laws and relatives.

DP-1607/23

The funeral service of Dr Kezhangulie Metha, Principal of Mount Tiyi College Wokha, who passed away on April 14 night, will be held on April 15 at 1 p.m. at his residence (Seikhazou, Kohima).

FUneraL servICe

PM Modi launches rly projects, methanol plant

GUWAHATI, APR 14

(PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening concluded his tour of Assam by rolling out a series of railway projects across the Northeast, besides commissioning a methanol plant and laying the foundation stone for a bridge over the Brahmaputra river.

Modi claimed that in the last nine years since his government came to power, the definition of connectivity had been changed bringing the northeast nearer to the rest of the country.

The prime minister also witnessed a mega-Bihu dance performance - which has made it to the Guinness World Records - where more than 11,000 dancers and drummers performed at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here.

“In the last nine years, we have changed the old definition of connectivity. It’s now four dimensional -- physical, digital, social and cultural connectivity,” he said. He said that in the past few years, youth from the region “have left violence and moved on the path to peace.” “The atmosphere of mistrust is disappearing from the North East, the distance between

hearts is disappearing … We need to move further closer,” Modi said. The PM virtually inaugurated the five railway works along with other projects from the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, where he is on a day-long tour. The new railway projects rolled out by him are Digaru-Lumding and Gauripur-Abhayapuri sections, while doubling of tracks between New Bongaigaon and Dhup Dhara was also inaugurated. Electrification of the Raninagar-JalpaiguriGuwahati, Senchoa-Silghat

and Senchoa-Mairabari sections was also launched by Modi. The total cost of these projects is Rs 7,300 crore.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the PalasbariSualkuchi bridge over the Brahmaputra river. It will be constructed at an expenditure of Rs 3,200 crore over the next 3-4 years.

Modi also virtually commissioned a methanol plant at Namrup in Dibrugarh by Assam Petrochemicals Ltd (APL) with 500 tonnes per day (TPD) capacity, constructed at

Hema Malini apologises for ‘Bihu (Bihar)’ tweet

day, she gave another tweet apologising, “By mistake, I have put Bihu is a festival celebrated in Bihar. I am sorry! That should read Bihu, festival of Assam”

an investment of Rs 1,709 crore.

“With commissioning of this methanol plant, now this chemical can be exported to neighbouring countries also, apart from catering to the domestic demand,” he said.

The fourth project launched by Modi was the Rs 124-crore beautification work of the ‘Rang Ghar’, an amphitheatre built by Ahom King Pramatta Singha in the 18th century. This twostoried oval-shaped pavilion in Sivasagar is one of the largest of its kind in Asia.

Tech, alternative dispute resolution, vital for justice delivery: PM Modi

GUWAHATI, APR 14

The Prime Minister also witnessed a mega Bihu dance, organised to globally showcase the folk dance form as a mascot of cultural identity and life of the Assamese people.

This event featured more than 11,000 dancers and drummers in a single venue. After a performance on Thursday, the Bihu recital made two Guinness World Records -- the largest Bihu dance performance in a single venue and the largest ‘dhol’ (traditional percussion instrument) recital in a single venue.

“I can’t forget this moment in my life. This is unprecedented and fabulous. This is Assam. Today, the whole world is witnessing Bihu,” Modi said while addressing the gathering. He said that India’s specialities are its culture and tradition, which, for thousands of years, are uniting all people of the land.

“Our biggest dream is a developed India. I appeal to the youths of India and Assam to come forward. You have the courage to win the world,” the Prime Minister said.

(PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emphasised that technology needs to be brought into play to speed up the justice delivery system, especially in remote areas such as in the northeast.

He also maintained that the alternative dispute resolution system was an important pillar of judicial delivery.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Gauhati High Court here, Modi said “technology can help bring justice to remote areas such as in the northeast.”

Pointing to the need to bring in technology in justice delivery, he said, “Artificial Intelligence could be used to further bring `Ease of Justice’”.

Indicating how lack of clarity in property ownership has proven to be a burden on the judiciary, he gave an example of how drones have been used to bring a solution by “mapping properties in over 1 lakh villages under the PM Swamitva Yojana.” He also said, “Alterna-

Narendra Modi

tive dispute resolution systems are vital”, and added that the North East has rich traditions in this regard.

“The law schools should also teach about these,” he said, lauding the Gauhati High Court for recently coming out with a book on customary laws of the region.

He also emphasized that, “Law should be written in an easy language, comprehensible to ordinary people.”

Paying tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, Modi said, “It is a happy coincidence that today is Babasaheb Ambedkar’s anniversary. He had played the main role in framing our Constitution.”

“Government, judi -

ciary has own roles in ensuring ‘ease of living’, and technology is a powerful tool for it,” he said. He also highlighted the role of Gauhati High Court in justice delivery in the region, pointing that it has the largest jurisdiction under it in the country.

It has four states, including Assam, under it at present, while till 2013, seven states were under its jurisdiction, he added.

Modi also spoke on the need to strike down obsolete and irrelevant laws, some of which have been in existence since the British rule.

He said the central government has struck down 2000 obsolete laws and 40,000 compliances, which has helped in bringing down cases in courts.

Manipur Christian body discusses drug menace in State

Correspondent

GUWAHATI, APR 14 ( AGENCIES): Lok Sabha

member Hema Malini apologised on Twitter on Friday regarding a previous post on the same website which had triggered an outrage among the Assamese people on social media, reports Sentinel Assam.

In a message aimed towards wishing people of multiple places of the country on the occasion of several important cultural and social-religious festivals organised during these days, the former Hindi film actress

called the most important festival of Assam, to be the festival of Bihar.

“It is the Harvest season now. Tamizh Puthandu (New year), Baisakhi (Punjab), Bihu (Bihar) and Pohela Baisakh or Naba Barsha (Bengal) are some of the festivals celebrated. Wish you all a wonderful festival month.” Tweeted

Hema Malini on Thursday, which triggered a severe backlash for her ignorance about the people and their festival.

On the mor ning of Fri-

Notably, on the same day that the politician had made this comment on Twitter, the state of Assam set the world record for the largest Bihu dance group performing at a venue. Over 11100 boys and girls from different parts of the state of Assam displayed a very beautiful presentation of the traditional dance and music to set the world record in the presence of representatives from the Guinness World Records.

Even the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi is scheduled to take part in another performance on Friday before he hands over the certificates of the World Record-making events to the participants of the Mega Bihu celebrations.

IMPHAL, APR 14: Church leaders in Manipur were sensitized on the evil impact of drugs and poppy cultivation during a discussion on “Drug Problems in Manipur: The Church Response (Impact, Strategy and Resolution”) hosted by All Manipur Christian Organization (AMCO) in Imphal on Friday. AMCO hosted the one-day consultation of Christian leaders, CSOs and various stakeholders on drug problem with an objective of creating awareness on the evil impact of drugs and poppy cultivation to Christian leaders, CSOs and stakeholders. The discussion was held in view of the undesirable colossal damaging impact of drugs and poppy cultivation on the youth, society, environment and ecosystem at large.

Various resource persons discussed and shared ideas and views on the impact of drugs and poppy in

the state during the technical session of the consultation programme held in Imphal’s Hotel Imphal. The event was attended by several church leaders from across the state, particularly from hill districts.

The purpose of the consultation programme was to educate and engage church workers on sustainability issues in the hills, where large-scale poppy plantations persistently prevail to make a living, according to the organizers.

AMCO president Rev

Bangladesh High Commissioner visit Maitri Setu in Tripura

AGARTALA, APR 14

(PTI): Bangladesh High

Commissioner to India

Mustafizur Rahaman accompanied by Land Ports

Authority of India chairman

Aditya Mishra visited Maitri Setu, a bridge connecting two sides of Indo-Bangla border in South Tripura district, an LPAI official said on Friday.

They visited Maitri Setu on Thursday and reviewed the progress of the construction of the land

port at Sabroom to kick-start movement of people as well as cargo, LPAI, manager, Debasish Nandi told PTI.

“The construction of land port at Sabroom has made good progress according to the timeline as 80 per cent work has been done so far. Around 60 per cent work of cargo terminal construction has so far been done to facilitate movement of goods and people”, Mishra told media after the joint visit.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India and Land Ports Authority of India chairman visit Maitri Setu

He said that all facilities will be in place in next three to four months to make the 150-metre bridge

Himanta govt receives GI tag certificate for Assamese Gamosa

GUWAHATI, APRIL 14

(IANS): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received the Geographical Indication Registration Certificate for Asomiya Gamosa. At a ceremony conducted at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday, CM

Sarma was presented with the certificate by the Controller General of Patent, Designs and Trademarks and Registrar of GI Registry, Dr. Unnat P. Pandit.

The GI Registration is for eight Gamosa, namely Uka or Xadharan Gamosa, Phulam Gamosa, Bihuwan, Tiani or Pani Gamosa, Anakata Gamosa, Telos Gamosa, Dora Boron or Jor Gamosa, and Gossain Gamosa. After the GI Reg-

istration, others are not allowed to make or market the product. The registration is a legal acknowledgment of the goods for a certain geographic area or territory.

Millions of weavers in the state will be protected due to the GI Tag.

Chief Minister Sarma said, “I received the GI Tag for our pride, the Asomiya

Gamosa. It is a moment of honour and pride for the people of Assam.”

“Thanks to this accolade, Assam will be able to legally recognise and maintain the quality and individuality of our pride, Asomiya Gamosa. It will guarantee the defence of our weavers’ interests,” he continued.

operational. Rahaman said he visited Maitri Setu and other facilities to see what is happening here. He was accompanied by Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Agartala, Arif Mohammad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina remotely inaugurated Matri Setu which connects Tripura’s Sabroom with neighbouring country’s Ramgarh on March 9, 2021.

L Simon Raomai said that as poppy cultivation was being practiced primarily in the Christian dominated hills of the state, the church has an important role to play in the eradication of illegal practice. The Christian leader, talking to reporters on the sideline of the event, said that the government’s war on drugs campaign needed people’s support and the most effective way to reach out the campaign was that the hill villages and churches have a bigger role to play.

To eradicate the illegal poppy cultivation, there was the need for working from the grassroots level and local church leaders have to sensitize the villagers in this regard, he said.

Leaders of CSOs, students’ bodies and church leaders should work at the grassroots level for the better future of Manipur, he said.

They (church leaders, CSOs and students’ bodies) should spread the resolution to be adopted by today’s consultation across the state, particularly in the remote hill areas.

AMCO will take a big role to eradicate poppy cultivation and make the youths stay away from drugs, he said. The event discussed the drug menace in the state in-depth in two technical sessions which six experts in their respective fields talked as resource persons In the first session moderated by Dr Thathang Vaiphei, Dr Satkai Chongloi, principal of Restoration Theological College, Imphal

talked on “A Christian perspective on drugs and poppy plantation,” Dr RK Lenin Singh of Psychiatric department of RIMS, Imphal deliberated on “Impact of drugs on social and mental health,” while Dr Jamkhogen Lhungdim, associate professor of Central Agricultural University, Imphal spoke on “Impact of poppy plantation and alternative crops/plants.”

In the second technical session, Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of Human Rights Alert presented a paper on “Drug trade/poppy plantation: socio-economic and livelihood perspective”, Dr James Starr, founder director of Vision 2020 Asia deliberated on “Christian perspective on drugs and its impact on the church,” while Birg Neil John, SM, deputy GOC of 57 Mountain Division spoke on “Impact of drugs on youth and society. The second session was moderated by Dr SK Luangamba.

Meghalaya reviews Covid preparedness

SHILLONG, APR 14

(AGENCIES): In view of the rising number of Covid cases across the country, the government of Meghalaya has requested additional lots Covid-19 vaccines from the Central Government, reports Sentinel Assam . The Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya was one of the worst affected during the Covid pandemic last year. Mainly because of the limited number of medical facilities in the state, and because of the lack of proper

Sikkim CM challenges opposition to prove Art 371F is diluted

GANGTOK, APR 14 (PTI): Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Friday challenged opposition parties to prove that Article 371F of the constitution which guarantees special provisions for the Himalayan state was diluted.

Asserting that though the definition of the Sikkimese people has been expanded under a central law, Article 371F remains intact, he said adding that he will resign if proven wrong.

Tamang’s predecessor and Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) president Pawan Kumar Chamling recently claimed that people of the northeastern state

Prem Singh Tamang

feel betrayed as Art 371F was “violated”. According to the Article, only the descendants of Sikkim subjects (those who lived in the state before its merger with India in 1975) whose names were mentioned in the 1961 register are Sikkimese with rights to own land and get state government jobs. They were also exempted from paying income tax.

Chamling had claimed that the Financial Bill, 2023 redefined Sikkimese as any Indian citizen domiciled in Sikkim, extending to them the same benefits as enjoyed by the original inhabitants.

“I challenge all those who are spreading rumours saying that 371F is over,” Tamang said while addressing the Ambedkar Jayanti function here.

“If people without Certificate of Identification and Sikkim Subject Certificate apply for the post of Assistant Director (IT) as advertised by Sikkim Public Service Commission and if those applications are accepted, I will resign along with the entire cabinet,” he said.

knowledge, especially in the rural regions of the state, a large number of people had died in the previous surges.

Keeping these issues in mind, the State Health Department conducted a review

Regd. No. TZT/05/23

meeting of the healthcare facilities. A mock drill was also conducted recently among the health facilities of the state to ensure that everyone related to the healthcare sector are prepared.

AffidAvit

Date: 13/04/2023

I Shri Neiphoa Konyak son of Lt. Nokdao Konyak resident of Soalam Ward H/no 232, Tizit Mon Nagaland. That I would like to declare that my name has been inadvertently entered/recorded as Nayphya Konyak S/o of Nokphom Konyak in my primary medical Examination report. Whereas my real and correct name is Neiphoa Konyak, S/o of Lt. Nokdao Konyak. Henceforth my name shall be known as Neiphoa Konyak, S/o Lt. Nokdao Konyak in my service records/documents as well as for all purposes. deponent

K-799/23

GOvERNMENt Of NAGALANd

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT, 2nd NAP BATTALION ALiCHEN : MOKOKCHUNG

NO. 2 NAP(A)89/2023-24/133

To, NO. 11314 C/N Alumse Anar S/o. Lichopi

Village : Seyochung

P.O./P.S : Kiphire Dist. Kiphire State. Nagaland

Dated, Alichen, the 12th April 2023

CALLiNG NOtiCE

Whereas you have been found absent from bonafide Govt. duty w.e.f. 20/12/2022 till date without any leave or permission from the competent authority and whereas 3 (three) calling notices were issued and served on you vide the following letter Nos. NO. STF/RO-04/2022-23/244, Dated 23/12/2022/ STF/RO-04/2022-23/256, Dated 20/01/2023 and STF/RO-04/2022-23/308, Dated 06/03/2023. And whereas you have not reported till date, you are hereby directed to report to the undersigned within 7 (seven) days of publication of this notice, failing which you will be declared deserter and dismissed from service without further notice.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. (PTI)

Inauguration of one-day consultation on impact of drug menace in Manipur held in Imphal on Friday.

Modi attends mega Bihu dance

snIPPets

3 held for hurting religious sentiments

JAMSHEDPUR, APR

14 (PTI): Police arrested three persons here for creating a WhatsApp group to hurt the religious sentiment of a particular community on social media, an officer said. Shastrinagar area of Jamshedpur witnessed a clash between two groups on Sunday over the reported desecration of a religious flag. The police with the help of its technical cell detected that some people have created a WhatsApp group and conspiring to hurt the religious sentiment of a particular religion on Wednesday night, said Officer-in-Charge of Bistupur police station Anjani Kumar on Thursday.

Woman rescued from flesh trade

THANE, APR 14 (PTI):

A 25-year-old woman who was allegedly being sent to the United Arab Emirates to join a sex racket has been rescued following a raid in Bhayander in Maharashtra’s Thane district, a police official said on Thursday. The woman’s mother and brother, who were allegedly sending her to UAE, have been arrested following the raid on Wednesday, Senior Inspector Sameer Ahirrao of the MBVV police’s Anti Human Trafficking Cell said. “The victim’s mother and brother had taken Rs 50,000 to send her to join a sex racket there. We were tipped off by an NGO. The two have been charged under Indian Penal Code and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,” he added. Man held for online fraud of Rs 1.68 cr

NOIDA, APRIL 14

(IANS): The cyber police have arrested a man for online fraud of Rs 1.68 crore from Uttar Pradesh’s Basti district. The accused, who had been absconding since two years, was arrested on Thursday. Station in-charge Rita Yadav stated that the accused - Durga Prasad Mishra, a resident of Nindaur police station area used to contact people through Facebook as a mediator of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Limited Company based in Canada and used to lure them to engage in online business of dry fruits.

Leaders pay tributes to Ambedkar on birth anniv

NEW DELHI, APR 14 (PTI): A host of leaders paid tributes to Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution, on his 132nd birth anniversary on Friday, with many recalling his efforts to uplift the marginalised sections of society and others stressing the need to build strong institutions and create an egalitarian society.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several others remembered the social reformer, economist and jurist, who went on to become the first law minister of the country.

Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet Babasaheb dedicated his life to the empowerment of the deprived and exploited sections of society. He also shared an audio clip of his earlier remarks on Ambedkar’s life.

At a ceremony in the Parliament complex, President Murmu and the prime minister were joined by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in paying floral tributes to Ambedkar. Birla called him an architect of social transformation who fostered equality, freedom, justice and brotherhood.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid a floral tribute to Ambedkar in Birbhum in West Bengal.

“Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar sought to illuminate the nation by kindling the spark within every Indian. He laboured to create a constitution that provides justice, equality, and freedom to every citizen,” he said in a tweet.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he “respectfully remembers and salutes” him on his birth anniversary. “Along with his contribution to the making of the Constitution, his

active role in building the institutions of independent India is incomparable. Babasaheb is an inspiration for all of us in building a strong India,” he added.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao unveiled a 125-ft-tall statue of Ambedkar in Hyderabad. Flower petals were showered on the statute from a helicopter. The statue was built using 360 tonnes of stainless steel and 114 tonnes of bronze, at a cost of Rs 146.50 crore. Born in 1891 in a Dalit family in Mhow, near Indore, in the then Central

Province (now Madhya Pradesh), Ambedkar rose from a humble background to become a leading voice of the marginalised people during the freedom struggle and is credited with introducing several social reforms.

BJP chief JP Nadda paid his tribute to Ambedkar at the party headquarters in Delhi. He said Prime Minister Modi is working to fulfil his dream by working for the development and prosperity of all sections of society.

However, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took a swipe at the government, saying the “culture of forcing silence” and branding people “antinationals” is a dangerous trend that will finish our democracy and destroy the Constitution. He recalled that Ambedkar had warned about the ills of ‘hero-worship’ or ‘Bhakti’ in the context of Indian politics.

In an article in The Telegraph, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said, “As we honour Babasaheb’s legacy today, we must remember his prescient warning that the success of the Constitution depends on the conduct of the people entrusted with the duty to

Denied BJP ticket, Ex-K’taka dy CM joins Cong

BENGALURU, APR 14

(PTI): Former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the BJP after being denied a ticket to contest in the May 10 Assembly elections, on Friday joined the Congress. Savadi would now be the grand old party’s candidate in Athani in Belagavi district, Congress leaders said. His decision came after a meeting with Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah and Congress general secretary and party in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala. “Our meeting with Savadi took place in a cordial manner. We are aware of his dignity and position. He has agreed to become a member of our (Congress) family of his own volition. He is coming with us after accepting the party’s ideology and leadership,” Shiva-

kumar, who was flanked by Savadi and Siddaramaiah, told reporters.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he was “saddened” by Savadi’s decision to part ways with the BJP and join the Congress.

“...I’m feeling very sad, we shared a close bond. Sometimes such political situations arise,” Bommai said. “He might have found his political future in Congress. We will do our job in our party.”

Savadi, who resigned

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND DIRECTORATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

NO.HED/HOST/1/2016

NAGALAND : KOHIMA

Dated: Kohima, the 13th April 2023

NOTIFICATION ON NEW HOSTEL REGISTRATION FOR POST MATRIC STUDENTS

It is hereby informed to all those seeking for New Hostel registrations under the Directorate of Higher Education that the Directorate (Scholarship Section) shall issue forms for New Hostel Registration with effect from 17th April to 5th May 2023 and the last date for submission of the forms will be 31st May 2023. Therefore, any individual who wishes to run hostel for Post Matric Students may come and collect the forms within the stipulated time.

The registered hostels that are due for renewal are also directed to renew in time, failing which the hostel shall be considered null & void.

It is also to be reminded and cautioned that the Department issue this Hostel Eligibility Certificate only to facilitate hostel forms for Post Matric Students residing in the Hostels under the provision of Scholarship guidelines. Hence, any misuse of Hostel Certificate shall be liable to his/her own risk.

as an MLC on Friday, said he had been loyal to the BJP and helped the party candidates win in other parts of the state as well, but it did not live up to its promise of fielding him in the 2023 Assembly election from Athani.

On his decision to join the Congress, Savadi, a three-time MLA from Athani, said he had only demanded a ticket to contest the elections, besides completion of some irrigation projects in his constitu-

ency that are pending, in the event of the Congress coming to power.

Ignoring Savadi’s request, the BJP had earlier this week given the Athani ticket to sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli. Savadi had lost the 2018 elections to Kumathalli, who was then with the Congress.

Kumathalli was among the group of defectors who helped the BJP bring down the CongressJD(S) coalition government and form its own government under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa in 2019.

Kumathalli later joined the BJP and successfully contested the Athani by-election on the party ticket.

Attacking the BJP, Savadi said he had not demanded the deputy chief minister’s post from the ruling party in 2019 but they had given it to him and thereafter removed him from the position without informing him, which he perceived as an insult.

govern.” She also said the regime in power is “misusing and subverting” the institutions of the Constitution, and the people must act to defend the Constitution from this “systematic assault”.

“Equality, liberty, fraternity & justice - the universal values Babasaheb Ambedkar championed, will always remain our guiding light & strength! Tributes to the architect of India’s Constitution on his birth anniversary,” said Rahul Gandhi.

BSP president Mayawati said Ambedkar laid the strong foundation of a modern India by giving an ultra-humanist and welfare Constitution. “His life struggle is a ray of hope for crores of poor, labourers, deprived and other toiling people even today,” she said.

In a tweet, she said, “Taking inspiration from him, the Bahujan Samaj Party was established on this day, 14th April, in 1984, to take forward the stalled caravan of self-respect and to unite the people who were divided on the basis of caste, which has set an example of social change and economic liberation, especially in UP.”

NO.DTE/SCTE/6/2020-21/4516

CORRIGENDUM

UP govt carrying out encounters with eye

on polls, says Akhilesh

was the chief architect, was under threat. “Institutions are being finished one after the other and (Bharatiya Janata Party) governments (at the Centre and UP) are working to destroy the Constitution Babasaheb gave us,” Yadav said.

MHOW (MP), APR 14

(PTI): The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh was carrying out encounters with an eye on polls, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday a day after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad’s son Asad and an associate were killed by an STF team in Jhansi there. Ahmad, his son and several others are accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in UP, the fallout of which made Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath swear in the Assembly that he would wipe out the mafia there.

Speaking to reporters after paying tribute to eminent jurist and social reformer Babasaheb Ambedkar at his birthplace Mhow on his birth anniversary, Yadav said the Constitution, of which the former

Queried about Thursday’s encounter, Yadav said, “From the very first day, (the Uttar Pradesh) BJP government is indulging in fake encounters with an eye on polls.”

However, on being asked about allegations that Atiq Ahmad had connections to Pakistani elements, Yadav just said “what can I say about the connections he has and with whom”. He slammed the BJP government in UP for action against a motherdaughter duo in Kanpur, during which their houses were bulldozed and burnt down, leading to both losing their lives. Yadav also alleged a promising student leader was killed in Ballia by those belonging to the “caste of the (UP) chief minister”.

“Is it an India where you can kill a weaker person? Is it an India where we won’t get our Constitutional rights,” the SP chief questioned.

Kamal Nath roped in to play ‘mediator’ in Rajasthan after Sachin Pilot fast

NEW DELHI, APR 14 (PTI): Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has been roped in by the party to play the role of a mediator in resolving the situation arising in the party’s Rajasthan unit after Sachin Pilot’s day-long fast in Jaipur seeking action against the alleged corruption under the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.

Nath along with Congress general secretary incharge organisation K C Venugopal met Pilot on Thursday to discuss his side of arguments and the former Rajasthan deputy CM conveyed to them that his fast was only directed at action against corruption and was not “anti-party” at all, sources said. Congress’ Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday morning met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the second time in two days to discuss the Rajasthan issue. He had also met Rahul

Gandhi at his residence to discuss the matter.

Leaders close to Pilot have argued that his fast was only against the corruption under Vasundhara government and cannot be termed “anti-party”. They claim that the Congress has been raising the corruption plank in the Adani matter and in

Karnataka polls and Pilot’s action was in line with that.

As far as the issue of “indiscipline” is concerned, the Pilot side has also raised questions as to why no action has been taken against Gehlot loyalists who had defied party directive for holding a legislature party meeting last year.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION NORTH EASTERN COUNCIL SECRETARIAT NONGRIM HILLS SHILLONG - 793003

Dated : 13-04-2023

No. NEC/NERCORMS/MD/RCT/2023

aDvertIseMent

Applications are invited from India citizens for appointment to the post of Managing Director, North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) on deputation basis. The applications complete in all respect should reach the office of the undersigned and addressed to adviser (horticulture), north eastern Council secretariat, Government of India, nongrim hills, shillong – 793003 (Meghalaya) within 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement. The details regarding pay, eligibility criteria, etc are mentioned in the detailed advertisement placed and hosted in the website www.necorps.org and www.necouncil.gov.in Sd/-

( K. Moses Chalai ) Ias secretary, neC & Chairman, nerCrMs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION NORTH EASTERN COUNCIL SECRETARIAT NONGRIM HILLS SHILLONG - 793003

No. NECBDC/RR/MD/407/2023

aDvertIseMent

Dated, Kohima the 14th April, 2023

NO.DTE/SCTE/6/2020-21: In Continuation to the earlier notification of the office even number dated 27 th March 2022, the last date of filled application for undergoing Diploma Programme within the State run Polytechnics is 25 th April, 2023 through Department website: www.dtenagaland.org.in. The application fee of Rs. 300 (Rupees Three hundred) only to be deposited to the Department of Technical Education

A/C No. 40201620520 IFSC Code SBIN0000214. The Candidates who have appeared HSLC/HSSLC final examination of 2023 are also eligible to apply for the Diploma Entrance Examination. The Candidates have to submit hard copy after filling up the forms along with necessary documents to Directorate of Technical Education or any of the Examinations Centre on or before 5th May, 2023.

Programmes offered in the Polytechnics.

Sl. No Name of Polytechnic Program Offered No. of Seats Brief of Government Polytechnics a b c d e

1 Khelhoshe Polytechnic, Atoizu (KPA)

Civil Engineering 60  Ideally located for study environment with qualified faculty.

 AICTE, New Delhi Approved Institutions.

 Quality Technical Education through

Dated : 13-04-2023

Applications are invited from Indian Citizens for appointment to the post of Managing Director, North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) on deputation basis. The applications complete in all respect should reach the office of the undersigned and addressed to Director (t&I) , north eastern Council secretariat, Government of India, nongrim hills, shillong – 793003 (Meghalaya) within 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement. The details regarding pay, eligibility criteria, etc are mentioned in the detailed advertisement placed and hosted in the websites www.necbdc.in and www.necouncil.gov.in Sd/-

(

K. Moses Chalai) Ias secretary, neC & Chairman, neCBDC

The recently-unveiled 125ft statue of BR Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, in Hyderabad, Friday. (PTI)

DK Shivakumar felicitates former Karnataka deputy CM Laxman Savadi at the KPCC office. (PTI)

Akhilesh Yadav

A black law

Justicestill eludes the 13 victims of the Oting massacre in Mon district, after the Ministry of Defence(MoD) on April 14,2023 refused sanction for prosecution of all 31 personnel of the Alpha unit of the 21 Paras on December 4, 2021. The victims were returning home for Christmas from Tiru when they were ambushed . The Centre’s legal sanction is required to initiate any proceeding against security forces personnel for their actions while discharging duties under section 197(2) of CrPC and section 6 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The Alpha team of the 21 Paras, based at Jorhat under 4 Corps, included the officer in-charge identified as one Major Ankush Gupta, two Subedars, eight Havildars, four Naiks, six Lance Naiks and nine paratroopers. The government of Nagaland instituted a Special Investigation Team(SIT) under the supervision of an ADG and headed by an IGP along with four other senior police officers and later to 21 members. After exhaustive investigation and forensic reports, the SIT on March 24, 2022 had sought sanction for prosecution from the department of military affairs against the accused army personnel U/S 197(2)CrPC and Section 6 of AFSPA. Even the Army had admitted that the killing was a case of mistaken identity and promised to take “appropriate action” against those found violating the laws. However, the Supreme Court on a plea by the wives of the accused security personnel, issued an interim order on July 19,2022 staying the proceedings of the case. The SIT had concluded that the 21 Paras had not ensured positive identification of the civilians travelling in an open Bolero and also had not followed the SoP and Rules of Engagement before resorting to indiscriminate and disproportionate firing. None of the victims had any prior criminal history or connections to any illegal or prohibited groups. They were not armed nor could they be considered even remotely as “enemies” under Section 3(x) of the Army Act, 1950.The Centre’s refusal to grant sanction for prosecution of the accused amounts to the state sanctioning heinous acts of violence against its own people. It may be also pointed out that merely trying the accused in a civilian court does not conclude that the accused are guilty. In this regard, it may be recalled that the Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that if an offence is committed by army personnel, there is no concept of absolute immunity from trial by the criminal court constituted under ordinary law. (para 163, Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association v Union of India). The Court held that every instance of the use of excessive or retaliatory force by army personnel needs to be probed. If there is a prima facie case against army personnel, strict penal action needs to follow, it said. AFSPA 1958 was enacted for Naga hills and till today no security personnel has been convicted for alleged heinous crimes. State-sponsored terrorism is what happens when men in uniform kill defenceless, innocent civilians while leaving the victims with no way to seek justice from the criminal justice system. Sadly even the recommendation of the Jeevan Reddy commission set up in 2005 which recommended review of AFSPA was rejected in 2015. In the case of Oting massacre, the act of providing employment and ex-gratia cannot substitute justice but ensuring that the guilty is/are punished as per the law of the land.

DailyDevotion

Inner Invincibility

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… —Matthew 11:29

“Whom the Lord loves He chastens…” (Hebrews 12:6). How petty our complaining is! Our Lord begins to bring us to the point where we can have fellowship with Him, only to hear us moan and groan, saying, “Oh Lord, just let me be like other people!” Jesus is asking us to get beside Him and take one end of the yoke, so that we can pull together. That’s why Jesus says to us, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Are you closely identified with the Lord Jesus like that? If so, you will thank God when you feel the pressure of His hand upon you.

“…to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29). God comes and takes us out of our emotionalism, and then our complaining turns into a hymn of praise. The only way to know the strength of God is to take the yoke of Jesus upon us and to learn from Him.

“…the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Where do the saints get their joy? If we did not know some Christians well, we might think from just observing them that they have no burdens at all to bear. But we must lift the veil from our eyes. The fact that the peace, light, and joy of God is in them is proof that a burden is there as well. The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces the wine, but most of us see only the wine and not the burden. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates an inner invincibility.

If your life is producing only a whine, instead of the wine, then ruthlessly kick it out. It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God’s strength.

By Oswald Chambers

Quotes

Ambedkar : The architect of the Indian Constitution

The governance system of every independent nation is governed by its constitution. After independence, the making of a constitution in a diverse country like India was an arduous task.

The leading figures of the Constituent Assembly for the formation of the Constitution was Dr.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, under whose chairmanship the Drafting Committee played a pivotal role in giving concrete shape to the Constitution.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar was born on 14th April 1891 in the army headquarters of Mhow in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh. His father Ramji Maloji Sakwal was a Subedar in the army. In 1894, after his father’s retirement from the army, his family left Mhow. At the age of 5, Bhim Rao was sent to the Maratha school in Dapoli. His father was re-employed in Dapoli and was transferred to Satara. In 1900, Bhim Rao was enrolled in Satara High School. In 1904, his father’s service was terminated, after which he shifted to Mumbai.

Bhim Rao was enrolled in Elphinstone Government High School in Mumbai. In 1906, at the age of fourteen, he married 9-year-old Rama Bai. He passed the matriculation examination in 1907.

Impressed by Ambedkar, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad of Baroda approved him a scholarship of twenty five rupees per month. In 1912, he passed his graduation in Economics and Political Science from the University of Mumbai. On June 4, 1913, there was an agreement between Ambedkar and Maharaja Sayajirao that after his studies he would serve the Baroda state. In the third week of July 1913, he enrolled at Columbia University in the United States of America with the Gaikwad Scholarship.

Election to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and the consequent question of governing urban affairs has been a Damocles’ sword over the Nagas for over two decades. The diametrically opposed stand postured by the ruling dispensation and the influential civil society organizations (CSOs) has so far brought nothing positive, let alone a successful resolve to bridge the missing link in urban administration. On the one hand, the fear of losing in a race for funds and the imminent legal proceedings for delayed election to ULBs push the state government to the fringe. On the other hand, the massive apprehension of defiling and contaminating our established social practices has forced the CSOs to advocate for further deliberation of the issue. However, there is no unanimity even amongst the participants of the latter group. The contentious thirty-three percent reservation for women and the tax on land and building have been at the heart of the turmoil, with the Nagas ontologically branded as misogynist and anti-tax. This writer, in his limited understanding of the issue, attempts to navigate through the bone of contention.

Sponsorship was not an issue even during the undi-

He was the first Mahar Dalit to study in a foreign university. In June 1915, He was awarded M.A. degree in economics on presenting a paper titled “Ancient Indian Commerce” and in May 1916 he attended the Golden Weser’s Anthropological Symposium and presented research paper titled “Castes in India, their system, origin and development”.

In June 1916, Ambedkar submitted his dissertation entitled “National Dividend for India: A Historical and Analytical Study” for a PhD degree. He then left Columbia University to enroll in the London School of Economics and Political Science. In October 1916, he was admitted to the Grays Inn of Law. Due to the expiry of the Maharaja Sayajirao Scholarship, he returned home after working for a year on the dissertation of the Master of Science (Economics) in London. In July 1917, He was appointed military secretary to the Maharaja of Baroda. He saw the ugly face of the caste system in its entirety. He was not even allowed drinking water in the office. Due to the misbehavior, he left Baroda and returned to Mumbai in November 1917.

In November 1918, Ambedkar got the position of lecturer of political economy at Sydenham College. He remained in college from November 1918 to November 11, 1920, and then resigned from his position to resume his studies of law and economy in London. He participated in the conference of Depressed Classes held under the chairmanship of Shahuji Maharaj in Nagpur in 1918 and in Kolhapur on 21 March 1920. On 31 January 1920, to support the cause of the Depressed Classes in India, a weekly named “MookNayak” was started. In September 1920, Ambedkar re-enrolled at the

London School of Economics and Political Science and qualified for the degree of Law from Grays Inn, London. In June 1921, he obtained a Master of Science (Economics) degree on the dissertation

“Provincial Centralization of Royal Finance in British India”.

In March 1923, he was awarded the degree of D.Sc. (Economics) on the subject “The problem of money”. In April 1923, he met the Secretary of State for India, ES Montag and Vitthalbhai Patel, and discussed the grievances of the untouchables in India. In June 1923, He started legal practice at the High Tribunal, Mumbai. He then left the practice and became a lecturer in business law at the Batliboi Accountancy Institute on a part-time basis for 3 years.

On 9 July 1924, Ambedkar formed the Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha to spread education, improve economic conditions and listen to grievances among the depressed classes. On 3 April 1927, he started a newspaper called ‘Bahishkrit Bharat’ and started Satyagraha for entry of depressed masses into the temples in Mahad. In 1926, he gave evidence before the Royal Commission on Money and Finance. In 1927 he was nominated to the Bombay Legislative Council along with Dr. Solanki. In 1928, he became a lecturer at the Government Law College, Mumbai. In the same year he demanded separate electorate for Dalits before the Simon Commission. In November 1930, he was invited as a representative of the Dalits in the First Round Table Conference held in London. In August 1931, he opposed Gandhiji’s claim to represent Dalits in the Second Round Table Conference held in London itself. In August 1932, Ramsay MacDonald published the Communal Arbitra -

tion for Separate Electorates for Dalits against which Gandhiji, who was lodged in Yarwada jail, started fast till death. The Poona Pact was signed on 25 September 1932 by Ambedkar (on behalf of the marginalized community) and Madan Mohan Malviya (on behalf of other Hindus) and the order regarding separate electorates was withdrawn. From 1932 to 1934, he was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms. He participated in the Third Round Table Conference held in London in 1933-34. In June 1935, Ambedkar was appointed Principal and Perry Professor of Jurisprudence at the Government Law College, Mumbai. In January 1936, Jagjivan Ram along with some prominent activists met Ambedkar on the issue of conversion in Mumbai.

Ambedkar formed the Independent Labour Party under the Government of India Act 1935. The party contested 17 seats for the Mumbai Legislature and won 14 seats. In 1938, he opposed the Congress party’s bill to replace the word ‘untouchable’ with the word ‘Harijan’. From July 1942 to July 1946, he was appointed Labor Member to the Executive Council of the Governor-General of India.

In November 1946 he was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Bengal. He advocated the partition of India. On 29 August 1947, at the initiative of Sardar Patel, he was made the chairman of the drafting committee for the making of the Constitution of India. He did not agree with Nehruji’s initiative to give special status to Jammu and Kashmir and the inclusion of Article 370 in the Constitution. But he could not oppose it as Nehru had made it a question of prestige.

On 27 November 1949, Ambedkar presented the Constitution of India

Urban governance that defies tradition

vided NNC as ten families collectively contributed to support one Naga Army. It is still believed that the Nagas would replicate such reciprocal altruism to support and sustain a peoplebased movement. Hence, it is not that the Nagas do not pay tax. On the contrary, the Nagas freely give when and where they feel it is appropriate. The sociological understanding of the Nagas is that the civil society and the community, or, to be precise, each adult individual member, share close affinity with their lands and the resources thereon. The land signifies its pride. Their landed property amounts to their identity. Being landless is incongruous with the social construction of the Nagas. In all aspects, the Government of Nagaland represents the Government of India. The Nagas, in general, have a tendency to stay aloof from paying taxes, especially on land, lest such is being categorically misconstrued as abject subordination and submission of rights to the dominant power. Therefore, so long as the Nagas identify themselves as independent although politically subjugated under the Indian Union, the Nagas may not willingly come forward and accept the tax on property being imposed, as such is

liable to be interpreted as the tax on our identity and concomitant deconstruction of the very fabric of our civil society. Though the constitution has guaranteed us a complete ownership over our land and its resources and delegated to us the authority to devise a mechanism for governance based on our time-tested traditional practices, it has been empirically evident that our unmindful experimentation of public policies that are alien to us and such policies not being scanned through the rationale lens of public discourse has on multiple occasions threatened and even diluted our rights duly recognized by others. Sheer absence of women participation in decision making in the traditional village administration (prior to institutionalization of the Village Council) is a subject of academic interest. If their participation in the traditional village administration is inhibited by the assumption that they are inferior in making decisions, or by virtue of the roles they shoulder in the traditional family institution, or the inhibition is biological, such thinking is intellectually flawed and our traditional mindset needs enlightenment. Reservation, if required, must be accorded to women. Yet, such must

be preceded by commissioning a study to ascertain the factors associated with low women participation in decision making bodies. For public policies suffer paralysis when policy makers inflate or do not have accurate statistics to rely on. The problem creeps in since the policy makers encounter policy paralysis as to how to go about with the governance of urban bodies. Our traditional society neither experiences urban life nor administers urban affairs. Therefore, the policy makers, without exploring alternative solutions to administrate urban affairs, casually adopt and enact an Act to experiment urban administration in haste. The end was tragic, losing precious lives.

Now, what is of immediate concern is the imposed election to the urban local bodies and the tax on land and building. Firstly, every citizen is a witness to the vices of election – from gross indulgence in offering money and kinds to influence voters’ behavior to exercising franchise in favour of the candidates offering the highest amount. Election, which is found absent in the past glorious days, does not reflect the true meaning of sending our representative to represent our voice. In today’s

Bohag-spirit at GWR

Birds chirping are one of the most relaxing and soothing sounds in nature. Such diverse melodies of the singing birds from ‘Kuli’ (Asian Koel) to ‘Keteki’ (Indian Cuckoo) signify the arrival of Bohag Bihu. ‘Kopou’ (foxtail orchid), ‘Nahar’ and ‘Togar’ flowers begin to bloom over hills and vales all through the spring, which is an integral part of Bihu’s attire. However, Assamese women weave dreams on looms. Meanwhile, ‘dhuliyar dhol’ (who plays dhol) is so closely knit with the folk culture that sets the rhythm of every native to the tune of ‘Pepua’ (who plays pepa of buffalo horn) at ‘gosor tolor

Bihu’ (Bihu beneath the tree), while new leaves start to appear on the trees. The unique tradition of this ‘Sat

Bihu’ celebrates for seven days as ‘Chot’, ‘Goru’, ‘Manuh’, ‘Kutum’, ‘Senehi’, ‘Mela’ and ‘Chera’ Bihu. The rituals of bathing cows while offering lao kha, bengena kha (eat gourd, eat Brinjal) with ‘dighlati-makhilati’ (kind of shrub to protect from mosquito) and tying ‘gorur-pogha’ (new ropes) around cow’s neck are signifying the beginning of ‘Goru’ Bihu for new agricultural season. A ‘Gamosa’ is an indispensable part of indigenous Assamese life and culture with its distinctive symbolic significance – ‘Bihuwan’ that involves the tradition of seeking blessings from the elders. Who can forget the concoction of ‘ekho-ek bidh xaak’ (101 varieties of local leafy greens and herbs), that is believed to be beneficial to health. Recalling those days of our childhood, we had typical activities of another day. Our Bohag in fact arrived with

the acoustical sounds of ‘Dhols’ that resonating from the horn-speaker radiated into open air. We ran and jumped over the beautiful meadow towards Bihutoli (stage). Such was our early memories of the spring festival. We stood around like Nipper listening to a wind-up disc of gramophone, while tilting heads along the trademark image of HMV. The dancing, playing and merrymaking went on late into the night. Today, digital media is making it easier for new generation to go with Rongali spirit. People socialize spending festival days with social media platforms. They watch urban Bihu on LIVE that truly connects people around the world. Who can deny the beat of Bhangra that goes global? Assamese Bihu slowly gears up for that occasion. ‘Gamosa’ gets the GI (Geographical indications) tag recently and ‘Muga’ Silk of Assam has a logo for GI.

Today, Sualkuchi referred as Manchester of East, is known as one of the world’s largest weaving villages, where thousands of local weavers create dreams on the exquisite silk fabrics of ‘Pat’, ‘Eri’ and golden thread ‘Muga’. The tradition can be traced to the 11th century Pala dynasty King Dharam Pal for sponsoring the handy craft. Ironically, the production of the white ‘Pat’ (mulberry silk) is not commercially viable now in Assam. They are produced mostly from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and J&K. Since fashion becomes fast, disposable, cheap and need to become globally competitive, the industry gives importance to affordable ‘Toss’ then to expensive ‘Pat’ and ‘Muga’. Despite, weaving industry is no longer taking

to the government.

After independence on 15 August 1947, Ambedkar became the Law Minister in the Nehru Cabinet. In 1951, he resigned from the cabinet due to differences of opinion on the government’s apathy towards the Scheduled Castes, India’s foreign policy and the Hindu Code Bill. In the first Lok Sabha election in 1952, he was defeated by a Congress candidate from Mumbai. In March 1952, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. In 1954, he stood again in the by-election from Bandra but stood third. On 15 April 1948, Ambedkar married a Brahmin girl named Dr. Sharda Kabir of Mumbai, who later came to be known as Savita Ambedkar. He was a bitter critic of the evils of Islam in South Asia and condemned child marriages, polygamy and purda system in the Muslim community. In the year 1949, he addressed the World Buddhist Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal on the topic “Marxism vs Buddhism”. In December 1950, he again participated in the World Buddhist Conference in Sri Lanka. In July 1951, he formed the Bharatiya Buddhist Jana Sangh. In September 1951, he compiled a Buddhist worship treatise called “Upasana Panth”.

In 1954, Ambedkar was nominated as a delegate to the World Buddhist Conference held in Rangoon. In May 1955, he founded the Indian Buddhist Mahasabha. On 14 October 1956, He embraced Buddhism along with 5 lakh people in a historic ceremony in Nagpur. This great activist and social reformer took the last breath of his life on 6th December 1956, leaving his colossal work.

(The Author is a technocrat and educationist)

Er. Prabhat Kishore

context, leaders are the ones who own wealth, as opposed to people’s choice. Therefore, as some organizations have suggested, nomination of councilors in lieu of state-sponsored election could bring out the most capable candidates to govern the affairs connected to our urban settlements.

Secondly, collecting tax on land and building in itself does not amount to infringement of Article 371A, as some commentators chose to believe. However, we ought to remind ourselves that our social practice is breached and the principle of Article 371A is relegated if state instrumentalities, on default of payment of tax, transfer to itself the landed property of the private citizens. For most Nagas, as discussed above, the state government is an embodiment of the GoI and hence they feel uncomfortable to share the resources with whom they deemed to have been the main oppressor of their rights. Furthermore, mismanagement of state resources is one fundamental reason why the citizens do not want to bequeath their resources to the state apparatus. Any effort to generate more revenue, be it liquor or land and building, will not augment state resources so long as resource mismanagement plague the state

machineries. Nonetheless, in the event of extreme requirement of tax especially on land and building for the purpose of discharging civic duties in urban areas, a staggering fifteen percent tax proposed for land and building ought to be scaled down to the minimum possible percentage point, the decision of which may be arrived at through due consultation and/or collecting, collaging and mincing popular public opinion. Also, the current unregulated sectors such as mobile water supply, online-based delivery services may need to be regulated to ensure efficient and quality service delivery and generate revenue. And, as far as election to ULBs is concerned, it is certain to further aggravate the divide along the political fault line. Therefore, since discharging civic duties is in common interest and not in the interest of any political party, the extant process of selecting / nominating a representative as is prevalent in village units of administration offer the most viable alternative to conflict-ridden election. Nomination by consensus by the residents of the ward and the provision to recall (if needed) could well fulfill the intent and purpose of Article 371A.

Nukhosa Chüzho Kohima

a back seat after the Assam government sets to attempt a world record in Guinness book for over 11,000 Bihu ‘Nachani’ (dancer) and ‘Dhuliyas’ performing together at a single venue as the largest recital of the folkdance form, where the Prime Minister of India will grace the upcoming event on 14th April. Let GWR-2023 discover Bihu through its digitalized platform. This would surely globalize it to a new height from its age-old tradition. The diverse ethnic groups of Assam have deep roots in their indigenous culture. The origin form of Bihu continues among the Chutias, Sonowal-Kacharies and Deoris with the historical Kingdom of Sadiya. The Bodos, Dimasas, Rabhas, and Tiwas have also been celebrating Bihu since ancient times. Later Ahom King Rudra Singha gave patronage to Bihu. The buffalo fight at Rang Ghar and other sports at Rupahi Pathar are historically reminded us. The month long Bohag Bihu is round the corner and every Assamese remains nostalgic about the good old days of playing traditional instruments with ‘Dhol’, ‘Taal’, ‘Gogona’, ‘Toka’, ‘Pepa’ and ‘Xutuli’. It could be officially amazing to witness it in synchrony. There shall be a live program with the availability of broadcast technology. Bihu is itself indispensable for the lifeline of Assamese. No matter how difficult a ‘Gamosa’ is to be woven out of white threads with colourful and intricate inlays in red. It’s ‘Bihuwaan’ that could be seen at the dais of Sarusajai Stadium. It’s a matter of pride moment for Assamese on that historic day. Kamal

Baruah

“Goal setting is the secret to a compelling future.”

~ Tony Robbins

Woman gets LI for poisoning boy to death

ONGOLE (AP), APRIL

14 (PTI): A court here has convicted and sentenced a woman to life imprisonment for poisoning to death a 4-year-old boy owing to previous enmity with his family.

Principal District and Session Court Judge A Bharati handed the life sentence to Velpula Jyothi (31) for poisoning the boy to death. Jyothi had approached the victim on October 27, 2017 at an Anganwadi centre in the district and fed him snack laced with rat poison, according to a release from the district police.

Elderly man mauled to death by tiger

KOTDWAR, APR 14 (PTI): A 72-year-old man was mauled to death by a tiger in a village near the Corbett Tiger Reserve here, officials said on Friday. The incident happened at around 6 pm on Thursday at Laduasain village in Rikhnikhal block close to the wildlife sanctuary, forest ranger Mahendra Singh Rawat said.

Doctor suspended for operating on wrong leg

HYDERABAD, APR 14

(IANS): The Telangana State Medical Council has suspended the license of a private doctor for six months for operating on the healthy right leg of a patient instead of the left leg. The Council suspended the license of Karan M. Patil, an orthopedician of Hyderabad. He had operated on the healthy right leg of a patient instead of the left leg. After realizing the blunder, the doctors operated on the left leg. The victim had complained to the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO).

After an investigation, the Medical Council found the doctor guilty of negligence. An order suspending the doctor’s license for six months was issued on Thursday by Council chairman V. Rajalingam.

Shah sets target of 35 LS seats in WB

SURI (WB), APR 14 (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday set a target for the BJP to win 35 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in next year’s election, and said the Mamata Banerjee government in the state won’t survive beyond 2025.

Stating that Narendra Modi would again be the prime minister of the country in 2024, Shah asserted that leaders like Mamata Banerjee, can never give a befitting reply to Pakistan or fight militancy in Kashmir.

Shah’s comments drew sharp reactions from the TMC, which asked how a union minister could “openly threaten to topple an elected government” before it completes its full term. “Let me make it very clear that in 2024, Narendra Modi will again be the

Amit Shah

country’s Prime Minister. The people of Bengal have given us great responsibility by giving us 77 seats in the last assembly polls.

“Give us more than 35 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal, and I can assure you that the corrupt TMC government won’t survive beyond 2025,” he said while addressing a rally in the Suri area in Birbhum district.

The Mamata Banerjee government is scheduled to complete its third term in 2026. The BJP won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the 2019

Cong ally Sharad Pawar’s party enters K’taka contest

NEW DELHI, APR 14 (AGENCIES):

Just a day after Sharad Pawar’s meeting with Congress leaders in the name of “opposition unity”, his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) announced that it may contest next month’s Karnataka election, reports NDTV news.

The NCP is planning to contest 40-45 seats in the May 10 Karnataka election, in regions where the BJP, Congress and Janata Dal United (JDU) are locked in a triangular contest.

The decision, which is a huge blow to larger opposition unity, is reportedly linked to the NCP losing its national status recently.

“We have to take steps to regain our national party status,” NCP leader Praful Patel said.

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CBI summons Kejriwal in excise policy scam case; AAP alleges conspiracy

elections.

Leaders like Mamata Banerjee can “never give a befitting reply to Pakistan, fight militancy in Kashmir,” the BJP leader said adding that only Prime Minister Modi is capable of handling such national issues.

Criticising the TMC over the arrest of its ministers and leaders in graft cases by ED and CBI, Shah said the party should be ashamed of itself.

“Electing Narendra Modi again as the PM would be the trailer before removing Mamata Banerjee from power in Bengal,” said Shah, considered the principal electoral strategist of the saffron party.

Referring to the criticism that central agencies have targetted the TMC for political reasons, Shah said those who engage in corruption and loot will eventually end up in prison. He claimed Banerjee does not care about the youth of Bengal who were

First-ever NLC Bharat to be held in Mumbai in June

bol for the Karnataka elections by the Election Commission.

The NCP is expected to partner with the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in the MaharashtraKarnataka boundary region, which is home to a sizeable Marathi population.

The NCP’s presence is most likely to impact its ally Congress, which fancies its chances in this election, with the ruling BJP fighting allegations of corruption and anti-incumbency.

Last evening, Sharad Pawar met with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, in an important outreach at a time the NCP chief’s recent comments indicated a divide within the opposition on the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the Adani-Hindenburg row.

NEW DELHI, APR 14

(PTI): Over 3,000 lawmakers from every state and union territory are expected to gather for the first-ever National Legislators’ Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat) to be held in Mumbai in June this year.

The three-day conference will see MLAs and MLCs discuss case studies such as Uttarakhand’s initiatives of bringing its unemployment figures from the highest down to the lowest in the country, Kerala’s Covid management pandemic and the story of an MLA from Nagaland who came up with an elaborate plan to provide training and gainful employment to over one lakh youth. The NLC Bharat, supported by various state legislatures, will be held from June 15-17. MIT School of Governance, Atulya Bharat Nirman Foundation and Bhartiya Chhatra Sansad are jointly organising the conference.

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being duped in the school jobs scam as her only target is to make “her nephew the next chief minister of this state”. “But let me clarify, the next West Bengal chief minister will be from the BJP. Only the BJP can fight and defeat the corrupt TMC. Under Mamata Banerjee’s rule, West Bengal has turned into a hub of bomb-making factories,” the union home minister claimed.

Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek is TMC’s national general secretary and a two-time MP. Referring to recent clashes during Ram Navami rallies in West Bengal, Shah said once the BJP wins more than 35 seats, “no one would dare to attack Ram Navami rallies in the state.”

Prohibitory orders were imposed in West Bengal’s Hooghly and Howrah districts, where clashes broke out between two groups during the Ram Navami procession.

NEW DELHI, APR 14

(PTI): The CBI Friday summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on April 16 in connection with the excise policy scam case, in which his former deputy Manish Sisodia was arrested last month.

According to the notice issued by the CBI, Kejriwal has been called to appear at the agency headquarters at 11 AM on Sunday to answer queries of the investigating team as a witness in the case, officials said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called it a conspiracy and confirmed that Kejriwal will appear before the agency on Sunday. There are allegations that money raised from tweaking the policy in favour of certain liquor dealers and the South lobby was suspected to be pumped in for election purposes by the AAP, which is under the probe as part of the money trail, agency sources said. They said the

Arvind Kejriwal

process of policy formulation and influence of South lobby, besides changes in the draft stages, was in the know of the chief minister, which makes it necessary to put questions to him. Kejriwal may also be asked about an “untraceable” file containing details of the expert committee and public comments when the policy was at a nascent stage of formulation and referral of the issue to Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Sisodia; besides his possible conversation with suspects in the

case, they said. Sources have stated that the final role of Kejriwal, whether as a witness or an accused, will be decided while filing a charge sheet in the case after considering multiple factors. As of now, the chief minister is expected to answer questions as a witness, they said. The CBI is bracing for an elaborate security arrangement around its headquarters and hence kept the questioning day on Sunday, when offices in the vicinity remain closed. The agency had adopted the same strategy when Sisodia was called at the agency headquarters, where he was grilled for eight hours before being taken into custody. The allegations revolve around the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which is accused of granting licences to liquor traders who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was later scrapped.

BRS will form govt at Centre after the 2024 polls: KCR

HYDERABAD, APR 14 (PTI): Exuding confidence that BRS would form the government at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said that the Dalit Bandhu scheme would be implemented across the country after the party came to power. The Dalit Bandhu scheme, launched in 2021 offers Rs 10 lakh to Scheduled Caste families as a 100 per cent grant to start a business. The funds given under the direct benefit transfer scheme need not be repaid.

Addressing a public meeting after unveiling a 125 ft-tall statue of B R Ambedkar here, KCR said the BRS party was getting a tremendous response from

Maharashtra and was expecting a similar reaction from West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.

“I will tell you certain things. In this 2024 Parliament elections, the next government is ours, ours, and ours. Some of our enemies may not be able to digest this. But one spark is enough to light,” he said.

Unveiling the Ambed-

kar statue here on a grand scale on Friday, the birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution, he said even after 70 years after the Constitution came into effect, Dalits were still the poorest in the country, which was shameful.

Pitching for change in the country, Rao said political parties may win or lose, but the people of the country should win.

Rao said his government had spent over Rs 1.25 lakh crore during the past 10 years (including this year’s budget) for the development of Dalits, as against the Rs 16,000 crore spent by the earlier government in the same amount of time.

The Telangana CM said the welfare scheme for Scheduled Castes would

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND OFFICE OF THE EMPOWERED OFFICER

be extended to 1.25 lakh families during the current fiscal year, and added that “Dalit Bandhu will be given to 25 lakh Dalit families every year across the country once our government is formed (at the Centre).”

Speaking about Ambedkar, he said India’s first law minister was still relevant in present-day politics and it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure that his dreams for an equal society were fulfilled. Rao said everyone should attempt to practise what Ambedkar preached. The BRS government would allot a Rs 51 crore corpus for an award in the name of Ambedkar to be given to people in the field of service, the CM announced.

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6. Remuneration shall be paid as per the structure enforced from time to time.

The application along with detail instructions Terms & Conditions may be collected from the Office of the undersigned from 17.04.2023 to 21.04.2023 until 4:00 P.M

Last date for submission of application is 05.05.2023 upto 4:00 P.M at PMGSY Cell, Office of the Chief Engineer, PWD(R&B) Kohima, NPWD Complex

K Chandrasekhar Rao

Sharad Pawar

TMC says Shah to “keep dreaming”

G20 FMs agree to address debt stress

NEW DELHI, APR 14

(IANS): G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) recognised the urgency to address debt vulnerabilities, including strengthening multilateral coordination toward addressing increasing debt distress in lowincome and vulnerable middle-income countries, as well as challenges to the global economy, including Ukraine, during their two-day meeting, which concluded on Thursday in Washington.

The members arrived at a consensus that global policy responses to crypto assets are required.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who chaired the meeting held between April 12 and 13, told mediapersons that funding of developmental activities is required for low and middle-income countries.

“There are pockets of underdeveloped areas

in middle-income countries, especially in the postpandemic era, which desperately need funding for development,” she added.

“We’re looking at the World Bank for two core things - extreme poverty alleviation and bringing prosperity post-poverty alleviation. Sustainability and goals related to climate, climate finance and energy transition will now have to be the third pillar,” Sitharaman informed.

“On India’s proposal

to regulate crypto assets, there’s a greater acceptance among G20 members that any action on crypto assets must be global. G20 and its members agree that it’ll not be possible for a single country to deal with crypto assets,” the Finance Minister said. There has to be a coordinated global understanding to regulate crypto assets. IMF’s paper is being discussed, and FSB’s (Financial Stability Board) paper will be considered

soon. A synthesis paper will be prepared based on IMF and FSB’s paper, she informed further.

“There is a consciousness that crypto assets, particularly those not backed by any sovereign assets, can themselves cause macroeconomic instability,” Sitharaman said.

During the “Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable” where all stakeholders of the debt distress related matters, private participants and affected countries were there, positive discussions were held on the debt restructuring issue, the Finance Minister told mediapersons.

“Discussion on climate finance is moving in a positive direction, not just the current flow but also the quantum required for meeting climate challenges. Private financing, transitional costs and technological requirements are also being looked into,” she said.

SH firm with protecting customary rights, identity

(From p-1) image and role of the STH “should never be compromised whatsoever”.

SH said after being denounced by the tribal bodies, “few individuals, on the pretext of fighting for women’s rights”, were diluting Naga social fabric

that was “unacceptable”.

SH said while it propagates and stood for women empowerment, it was not averse to women reservation exercise, provided it was time bound. While reiterating that there should be no discrimination on either men or women, SH said it

would be happy to see more women, not only in municipal and town councils but in active politics at state and national levels.

SH also lauded the government of Nagaland for inviting tribal hohos and civil society orgnisations for consultations

on contentious issues. It also urged upon the government of Nagaland “to desist from recognising un-mandated organisations and those organisations beyond the state of Nagaland, to discuss the issues pertaining to the state of Nagaland.”

Tata Motors to hike PV prices from May 1 by 0.6%

NEW DELHI, APR 14 (AGEN-

CIES): Tata Motors said on Friday it will increase the price of its passenger vehicle (PV) range by around 0.6 percent from May 1, joining industry rivals that made similar announcements early in FY24.

According to Business Standard, Tata Motors hiked PV prices by 2.8 per cent in FY23 through three announcements over the months.

The company said that the “marginal” increase in prices from May 1 will depend on the variant and model. “Tata Motors has been absorbing a significant portion of the increased costs on account of regulatory changes & rise in overall

input costs and is hence compelled to pass on some proportion through this hike,” it said in a statement.

Domestic wholesale of passenger vehicles increased 26.7 per cent to more than 3.89 million units

in 2022-23, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). In FY24, the automobile industry expects 5-7 per cent volume growth.

Tata Motors, from April 1, raised prices of its commercial vehicles (CVs) by 5 per cent ahead of India’s transition to new emission norms called BS 6 phase II. It was the company’s fourth price hike for CVs since the last financial year: the first one was announced in March and became in effective April 2022. The company raised CV prices again in July 2022 and January 2023, taking the total increase to around 12 per cent.

G20 discussions also progressed under the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), Sitharaman said.

“Countries took a keen interest in leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for global financial inclusion and productivity gains. When we’re talking about crypto and DPI, cross-border payment issues also get subsumed. Cross border payments issue has the strength of being a very important instrument to be a good buy-in from all the G20 countries,” she noted.

“On international taxation, the FMCBG meeting focussed on the urgent need to galvanise international efforts towards achieving a fair, sustainable and modern international tax system. Swift implementation of the two-pillar international tax package has been called for by all members,” Sitharaman informed.

India’s forex reserves rise by $ 6.3 bn

NEW DELHI, APR 14 (AGENCIES): India’s forex reserves jumped by USD 6.3 billion to USD 584. 755 billion for the week ended April 7, the RBI said on Friday. In the last reporting week, the forex kitty snapped a two-week rising trend to decline by USD 329 million to 578.45 billion, ET reported.

Foreign Currency Assets increased by USD 4.740 billion to USD 514.431 billion.

Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. Gold reserves also increased by USD 1.496 billion to USD 46.696 billion, the RBI said.

(From p-1) in the world responsible for 8.2 million deaths globally and 1.3 million deaths in India.

He pointed out that in North East India, 49% of all cancer cases in men and 22 % in women attributed to tobacco use respectively Kikheto informed that on April 4, 2023, all private hospitals, health institutions were declared as “tobacco free zone” with effect from April 11, 2023

Informing that all government hospitals, health care, health offices including directorate of health & family welfare had been declared as “tobacco free zone” on January 23, 2023, Kikheto said that soon all government, public offices

and institutions would also be declared as tobacco free zones. He described “tobacco-free home” campaign as “historic” and said it was perhaps the first in the country and world. Kikheto said Little Flower Higher Secondary School was chosen as the venue because it was an all-girls school and girls being effective, efficient agents of changes he also stated that women were the key to sustainable development and quality of life in the family.

Kikheto also highlighted the objectives of tobacco-free home campaign. He said that once the educational institutions became tobacco-free, the students would have more knowledge to create aware-

ness in their homes and when awareness was created in every home huge impact on the overall behaviour of the citizens will follow. On the occasion, 24 certificates for declaration of “tobaccofree home’ were distributed to the parents and students.

Earlier, sister superior Rosemary Adaphro delivered welcome address and gave invocation. At the programme, LFHSS, AntiTobacco club presented the club anthem while additional director, Dr Chiekroshuyi Tetseo delivered keynote address and deputy director, &SNO(NTCP), Dr Arenla Walling proposed vote of thanks. The programme was chaired by joint director & SPO (NHOP) H&FW, Dr Meribeni Odyuo.

NSF to boycott personal interview of CSRE

(From p-1)

NSF, however, clarified that the sincerity and integrity of the board members was in no way being questioned through this demand, which was solely meant to uphold the interest of the aspirants seeking for a free and fair recruitment process.

Meanwhile, the NSF president reminded the chief secretary in a letter of the NSF’s demand for the reduction of the marks for viva-voce component in the Combined Staff Recruitment Exam 2022 from the proposed 12.5% to 5% of the total marks. He regretted that despite this

legitimate demand by the NSF in the interest of the student and youth community, the NSSB had announced the schedule for the personal interview of the qualified candidates. In light of this unfavourable development, NSF informed the chief secretary that the federation was compelled to act on the resolution adopted at the 4th Presidential Council meeting of the federation. It also clarified that NSF was in no way questioning the sincerity and integrity of the NSSB members and that the demand was solely to uphold the interest of the aspirants seeking for a free and fair recruitment process.

Mercury rises to nearly 40oC in many places of NE

(From p-1)

The Met officials said that the maximum temperatures are likely to remain the same for the next 4-5 days. An IMD bulletin said that light rain is likely to occur in some places in Arunachal Pradesh while the weather is likely to re-

main dry in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. As there has been no rainfall for the past few weeks, a water crisis gripped many parts of the northeast, especially in hilly and remote areas. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research

land for Sale

and the IMD have issued various advisories for farmers and various agri farms to deal with their seasonal crops. Health authorities also issued advisories asking people to stay guarded against rising temperatures.

Nirmala Sitharaman

snIPPets

Dutch prosecutors investigate activist who desecrated Quran

THE HAGUE (NETHERLANDS), APR 14 (AP): An anti-Islam activist who tore pages out of the Quran and called it a “fascist book” in front of the Dutch parliament building in January is being investigated on suspicion of insulting Muslims, prosecutors said on Friday.

The action by Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Dutch branch of the farright Pegida movement, and a Danish far-right activist’s burning of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm the same month sparked protests in several predominantly Muslim countries around the world. While desecrating Islam’s holy book is not a crime in the Netherlands, prosecutors said comments that Wagensveld made while damaging the Quran amounted to an unlawful insult to the Muslim community.

Japan approves plan to open first casino to lure tourists

TOKYO, APR 14 (AP): Japan’s government on Friday approved a controversial plan to open the country’s first casino in the city of Osaka as it seeks to lure more foreign tourists.

The casino resort is to include conference facilities, an exhibition hall, a hotel and a theater and is expected to open as early as autumn 2029, four years after Osaka hosts a World Expo. “It is expected to contribute to the local economy and the economic growth of all of Japan after the Osaka-Kansai Expo and become a tourism hub for transmitting the charms of Japan,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a meeting of the government’s IR, or integrated resort, promotion panel.

China defence minister to meet Russian counterpart in Moscow

BEIJING, APR 14 (AP): Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu will visit Russia next week for meetings with counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials, China’s Defence Ministry said on Friday. Li’s visit underscores China’s strengthening engagement with Russia, with which it has largely aligned its foreign policy in an attempt to reshape the world order to diminish the influence of the United States and other Western democracies.

China has refused to criticise Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and blamed the US and NATO for provoking Moscow. During a 2022 visit to Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping issued a joint statement declaring a “no limits” relationship between the two countries.

S.Korea’s chief nuclear envoy to visit

Sweden, Germany

SEOUL, APR 14

(IANS): South Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator will visit Sweden and Germany next week to discuss issues related to the Korean Peninsula and North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, the foreign ministry said on Friday. Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will visit Stockholm on Monday and meet with Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson, Yonhap News Agency reported. Kim plans to request Sweden’s constructive role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Seoul and Stockholm.

China vows not to sell arms to any party in Ukraine war

BEIJING, APR 14 (AP): China won’t sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine, the country’s foreign minister said on Friday, responding to Western concerns that Beijing could provide military assistance to Russia.

China has maintained that it is neutral in the conflict, while backing Russia politically, rhetorically and economically at a time when Western nations have imposed punishing sanctions and sought to isolate Moscow for its invasion of its neighbour.

Qin Gang is the highest-level Chinese official to make such an explicit statement about arms sales to Russia. He added that China would also regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use.

“Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude,” Qin said at a news conference alongside visiting German

counterpart Annalena Baerbock.

“China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations.”

The minister also reiterated China’s willingness to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

At the same news conference, Qin also blamed Taiwan’s government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the

N. Korea says it tested new solid-fuel long-range missile

SEOUL (SOUTH KOREA), APR 14 (AP):

island it claims as its own territory.

In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US had intelligence suggesting China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia — and warned that such involvement in the Kremlin’s war effort would be a “serious problem.”

In recent days, European leaders have issued similar warnings, even as they visited China, and the European Union’s foreign policy chief lashed out at Beijing, saying its support of Russia during the invasion was “a blatant violation” of its United Nations commitments. In her remarks, Baerbock also referred to China’s role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, saying it bore a special responsibility for helping end the conflict.

“But I have to wonder why the Chinese positioning so far does not include a

World Bank President Malpass praises India for empowering women

WASHINGTON, APR 14 (PTI): The world is leapfrogging in women’s empowerment, World Bank President David Malpass has said and praised India’s efforts, especially that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is “deeply interested and concerned.”

Participating in a panel discussion on “Empowering Women as Entrepreneurs and Leaders” organised by the World Bank on the sidelines of its spring meetings here on Thursday, Malpass and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with other panelists, discussed the development and empowerment of women in India and the world.

“We should continue all that we are doing now for women,” Sitharaman said in response to a question as she explained in detail the steps the Modi Government has undertaken for the economic empowerment of women

in India.

Malpass commended the efforts of Prime Minister Modi in India, where the World Bank has a massive programme.

The prime minister, he said, is “deeply interested and concerned and pushing on this issue.”

The world is leapfrogging in empowerment, the World Bank president said. For women to be able to communicate, to have digital transactions without having to go to the bank where there might be a male clerk, that doesn’t really receive them well, is hugely empowering, he

China’s Xi, Brazil’s Lula meet in Beijing to boost ties

said. “And also just the source of information that women can get on how other women are operating in other parts of the world, that’s huge. And so, I think we should push that along as fast as we can,” Malpass said.

“I’ll give you the example of skilling programmes, which are happening in India wherein, I don’t know what I can make out of this. If a hundred people are trained and they’re trained in such skills which are useful for employment, immediate recruitment potential, 68 per cent of all those who have been recruited are women.

“It just says a lot more about how women are ready once they have the skills in their hands to get going,” Sitharaman said. “So, we have to invest in skilling women and legislative support is something which is very important for countries like India.

call for the aggressor, Russia, to stop the war,” she said.

“We all know that President (Vladimir) Putin would have the opportunity to do so at any time, and the people in Ukraine would like nothing more than to finally be able to live in peace again.”

A visit to Moscow last month by Chinese leader Xi Jinping underscored how Beijing is increasingly becoming the senior partner in the relationship as it provides Russia with an economic lifeline and political cover. China announced Friday that Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu would visit Russia next week for meetings with counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials. On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Qin articulated well-worn defenses of Chinese policies that underscore Beijing’s rejection of criticisms from the West, particularly the US.

Russia trained Belarusian pilots in nuclear weapons

MOSCOW, APR 14 (AP): Belarusian air force crews have completed their training for using tactical nuclear weapons as part of Russia’s plan to deploy the weapons to its ally Belarus amid the fighting in neighbouring Ukraine, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry released a video in which a Belarusian pilot said that the training course in Russia had given the crews of the Belarusian air force’s Su-25 ground attack jets the necessary skills for using the weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared last month that Moscow planned to put some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

It was another attempt by the Kremlin leader to dangle the nuclear threat to discourage the West from supporting Ukraine.

North Korea said on Friday it flight-tested a solidfuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time, a possible breakthrough in its efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency issued the report a day after the country’s neighbours detected a launch of a long-range missile from near Pyongyang, which extended a run of weapons displays involving more than 100 missiles fired into the sea since the start of 2022.

Thursday’s test did not appear to demonstrate the weapon’s full capacity, and it remains unclear how far North Korea has come in mastering technologies to ensure the warhead would withstand atmospheric reentry and accurately strike targets.

Still, analysts said the test was likely a meaningful

The test-launch of Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday, April 13, 2023 at an undisclosed location, N. Korea. (AP) advance in North Korea’s goal to build a nuclear arsenal that could directly threaten the United States.

KCNA said the launch was supervised on site by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who described the missile — named Hwasong-18 — as the most powerful weapon of his nuclear forces that would enhance counterattack abilities in the face of external threats created by the military activities of the United States and its regional allies.

Kim pledged to further expand his nuclear arsenal to “constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror” in his rivals and make them feel regret for their wrong choices. North Korea has justified its weapons demonstrations as a response to the expanding military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which the North condemns as invasion rehearsals while using them as a pretext to push further its own weapons development.

France’s Constitutional Council approves higher pension age

PARIS, APR 14 (AP):

France’s Constitutional Council on Friday approved an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, in a victory for President Emmanuel Macron after three months of mass protests over the legislation that have damaged his leadership. The move threatened to enrage unions and other critics of the pension plan, including protesters gathered in spots around France on Friday evening as the decision came down.

Macron’s political opponents vowed to maintain pressure on the government to withdraw the bill.

The council rejected some other measures in the pension bill, but the higher age was central to Macron’s plan and the target of protesters’ anger. Macron can enact the bill within 15 days.

In a separate but related decision, the council rejected a request by left-

Germany bids farewell to its last nuclear plants, eyes hydrogen future

LINGEN,

GERMANY

, APR 14 (AP): For 35 years, the Emsland nuclear power plant in northwestern Germany has reliably provided millions of homes with electricity and many with well-paid jobs in what was once an agricultural backwater.

BEIJING, APR 14 (AP):

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday as part of a push to boost ties between two of the world’s largest developing nations.

The meeting came on the second day of Lula’s visit to China, his country’s most important trading partner and key ally in his bid to challenge Western-dominated economic institutions.

Lula was greeted with full military honours, including a 21-gun salute, at the Great Hall of the People adjacent to Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital. Their talks focused largely on trade ties and other forms of cooperation, but also touched on the conflict in Ukraine, with the leaders agreeing on the need for a negotiated settlement, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. “As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Brazil share extensive common

interests,” Xi said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. “China ... sees the relationship as a high priority on its diplomatic agenda,” he said.

The leaders then oversaw the signing of agreements in areas ranging from agriculture to aeronautics. That underscored the improvement in relations since Lula took over in January from right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro, who showed little interest in foreign travel and under whom relations with China were often tense.

Lula’s visit included the swearing in on Thursday of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, which is funding infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the developing world. The bank portrays itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often impose loan conditions that developing nations criticise as punitive.

Now, it and the country’s two other remaining nuclear plants are being shut down. Germany long ago decided to phase out both fossil fuels and nuclear power over concerns that neither is a sustainable source of energy. The final countdown Saturday -- delayed for several months over feared energy shortages because of the Ukraine war -is seen with relief by Germans who have campaigned against nuclear power.

Yet with energy prices stubbornly high and climate change a growing concern, some in the country and abroad are branding the move reckless. As Germany closes nuclear stations, other governments in Europe have announced plans to build new ones or have backtracked on commitments to shut down existing plants.

“The Emsland nuclear power plant has indeed contributed significantly to the economic development of this region,” says Albert Stegemann, a dairy farmer and lawmaker for the op-

Water vapor rises from the RWE nuclear power plant Emsland in Lingen, western Germany, March 18, 2022. (AP)

position Christian Democrats who represents the nearby town of Lingen and surrounding areas in the federal parliament.

Unlike some of his conservative colleagues, Stegemann isn’t worried the lights will go out in Germany when the three reactors — Emsland, Neckarwestheim II and Isar II — are switched off for good. The closure of three other plants in late 2021 reduced nuclear’s share of electricity produced in Germany to about 5% but didn’t result in any blackouts.

The 47-year-old is also realistic about the lack of support the technology has among German voters, though he insists the vast majority of people in Lingen supported the plant.

“In the long term, nuclear power is certainly not the technology of the future.

wing lawmakers to allow for a possible referendum on enshrining 62 as the maximum official retirement age. The council will rule on a similar request next month.

Security forces stood behind a metal fence erected in front of the heavily guarded Constitutional Council.

As tensions mounted hours before the decision, Macron invited labour unions to meet with him on Tuesday “whatever the decision by the Constitutional Council,” his office said.

The president did not grant a request last month by unions for a meeting. Unions have been the organisers of 12 nationwide protests since January and have a criticial role in trying to tamp down excessive reactions by protesters.

“The doors of the Elysee (presidential palace) will remain open, without condition, for this dia -

logue,” Macron’s office said. There was no immediate response from unions to the invitation.

The plan to increase the retirement age was meant to be Macron’s showcase measure in his second term.

The council decision caps months of tumultuous debates in parliament and fervour in the streets.

Spontaneous demonstrations were held around France ahead of the ninemember council’s ruling. Opponents of the pension reform blockaded entry points into some cities, including Rouen in the west or Marseille in the south, slowing or stopping traffic.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was interrupted while visiting a supermarket outside Paris by a group of people chanting “We don’t want it,” referring to the way she skirted the vote by lawmakers to advance the pension reform.

But at this time it would have been good to be able to rely on it,” he said.

Against the backdrop of the Russian attack on Ukraine and the challenges of climate change “it would have been wise to think about (delaying the shutdown) another one, two or three years,” Stegemann said.

“Politicians need to adjust to changed circumstances,” he added. “And I accuse the government of not doing that at all.”

Similar concerns have been raised in other quarters. “Right now, existing nuclear plants are a critical source of carbon-free baseload energy,” said Peter FoxPenner, previously a senior official at the U.S. Department of Energy and now with the Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy.

DP-1612/23

OFFICe OF the yIKhUM stUDents’ UnIOn

WOKha : naGaLanD

FeLICItatIOn

With immense pride and reverence, we the Yikhum Students’ Union convey our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Jeniren Kyong, S/o. Rev. K Chumben Kyong and Mrs. Thungjano Kyong, for bringing laurels to our union in completion of MBA from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta) and placed in Vedanta Ltd. As part of Vedanta Leadership Development Program.

The Union further extends prayers and wishes that our Almighty God continue to bless him with good health, wisdom and success in all his endeavours.

Longshithung Kithan Chumthungo Kikon President, YSU Gen. Secy., YSU WC-82/23

GratItUDe

The Government High School New Market Kohima express our profound gratitude to the 1st Assam Rifle, Kohima for graciously allowing the School to use their establishment and providing all the necessary materials needed for the success of the School Annual Sports Meet.

The attentive and ever-ready spirit shown towards the students' welfare is highly admirable and appreciated. The School wishes them God's blessings and protection in their future endeavours.

With regards students and staff Upper section, Ghs new Market Kohima.

Qin Gang

David Malpass

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Friday. (AP)

YouthNet, YRS organise ‘LaunchPad Education’

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 14 (NPN): YouthNet and the department of Youth Resources and Sports Friday organised “LaunchPad Education and Career Fair 2023” at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima for students who recently appeared their Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations 2023.

Speaking at the fair as guest of honour, advisor, industries and commerce, Hekani Jakhalu stressed on the importance of mainstreaming attractive teaching and learning methods in all schools.

She lauded the stakeholders for taking the big step of introducing innovative programs in improving the education system in Nagaland.

Pointing out the fastpaced emergence of cuttingedge technologies, Hekani urged the youth to keep learning new skills and equip themselves. She also gave out the “LaunchPad Awards to the Best School” to Government Higher Sec-

Mokokchung gets new GA rest house

and make use of the internet in an interesting and productive way. YouthNet director, Nuneseno Chase highlighted on the overview of the Launchpad. Dr. Tsielhoutuo Rhutos gave out the award for the LaunchPad Best Teacher to Rhonbeni Kikon of GHSS Jotsoma and smart phone to Chichan of GHSS Chukitong, Wokha. The LaunchPad program would also award scholarships to selected students to pursue their graduation which will be fully sponsored.

DIMAPUR: As part of the platinum jubilee year of Gauhati High Court, a tree plantation drive was kicked off at New High Court Complex, Meriema on April 14.

During the drive, 14 variety of trees, both ornamental and fruit bearing trees, numbering were planted around the vicinity of the new High court complex, Meriema.

The plantation drive was graced by advisor of Law and Justice, TN Mannen.

In his speech, the advisor said it was privileged

Hekani Jakhalu speaking at the ‘LaunchPad Education and Career Fair 2023’ in Kohima on Friday. (NP) ondary School (GHSS) Tseminyu.

In a short speech, Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhütso, MLA, encouraged the youths from different districts of the state to discover their talents and seek guidance to hone their skills.

Principal director, School Education, Thavaseelan K said the larger problem faced by students after completion of college the students was the “next step”. He said such confu-

sion has caused unemployment problem, which was posing as a “ticking time bomb” for the youth.

To address such issue, Thavaseelan said there was a need to identify the interest of students in early stage and skill them so that they are employable.

Department of youth resources and sports, director, Akumla Chuba encouraged the students to explore the avenues beyond traditional jobs and plan

Plantation drive at High Court Complex

to be part of the occasion and termed it as a pioneering venture in contributing towards the ecological balance of Kohima city.

Mannen also lauded lauded the judicial fraternity, especially the various Bar Associations under Kohima for the initiative and encouraged the law practitioners to inculcate a fresh and progressive mind.

Pointing out that Nagaland Land Law has become an integral part of Naga Municipal Act, he assured to try and organize the Nagaland Land Law during the drafting in such

a manner that it will benefit not only the urban dwellers but also in interest of the rural area as well.

The advisor also stressed for early completion of the new High Court Complex at the earliest, and said that he will discuss with the chief minister to ensure that the dream of all Nagas for the early completion of the complex was realized in record time.

Earlier, the programme was chaired by secretary HCBA, Joshua Sheqi and invocation by KDBA president, Kekhiengulie.

NPGN/NNC (N/A) lauds GoI, IM decision

DIMAPUR: NPGN/NNC (N/A) has lauded the government of India and NSCN (I-M) for agreeing to solve the “pending Naga political settlement” issue on the basis of August 3, 2015 “Framework Agreement”.

In a press release, NPGN/NNC (N/A) president, T. Ovung appreciated government of India and NSCN(I-M) for their “fruitful negotiation pertaining

to Naga Political” on April 13 at Rhododendron Police Complex Chumoukedima. Ovung said the parties agreeing to solve the “pending Naga Political settlement issue” on the basis of Framework Agreement which would be acceptable to all Nagas people of Nagalim.” Further, Ovung has appealed to the people of “Nagalim” to support/ join hands with the negotiators to enable to solve the problem at the earliest.

their careers based on their interest and abilities.

Chuba informed that the program has covered 3000 students with 3394 enrolments in 2020-21 and 3397 students had enrolled in 2021-22.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kohima, Shanavas C encouraged the youths to discover their potential and make the best use of the opportunities. He advised the students to organise study groups, career groups

Fire service week observed at Khuzama

DIMAPUR: Along with the rest of the country, Fire Station, Khuzama observed National Fire Service week on April 14 under the theme; ‘Awareness in Fire Safety for Growth of National Infrastructure’ at Sacred Heart High School Khuzama.

At the programme, officer in charge of Fire Service Khuzama, Maisunsilakbo appealed to the gathering to take note of the demonstration on fire safety measures, LPG care maintenance and safety, rescue technique bandages and use operation of fire extinguishers. He advised the public to not panic during fire incidents but to inform the fire station immediately.

The invocation was offered by Emmanuel Baptist Church Pastor Zakie Metha, while welcome note and closing remark was delivered by Ravolü Chüzho.

It may be noted that LaunchPad, a career guidance and employment skills development program designed for students pursuing their 12th standard in all GHSS across Nagaland, was initiated by the department of Youth Resources and Sports in partnership with YouthNet and supported by the department of School Education.

Correspondent MOKOKCHUNG, APR

14 (NPN): The newly constructed General Administration (GA) Rest House, Mokokchung, was inaugurated, Friday, by Advisor, CAWD and Taxes, Kudecho Khamo after it was dedicated by MTBA associate pastor, Rev. P Chuba Jamir, in the presence of advisors, Tenjenmenba and Imkongmar, along with the district administration and

CAWD departmental officers.

In his inaugural speech, Kudecho Khamo, lauded the officials of CAWD and the contractor for the successful completion of the rest house and described it as one of the best rest house in the state. Khamo expressed the hope that the rest house would cater to the people in need, as emphasized by the CAWD officials, not of Mokokchung but the adjoining districts, as well.

Earlier, short speeches were delivered by advisor of Transport and Technical Education, Tenjenmenba, advisor of Minorities Affairs and Sericulture, Imkongmar and Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung, Shashant Pratap Singh,. The technical report was delivered by Executive Engineer (CAWD) Er. Sungtiba Amer and the function was chaired by EAC, Abinuo Jasmine Ashao.

PHED launches SBCC tool for Jal Jeevan Mission

DIMAPUR: Department of Public Health and Engineering (PHED) launched a Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) tool for Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Information, Education, Communication (IEC) activities on April 13, at the 4th state level co-ordination committee meeting with the State Implementing Support Agency (ISA) North-East Initiative Development Agency (NEIDA).

A press release by the department informed that principal secretary, PHED, E Mhonbemo Patton and chief engineer, sanitation and WSSO, PHED, Thsathrichem Sangtam attended the launching

programme.

PHED said community was key and active stakeholder of the mission at all stages of planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of the in-village water supply systems in -

NEWS IN BRIEF

KODH to celebrate 50 yrs: Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home (KODH) would be celebrating 50 years on April 16 within the home’s vicinity on KohimaDimapur Road. All well-wishers and former children who grew under the care of the home have been requested to join in the celebration.

CMO Wokha informs: Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Wokha office has informed that medical board for service confirmation would be held on April 19-20, 10 a.m. at office premises for all government employees of various departments under Wokha district. All concerned are asked to produce appointment order and birth certificate for the medical board examination.

NNC/FGN meeting: Naga National Council (NNC)/Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) has convened its monthly authority meeting on April 24, 10 a.m. at Transit Peace Camp (TPC) Kohima, Nagaland. All the eligible authorities including tatars and CEC members of the NNC/ FGN have been requested to attend the meeting with essential agendas.

DBS wishes: Dimapur Bengali Samaj (DBS) has wished the community a very happy, prosperous and eventful Poila Boishakh. The Samaj hoped that the Bengali New Year would usher in jubilant, opulent, rewarding and socially meaningful times.

Toiho inaugurates Nivishe Village: S. Toiho Yeptho, MLA, on April 12 inaugurated the recently recognized Nivishe Village under Suruhuto constituency and Aghunato Sub-Division in the presence of Dr. Sukhato A Sema, MLA, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zunheboto, Rahul Bhanudas Mali and other leaders.

ABAM organises training: A “contextual training” for associate pastor youth was organised by Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) on April 11-14 at Pine Book Centre, Umbang, Meghalaya. The speakers were, Rev. Dr. Aowapang Pastor Guwahati Ao BA; Rev. Dr. Meyu Changkiri, Pastor, Shillong Ao BA; Butisen Ozüküm; Imli P. Lemtur, Pastor, Jorhat Ao BA; Toshi Sanglir, Secretary, ABAM YM and Teka Imchen, coordinator, ABAM YM.

Distributionofmachineries&demonstrationforfarmers

DIMAPUR: With an objective to skill farmers and enhance agricultural production of the state, agriculture and allied departments distributed machineries, and conducted trainings, demonstrations, field visits for the farmers.

DAO Phek: District Agriculture Office (DAO), Phek distributed farm machineries to Phek Sadar farmers under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) 2022-23 on April 13.

Speaking as a special guest at the distribution programme, SDO (C), Phek, Tsenthungo E Ngullie, thanked the department of agriculture for providing free farm machineries to the farmers.

He encouraged the farmers to use their machines judiciously and boost agriculture produc-

tion to a higher proportion.

Ngullie also encouraged farmers to opt for organic farming for a healthier living.

A keynote address on farm machineries was presented by DAO, Phek L Sunep Pongener. The

programme was chaired by AFA,

of thanks

appreciation were delivered

ATMA Mokokchung: Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Mokokchung, Chuchuyimlang Block conducted a field day on “Production of Vermicompost” on April 13 at Chuchuyimlang Village.

During the visit, resource person, ACTO, KVK, Tuensang, Samuel Anar spoke on the management of vermi bed and post-harvest management of vermicompost.

He also demonstrated vermicompost harvesting by pyramidal heap and explained that this method of harvesting vermicompost takes the advantage of the earthworm’s sensitivity towards light as they will tend to move deep into the pyramid. Screening or sieving, storing and packing of vermicompost was also highlighted.

DPD, ATMA Mokokchung, Sentinaro Longchar also briefed the farmers on the purpose of the field visit. Altogether 18 farmers with ATMA staff from Chuchuyimlang block attended the field day programme.

cluding drinking water sources.

The department said Social Behaviour Change Communication strategy and tools had been conceptualized and designed based on consultative meetings with various stake -

holders and research study. The six posters in English and six local dialects, three animated videos in Nagamese developed by the State ISA NEIDA was launched for capacity building and SBCC campaigns.

With immense pride and honor, the Nikhekhu Students’ Union extends our heartiest congratulations to Miss. Alovi Sumi, daughter of Mr. K Hozheto Sumi and Mrs. Khegholi H Sumi for qualifying the UGC NET as Assistant Professor in History.

The union further wishes her good health and success in her future endeavors.

Julie Zhimomi Jerehto President, NSU General Secretary, NSU

FeLICItatIOn

We the Grand Children of Late C. Imyangluba Aier of LIrMen vILLaGe with immense pride and honour convey our heartiest congratulations to. (i) shri. L. MayanG aIer for being promoted to senior superintendent of Police, nagaland Lokayukta Police, Kohima, nagaland. (ii) shri. LanUtOshI aIer for being appointed as President, ao Kaketshir Mungdang (aKM).

As you both endeavour to take on new responsibilities and work for the upliftment of our people, we convey our good wishes and pray for God’s wisdom, guidance, protection and grand success in all your undertakings.

Advisor, Kudecho Khamo (center) along with other dignitaries. (NP)

Neilo Koza; Mhasituo invoked God’s blessing, words

and

by Saveneyi and Mhasituo both progressive farmers of Phek Village and Satheri Village respectively.

Governor of Nagaland La Ganesan at an interactive meeting with members of South Indian Community on the occasion of Tamil New Year and Vishu (Malayalam) at Dr. Imkongliba Ao Hall, Raj Bhavan, Kohima on April 14. (PRO Raj Dhavan)

PHED officers and others at the launching of SBCC tool.

DAO Phek and beneficiaries at the distribution of machineries on April 13.

Europa League: Sevilla mount dramatic late comeback to hold Man Utd

MANCHESTER, APR 14

(IANS): Six-time winners

Sevilla fought back from two goals down to secure a draw thanks to a pair of late own goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Europa League quarterfinal first leg.

In another match, Federico Gatti’s first goal for Juventus gave the Italian side a narrow win in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against an impressive Sporting CP.

The hosts started brightly and had the ball in the net in the opening 30 seconds, but Jadon Sancho’s effort was ruled out for offside.

The speed with which United broke for that attack gave Sevilla a warning of what was to come. With 14 minutes gone a neat passing move culminated in Bruno Fernandes’ sliderule pass picking out Marcel Sabitzer on the edge of the area.

The Austrian international controlled it superbly with his right foot, before rifling a left-footed strike that deflected off Marcão and looped into the net.

Seven minutes later and the midfielder had doubled his, and the Red Devils’ tally on the night.

Anthony Martial, making his first start in three months, was instrumental in the home side’s quick counter, eventually providing the defence-splitting pass for Sabitzer to advance and coolly place his shot out of reach of the advancing Bounou, according to information available on the UEFA Europa League website. Sevilla burst into life late on and halved their deficit when substitute Jesús Navas sent in a low centre that struck Tyrell

Malacia and then De Gea on its way into the roof of the net.

The introduction of top scorer Youssef EnNesyri had given the visitors an outlet in the penalty area, the substitute brilliantly denied by the home goalkeeper moments later.

Sevilla kept coming and Lucas Ocampos’ high, hanging ball from the right in added time was perfect for En-Nesyri to attack. The Moroccan international’s powerful header deflected off the unfortu-

nate Harry Maguire and wrong-footed De Gea, giving the visitors an unlikely draw to take back to Spain. Narrow win for Juve In Turin, despite both sides picking attacking teams and employing positive tactics, this match turned into a fascinating battle, Federico Chiesa having an early effort saved by Sporting goalkeeper Antonio Adán after expertly controlling a searching diagonal ball from Ángel Di María.

Sporting gradually

Rybakina, Krejcikova shine in Billie Jean King Cup openers

Katarina Zavatska 6-4 6-3.

The 27-year-old, who said she has been supporting the people of Ukraine during the conflict, also pledged her earnings from the Qualifiers to the people of Turkey affected by the devastating earthquake in February.

Spain led Mexico 2-0 after Sara Sorribes Tormo thrashed Fernanda Contreras Gomez 6-0 6-0 before Nuria Parrizas Diaz beat Renata Zarazua 6-4 6-3.

ASTANA, APR 14

(AGENCIES): Grand

Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Barbora Krejcikova comfortably won their opening matches to help Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic take 2-0 leads in their Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers on Friday.

Kazakhstan stamped their authority over Poland on clay at home, taking full advantage of world number one Iga Swiatek’s

absence due to injury as Yulia Putintseva stunned Magda Linette 7-5 6-3 before Rybakina doubled their advantage.

The reigning Wimbledon champion fired nine aces and won three out of six breakpoints in her 6-3 6-4 victory over Weronika Falkowska to put Kazakhstan in full control ahead of the final day’s action. The best-of-five qualifiers will feature two singles matches on Friday and two

reverse singles matches on Saturday along with a doubles rubber.

Czech Republic’s former Roland Garros runner-up Marketa Vondrousova beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 in the Turkish city of Antalya where the teams are playing due to the war in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.

Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion, then eased past Ukraine’s

DBS Zubza lift Kohima district inter high school girls’ open basketball trophy

The United States, who have won more titles than any other nation in the competition with 18, face Austria while Britain meet France, Italy play Slovakia and Canada take on Belgium. The nine victorious countries from the Qualifiers will join defending champions Switzerland and 2022 runners-up Australia at this year’s Finals, which will take place from Nov. 7-12.

grew into the game and Sebastián Coates tested Wojciech Szczesny at the other end with an acrobatic

Szczesny struggles to breathe during Sporting CP match

Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny revealed that he had to be replaced in the 1-0 win over Sporting CP as he was struggling to breathe in the first half. Federico Gatti’s goal was the difference for Juventus in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday.

Juventus coach Mas-

similiano Allegri ended the first leg with Mattia Perin between the sticks after he replaced Szczesny in the 44th minute. The Pole required medical attention after he suddenly clutched his chest. After the medical intervention, Szczesny left the pitch in tears with a standing ovation from the fans.

far-post volley.

The home goalkeeper was also equal to a nearpost effort from Pedro Gonçalves while Nuno Santos had a low drive cleared off the line by Gleison Bremer.

Szczesny was withdrawn shortly before halftime, and his replacement Mattia Perin was quickly into the action, keeping out a curling Pedro Gonçalves effort early in the second period.

Juventus grew more threatening as the half wore on, Chiesa causing Sporting plenty of trouble down the left, and one of those runs indirectly led to

the only goal 17 minutes from time. Adán was tempted out to try to collect Nicolò Fagioli’s deep corner only to miss the ball, and though Dušan Vlahovic’s subsequent header was blocked on the line by Coates, Gatti was on hand to force in.

Sporting almost snatched a dramatic equaliser deep into added time as Perin produced a superb double save, first keeping out Pedro Gonçalves’ close-range effort and then springing up to block Héctor Bellerin’s follow-up on the line, to ensure Juventus will have a lead to defend in Portugal next week.

Florian Wirtz’s goal helps Leverkusen hold Saint-Gilloise

Bayern Leverkusen managed a 1-1 draw with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at home after Florian Wirtz equalised Victor Boniface’s opener in the first leg of the quarterfinals. Leverkusen mounted a series of aggressive attacks before the break, but Moussa Diaby’s shot narrowly missed the target, and Piero Hincapie squandered a promising header from close range.

Saint-Gilloise punished Leverkusen for their wastefulness in front of the goal 51 minutes in when

Teddy Teuma’s through ball allowed Boniface to slot home from inside the box into the far bottom corner. Leverkusen was stunned and struggled to respond as Saint-Gilloise kept all their men behind the ball to maintain the narrow lead.

The hosts found it difficult to penetrate SaintGilloise’s well-organized defense and had to wait until the 83rd minute when Wirtz unleashed a 20-meter strike to secure a 1-1 draw in front of the home crowd.

Conference League: Fiorentina smash Lech 4-1 in quarters

stepped up the tempo and regained the lead four minutes before the first half ended. Gonzalez’s perfect header at the far post, following a pinpoint cross by Cristiano Biraghi from the left flank, put Fiorentina ahead once more.

DIMAPUR, APR 14

(NPN): Don Bosco School

(DBS) Zubza sector girls emerged as the champion of the Kohima district inter high school girls’ open basketball tournament organised by St Mary’s Cathedral Hr. Sec. School, Lerie Kohima in memory of its teacher, late Awele Kapfo.

The closing ceremony was graced by Dr. K.P.A IIyas (IPS) along with special guest, Commander 1Naga Battalion NCC Kohima, Colonel Manjeet Katoch and the family of late Awele Kapfo.

The champion Don

Bosco School (DBS) Zubza walked away with a cash prize of Rs. 15,000, citation and trophy. The host school St Mary’s Cathedral Hr. Sec. School, Lerie finished as 1st runners-up while Christ King School was placed as 2nd runnersup. They both received a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 and 5,000 along with citation and trophy respectively.

Diezelhouno Meru of DBS was chosen as the MVP of the tournament and she was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 2,000, citation and a trophy. Be-

sides, all the participating teams were given citations and gifts. The event witnessed the participation from nine schools of Kohima including the host school. Teachers and students from nine schools as well as well-wishers were in attendance. A day-long event was of great entertainment, thrilling moments and an instance of good sportsmanship in unity. The cheers and applause from the audience resounded the grand success of the tournament.

WARSAW, APR 14 (IANS): Italian club Fiorentina secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Polish side Lech Poznan away from home in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinals. The visitors domi -

Divyansh, Vijayveer, Sift win in national selection trials

BHOPAL, APR 14 (PTI):

Olympian Divyansh Singh Panwar, who recently lost his place in the Indian team for the upcoming Baku World Cup, regained his form while Sift Kaur Samra and Vijayveer Sidhu extended their domination in the national selection trials for pistol and rifle here on Friday.

In Delhi’s Karni Singh Shooting Range, Anant Jeet Singh Naruka and Ganemat Sekhon won the men’s and women’s skeet trials respectively. While at the MP State Shooting Academy Range in Bhopal, Divyansh, a former world number one, was in sensational form, logging a score of 636.3 in the men’s 10m air rifle T4 (fourth trial) qualification round.

In the Bhopal International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup last month, China’s Sheng Lihao had shot 635.4 in qualification en route to gold which currently stands as the world record.

The fact that the Jaipur shooter beat it by almost a point speaks volumes. Besides qualification, he also topped the 25-shot ranking round and then went on to defeat Surya Pratap Singh Banshtu 16-12 in the gold medal match.

Punjab’s Sift Kaur

Samra, who won her first ever ISSF medal -- a bronze -- at the Bhopal World Cup, won the women’s T4 50m rifle 3 positions, putting it across state-mate and Olympian Anjum Moudgil, 16-4, in the gold medal clash.

Tejaswini Sawant, yet another seasoned Olympian in the fray, was third.

In the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol, India international Vijayveer Sidhu won 30 points to outgun Adarsh Singh 30-24 in the medal match to give Punjab another win. Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar was third with 17.

Among the junior winners were West Bengal’s Abhinav Shaw in the men’s 10m air rifle, Haryana’s Nikita Kundu who won the women’s 3P junior and Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu, who claimed the junior men’s 25m rapid fire event.

Anant Jeet, Ganemat win in New Delhi

Now a seasoned skeet shooter, Rajasthan’s Anant Jeet Singh Naruka won the men’s skeet trials at the DKSSR with 39 hits in the final. Overnight leader Gurjoat Singh Khangura of Punjab was second with 37 while Olympian Angad Bajwa was third with 17 hits.

nated from the outset on Thursday, and it took just four minutes for them to convert their control into a goal. Nicolas Gonzales’ long-range effort from outside the box struck the post, but moments later, Arthur Cabral found the net from close range.

Lech managed to respond in the 20th minute when Mikael Ishak headed the ball down to Kristoffer Velde at the edge of the box, who surprised Pietro Terraciano with a powerful low strike, reports Xinhua. Fiorentina, coached by Vincenzo Italiano,

The second half was a display of Italian dominance. Within five minutes, Fiorentina dashed Lech’s hopes for the second leg. In the 58th minute, Giacomo Bonaventura extended the lead to 3-1 with a skilful finish at the far post, while Jonathan Ikone dribbled past two Lech players to cap off a solo effort with a precise shot past Filip Bednarek.

After netting their fourth goal, the visitors focused on defence. Lech tried to narrow the deficit but struggled to create opportunities, as the favourites maintained complete control of the game.

James leads surging Lakers into playoffs, Bucks enter as favourites

LOS ANGELES, APR 14 (AGENCIES): LeB -

ron James returned from injury in time to boost the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers’ hopes of winning the NBA championship while Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks enter the playoffs as betting favourites to win their second title in two years. James returned to the Lakers 19 days ago after a month-long absence due to a right foot tendon injury and helped muscle the team into a playoff spot that earlier in the year seemed all but unattainable.

By clinching the Western Conference’s seventh seed, the Lakers earned the right to face electrifying guard Ja Morant and the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies in a best-of-seven games first-round series that begins on Sunday. Morant, who was suspended eight games by the NBA in March after video showed him “holding a firearm in an intoxicated state” at a nightclub, is one of the league’s brightest young stars and could cause fits for the Lakers’ Anthony Davis.

The Western Conference’s Golden State Warriors, who won a fourth NBA title in eight years in

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) celebrates the victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

2022, open their postseason on Saturday against the host Sacramento Kings.

The Kings, back in the postseason after a 16-year drought that is the longest in NBA history, are the third seed from the West and both a young and untested group.

The West’s top-seeded Denver Nuggets will face the winner of the play-in tournament game later on Friday between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Another team to watch in the West will be

the Phoenix Suns, who turned into a force when they acquired Kevin Durant at the trade deadline and have gone 8-0 in games when the two-time NBA champion has played. Phoenix face the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.

The Eastern Conference’s Bucks are the overall top seed and will enjoy home-court advantage throughout their postseason run, which will begin on Sunday against either the Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat.

Don Bosco School Zubza girls with their trophy and certificates.

Barbora Krejcikova and Elena Rybakina

Fiorentina team players celebrate after scoring against Lech Poznan.

(L) Match in action between Sevilla and Manchester United; (R) Juventus’ Frederico Gatti celebrates scoring their first goal.

IPL: Brook ton seals SRH’s 23-run win over KKR

KOLKATA, APR 14 (PTI): England’s new batting sensation Harry Brook brought a high-flying Kolkata Knight Riders down to earth with a sensational 55-ball century as Sunrisers Hyderabad cantered to its second victory by 23 runs in an IPL match, here on Saturday.

Young Brook finally managed to crack the IPL code in style with SRH managing a massive 228 for 4 in their stipulated 20 overs on a batting beauty. Their bowlers despite some hammering from home skipper Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh were restricted to 205 for 7 in 20 overs.

Brook, who was roped in after his exploits in Pakistan, finally announced his arrival in style, when he smashed four fours and two sixes inside first three overs to give SRH the best start of the season.

Bought by SRH for a whopping Rs 13.25 crore, Brook had managed only 29 in first three games but found his rhythm with a 55-ball-100 as he smashed 12 fours and three sixes. This was 16th edition’s first century.

In reply, it was always going to be difficult for KKR to maintain a runrate of 11 plus per over but skipper Rana (75 off 41 balls) did launch into SRH bowlers with half a dozen sixes and had ‘Man of the Moment’ Rinku Singh (58

not out off 31 balls) for company in their 69-run stand-off only 6.2 overs. This was after KR were reduced to 96 fo 5 within first 10 overs.

Once T Natarajan got rid of Rana, it was left to Rinku to pull off yet another heist as 57 were needed off last three overs.

But Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/29 in 4 overs) gave 10 in the 18th over while Natarajan (1/54 in 4 overs) went for 16 in the penultimate over.

With Rinku on strike and 32 needed off last over, Umran Malik (1/36 in 2 overs) came back well to dismiss Shardul Thakur with the first deliv-

ery and effectively sealing the game as the southpaw was stranded at the other end for first two deliveries. Rinku face four balls but Umran bowled fast and full to keep him under check with only eight runs being conceded.

Brook ‘Bonds’ with SRH philosophy Earlier, having got a reprieve on 45, when he was dropped by rookie legspinner Suyash Sharma an easy chance off his own bowling, Brook got to his 50 off 32 balls.

Brook also overturned a caught-behind decision off Lockie Ferguson when on 61, as he hammered the Kiwi fiery pacer in the

Super Cup: FC Goa prevail over Gokulam Kerala after Guarrotxenas’ late strike

KOZHIKODE, APR 14 (PTI): FC Goa recorded their first win of the Super Cup football tournament following a 90th minute strike by captain Iker Guarrotxena here on Friday, keeping their semifinals prospects alive.

The star forward duo of Noah Sadaoui and Guarrotxena combined to give the Gaurs all three points.

FC Goa finished with 19 shots on goal but had to wait till the end to get their three points.

The two sides had a fair share of opportunities throughout the game, with FC Goa coming close to scoring twice in the first 15 minutes.

In the eighth minute, Sadaoui’s cross from a free-kick in the attacking half was met by a towering header by Fares Arnaout.

But the Syrian defender’s attempt hit the wrong side of the post and fell back into play, and eventually, the Gokulam Kerala defence cleared it.

Guarrotxena followed

it up with another chance in the 13th minute. However, the Spaniard headed the ball wide of the target as the scoreline remained 0-0. The Malabarians almost found a breakthrough in the 17th minute via Farshad Noor. The Afghan midfielder went on to beat the opposition goalkeeper to hit the back of the net, but the referee blew his whistle for an offside.

After switching sides, the hosts had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the game. Julian Omar Ramos set up a wonderful through ball for Sourav.

same over five fours, en route to the first century of the season, which came off a single off Umesh Yadav in the final over.

Opted to bowl, KKR fielding was also a big letdown as Skipper Aiden Markram also played an impactful innings in the middle when he raced to a 26-ball fifty as the duo stitched together 72 runs from 47 balls.

After Markram’s departure, young left-handed batter Abhishek Sharma (32; 17b) gave a fine support as the duo also added 72 runs (33b) to pile on KKR’s misery.

Heinrich Klaasen then played a cameo of 16 not out in six balls as SRH dished out a superlative batting display after KKR opted to bowl.

Barring Caribbeans, Sunil Narine (4-0-28-0) and Andre Russell (2.1-022-3) who pulled a muscle and could not complete his overs, n one of the KKR bowlers failed to impress.

The day fully belonged to the English batter, who carried his bat replicating his success in Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he had scored 264 runs for Lahore Qalandars in eight innings, which included a century, at a strike rate of 171.4 in 2022 edition.

Brook also has eyepopping numbers in Tests and has scored 809 runs with four centuries and

three fifties in 10 innings.

KKR may have missed the trick by giving him some easy pace fodder to begin with as Brook was happy to take Yadav to cleaners, while the fiery Ferguson was wayward, both conceding 14 runs in their opening overs.

From 43 for no loss in three overs, Sunil Narine managed to drag them in a tidy fourth over that perfectly set it up for Andre Russell to inflict a double blow. Bowling for the first time this season, the Jamaican dismissed Mayank Agarwal (9; 13b) straightway before pulling a muscle. Russell however managed to finish the over and took the wicket of in-form Rahul Tripathi in the lastball to give KKR the vital opening.

But Brook and skipper Markram batted sensibly, especially against Narine and raced to quick fifties to keep their run-rate near the 10-run mark.

The SRH skipper gave Brook a fine support and negotiated the middle overs well in an entertaining 72run partnership that came off just 47 balls. BRIEF SCORES: SRH 228/4 in 20 overs (Harry Brooks 100 not out, Aiden Markram 50; Andre Russell 3/22) vs KKR 205/7 in 20 overs (Nitish Rana 75, Rinku Singh 58 not ou; Mayank Markande 2/27).

Ukraine bans its teams from competing with Russia, Belarus

KYIV (UKRAINE), APR

14 (IANS): Ukraine’s Sports Ministry has forbidden its national teams from competing in Olympic, non-Olympic, and Paralympic events where Russian and Belarusian athletes will be participating.

The sports ministry published a decree, signed by the country’s deputy sports minister Matvii Bidnyi, on its website on Friday.

Brazil Para-Badminton International: Pramod, Sukant enter quarterfinals

The forward’s effort across the goal was just inches from both, going in off the far post, and from the feet of an onrushing Samuel Konney, who himself bundled into the net in despair. The Gaurs marched forward and enjoyed some good passages of play in the second half. Makan Winkle Chothe held possession of the ball on the right flank and went for glory, but Gokulam goalkeeper Shibinraj Kunniyil did well to block his shot and followed it up with another save from Saviour Gama’s attempt.

“To prohibit official delegations of national teams of Ukraine to participate in international sports competitions in which athletes from the Russian Federation and/or Belarus participate,” the ministry’s decree read.

“The Departments of Olympic Sports, Physical Culture and Non-Olympic Sports, the Ukrainian Centre for Physical Culture and Sports for the Disabled (Invasport) shall ensure the withdrawal of official delegations from their trips if athletes from the Russian Federation and/or the Republic of Belarus are participating in the respec-

tive competitions,” it added. The decree recommends that “all-Ukrainian sports federations monitor possible participation of athletes from the Russian Federation and/or the Republic of Belarus in international sports competitions and promptly inform the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the event of such facts taking place.”

It also provides for recalling the delegations of Ukrainian athletes from tournaments if Russian and Belarusian athletes participate.

The ministry said that in case of the violation of a decree, the sports federations of Ukraine will be deprived of their national status.

The decision comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended that international sports federations allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international tournaments as neutral athletes/teams and also opened the door to allowing them to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

NEW

DELHI,

APR 14 (IANS): Ace shuttler

Pramod Bhagat and World No 4 Sukant Kadam have made their place in the quarterfinals of the Brazil ParaBadminton International 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Bhagat has entered the singles, mixed doubles and men’s doubles, on the other hand, Kadam reached the quarterfinals of singles and men’s doubles.

Bhagat, the Padma Shri Awardee, defeated Brazil’s Raysson Ferreira De Abreu Silva, and Dominican Republic’s Patricio Andres Echeverria Olave to make it to the singles quarterfinals where he will face Peru’s Pedro Pablo De Vinatea, according to infor-

mation received here. In the men’s doubles event, Bhagat along with Kadam of India defeated India’s Nilesh Balu Gaikwad and Manoj Sarkar, Republic’s Patricio Andres Echeverria Olave and Peru’s Pablo Cesar Cueto and in the third group match, they defeated Brazil’s Breno Johann and Leonardo Zuffo to set up a quarterfinal clash with Peru’s Pedro Pablo De Vinatea and Renzo Diquez Bances Morales.

In the mixed doubles, Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass started their campaign with a loss to France’s Mathieu Thomas and Maud Lefort, but quickly made a comeback and won their next 2 games against Peru’s Renzo Diquez Bances

Morales and Jenny Bertha Ventocilla Huaranga, Azerbaijan’s Ibrahim Aliyev and France’s Catherine Naudin. They beat the Indian pair of Chirag Baretha and Mandeep Kaur to reach the quarterfinals where they will face Indonesian pair Hikmat Ramdani and Leani Ratri Oktila.

On the other hand, Sukant Kadam started the campaign well with a thumping win over Brazil’s Diego Armando Honorato Madeira. He maintained his winning record by defeating Korea’s Jeon Sunwoo and Brazil’s Rogerio Junior Xavier De Oliveira to set up quarterfinals clash with India’s Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj.

Tennis: Team Korea crowned Champions at ITF Asia 14-U Development C’ships

BHUBANESWAR, APR 14 (IANS): The ITF Asian (Jr) Championships Finals that commenced on April 1, came to an end on Friday with Team Korea emerging as the overall Champions of the tennis tournament, here.

Korea’s Won Min Kim and Jiyun Oh were crowned the Singles champions in the boys and girls category, respectively. With athletes from 14 countries, the event saw Asia’s finest junior tennis players battle it out for supremacy.

Speaking on their achievements, Korean Tennis Prodigy Wonmin Kim said,”I will always remember my accomplishments here, and I want to return soon for my next challenge. It’s an incredible feeling to win my first tournament in this stadium.”

Complimenting on the tenure spent at the tennis centre, Korean tennis woman player Jiyun Oh said, “We have been fortunate to play some of the best playoffs in this centre

Monte Carlo Masters: Tsitsipas dumped out by Fritz in quarters; Rublev in semis

MusettistunsDjokovictosetup clash withSinner;MedvedevwinoverZverev

Daniil Medvedev beat Alexander Zverev to book a spot in the quarterfinals, while world number one Novak Djokovic was stunned by Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday in the third round of Monte Carlo Masters.

MONTE CARLO, APR 14 (AGENCIES): Champion Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters when he slumped to a 6-2 6-4 defeat against American Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Greek second seed Tsitsipas, who triumphed at the Monte Carlo Country Club in the last two editions, was never in the mix against Fritz, who reached the last four of a Masters event for the first time.

Eighth-seeded Fritz raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set, which he

wrapped by winning his service game to love. Tsitsipas improved slightly in the second set, only for Fritz to break decisively for 4-3 with a winner. He then held firm to set up a semi-final meeting with Russian Andrey Rublev, who earlier overcame some second-set nerves to dispatch German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff with a 6-1 7-6(5) victory.

Rublev lost the first game on his serve before bagging six in a row in a quick opening set, but Struff, the world number 100, found his stride in

the second as the fifth seed showed signs of nerves. Rublev broke for 4-3, only for Struff to break back in the following game and force a tiebreak, in which the Russian regained his composure to prevail on his second match point.

Rublev downs Struff

to reach semi-finals

Russian Andrey Rublev overcame some second-set nerves to dispatch German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff and reach the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-1 7-6 (5) victory

on Friday. Rublev lost the first game on his serve before bagging six in a row in a quick opening set, but Struff, the world number 100, found his stride in the second as the fifth seed showed signs of nerves.

Rublev broke for 4-3, only for Struff to break back in the following game and force a tiebreak, in which the Russian regained his composure to prevail on his second match point. He will face either American Taylor Fritz or defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in Sunday’s final.

Djokovic’s quest for a record-extending 39th Masters trophy was prolonged on Thursday after falling to a 4-6 7-5 6-4 defeat at the hands of Musetti.

Djokovic’s last meeting with the Italian on clay was a gruelling Roland Garros clash in 2021, in which he battled back from two sets down to win, but this time it was Musetti that claimed a comeback victory in windy conditions.

Musetti will next face fellow Italian Jannik Sinner, who beat Hubert

Hurkacz.

In the last act of the evening, Medvedev continued his impressive form this season with a 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7) thrilling win over Zverev in the 14th chapter of their long-running rivalry. A month after defeating Zverev in the last 16 at Indian Wells, the winner of four hardcourt titles this year recovered from a set down to beat the German once again in what was his first clay clash.

After winning the first set, Zverev was 5-4 serving for the match in the second when Medvedev earned a crucial break and won three straight games to force a decider.

Seventh seed Sinner was made to toil by Hurkacz in a 3-6 7-6 (6) 6-1 win.

and the tournament has been extra advantageous for us to keep pushing our potential. We look forward to getting back to this court very soon.”

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik presented the medals to the winners, in the presence of Sports & Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera and OTA President Asit Tripathi. Congratulating the winners, Patnaik, said, “It is a matter of great pride for our state to host this prestigious tennis tournament. Congratulations to all the winners who have emerged victorious after an

intense competition.”

“It is our endeavour to promote sports in Odisha and I am happy to see such a large number of participants from different countries come together to compete in our state,” he added.

Patnaik said that this event will inspire many young players of Odisha and beyond to take up tennis and pursue their dreams.

OTA president Tripathi reiterated the significance of the event and also lauded the government of Odisha for their efforts towards enhancing and promoting tennis in the state.

Guardiola says busy schedule can be a benefit in title race

MANCHESTER, APR 14 (AGENCIES): Manchester City face a breathless schedule for the remainder of the season thanks to their progress in the Champions League and FA Cup, but manager Pep Guardiola has mixed feelings on whether playing more games is beneficial.

“When it’s a game every three, four days we are in rhythm, incredible focus, it helps us,” Guardiola said on Friday.

Manchester City host Leicester City on Saturday, sandwiched between the first and second legs of their Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich, a stretch of three games in eight days.

Guardiola’s team are chasing a less busy Arsenal in the Premier League title race, and the Spaniard said one more loss this season and they won’t retain their

Pep Guardiola

crown.

“Everyone knows if we lose those games we will not win the title,” the Spaniard said. “That is why our intentions and details are higher. It is the same (Saturday), if we lose the game we will not be champions.

“If we win, we could be still there, because we cannot forget, we are six points behind Arsenal, a team that dropped few, few points during the season and playing one game a week, with a lot of time for recovery, analyse and prepare for games.”

Taylor Fritz Andrey Rublev

Lorenzo Musetti Daniil Medvedev

Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Harry Brook plays a shot during the IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders. (PTI)

Pramod Bhagat and Sukant Kadam in action.

Match in action between FC Goa and Gokulam Kerala.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik with team Korea.