24 Jan 22

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXII No. 48

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022 Pages 12 ` 5.00

U-19 WC: India hammer Uganda to top group

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SPORTS, PAGE 11

Russia rejects UK claim it was trying to replace Ukraine leader INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9

Modi unveils Netaji’s hologram statue Omicron in community transmission stage SAYS COUNTRY CORRECTING MISTAKES MADE AFTER INDEPENDENCE

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI/AGENCIES): The omicron variant of Covid is in the community transmission stage in India and has become dominant in multiple metros where new cases have been rising exponentially, the INSACOG has said in its latest bulletin.

It said BA.2 lineage, recently-discovered infectious sub-variant of the Omicron (‘stealth omicron’), has been found in a substantial fraction in India. The INSACOG, in its January 10 bulletin that was released on Sunday, said while most omicron cases so far had been asymptomatic or mild, hospitalisations and ICU cases had increased in the current wave and the threat level remained unchanged.

“Omicron is now in community transmission in India and has become dominant in multiple metros, where new cases have been rising exponentially. BA.2 lineage is in a substantial

BA.2: ‘Stealth omicron’ found in a substantial fraction in India 80% of ‘stealth omicron’ variant found in samples in Kolkata fraction in India and S gene dropout based screening is thus likely to give high false negatives,” it said. S-gene dropout is a genetic variation like that of omicron.

“The recently reported B.1.640.2 lineage is being monitored. There is no evidence of rapid spread and while it has features of immune escape, it is currently not a variant of concern. So far, no case has been detected in India,” the INSACOG said. The INSACOG, in its bulletin of January 3 which was also released on Sunday, also said omicron is now in

community transmission in India and has become dominant in Delhi and Mumbai where new cases have been rising exponentially.

“Further spread of omicron in India is now expected to be through internal transmission, not foreign travellers, and a revised sampling and sequencing strategy of INSACOG is being worked out to address genomic surveillance objectives in the wake of dynamic changing scenario of virus infection,” the INSACOG said.

BA.2 found in 80% of Kolkata samples: The

report comes after the sublineage of the Omicron variant was found in 80 per cent of samples in Kolkata, a News18 report stated.

The samples were sent for genome sequencing between December 22 to 28 and nearly 80 per cent of them were found BA.2 positive with CT level below 30, indicating high viral load.

Earlier in December, the government had decided to send all positive samples with CT value under 30 for genome-sequencing to detect community transmission of Omicron. However, the decision was reversed a week later when it was clear that community transmission of Omicron had begun.

The BA.2 strain commonly known as the ‘stealth version’ can be detected only through genome sequencing and constitutes one of the sub-lineage of the Omicron variant which has now been split into three sub-types namely BA.1, BA.2, and

Nagaland under grip of cold weather condition Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 23 (NPN): Freezing temperatures gripped several parts of India including the north east even as cold flu continued to spread amidst concerns that infections were also caused by the Omicron virus.

People across Nagaland also experienced dip in temperature where it was recorded at 17oC in Dimapur, 8oC in Kohima and 6oC in Pfutsero during Sunday.

According to many people, the dip in temperature in Dimapur this year (2022) was perhaps among the coldest in recent memory. There was light rains during the past few days and the mist added to the cold.

Most people stayed

Non-BJP states against change in IAS cadre rules NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (IANS): The non-BJP governments in four states have teamed up against the Centre’s proposal to amend the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954.

Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have written to the Prime Minister and urged him to roll back the decision, claiming that the change in the rules for central deputation of IAS officers will affect the states’ administration.

(Read more on p-5)

This is it!

Cold weather in Dimapur: People keeping warm with bonfire. (NP)

indoors during the past day or two in addition to taking preventive measures against the covid virus.

Use of electric heaters

at homes and bonfires on the roads, were scenes being witnessed at least in Dimapur.

Dzükou and its surrounding areas were covered

under snow seen on Saturday. It was also reported that Saramati, Nagaland’s highest peak was draped in thick snow on Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday predicted light to moderate rain and dense fog conditions in many states till January 27.

Northeast India is predicted to receive widespread light to moderate rainfall during January 23-25. Thunderstorm, lightning and hailstorm are also very likely over Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland during next 48 hours. IMD has also predicted cold day to severe cold day conditions over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Covid peak likely in next 14 days: IIT analysis NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): India’s R-value which indicates the rate of spread of Covid has further reduced to 1.57 in the week from January 14-21 and the national peak of the third wave of the infection is expected to come in the next fortnight, according to a preliminary analysis

by IIT Madras.

R-value indicates the number of people an infected person can spread the disease to. A pandemic is considered to end if this value goes below 1. According to the analysis shared

by IIT Madras with PTI, the R-value was recorded at 1.57 between January 14 and

January 21. The number was recorded at 2.2 in the week of January 7-13 while it was 4 from January 1-6 and 2.9 from December 25- 31.

The preliminary analysis was done by computational modeling by IIT Madras' department of Mathematics and Centre of Excellence for Computational Mathematics and Data Science headed by Prof Neelesh S Upadhye and Prof S Sundar.

According to the data, the R-value of Mumbai was 0.67, Delhi 0.98, Chennai 1.2 and Kolkata 0.56. Explaining further, Dr Jayant Jha, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathemat-

ics, IIT Madras, said the R-value of Mumbai and Kolkata shows that peak is over there and it is becoming endemic while for Delhi and Chennai it is still close to 1.

“The reason for that could be that as per the new ICMR guidelines they have removed the requirement for contact tracing and therefore there are less infections as earlier,” he told PTI. Jha further said as per their analysis, the peak is likely to come in the next 14 days till February 6. The earlier prediction was that the peak of the third wave is likely between February 1 and February 15.

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Modi unveiling the hologram statue of Netaji on Sunday.

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): In an apparent swipe at previous Congress dispensations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that attempts were made after independence to erase contributions of many great people besides India’s culture and values, and asserted that the country is now correcting mistakes of the past.

Addressing a gathering after unveiling a hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the India Gate on the 125th birth

anniversary of the iconic freedom fighter, Modi also said no power in the world can prevent the country from achieving its goal of building a ‘new India’ before the hundredth year of independence in 2047.

He also exhorted people to take inspiration from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s “can do” and “will do” spirit.

He said unfortunately, attempts were made to erase contributions of many great people besides the nation’s culture after independence.

“India’s freedom struggle involved the sacrifices of lakhs of people, but attempts were made to limit their history. But today, decades after independence, the country is correcting those mistakes,” he said. Modi also conferred the ‘Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar’ for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in the investiture ceremony. A total of seven awards were presented during the ceremony.

Union government has instituted the annual award to recognise and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management.

The hologram statue will be powered by a 30,000 lumens 4K projector. An invisible, high gain, 90 per cent transparent holographic screen has been erected in such a way that it is not visible to visitors.

Rio, Sarma hold meeting in Guwahati DIMAPUR, JAN 23 (AGENCIES): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, accompanied by deputy chief minister Y. Patton and NPF legislature party leader T.R. Zeliang Sunday met Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the latter’s residence in Guwahati.

Rio was accompanied

by Patton while Zeliang met the duo in Guwahati on Sunday.

The meeting between the leaders of both states has sparked speculations that it may have do with the simmering and unresolved border dispute between the two states.

Taking to twitter, Sarma said that both he and Rio held a fruitful discussion “on issues of mutual interest, people’s welfare in both

India records over 3.33L Covid cases NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): India logged 3,33,533 new Covid-19 infections, taking the total tally of cases to 3,92,37,264, according to the Health Ministry on Sunday.

The death toll has climbed to 4,89,409 with 525 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

State logs 107 fresh Covid cases: Nagaland on Sunday recorded 107 fresh Covid-19 positive cases while no deaths were reported during the day.

Of the fresh cases, 83 were from Dimapur, 14 in Kohima and 10 in Wokha

states and strengthening our friendship in presence of Nagaland’s DyCM Y Patton & ex-CM TR Zeliang.”

As reported, sources had said that the meeting was likely over the longstanding border issue between the two states.

The visit also comes a day ahead of the meeting of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly’s select committee to examine the NagalandAssam border issue, scheduled on January 24.

Agencies: Meanwhile, Sarma, a former veteran Congress minister and present Assam chief minister on Sunday accused the Congress of creating border issues in northeast through unplanned creation of new states. Sarma said that his government was trying to

(R-L) Sarma, Rio, Zeliang and Patton in Guwahati. (Via Twitter)

correct those mistakes.

He said that had the Congress party would have earlier clarified on boundary demarcation of North Eastern states then today “we would have not faced any issues.” Sarma alleged that it was Congress’ game plan is to keep the North East fighting among themselves.

Sar ma’s statement came following opposition from Congress and other

parties to the recent agreement between Assam and Meghalaya to sort out differences in six disputed areas through a give and take formula of land swap.

As part of the deal, of the total disputed area of 36.79 sq km in the 6 areas Assam would get 18.51 sq km while Meghalaya would get 18.28 sq km Besides Meghalaya, Assam has border disputes

KU to allow unfurling of Tri-color in offices D I M A P U R , JA N 2 3 (NPN): On the “special request” of the state government, the Konyak Union (KU) on Sunday informed that it would allow unfurling of the national flag at the respective administrative offices on the occasion of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 The decision was made during the KU advisory board meeting held on January 22. However, the union said that all Konyak citizens would completely abstain from participating in the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations. It therefore asked all Konyak

citizens to strictly adhere to the directive.

Referring Oting/ Mon incidents, KU urged the state government to shoulder responsibilities in ensuring that no stone was left unturned to deliver justice without delay.

The union said that non deliverance of justice even after lapse of 50 days was nothing but “a delay tactics of justice”.

It also reminded about the demand/memorandum addressed to the President of India that “All ranks and files involved in massacring 14 Konyak innocent lives must be booked immedi-

ately before applicable civil court and the justice taken report must be brought before the public domain by 25th Jan 2022”. Considering the above demands, KU said it has out-rightly declared that “justice delayed is justice denied” and resolved that every Konyak citizen must completely abstain from the Republic Day celebration within its customary jurisdiction as a sign of resentment and fight for justice.

Reminding government of India that Republic Day is celebrated to mark the historic day when India was transformed into

‘Freedom Rally’: Govt urged to revoke vax mandate orders NSCN/GPRN (Akato) reiterates Correspondent

“These days, crime and controversies are winnable factors in elections.”

BA.3. BA.2 was yet to be designated a variant of concern.

However, virologist at Imperial College, London, Tom Peacock said, “Very early observations from India and Denmark suggest there is no dramatic difference in severity compared to BA.1,” and noted that the newly discovered strain is unlikely to raise question on effectiveness of existing vaccines.

He observed that there is likely to be minimal differences in vaccine effectiveness against BA.1 and BA.2 and is unlikely to lead to a second wave of Omicron.

“Several countries are near, or even past the peak of BA.1 waves. I would be very surprised if BA.2 caused a second wave at this point.

Even with slightly higher transmissibility, this absolutely is not a Delta-Omicron change and instead is likely to be slower and more subtle,” he forecast.

KOHIMA, JAN 23 (NPN): Various civil society organisations (CSOs), individuals and church leaders Sunday urged the state government to revoke all orders and notifications on vaccine mandate for adults and children in the State.

The Watchman, in collaboration with Awaken India Movement, took out a peaceful ‘Freedom Rally’ on the theme “Restitutio de Libertus” from old MLA junction-Old NST-Razhu

Participants during the peace rally in Kohima. (NP)

point-Assam rifle camp and back to Old MLA junction.

Some of the participants were seen with plac-

ards that read “Demanding vaccine certificate is a tactical form of mandatory vaccination”, “Fear is a liar”,

“Robing liberty is a crime”, “Stop medical tyranny” etc.

The organizers also submitted a memorandum addressing to the chief minister Neiphiu Riojointly signed by The Watchman convenor pastor Khi Peter; advocate Neiteo Koza; New Life Church pastor Rev Azahto Kiba and Soul Harvest Church pastor Kevisede Kire.

They also sought a stop to demand for vaccination certificates for travelling and attending schools and colleges, markets, show rooms,

public gatherings, churches, offices, etc.

They also sought mechanisms for reporting Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) and conduct of clinical study in public interest, besides fixing a quantum of compensation to be paid to those who have suffered side effects or died after being administered Covid- 19 vaccines.

Expressing dismay with the existing policies of the government making vaccination mandatory for

stand on unilateral CF with GoI

DIMAPUR, JAN 23 (NPN): NSCN/GPRN (Akato) has reiterated its stand made on November 19 2021 “declaring unilateral ceasefire” with Government of India.

In a ‘declaration’ issued through its MIP, the group, however, expressed dismay that “some adversaries and sycophants” were hell bent to derail the good gesture, armed with deterrent acts so as to interfere (Cont’d on p-8) with ceasefire mechanism

and process aimed for diabolic intent and sinister designs.

MIP cautioned that if the competent authority felt like dancing to the tunes of its adversaries by taking them for a ride and delay the peace process, then it too was least bothered about the ceasefire and would continue to carry on with the legacy of Naga national movement, keeping the Naga cause alive.

(Full text on p-6) K Y M C

2

STATE

LBA resolves to extend church ministry

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

AR refurbish Community Hall DIMAPUR: Assam Rifles, Ghaspani Battalion of IGAR (North), under Spear Cor ps provided infrastructure for up g r a d a t i o n o f Vi l l a g e Community Hall at Ts i e p a m a v i l l a ge, Chümoukedima. A press release by PIB (Defense Wing) stated that in an effort to modernize the c o m mu n i t y h a l l , 1 5 0 armed plastic chairs and 40 tables were provided t o v i l l a ge c o u n c i l o f Tsiepama village under Op Sadbhavana initiative.

NBBFA holds general meeting

Delegates along with LBA staff and office bearer.

DIMAPUR: Liangmai Baptist Association (LBA) has resolved to extend church ministry under its jurisdiction. The decision was taken at the 38th annual session of LBA held at Mission Centre Tening ADC Hq on January 22 and 23.

In a press release, LBA media cell stated that the association has also resolved to re-amend and rectify the process of licensing and ordination.

The session was held under the leadership of LBA president, Er. Achakbo and executive secretary, Rev.

Kitanwi Chawang.

Earlier, the speaker of the session, Children Education Department o f L BA , W i r i a n g s u i encouraged the gathering to stand firm in their faith as good Christians.

The devotional service was presided by

president Liangmai Baptist Youth Department LBA, Kawilingkhaibo.

The release further stated that the session concluded with many positive resolved and to strengthen the ministry of Liangmai Baptist Association.

NPP observes Parakram Diwas

DIMAPUR: Nagaland Body Building & Fitness Association (NBBFA) general body meetingcum-executive body induction prog ramme wa s h e l d o n Ja nu a r y 22, at Life Fitness Gym Hall, Meriema Village, Kohima. A press release by Nagaland Body Building & Fitness Association stated that the meeting inducted office bearers with Thepfungunyu (Teiso) Solo as president and Ape Puro as general secretary.

Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema and party workers at the celebration.

DIMAPUR: National People’s Par ty (NPP) Nagaland unit obser ved obser ved “ParakramDiwas/ Desh Prem Diwas”, the 125 birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at NPP state party office, Thahekhu/Kevijau, Dimapur on Sunday.

A press release by NPP media cell stated that the event was organised by the NPP State Minority Cell (Non-Tribal) and was

graced by NPP, Nagaland S t a t e p r e s i d e n t , D r.

Andrew Ahoto Sema as the chief guest.

After unfurling the national flag, Dr. Andrew spoke about the life and works of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and how through his sacrifices he had brought about great changes in the freedom struggle of the country.

He encouraged the gathering to emulate the values of courage, truth

and justice as reflected through the life of Netaji. Dr. Andrew also expressed gratitude to the State Minority Cell (NonTribal) for organizing the event in such a befitting manner.

Other highlights of the occasion included lighting of lamps, offering flower petals under the portrait of Netaji and singing of the National Anthem as a mark of tribute and respect to the great leader.

Social work conducted at Noklak NEWS IN BRIEF DTF Longleng issues restrictions DC Kma informs on R-Day car passes: All Heads of Departments (HODs) and awardees have been informed to collect the invitation card and car pass for the forthcoming celebrations of Republic Day from the office of the Deputy Commissioner Kohima on January 24-25 during the office hour.

NNC central council meet: Naga National Council (NNC) has convened its central council meeting on January 28, 10 a.m. at Kohima. All the Central council member, regional council president and midan peyu have been requested to attend the meeting.

NNF holds first executive meet: Nagaland NGO’S Forum (NNF) held its first executive body meeting on January 22 at Hotel Jalmahal, Dimapur wherein the members discussed and adopted resolutions.

Man dies after falling from building Staff Reporter

January 22. According to DIPR, during the mass social work, government employees and citizens of Noklak town took part by

cleaning weeds, plastics and waste materials in all departmental office compounds and public places.

DoSE notifies on R-Day celebration DIMAPUR: In view of the ensuing Republic Day celebration, Director of School Education (DoSE) has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for information and compliance by all schools functioning within the state of Nagaland.

According to DIPR report, as per the SOP the Republic Day flag hoisting programme should end before 9.30 a.m; all school The village gate of Lilen Village, under Ahthibung sub-division, Peren, was teachers/staff and students inaugurated on January 21, by retd. Jt. Director, Department of Agriculture, Alet shall participate at the flag Hangsing and dedicated by Upa L Hangsing. hoisting program either through virtual mode or 1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY physical mode; videos of National War Memorial/ LATE IDEULUNGLE SEB other information related to National War It’s been one year since you Memorial (NWM) may be used to disseminate left us for your heavenly information about NWM abode. But your memories and guidelines issued for Covid management by the are still fresh in our Government be strictly thoughts. You will always followed.

M e a n w h i l e, t h e be remembered.

DoSE has notified on the various activities that may “Do not be discouraged, for the be undertaken by schools to celebrate the Republic Lord your God will be with you Day under the broader wherever you go” - Joshua 1:9 ambit of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’’.

Husband, Sons, Further, it informed all schools to ensure that Daughter, Brothers, the guidelines issued time to time for Covid Sisters, Relatives and management by the Loved Ones Central Government/State DP-327/22 15.06.1965 – 24.01.2021 Government be followed.

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Covid-19 negative test report done through RT-PCR/ True Nat/CBNAAT with the swab given for testing not earlier than 3 days from the date of entry inside the bank. (v). Seat tickets for passengers’ vehicles - bus/ sumo/taxi shall be issued to commuters, only if he/she has taken at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19 and/or produce Covid-19 negative test report done through RT-PCR /True Nat/CBNAAT with the swab given for testing not earlier than three days from the date of travel.

E a r l i e r, L o n g l e n g District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) at its meeting held on January 15, decided to restrict unvaccinated citizens from travelling and restrict entry to the banks and educational institutions in an attempt to achieve cent percent Covid vaccination.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

4th Death anniversary Late E. YANKHO JAMI

24th January 2018 This day our Lord took you away from us to His safest home.

Every day we are reminded about the love and affection you gave to us.

You are deeply missed Apo…till we meet again.

Take Care

Family

1st DeAth AnniversAry of LAte Arhomo ovung

A year has gone by and your memory has walked beside us for a year and we are so grateful for the company. We will continue to cherish your good deeds forever in our hearts.

Loving wife, children, grandchildren and loved ones. wc-14/22

Died: 24/01/2021

1st Death anniversary of our Dearest Lt. AwAren Aier (24-01-21)

It’s been a year and not a day passes by when we do not feel your absence.

It pains to know you are no longer with us, but we hold you close within our hearts and you will remain there until we meet again.

“Always remembered and deeply missed” Loving Family

We the bereaved family members of Late Wilfred Murry would like to express our deepest appreciation and sincere gratitude to all our loved ones who stood by us physically, financially and spiritually at the sudden demise of our beloved father.

We convey our special thanks to:1. Shri. Mhathung Yanthan, MLA & Advisor of Horticulture and Border Affairs Govt. of Nagaland 2. Shri Thomas Ngullie Ex. MLA 3. DPRO Staff, Wokha 4. Purana Bazar Baptist Church, Dimapur 5. Lotha Baptist Church, Okotso 6. AG Church Okotso 7. Outreach Mission Project Okotso AG Church 8. Okotso Village Council 9. Okotso Concern Citizen Forum 10.Okotso Nzyu 60 Mhoa Eramoe Khüngtsüta Okotso (N60MEK) 11.Wokha Okotso Ekhung 12.Dimapur Okotso Ekhung 13.Kohima Okotso Ekhung 14.Dimapur Murrytsü Ekhung 15.Wokha Murrytsü Ekhung 16.Okotso Yanpoe Yanpi Eyi 17.New Colony Wokha We deeply regret our inability to thank each and every individual but we humbly pray to our Almighty to bless you all abundantly.

Loving Wife, Children, in-laws and family members

DB-58/22

DIMAPUR: In view of the forthcoming Republic Day Celebration, a mass social work was conducted at Noklak town on

regular/offline classes in educational institutions, only if he/she has taken at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19 and / or produce Covid-19 negative test report done through RTPCR/True Nat CBNAAT with the swab given for testing once in every 15 (fifteen) days (iii) Heads of educational institutions should ensure strict adherence of para (i) and para (ii) and submit status report in this regard to the chairman DTF, Longleng.

Further reopening of educational institutions shall be permitted only after due verification by the DTF for Covid-19, Longleng and on receipt of NOC from the chairman DTF, Longleng. (iv). Bank customers may perhaps be allowed entry inside the bank, if he/she has taken at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19 and / or produce

DP-307/22

Citizens at the mass social work in Noklak. (DIPR)

DIMAPUR, JAN 23 (NPN): In a delayed report, a 40-year-old non Naga male and a native of Tripura, died after he reportedly slipped off the third floor of a residential building near Clock Tower area, Dimapur on January 21.

Confirming this to Nagaland Post, a relative of the deceased, who resides in the same building, said that the incident took place on January 21. Soon after the incident, the relative informed that police personnel from East Police reached the spot and took the deceased to District Hospital immediately, but was declared brought dead.

After conducting all formalities, the dead body was handed over to the family members and was later taken to Tripura. No further details were made known till the time of filing this report.

DIMAPUR: District Task Force (DTF) for Covid-19 Longleng has issued restrictions for strict implementation in Longleng district, with a view to break the chain of transmission and prevent the surge of Covid-19 case in the district.

According to DIPR report, the DTF has warned any person/group of persons acting in violation of the directions as well as all the other existing orders/ SOPs/ guidelines for preventing the spread of Covid-19, shall be liable to be prosecuted under relevant Sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides action under Section 188 of IPC and other legal provisions as applicable.

The restrictions are as follows: (I). Any student of class-IX and above, who has completed 15 years of age shall be allowed to attend regular/offline classes, only if he/she has taken at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19. (ii). Teachers and staffs shall be allowed to hold

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nagalandpost.com Poll Q.:Is the state govt inclined to clarify on whether or not ULB elections will be held?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

UDA formed for Naga issue: Dr. Chumben TSU felicitates meritorious students

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A

B

C

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

45% 44% 21%

NEXT POLL

Q: S h o u l d

the 1925 notification be ignored to resolve Assam-Nagaland Boundary issue?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST JANUARY 24

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Cloudy with a touch of rain

21 14

Periods of rain

17 10

Guwahati Mostly cloudy

21 11

Aizawl Imphal

Cool with periods of rain

16

9

Itanagar

Cloudy and cooler

13

9

Shillong

A little afternoon rain

12

4

Kohima

Cooler with periods of rain

12

7

Dimapur

Cool with periods of rain

17 11

Mkg

Mostly cloudy, showers: cool

15

8

8

3

A couple of morning showers

12

9

Zunheboto Mostly cloudy, showers: cool

12

6

Tuensang Overcast with showers; colder Wokha

3

STATE

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Dr. Chumben Murry along with NPF party workers of Wokha division.

DIMAPUR: NPF legislator Dr. Chumben Murry said that the formation of UDA government in the state was to have close discussion on the Naga issue and not for power tussle.

With that in mind, the NPF party went ahead for political settlement and not for government formation, Dr. Chumben said.

The legislator said this at the consultative meeting-cum-picnic of

NPF Wokha division held at Doyang Hydro Project on January 22.

He said that the opposition less government was a long agenda and discussion within political parties in the State, with the concept to strengthen the long Indo-Naga political settlement.

He further stated that the leaders of the party were working hard to bring settlement at the earliest for

which NPF leaders along with chief minister had visited Delhi to fulfil the most awaited dreams of the Naga populace.

Senior vice president (COB) NPF, Tsumongo Ovung in his short message stated that NPF was the second oldest regional party in India and reminded the party workers to be watchful as the state might go for election next year.

Meanwhile, general

secretary Women Wing (COB), Grace T Murry reminded party workers to have principle and not to lobby, while CEC, Chobathung Odyuo stated that NPF was the most befitting political party for Naga people and appealed the party workers to have perseverance and endurance.

Various party workers from the four assembly constituencies (37 AC, 38 AC, 39 AC and 40 AC) also spoke on the occasion.

The division has also adopted three point resolutions during the meeting: (i) appreciated leadership of NDPP, BJP and NPF for coming together to form all party UDA with the aim to facilitate Indo-Naga Political settlement in unified stand, (ii) the division expressed confidence and fully endorsed the leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio, deputy CM, Y Patton, and leaders of NPF legislative members that they would together bring about resolution to vexed Naga Political issue, (iii) NPF Wokha division also appealed UDA leadership for equal treatment towards NPF legislators to achieve maximum development for the betterment of the Naga people.

Members of Toulazouma Students’ Union, guest speaker NuvotoLohe, village leaders and invitees at the general session.

DIMAPUR: Toulazouma Students’ Union (TSU) has felicitated meritorious students who secured 80% and above in the Class X and XII examinations conducted by NBSE at the 13th general session held on January 22 at Mini- Theatre, Toulazouma Baptist Church (TBC), Dimapur.

Toulazouma Students’ Union in a press released informed that the occasion was held under the theme, “Embracing Diversity, Excelling through Unity” and was graced by president Western Chakhesang Students’ Union, Nuvoto Lohe, as the guest speaker.

Speaking at the programme, Lohe stressed on

the theme and said Nagas were blessed with rich diversity, saying that diversity begins from home. He encouraged the students’ community to be self-reliant and reminded them that the best way to achieve was by picking up various fields, knowing their interest and working hard towards it.

The guest speaker also urged the young people to be persistent in whatever they do and to not give up half way. He also quoted the passage from the Bible, Proverbs 1:7, encouraging the students’ community to fear the Lord and put God first above all. VCC Niepete Therie also exhorted the students.

Meanwhile, the programme chaired by finance secretary Toulazouma Students’ Union, Pavini Pohena began with an invocation by pastor UBCT, Abeni Lotha.

Presidential address was delivered by Paukizonne Meriam. Special numbers were presented by CBCT youth department and Witadthiu Meriam.

The programme concluded with a prayer by associate pastor LBPT, Kairisi Nring.

Meanwhile, Toulazouma Students’ Union has formed a new team to be headed by Arazo Nyekha and Khrutatso Khamo as president and general secretary respectively.

BSF, CRPF organise CAP and medical camp Need NSA Cell across universities: NSA Kohima

Members of NSA Regional Unit Kohima and others during general body meeting in Kohima on January 22.

DIMAPUR: Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA) Regional Unit Kohima at its general body meeting held on January 22 felt the need to form NSA Cell across the universities to carry forward the intellectual activities.

At the meeting, held in Kohima, the unit has also announced a new team of office bearers to be led by Dr. Visiezolie Yashu as president and Dr. Daili Kholia as vice president.

Chairing the meeting, NSA Regional Unit Kohima president Dr. Zavise Rume said that NSA was formed by few Naga scholars working in the universities across the world. He said NSA has now become a common platform for Naga scholars working in different parts of the country.

Dr. Rume also stressed

on the need to take up healthy interaction on any issue, particularly on academic excellence.

During the discussion hour at the general body meeting, the members felt the need to focus on sustainable development goals with special reference to enhancement of quality education, Earlier, Dr. Kholia Mao, general secretary, NSA Regional Unit Kohima and Vinoholi Chophy, finance secretary NSA Regional Unit Kohima presented their respective reports at the meeting. Dr. Chinpai Lily, joint secretary NSA Regional Unit Kohima prayed for the programme.

The new team of NSA Regional Unit Kohima 202224 was announced by Dr. Lanukumla Ao, member nomination committee.

Two-day teachers training ends

DIMAPUR: Two-day teachers training workshop conducted

by Lions Quest in India Foundation and organized by Lions Club of Dimapur Blue Venda at Vidhya Bhawan Higher Secondary School (VBHSS) Dimapur concluded on January 20.

A press release by VBHSS stated that the trainer of the workshop was trainer, Lions Clubs International, Oak Brook Illionois, USA, Manisha Ghanti.

The release stated that Lions Quest is a Lions Clubs International Foundation Programme of preparing children for 21st century and leading youth towards positive development and character building.

The new team was blessed with a prayer by Asst Priest, SFS Parish Kohima, Fr. Gwatilo Alex, Tep. With it’s headquarter at New Delhi, NSA was formed in 2010 and NSA Regional Unit Kohima unit was formed in 2018. Currently, Dr. Zuchamo Yanthan, faculty, Social Sciences, IGNOU New Delhi is the president of central office bearer of NSA.

DIMAPUR: As part of its Civic Action Programme (CAP), the 111 Battalion Border Security Force (BSF) Satakha organized free medical camp on January 22 at Sekruzu village, Phek, while 78 bn CRPF constructed toilets for students of Christian Mission School Zubza.

A press release by the battalion stated that during the programme, commandant Sanjay Tandan interacted with Patient being examined at the medical camp. CRPF personnel and others the locals and distributed water at the inauguration of toilet. storage tanks to villagers of Terhutsesemi and Ruzazho.

The release stated that the battalion medical officer along with Community Health Officer, Health and Wellness Centre, attended the patients and distributed medicines to the poor and needy villagers.

78 Bn CRPF: A separate toilets for male and female students of Christian Mission School Zubza constructed by the CRPF was handed over to the school authority on January 22. The toilets were handed over to the school by commandant W R Josuah in a ceremony attended by officers, personal of 78 Bn CRPF, school staff, students and villagers.

111 BN BSF: 111 battalion Border Security Force (BSF) organised a Civic Action Programme (CAP) on January 20 at CI Post Kilomi to cater to the needs of the local population.

A press release by the battalion stated that during the

programme the battalion distributed sports items and other essential items to the villagers of Kilomi, Shishulimi, Chisholimi, Khugutomi, Hebolimi and Mukalimi.

111 Bn BSF stated that it share cordial and friendly relation with locals and has always risen to the occasion by providing assistance in different circumstances.

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Dedication of meat center and town hall at Aboi

DIMAPUR: Missionary at large ATBC, Rev. T. Wano dedicated the newly constructed meat center and newly renovated Town hall on January 22 at Aboi town.

According to DIPR report, ADC Aboi, Chumlamo Humtsoe said the Town Hall was left unattended and neglected for many years and recently renovated to meet the need of the public.

He reminded that cleanliness was important for health and urged the people to keep the town clean. He also said that it was the responsibility of the citizens to maintain the government properties and urged them to use with care and respect.

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NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Sarma welcomes ULFA-I call College teacher in M’laya completes China says located missing not to impose bandh on R- Day 40,000 kms on bicycle trips in 6 years youth; Indian Army verifying

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (IANS): An Indian boy, w h o c r o s s e d ove r t h e Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh and went missing, has been located, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said on Sunday.

In a communication with the Indian Army, Chinese PLA stated that the missing boy has been located and would be sent back after proper formalities.

T h e I n d i a n A r my is verifying the Chinese claim and trying to find out whether the boy is the same as reported missing.

The army had sought assistance of the PLA on Thursday to locate the missing boy, identified as Miram Taron, on their side and return him as per the established protocol.

T h e I n d i a n A r my had stated that when they received the information about Taron, it immediately contacted the PLA through the established mechanism of hotline informing that an individual, who was collecting herbs and hunting, has

Miram Taron lost his way and cannot be found. It was alleged that the Chinese PLA had abducted the boy. Arunachal Pradesh parliamentarian Tapir Gao in a tweet on Wednesday had alleged: “Chinese PLA has abducted Sh Miram Taron, 17 years of Zido vill. yesterday 18th Jan 2022 from inside Indian territory, Lungta Jor area (China built 3-4 kms road inside India in 2018) under Siyungla area (Bishing village) of Upper Siang dist, Arunachal Pradesh.”

I t wa s found tha t Taron’s friend Johny Yaiying, who managed to escape, informed the authorities about the kidnapping by the PLA.

Gao said the incident took place near the place where Tsangpo river enters India in Arunachal Pradesh.

Tsangpo is called as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam.

He had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and others to ensure the early release of the abducted boy.

In the meantime, the Congress slammed the government for inaction in the entire episode.

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday tweeted, “Just days ahead of Republic day the Chinese have abducted an Indian citizen, we are with the family of Meeram Taron, and we will not lose hope and will not accept defeat. But Prime Minister’s silence is his statement that it does not bother him.”

India and China are engaged in a border dispute for the last 20 months and 14 rounds of military talks have taken place to resolve the border dispute.

GUWAHATI, JAN 23 (AGENCIES): Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday welcomed ULFA-I’s decision of not to call any bandh on Republic Day, reports time8.in.

Taking to twitter, the minister wrote, “I welcome ULFA’s decision not to call a bandh and desist from any resistance during Republic Day. I take this opportunity to once again appeal to Shri Paresh Baruah to come forward for a meaningful discussion with Govt of India.”

Earlier, due to the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, ULFA-I have decided to not call any bandh on January 26 and also keep away from any kind of protests or violence during the celebrations.

Moreover, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) stated that the current decision of the ruling government to celebrate Republic Day for 5-days during the third wave of deadly COVID-19 pandemic is a shameful act and also it could further deepen the ongoing Assam-India political clashes.

Just like the Britishers

Himanta Biswa Sarma tried to dominate Assam, the present central Indians have been dominating the natives of the state. Henceforth, they have imposed the Assam Disturbed Areas Act, 1955 and Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 to take away the independence of the state’s people.

Citing that Assam had never accepted February 24, 1826, Yandabo Treaty and had protested against it, also despite of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru while framing the Constitution stated that ‘any state within India would get independent if they asked’, the Central Government have never given Assam its right and independency hence the ULFA-I had been restricting Republic Day celebrations in the state by calling bandh.

SHILLONG, JAN 23 (PTI): This 40 year-old man from a remote Mawnai village in Meghalaya’s Eastern West Khasi Hills district has scripted a history - riding over 40,000 km on his bicycle to inspire young people to bike for health, freedom of mobility and for the environment.

Born in Mawnai village, 52 km west of here, Pyniarlang Nongbri earned his first bike when he was a kid and started taking cycling more seriously when he enrolled himself for a PhD degree in Delhi’s JNU in 2005.

Since then, he has clocked a record for himself and for many young professionals, riding over 40,000 km, with cycling becoming easier with curbs due to the pandemic.

In 2021, the Strava app on Dr Pyniarlang’s mobile phone showed he completed 11,172 km with a maximum riding time of 675 hours which includes his riding to work and to scenic locations across the Khasi Jaintia Hills districts.

Dr. Pyniarlang Nongbri “I managed to ride 234 days last year. Thanks to the pandemic which gave me an opportunity to sneak out and I could go to far-off places avoiding contact with people and keeping myself safe from the COVID-19,” Dr Pyniar told PTI. “From the distance and the time, in 2021 my average distance was 47.7 km every single ride I took.

It was an achievement personally,” he said.

In fact, Dr Pyniar has never hopped on to a motor car or bus since his return from Germany in 2013 as he goes to and from work on his bike (bicycle) and even biked

on sightseeing trips to far off places like Tawang, Kaziranga, Darjeeling and Sikkim, many times alone.

Technically, Dr Pyniar bought his first single speed bike when he was in JNU commuting from his hostel to the University and exploring Delhi on his cycle. During his 4 and ahalf years at the Friedrich – Schiller University in Jena to earn his PhD on ‘plant microbe interaction’, Dr Pyniar has made it his life’s mission to ride for health and for the environment.

On his return from Ger many in 2013, he joined the Bio-Tech department of St Anthony’s College here as a faculty.

Netaji birth anniversary observed in Meghalaya

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JAN 23: The 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was observed on Sunday with floral tributes at the statue of the “prince among patriots” at the State Central Library premises here in Meghalaya.

Governor Satya Pal Malik and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma paid their rich tributes to Netaji.

“Today on the momentous occasion of Birth Anniversary of our dear Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, I Artists perform during the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day parade pay my rich tributes to one of the tallest leaders of the 2022, at Rajpath in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI)

Indian Freedom struggle,” Malik tweeted.

“Our humble tribute to our nations iconic freedom fighter who led the fight for freedom with an unyielding resolve. On his 125th Birth Anniversary, we bow down to the unmatched grit of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,” Sangma noted in his microblogging site Twitter.

Netaji made his maiden visit to Shillong in June 12, 1927 to recuperate after being released from the Mandalay Jail in Burma. He stayed in the ‘Kelsal Lodge’ in the European Ward near the William Ward’s lake.

On November 17, 1938,

Netaji was driven in a madein-England ‘Wepat’ car to Shillong, then the capital of composite Assam, to install a Congress government. He delivered patriotic speeches in Polo market, Opera Hall, Khasi Durbar Hall, Jail Road field, Hari Sabha Laban and Hindu Mission Anath Ashram Complex. Paying tributes to the iconic freedom fighter, The Greater Shillong Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Birthday Celebration Committee, Shillong also celebrated 125th birth anniversary at State Central Library Premises, Shillong. Former minister and

founder general secretary of Celebration Committee, Padmashree Manas Chaudhuri, highlighted Netajis conviction and commitment to India as a true nationalist since his school days.

“His (Netaji) only desire was to free the country at all cost. His ideology differed from Gandhi and their goal was identical though path adopted was different philosophy,” Chaudhuri said, adding that “Netaji was still in the heart of the people and spontaneous celebration was a proof.”

Naba Bhattacharjee President of organizing Committee thanked GoI

for finally recognizing the contribution of Netaji to the freedom struggle and declaring that henceforth Republic Day celebration shall commence on January 23.

The central government has already declared Netaji’s birth anniversary as “Parakram Diwas,” a day of valour, and decided to start the Republic Day celebrations from January 23.

Bhattacharjee also recalled Netaji’s role in ensuring that North East remains with India by installing Gopinath Bordoloi as Premier of Assam dislodging Sadullah during Shillong visit in 1938 as Congress President.

Economic independence still elusive for millions: Manik Sarkar ‘Drug peddler’ shot at while trying to

AGARTALA, JAN 23 (PTI): Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said on Sunday that India got political independence 75 years ago but economic independence still remains elusive for millions of Indians.

Speaking at a prog r a m m e, t h e ve t e r a n CPI(M) leader said Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had Manik Sarkar the dream of an independent India where there will parity is not removed, political independence will be no starvation.

“If the economic dis- not match to the people’s

dream of attaining freedom, ending the British rule,” he said at a blood donation camp organised

by DYFI -- the youth wing of the CPI(M).

The blood donation camp was organised here to mark the birth anniversary of Bose.

“Netaji had the dream of an independent India where there will be no starvation. But, what we are witnessing is that we are yet to get rid of such problems.

India, over the last 10-12

Crusade cum awareness programme held at New Life Mission School, KA

Chief guest and guest speaker with participants.

DIMAPUR, JAN 23 (NPN): A one-day crusade cum social and education awareness programme was conducted at New Life Mission School, Nilalung, Karbi Anglong on January 22.

The programme was graced by chairman of Livingstone Foundation International, Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema as the chief guest, and director of Welcome Ministry, Guwahati, Rev. Dr. Gibson Marak as the guest speaker.

A press release by the information desk of Livingstone International stated that Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema who spoke on the

occasion, encouraged locals, students, staff and teachers to not only educate themselves but to imbibe the goodness and value of education. He highlighted that though education is the prime element for the growth and prosperity of any region and its people, the main element of development is to be upright and just people filled with moral goodness and to follow the values of truth, justice and integrity.

He also opined that it is not one’s job or position that determines who they but it is to be the best in

whatever we do that actually determines their humane quality. He also expressed his gratitude to the school led by its proprietor, Wotsa and pastor P. Marak for having invited him to be a part of their programme and expressed hope and encouraged the management, teachers, students and the local community to develop through honest endeavors and become an exemplary institution for Karbi Anglong and the adjoining areas.

During his discourse, the guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Gibson Marak spoke on the essence of light and knowledge which are both God gifted elements and urged everyone to rise and seek for light and knowledge instead of materialistic living which is short-lived and is of trivial value. He also called upon the gathering not to be lazy or lukewarm Christians but to be torch-bearers of wisdom and justice for the downtrodden and less fortunate ones. He also conducted a healing session for ailing people of Nilalung and its adjoining villages.

years, has been slipping from its earlier positions in different socio-economic indicators,” said Sarkar, the leader of opposition.

He alleged that the RSS has been controlling the BJP government on all fronts to safeguard the interests of some corporates.

“People who are on the ground opposing the economic policies are being meticulously misguided on the basis of religion and caste. The youths must understand the situation

and stage massive agitation against the fascist style of rule,” Sarkar said.

The CPI(M) politburo member also hit out at the Narendra Modi government for rejecting the Republic Day tableaux of three non-BJP ruled states -- West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

“Now, the government announced that it will install a statue of Bose.

This is a face-saving exercise after the damage,” he said.

Manipur Congress workers protest over candidates’ list IMPHAL, JAN 23 (AGENCIES): Within a few hours of the publication of the Congress list containing the names of 40 candidates in Manipur, some workers of politicians denied ticket started vandalising the party’s election booths, The Hindu report stated.

In Hiyanglam Assembly constituency, in the Imphal West district, angry workers tore down the party flags and banners. They reportedly tore the banners and stomped at the shredded party flags.

Flags and banners kept to welcome the Congress national leaders, who are coming here to discuss election-related issues, were also torn. Some of the protesting workers said politicians who had the best chance of winning were ignored. Police said that steps had been taken up to check the violence in other parts of the State.

State Congress leaders are not commenting on the spreading violence in Manipur which goes to the poll on February 27 and March 3.

Last week, the Congress office at Kumbi Assembly constituency in Bishnupur district was closed and all ranking members resigned. They said that Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Loken did not listen to the suggestions of the party workers in the constituency on candidate selection.

Despite State BJP president A. Sharda’s appeal that politicians who were denied party ticket should not agitate, there were signs of a gathering storm.

The candidates’ list has been taken to Delhi for approval by the national leaders and the names may be announced in two days’ time.

escape from Assam Police custody

GUWAHATI, JAN 23 (PTI): A suspected drug peddler has been injured in police firing while trying to escape from custody in Assam’s Dhubri district, a senior officer said on Sunday.

Dhubri Superintendent of Police Gaurav Abhijit Dilip said that the accused was arrested from his residence in Dhubri town on Saturday evening and a large amount of narcotic

substances were seized from his possession.

“During interrogation, he agreed to lead the police team to nab his accomplices and seize more illegal drugs from Gauripur in the district. Accordingly, police took him to the spot. However, around 1 AM, on the pretext of relieving himself, he tried to escape by assaulting an on-duty policeman.

After attempts to restrain

him failed, police fired a single round to prevent him from escaping. He was injured and was admitted to Dhubri Civil Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment,” the SP told PTI. Dilip said that the accused was earlier arrested for various crimes, including involvement in the drug racket, and several cases were registered against him in Dhubri police station.

Citizens have come with unclean hands: Tripura to SC on violence

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): The Tripura government has told the Supreme Court that “public spirited” citizens seeking an independent probe into the recent “communal riots” in the state have come with “unclean hands” and that underthe garb of public interest, the forum of this court is being used for “oblique” purpose.

Pointing to the petitioner’s “silence” on a series of pre-poll and post-poll violence which took place in West Bengal, the Tripura government said the so-called public spirit of the petitioners did not move a few months back on a larger scale of communal violence and suddenly their public sprit aroused due to some instances in a small state like Tripura. “It is pointed out that such a selective outrage of the petitioner is not presented before this court as a defence but to satisfy this court that under the garb of public interest, the August forum of this court is used for apparently oblique purposes,” an affidavit filed by the state government said.

“It is not a question of one petition or the other but the majesty and sanctity of the proceedings before the highest court of the country. No individual or group of individuals professionally functioning as public spirited

persons/groups can selectively invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction of the court to achieve some apparent but undisclosed motive.

The selective rousing of public interest itself justifies dismissal of the petition with exemplary cost,” the affidavit stated.

The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL filed by advocate Ethesham Hashmi seeking an independent probe into the recent “communal riots” in Tripura and the alleged complicity and inaction of the state police in it. The Tripura government further said that the petition is based on basis of a “private/sponsored” ‘report’ titled “Humanity under Attack in Tripura #Muslim Lives Matter” and is not maintainable.

“A genuine and bonafide public spirited citizen would not be selective in his public interest and would not be choosy about rushing before the court with regard to one state and keeping quiet with regard to the other,” Tripura said.

The present case is clearly a case of selective outrage under the pretence of public interest and to achieve some undisclosed agenda, it alleged. The north-eastern state recently witnessed incidents of arson, looting and violence after reports emerged from Bangladesh

that Hindu minorities there had been attacked during Durga Puja on allegations of blasphemy.

The plea by Hashmi has alleged that police authorities were hand in glove with the perpetrators and not a single arrest was made with respect to the rioters, responsible for vandalism and arson. It said that police and state authorities instead of attempting to stop the violence kept on claiming that there was no communal tension anywhere in Tripura and further denied reports of any religious structure being set ablaze.

On November 11, the top court heard a plea of two advocates and a journalist seeking quashing of a criminal case lodged under the harsh UAPA provisions against them for allegedly bringing facts through social media posts about the violence against the minority community in Tripura.

These members of the civil society, who were part of a fact finding committee, have also challenged the Constitutional validity of some provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 on the grounds that the definition of unlawful activities is vague and wide and moreover, the statute makes grant of bail to accused very difficult.

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

R-Day: Indian Army to show evolution of uniforms, rifles

BSF soldiers on camels move past during the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade 2022, at the Rajpath in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): How Indian Army uniforms and rifles have evolved over the decades will be on display at this year’s Republic Day parade, Major General Alok Kakkar said on Sunday.

Three marching contingents of the Indian Army will wear uniforms and carry rifles from previous decades, while one contingent will wear the new combat uniform and carry the latest Tavor rifles at Republic Day Parade-2022 (RDP-2022) as a part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrating the 75th year of India’s independence, he said.

There will be a total of six marching contingents of the Indian Army at RDP-22, he said at a press conference.

Each marching

contingent at RDP-22 will comprise 96 soldiers instead of the usual 144 so that proper attention can be given to COVID-19 protocol.

The Indian Army’s first marching contingent, of Rajput regiment soldiers, will wear the 1950s uniform and carry .303 rifles, Kakkar said.

The second marching c o n t i n ge n t , o f A s s a m regiment soldiers, will wear the 1960s uniform of the Indian Army and carry .303 rifles.

The 1970s uniform of the Army will be worn by soldiers of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry regiment, who will form the third marching contingent, and they will carry 7.62 mm self-loading rifles, he informed.

The fourth and fifth

marching contingents will be of Sikh Light Infantry and Army Ordnance Corps Regiment respectively, he said, adding that these soldiers will wear the current uniform of the Army and carry 5.56 mm Insas rifles, Kakkar noted.

The sixth contingent will be of Parachute regiment soldiers who will wear the new combat uniform, which was unveiled earlier this month, and carry Tavor rifles, he stated.

Overall, there will be a total of 14 marching contingents -- six of Army, one of Navy, one of Air Force, four of Central A r m e d Po l i c e Fo r c e s (CAPFs), two of National Cadet Corps (NCC), one of Delhi police and one of National Service Scheme (NSS), he said.

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‘Abide With Me’ dropped for Indian tunes: Sources

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): The Centre decided to drop one of Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymns “Abide With Me” from this year’s Beating Retreat c e r e m o n y a s p l ay i n g more Indian tunes would be appropriate in view of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, which celebrates the 75th year of India’s Independence, government sources said on Sunday.

“Abide With Me”, written by Scottish Anglican poet and hymnologist Henry Francis Lyte in 1847, had been part of the Beating Retreat ceremony since 1950. The Indian Army announced on Saturday that it has been dropped from this year’s ceremony.

The sources said that the Centre wanted to include maximum number of Indian tunes and consequently, it was decided that only Indianorigin tunes will be played at this year’s ceremony on January 29.

The Centre had in 2020 also planned to drop “Abide With Me” from the ceremony but had later retained it after an uproar.

For this year’s c e r e m o n y, t h e h y m n has been replaced by the popular patriotic song “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon”, which was written by Kavi Pradeep to commemorate the supreme sacrifice made

by Indian soldiers during the 1962 Indo-China war.

“Ae mere watan ke logo” is an Indian tune and pays respect to all who laid their life for the safety and integrity of the nation, the sources noted.

The move to drop the hymn from this year’s ceremony came days after the Centre’s decision to

File photo of Beating Retreat ceremony.

merge the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at the India Gate with the eternal flame of the National War Memorial (NWM). The merger took place during a brief ceremony on Friday.

While some military officials defended the decision to merge the flame, several opposition p a r t i e s, i n c l u d i n g t h e Congress accused the BJPruled Centre of “removing history”.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Cong ress on Saturday attacked the government over the dropping of ‘Abide With Me’ from this year’s Beating Retreat ceremony, alleging that it was another attempt to erase his legacy.

Government sources said on Sunday that the iconic tune and lyrics for “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” has a far wider connect with the people of India.

I t i s c o n t ex t u a l ly far more appropriate to celebrate the valour and gallantry of the armed forces of India with “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” as compared to “Abide with Me” hymn, they mentioned.

Phasing out tunes h a n d e d d ow n f r o m a colonial past and including

tunes that have a wider and deeper connect with the people of India is an ongoing exercise, they mentioned. “’Abide with Me” is a popular military tune but its lyrics are understood by a limited few, they stated.

“Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” is a celebrated song with a massive universal appeal and it imbibes a sense of sacrifice and respect for those who have made supreme sacrifice for India in the last 75 years, they noted.

It is for this reason that in the 75th year of our independence, when we are celebrating “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, the Centre is making this change in the concluding performance of the Beating Retreat 2022, they noted.

The brochure released by the Indian Army on Saturday listed 26 tunes that will be played at this year’s ceremony at Vijay Chowk.

The 26 tunes that will be played at this year’s ceremony include ‘Hey Kanchha’, ‘Channa Bilauri’, ‘Jai Janam Bhumi’, ‘Nritya Sarita’, ‘Vijay Josh’, ‘Kesaria Banna’, ‘Veer Siachen’, ‘Hathroi’,

‘Vijay Ghosh’, ‘Ladaakoo’, ‘Swadeshi’, ‘Amar Chattan’, ‘ G o l d e n A r r ow s ’ a n d ‘Swarn Jayanti’, according to the brochure.

‘Veer Sainik’, ‘Fanfare

by Buglers, ‘INS India’, ‘Yashasvee’, ‘Jai Bharati’, ‘Kerala’, ‘Siki A Mole’, ‘Hind Ki Sena’, ‘Kadam K a d a m B a d h ay e Ja ’ , ‘Drummers Call’ besides ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ are also part of the tunes that will be played on the evening of January 29, the brochure noted.

The ceremony will see the participation of 44 buglers, 16 trumpeters and 75 drummers.

Beating Retreat is a centuries-old military tradition dating from the days when troops disengaged from the battle at sunset, it said.

As soon as the buglers sounded the retreat, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield, it added.

Beating Retreat marks the end of nearly weeklong festivities of Republic Day, which used to begin on January 24. But this year, the celebrations will begin on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

Ahead of Bose’s 125th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday announced that a grand statue of the iconic freedom fighter will be installed at India Gate as a symbol of India’s “indebtedness” to him.

Till the statue, made of granite, is completed, a hologram statue of his would be present at the same place, he said, adding that he will unveil the hologram statue on Sunday.

PM to interact with Bal Puraskar awardees today NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will vir tually interact with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) awa r d e e s o n M o n d ay (January 24).

For the fisrt time digital certificates will be conferred on the awardees for the year 2022 and 2021 using ‘Blockchain Technology’.

This technology is being used for the first time for giving certificates to awardees.

The Government of India has been conferring the PMRBP awards as the recognition to children residing in India, above the age of five years and not exceeding 18 years for their exceptional achievement in six categories, namely Innovation, Social Service, Scholastic, Sports, Art and Culture, and Bravery.

These Awards are conferred by the President in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The awardees of PMRBP also take part in the Republic Day parade every year. “However, in view of Covid-19 situation in the country, it has not been possible to organise the award ceremony at New Delhi this year.

“On the occasion of National Girl Child Day on January 24 and as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Prime Minister Modi would interact virtually with the winners of PMRBP-2022,” said the government.

The children along with their parents and concerned District Magistrates of their respective districts would join the event from their district Headquarters.

‘Freedom Rally’: Govt urged to revoke vax mandate orders Mamata pays tribute to Netaji, demands (From p-1) adults and children and discriminating the unvaccinated persons, they regretted that numerous mandates had been imposed ever since the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, leaving no option for the citizens to make independent choices and decide for themselves.

They pointed out that neither the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) nor the Central government had ever made vaccination mandatory, which was confirmed again by the Centre before the Supreme Court.

Though the Centre had in December 2021 given permission to vaccinate children in the age group of 15-18, the signatories said the State government had treated this as a mandate.

They pointed out that H&FW Ministry was the appropriate authority for formulating policies regarding any healthrelated issue and directed the respective State health departments for implementation.

And when the Central ministry did not even formulate

a guideline for compulsory vaccination of citizens keeping in mind the constitutional mandate, they said it was appalling that the State was formulating policies forcing the citizens, including innocent children, to be inoculated. Vaccination was a choice and should not be forced upon anyone directly or paradoxically, they asserted.

Sworn by the constitution to uphold its ideals and protect the rights of people, they mentioned that it became the bounden duty of the authorities concerned to frame policies in line with the Constitution and not violate it.

They alleged that numerous side effects had been caused by the vaccine, but till date the State did not have a mechanism in place for reporting AEFI cases and conducting clinical study.

The memorandum stressed that it was imperative that right to self-determination remained intact as it was an inherent right of the people, recognised by the Constitution and international laws, and could not be taken

away by any authority in a civilised and democratic country such as India.

Earlier, speakers from various churches, prominent individuals and social workers spoke on compulsory Covid-19 vaccine notifications and other related issues.

In his speech, New Life Church pastor Rev Azahto Kiba observed that the current pandemic had brought a division among the people, church and doctors. Regretting that people have forgotten the word of God, he reminded them that God did not change even during this difficult time. Citing the Farm Laws protest, he claimed that no protester died of the pandemic nor did the pandemic cause any obstruction.

Questioning authorities for imposing fine on citizens for not wearing masks, he also urged them not to force Covid vaccine and respect an individual’s right to freedom of choice.

Human Rights Law Network State coordinator Neiteo Koza reminded the authorities that mandatory vaccination

affected an individual’s right, choice and liberty significantly more than affecting the general public, impinging upon the decision of an individual choosing not to be vaccinated.

Naga Students’ Federation president Kegwayhun Tep also gave a short speech during the rally, which was led by entrepreneur and social worker Neits Krome.

Others who spoke at the rally include Rev Velavoyi Keyho president Nagamese Baptist Churches Kohima area; Rev Kevisede Kire of Soul Harvest Church, pastor Khi Peter of Nagamese Baptist Church, High School area and RPP treasurer Vitho Zao etc.

Worship in songs were led

by Ongpa of Eklektos Baptist Church.

T h e p r o g r a m m e wa s chaired by Neits Krome, entrepreneur and social worker In conclusion the gathering sang the song ‘We shall overcome’ and a hymnal ‘Because He Lives’ followed by a mass prayer and benediction pronounced by Rev Kevisede Kire.

for national holiday on his birthday

KOLKATA, JAN 23 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday paid tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary, and said that the day would be observed as ‘Desh Nayak Dibas’ across the state.

Banerjee also made a fresh appeal to the Centre to declare Netaji’s birthday as a national holiday.

In a tweet, the TMC supremo said that Jai Hind University will be set up in memory of the revolutionary leader with 100 per cent state funding.

“Homage to Deshnayak Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary. A national and global icon, Netaji’s rise from Bengal is unmatched in the annals of Indian history,” she wrote.

“We again appeal to the Central Government that Netaji’s birthday be

Mamata Banerjee

declared a National Holiday to allow the entire Nation to pay homage to the National Leader and celebrate #DeshNayakDibas in most befitting manner,” the CM posted on the microblogging site.

Banerjee also iterated that a Bengal Planning Commission will be set up in the state, inspired by Netaji’s thoughts on National Planning Commission.

The CM stated that a tableau on Netaji, which would also feature other eminent freedom fighters, will be put on display at the Republic Day parade in Kolkata.

Describing Netaji as an “epitome of patriotism, courage, leadership, unity and brotherhood”, she said he would continue to be an inspiration for generations to come.

“This year, a tableau will be displayed on the Republic Day Parade on ‘Netaji’ and will also feature other eminent freedom fighters from Bengal to commemorate the 75th year of Independence of our country,” she tweeted.

The Centre had excluded the state’s tableau on Netaji from the Republic-Day parade in Delhi, drawing flak from the TMC as well as the Congress and the CPI(M).

Banerjee later said that the tableau would be put on display in the state.

Non-BJP state govts team up against After row, Digvijaya meets MP CM ED planning to arrest Satyendar Jain: Kejriwal proposed change in IAS cadre rules NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (IANS): The non-BJP governments in four states have teamed up against the Centre’s proposal to amend the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954.

Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have written to the Prime Minister and urged him to roll back the decision, claiming that the change in the rules for central deputation of IAS officers will affect the states’ administration.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written two letters to the Centre. In her second letter she said: “I find the revised amendment proposal more draconian than the former, and indeed its very grain is against the foundations of our great federal polity and the basic structure of India’s Constitutional scheme.

“The moot point of the further revised draft amend-

ment proposal is that an officer, whom the Central government may choose to take out of a state to any part of the country without taking his/her consent and without the agreement of the state government under whom he or she is serving, may now stand released from his/her current assignment forthwith,” Banerjee said.

The states say that the power proposed to be usurped by the Central government by resorting to over-centralisation of powers is going to destroy the morale and freedom of the All-India Service officers.

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren too wrote to the Prime Minister expressing his concern.

He said, “I have written to @PMOIndia expressing strong reservations on the proposed All India Services cadre rule amendments by

Govt of India.

They promote ‘unilateralism’ rather than ‘cooperative federalism’. I hope he will consider my request and bury the proposal at this stage itself.”

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel have also written letters to the Prime Minister opposing the move.

Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu too have decided to oppose the changes.

The government has defended the move and has stated that working with the Centre and state governments both will broaden officers’ perspectives and will advance the mission of the all-India services.

It said that the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers cannot always be posted in states since it is inefficient for both the service and the officers. ‘

BHOPAL, JAN 23 (PTI): Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at his official r e s i d e n c e, d ay s a f t e r accusing the CM of not giving him an appointment over the plight of the people affected by Tem and Suthalia irrigation projects and staging a sit-in protest for a meeting.

He was accompanied

by MP Congress president Kamal Nath.

Singh claimed that he had been seeking an appointment for a long time to apprise Chouhan about the plight of the affected people but the CM’s office is dilly-dallying. He had also alleged that the appointment was fixed on Friday but it was cancelled at the last moment.

Singh had also staged a sit-in protest on Friday.

“Digvijaya Singh and I called on the chief

Shivraj Singh Chauhan with Digvijaya Singh

minister on the issue of the people affected by Tem and Suthalia irrigation projects. We apprised him about irregularities in the survey and compensation work. Farmers themselves talked to the CM,” Nath told reporters after meeting Chouhan.

Nath said that he accompanied Singh on the latter’s request.

N a t h a l l e ge d t h a t far mers are distressed as they are not getting

fertilisers, seeds and fair price for their produce in MP whereas their land is being snatched for the big projects.

Nath said he had bumped into Chouhan at the airport hanger in Bhopal on Friday where he had landed from Chhindwara while the CM was leaving.

Singh told reporters that he had been continuously writing letters to Chouhan on the issue of the project-affected people.

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Ar vind Kejriwal on Sunday said he has been informed by sources that the Enforcement Department (ED) may arrest his cabinet minister Satyendar Jain just before assembly elections in Punjab.

However, he said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers do not fear these agencies as they have done nothing wrong.

“From our sources we have got to know that right before Punjab polls in coming few days the ED is going to arrest Satyendar Jain (Delhi Health and Home Minister). They are most welcome. Previously too, the Centre had conducted raids at Satyendar Jain but got nothing,” Kejriwal said in a virtual press conference here.

He alleged that whenever the BJP realises

Arvind Kejriwal

that it is losing, it unleashes all the central agencies on its opponents.

“Since there are elections, raids and arrests will be made. We do not fear such raids and arrests because we have done nothing wrong,” Kejriwal said. He also said that p r ev i o u s ly r a i d s we r e conducted at his premise, his deputy Manish Sisodia’s premises, Jain’s residence and also AAP’s 21 MLAs were arrested but they got nothing.

6

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post VOL. XXXII NO. 48 DIMAPUR, MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Science behind polling

R

ecent polls conducted by some agencies on the likely outcome of elections in five states-UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa- seem to suggest that the pollsters have concluded that prime minister Narendra Modi is the winner; even if that also means the ruling BJP will not sweep the polls even in its stronghold UP. The pollsters funded by some TV firms seem to have perfected the art of playing dubiously as safe as possible with deviation in highlighting Modi’s popularity vis-a-vis other opposition leaders. In UP, the BJP is no longer looking at another landslide but a very tough fight against a resurgent Samajwadi Party(SP) to which it has lost many leaders. If at all the BJP manages to beat the SP in a close finish, it will only because of its unlimited material resources and the huge poll bonanza announced by prime minister Narendra Modi made before the ECI belatedly announced poll notification.

In Punjab the Congress is still fighting a resurgent AAP and also internal differences between followers of chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and troublemaker PCC president Navyot Singh Sidhu. Surprisingly, the former chief minister Capt.Amarinder Singh who has allied with the BJP, does not seem to have created much impact. However, it is early to predict the outcome but in all probability, Capt.Amarinder has been reduced more to a vote-cutter of the Congress than being able to come up with enough MLAs to form a government. By gunning for Sidhu every time and vowing to defeat him, Amarinder has only sounded petty and lowered his image in the eyes of the voters in Punjab. In Uttarakhand, the Congress appears to be doing quite well, mainly after the defection of several BJP leaders. However, the Congress is still far from being in any position to claim victory. The BJP has a strong organisational cadre and unlimited cash and material resources. In Goa it is almost the same story where the BJP appears to be holding on to its advantage despite rebellion and defections by some of its well known leaders. In Manipur, the Congress has a good chance of upsetting the Biren-Singh led BJP coalition government only if it does not claim victory too early. The opinion polls are not exactly a reflection of the true intentions of the voters since it is still a long way before polling and many things can still happen in between. The opinion polls have many weaknesses while attempting to make forecasts in a complex situation. In such a setting, the polls can be used as covert instruments by political parties to make seat predictions and thereby influence the electorate.

The science of polling is sound, based on solid statistical theories. It can be statistically shown that, in a homogeneous socio-economic-political condition, a sample size of 1,004 is enough to estimate the vote percentages with an error margin of 3%. Thus, all one needs to do is divide the country or a state into several such ‘homogeneous’ regions and sample roughly a thousand respondents from each region. Anyway even if poll predictions to favour BJP are way off the mark, what has been used to offset any unfavourable situation for the BJP has not changed. In fact the use of central agencies by the BJP against uncomfortable opposition leaders is still on track.

DailyDevotion Transformed by Beholding We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image… —2 Corinthians 3:18

The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.

The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord….”

Quotes

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”

~ Soren Kierkegaard

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Budget: Cut I-T to 20 pc, stop PSU sale to boost demand Y et another year of uncertainty begins with difficult finances, not so certain growth and possibly some experimentation by the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

People have a major expectation. Two years back on September 20, 2019, less than 40 hours before prime minister Narendra Modi’s Houston event, the government announced a massive corporate tax rate cut, lowering the base rate to 22 percent from 30 percent, and to 15 percent from 25 percent for new manufacturing companies.

Till such time individual and tax rates were in sync.

Now people want that synchornisation is reestablished. The individual income tax rates remain very high at 42 percent and 30 plus 3 percent. It robs an income tax payee of almost 73 to 83 percent of his income. The aspiration is that it be lowered to 20 to 22 percent, possibly ideally as per Chanakyan principles to around 17 percent to help generate demand.

The aspiration is because of the difficult three years of covid19 uncertainty, job losses, income contraction and severe inflation at 14.6

percent. One wishes that finance minister listens to them.

She has her problems of constricted finances, not the desired growth or rather uneven growth instead of a high trajectory that could have generated jobs, increased demand, boosted production and paved the way for demand.

Though she should do that but it is possible she would like to avoid the call. And people should be thankful that she does not introduce her own thought, earlier rejected by many finance ministers, of expenditure tax. The idea evolved by socialists finally was rejected by them. Contraction of spending is not a good idea.

Let people spend and those who can save in classical Indian style. The FM should rethink of incentivising savings by asking RBI to raise interest rates. If she does, it would bring back the sustained growth pattern and strengthen Indian families come out of the crisis.

The FM needs to do it. If she had done this before, the government would possibly not have to resort to free food, edible oil and other doles to 80 crore or 61.54 percent of the population. It is a

benevolent approach of the government but could have been avoided if the families had the strength.

Modi told people of Gujarat on August 3, 2021 that covid19 has caused a body blow to the poor and government spent Rs 2 lakh crore to provide free ration till last November. Now it is extended to March 31 naturally incurring more expenses.

The FM now should through various policy formulations try to empower the families. It may help the country reduce these Shivaji expenses in the next four to five years helping the country to invest in many projects and create demand.

The budget would invest in many metro, infra projects, healthcare, railways and ports. It also may take up the issue of regulating crypto currencies. Last year, the new National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), with a capital base of Rs. 20,000 crore and a lending target of Rs.5 lakh crore over a three-year horizon was set up. In five years, it targets Rs 111 lakh crore investment.

NaBFID chairman

KV Kamath says that it would require Rs 80 lakh crore in 2022-23 to kickstart big ticket projects like high-speed railways, airports, ports, highways, river interlinking for the national infra pipeline.

Infra is critical and risky both. Highway investments may go up by 35 percent.

The ASEAN had gone bust with high infra investment.

It aims to make it up by further asset sales of the PSUs. It looks interesting but the financial risks cannot be overlooked.

Sarkar The rise of private at the cost of public sector has its ramification.

There are proposals for disinvesting 36 PSUs, including Central Electronics, PDIL, LIC, four major banks by 2024.

The funds through sales would only help reduce fiscal deficit. The number of profit-making PSUs was 183 in 2017-18, 179 in 2018-19 before declining to 171 in 2019-20, said industry minister. According to the government’s new public sector policy, profit or loss incurred by a PSU is not criterion for disinvestment anymore.

It should also be re-

membered that the 2007-08 Lehman global meltdown was the handiwork of the private corporate. The Rs 7000 crore Satyam scam in 2009 singed India as well. The FM has to come out with a balanced foolproof system. There are a series of promised projects for poll-bound UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab. The strong ‘multiplier effect’ of infrastructure spending can be realised, only if it is delivered in a timely manner and is effectively targeted.

None should get delayed or stalled.

It has to lay special emphasis on agriculture.

Procurements are on the rise but still unable to satisfy farmers. The budget proposes to increase loan limit to Rs 18 lakh. Various infra funding, healthcare, agriculture, small businesses would depend heavily on banks, which are certainly not so comfortable. As per RBI, banks have Rs 8.35 lakh crore NPA. Even there are plans to allow youth to have loans from banks for entrepreneurship. Looks good.

But MUDRA loans’ record is not that bright.

Bad debts for Mudra loans have spiked for PSBs, and,

at the end of 2018-19 (FY19), stand at 9.3 per cent of advances. There has been 71 percent jump in the number of MUDRA loan accounts that have turned non-performing assets (NPA) in Gujarat in 2021.

India has to invest more in healthcare. Last year by mixing figures of Ayush it projected 137 percent increase to Rs 2.23 lakh crore funding up from Rs 94000 crore. It had included Ayush figures too.

The real rise was miniscule.

Hope FM would take more sincere steps this time as India’s public healthcare system remains rudimentary and private system is extremely expensive and exploitative. Despite covid19 situation and now omicron, investment in the sector does not look easy.

Creating jobs and less reliance on the public sector are contradictory. Organisations like PDIL are watchdogs that private or foreign investors detest.

Mere infra cannot sustain or boost job demands for long. It has to look how the medium and small industries grow. So far the stress on MSME is a bit lukewarm. The budget has to be more innovative.

Post-mortem

I

Govt. of Nagaland on divisional spree

believe the trust deficit is the major factor that prompts the people of Nagaland, say a cluster section of people, to crave for equitable seat of power with specific reference to the demand for District creation. The Ism begets trust deficit aka tribalism, favoritism, party-ism, clan-ism, constituency-ism, village-ism, etc.

And how Ism governs the State today is that when one becomes the minister in-charge of Home, he determines to see that only his tribesmen are recruited into Police service, when an Ism bureaucrat becomes Secy. of a department, he inducts only his kith and kin against the vacancies, when an Ism officer becomes the HOD, he ensures that only people from his clan are recruited, when the Ism Member is appointed as minister in-charge of, for instance, Medical department, he dumps only his constituency people into it, and today it is reportedly known that even post vacancies are on sale. [I happened to come across a pathetic case of a very poor Naga lady who was duped by a retired officer with fake appointment order issued to her on the verge of his retirement by taking cash from the helpless lady.

A very daring ploy which can never evade the preying eye of the Living God, as I believe.]

This undemocratic culture is being actively practiced today. The classless Naga society is today classified into almost inherent watertight compartments.

The aforementioned culture sounds like a reckless joke and yet it has its immense toll on the socio-economic and political equilibrium in Nagaland. This very culture of injustice and selfishness

T

has in turn developed distinct classes, such as, employable clan and unemployable clan, employable graduate and unemployable graduate, employable tribe and unemployable tribe, employable constituency and unemployable constituency, etc. During yesteryear, people had Minister for Nagaland whereas today we have minister for Constituency as per neo culture. As the BJP Govt. at the centre has created a very deep chasm between the haves and the have-nots, the UDA Govt. has caused so much disparity between the privileged and the underprivileged in Nagaland.

I heard about an officer who used to manipulate the recruitment and service regularization procedures according to his own personal whims and fancies for his pleasure, and this may be the tip of the iceberg.

Under this kind of governance in Nagaland, the less fortunate people tend to develop sense of insecurity in absence of the desired amount of political and bureaucratic backup. Besides, the chances of bullying of minority and backward tribes by major tribes and the powerful authorities both at political and bureaucratic levels cannot be ruled out. We know the Govt. facilities due to deserving public have been unduly enjoyed by non-stakeholders all these years under the patronage of the State Govt.

Having watched the prevailing system of governance, I likened the fate of the less-privileged indigenous citizens to that of the Uyghurs who have been suppressed in the internment camps in Xinjiang province in China by the Communist regime.

However, the report on the ground realities are throttled and perhaps the international media could not penetrate into it for fact extraction. Similarly, how much our bona fide citizens are denied their due share of Govt. facilities are hardly highlighted by anyone.

The injustice, partiality, favoritism, nepotism and cupidity have been the guidelines for governance since the true democratic principles as justice, transparency, honesty and magnanimity have been kept under lock and key for decades.

In absolute absence of the application of disciplinary rules, the corrupt has free run over the governance as if the public office is his/her private property. All the above metaphors are conveniently practiced by people in authority from highest to the lowest levels all because all those Christians sans the sense of fear of God. We, the Naga Christians, tend to believe that Hindus and Muslims are dishonest since they don’t believe in the Living God, and yet in practical reality, we, Christians, are found to be much more dishonest than those idolaters. Thus, the above reasons are the bigger attributes to the demand for creation of Districts.

I lacked the knowledge of the criteria so set by the State Govt. for creation of a new District. Yet, the vastness of the area can hardly be a strong reason for creation as such vast areas can be manned through subordinate officers as ADCs and EACs. Neither the population density nor the developmental backwardness of the area can be a good reason too. Also, a tribe unwilling to remain under the existing ad-

ministrative HQ thereby asking for creation of a new District sounds odd.

In the greater interest of the State of Nagaland, it would be most appropriate for the State Govt. to set up a Commission on Administrative Reform to have a relook at the over all existing administrative HQs. visa-vis the demands for new Districts. If at all any new District is to be created, it may be done so under holistic arrangement. On the contrary, the UDA has now trapped itself in its Pandora’s box as it is on the District creation spree.

During the last 40 years (1963-2003) only 8 Districts were created, whereas just within 19 years (2003-2022) 8 more Districts have been created.

As those Districts are created under pressure, the Govt. is now bound to follow the created precedence. At this rate, how and on what ground the UDA Govt. will reject the next petitioner. When a new District is created, it causes immense financial burden on the State exchequer. The new District has to be provided with all the basic paraphernalia including the infrastructures.

When the UDA Govt. has been unable to pay salary to its employees in certain Department, how it is going to cope with the creation of 4 new Districts at one go. While watching the performances of the State Govt. in the gallery, it is pathetic to see that the UDA ministry is found to be spineless. The Govt. is being dragged around by pressure groups to run the errands. It has become the ultimatum fueled Govt. Today, the Govt. is usually forced to meet the demand

of those pressure groups under duress whether such demand is justifiable or not.

There may be many reasons why the public dares to have no sense of respect for Nagaland Govt. and yet one major reason is allowing its authority to get diluted.

The Govt. perhaps believes that it is a better policy to bring its authority closer to the masses by means of incessant consultative meetings on most of the issues as though the elected authority has no power to take unilateral decision on such issues.

The so called pro-NGO and pro-tribal policy is nothing but cheap popularity and pampering, and the result of such unethical political conduct is losing its domineering image, and the consequence is now facing the smack of threat and intimidation from the mentors as well as from the public.

In the past, the Govt. used to receive public memorandums and today it gets only ultimatums as asked for. Who is the decision maker today? The elected Govt. or the mob? Such disrespect to Govt. by the public is a new trend and it is unprecedented.

The UDA is making a name to itself by excessively fragmenting the 16,579 sq.km of Nagaland into small Districts. The UDA is fast manufacturing Districts, but what to administer and where are the resources to feed the hungry mouths of the Districts? At this rate, the UDA will convert 60 Constituencies into 60 Districts under duress. The governance of UDA looks more like a drama than a reality.

Z. Lohe

NSCN/GPRN (Akato) declaration

he NSCN/GPRN reiterate our stance made on November 19th 2021 declaring unilateral ceasefire with GoI. It is however, the NSCN is dismayed by some adversaries and sycophants who are hell bent to derail our good gesture, armed with deterrent acts so as to interfere with ceasefire mechanism and process aimed for diabolic intent and sinister designs.

Ironically as it is, if at all, the competent authority feels like dancing to the tunes of our adversaries by taking us for a ride and to procrastinate the issue then the NSCN is also least bothered as to

whether or not we are in the ambit of the Ceasefire, but will continue to carry on with the legacy of the Naga National Movement, so as to keeping the Naga Cause alive, come what may.

Also, if the competent Authority wants to sleep with our enemy, in unholy nexus and to those who intends to sell their souls to the Devil with the view that it may deter our spirit, then that will be the greatest mistake, a blunder and a tragic comedy, just for the simple fact that the NSCN can never be cowed down by such comical and pathetic drama, but will rather continue to stand

by every NSCN member’s Swear-in Allegiance that we will defend our motherland with our own lives and to the last man standing.

And by that, even if we have to take bullets for the Naga Cause, so be it. It is however, the NSCN will make sure that we leave behind our trail for our future posterity and children to carry on the legacy, just like it has been passed down to us by our predecessors and our forefathers.

Nevertheless, as a topmost priority, the NSCN will always remain in good alliance and maintain peaceful accord with the

public and Naga people, and for which we consider and honour that as the real ceasefire.

It is also pertinent for everyone to keep in mind that the Naga Cause and the history of NSCN is embedded in pride, courage, honour, sacrifice and also of blood and tears.

The legacy of our history and glorious events of which was upheld and passed down to us by our forefathers, and no matter what evil forces tries to subdue will never succeed as in the past, now, or in the future.

Leaders, soldiers and cadres of NSCN may come and go, but the for-

midable banner of NSCN and the Naga Cause will always fly high, and will remain a force to be reckoned with, till it reaches its logical quest and attain it’s purpose.

The fact is, some malicious perpetrators may be able to repress and subjugate some people some of the time, but no matter what, the ‘Fortitude and the Spirit of the Nagas can never be broken nor altered, at no point of time’ Most importantly, remember this, “Almost all Nagas are kith and kins of the slain patriots, sworn to rise again”.

The flame and the spirit of the Nagas is always destined to rise up, Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the

even from the Ashes to bounden glory.

MIP: (Ministry of Information & Publicity) NSCN/GPRN (Akato Chophi) Copy to: Amit Shah Union Minister for Home; Amarjeet Singh Bedi, Chairman, CFSB/ CFMG; AK Mishra, Interlocutor, Naga Talks; Arvind Kumar, Director IB (Intelligence Bureau); Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Governor, Nagaland; Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister, Nagaland; Y. Patton, Deputy Chief Minister, Nagaland; T.John Longkumer, DGP Nagaland; Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande GOC, Eastern Command and NGOs/CSOs. Editor in any manner.

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said the “Modi-Yogi (MY)” factor has demolished the “culture of crime” in Uttar Pradesh and is the guarantee for security in the state.

During a ‘Chaupal Par Charcha’ event in Rampur’s Daniyapur and Shankarpur villages ahead of the assembly polls in the state, he interacted with BJP ‘panna pramukhs’, ‘booth pramukhs’, farmers, villagers and other people.

The “MY (Modi-Yogi) factor” in Uttar Pradesh is the guarantee for security and prosperity of the people, and good governance in the state, the BJP leader said.

This “MY (Modi-Yogi) factor” has demolished the “culture of corruption and crime”, the minority affairs minister said in a play on the ‘Muslim-Yadav (MY) factor’ known in political circles to be the vote base of the Samajwadi Party.

Naqvi said that “appeasement” has been replaced by “determination for development with dignity” in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya-

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

nath era which has ensured inclusive empowerment of all sections.

The people of Uttar Pradesh have not forgotten the crime and cruelty perpetrated during the regime of the state government before 2017, he was quoted as saying by a statement from his office.

Attacking the Congress, Naqvi said the “once national party” is now not even acceptable in a “mohalla (locality) ” due to its “negative feudal mind-set”.

“Today, the queue of those returning the Congress’ ticket is longer than the ticket seekers,” he claimed.

During the last five years, Naqvi said, the Modi and Yogi governments have ensured rapid transformation of the state with better law and order, infrastructure

development, high-tech industries, quality and affordable education and medical facilities.

The state has strongly and effectively worked to tackle the coronavirus pandemic’s challenges and crores of people have been vaccinated so far in the state, he said.

While there were only 15 medical colleges before 2017, there are 59 medical colleges now, Naqvi said.

While there were two international airports in Uttar Pradesh before 2017, there are now five international airports in the state now, he said.

Naqvi said that while only two cities had been connected with the metro rail network before 2017, metro rail has reached five cities now, Naqvi said.

‘Congress’ situation miserable EC transfers 3 DMs, 2 SPs in UP in UP’, says BSP chief Mayawati LU C K N OW, J A N 2 3

LU C K N OW, J A N 2 3 (PTI): Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday said Congress’ is so miserable it “changed” its Chief Minister face for Uttar Pradesh polls within hours of announcement.

“The condition of the Congress party is so miserable in the UP Assembly elections that their CM candidate changed her stand within a few hours. It would be better, if people do not waste their vote by giving it to the Congress. And vote one-sided for the BSP,” Mayawati tweeted.

She termed the Congress as a party which divides the opposition votes against the BJP, and urged voters to ignore it.

“People of UP see the Congress as a vote cutting party. If the BJP needs to be kept out of power in favour of a government which works for all the sections of the society, then the BSP holds the number one place

Mayawati

in this context,” she wrote.

Two days ago during the launch of election manifesto for the youth at the Congress headquarters in Delhi, when Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was asked about who will be the CM face of the Congress in UP, she had said that “are you seeing any face from UP in the Congress?”.

Later in an interview on Saturday, Priyanka had said that she is not the only face of the party.

In the interview, she had also expressed surprise over the low profile campaign of the BSP.

(IANS): In a major development the Election Commission of India (ECI) has transferred District Magistrates (DMs) of Firozabad, Bareilly and Kanpur Nagar and Superintendents of Police (SPs) in Firozabad and Kaushambi districts.

According to an official release, Suryapal Gangwar, the Managing Director of Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (MVVNL), will replace Chandra Vijay Singh as Firozabad DM. Singh was posted in Firozabad since 2019. During his tenure, eight men were killed in anti-CAA and NRC protests in December 2019. While in 2021, 68 people, including 51 children, died of ‘dengue-like viral fever’ outbreak which occurred in September 2021 in the district. Another Lucknow-based officer, Shiva Kant Dwivedi, Special Secretary, Minority Welfare, has been appointed as Bareilly DM replacing Manvendra Singh.

Col. Rawat not to contest polls DEHRADUN, JAN 23 (PTI): Gen Bipin Rawat’s younger brother Col (retd) Vijay Rawat, who recently joined the BJP, on Sunday said he is not contesting the upcoming assembly polls in Uttarakhand.

Col Rawat said he was asked by party leaders to contest but he said no to them.

Asked what if they insist on fielding him, he said 99 per cent chances are that he would politely refuse.

“I am not contesting the polls. I am interested only in serving the people of Uttarakhand,” Col Rawat said in an interview to PTI. Joining the BJP less than a month ahead of the state assembly polls had given rise to speculation in the media that he might be given a ticket by the party.

“My purpose behind joining the BJP was serving people and not holding an office or a post. During my 34 years in the Army I was transferred to different places. I didn’t get a chance to serve people of my own state. Now that I am retired I can do that,” he said.

“I don’t want to be tied up to a post. I want to serve people freely,” he said.

Col Rawat, who lives in Jaipur after his retirement five years ago, said Uttarakhand’s tourism potential can be utilised for generating employment for locals at

unsuccessfully contested the Haridwar-Rural and Kichcha assembly seats in the 2017 assembly polls.

Yashpal Arya, a former Speaker in the state assembly, who had recently joined the Congress after quitting the BJP, has been fielded from his Bajpur-SC constituency.

Arya’s son Sanjeev Arya has also been fielded from the Nainital (SC) assembly seat, which he quit after resigning from the BJP along with his father. Sumit Hridayesh, the son of senior Congress leader Indira Hri-

dayesh who died in June last year, has been fielded from Haldwani assembly seat.

Elections will be held for 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand on February 14 and the results will be declared on March 10.

The Congress is seeking to wrest power back from the BJP in the hill state.

Manoj Rawat, the sitting MLA from Kedarnath assembly seat, has been fielded once again by the party. Sitting MLA Mamta Rakesh has been fielded from her Bhagwanpur-SC assembly constituency.

PANAJI, JAN 23 (PTI): Congress veteran P Chidambaram on Sunday said the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) proposal of a prepoll alliance for the next month’s Goa Assembly elections was not considered by his party as the Mamata Banerjee-led party “poached” Congress leaders in the state.

His statement comes three days after TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said that if the Congress fails to dislodge the BJP from power in Goa, then Chidambaram, who is Congress’ state election in-charge, should own up the responsibility and resign. Banerjee had also said that the TMC had approached Chidambaram with a formal offer for a pre-poll alliance for the February 14 Goa polls.

Talking to reporters here, Chidambaram said there was a suggestion from the TMC for a pre-poll alliance with the Congress in

The Congress has also fielded its sitting MLAs Furkan Ahmad from Pirankaliyar, Qazi Mohd Nizamuddin from Manglore, Karan Mahara from R a n i k h e t , G ov i n d Singh Kunjwal from Jageshwar and Adesh Singh Chauhan from Jaspur.

Surendra Singh Negi, a former MLA from Kotdwar assembly seat, has been fielded once again from the seat. Negi has been a former minister in the state. Jeet Ram has been fielded from Tharali (SC) seat, which he lost in the 2017 polls.

NDRF Twitter handle hacked

P Chidambaram

Goa. “What I can say is that there was a suggestion from the TMC that we should form an alliance (in Goa). (But) Before and after that, certain incidents took place,” the senior Congress leader said.

He alleged that the TMC poached Congress leaders in the coastal state.

“They poached Luizinho Faleiro, and even after the proposal of alliance, they poached Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, whose name was in the Congress’s first list of the candidates.

They also poached in other constituencies, like Mormugao and Vasco,” he said,

capital city. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is party’s Goa election observer, accompanied the candidates to these religious places. But the Congress is not the first party in the state to undertake this kind of exercise.

On January 31 last year, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) had taken its all three MLAs and office-bearers to Dev Bodgeshwar temple at Mapusa and made them take a pledge that they will not support the BJP in the 2022 state elections.

The GFP had extended its support to the Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government in 2017. The GFP MLAs were made ministers at that time. However, after the 10 Congress MLAs joined the BJP in 2019, the GFP ministers were dropped from the cabinet

by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who took over the state’s reins following the death of Parrikar.

The Vijai Sardesai-led GFP had to face a backlash for supporting the BJP to form the government. However, despite taking the oath at the Mapusa temple, one GFP legislator – Jayesh Salgaonkar – later shifted to the ruling BJP. He is currently the BJP’s candidate from Saligao Assembly constituency.

without naming any leader from these two seats.

The for mer Union minister said that after these incidents, he did not get any instructions from the top leaders in the Congress over the alliance proposal.

When asked about Abhishek Banerjee’s statement against him, Chidambaram said, “I don’t want to engage with the TMC general secretary. I occupy a humble position in the Congress party and I would not like to comment.”

He said that Congress leaders had met Shiv Sena and NCP leaders over a prepoll alliance in Goa. “But there was no meeting point, so we did not take it further,” he said.

The Shiv Sena and the NCP have joined hands to contest the elections to the 40-member Goa Assembly, while Congress will be fighting the polls with the Goa Forward Party (GFP).

CHANDIGARH, JAN 23 (IANS): Former Director General of Police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa, an advisor to state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, whose wife Razia Sultana is a party’s candidate, was booked on Sunday for his ‘hate speech’ during canvassing in Malerkotla, the Muslim-dominated town.

He has been booked for promoting enmity among communities. Responding to the registration of case, Mustafa said: “I did not target Hindus as is being alleged on social media. I used

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NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): The official Twitter handle of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) suffered a possible hacking attempt late Saturday, officials said.

A senior officer of the force said on Sunday that technical experts are looking into the issue and the handle will be restored soon.

The handle ‘@NDRFHQ’ briefly posted some random messages and the already published messages were not loading. However, the official display photo and bio of the federal force was visible.

their homes and stop migration from the hills.

“With a growing tendency among people living in urban areas to take a break and spend a holiday in the unpolluted atmosphere of the hills, homestay facilities introduced by the state government have a huge employment generation potential,” he said.

Yoga, trekking and other adventure sports is another area in which there are self-employment opportunities for locals in Uttarakhand, he said.

Col Rawat said even CDS Rawat, who died in a helicopter crash, was very passionate about serving the people of Uttarakhand from outside politics.

“My elder brother had specific development plans ready for different areas of the state including Almora and Ranikhet,” he said, adding he doesn’t want to talk about him much as thinking about his demise makes him distraught.

PANAJI, JAN 23 (PTI): Ahead of the next month’s Goa Assembly elections, the Congress, which was hit hardest by defections in the BJP-ruled state in the last five years, made its candidates swear before God that they will not switch the party if they get elected.

The Congress on Saturday took all its 34 candidates in a special bus to a temple, a church as well as a dargah in the state and made them take the ‘anti-defection’ pledge. Since the last election, the Congress has seen most of its legislators quitting the party. The grand old party, which had emerged as the single largest force by winning 17 seats in the 40-member House after the 2017 Assembly elections, now has only two MLAs in the House. In 2019, ten Congress legislators had joined the ruling BJP, whose current strength in the Assembly stands at 27.

“In order to build trust in the minds of people, the exercise of getting candidates swear before the God was undertaken,” Goa Pradesh Congress committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar said.

The candidates were taken to the Mahalaxmi temple in Panaji, a church at Bambolim and at a dargah in Betim village near the

Recently, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is also contesting the Goa Assembly elections, had announced that its candidates will have to sign legal affidavits mentioning that they will not quit the party to join another one if they get elected. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party took the decision to stem defections as it feels that the coastal state is “notorious” for politicians jumping to other parties, an AAP leader had said.

As per a report by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), as many as 24 legislators in Goa, which is 60 per cent of the total strength of the state Assembly, have switched parties in the last five years.

The organisation said in its report that with these defections, Goa has set a unique record, which is “unparalleled” in the history of Indian democracy. “In the five year tenure of the current Assembly (2017-2022), as many as 24 MLAs have changed their parties, which is 60 per cent of the total strength of the House. It has never happened anywhere else in India. It is a clear reflection of utter disrespect to the mandate of voters. A callous approach to ethics and discipline overborne by uncontrolled greed at its worst,” the report said.

‘TMC’s proposal for alliance in Goa not Former Punjab DGP considered as it poached Cong leaders’ booked for ‘hate speech’

U’khand polls: Cong releases first list of 53 candidates

NEW DELHI, JAN 22 (PTI): The Congress on Saturday released its first list of 53 candidates for the Uttarakhand assembly elections.

Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal will contest from the Srinagar seat and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly Pritam Singh from the Chakrata (ST) constituency. The names of former chief minister Harish Rawat and Harak Singh Rawat, who joined the party only on Friday, did not figure in the first candidate list of the party. Harish Rawat had

Col (retd) Vijay Rawat

Goa polls: Cong makes its candidates take pledge of party loyalty before God

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Modi-Yogi has destroyed crime in UP: M A Naqvi

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word ‘Fitne’, which means law breakers. I was angry at a group of Muslims who had tried to attack me. I was warning them, not Hindus.”

In his video Mustafa was purportedly heard allegedly threatening Hindus with dire consequences if they organise events near his event during a public meeting on January 20. Local AAP candidate Jamil-urRehman said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Mustafa. “He threatened to beat up AAP workers and candidate,” Rehman had said.

8

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

BUSINESS/STATE

Rajan on economy’s bright spots and dark stains Union Budget: Indian startups seek

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Rupee to slip on Tata Motors expects growth momentum Rio, Sarma hold expensive crude oil, in 2022 as it looks to scale production meeting in Guwahati FII funds’ outflow NEW DELHI, JAN 23 its growth momentum in (From p-1) MUMBAI, JAN 23 (IANS): Rising global crude oil prices along with FIIs fund outflow from the equity market will further weaken the Indian rupee during the upcoming week.

Accordingly, the rupee is expected to trade with a weak bias upto 75 to a USD in the coming week. “Rising crude and trade deficit has been keeping the currency under pressure and even FPI outflows have been a constant pressure on the rupee...,” said Sajal Gupta, Head, Forex and Rates at Edelweiss Securities. “It may lose further ground owing to oncoming US Fed meeting and current equity outflows.”

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(PTI): Tata Motors expects its growth momentum to continue this year as well as anticipates supply side issues to improve, helping it roll out more units to cater to the enhanced demand, as per a top company official.

The Mumbai-based automaker, which sells models like Punch, Nexon and Harrier, saw its total passenger vehicle dispatches to dealerships rise by 44 per cent to 99,002 units in third quarter (October-December 2021) as compared with 68,806 units in the same period of the previous year.

Last month, it reported a 50 per cent jump in total passenger vehicle sales to 35,299 units as compared with 23,545 units in December 2020.

“We believe so, because every model in our portfolio, we have now seven products and each model has contributed to this growth,” Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Managing Director Shailesh Chandra told PTI in an interaction.

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“There have been supply side issues which have not allowed us to fully unleash the demand potential that we have for our range of cars. And therefore, I’m confident that we would continue to grow as well (when) the supply side situation improves,” Chandra noted.

He said the company is coming with more options in the mass segment in order to expand its customer base.

The company’s debut in the entry-level SUV segment with Punch last year is one fine example of bringing in models in growing segments.

“We will keep introducing new models in the new growth areas. We have been doing that over the last two years and we are continuing to do that as you would have seen that our intensity of launches was possibly one of the best in the industry,” Chandra added.

He said that had the Congress party would have earlier clarified on boundary demarcation of North Eastern states then today “we would have not faced any issues.” Sarma alleged that it was Congress’ game plan is to keep the North East fighting among themselves.

Sar ma’s statement came following opposition from Congress and other parties to the recent agreement between Assam and Meghalaya to sort out differences in six disputed areas through a give and take formula of land swap.

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new districts overshadowed the December 4 and 5 massacres, the union regretted that, to add more salt to the wound, the oldest district demands (Aboi and Tobu) were never considered while creating new districts in the State when the entire Konyak community was still in a state of deep shock.

However, reconsidering what had happened, KU once again placed its unfreezing trust before the State government to uphold the banner “justice for all” and insisted that the government must attend to the call of the Konyak for creation of new districts immediately. In this regard, the union called upon all Konyak legislators to immediately convene a meeting before the situation got out of hand.

ments when exercising the option, plus waiving tax for some ESOP receipts, will also be a laudable change in the new budget,” said Mathur.

According to Ravish Naresh, CEO and Cofounder, Khatabook, they are hoping for a progressive Budget, especially aimed at promoting homegrown startups focused on problem-solving for India.

“New reforms, policy assistance, and support mechanisms for establishing a focused approach in solving unmet financial needs through technology will significantly benefit the economy,” Naresh told IANS. “In addition, the government’s continued focus on enhancing digital infrastructure in the country will ensure progress towards equality in digital access in FY22-23,” he added.

In the last year’s Budget, the government had said it will facilitate setting up of a world-class fintech hub in Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) city.

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the Konyaks and the 14 innocent Konyak youth massacred by Indian Armed Forces, adding that honouring their precautionary advices would be highly appreciated.

While serving restriction directives exclusively to Konyak citizens, the CSO also appealed to all non-Konyak citizens and officers posted and stationed within Konyak soil to uphold the sentiments of the people as per the regulation since December 6, 2021 or may be acquired from their offices 24x7.

Meanwhile, KU expressed dismay over the State government not including Aboi and Tobu as districts in the December 18 declaration.

Expressing shock over the inhuman attitude of the State Cabinet as creating

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced Rs 1,500 crore to further accelerate digital payments’ growth in the country.

Mathur said that it would also be desirable for the government to increase contribution to the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS).

“Hassle-free loan disbursements, automation of tax and compliance, paper-less approvals, and incentives to adopt digital banking practices will also be welcome changes that can support the growth of MSMEs,” he added.

To incentivise startups, the government had last year extended the eligibility for claiming tax holidays for startups by a year to March 31, 2022. It also extended the capital gains exemption for investment in startups by a year to March 31, 2022, to boost funding.

The country has also seen numerous startups incentivising their employees in the past year with buying back ESOPs. “Deferring tax pay-

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ing units of Konyak Students’ Union (KSU) to ensure strict adherence to the non-cooperation regulation during the Republic Day. The CSO further directed entire citizens – public, students, government servants and politician – to completely abstain from participating in the Republic Day programmes within their jurisdiction. They declared that any individual or group defying their directive would be considered a traitor and action would be taken as per the law of the land.

The CSO further appealed to the citizen to avoid any form of violence, but show utmost resentment democratically.

They also urged the district administration and law enforcing authority to honour the sentiments of

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (IANS): To further aid small businesses and empower entrepreneurs, the Union Budget 2022-23 should introduce additional startupfriendly policies and tax relaxations to enable spending on innovation, ease-ofdoing business and reducing compliance costs, a slew of homegrown startups said.

New reforms, policy assistance and suppor t mechanisms for establishing a focused approach in solving unmet financial needs through technology will significantly benefit the economy, they stressed.

“We’ve seen a substantial spike in the adoption of digital payments in the last one year. I’m hoping that in the upcoming Budget, the government will think of alternatives to the Zero MDR (merchant discount rate) policy, as that will help promote e-payments and drive significant digital adoption among businesses,” said Harshil Mathur, CEO and Co-founder, Razorpay.

In last year’s Budget,

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(From p-1) the “Right to Life and Personal Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Oneness and unity/Union” envisaged there.

“Why have you massacred our innocent brothers/ sons who were returning home to their old parents, newly-wed wives and children after a weeklong sweat and hard earning? Isn’t Justice delayed a justice denied?” the communiqué asked.

KU declared that denial of the Preamble was nothing but a devastation that was more severe than any pandemic the world had ever faced.

Hence, in accordance with the declaration and directives of Konyak CSOs, the meeting empowered respective units of KU and subordinating and federat-

friendly policies, tax incentives

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Konyak CSOs to allow unfurling of Tri-color in offices on R-Day

“If these moves are seen as credible, the debt markets may be willing to accept a higher temporary deficit,” he said, adding that to convince markets that “we will be responsible, we should strengthen the institutional support to future fiscal consolidation.”

Further, Rajan said that one way to expand budgetary resources is through asset sales, including parts of government enterprises and surplus government land.

“We need to be strategic about what we can sell, and how we can improve the economy’s performance through those sales... Once we decide to sell, though, we should move fast, something we have not done so far,” he opined.

Regarding the upcoming budget, Rajan said that he would be happy to see more tariff cuts and far fewer tariff increases, and far fewer sops or subsidies to specific industries. “Particularly, (I) would welcome an independent assessment of the Production Linked Incentive schemes”.

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mass consumption goods,” Rajan told PTI in an e-mail interview.

Rajan, currently a Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, noted that as always, the economy has some bright spots and a number of very dark stains.

“The bright spots are the health of large firms, the roaring business the IT and IT-enabled sectors are doing, including the emergence of unicorns in a number of areas, and the strength of some parts of the financial sector,” he said.

On the other hand, “dark stains” are the extent of unemployment and low buying power, especially amongst the lower middle-

ernment should go for fiscal consolidation or continue with stimulus measures, Rajan pointed out that India’s fiscal situation, even coming into the pandemic, was not good and this is why the finance minister cannot spend freely now.

While the government must spend where necessary at this time to alleviate the pain in the most troubled areas of the economy, he said, “We must target the spending carefully so that we do not run huge deficits.”

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget 2022-23 in Parliament on February 1.

Regarding the rising inflationary trends, Rajan said inflation is a concern in every country, and it would be hard for India to be an exception.

According to him, announcing a credible target for the country’s consolidated debt over the next five years coupled with the setting up of an independent fiscal council to opine on the quality of the budget would be very useful steps.

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Raghuram Rajan

class, the financial stress small and medium-sized firms are experiencing, “including the very tepid credit growth, and the tragic state of our schooling”.

Rajan opined that Omicron is a setback, both medically and in terms of economic activity but cautioned the government on the possibility of a K-shaped economic recovery.

“We need to do more to prevent a K shaped recovery, as well as a possible lowering of our medium term growth potential,” he said.

The country’s GDP is expected to grow over 9 per cent in the current financial year that ends on March 31.

The economy, which was significantly hit by the pandemic, had contracted 7.3 per cent in the last fiscal.

Ahead of the Union Budget, Rajan said that budgets are supposed to be documents containing a vision and he would love to see a five- or ten-year vision for India as well as a plan for the kinds of institutions and frameworks the government intends to set up.

On whether the gov-

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NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (PTI): The Indian economy has “some bright spots and a number of very dark stains” and the government should target its spending “carefully” so that there are no huge deficits, noted economist and former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said on Sunday.

Known for his frank views, Rajan also said the government needs to do more to prevent a K-shaped recovery of the economy hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Generally, a K-shaped recovery will reflect a situation where technology and large capital firms recover at a far faster rate than small businesses and industries that have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.

“My greater worr y about the economy is the scarring to the middle class, the small and medium sector, and our children’s minds, all of which will come into play after an initial rebound due to pent up demand. One symptom of all this is weak consumption growth, especially for

Russia rejects UK claim it was trying to replace Ukraine leader

MOSCOW, JAN 23 (AP): Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected a British claim that Russia was seeking to replace Ukraine’s government with a proMoscow administration, and that former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev was being considered as a potential candidate.

B r i t a i n’s Fo r e i g n Office on Saturday also named several other Ukrainian politicians it said had links with Russian intelligence services, along with Murayev who is the leader of a small pro-Russia party that has no seats in the parliament.

The UK government made the claim based on an intelligence assessment, without providing evidence to back it up. It comes amid high tensions between Moscow and the West over Russia’s designs on Ukraine.

“The disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is more evidence that it is the NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, who are escalating tensions around

Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces, volunteer military units of the Armed Forces, train in a city park in Kyiv. (AP)

Ukraine,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the Telegram messaging app Sunday. “We call on the British Foreign Office to stop provocative activities, stop spreading nonsense.”

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the information “shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking”.

Truss urged Russia to “deescalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy,” and reiterated Britain’s view that “any Russian mili-

9

INTERNATIONAL

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

tary incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs”.

Britain has sent antitank weapons to Ukraine as part of efforts to bolster its defences against a potential Russian attack.

Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for talks in Moscow. No timing has been given for the meeting, which would be the first UK-Russia bilateral defence talks since 2013.

The US has mounted an aggressive campaign in

recent months to unify its European allies against a new Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the UK government assessment “deeply concerning” and said it stands with the duly elected Ukrainian government.

“This kind of plotting is deeply concerning,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said. “The Ukrainian people have the sovereign right to determine their own future, and we stand with our democratically-elected partners in Ukraine.”

The assessment came as President Joe Biden spent Saturday at the presidential retreat Camp David outside of Washington huddling with his senior national security team about the Ukraine situation.

A White House official said the discussions included efforts to de-escalate the situation with diplomacy and deterrence measures being coordinated closely with allies and partners, including security assistance to Ukraine.

Bulgarian President takes office for 2nd term

Seoul says it paid Iran’s delinquent UN dues to restore vote

SOFIA, JAN 23 (IANS): Rumen Radev took office for a second consecutive term as President of Bulgaria after an inauguration ceremony held here in front of the Unknown Soldier Monument.

Parliament Speaker Nikola Minchev, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, other state officials as well as foreign diplomats attended the event on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency.

In his speech, Radev said he devoted his first term to the battle for lawfulness and democracy.

In the years to come, he would stand up for sovereignty, lawfulness, security and justice.

“I will continue to be the president of all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of party affiliation, ethnicity and religion,” he said, adding that he would defend the rights, interests and dignity of the people.

“I believe that together we will continue to build a free, democratic, prosperous and modern state,” he said. Radev, 58, won the presidential election for the first time in November 2016, and repeated his success in November 2021.

DUBAI, JAN 23 (AP): Using Iranian bank funds freed from American sanctions, South Korea has paid Iran’s USD 18 million in delinquent dues owed to the United Nations, Seoul said Sunday.

The step was apparently approved by Washington to restore Tehran’s suspended voting rights at the world body.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But the South Korean Foreign Ministry said Seoul had paid the sum using Iranian assets frozen in the country after consulting with the United States Treasury — a potential signal of flexibility amid floundering nuclear negotiations.

The ministry said it expected Iran’s voting rights to be restored immediately after their suspension earlier this month for delinquent dues. The funds had been impounded at a Korean bank under sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump after he withdrew the US from Tehran’s landmark nuclear deal with world powers.

The US Treasury De-

partment’s Office of Foreign Assets Control must grant a license for these transactions under the American banking sanctions imposed on Iran. The Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the unfrozen funds.

The Biden administration wants to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, which granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Diplomats are now engaged in delicate negotiations to revive the accord in Vienna, although a breakthrough remains elusive as Iran abandons every limitation the deal imposed on its nuclear enrichment.

The country now enriches a small amount of to 60

per cent purity — a short, technical step away from weapons grade levels — and spins far more advanced centrifuges than allowed.

Under the United Nations Charter, a nation that owes the previous two full years’ worth of dues loses its voting rights at the General Assembly.

A letter from SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres circulated earlier this month revealed that Iran was among several delinquent countries on that list, which also includes Venezuela and Sudan.

The General Assembly can make exceptions to the rule, determining that some countries face circumstances “beyond the control of the member.”

Tonga struggles with ash, psychological Aid group says death toll from Yemen prison airstrike at 87 trauma after eruption and tsunami

A satellite image shows Mango islands after Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption, in Tonga.

2,300 kms (1,430 miles) away in New Zealand.

The eruption was so powerful that space satellites captured not only huge clouds of ash but also an atmospheric shockwave that radiated out from the volcano at close to the speed of sound.

‘PULSATING, TERRIFYING’ “I thought the world was coming to an end,” recalled John Tukuafu, owner of the Vakaloa beach resort, who had to rush to rescue his wife from the tsunami.

The resort was in Kanokupolu, one of the worst hit areas on Tongatapu, and uprooted trees and debris now lie in the area where the resort stood.

“I think the whole island, we are in shock,” Mary Lyn Fonua, the managing editor of news website Matangi Tonga Online, told Reuters on Sunday.

It had taken a week for many people to recover from the “pulsating, terrifying” sound of the eruption, she said. “It was too loud to hear but I could feel it.

The house was vibrating, windows were vibrating and it became more and more intense until the big bang,” she told Reuters by telephone on Sunday.

Residents were wishing for tropical rain to wash off the “awful and itchy” volcanic dust, said Fonua. Leaves on trees had turned brown and were falling off.

CAIRO, JAN 23 (AP): Workers in war-wrecked Yemen recovered five more bodies from the rubble of a prison facility hit by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike, bringing the death toll to at least 87, an international aid group said Sunday.

Internet access, meanwhile, remained largely down after another Saudiled coalition airstrike hit a telecommunications centre Friday at the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, according to advocacy group NetBlocks. The centre is key to Yemen’s connection to the internet. Ahmed Mahat, head of the Doctors Without Borders mission in Yemen, Rescue workers search for survivors at a prison destroyed in an airstrike in Saada, said rescuers completed their Yemen, Sunday.

search efforts late Saturday at the site of the prison in Yemen’s northern province of Saada, a stronghold of Houthi rebels on the border of Saudi Arabia.

He said 266 people were wounded in the airstrike during an intense air and ground escalation in the country’s civil war. Yemen’s conflict began in 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthis took the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing the government to flee to the south, then to exile in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition, backed at the time by the US, entered the war months later to try restoring the government to power.

Senegal elects mayors with eyes on 2024 prez poll

5.8-magnitude quake hits China

TONGA JAN 23 (AGENC I E S ) : Fa m i l i e s h ave stopped children playing outside as Tonga struggles to deal with ash and the psychological fallout of last week’s volcanic eruption and tsunami, aid workers and residents said.

Communication with the outside world remained difficult on Sunday, with few internet services, and outlying islands still cut off from the phone service.

The Red Cross said it was providing not only tents, food, water and toilets to 173 households on Tonga’s main island, but also comfort. “Everyone is still struggling right now,” said Drew Havea, the vice president of Tonga Red Cross. Because of the ash, “families are making sure their kids are not playing outside, that they are all indoors”, he said.

Although some resi-

dents from the worst affected outlying islands in Ha’apai had been evacuated to the main island Tongatapu, others were refusing to leave, Havea said.

The psychological impact of waves rushing through and destroying villages will affect their lives for some time, he said.

There was another worry shared by many in Tonga, he said.

“Every kid grew up, in your geography lesson you were taught this is the Ring of Fire where we are all living. Now I think that we are quite concerned and start thinking, ‘How active are these places?” he told Reuters.

The eruption of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean and was heard some

Seven Afghan civilians killed in minibus blast

German navy chief resigns over remarks Taliban delegation in Oslo faces protests by Afghans on Ukraine, Russia during India visit

KABUL, JAN 23 (IANS): At least seven civilians, including four women, were killed and nine others injured when a bomb blast hit a minibus in Herat city, capital of Afghanistan’s western Herat province, an official said.

“Seven dead and nine wounded were admitted to Herat Regional Hospital following a bomb blast in Herat city on Saturday evening,” the official told Xinhua news agency.

According to local residents, the incident occurred when an improvised bomb planted in a minibus was detonated in Police District 12, a Shia-dominated neighbourhood in the city, 640 km west of Kabul. Some of the wounded were in critical condition.

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (IANS): German naval chief, Vice Admiral KayAchim Schonbach has resigned over comments on Ukraine and Russia he made during his visit to India.

His resignation on late Saturday night was accepted by Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht.

Lambrecht has appointed his deputy as interim naval chief.

During his interaction on January 21 at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, a military think tank in Delhi, Schonbach had said the idea that Moscow wanted to invade Kiev was “nonsense”, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin deserved respect.

Kay-Achim Schonbach

“Does Russia really want a small and tiny strip of Ukraine soil to integrate into their country? No, this is nonsense. Putin is probably putting pressure because can do it and he splits EU opinion. What he really wants is respect.”

Speaking about Putin, the German naval chief had also said: “He wants high-level respect and my God giving some respect

DAKAR, JAN 23 (AGENCIES): Senegal votes in municipal and regional elections on Sunday, amid growing political tensions over whether President Macky Sall will seek to extend his rule beyond the two-term limit in a nation long considered one of Africa’s most stable democracies.

For the crowded field of opposition candidates aiming to take control of the main cities, the elections are seen as a test of strength ahead of a legislative election in June and the battle for the presidency in 2024. Some opposition parties have formed a coalition aiming to head off any attempt by Sall, whose

is low cost, even no cost.

If I was asked, it is easy to give him the respect he really demands and probably also deserves. Russia is an old country, Russia is an important country. Even we India, Germany, need Russia. We need Russia against Chinaa” Talking about Ukraine’s possible admission into NATO, Schonbach had said: “Ukraine of course cannot meet the requirements because it’s occupied in the Donbas region by the Russian Army or by what they call as militias.”

He also said that the Crimean Peninsula, which Ru s s i a a n n exe d f r o m Ukraine in 2014, was gone and would not come back to Ukraine.

Macky Sall

tenure has been plagued by accusations that he unjustly torpedoes political challengers, to seek a third term in power.

“At stake in a broad sense for the political parties as well as coalitions of political parties is that, in the absence of opinion polls... the territorial elections on Sunday are kind

NEW DELHI, JAN 23 (IANS): A number of Afghans based in Norway protested against the visit of a high-ranking Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Oslo, saying that they (Taliban) do not represent us. The demonstration was staged on Saturday to oppose the visit of the Taliban delegation and their meetings with Norwegian authorities and members of the International community, Khaama Press reported.

The Afghan protesters said that the Taliban are on the blacklist for “terrorists” of the US and that they should not be negotiated within Norway.

The delegation arrived in Oslo on Saturday on an invitation by the Norwegian government. They are scheduled to discuss important issues with Norwegian

of primaries for the 2024 presidential election,” said Ousmane Khouma of Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University.

Sall, 60, came to power in 2012 and won reelection in 2019.

He has not ruled out seeking a third term following a constitutional referendum in 2016 that could be used to reset the clock on his term of office. Similar constitutional devices were used by Guinea’s ousted President Alpha Conde and Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast to run again despite violent protests in both countries.

Around 6.6 million voters are expected to vote at more than 15,000 polling

stations.

The biggest prize is the capital, Dakar, currently in the hands of the opposition, where the ruling party coalition list is led by Senegal’s Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr.

He will face six opposition lists that include those led by outgoing mayor Soham El Wardini, the first woman to lead the city, and popular opposition mayor of the Dakar Mermoz municipality Barthelemy Dias.

Dias, is in a coalition with 47-year-old firebrand opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who came third in the 2019 presidential election and is seen as a potential challenger in 2024.

BEIJING, JAN 23 (IANS): A 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted the city of Delingha in China’s Qinghai province on Sunday, according to authorities.

The China Ear thquake Networks Centre (CENC) the epicentre of the quake that occurred at 10.21 a.m. was monitored at 38.44 degrees north latitude and 97.37 degrees east longitude, reports Xinhua news agency.

The temblor struck at a depth of 8 km, the CENC said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, according to the Qinghai Earthquake Agency.

Members of Taliban delegation arrive in Oslo, Norway.

officials, envoys from the US and the European Union (EU), as well as some influential Afghan figures, Taliban deputy spokesman Inamullah Samangani had said on Friday.

The Foreign Ministry in Oslo also confirmed that a high-level summit on Af-

ghanistan with a focus on girl’s access to education and human rights, will be attended by the Taliban delegation.

But the Ministry reiterated that “these meetings do not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban”. This is the second

foreign trip in January by a Taliban delegation.

Earlier this month, a delegation led by Muttaqi visited Iran, where he held talks with Ismail Khan, the former Governor of Herat province, and Ahmad Masoud, leader of Resistance Front.

INFOTAINMENT

10

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Shetty’s Green Day preview new Pearl Jam to record next album with Shilpa rapping skills shock Badshah music in latest ‘1972’ clip Justin Bieber co-writer Andrew Watt G B P earl Jam’s Eddie Vedder has revealed that the legendary grunge band are looking to record their next album with producer, guitarist and songwriter Andrew Watt.

Watt worked with Vedder on his upcoming solo album ‘Earthlings’ but also has a history with Justin Bieber, working with the pop star on seven tracks from 2021’s ‘Justice’.

Watt also produced Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Ordinary Man’, contributed to Miley Cyrus’ ‘Plastic Hearts’ and over the past couple of years, has worked with the likes of Elton John, Dua Lipa, Post Malone and Sam Smith. Watt won Non-Classical Producer Of The Year at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Speaking to Mojo (via Contact Music), Vedder said: “We’ll make a record with Andrew, I believe.

We’ve already talked about it. You know, the pandemic came right as we were leaving for a tour on the ‘Gigaton’ record. We had a lot of shows planned.

Two-thirds of those shows were put on sale, even. So one thing we’ll be doing in 2022 in making good on promises to play those

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Andrew Watt.

shows.”

Vedder went on to say that in between their touring commitments, Pearl Jam will be in the studio with Watt “because now we’ve got a strong, healthy ambition to do so”.

“I think we’ll move quick for a year or two, then I can see us slowing down for a little bit. We have the ability to play better than ever, but also know what we want to maintain the health of the group and want to keep coming back,” Vedder added.

Pearl Jam released t h e i r e l eve n t h a l b u m

‘Gigaton’ in March 2020 while Eddie Vedder’s solo album ‘Earthling‘ (featuring appearances from Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ringo Starr) is due February 11, 2022.

According to Watt, h e ’s a l i f e l o n g Pe a r l Jam fan. Speaking in an interview with Billboard last month, he said: “I was born in 1990 and my brother was born in ’85, so all we listened to growing up was Pearl Jam and the Chili Peppers.

“If I admitted to you how many Pearl Jam concerts I’ve been to, it probably wouldn’t be good

for anything. But I used to go to Pearl Jam concerts with a sign that said, ‘Let me play the guitar solo to ‘Alive’,’ and I found myself onstage at the Ohana Festival playing the guitar solo to ‘Alive’ with Pearl Jam.” “So (working with Vedder) was just an actual full-circle, unbelievable moment that I feel like I’ve been ready for my whole life. It’s not supposed to happen like that – you’re not supposed to have those posters on your wall and be in the position where you’re creating with those people.”

(NME)

ollywood actress Shilpa Shetty shocked rapper Badshah after she rapped a few lines for him on the ninth season of the show ‘India’s Got Talent’.

Shilpa shared the clip on Instagram and said that she would like to try rapping while Badshah made a face.

Soon, the actress started singing lines from the song ‘Kar gayi chull’.

She forgot a few verses so the rapper helped her out.

Shilpa is then heard telling Badshah: “Dekha mera hidden talent (did you see my hidden talent)?”

To which, a not-soimpressed Badshah said: “Hidden he rehna chahiye (should have remained hidden).”

Talking about Badshah, Kirron Kher said: “He’s got a mad look on his face.”

Shilpa captioned the clip: “Na dikhe woh talent kaisa, Toh ek jhalak pesh hai mere rap ka zara sa!

Gaaya maine gaana aisa, Ke Badshah bhi proud feel kare waisa, But reaction aaya unexpected sa, Maano rapper hamaara ho raha ho thoda jealous sa What say, @badboyshah?”

‘India’s Got Talent’ airs on Sony Entertainment Television.

(IANS)

r e e n D ay h ave previewed a snippet of new music in their latest “1972” teaser clip – check it out below.

Last month, the band shared a short clip of them recording music at London’s RAK Studios, set to what could be a new song. At one point in the clip the numbers “1972” flash up on screen.

They followed it up earlier this month with a mysterious split-screen teaser which sees frontman B i l l i e Jo e A r m s t r o n g strumming an acoustic riff as black and white archive footage plays backwards.

The numbers “1972” once again appear.

Green Day have now shared another teaser clip, giving fans a little more of a look at what appears to be incoming new music.

All three members of the band can be seen discussing a melody and rehearsing as a track that sounds reminiscent of ‘The Static Age’ from 2009’s ‘21st Century Breakdown‘ plays over the top of the video. Midway through, bassist Mike Dirnt sprays “1972” onto a wall before spraying the camera lens with what appears to be the number 3.

The band’s recent

teasers have led to fans speculating that the rock titans have written and recorded a new album, with many trying to work out the meaning of “1972”.

One fan pointed out that all three members of the band – Armstrong, Dirnt and Tré Cool – were born in 1972, with another fan adding: “1972? 50th birthday special?”

Fans on Reddit have also pointed out that the dates all three teaser clips have been posted make up “1972” when put together: “First post was posted December (19th) Then the Second was posted January (7th) 3rd post on January (22) Soooo 1972.”

G r e e n D ay ’s l a s t album was 2020’s ‘Father Of All Motherfuckers’. In a four-star review, NME‘s Andrew Trendell praised it for being a “good old

knees-up”, free from the group’s usual politics.”

“Green Day have been bold and brazen and free of pretence,” he wrote.

“Their intent is laid bare when comparing two of the band’s record sleeves: ‘American Idiot’ was a heart like a hand grenade, ‘Father Of All’ is a unicorn puking a rainbow. Don’t try to make sense of it. Just enjoy.”

Meanwhile, Green Day are among a number of new names added to the 2022 edition of Rock In Rio in Brazil.

The legendary Rio De Janeiro festival will take place from September 2-4 and 8-11 next year, and already features the likes of Post Malone, Iron Maiden and Måneskin alongside Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato.

(NME)

Cancer treatment may inhibit immune response to Covid vax Fans sue Universal for £3.6million after

P

atients with cancer who receive chemotherapy and some targeted therapies may mount an inadequate immune response to Covid-19 vaccination, according to a study.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center have found that targeted therapies, such as CDK4/6 inhibitors and therapies targeted at B cells, also may cut Covid vax response.

“It is important for patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy to receive a Covid-19 vaccine,” said Saranya Chumsri, a Mayo Clinic heematologist and oncologist, and author of the paper.

Chumsri noted that this advice also applies to patients with cancer who are taking a CDK 4/6

inhibitors. These inhibitors are a newer class of medicines used to treat hormone-receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancers.

While CDK 4/6 inhibitors are not conventionally considered to be as immunosuppressive as chemotherapy, Chumsri found that patients with breast cancer who take these drugs exhibited less optimal neutralising antibody

activity.

The study recommends that antibody levels be tested in these patients after vaccination, and they should consider receiving booster vaccinations for Covid-19.

The findings are published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: I n n o v a t i o n , Q u a l i t y, a n d Outcomes.

About 2 per cent of the global population is considered at increased risk of an inadequate response to a Covid-19 vaccine. This includes people with blood cancers or other cancers being treated with chemotherapy, patients on dialysis, those taking medications after an organ transplant or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Regina King’s son Ian Alexander Jr. dies by suicide at 26

I

K Y M C

Ana de Armas was cut from ‘Yesterday’

T

wo Ana de Armas fans are suing Universal for $5million (£3.6million) after the actor’s scenes were cut from Yesterday.

Danny Boyle’s 2019 film imagined a world where ever yone has forgotten about The Beatles except for one struggling musician.

Originally de Armas was set to play the love interest of protagonist Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) but her parts were cut for time, and she didn’t feature in the final cut of the film at

all. However, she was still featured in the trailer in a scene alongside James Corden. This led two fans to rent Yesterday from Amazon in October 2021 for $3.99 (£2.95), specifically to see her.

They have now filed a class action lawsuit against Universal, accusing the studio of deceptive marketing. They are seeking $5million in damages.

“Because consumers were promised a movie with Ana de Armas by the trailer for Yesterday but did not receive a movie with any appearance of Ana de Ar mas at all, such consumers were not provided with any value for their rental or purchase,” the lawsuit states.

(NME)

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Regina King with her son Ian Alexander Jr

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“She’s just a super mom,” Alexander told E! News in a red carpet interview alongside King at

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the Golden Globe Awards in 2019.

“She doesn’t really let bad work days or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. It’s really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with.”

(IANS)

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an Alexander Jr., a musician, DJ and son of actress and director Regina King, has died by suicide aged 26.

Alexander’s death was confirmed by a public relations representative for King. No further details are available at this time, reports variety.com.

“Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian,” King said in a statement.

“He is such a bright light w h o c a r e d s o d e e p ly about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time.

Thank you.”

Alexander was born on January 19, 1996. He was King’s only child.

She shared him with her former husband, record producer Ian Alexander Sr. The pair divorced in 2007 after 10 years of marriage.

A l e x a n d e r wa s a practicing musician and DJ. Performing under the name Desdune, Alexander had been preparing to perform several shows in Los Angeles later this month. His most recent single, ‘Green Eyes’, was released on January 7.

King shared the track on her Instagram last week, showing support for her son.

Alexander was often seen accompanying his mother at red carpet events, including the LACMA Art+ Film Gala and various awards shows.

Most recently, he

A real-world retrospective study led by US drug maker Pfizer, involving nearly 1.2 million people, showed Covid-19 infections in the ‘fully’ vaccinated are rare but are more common and severe in people with weaker immune systems, which includes cancer patients.

Another study, published recently in the journal Annals of Oncology, fully vaccinated patients with cancer who had breakthrough Covid-19 infections remain at high risk for hospitalisation and death.

T h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organisation (WHO), in October, recommended that people with weakened immune systems should receive an additional dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, due to their higher risk of breakthrough infections after standard vaccination. (IANS)

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SPORTS

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Atletico Madrid strike late to seal U-19 WC: India hammer Uganda to top group dramatic 3-2 win against Valencia

T A RO U B A ( T R I N I DAD), JAN 23 (PTI): Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Raj Bawa smashed centuries as four-time champions India recorded a thumping 326-run win over minnows Uganda to top Group B in the U-19 World Cup here.

The victory on Saturday was India’s largest win in tournament history.

The Hrishikesh Kanitkar-coached side thus ended the league stage with three wins in as many games, having earlier thrashed South Africa U19 (by 45 runs) and Ireland U19 (by 174 runs).

Put into bat at the picturesque Brian Lara stadium, India colts first rode on hundreds from Bawa (162 not out off 108 balls) and opener Raghuvanshi (144 off 120 balls) to post a mammoth 405/5, the highest total in this edition.

They then bundled out the opposition for a meager 79 in 19.4 overs to eke out an easy win in a lop-sided affair.

India play their quar-

Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Raj Bawa celebrate during the U-19 World Cup match against Uganda on Sunday.

terfinals against Bangladesh on January 29, allowing their COVID-19 infected players including skipper Yash Dhull enough time to recover.

R a g h u va n s h i a n d Bawa shared 206 runs for the third wicket to take the game away from Uganda.

It was raining boundaries and sixes as Raghu-

vanshi hit 22 fours and four sixes, while Bawa, who came in at number four, decorated his innings with 14 fours and as many as eight hits over the fence.

After Raghuvanshi’s departure in the 38th over, Bawa continued with his attacking instinct and clobbered the Uganda bowlers to all parts of the ground.

It was a one-way traffic as the Uganda bowlers had no answers to the Indian onslaught and for the East African side.

Skipper Pascal Murungi picked up three wickets for 72 runs, even as all others were brutally taken to task.

Courtesy the hitting, India recorded their second highest score in the history of U-19 World Cup. For the record, India’s highest score in the competition remains the 425 for three set against Scotland in 2004, while Australia hold the world record score of 480 for six against Kenya in 2002.

Bawa’s unbeaten 162 is now the highest individual score by an Indian in the U19 World Cup as he surpassed flamboyant opener Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 155 against Scotland in 2004.

Chasing an insurmountable 406, Uganda were teetering at 17/3 as one-down wicket-keeper Cyrus Kakuru (0), Brian

Asaba (5) and Ronald Lutayaa (5) fell cheaply inside first four overs after opener Issac Ategeka (0) was retired out.

While inform pacer Rajvadhan Hangargekar (2/8) accounted for Kakuru’s and Asaba’s wickets, right-arm medium pacer Vasu Vats (1/18) removed Lutayaa, who was caught

by Nishant Sindhu.

Stand-in-skipper Sindhu (4/19), himself a leftarm spinner, then castled Ronald Opio (11), to take his first, as Uganda lost their fourth wicket for 46.

Rival skipper Murungi (34 off 45 balls; 7x4) only delayed the inevitable as the writing on the wall was clear for Uganda, who always had an uphill task.

Brief Scores: India U19 405 for 5 in 50 overs (Raj Bawa 162 not out, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 144; Pascal Murungi 3/72) beat Uganda U19 79 in 19.4 overs (Pascal Murungi 34; Nishant Sindhu 4/19, Rajvardhan Hangargekar 2/8) by 326 runs.

M A D R I D, J A N 2 3 (AGENCIES): LaLiga champions Atletico Madrid snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to win 3-2 at home against Valencia, scoring two of their goals in stoppage time.

Atletico are fourth in the standings with 36 points, 13 behind leaders and city rivals Real Madrid.

Valencia took advantage of slack defending by Atletico to score twice in the first half, the first goal struck by American winger Yunus Musah in the 25th minute and the second on the stroke of halftime by striker Hugo Duro, on-loan from Getafe.

However, Diego Simeone’s team returned from the break much more determined and halved the deficit shortly after the hour mark when substitute Matheus Cunha scored from a rebound following a corner kick. Argentine forward Angel Correa

Valencia’s Yunus Musah in action with Atletico Madrid’s Sime Vrsaljko during the La Liga football match.

equalised in the first minute of stoppage time before Mario Hermoso tapped in a low cross from Cunha two minutes later to send the home fans wild and seal an exhilarating win.

Under fire manager Simeone, who is under intense pressure to turn around his club’s fortunes following a series of bad results, entered the arena hearing his name chanted by fans who had showed up on a freezing night at

Metropolitano Stadium.

Saturday’s last-gasp win will go some way in silencing the critics and fans will be hoping that it is a sign of better things to come.

The team usually known for their rock-solid defence have leaked in 26 goals in 21 games, which is already more than the 25 they conceded in 38 games during their triumphant run to the LaLiga title last season.

Rizwan and Beaumont named Magsayo ends Russell’s 7-year 7th SASA tournament concludes ICC T20 Cricketers of the Year featherweight world title reign

DUBAI, JAN 23 (PTI): Pakistan wicketkeeperbatter Mohammad Rizwan and England’s Tammy Beaumont were on Sunday named the ICC men’s and women’s T20 Player of the Year, respectively, following a prolific 2021.

Rizwan ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format in the men’s game, while Beaumont finished the year as the third-highest run-getter in women’s T20Is. Aggregating a staggering 1,326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89.

Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was as solid as ever behind the stumps, playing a key role in Pakistan’s run to the semifinals during the T20 World Cup in the UAE, where he ended up as the third-highest runscorer.

He also scored his maiden T20I century against South Africa in Lahore early in the year and continued his form with a brilliant knock of 87 against West Indies in Karachi.

With another T20 World Cup coming up next year, Pakistan will hope that Rizwan continues in the same vein.

Zeeshan, Zepeda named ICC Asso Cricketers of the Yr 2021

Zeeshan Maqsood and Andrea-Mae Zepeda.

DUBAI, JAN 23 (IANS): Oman captain Zeeshan Maqsood and Austria’s Andrea-Mae Zepeda have been named as ICC Associate Cricketers of the Year 2021 for men’s and women’s respectively. It is the first set of the individual awards named by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for best performers in international cricket in men’s and women’s cricket.

Maqsood, a left-arm spinner, was consistent with his performance across both ODI and T20I and led Oman to several victories in 2021, making 316 runs at 31.60 and picking 21 wickets at 18.80 across 13 international matches. He played a crucial role as a middle-order batter and picked up wickets consistently. Maqsood made fifties against the USA and K Y M C

Namibia, and was at his consistent best as a bowler, controlling the flow of runs in the middle overs and picking up vital wickets. “I am delighted to be presented as the ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year.

This award surely is one of the biggest achievements in my career and gives me immense pleasure that my efforts have been recognised by the ICC,” said Maqsood.

Maqsood particularly thrived against PNG, registering four wickets against them twice this year, one in an ODI and the other one in at the Men’s T20 World Cup in Al Amerat.

His most memorable performance in the year was against PNG at the ICC T20 World Cup where he was also named as the ‘Player of the Match’ for his performance.

Mark Magsayo (L) throws a punch againstGary Russell.

LO N D O N, JA N 2 3 (AGENCIES): Filipino Mark Magsayo ended the longest championship reign in male professional boxing, beating Gary Russell on points to take the WBC featherweight crown.

Magsayo, 26, who is promoted by his compatriot Manny Pacquiao, won on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

American Russell had held the title since March 2015, but this was only his sixth defence. “This is my dream since I was a kid,” said Magsayo after the surprise win in Atlantic City.

“Thank you for the support from Filipino fans.

Now I became a world champion.” Magsayo, who remains undefeated, had earned his title shot by knocking out Julio Ceja of Mexico in August and Saturday’s success was his 24th victory, which has also featured 16 knockouts.

Two judges gave him a 115-113 score with the other scoring it 114-114.

Russell has not fought more than once in a calendar year since 2014 with his last bout coming against Mongolia’s Tugstsogt Nyambayar in February 2020.

Winners of the 7th SASA tournament with medals and trophy.

D I M A P U R , JA N 2 3 (NPN): The 7th Saptiqa Area Sports Association (SASA) tournament concluded on January 22 at Usütomi village with president Dimapur District Motor Parts Dealers Union, Amirto Achumi as the guest of honour.

In the tournament, Usutomi Sports Association (USA ({a}) emerged as consecutive champion, while Shena Old Sports

Association (SOSA) and USA (b) was the first and second r unners-up respectively. Kivi Chophy of USA (b) was awarded the best player while Nito Achumi of Shena New Sports Association (SNSA) bagged the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Amirto congratulated and lauded the president SASA and his team for the grand success of the tournament.

He encouraged the

players to be bold and smart enough to work smarter and harder even in the days to come to represent the state or even in national level. “The skills and talent possess by our people are remarkable, therefore a little more hardwork and discipline will take us farther”, stated Amirto.

President of SASA thanked all the frontal organization of Usütomi village for the grand host.

Last-gasp Dzeko header earns leaders Inter win over Venezia

MILAN, JAN 23 (AGENCIES): A last-gasp header from Edin Dzeko earned Serie A leaders Inter Milan a dramatic 2-1 win over Venezia on Saturday, as Simone Inzaghi’s side moved five points clear at the top of the standings.

The hosts were poor in the opening stages, with Venezia, who were without numerous first-team players after a COVID-19 outbreak in the squad this week, racing into a shock lead through French forward Thomas Henry in the 19th minute.

Inter rallied and got themselves level through Nicolo Barella five minutes before the break, before creating several openings after the interval to complete the turnaround.

A winner looked set to elude the champions as the match entered the dying stages, only for veteran Dzeko to climb highest to snatch all three points for Inter in the 90th minute.

The victory took Inter onto 53 points from 22 matches played, with second-placed AC Milan taking on Juventus at San Siro on Sunday, while Venezia stayed 17th, two points above the relegation zone.

“The team believed until the end,” Inzaghi told DAZN. “The biggest problem is the San Siro pitch, it is becoming unplayable for

Milan’s Edin Dzeko shoots at goal during the Serie match against Venezia.

both us and Milan.

“It is true we could have played better on this field, but objectively you can’t play the football we want to on that surface.

Something needs to be done, it has never been like this and now we need to fix it.”

It appeared unclear this week whether the rising COVID-19 cases in the Venezia squad would lead to Saturday’s clash being postponed, but the newlypromoted side managed to put a team together for the trip to Milan.

Their efforts appeared justified as the visitors looked untroubled early on before Henry powered a header into the net to peg Inter back.

Other than a Lautaro

Martinez overhead kick midway through the first half that just missed the target, Inter offered little threat until Barella was on hand to score his second league goal of the season, reacting quickest after Ivan Perisic’s effort had been saved.

Dzeko should have put Inter in front early in the second half, but somehow scooped over from only a few metres out.

For all their possession, Inter continued to create little. It was substitute Denzel Dumfries who made the difference, picking out a perfect cross for Dzeko to head home, as the 35-year-old took his Serie A tally into double figures this season in timely fashion.

DP-325/22

Mohammad Rizwan and Tammy Beaumont.

Rizwan had also smashed an unbeaten 79 off 55 deliveries in the World Cup opener against India, helping Pakistan record their maiden win over the arch-rivals in the global event.

Meanwhile, Beaumont was her side’s highest rungetter in the year in T20Is. In a low-scoring rubber against New Zealand away from home, Beaumont was the top scorer and was awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 102 runs in three matches.

She scored a brilliant fifty in a match against India, though it went in vain after a lower-order collapse.

Beaumont continued to make merry against New Zealand, this time when they visited England for a limited-overs tour. She once again finished as the highest run-getter in the series with 113 runs.

Her 97 in the series opener against New Zealand at home propelled England to their highest T20I total in 2021.

DP-346/22

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SPORTS

NAGALAND POST, DIMAPUR MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Man City’s winning streak is SA beat India by 4 runs; win ODI series 3-0 over; United break into top 4

CAPE TOWN, JAN 23 (AGENCIES): Quinton de Kock and collective performance from the bowling unit helped South Africa complete a 3-0 whitewash over India with a thrilling 4-run victory in the third and final ODI at Newlands, Cape Town. De Kock continued his great form from the Paarl to Cape Town and on Sunday he raised the level with a magnificent century. He scored 124 runs to laid the foundation of the magnificent win.

Meanwhile, Deepak Chahar produced another memorable performance with the bat as his 54-run knock took India closer to the victory but Lungi Ngidi got the better of him and India lost the plot in the last two overs.

Chasing a formidable total of 287, India lost captain KL Rahul early on 9.

After Rahul’s departure, Virat Kohli came out to bat at no.3 and shared a 98-run stand with Shikhar Dhawan for the second wicket. The southpaw scored another half-century and was dis-

Rassie van de Dussen in action during the third ODI match on Sunday. (AP/PTI)

missed on 61 by Andile Phehlukwayo, who also dismissed Rishabh Pant in the same over. The wicketkeeper batter failed to continue his form from the second ODI here and was departed on a golden duck.

Meanwhile, Kohli once again failed to convert his half-century into a three-digit score as he got dismissed on 65 by Keshav Maharaj who also got the

better of him in the second ODI. He hit five boundaries during his knock.

Kohli has been going through an unusual patch in his career as the 33-year-old last smashed an international century in 2019. He has scored several half-centuries during this tenure but his conversion has dipped drastically in both ODIs and Tests. On Sunday, he had a chance to

end the drought but his wait for the 71st ton continues with another soft dismissal.

After his departure, Shreyas Iyer followed him back in the pavilion soon after scoring 26.

Suryakumar Yadav, who found his place in XI for the first time on this tour, played a handy knock of 39 runs off 32 balls.

Jayant Yadav also failed to impress with the bat.

However, Chahar shared a crucial 55 run stand with Jasprit Bumrah to put pressure on South Africa but clinical bowling in the last two overs helped hosts to complete whitewash. Ngidi and Phehlukwayo shared three-wicket each to pin India down.

Earlier, a counter-attacking century by De Kock (124 off 130) helped South Africa post a challenging 288-run target in front of India. Apart from de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen (52 off 59) and David Miller (39 off 38) also played vital knocks for the Proteas.

Prasidh Krishna (3/59), Jasprit Bumrah (2/52), Deepak Chahar (2/53) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/47) were the wickettakers for India.

Brief Scores: South Africa: 287 all out in 49.5 overs (Quinton de Kock 124, Rassie van der Dussen 52; Prasidh Krishna 3/59, Jasprit Bumrah 2/52, Deepak Chahar 2/53) India: 283 all out in 49.2 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 61, Virat Kohli 65, Deepak Chahar 54).

MANCHESTER, JAN 23 (AGENCIES): Manchester City’s seemingly unstoppable charge to the Premier League title slowed slightly as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton on Saturday, snapping a 12-match winning sequence that had distanced their rivals.

Manchester United moved into the top four of the Premier League with a last second goal from Marcus Rashford earning them a 1-0 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford.

Everton began life after Rafa Benitez in much the same manner as they ended it -- in defeat -- a 1-0 loss at home to Aston Villa leaving them in 16th place, just four points above the relegation zone. Newcastle United claimed only their second league win of the season as they beat Leeds United 1-0 away, boosting their hopes of beating the drop.

Wolverhampton Wanderers won 2-1 at Brentford where the match was halted because of a drone flying

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford scores their first goal during the Premier League match against West Ham United.

above the ground.

City were stunned after seven minutes at St Mary’s as Kyle Walker-Peters struck his first Premier League goal, a stunning effort with the outside of his right foot.

It knocked Pep Guardiola’s side out of their silky stride and it took a 65thminute header by Aymeric Laporte to earn them a second draw of the season against Southampton.

Kevin de Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus and Rodri all hit the woodwork for City as they extended their lead at the top to 12 points, al-

though second-placed Liverpool have played two games less. Liverpool face Crystal Palace on Sunday. United’s title aspirations have long been over and their target is now finishing in the top four.

They created little against a cautious West Ham but interim manager Ralf Rangnick threw on Rashford, Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial and they finally got their reward.

Martial collected from Cristiano Ronaldo and fed Cavani who slipped a low ball across for Rashford to score.

Australian Open: Nadal faces tough PV Sindhu wins Syed Modi International badminton title Bhatnagar-Crasto win mixed doubles title first-set test on way to quarterfinals competitive action, with Nadal finishing the twohours, 40-minute contest with an ace - his seventh of the match.

Nadal, who has dropped just one set in the tournament, will be happy to get off the court in three sets. After handling the 33-year-old Mannarino, he’ll face a younger opponent in either Zverev or Rafael Nadal Shapovalov in the quarterM E L B O U R N E , JA N tie-break drama, including finals.

23 (IANS): Spanish ten- one in which he got away Shapovalov sends nis stalwart Rafael Nadal with a poor drop-shot by drew inspiration from a guessing right and steering Zverev crashing out 30-minute-long 16-14 first- a forehand passing shot for Denis Shapovalov upset tie-break on Sunday as a winner. With the French- set an out-of-sorts Alexanthe winner of 20 Grand man tiring as the match der Zverev 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 in Slams defeated 33-year-old wore on, and seeking the broiling heat to reach his Frenchman Adrian Man- help of a physio late in the first Australian Open quarnarino 7-6(14), 6-2, 6-2 to second set, Nadal breezed ter-final on Sunday. The advance into the Australian through the next two sets. Canadian lefthander was Open quarterfinal here.

Mannarino was on top in magnificent against the The 35-year-old Nadal many of the opening ex- German third seed, earnwill face the 14th seed Can- changes, and he created the ing one of his biggest career ada’s Denis Shapovalov for only break point of the first victories at Margaret Court a place in the last-four. set on the return at five-all. Arena. Shapovalov blew The g r uelling tie- Both players looked to at- a match point with a wild break test in the first set tack throughout with their forehand into the tramlines broke Mannarino’s resolve left-handed forehands, but but wrapped up the contest as he lost the next two sets Nadal was able to disguise when Zverev netted under and the match without his shots with compact pressure. “Definitely happy much resistance. Nadal, swings. After the drama of with where the game is at,” the 2009 Australian Open the one-hour, 21-minute said the ecstatic 22-yearchampion, saved four set opening set, the rest of old, long tipped for success points in the engrossing the match had very little at the Grand Slams.

Rain washes out third AustraliaEngland Ashes T20I ADELAIDE, JAN 23 ( I A N S ) : R a i n p l aye d spoilsport for a second straight game as the third Ashes T20I between Australia Women and England Women was washed out without a ball being bowled, here on Sunday.

The decision to call the game off was made at 15:00 local time with both teams getting a point each from the fixture. Earlier, persistent rain had washed out the second T20I after 4.1 overs of play on Saturday as well.

As a result of the abandonment, Australia who won the opening game by nine wickets, hold a 4-2 lead in the mutliformat series and can retain the Ashes with victory in next week’s one-off Test in Canberra that’s worth four points.

Both teams will now travel by charter flight to Canberra on Monday afternoon to begin their preparations for the Test at Manuka Oval beginning Thursday.

There are three ODIs, worth two points each, that follow the Test match.

LUCKNOW, JAN 23 (PTI): Two-time Olympic medallist Pusarla Venkata Sindhu eased past young compatriot Malvika Bansod in straight games to win her second women’s singles title at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament here on Sunday.

Playing in a depleted field due to multiple COVID-19 cases, top seed Sindhu hardly broke her sweat to get past Bansod 21-13 21-16 in a lop-sided title clash.

The final lasted just 35 minutes. It was former world champion Sindhu’s second Syed Modi title after having annexed the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 300 event in 2017.

Before that, seventh seeded Indians Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto clinched the mixed doubles title with a straight game win over compatriots T Hema Nagendra Babu and Srivedya Gurazada.

Bhatnagar and Crasto inflicted a 21-16 21-12 on the unseeded Indian duo in the summit clash that ended in 29 minutes.

Earlier, the men’s singles final between Arnaud Merkle and Lucas Claerbout was declared a ‘No Match’ after one of the finalists tested positive for COVID-19.

PV Sindhu

Seventh seed Indians Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto c l i n c h e d t h e m i xe d doubles title at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament with a straight game win over compatriots T Hema Nagendra Babu and Srivedya Gurazada here on Sunday.

Bhatnagar and Crasto hardly broke a sweat as they inflicted a 21-16 21-12 on the unseeded Indian duo in the

summit clash that lasted just 29 minutes.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is now up against compatriot Malvika Bansod the in the women’s singles final of the BWF World our Super 300 event.

Earlier, the men’s singles summit clash between Arnaud Merkle and Lucas Claerbout was declared a ‘No Match’ after one of the finalists tested positive for COVID-19.

Ngannou out-wrestles Gane to retain UFC heavyweight crown

A NA H E I M , JA N 2 3 (AGENCIES): Francis Ngannou out-grappled Cyril Gane at UFC 270 in Anaheim, California on Saturday night to retain his UFC heavyweight crown before wrestling with questions about his future amid a feud with the promotion over his contract.

Famed for his frightening knockout power, the Senegalese fighter changed tack to deal with the threat of his former sparring partner Gane to win a decision victory before revealing that he had torn knee ligaments in the run-up to the fight.

“If you feel like there’s a chance that you can do it (fight), then you have to do it. I believe in myself, I’ve been through a lot of stuff in my life,” Ngannou told a press conference.

The 35-year-old was homeless for a period after moving to France to become a boxer before coach Fernand Lopez introduced him to the MMA Factory gym in Paris, allowing him to sleep there while moulding him into one of the sport’s most feared fighters.

Despite being the de-

Francis Ngannou competes against Ciryl Gane during UFC 270.

fending champion, Ngannou’s purse for the title defence was $600,000 according to the California State Athletic Commission, a fraction of what he could earn from a boxing match with the likes of Tyson Fury. That fee does not include any possible share of pay-per-view revenues that Ngannou may have been entitled to, but the fighter feels he deserves more.

“It’s not simply money.

Obviously, money is a part of it but it’s also the terms

of the contract, I don’t agree with it, I don’t feel like it’s fair, I don’t feel like I’m free, I don’t feel like I have been treated good,” Ngannou told reporters.

UFC president Dana White did not attend the post-fight press conference.

In the co-main event, Brazil’s Deiveson Figueiredo scored a unanimous decision victory over Brandon Moreno to win back the flyweight belt that he lost to the Mexican the last time the two met in June 2021.

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