December 28, 2020

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 23

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Kerala beat Hyderabad to secure first win

Follow us on @Nagaland_Post

sports, Page 8

EU nations kick off mass vaccinations

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international, Page 7

Nagaland Year Ender 2020: Challenges ahead in 2021 Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, DEC 27 (NPN): As Nagaland steps into the new year 2021, issues that dominated 2020 will spill-over to the new year.

The issues include: solution to the decades-old the Naga Political Issue; challenges posed by continuing COVID-19 pandemic ; illegal taxation at check gates and business activities and thriving liquor black market and the issue of Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).

Of all, expectations for solution to the Naga political issue perhaps tops the agenda.

There have been over 80 negotiations since 1997 between the government of India and NSCN(I-M) while there have been over 50 negotiations between the government of India with the Working Committee, of Naga National Political Groups(NNPGs) since 2001.

After negotiations were officially concluded by October 31,2019 between the government of India’s Interlocutor R.N. Ravi and two Naga groups-- NSCN(I-M) and Working Committee (WC) of the seven-member Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs)-- people expected

solution at least by December 2019.

While the Interlocutor exuded confidence that solution was on the cards as all issues had been discussed and concluded on October 31, 2019, NSCN (I-M) sprang a surprise by claiming that the Framework Agreement (FA) signed by the representative of the government of India and the collective leadership of the NSCN (I-M) on August 3,2015 included Naga flag and constitution for solution. According to the NSCN (I-M), since the government of India recognised the unique history of Nagas in the FA, it implied that it included Naga flag and constitution.

However, the government of India reiterated that there can be only one flag and one constitution within India.

This was echoed by Nagaland Governor and Interlocutor R.N. Ravi in his speech at the 58th Nagaland statehood day when he said “ The Government of India is absolutely clear that there is and there shall be only one national flag and Constitution in India.”

Ravi also said “anyone talking anything contrary is peddling preposterous lies” and “trying to confuse and mislead the people.”

The other negotiating group- WC of NNPGs said it was ready for solution and while reaffirming that flag and constitution would be addressed post-solution. WC, NNPGs said the “Agreed Position” signed on November 17, 2017 declares that the “GoI recognises the right of the Nagas to self determine their future in consonance with their distinct identity...”

Ravi became the first incumbent to publicly laud leaders of Naga People’s Convention(NPC) for their courage and wisdom in facilitating the creation of Nagaland as the 16th state under the Union of India through the 16 Point Agreement. Ravi also rechristened the durbar Hall at Raj Bhavan as Dr. Imkongliba Ao memorial hall in honour of late Dr. Imkongliba Ao, the first president of NPC who was martyred on August 20,1961 in Mokokchung town.

The year 2020 also saw for the first time, the Governor of the state and the chief minister falling out over the issue of law and order. This happened after the Governor Ravi wrote to the chief minister sometime in midJune, expressing dismay over handling of the law and order

matter. In the letter leaked to media , Ravi said “armed gangs” preying on contractors and firm involved in the 4-lane construction work between Dimapur to Kohima caused delays in completion of the works. The ‘letter-gate’ which was much publicised in the media, became a hot topic as the Governor had said what no other incumbent had said by indicting his own government.

The other issue that has plagued the state through decades is over illegal collections of taxes by scores of organisations at check gates as well as shops and godowns. This issue was raised by the Public Action Committee (PAC) including ACAUT Nagaland.

Many rallies have been held on the issue but it is business as usual.

PAC had conducted checks at check gates against illegal collections during mid-September 2020 through volunteers. PAC had also demanded revocation of the Lease Agreement for collection of taxes under Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC).

The system was removed but was subsequently re-introduced. The other issue is regarding syndication of market and business which

Govt extends Niki-led team meet GoI officials NPCC not to validity of vehicle REFUTES news report oN SURRENDER celebrate 136th documents D I M A P U R , D E C 2 7 that this should not be mis- anniversary of INC

New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI): The union transport ministry on Sunday extended the validity of motor vehicle documents like driving licence (DL), registration certificate (RC) and permits till March 31, 2021, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had earlier issued advisories dated March 30, 2020, June 9, 2020 and August 24, 2020 in connection with extension of validity of documents related to Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.

“The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has extended the validity of vehicular documents like DLs, RCs, permits etc till March 31, 2021 in the light of need to prevent spread of COVID19. Ministry has today issued a directory to the states and Union Territory administrations in the regard,” a MoRTH statement said.

Earlier through various notifications, it was advised that the validity of fitness, permit (all types), licence, registration or any other concerned document(s) may be treated to be valid till December 31, 2020.

This is it!

“Madam, we have various colour shades of face masks.

Each day you can choose colour combination.”

K Y M C

(NPN): A three-member NSCN (K) team led by Niki Sumi have reportedly met Government of India officials in Delhi to deliberate on the group joining the peace parleys.

Sources informed Nagaland Post said that Niki and his team met Home ministry officials in Delhi days after Sumi’s offer to revive the ceasefire agreement.

Niki Sumi on December 23 announced that the faction, in order to facilitate the peace process, has decided to revive the cease fire with the government of India which it had unitarily abrogated in 2015.

Clarifying that it had established contact with Government of India (GoI) to revive ceasefire at the latter’s invitation to join the peace process, Niki Sumiled NSCN (K) has asserted

construed in any way as a sign of surrender or giving up Naga political rights.

Reacting to a report in “Republic TV” which reportedly claimed that NSCN/GPRN led by Sumi was heading for surrender, the group through its MIP kilonser, Nikato Pilot Sumi reaffirmed that it stood strong with its aspiration and commitment for Naga political rights till the time it was achieved.

Terming the reportage as outrageous and deserving utter condemnation for the simple fact that it was false, NSCN (K) condemned and rejected it, adding that the reportage was done without knowing even an iota of truth. The MIP condemned Republic TV and other media houses propagating such “malicious news” that was detrimental to the peace process.

has led to manipulation of the market system. PAC had also demanded banning of market syndicates.

To check the collection menace and check upward spiralling of prices of all commodities, ACAUT Nagaland had demanded enactment of a stringent anti-extortion law like the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed with the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench by three petitioners.

The Hon’ble court on December 12,2020 issued notices on the state government and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes (Government of India).

The other issue that remains is prohibition which has only created a rising huge black market of illegal distillation, manufacture and distribution of spurious liquor.

Giving in to strong demands, the state government decided to extend the Inner Line Permit(ILP) system throughout Dimapur district.

To implement ILP system under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873, the state framed guidelines known as Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), to deter-

mine who was and who was not an indigenous inhabitant of the state.

The State government claimed that RIIN was being undertaken to prevent outsiders from acquiring fake indigenous inhabitant certificates for seeking jobs and be beneficiaries of government schemes.

Even though the state officially has 16 recognised tribes, attempts to arrive at a conclusion is proving difficult.

The government and NGOs differed on the cut off year for RIIN. While NGOs demanded December 1,1963 as cut off , the Governor in his address to the 13th Legislative Assembly had mentioned the cut-off as November 21, 1979, to distinguish indigenous from non-indigenous inhabitants.

COVID-19 pandemic has posed serious challenges to normal life in Nagaland. Life has gone online-be it education, conferences, celebrations or shopping. The nationwide lockdown imposed since March 25 was extended and left many jobless and shattered the economy. COVID-19 cases struck the state particularly after a total of around 18,000 Nagas of the state returned (Cont’d on p-6) home.

Cabinet approves cadre review of NPS officers

Correspondent

KOHIMA, DEC 27 (NPN): In a significant development and much to the relief of serving Nagaland Police Service (NPS) officers, the State cabinet headed by chief minister during its meeting on December 18 approved the proposal to carry out the cadre review of NPS officers.

Accordingly the state government on December 21 issued notifications for upgradation of four posts and creation of 10 posts for NPS officers with immediate effect.

It may be noted that the review of Nagaland Police Service (NPS) has not be carried out since its inception and this move has created an opportunity for NPS officers, whose promotions have been stagnant, to climb the ladder.

As per the notifications, issued by special secretary (Home), S.R. Saravanan, the state government has decided to upgrade four posts-- Addl. DCP (Crime) to that of DCP (Crime) Dimapur, Asst. Comdt 10 NAP (IR) to that of Dy. Comdt Quarter Master NAPTC, Asst. Comdt 11th NAP (IR) to that of Addl DCP (Protocol/Traffic) Dimapur and Dy. SP (Security) to that of Addl. SP (Security) IGP (INT) establishment.

Further, the 10 posts that have been created as a result of the cadre review, include-- Asst. IGP (Training) PHQ, Asst. IGP (Co-ordination) PHQ, Comdt (Counter Insurgency and Anti Terrorism School-- CIATS), SP (Cyber Security), SP (Modernization), SP (Economic Offence), Dy.CP (HQ) Police Commissionerate Dimapur, Addl. SP (Protocol/Traffic), Dy. Comdt (CIATS) and Dy. SP PHQ Kohima.

Dimapur-Delhi direct flight takes off Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, DEC 27 (NPN): In a major connectivity boost to Nagaland and neighbouring Karbi Anglong in Assam, the State’s commercial hub was finally connected to New Delhi via direct flight on Saturday.

With the arrival of the first direct flight– Indigo 6E 2433 – at Dimapur airport from New Delhi, the longstanding wish of the people of the State finally got fulfilled. The flight (Indigo 6E 2434) later departed the same day for the National Capital with139 passengers on board.

The first flight left the airport here at 2:35 pm and arrived at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi at 5:35 pm, clocking a travel time of exactly three hours.

E a r l i e r, t h e f l i g h t from IGI Airport with 149 passengers on board was (Cont’d on p-6) welcomed with traditional

DIMAPUR, DEC 27 (NPN): In solidarity with the demand of farmers to repeal the three agriculture laws, NPCC has announced that it would not celebrate the 136th anniversary of Indian National Congress (INC).

Stating this, NPCC president K Therie in a statement observed that Delhi has been under siege for one month by farmers demanding repeal of the agriculture laws that intended to destroy the most successful system that farmers have enjoyed in favour of corporates. He said the new agriculture laws were unusual.

Accusing the BJP-led NDA of removing the fundamental right of appeal in the court, Therie alleged that immunity has been granted to corporates, besides the officials.

IndiGo flight welcomed with traditional water cannon salute.

water cannon salute with spraying arcs of water over the flight.

Talking with Nagaland Post over telephone, Dimapur airport director Mughavi Zhimo said a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the airport here for the first direct Dimapur-New Delhi flight, adding the ribbon was cut by the first reporting passenger at the airport.

He mentioned that the flight will operate three days a week – on Tuesday, Thurs-

day and Saturday – and that the schedule would continue till March 25, 2021.

Zhimo said that there was a positive response to the newly-introduced flight operation.

It may be mentioned that the airport had no direct flight to New Delhi thus far and all the existing flights were via Kolkata. The direct flight is expected to help ease travel between the National Capital and Dimapur with its surrounding areas.

279 UK returnees in Telangana untraceable HYDERABAD, DEC 27 (AGENCIES): At least 279 passengers recently returned from the UK to Telangana are untraceable, state health officials said on Saturday, while 59 new cases recorded taking the number of newly caught infections in passengers back from Britain rose to 119 nationwide since last Sunday, a TOI report stated.

Samples taken from all the virus-positive passengers have been sent to labs for sequencing and by Monday it is likely to be known whether they are carrying the more transmissible variant currently ravaging the UK. In the past two weeks, around 102 people have come to Assam from the UK and one of them was found Covid-19 positive and his sample has been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.

(Cont’d on p-6)

Amit Shah meets CSOs in Imphal over Naga issue No new COVID cases reported in State Correspondent

IMPHAL, DEC 27 (NPN): Before concluding his short visit to Manipur on Sunday, Union Home minister Amit Shah met representatives of some civil society organisations (CSOs) here and discussed about the Naga political issue. He met representatives of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), United Naga Council (UNC), Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and Zeliangrong Baudi Assam, Manipur and Nagaland (ZB-AMN) at Hotel Classic Grande here. Chief minister N Biren Singh was also present on the occasion.

Accompanied by Union DoNER minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Shah arrived at Imphal International Airport around 12.30 pm and concluded his visit and returned to New Delhi at 7 p.m. after the meeting with

Amit Shah (NP)

CSO representatives.

COCOMI convenor Sunil Karam said the apex body of CSOs during the meeting urged the Centre not to take a decision that could compromise the territorial integrity of Manipur while finalising the proposed Naga peace accord.

In response, he said Shah assured that the Centre would not do anything that would harm the territorial integrity of Manipur nor take any decision that would be against the interest of people of the State, Karam told reporters after the meeting. He said COCOMI had

put up a demand for special status for Manipur which Shah noted down and assured to discuss matters later at an appropriate time.

When COCOMI leaders conveyed the firm stand of the people of Manipur for protection of territorial integrity of the State, he said the Union home minister replied that the Centre took the matter very seriously.

As the Centre was very much concerned over the matter, people of the state should not worry, Shah assured, he added. The committee also demanded a special status for Manipur that would protect the interests of all indigenous communities, Karam added. The convenor further asserted that COCOMI and people of Manipur would not accept at any cost any solution based on ethnic lines.

M e a n w h i l e, U N C president S Kho John said

the council leaders had a free and frank discussion with Amit Shah and conveyed the wishes of Nagas in Manipur regarding the proposed Naga peace accord. On the other hand, ZB-AMN tabled a demand for creation of a separate territorial council for the Zeliangrong community.

Its president Poupoklung Kamei said they had also submitted a memorandum containing details of their demand to the Union home minister. On its part, KIM reminded the Central minister about its long-pending demand for delivering justice to Kuki victims of the genocide by NSCN (I-M) before settling the vexed Naga political issue. The organisation asserted during the meeting that the Kukis would not accept any solution to the Naga issue unless justice was delivered to the victims.

COVID-19 STATUS AS ON december 27, 2020

ACTIVE CASES Symptomatic AsympCritical-ICU District tomMod- Se- With- With On atic Mild erate vere out Oxy- VentiOxygen gen lator Dimapur 81 15 1 1 0 0 2 Kiphire 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kohima 83 1 1 0 0 0 0 Longleng 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mokokchung 41 4 1 1 0 0 0 Mon 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Peren 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 Phek 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tuensang 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wokha

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Zunheboto Total

0 223

0 21

0 3

0 2

0 0

0 0

0 2

Death MiRecovunder Total Death gratered InvestiCases ed gation 6164 34 3573 9 118 589 493 44 240

51 1 21 0 1 2 0 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

35

1

0

139 0 11438 78

0 0

72 0 29 9 6 9 0 0 0

6387 39 3707 18 172 603 499 47 244

2

39

3 142 130 11897

*10 deaths not due to Covid-19 *0 deaths under investigation

DIMAPUR, DEC 27 (NPN): No new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Nagaland on December 27 while the caseload stood at 11897.

As per Health department’s data 23 positive patients were discharged after their recovery from the in-

fection on Sunday.

M e a n w h i l e, i n i t s weekly report, the Health & Family Welfare department has expressed serious concern that 663 cases or 14% of cases from the community that have been tested positive in flu clinics had no history of travel or contact

with a positive case. “This is worrying since it signifies many more undetected cases in the community. One undetected case in a social gathering is enough to cause a super spreader event,” the health department stated.

It also said that the State’s sample positivity rate continues to remain high at 10% against the national average of 6, although there has been a decline from a record high of 15.5% in October.

The department further said that post-festival surge in COVID-19 cases was a major worry in the State.

P T I a d d s : I n d i a ’s COVID-19 tally of cases climbed to 1,01,87,850 with 18,732 new cases in a day, while 97,61,538 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 95.82 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

K Y M C

2

state

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: W i l l t h e Mo d i g ov t succeed in dethroning Mamata in 2021 assembly polls?

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A

B

A Yes. B No. C Can’t Say.

C

29%

affected Christmas celebrations badly?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST december 28

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hazy sunshine

26 11

Hazy sunshine

24 6

Guwahati Hazy sunshine

25 11

Hazy sunshine

25 5

Itanagar Mostly sunny and pleasant

24 11

Shillong

Hazy sunshine

19 5

Kohima

Hazy sunshine

21 6

Dimapur Hazy sunshine

25 9

Hazy sunshine

23 7

Tuensang Cooler with hazy sunshine

18 4

Hazy sunshine

21 9

Zunheboto Hazy sunshine

20 6

Mkg Wokha

lighted the preparedness of the department in its logistics, transportation, storage etc and encouraged the members and line departments to work together to achieve the mission. Meeting also decided that the ongoing head count survey by the H&FW department should be completed latest by 1st week of January and that no one should be left behind. Committee emphasised that the enumerators

NNC/FGN (WC NNPGs) Lotha region fasting programme DIMAPUR: NNC/FGN Lotha has scheduled fasting programme on December 30 for thanksgiving to the Almighty and to seek His continuous guidance into a New Year. All its members have been requested to observe and be blessed.

DIMAPUR: Nihokhu marketing shed, supported

by NABARD was inaugurated at Nihokhu village, Niuland block, Dimapur

by S C Sahoo, DGM, NABARD on December 23.

A press release by NABARD Dimapur manager, A. Malakar stated

that, marketing shed was funded by NABARD’s Gramya Vikas Nidhi and nearly 10,000 rural people from around 8 to 10 nearby villages would be benefitted directly and indirectly.

It would also give a platform to the rural villagers to come and sell their DP-5691

Patton condoles DIMAPUR: Deputy chief minister and BLP leader, Y. Patton has expressed sorrow at the demise of late Phuhpai Konyak, father of Er. Cheong Konyak, senior BJP leader, who passed away on December 26. In a condolence note, Patton said that late Phuhpai Konyak, was one among the first educationist in Konyak community and with the demise of a visionary educationist a huge void has been created which will be difficult to fill. Y Patton on behalf of the state BJP legislators and party functionaries conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed that the departed soul rest in eternal peace.

TSUD condoles DIMAPUR: Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur (TSUD) expressed heartfelt condolences at the sudden demise of late Theyieshuyi Vero, former president of Western Chakhesang Hoho. In a condolence note by TSUD president Rukewezo Wetsah and finance secretary, Asin Rengma stated that, the untimely passing of such a dynamic leader was a huge loss not only for the family but for all the Nagas in general. TSUD pray to the Almighty God for the strength and perseverance to all family members and that the departed soul rest in peace.

1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF LT. SHENDEMO KHUVUNG 25-12-2019

One year has passed since you left us for a better place.

Your fond memories lives on and never fades away from our hearts.

Missing you a lot.

Loving, Wife, children, mom & loved ones.

WC-298

2ND DEATH ANNIVERSARY of our beloved daughter

18.10.1953 – 14.12.2020 It is with profound gratitude in our hearts that we would like to extend our sincere acknowledgement to each and everyone who stood by us during the prolonged illness and sad demise of LT. RENBO LOTHA, S/O LT. NYAMO LOTHA on the 14th December 2020 at GNRC (Six Mile) Guwahati. Indeed words are inadequate to thank each and everyone for the kind support, sacrifice, contribution and comfort extended to us during these trying times. We regret our inability to personally mention each and everyone for the overwhelming love, unconditional care and sympathy extended to us for which we shall be ever indebted. We would like to acknowledge few Individuals, Pastors, Churches and Fellowships who were close to the Departed Soul and the Family.

DP-5740

Lotha Baptist Church Dimapur.

Lotha Baptist Church Jalukie.

Shri Dimo Kez, Associate Pastor, NCF Guwahati.

Doctors and Medical staffs of Metro Hospital/Eden Hospital/Zion Hospital and GNRC (Six Mile) Guwahati.

Dr Azil Murry and Clinic Staff Dr K Yiben Lotha Faith Hospital Dimapur Dr. Aienla (Physiotherapist) Dr S C Jamir and Family.

Shri T R Zeliang and Family.

Shri Y Patton and Family.

Shri. Metsubo Jamir and Family Shri Mhathung Yanthan and Family Shri Moatoshi Longkumer and Family Dr Chumben Murry and Family Shri K Therie and Family.

Shri. Mhao Humtsoe and Family.

Shri. N Thomas Ngullie and Family.

Capt. Hekeyi and Family.

Shri. Alemtemshi Jamir and Family Shri. Toshi Aier and Family.

Shri. Kelei Zeliang and Family Shri. Rovilatuo Mor and Family.

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Shri. Neposo Theluo and Family.

Shri. Elias T Lotha and Family.

Shri. Yibonsao Tsanglao and Family.

Er. Kaholi and Family.

DRC and Staff of Nagaland House, Guwahati.

NCS Batch of 1989.

Dimapur Longsae Ekhung/Dimapur Longsae Eloe Ekhung.

Khatkati Area Women Fellowship.

Dimapur Nkonjan Ezung Ekhung.

Deacons and Deaconesses and Prayer Groups of Nuton Bosti.

Rev. J T Lotha and Family.

Rev. Nzio Ezung and Family.

Rev. Ezanbemo Odyuo and Family.

Pastor Thenjamo Tsanglao/Pastor Yanbemo Ovung and Pastor Lanlongo Yanthan of LBC Dimapur.

Er. Tia and Family.

Shri. Hokato Rotokha and Family.

Officers and Staff of NSRLM. Mrs. Subeno Yanthan, Guwahati.

Shri Wopenshio Khuvung and Family.

Shri Rongsen Ao and Family Nurses Sentina and Aienla.

Neighbours/Tenants/Friends/Wellwishers and Errands.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, the family of the Late Kiulongba Y. Yim, would like to extend our deep and sincere gratitude to all the individuals and well wishers who stood with us physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually throughout his illness till his demise on 18th Dec. 2020.

Our special thanks to:1. Shri. Toshi Wungtung, MLA & Advisor to IPR, SCERT & V.G 2. Commandant, 10th NAP BN (IR), Zhadima.

3. Yimchungru Baptist Fellowship Bor-Lengri.

4. Yimchungru Arihako Bor-Lengri.

5. Yimchungru Baptist Church Dimapur.

6. Huker Citizen Community Dimapur.

Family members.

DP-5741

3rd Death Anniversary

Late Miss Kivikali Achumi Died on 26-12-2018

Everyone has to die one day and it’s the bitter Truth of life. But we cant’t comfort ourself our eyes filled with tears when we think that you have gone for forever.

“FOR THE LORD HAS GIVEN AND THE LORD HAS TAKEN. MAY THE NAME OF THE LORD BE BLESSED” AMEN. LOVING WIFE, SON AND FAMILY MEMBERS DP-5731

K Y M C

DP-5744

of Late Yezato.K. Achumi

LT. RENBO LOTHA

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be ready with manpower to support the committee as and when required. In pursuance with the notification of the department of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, the Longleng district COVID vaccine committee has been constituted with DC Longleng as chairman, DIO as member secretary along with 14 other members from various departments.

NABARD officials along with other dignitaries and villagers at the inauguration of the rural haat.

OBITUARY

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should be well trained and all the data be cross checked before final publication.

Public were also adviced to give full cooperation to the department and to give accurate data as it would help to immunize entire citizens of the district. All the departments were also advised to prepare mentally to participate in the immunization process and should

8%

Next poll

Imphal

DIMAPUR: An emergency meeting of the Longleng district COVID vaccine committee was held on December 22 at DC conference hall, Longleng, with DC, M. Shayung Phom as chairman.

According to DIPR report, district immunisation officer gave an overall idea of the stages of immunisation and how the COVID vaccine should be carried in the district. He also high-

63%

Q: Did COVID-19 pandemic

Aizawl

local produces. Others present at the inauguration were S. Hrangkhol, AGM, NABARD, Rahul Tiwari, DA, NABARD Er. Ahoto Sema, Hd. GB, SE. PWD (R&B) Nagaland, Rev. Luhevi Zhimo, pastor NBC, Dr. Vekuto Muru, VCM and villagers.

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COVID vaccine committee emergency meeting in Longleng

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

Rural haat inaugurated at Nihokhu village

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020

Missing You Deeply Loving Mother and Brothers

3 years since your passing but you haven't left our hearts and you never will. We are sure the heavens are treating you well and we look forward to seeing you again.

Loving Family.

DP-5714 K Y M C

Northeast/State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020

Shah hopes Manipur insurgents join mainstream soon

Correspondent

IMPHAL, Dec 27: Manipur which was once a hotbed of insurgency has now become a hotbed of development, said Union home minister Amit Shah who hoped that insurgent groups will shun violence and return to the mainstream soon.

The Union home minister visited the state on Sunday was given to a rousing welcome. He was accompanied by Union minister of state for DoNER Dr Jitendra Singh.

During his first visit to the state as a Union home minister, Shah dedicated two projects besides laying foundation stones for seven new projects. He further launched a state-wide rollout of e-office.

Addressing the gathering after the events, Shah said that to bring development in the north-east region was among the Central government’s top priorities.

He claimed that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new identity to the north-eastern region and that Manipur had been moving on its path of development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister N Biren Singh.

Stating that the Modi government has taken several landmark decisions

Union home minister Amit Shah attending a reception function in Imphal on Sunday.

to empower the people of north-east and Manipur, Shah said that Inner Line Permit (ILP) was the biggest gift to the people of the state from the Prime Minister.

The Union home minister congratulated the people of the state on the implementation of ILP last year and maintained that the dream of the people was fulfilled only because of the Prime Minister’s concern that non-implementation of ILP in Manipur would be unfair to the people of the state and asked the people of the state to be thankful to the Prime Minister.

Shah further lauded state chief minister N Biren Singh for his tireless contribution in making the state bandh and blockade free and bringing the state to the path of development with various policies and projects.

He appealed to the civil society organisations

of the state to include topics of development in their demands as growth in sectors like health, education, among others are key to development of a region.

Reiterating that prosperity and development of north eastern region was the Central government’s top most priority, he said that the laying of foundation stones for various development projects in Imphal on Sunday reflects the Centre’s unwavering commitment towards the people of the state Projects for which foundation stones were laid today would bring equal development in the state bridging the gap between hill and valley regions, he added.

He further stated that the IT Special Economic Zone (IT-SEZ), which foundation was also laid today would take the state to a new platform enabling youths to stay connected with different countries

without leaving the state.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Manipur would also increase by around 4600 crore rupees once the construction of ITSEZ completes and starts working, he informed.

Shah who also laid the foundation stone of a medical college in Churachandpur district, said that the college would have the capacity to produce 100 doctors every year and they would be able to render their service in different parts of the state. He suggested N Biren to open a forensic science college in the state with affiliation to National Forensic Science University as students from different parts of the northeast could get admission to the college and further assured that the Central government would be ready to give assistance.

In his speech, chief minister N Biren Singh said that the day was memorable as Union home minister, who had played a key role in the implementation of ILP system in the state, visited the state.

Stating that the gover nment together with the people made different attempts to introduce a mechanism to protect the indigenous population of the state, he said that different bills were passed by state Legislative Assembly on different occasions in this regard.

Despite all these, people could not fulfil their

dream for many years.

However, the Central government under the leadership of Narendra Modi, unexpectedly took the decision of enforcing ILPS in the state giving tremendous joy to the people.

Amit Shah had taken a crucial role in making the historic decision possible, he added.

Acclaiming Shah as a man of action who usually talks less, the chief minister remembered that the Union home minister asked him what was the people’s wish.

In his speech, Dr Jitendra Singh said that soon after Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister, he declared that India would not develop until the north east is developed.

Various developmental activities taken up by the government with chief minister N Biren Singh taking an active role in Manipur was the testimony of what the Prime Minister had said six years back, Dr Jitendra asserted.

Stating that Narendra Modi had visited the northeast more than 40 times in the past six years as a Prime Minister, the Union DoNER minister asserted that it had never happened in the region before.

The Union minister said that the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) had been introduced to accelerate development of the North East.

He said that works for the connection of all the northeast states with double gauge railway tracks were underway.

Stating that a Special Road Development Programme has been introduced to enhance road connectivity, he said and added that efforts were being made to improve inland waterways as well.

Stating that the NE states managed COVID-19 extremely well, the Union minister said that the region became a role model for the entire country in COVID19 management.

Post COVID, the minister said, the region would become a role model for various other sectors as well.

Earlier in the morning, on their arrival at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Amit Shah and Dr Jitendra Singh were received by chief minister N Biren Singh, deputy chief minister Y Joykumar Singh accompanied by some MLAs and top officials of the state government.

Colourful cultural troupes representing different communities and clad in traditional attires presented cultural items to welcome the Union home minister.

People of different communities stood in line on the roadside from BirTikendrajit Airport to Hapta Kangjeibung welcomed the visiting dignitaries by waving flags.

3 Fewer COVID cases in M’laya; UK returnees tests negative Correspondent Shillong, Dec 27: Meghalaya has been reporting fewer COVID-19 cases on a daily basis over the past few days with just five cases, all from East Khasi Hills district adding up to 226 positive cases across the State on Sunday.

On the other hand, five persons who had returned from the United Kingdom to Shillong on November 21 have tested negative for the viral infection.

“Though, the returnees from United Kingdom have tested negative and show no symptoms for the new variant of SARSCoV-2 virus, all five of them have been asked to isolate themselves and the health workers are keeping a close watch on their health status,” an official said.

Recently, the Meghalaya Government had issued an order directing all entrants to the state from the United Kingdom to declare their travel history of past 14 days to the Surveillance Units in the State and at the Districts and undergo Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test.

“All those tested positive shall be isolated in an institutional isolation facility in a separate (isolation) unit coordinated by

the State health authorities. Those who are found negative on testing with RT-PCR are to undergo seven days of institutional quarantine followed by another seven days of home quarantine, monitored by the IDSP/District Surveillance Officers,” a notification issued by the Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Sampath Kumar said.

Meanwhile, with 164 active COVID-19 cases, including 18 from among armed/paramilitary forces, East Khasi Hills, including Shillong is the most affected district in the State, even as the numbers of active cases in the ten other districts have been on gradual decline.

The State also recorded 27 more recoveries from the viral infection, surging the number of recoveries to 13012.

The new recoveries registered on Sunday included 22 in East Khasi Hills district, two in Ri Bhoi district,one each in North Garo Hills district, South West Garo Hills district and West Garo Hills district, Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War said.

Till date, Meghalaya has reported a total of 13,376 confirmed COVID19 cases out of which 226 are active, 138 fatalities and 113,012 are cases of recovery.

Arunachal Pradesh CM releases 55 new police stations in Assam become role model state assembly’s e-calender

Itanagar, Dec 27 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday released the E-Calender of the state assembly for 2021, the first of its kind by any government establishment in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister appreciated the initiative as innovative, and said the calender will also serve as a guidebook for tourists.

Taking to Twitter, Khandu wrote, “I congratulate Arunachal Pradesh

Pema Khandu (File)

Legislative Assembly for launching its E- Calendar, first by any govt establishment in India. The calendar is a repository of

information with textual and pictorial description of all important events and holidays serving also as tourism guidebook.”

Mentioning the steps taken to boost technological intervention in the state, the chief minister said that Arunachal Pradesh assembly had earlier adopted EVidhan to make the House paperless.

“We cannot run away from technology. We must increase its utilisation for development to pick up pace,” Khandu said.

Guwahati, Dec 27 (PTI): As many as 55 police stations in Assam have been reconstructed into swanky buildings, with a small creche, separate women and juvenile corners, a lounge with comfortable sofa, under a special citizen-friendly project.

The Mission for Overall Improvement of Thana for Responsive Image (MOITRI), a project first initiated by the Assam government in 2016, has become a model for construction or reconstruction of police stations as all of them are trying to promote humane face of men and

women in ‘Khaki’.

“MOITRI has envisaged changing the police stations with facilities such as reception and waiting lounge, video-conference system, separate women and children cell, separate entry for them, toilets, adequate drinking water facility, boundary wall, even a crèche,” Director General of Assam Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta told PTI. Assam has around 340 police stations and all of them will be reconstructed in phases under the MOITRI scheme with the construction period for each of them being fixed at

12 months.

“As of now, 55 police stations have been reconstructed under the MOITRI scheme,” Mahanta said.

Each police station has a cyber room and work station, counselling room for drug addicts and juveniles, and specially designed toilets for differently abled citizens.

The living accommodation -- barrack and toilet facilities -- for the police personnel is, as far as possible, being separated from station areas visited by the general public.

Renewable energy sources like solar is being

utilised in every police station which will also have running water, drainage, water harvesting and biodegradable toilets.

A properly designed gate and boundary wall as well as parking areas, particularly for confiscated vehicles, have been conceptualised at every police station and worked into the design.

Every police station will have a proper landscaping designed with a horticulture and floriculture plan, which is being implemented while being constructed.

Locally available ma-

terials, like processed bamboo products are being used wherever possible for both construction and furniture.

A maintenance legacy is being worked out and a three-year mechanism for upkeep -- painting, minor repairs etc -- by the contractor has been incorporated into the contract.

As per the maintenance policy, materials requiring least maintenance are being identified and used, particularly for the cladding and flooring purposes. Strong or sturdy fittings have been used in the toilets.

State

Christmas 2020 celebrated with a difference

Police personnel reaching out to the beggars with piping hot tea and Church members singing hymns during Christmas service held at UCRC, Children of EOH along with DGU, GSUD, NPF minority wing members on snacks on Christmas eve. (NP) New Market, Kohima.

December 24.

DIMAPUR: Christmas was celebrated in a subdued manner this year but it did not dampen the real spirit of peace, love, joy and most of all, Hope for a better future. Families gathered to worship the Lord in their own houses while some attended Church services adhering to strict SOPs. Other activities were also taken up for including the downtrodden people during this season of giving and warmth.

DEPS: Spreading love during the festive season, Dimapur East Police Station (DEPS) personnel distributed hot tea and snacks to beggars on Christmas eve.

Talking to Nagaland post over the phone, East Police Station officer-incharge, RK Patton said that Dimapur East Police Station came out to distribute hot tea and snacks to

the beggars. He informed that it was their duty to serve the people of the town and that they were simply spreading joyous love on the occasion. He also mentioned that the act was pulled off on humanitarian grounds where many downtrodden people in the town had nowhere to go.

The OC East Police Station being considered the busiest police station in Nagaland also sought prayer support and cooperation from one and all.

(Staff Reporter) U C RC Ko h i m a : Union Christian Revival Church (UCRC) New Market, Kohima celebrated Christmas under the theme, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” A press release by UCRC stated that, assistant pastor Vira Seyie in his sermon spoke on the birth of

a new saviour, new messiah whose reign was signalled by announcement to lowly shepherds rather than to those in powerful place.

He asked the congregation to reach out to those who were in need rather than just decorating and exchanging gifts. He also exhorted to invite Jesus into one’s heart.

GSUD: Gorkha Students’ Union Dimapur (GSUD) on December 24 visited Ebenezer Orphanage Home (EOH) at Indisen village. A press release

by GSUD advisor, Sunil Singh Limbu stated that, Dimapur Gorkha Union founder chairman, Kumar Subba and NPF minority wing central president, Bishnu Bhattacharjee gave speeches. Earlier, invocation and welcome address was given by EOH director, Akum Amri. Vote of thanks was delivered by

An elderly man being fed Christmas cake during the NDPP youth members of Dimapur region along with general secretary at Dimapur celebrations observed by Shamator Battalion.

Railway Station.

John (EOH).

Shamator Battalion: Shamator Battalion joined the local community in the Christmas festivities at Tuensang & Noklak districts. Assam Rifles troops organised and participated in large number of events as part of the festive season. Remote border posts joined the local community

in sports, community feasts and church programmes.

Material assistance was also provided to remote border villages for organising Christmas in a befitting manner.

NDPP: Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) youth organisation Dimapur region led by general secretary,

Wati on December 24 reached out to the poor, homeless people and beggars at Dimapur Railway Station and on the streets.

They provided 230 food packets as a mark of love on Christmas.

SFXCC Kidima: St Francis Xavier Catholic Church (SFXCC) Kidima celebrated Christmas with

Reverend Fr Matthias, parish priest of St Francis de Sales (SFS), Punanamai, Manipur as main celebrant on December 25 at church premises. A press release by SFXCC Kidima stated that, Fr Matthias in the homily explained about Christmas. Rev Fr Siby John, parish priest of St Francis Xavier in the

Christmas vigil eucharist celebration asked the large gathering of faithful to be re-born in Christ at heart and home. Reverend Fr Sebastian Ousepparampil, principal of St Joseph College, Jakhama (Autonomous) offered Holy Mass on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph on December 27.

4

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Land grabbed for profits

Nagaland Post Vol. XXxI NO. 23 Dimapur, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020

Festivity with a difference

T

hough many would have spent Christmas in 2020 celebrating with friends or attending Christmas eve services with the community, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed all that. Those who would have spent money and time shopping at malls, have stayed back at home and perhaps saved some money. However, prices have shot up as people’s income has dwindled. Who would have ever thought that during a thriving economy, and a world that was becoming increasingly engaged and interrelated, things would come to a grinding halt? Fighting this global pandemic has become a worldwide, shared challenge. The pandemic might not go away in a hurry but the experience during 2020 should make people wiser. As historians say, “those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.” Fear of COVID-19 has definitely changed lifestyles. The habits COVID has given us should last long. Earlier, a person who doesn’t even wash his hands after coming back to home now takes a bath before even touching anything of the house. If people have failed to learn from the challenge of the global pandemic, then they are likely to find themselves unprepared when new problems arise. In less than a year since the virus emerged, the pandemic has changed how we work, learn and interact as social distancing guidelines have led to a more virtual existence, both personally and professionally.

In the current pandemic, as normal life and activities have almost grounded to a halt, life has indeed taken a virtual form. Online classes, online conferences, online shopping, online medical consultations etc are the imprints of the new normal. From lifestyle changes to better eating habits, people are using this time to get healthier in many areas. After COVID-19 pandemic, students search new interests for themselves such as hobbies like paintings and music and many other things. Also, parents who were busy in their whole day and sleep without having a conversation at night are now getting more time to spend with each other.

Many are also feeling overwhelmed by the constant, sometimes shifting and conflicting flow of information around the virus and the pandemic. The pandemic has narrowed choices and made people aware that even the most advanced nations can be brought down on their knees, helpless and vulnerable while expecting that a vaccine will appear soon. However the news that the virus(COVID-19) has mutated- earlier reported in Malaysia in August 2020 that is far more infectious was detected from two Covid-19 clusters in Malaysia, according to health authorities. Next in December a mutant of the virus was first spotted in the UK before similar but distinct variants were seen in South Africa. This mutated virus continued to spread to more parts of the world with Germany, Switzerland and Japan saying they have identified their first cases.

Perhaps, more than anything else, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a realisation that people can no longer think they can choose what they want or need to do. As people “shelter in place,” engage in “social distancing,” and try to adjust, they all want to return to the old lives. But, it would be a shame if at the end of this crisis, if people simply went “back to normal.” With the situation now changed, people will have no choice but to adjust to them or else fall by the way side.

DailyDevotion Where the Battle is Won or Lost “If you will return, O Israel,” says the Lord…

—Jeremiah 4:1 Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.

I should never say, “I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test.”

Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere.

Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.

In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins.

Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.

Quotes

The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been. ~ Madeleine L’Engle

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020

F

amers are losing more to roads and highways or expressways than the mere MSP guarantee they are demanding or repeal of three farm laws.

The ten new expressways proposed around the country and industrial corridors would be creating land sharks by acquisition of at least 25 percent of more farm lands than required for each project and it can lead to enormous disaster and financial mess.

Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Golden Quadrilateral highway project was for a purpose. But it has degraded into a land-grabbing movement.

The rouge of infrastructure building is virtually a sham if the AgraNoida JP Infratech Yamuna expressway (YE) is taken as a test case. It has 3500 acre of the 6177 acre acquired unutilized – 56.6 percent.

The 165 km road itself as per calculations needed no more than 4500 acre. In fact, the project conceptualized by UP government in 2001 emerged as the model for grabbing people’s land for private profits. All subsequent road projects virtually have emulated it to create a new zamindari, a fear expressed at a national

Bad highways cost Rs 7 lakh crore a year

discussion at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on freeing urban and rural ceilings in 1994.

Now on December 21, 2020, YE industrial development authority (Yeida) CEO Arun Vir Singh says that it has notified 256,862 hectares (6.3 lakh acre) for development and has acquired 12,481 hectares (30841acre) for various developmental projects – all of that is agriculture or wetland – in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura and Agra.

The project also busts the myth that the public sector is inefficient. As huge tract of land is acquired by JP Infratech and it gets into Rs 6500 crore debt to settle the tangle public sector NBCC is roped in. How much the public sector has lost for rescuing the prime acquirers and some others like Amrapali needs to be assessed. It is also a case of where thousands of home seekers have lost their life’s savings amounting to thousands of crore.

The NBCC in turn has told the public sector banks to raise about Rs 2,000 crore against the expressway and provide half of the amount (Rs 1,000 crore) to the state-owned

company, which would utilise the fund for upfront payment and kick-start construction. The NBCC will not repay the loans in cash but would give 100 percent equity to lenders (banks). So it is people’s deposits that are being put to speculative risks with uncertain chances of return.

There is a myth in western UP that the compensation, peanuts as per market valuation, has improved quality of life of the farmer families as Shivaji the project displaced them with “rich” benefits. It does not assess the fact that the loss it has caused to farm production, greenery and increased pollution in the national Capital region (NCR) fall in quality of life farm families.

Many have squandered it away or just been reduced to labourers. Large slums have started growing.

It’s also a wonder why after a few years of the start of the project NBCC has to step in. The project is virtually financially, ecologically and socially an example of how a company can botch up a simple issue for its greed.

The JP Infratech has 3500 acre of land of the

6177 acre acquired unutilized. This is now being told to NBCC to acquire and manage. Is the public sector a hospital to rescue a private company that has caused untold human, financial and ecological hazard at stone’s throw from the national Capital?

The toll roads are not masterpieces of Indian civilization. The national highways to Chandigarh, Jaipur, Aligarh and hosts of others across the country are instances Sarkar of how bad; potholed roads have been levied toll to fleece people. The chain of toll roads in NCR – Kundli-Manesar-Palwal, Delhi-Aligarh, DelhiMeerut, Delhi Baghpat, Delhi- Hardwar, DelhiHapur-Moradabad, eastern Peripheral Highway, DelhiSaharanpur highway are instances of dumping huge costs on the NCR farmers and businesses and adding to inflation that causes concern to RBI. Each of these is built on farmers’ lands acquired for peanuts to bolster profits.

Each toll road has become synonymous with unending loot. The DND – or the Noida toll bridge lost the toll status at the

intervention of the court as it had recovered more than it had invested on construction and maintenance in three years. Wonder that has not become the standard for awarding future such roads. Now the licence for toll collection is being given for 30 to 36 years – more than a generation. One such emerging monopoly belongs to an influential politician and many others also have similar connections in every region.

Minister for transport Nitin Gadkri says India has now the second largest road network of expressways and highways. It is expanding at 30 km of road building a day.

But he ignores the World Bank (WB) report of February 2020 on roads in India that says the country has one of the worst roads and has the highest road crashes killing 1.5 lakh a year and injuring or maiming more than five times.

(The YE is supposedly the most accident prone. The conditions of state highways are far worse).

The WB says it costs the economy between 3 to 5 percent of GDP, almost Rs 7 lakh crore. India’s real GDP at constant prices (201112) is 140.78 lakh crore in

2018-19, as per ministry of statistics and programme implementation.

So for corporate greed the country is building unsafe roads and people are being saddled with huge costs and increasing insurance premium. What started as loss to farmers has engulfed the entire society and the profits of the perpetrators are increasing.

The unnecessary supposedly high security plates for 26 crore vehicles are boosting their profits by a minimum of Rs 10,000 crore and displacing lakhs of mohalla level poor number plate makers across the country. This monopolization is another bane.

Greed is not only driving out the farmers but also various poor workers around him who has been subsisting on farm activities.

The country needs to study the phenomenon and act to prevent the situation from aggravating.

The loss of arable land for a scramble of “bad development” can be socially and politically disastrous.

The mad game for acquisition of fertile land must stop and the government has to look back to have a holistic agriculture and growth (not development) policy.

Post-mortem

I

The Indian Made Foreign Liquor Imbroglio in Nagaland

t is no wonder that the first miracle of Jesus recorded in the New Testament was that of the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana yet none should forget, it was in sync with the culture and tradition of the people of that time and era. For the Jewish people, the wine was part of stable food meaning it was a part of thedietof their days. In line with that context, the intention here is neither to misinterpret nor interpret the element of consumption of wine, liquor, wine, beer, and others. Rather, the intention is to address the fact that today one cannot fail to address and deny the ill-reality associated with the consumption of liquor. The issue of Indian Made Foreign Liquor in Nagaland is like the song ‘you can run, you can hide, but you can’t escape my life’.

In the sense that the Nagaland has become so wet like the flooded roads in Nagaland that talk about liquor can neither be ignored nor negated lest history will cry upon us for the generations lost owing to the liquor.

The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989 has come a long way yet today it is placed at the altar of debate, question, criticism, and doubts over its ability to implement the prohibition in letter and spirit.

They say it either my way or your way or the skyway but with the reality of the liquor in Nagaland, there cannot be a skyway. It could either total blanket implementation of the prohibition act to the letter and spirit or that of the upliftment of the prohibition of the act so that the skyway of black marketing and proliferation of liquor can be prevented. They say in our land it’s the glass at the end for that matter of sorrow and happiness in the life of the people. In times of sorrow and happiness, the catch is to drink a glass.

In Nagaland, one might not find a clinic and hospital in all the residential areas yet one will find an abode of liquor in a humble hut that meticulously dispenses mineral water bottles for the cause of the people. One wonders the sacrifice they do for the sake of humanity even though they only sell mineral waters, all, but for the people.

Not to forget the hotels, dhabbas, and freelance shops that cater liquor to people. One cannot deny nor ignore that Indian Made Foreign Liquor flows through the towns, villages, hills, valleys, and hillocks

of Nagaland. The question is how far can we ignore to deny that Nagaland today is still a dry state on paper and legally it is a crime to possess’ liquor.

The question is how far is it or how long is it to acknowledge the broken prohibition act and address the proliferation of drinks and liquor. The bust of illegal liquor dispensing plant by the Assam Rifles at Dimapur, the instance of Dimapur Naga Students’ Union crusade against the sale of liquor in Dimapur, host of the instance of IMFL beings caught in the various districts, towns, and villages of Nagaland speaks for itself the plight of the so-called dry state of Nagaland. It does not need rocket science nor Artificial Intelligence to know that the Prohibition Act has fallen and that we the people and the society need to address the issue with a positive mechanism.

There can be no skyway nor no-way and the people of Nagaland needs to choose either of the ways as that of prohibition or upliftment of the prohibition for the better of the society. If the path is for the total prohibition of the liquor, the law of the land and the upholders of the law must make sure that what had been passed by the legislation is implemented in the best of truth and letter. In this scenario, the role of the civil societies, and the church along with the religious organization to that matter needs to help supplement the government to implement the prohibition order. Lest it becomes a mockery of the law and the act.However, if the path is such that the context calls for the upliftment of the prohibition, adequate measures and mechanisms could be addressed to help educate and sensitize the people about the usage of alcohol. In that scenario, the civil societies and that of the social-cultural-religious institutions needs to add to the task of the government. It is not the sole prerogative of the government nor that of the civil societies rather it is the call and the commitment of the society as a community to address the menace of alcoholism in Nagaland.

In the debate for a dry and a wet state, and that of the prohibition and upliftment the society cannot see the people become victims of alcohol. The present state of the flow of alcohol is not conducive for the people.

Even though Nagaland is on

prohibition, liquor still flows in the land. And a significant feature of it is the presence of the black market and adulteration of liquor that adequately affects the health of the people.

No one knows the level of quality of the liquors that flows in Nagaland. The instance of the busting of liquor plants by the Assam Rifles brings to light that the quality of the liquor will harm the lives of the consumers. It will rapidly affect the health of the consumers owing to the adulteration. Besides, liquors are brought from the neighbouring states and one cannot know the quality level of consumption standards. In such a context, there is none to regulate the quality of the liquor that is consumed by the people in the land. For which the answers might be that of blanket prohibition or that of upliftment of the prohibition.

There can be no middle way nor middle path concerning the flow of IMFL in Nagaland. The way is either one where there is no collaboration or co-existence of prohibition and the flow of the liquor.

If at all the prohibition is lifted the concern will be that Nagaland will become a drunk state and that liquor will flow in the land where thousands will lose their lives to liquor.

The concern is that young and old will be flunked into full time drinking as liquor would be available in the nooks and corners of Nagaland. And the fear is that Nagas being known to drinking since the days of ancestors will be addicted to drinking and that concern is well taken for the fact that our ancestor wasknown to drinking rice beer before the dawn of the western missionaries. All concern merits a serious ponder and articulations and none could take it away easily without concerns. For none could take away the life of an individual just like that way. However, the irony is that the flow of liquor is still flowing like a stream or river without blockade. And that ugly truth is the deal that needs to be discussed and solved adequately according to the sign of the time. In this context, implementing total prohibition is like that of belling the cat for the Naga society today. Until that happens discussion about the upliftment of the prohibition act of 1989 is bound to happen time and again.

Chenijan Patton, Tsumang-B. Bhandari Town

B

Say No to Firecrackers

ursting of various forms of firecrackers has been a part of the celebration during every festive season throughout the country. Owing to deleterious effect on respiratory health by harmful chemicals and related hazards from firecrackers, their use has been banned in various parts of the world including some states in India. The production, sales, and usage of fireworks have been banned in Singapore (1972), Sweden (2001), and Vietnam (1994). Germany has stringent regulations where firecrackers are classified and their purchase is allowed only in a systematic manner so that the bursting of firecrackers never reaches unprecedented levels. In India, several states and union territory have banned the sale and bursting of firecrackers such as Rajasthan, Haryana, Sikkim, Odisha, West Bengal, and Chandigarh to protect the health of Covid-19 infected patients and public from harmful smoke emanating due to fireworks. Besides, guidelines on restrictions of fireworks usage have also been issued in several states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Chattisgarh. As a sequel, the Govt. of Nagaland has also issued prohibitory order on the use of any forms of firecrackers across the State under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 with effect from 10th Nov. 2020 till 31st Jan. 2021.

Firecrackers have a major ill effect on living beings as well as the environment. It contributes largely to air pollution by release of toxic chemicals thereby degrading the air quality and the development of smog is a common phenomenon. Sulphur nitrates, magnesium, nitrogen

dioxide, antimony sulphates, mercury fulminate, arsenic, lead, lithium, salts of calcium-strontium-barium-copper, etc are the major constituent chemicals used in the manufacturing of the crackers. Lately, the Supreme Court in 2017 bans four toxic chemicals (antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, and lead) used in firecrackers. These chemicals prove to be hazardous for our respiratory systems and can cause serious ailments like asthma, lung cancer, shortness of breath, hormonal imbalances, and many other respiratory diseases. Moreover, high decibel noise from explosion raises anxiety levels and also causes panic attacks.

People lose their sleep and also cause hyperventilation. Besides, these heavy metals/chemicals are not easily degradable in the environment and are responsible for water pollution as well.

The irony of the prohibition especially in Dimapur is obvious by the loud intermittent ‘bangboom’ of fireworks during Diwali and Christmas Eve. The deterrent seems to have failed to achieve its desired result. So, what in-store on New Year’s Eve? It’s a gentle reminder that there are altogether 11,895 confirmed Covid cases with 274 active (109 in Dimapur) cases and 67 deaths so far (as on 25.12.20). Under such trying times, the least we can contribute is by being more sensible and say ‘No’ to firecrackers’ at least for the well-being of our ailing near and dear ones, family members, and friends. Indeed, your one-step today will be a giant leap towards preserving a clean environment in the long run.

Dr. Wati Imchen, 4th Mile, Dimapur

Reader’s Post

Seek the Unknown and Persevere

Sir,

The year 2020 had such a tremendous impact in all of our lives.

I believe every one of us have celebrated Christmas 2020 with a difference.

To begin with, I’m elated to see a rise in dignity of labour among our youths. Entrepreneurship, the path which many parents refused to let their children follow has become 2020s superstar. And with this being said, the pandemic has given them the perfect platform to practice and at the same, unlearn the old and relearn the new. What we once perceived as impossible for us became opportunities for them and the path which we dreaded to walk upon, they followed.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Therefore, I would like to encourage our youths not to conform themselves to the comfort of their own homes but rather, seek the unknown and persevere, for, the future is theirs.

Kevi Angami, Dimapur

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

PM Modi, Shah should apologise for disinformation campaign: Amit Mitra Ko lkata , D ec 2 7 (PTI): West Bengal is faring better than the national rate in several parameters of industrial growth, state Finance Minister Amit Mitra claimed Sunday, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should apologise to people for running a “disinformation campaign” against the state.

Mitra cited the data of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showing that GDP, growth in industry, services and agriculture sectors have grown faster than the national rate in the state.

The BJP often alleges that there has been no economic development in West Bengal and Central welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat Yojana and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi are not being implemented as they do not involve “cut money”.

“PM-HM’s shameful DISINFORMATION campaign on Bengal CAUGHT red-handed by their own Central Statistical Orgn!

Chart EXPOSES how India

Amit Mitra

growth rates hit bottom under duo, while growth under MamataB soared in Bengal: GDP, Industry,Services, Agri. So, Apologise to people of Bengal,” Mitra tweeted.

The data of the Statistics and Programme Implementation Ministry, estimated on August 31, 2020, showed that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country was 4.18 per cent while the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of West Bengal was 7.26 per cent.

The Gross Value Added (GVA) of the country was recorded at 3.89 per cent while that of West Bengal was ahead at 7.39 per cent, the data showed.

I n d i a ’s i n d u s t r i a l growth was 0.92 per cent while it was 5.79 per cent in the eastern state.

According to the data, West Bengal was ahead of the national rate in services and agriculture sectors also, Mitra, a former secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), said.

With the assembly polls due in the state in April-May next year, the BJP recently said that the saffron party will win 200 seats in the 294-strong House, while TMC’s poll strategist Prashant Kishor declared that he will quit his profession if the saffron party is able to cross double digits.

After having a limited presence in the politically polarised state for decades, the BJP emerged as the main rival of the Trinamool Congress winning 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general election.

In the last few years, the BJP’s strength has increased manifold in the state where it has never been in power.

Rajinikanth discharged from hospital Hyderabad, Dec 27 (PTI): Superstar Rajinikanth was on Sunday discharged from a hospital here, where whe was treated for blood pressure fluctuation, after his condition improved, authorities said.

“His blood pressure has been stabilised and he is feeling much better.

In view of his improved medical condition, he has been discharged from the hospital today,” a bulletin from Apollo Hospitals said.

The 70-year-old actor was admitted to the hospital here on December 25 with severe hypertension and exhaustion, it said.

He was kept under close medical supervision and treated by a team of doctors. In addition to medications and diet, Rajinikanth has been advised complete bed rest for one week with regular monitoring of blood pressure, minimal physical activity and to avoid stress in view of his post-transplant status, labile hypertension and age.

The ‘Kabaali’ star has also been counselled to avoid any activity that increases the risk of contracting COVID-19.

Terror plot to attack temple foiled; 3 arrested Jammu, Dec 27 (PTI): The Jammu and Kashmir Police Sunday said it has arrested three Pakistan-linked militant associates and recovered six grenades from them, foiling a terror plot to attack a temple in the border district of Poonch and disturb communal harmony.

Poonch Senior Superintendent of Police Ramesh Kumar Angral said the arrested persons were planning to carry out a grenade attack on a temple at the behest of their Pakistani handler to disturb peace and communal amity in the district.

The officer told reporters in Poonch that the ploy was revealed after Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police along with troops of the 49 Rashtriya Rifles detained two brothers -- Mustafa Iqbal Khan and Murtaza Iqbal of Galhuta village -- from their vehicle near Basooni in Mendhar sector at around 8 pm on

Six grenades and a few posters of J&K Ghaznavi Force, which were recovered after busting of a terror module in Poonch district, Sunday. (PTI) Saturday.

He said their interrogation was conducted at the 49 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion headquarters, Basooni, and it was found that Mustafa had received a call from a Pakistani number and was directed to execute the gre-

nade attack.

“On being questioned further, he admitted to have been tasked with throwing a grenade at a temple in Ari village. A video on how to use a grenade was also found in his phone,” the SSP said.

The SSP said it came to light that Mustafa was involved in militant activities, and on his confession two of his associates -- Mohammad Yaseen and Rayees Ahmad of Dabbi village of Balakote near the Line of Control (LoC) -- were also apprehended.

Another police official said the three were arrested later, while Murtaza Iqbal is still in custody and is being questioned.

The SSP added, “Vital clues were obtained during the questioning of the trio and searches were conducted in the house of Mustafa from where six grenades, some balloons with Pakistani marking and a few posters of hitherto unknown J&K Ghaznavi Force were recovered.”

He said the arrested persons were in regular contact with their handlers in Pakistan who were instructing them to carry out terror strikes.

Indore, Dec 27 (PTI): There will four eclipses in 2021, including one total solar eclipse and one total lunar eclipse, but only two will be visible from India, Ujjain-based Jiwaji Observatory’s Superintendent Dr Rajendraprakash Gupt said on Sunday.

He told PTI that the first of these events will be on May 26, and will be seen in parts of West Bengal, coastal Odisha and in the north-eastern states, except Sikkim, as the moon is visible earlier in these places than other parts of the country. “The earth will cover the moon by 101.6 per cent during this astronomical event,” he said. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth comes between the sun and the moon. Gupt said the annular solar eclipse on June 10 will not be visible in India, and in this event, the moon will come between the sun and earth, leading to the sun getting covered 94.3 per cent and being seen as a ‘ring of fire’. He said the partial lunar eclipse, on November 19, can be seen from Arunachal Pradesh and some parts of Assam for a very short period.

“At the peak of this event, 97.9 per cent of the moon will be seen covered by the earth’s shadow. The total solar eclipse on December 4, the last of 2021, will, however, not be visible from India,” he added.

Chandigarh, Dec 27 (PTI): Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s appeal to protesting farmers to not damage telecom infrastructure seems to have failed to deter new attacks, with more than 150 signal transmitting sites being vandalised overnight, sources said on Sunday.

While firms belonging to billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani do not procure foodgrains from farmers, the narrative that new farm laws are to benefit them has made them easy targets, with protesting farmers in different places in Punjab having vandalised and damaged Reliance Jio towers, snapping connectivity. As many as 151 towers have been damaged since yesterday, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

This has taken the total number of telecom tower sites damaged to 1,338, they said. Incidents of snapping of power lines to attempts to axe the towers have been reported from different parts of Punjab, one of the sources said.

“Site managers are slapped and abused for trying to persuade protestors from damaging sites,” he said.

The second source said the telecom towers damaged belong to Jio and common access infrastructure of telecom industry.

The cables of a mobile tower snapped at a Jalandhar village. Courtesy- Tribune The attacks have impacted telecom services and operators are struggling to maintain services in absence of action by law enforcement agencies, the source said.

The Punjab chief minister had on Friday appealed protesting farmers to not inconvenience the general public with such actions and to continue to exercise the same restraint as they had shown over the past several months of their agitation.

“Pointing out that telecom connectivity had become even more critical for people amid the Covid pandemic, the chief min-

ister urged the farmers to show the same discipline and sense of responsibility which they had been exercising during their protest at the Delhi border, which has completed one month, and also earlier during their agitation in the state,” a statement issued by the chief minister’s office had said.

Urging the farmers to not take the law in their hands by forcibly shutting down telecom connectivity or manhandling employees/ technicians of telecom service providers, the chief minister had said such actions were not in the interest of Punjab and its future. ?

Saradha scam: CBI moves SC to quiz ex-top cop

KO L K ATA , D E C 2 7 (IANS): With the highvoltage West Bengal Assembly election round the corner, the ghost of the multi-crore Saradha ponzi scam is back to haunt the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in the state.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a fresh appeal in the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking to quiz ex-Kolkata Police top cop Rajiv Kumar in connection with the case.

Kumar was the then police commissioner of Bidhannagar Commissionerate when the multi-crore chitfund scam was busted in 2013.

He also headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state government.

Later, the high-profile case was handed over to the federal investigation agency in 2014 under the direction of the Supreme Court. A close confidant of Banerjee, Kumar was granted anticipatory bail from the Calcutta High Court on the matter which said that it was not an appropriate case for custodial interrogation.

In an unprecedented standoff, when a CBI team had gone to question Kumar at

his official residence in Kolkata, they were detained by the city police officers.

“The investigation is on. The agency will do everything that is required to nail the offenders. It’s a big scam,” a senior CBI official told IANS from Delhi.

Meanwhile, Saradha chitfund kingpin Sudipto Sen, who is now behind bars, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pointing out the fact that leaders who allegedly took “financial advantages” from him are now switching over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal. The list included names of some senior political leaders of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), BJP, Congress and the Trinamool Congress, the letter mentioned.

Sen also request the CBI and the state police to take necessary action against them.

According to sources, the BJP would make attempts to corner the incumbent Trinamool Congress government in Bengal ahead of the crucial polls scheduled in 2021. Saradha scam is one of the key po-

litical issues for the saffron brigade to target Banerjee and her party on grounds of corruptions. “The state government is trying to shield Kumar from the CBI interrogation as he knows many things. They have left no stone unturned so that the cat doesn’t come out of the bag,” a state BJP leader said.

Besides the Saradha scam, the CBI is also carrying out probes on illegal coal mining and cattle smuggling in the state which were allegedly run in connivance with the state administration and many ruling party leaders. The CBI’s anti-corruption branch last month had conducted a marathon raid in as many as 30 different locations in West Bengal in connection with a coal-smuggling racket.

According to sources, the federal investigation agency sleuths had raided

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the offices and homes of Anup Majhi, alias Lala, in Asansol, Durgapur, and Raniganj in Burdwan district, as well as Bishnupur in Kolkata’s adjoining South 24-Parganas.

Earlier, the CM had criticised the Centre for brazenly interfering with the state government in its administrative functioning. Banerjee had voiced that her government would never allow the brazen attempt by the Centre to control the state machinery by proxy. “West Bengal is not going to cow down in front of expansionist and undemocratic forces,” she had said.

The Trinamool Congress had also alleged that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre was using various federal agencies to destabilise the government in Bengal.

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time to ensure that our products meet global standards.

Whatever is the global best, we should make it in India and prove it. For that, our entrepreneur friends have to come forward. Start-ups too have to come forth,” Modi said. He also suggested to focus on items used by us in our daily lives and ensure that these items should be manufactured in India and support vocal for local call to make the country ‘Aatmanirbhar’.

“We make new resolutions every new year. On this new year’s eve, we should take a resolution to use only Made-in-India products,” said the Prime Minister.

Modi also remembered Guru Gobind Singh and his family’s supreme sacrifices, saying “I bow to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, Mata Gujari, Guru Gobind Singh ji and the four ‘Sahibzade’.”

He also expressed happiness about rise in the number of leopards. “In India, between 2014 and

youth, Modi said “I feel delighted and assured. Delighted and assured because the youth of my country have the ‘Can Do’ approach and the ‘Will Do’ spirit in them. No challenge is too big for them. Nothing is out of reach for them.”

Noting that saffron is identified with Kashmir for centuries and it is produced in Pulwama, Budgam and Kishtwar regions of the Union territory, the Prime Minister said “Kashmiri saffron has been given Geographical Indication (GI) tag this year. Through the GI tag, we want to make Kashmiri saffron a globally popular brand.”

The next time you want to buy ‘Kesar’ (saffron), do try Kashmiri saffron, Modi said.

Going back in history, the Prime Minister mentioned how Abul Fazl, a prominent member of Akbar’s court, described the saffron after his visit to Kashmir for the first time.

Modi said that Kashmiri saffron is globally famous as a spice which has a variety of medicinal properties. “It is very fragrant, its colour is thick. Kashmiri saffron represents the cultural heritage of Jammu & Kashmir. Kashmiri saffron is very unique when it comes to its quality. It is also different from saffron in other countries. Kashmiri saffron has been distinguished by its GI tag.”

Punjab CM’s appeal fails to stop damages to telecom towers; 150 more damaged

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Narendra Modi

2018, the number of leopards has risen by more than 60 per cent. In 2014, the number of leopards in the country was about 7,900, whereas in 2019 it increased to 12,852.”

“Among the states with the maximum population of leopards, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra are at the top. This is a big achievement. Leopards across the world have been facing dangers, their habitat has faced loss in the world,” said Modi, adding “in such circumstances, the continued growth of the population of leopards in India has shown a way to the entire world”.

Sharing a heart-touching example in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Modi mentioned the efforts of one Gayatri in the region who along with her father arranged a wheelchair for a suffering dog, and those who helped many animals, stressing “come, let us encourage such acts of care with a sense of service to others”.

“In Delhi NCR and other cities of the country in the chilling cold many people are doing a lot for the care of shelter-less animals.

They arrange for food, water, sweaters and even beds for those animals. Some people arrange food for hundreds of such animals everyday. Such efforts should be commended.”

Addressing Indian

Four eclipses in 2021, two to be visible in India

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Ensure world class products: PM

NEW DELHI, DEC 27 (IANS): After being ‘vocal for local’ to make India ‘Aatmanirbhar’ (self-reliant), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gave a clarion call to adopt “zero effect, zero defect” policy while manufacturing Madein-India products and ensure that these produces are “world class”.

Speaking on his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister said “the people of India have taken many steps forward and are getting vocal for local. Our manufacturers are also thinking about making top quality products. This will boost the efforts towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

The Prime Minister said that while focusing on Made-in-India products the manufacturers should not compromise with the quality of materials produced by them.

“This is the right time to work with ‘zero effect, zero defect’ policy.”

Speaking on the last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode of this year, Modi said this is the opportune moment to work with the ethos of ‘zero effect, zero defect’. “I urge manufacturers and industry leaders of the country that the people have taken a firm and bold step forward and vocal for local is reverberating in each and every household.”

“In such a scenario, it is

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New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI): India registered 18,732 fresh cases of COVID19, the lowest in nearly six months, while 97,61,538 people have recuperated so far from the disease pushing the national recovery rate to 95.82 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The death toll climbed to 1,47,622 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 279 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed. A total of 18,732 daily new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours. The number of new daily cases last reported a dip on July 1 when 18,653 cases were registered.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate was registered at 1.44 per cent. There are 2,78,690 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 2.73 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated. According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 16,81,02,657 samples have been tested up to December 26 with 9,43,368 samples being tested on Saturday.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and 40 lakh on September 5. It went past 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11 and crossed 80 lakh on October 29 and 90 lakh on November 20.

PM Modi to flag off first driverless train today

New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the country’s first ever fullyautomated driverless train service on the Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro on Monday that will herald a new era of enhanced mobility driven by cutting-edge technology.

With the commencement of these new-generation trains, the DMRC will enter the elite league of “seven per cent of world’s Metro networks” which can operate services without drivers, the Delhi Metro said on Sunday. After starting driverless services on the 37-km Magenta Line

(Janakpuri West–Botanical Garden), another major corridor of the Delhi Metro, 57-km Pink Line (Majlis Park–Shiv Vihar) will also have driverless operations by mid-2021, the DMRC said in a statement.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to inaugurate India’s first ever driverless train operations on the Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line (Janakpuri West – Botanical Garden) as well as the fully operational National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) services on the Airport Express Line via video conferencing tomorrow, scheduled at 11 am,” it said. These innovations are

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going to herald a new era of travelling comfort and enhanced mobility for the residents of Delhi and other cities in the National Capital Region. The commercial operation of these newgeneration trains, set to be a major technological feat, will begin later the same day, after the event, a senior Delhi Metro official said.

“The driverless trains will be fully automated which will require minimum human intervention and will eliminate the possibilities of human errors. Delhi Metro has been a pioneer in introducing technology driven solutions for passenger comfort and this is another step

in the same direction,” the statement said. Once the driverless trains are operationalised on the Pink Link too, the Delhi Metro will have a driverless network length of about 94 km which will be approximately nine percent of the world’s total driverless metro network, it added. After the launch, also it will be the first time when commuters will be able to use the NCMC on any corridor of the Delhi Metro. Prime Minister Modi in March 2019 had launched the indigenouslydeveloped NCMC to enable people to pay multiple kinds of transport charges, including using metro and bus ser-

vices across the country.

Dubbed as ‘One Nation One Card’, the inter-operable transport card allows the holders to also pay for their bus travel, toll taxes, parking charges, retail shopping and even withdraw money. The NCMC, which will be fully operationalised on the Airport Line will also be a major milestone as anyone carrying a RuPay-Debit Card issued in the last 18 months by 23 banks (all these are NCMC compliant as per directions of the Department of Financial Services, Government of India), from any part of the country will be able to travel on this line using that card, the Delhi Metro said.

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ment during its first term of shelving the food park project in Amethi.

The government had denied the charge and said the park never had land.

Cong hits back at BJP chief

J P Nadda when he was an MP from Amethi, Gandhi is heard saying that a farmer during his trip to Uttar Pradesh asked him to explain the “magic” behind a packet of potato chips costing Rs 10 while farmers sell potato for Rs 2 per kg.

When he asked what they thought was the reason for this, the farmer said factories are located very far from them and if they could sell their produce directly there, they will get all the money without middlemen earning any cut, Gandhi is heard saying in the short video posted by Nadda.

That was the idea behind a food park, and this is in a way what farmers and labourers of Amethi and 1012 districts of Uttar Pradesh have been fighting for, he says in the clip. Gandhi had accused the Modi govern-

The Congress on Sunday hit back at BJP president JP Nadda after he attacked Rahul Gandhi for opposing the new farm laws, alleging that he was trying to mislead the farmers.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that before targeting Gandhi, the BJP chief should have known there is no MSP on potatoes and asked him why the government had to import potatoes when there is enough within the country “Dear Nadda ji, before misleading the farmers, you should have known that there is no MSP on potatoes.

And...we also want reforms in the agriculture sector, but the question here is the way the life of farmers has been attacked with the three black laws,” he said in a tweet in Hindi. “You should also tell why you are importing one million tonnes of potatoes from abroad while leaving the country’s farmers,” he said, replying to Nadda’s tweet.

NPCC not to celebrate 136th anniversary of INC (From p-1) He said aggrieved people have no right to appeal in the court, even as the government attacked the constitution, democracy and farmers directly and still cannot hear the voice of farmers.

According to the NPCC chief, it is nothing more than totalitarian rule. He said the Central government divided people, interfered in personal faith, personal freedom, customary laws, etc.

He warned that anti-people bills would lead to second partition of India, and for which BJP would be solely responsible.

He said India’s constitution that promises to secure justice, liberty, equality to all citizens and promote fraternity to maintain unity and integrity of the nation, and provides freedom of expression, liberty, faith and the freedom to grow was no more safe in the hands of BJP. Therie alleged that the constitution was under serious attack as liberty, fundamental rights, freedom of expression and freedom of religion were all under attack. He pointed out that love-jihad, anti-conversion laws, stoppage of foreign aid for charity works of Christians, stoppage of scholarships to theological students, closure of theology curriculum, attacks on personal lives, etc, had under-

mined the constitution.

And in today’s changed situation and in Nagaland’s context, he said he did not see the prevalence of the constitution as its rules were hardly referred in file noting, even as corruption was accepted as a way of life.

“Wherever and whatever you are, we are enjoying the provisions of the constitution. Therefore, it is appropriate for all citizens to give due recognition and appreciation and submit to the constitution. It does not mean, one should submit to corrupt rulers as the constitution did not provide to establish a corrupt government,” the statement emphasised.

True politicians understood the meaning of constitution and worked to achieve its collective political and economic objectives, he added.

Claiming that INC achieved India’s independence and gave the country constitution that made it a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic, the NPCC chief recalled that the party was found at the behest of British civil service officer Allan Octavian Hume in 1883, adding that in the first INC meeting held at Bombay from December 28 to 31, 1885 Womesh Chandra Bannerjee was elected as the first president and thus far there had been 88 Congress presidents.

279 UK returnees in Telangana untraceable (From p-1) There were three new cases in Telangana, taking the state’s UK infected number to 21. Goa reported 16 cases among passengers from the UK, while there were 14 new cases from Maharashtra (total 17).

One more passenger tested positive in Nashik, but it was unclear if he had contracted the novel coronavirus in the UK because he had tested negative at Mumbai airport on returning on December 13.

Kerala reported three new infected passengers, taking the total to eight, and Uttar Pradesh saw eight UK returnees test positive.

One passenger from Mysuru in Karnataka was found to have the virus, while Andhra Pradesh reported six virus-positive cases.

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Telangana officials said 92 of the untraceable returnees are from the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka, and 184 had given wrong phone numbers and addresses.

“We have forwarded their details to their respective state governments so that they can help trace these returnees. A search is on to find the rest,” said Dr G Srinivasa Rao, Telangana’s director for public health.

“People with the new type of virus need not worry. They only need be vigilant, use the mask properly, follow physical distancing and wash their hands regularly,” Dr Rao said.

Of the 14 new cases in Maharashtra, three are from Mumbai, four from Thane, one from Nagpur, two from Pune and one each from Nanded, Ahmednagar, Raigad and Aurangabad.

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COVID: Lowest daily cases in India after nearly 6 months

New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI): BJP president J P Nadda on Sunday shared an old video of Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Lok Sabha in which he seems to be advocating the need for farmers to get rid of middlemen and sell their produce directly to industry, as he accused the Congress leader of playing politics over the ongoing farmers’ protest “What is this magic happening Rahul ji. You are opposing now what you had advocated earlier. You have nothing to do with the country’s or farmers’ interests. You have to play politics only. But this is your bad luck that your hypocrisy will not work. People of the country and farmers have recognised your double standards,” Nadda tweeted in Hindi along with the video clip. The Congress has backed the farmers’ protest against three agriculturemarketing laws which give cultivators an option to sell their produce directly to private players. Agitating farmers have argued that these laws are aimed at weakening the existing government’s support for the farm sector, a charge denied by the Centre.

In his speech, apparently made in the last Lok Sabha

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COVID-19 cases were recorded only from May 25,2020 when three were tested positive. By the last week of December Nagaland recorded around 11,897 cases and 77 deaths. As 2020 ends, these issues are likely to spill over to the new year 2021. After wide speculations that political solution would come by Christmas 2019 and then Christmas 2020, now the speculation is that it will be by end of January 2021. However, as the NSCN(K) faction led by Niki Sumi has also expressed willingness to sign cease fire and hold talks, solution could take some time. However, even as people of the state await the political solution, they would have to grapple with other pressing problems which don’t need the Centre’s involvement.

J P Nadda posts Rahul Gandhi’s old speech to take swipe at him

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Amaravati, Dec 27 at testing the planned op(PTI): A dry run of the erations and the laid out coronavirus vaccination mechanisms for COVIDprogramme will be held in 19 vaccination in the state.

Krishna district of Andhra It will provide insights into Pradesh on Monday. any gaps or bottlenecks Andhra Pradesh is so that those could be adone of the four states cho- dressed before the comsen by the Centre to carry mencement of the actual out end-to-end dry run for drive,” Bhaskar said on the COVID-19 vaccination on eve of the programme.

December 28.

It would be used to The state government test the preparedness for picked up Krishna district vaccinating pre-identified for the dry run, where beneficiaries from speciit will be carried out in fied groups supported by five locations, according Co-WIN, an electronic to Health Commissioner application. The CommisKatamaneni Bhaskar. sioner said the primary ob“The dry run is aimed jective of the dry run was

to check the operational feasibility of Co-WIN in the field, besides the planning, implementation and reporting mechanism.

Planning and preparations, including prerequisites for the vaccine introduction as per the Operational Guidelines, would also be assessed through the dry run. The dry run would be carried out in five sessions at identified locations with 25 test beneficiaries (healthcare workers) for each session.

These test beneficiaries would be present at the session sites for necessary simulation, he added.

Bhaskar said an AEFI (Adverse Event Following Immunisation) committee formed as per the new guidelines and AEFI treatment centres were also identified.

After the dry run, we will prepare a report for the State Task Force, which will review the feedback and guide us on further actions. The report will also be submitted to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Commissioner said.

Nagaland Year Ender 2020: Challenges ahead in 2021 (From p-1)

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of the outbreak in Europe.

Italy now has the continent’s worst confirmed virus death toll at nearly 72,000.

“Today is a beautiful, symbolic day: All the citizens of Europe together are starting to get their vaccinations, the first ray of light after a long night,” Arcuri told reporters outside the hospital. But he cautioned: “We all have to continue to be prudent, cautious and responsible. We still have a long road ahead, but finally we see a bit of light.”

The vaccines, developed by Germany’s BioNTech and American drugmaker Pfizer, started arriving in super-cold containers at EU hospitals on Friday from a factory in Belgium.

In the Los Olmos nursing home in the Spanish city of Guadalajara, northeast of Madrid, a 96-year-old resident and a caregiver were the first Spaniards to receive the vaccine.

“Let’s see if we can all behave and make this virus go away,” said Araceli Hidalgo, the elderly resident, after receiving her injection.

The Czech Republic

was spared the worst of the pandemic in the spring only to see its health care system near collapse in the fall. In Prague, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis received his shot at dawn Sunday and asserted: “There’s nothing to worry about.” Sitting next to him in a wheelchair was World War II veteran Emilie Repikova, who also received the shot.

Altogether, the EU’s 27 nations have recorded at least 16 million coronavirus infections and more than 336,000 deaths — huge numbers that experts still agree understate the true toll of the pandemic due to missed cases and limited testing.

All those getting shots will have to come back in three weeks for a second dose. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen released a video Saturday celebrating the vaccine rollout, calling it “a touching moment of unity.”

The vaccination campaign should ease frustrations that were building up, especially in Germany, as Britain, Canada and the United

ROCKFORD (US), DEC 27 (AP): A gunman opened fire inside an Illinois bowling alley, killing three people and injuring three others in what authorities believe was a random attack.

A 37-year-old male suspect was in custody after the shooting at Don Carter Lanes Saturday night, Rockford police said in a social media post.

Two of those who were shot were teenagers, police Chief Dan O’Shea said during a news conference.

O’Shea did not immediately release additional information about the victims. He described the scene as contained and said he did not think any officers fired their weapons while apprehending the suspected gunman.

Rockford is about 80 miles (130 kilometres) northwest of Chicago.

Mayor Tom McNamara released a statement saying he was “angered and saddened” about the shooting.

“My thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones,” McNamara said. “I’m also thinking of those who were injured and my hopes are with them for a quick and full recovery.”

The Rockford Register Star reported that 2020 has been the city’s deadliest year for homicides, according to records that date back to 1965. Thirty-five people have been killed in the city this year, breaking the previous record of 31 in 1996.

Sindh govt not to release 4 accused in Daniel Pearl’s murder case

ISLAMABAD, DEC 27 (PTI): Pakistan’s Sindh province government has decided not to release British-born alQaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and his three aides, accused of kidnapping and murdering US journalist Daniel Pearl, in view of a Supreme Court order, according to a media report.

In a surprise move, a two-judge bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday directed security agencies not to keep Sheikh and other accused under “any sort of detention” and declared all notifications of the Sindh government related to their detention “null and void”.

The court observed that the four men’s detention was “illegal”. The court, however, had clarified that the accused should not be released if there is a Supreme Court restraining order regarding their detention.

Citing its sources, the Express Tribune newspaper said that the provincial government will not release these men in view of the Supreme Court’s September 28 order. The Pakistan People’s Party-led Sindh government believes that the apex court’s September 28 order in the case is still in the field, the sources told the daily.

A three-judge apex court bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam, which is hearing the appeal by the Sindh government and the family of the slain journalist against the acquittal of Sheikh by the Sindh High Court in April, on September 28 noted that till the next date of hearing, the accused shall not be released.

Thai hospital banned from offer to sell Covaxin

High-level Chinese delegation arrives in Nepal to ‘take stock’ of political situation

7 soldiers killed as militants attack Pak checkpoint

KATHMANDU, DEC 27 (PTI): A high-level Chinese delegation led by a vice minister of the Chinese Communist Party arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday to “take stock” of Nepal’s political situation after the dissolution of Parliament and subsequent split in the ruling Nepal Communist Party, according to a media report.

Although no specific details about the agenda of the visit are available, the four-member delegation, led by Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guo Yezhou, will hold highlevel talks during its stay in Kathmandu, My Republica newspaper reported, citing senior NCP leaders.

Quoting a diplomatic source, it said the visit is aimed at “taking stock of Nepal’s evolving political situation after the dissolution of the House of Representatives and subsequent split in the ruling Nepal Communist Party amid alK Y M C

COVID-19 vaccine had been approved for use in Thailand yet and that advertising one violated hospital regulations.

“The removal of the advertisement was ordered,” it said.

Chaisit Kupwiwat, a director at Vibhavadi Hospital, told Reuters: “There was a misunderstanding and so we’ve stopped the

ready-deepened intra-party rift”. Nepal plunged into a political crisis last Sunday after embattled Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, known for his pro-Beijing leanings, in a surprise move, recommended dissolving the 275-member House, amidst a tussle for power with former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

Acting on the prime minister’s recommendation, President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House the same day and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10, sparking protests from a large section of the NCP led by Prachanda, also a co-chair of the ruling party.

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are tight-lipped about Guo’s visit, the report said.

Earlier this week, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, had communicated about the visit of Guo to Kathmandu during her meetings with senior NCP leaders of both the Prachan-

da- and Oli-led factions.

Vice Minister Guo is scheduled to hold meetings with the leaders of both the factions.

Beijing appears concerned over the move of Oli to dissolve the House of Representatives and the evolving political situation that saw a vertical split in the NCP. Shortly after the dissolution of the House, the Chinese ambassador expedited her meetings with top political leadership in Nepal. Hou has already held meetings with President Bhandari, senior NCP leaders Prachanda and Madhav Kumar Nepal, former House speakers Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Barsha Man Pun, among others.

This is not the first time that China has intervened in Nepal’s internal affairs at a time of crisis.

In May, Hou held separate meetings with the president, the prime minister and other senior NCP leaders, including Prachanda, when Oli was facing mounting pressure to step down.

KARACHI, DEC 27 (PTI): At least seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack in the country’s restive Balochistan province, the Army said on Sunday.

The militants fire-raided a Frontier Corps (FC) outpost in Harnai region of the province late last night, it said. During the intense exchange of fire, seven soldiers were killed, it said.

The area was cordoned off and escape routes blocked to apprehend the fleeing militants, while a large-scale search and clearance operation was underway. “Such cowardly acts by inimical elements backed by anti-state forces will not be allowed to sabotage hard earned peace and prosperity in Balochistan,” the Army said. Commenting on the attack, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he was “saddened” over the loss of lives.

“My heartfelt condolences & prayers go to their families,” he said. The attack followed the killing of 10 terrorists by the security forces five days ago in the province.

A senior government official said the apex court order has not been specifically recalled.

“The SHC in its December 24 order also clarified that accused should not be released if there is a Supreme Court restraining order regarding their detention,” he added.

The sources said the Sindh government will also challenge the SHC’s December 24 order in the apex court on Monday.

In April, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench commuted the death sentence of 46-year-old Sheikh to seven years imprisonment. The court also acquitted his three aides who were serving life terms in the case – almost two decades after they were found guilty and jailed.

However, the Sindh government refused to release them and kept them in detention under the Maintenance of Public Order.

Their continuous detention was challenged in the Sindh High Court, which ordered their release on Thursday. On Friday, the United States expressed “deep concern” over the order to release Sheikh and

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Apo & Ayo Mr Yisansao Shitiri & Mrs Tsonsumi Shitiri

Happy 50 th Anniversary to our beloved parents, Mrs. & Mr. Phyophio Ngully.

(December 28 th, 1970 – 2020).

Dear Apo & Apvü, We hold close to our hearts the blessings of your 50 years together. Thank you for being our source of strength, hope & love.

As you begin yet another year of your lives together, we pray for God’s faithfulness and blessings of good health with long life.

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programme... We planned to order the vaccines, but now we’ve stopped.”

The hospital had sought reservations by Jan. 31 for vaccinations later in 2021.

Moderna did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment on any such sale.

Thailand has signed an advance deal for AstraZen-

eca’s potential COVID-19 vaccine, but has not set rollout plans for any vaccine yet.

Moderna’s vaccine this month became the second to get emergency use authorisation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine.

Moderna has said it will deliver approximately 20 million doses to the U.S. government this year and is expected to have between 100 million and 125 million delivered globally in the first quarter of 2021.

In August, Moderna said it was pricing its vaccine at $32 to $37 per dose for smaller deals.

Thailand is a major hub for medical tourism, drawing patients from Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

BA N G KO K , D E C 2 7 (AGENCIES): A private Thai hospital was ordered on Sunday to stop advertising COVID-19 vaccinations for sale in advance on the grounds that no vaccine is yet approved in Thailand.

Vibhavadi Hospital told Reuters its online offer for 1,000 initial reservations for the two-dose Moderna vaccine had been the result of a misunderstanding. With reservations priced at 4,000 baht, the total cost of getting vaccinated would have been 10,000 baht ($330).

As the first governments begin vaccine rollouts around the world, questions have been raised over how the limited supplies are prioritised and whether people will be able to pay to jump the queue.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement that no

Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh

his aides and said it will continue to monitor any developments in the case.

“We are deeply concerned by the reports of the December 24 ruling of Sindh High Court to release multiple terrorists responsible for the murder of Daniel Pearl. We have been assured that the accused have not been released at this time,” the US State Department said in a tweet.

It said that the US will continue to monitor any developments in the case and will continue to support the Pearl family “through this extremely difficult process” while honouring the legacy of Pearl as a “courageous journalist”.

The US has been mounting pressure on Pakistan, demanding justice for Pearl. Ruth and Judea Pearl - the parents of Pearl - condemned the decision made by the Sindh High court and expressed full confidence in the Supreme Court of Pakistan to provide justice for their son and reinforce the paramount of the freedom of the press, the Express Tribune reported.

“We refuse to believe that the Pakistani government and the Pakistani people will let such a travesty of justice tarnish the image and legacy of Pakistan,” they said in a statement.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the links between the country’s powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

With gratitude & prayer, Loving Daughters, Sons, in-laws and Grandchildren.

28-12-1970

May your bond of matrimony be stronger with each passing year, the eternal love among you be stronger with growing time Heartiest wishes for your

50th Wedding Anniversary Loving Children & Grand Children

Happy 75 th Birthday Dearest Dad...

You are truly, a special blessing from the Lord and this milestone in your life is the perfect time to say “Thank You” for being the most caring and incredible Dad. May this new chapter of life bring you love, peace, happiness, good health and longevity of life.

Have a joy filled 75th Birthday, Dad. Loving wife, children, in-laws & grandchildren

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101-year-old Gertrud Haase, center, is vaccinated against the Corona virus at the Agaplesion Bethanien Sophienhaus nursing home in Berlin, Germany. (AP/PTI)

States kicked off their inoculation programs with the same vaccine weeks earlier.

As it turned out, some EU immunizations began a day early in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia.

The operator of a German nursing home where dozens of people were vaccinated Saturday, including a 101-year-old woman, said “every day that we wait is one day too many.” Each EU country is deciding on its own who will get the first shots, with most vowing to put the elderly and residents in nursing homes first.

EU leaders are counting on the vaccine rollout to help the bloc project a sense of unity in a complex lifesaving mission after it faced a year of difficulties in negotiating a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain.

“It’s here — the good news at Christmas,” said German Health Minister Jens Spahn. “This vaccine is the decisive key to end this pandemic ... it is the key to getting our lives back.”

Among the politicians who planned to get virus shots on Sunday to promote a wider acceptance of vaccinations were Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova and Bulgarian Health Minister Kostadin Angelov.

Meanwhile, the first cases of a new virus variant that has been spreading rapidly around London and southern England have now been detected in France and Spain. The new variant, which British authorities said is much more easily transmitted, has caused European countries, the United States and China to put new restrictions on travel for people from Britain.

Shooting at Illinois bowling alley leaves 3 dead, 3 injured

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EU nations kick off mass vaccinations

ROME, DEC 27 (AP): European Union nations kicked off a coordinated effort on Sunday to give COVID-19 vaccinations to the most vulnerable among the bloc’s nearly 450 million people, marking a moment of hope in the continent’s battle against the worst public health crisis in a century.

Health care workers, the elderly and leading politicians got some of the first shots across the 27-nation bloc to reassure the public that the vaccinations are safe and represent the best chance to emerge from the pandemic.

“It didn’t hurt at all,” said Mihaela Anghel, a nurse at the Matei Bals Institute in Bucharest who was the first person to get the vaccine in Romania.

“Open your eyes and take the vaccine.”

In Rome, five doctors and nurses wearing white scrubs sat in a semi-circle at the Spallanzani infectious diseases hospital to receive their doses. “The message is one of hope, trust and an invitation to share this choice,” said one of the recipients, Dr Maria Rosaria Capobianchi, who heads the virology laboratory at Spallanzani and was part of the team that isolated the virus in early February.

“There is no reason to be concerned.”

Italian virus czar Domenico Arcuri said it was significant that Italy’s first vaccine doses were administered at Spallanzani, where a Chinese couple visiting from Wuhan tested positive in January and became Italy’s first confirmed cases. Only later would northern Lombardy become the epicentre

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international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020

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8

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020

Rahane scores a ton, helps Kerala beat Hyderabad to secure first win India take control of 2nd Test

BAMBOLIM, DEC 27 ( AG E N C I E S ) : Ke r a l a Blasters FC dished out a complete performance as they edged Hyderabad 2-0 to secure their first win of the Indian Super League (ISL) season at the GMC Stadium, here on Sunday.

Abdul Hakku’s header (29) put Kerala ahead in the first half before Jordan Murray (88) sealed three points for Kibu Vicuna’s side.

Vicuna rang in five changes to the side that drew against SC East Bengal while Hyderabad made two changes with Liston Colaco returning to the starting eleven.

Both sides created chances in the first half but it was Kerala who headed into the break with a lead.

Kerala started on a bright note and had a chance to break the deadlock early on when an error from Asish Rai got Hyderabad in trouble. Sahal pounced on Rai’s poor touch and squared the ball but Odei Onaindia thwarted the danger with a vital tackle.

Hyderabad too created a few half-chances with Aridane Santana failing to take them. Both sides fought neck-and-neck but Kerala grabbed the opener just before the half-hour mark

Albino Giovanni Gomes goalkeeper of Kerala Blasters FC during a match of the Hero Indian Super League against Hyderabad FC, at GMC Stadium Bambolim in Goa, Sunday. (PTI)

through a set-piece. They won a corner and Facundo Pereyra whipped an inchperfect cross for Hakku, who bagged his first ISL goal through a pin-point header.

Hyderabad rallied back after conceding, pushing hard for the equaliser and came close before the end of the first half after some good build-up play. Rai squared the ball for Santana in the box but the latter fluffed his lines and failed to get his

shot on target.

Kerala piled the pressure on Hyderabad after the change of ends, and carved out great opportunities to double their tally before the hour mark. The first chance arrived when Pereyra threaded in a ball for Sahal in the box. He created space and only had the keeper to beat but his mishit found the side netting.

Minutes later, Subrata Pal produced a top-notch

Lucky to have worked under Guardiola: Messi

Lionel Messi

BARCELONA, DEC 27 (IANS): Barcelona captain Lionel Messi said that he was “lucky” to have played under Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.

Messi especially heaped praise on Guardiola, who is currently head coach of Manchester City.

“He makes you see things in one way: how he prepares for matches, defensively, how to attack... he told you exactly how the match was going to be, how you had to attack to win,”

Messi told Spanish television channel La Sexta.

“I was lucky to train under Guardiola and Luis Enrique, the two best. Having them made me grow a lot physically and mentally, and also the tactical wisdom they’ve taught me.”

Messi was a mainstay in Guardiola and Enrique’s Barcelona teams that won the Champions League.

The team that Guardiola led at the Camp Nou, considered one of the greatest of all time in the history of

world football, saw Messi team up with the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta and won as many as 14 major titles in five years.

Under Enrique, Messi was part of a lethal front three with Luis Suarez and Neymar and led Barca to the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League in the 2014/15 season.

Messi has been linked with a move to Manchester City, where he would be reunited with Guardiola, since he expressed a desire to leave Barcelona in the summer.

Messi to miss Eibar game with ankle injury

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will miss Tuesday’s match at home to Eibar due to an ankle injury, the La Liga club said on Sunday. Barca said in a statement here that Messi, who is in the last year of his contract and is free to negotiate a move to rival clubs for free in 2021, is undergoing treatment on his right ankle and will return to training before their visit to Huesca on Jan. 3.

save after diving full-stretch to keep Rahul KP’s deflected shot out for a corner.

Hyderabad threw the kitchen sink in the dying minutes but just like the first half, failed to convert their chances. The best opportunity fell to Halicharan Narzary in the 80th minute, but he miscued his shot. Receiving the ball on the left, the winger cut inside looking to find the far corner but saw his effort sail over the

WWE wrestler Brodie Lee dies age 41

Stamford, DEC 27 (AGENCIES): US wrestler Jon Huber, better known to fans as Brodie Lee or Luke Harper, has died aged 41.

Huber’s wife Amanda said in a post on Instagram: “He passed surrounded by loved ones after a hard fought battle with a non Covid related lung issue.”

Jon Huber performed as Luke Harper for WWE, before leaving in 2019 and joining All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as Brodie Lee. AEW, which launched last year, said it is “heartbroken” at the news.

He stopped competing in October. Jon Huber’s wife Amanda Huber, who also performed under the name Synndy Synn, described her husband as “the greatest father” to their two children.

“I never wanted to write out those words. My heart is broken.

WWE said it “extends its condolence” to the “family, friends and fans” of the former Intercontinental Champion.

bar. However, their hopes of making any comeback were swept away when Murray put the game to bed late on.

Substitute Adil Khan failed to deal with a cross in the box and it fell to Murray, who made no mistake and placed his shot in the bottom corner.

Monday’s Match Bengaluru FC Vs Jamshedpur FC Time: 7:30 PM

MELBOURNE, DEC 27 (IANS): India skipper Ajinkya Rahane played a captain’s knock to score his 12th Test century and help India take control of the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India ended the second day’s play, comfortably placed at 277/5, and 82 runs ahead of the hosts Aussies who were bowled out for 195 in the first innings on Saturday.

Rahane was unbeaten on 104 while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was with him at the crease on 40, the two having added an unbeaten 104 for the sixth wicket. The India stand-in skipper shared half-century partnerships with Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant to rescue India after they were reduced to 64 for three in the first session.

India lost two wickets in each of the first two sessions but did not allow any breakthrough to Australia in the final session.

India were 189 for five at the end of the second session, having lost the wickets of Vihari and Pant while adding 99 in that session. Vihari fell for

India’s Ajinkya Rahane, celebrates after scoring a century in Melbourne, Sunday. (PTI/AP)

21 to leave India at 116 for four. He had added 52 for the fourth wicket with Rahane. Pant, who came in at the fall of Vihari’s wicket, then added 57 runs for the fifth wicket with Rahane before getting caught behind off the bowling of Mitchell Starc, who got his 250th Test wicket.

India had earlier lost

the wickets of opener Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara and went to lunch at 90 for three. Both were dismissed by Pat Cummins.

Brief scores: Australia 195 all out vs India 277/5 (A Rahane 104 batting, S Gill 45, R Jadeja 40 batting, P Cummins 2/71, M Starc 2/61, N Lyon 1/52).

Murray awarded wildcard for Australian Open

L O N D O N, D E C 2 7 (AGENCIES): Britain’s Andy Murray has been awarded a wildcard for February’s delayed Australian Open.

It comes two years after he played what he feared would be his final match as a professional in Melbourne.

The five-time runnerup, suffering from chronic hip pain, lost in five sets to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the 2019 event.

A film paying tribute to his career was shown on the big screen in the Melbourne Arena after the match.

We welcome Andy back to Melbourne with open arms,” tournament director Craig Tiley said.

“His retirement was an emotional moment and seeing him come back, having undergone major surgery and built himself back up to get on to the tour again, will be a highlight of AO 2021.”

At 122 in the world, Murray is ranked just too low to gain direct entry into

Andy Murray

the tournament, which is The 33-year-old Scot due to begin on 8 February has also accepted a wildafter a delay because of card to compete at the ATP coronavirus. event in Delray Beach,

Florida, in the first week of January.

Murray was able to play only seven official matches this year because of a lingering pelvic injury, and the five-month suspension of the tours.

But he looked sharp in this month’s Battle of the Brits event, as he beat both British number one Dan Evans and number three Cameron Norrie in straight sets.

Murray has said he remains confident of winning big matches if he can stay fit and healthy, and has been making the most of an extended pre-season.

“I got on this body fat percentage scale thing, and the read-out that I got from that I wasn’t happy with it,” he told reporters in November.

“I’ve worked hard to get to this point, but I can do better. I could make sure I’m eating better, I can make sure I’m stronger in the gym.

“It’s the length of time a boxer would have to train for a big fight, and you can get yourself in great shape in that time.”

West Ham come back twice to earn draw against Brighton Houston Rockets suffer overtime Early Bamford penalty gives Leeds win over Burnley

West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek scores their second goal during the Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion, in London on December 27. (Reuters)

L O N D O N / L E E D S, DEC 27 (AGENCIES): Ben Johnson and Tomas Soucek scored secondhalf goals as West Ham United twice came back from a goal down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday.

Brighton created the early chances at London Stadium and deservedly took the lead just before halftime when striker Neal Maupay pounced on a

loose ball in the box to score his first goal since October. After West Ham failed to record a single attempt on target in the first half, manager David Moyes introduced attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini and forward Andriy Yarmolenko at the interval.

The attacking duo were instrumental in the build-up to West Ham’s equaliser on the hour mark, with wing back Johnson finding the net from close

range for his first goal for the club. Brighton were back in front when centre back Lewis Dunk smashed the ball home from a quickly-taken corner, but the hosts made it 2-2 through a Soucek header with eight minutes to go.

Brighton had to settle for a fifth draw in their past eight games and are just two points above the relegation zone in 16th.

West Ham, meanwhile, remain 10th but move on to 22 points.

A fifth-minute penalty from Patrick Bamford was enough to give Leeds United a 1-0 win over Burnley at Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday, but Sean Dyche’s side were left furious after an Ashley Barnes effort was ruled out. Bamford, who spent a spell on loan at Burnley earlier in his career, drilled home the early spot kick after referee Robert Jones ruled that Burnley keeper Nick Pope had brought down the Leeds forward. It was the Leeds man’s 10th league goal of the season.

Burnley were flabbergasted, however, when Barnes hooked the ball into the net after Leeds keeper Illan Meslier had failed to reach a high ball into the box, only for the goal to be ruled out.

Jones ruled that Burnley defender Ben Mee had fouled Meslier before the ball fell to Barnes, although replays suggested it had been the keeper who fouled Mee when he charged out to try to reach a high cross and rammed his knee into Mee’s back.

The Clarets dominated after the break but Meslier, who struggled with crosses throughout the game, did well to keep out near post drives from Barnes.

But while Leeds looked well below their best, lacking their usual high-energy approach, Burnley weren’t able to turn their possession or Meslier’s difficulties in the air into enough clear cut chances.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche entered the field after the final whistle to show his feelings to the referee and not surprisingly felt his team had suffered an injustice. Dyche was unhappy with both the penalty decision and the disallowed goal.

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa declined to comment on the incident but conceded his team had struggled. Leeds move up to 11th place on 20 points, while Burnley are 16th on 13 points.

loss to Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum, left, celebrates with teammates after hitting a shot to give the Blazers the lead against the Houston Rockets in Portland. (AP)

L O N D O N, D E C 2 7 (AGENCIES): An understrength Houston Rockets started their NBA campaign with a narrow 128126 overtime defeat by the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Rockets had only nine players available - one above the NBA minimum after two positive Covid-19 tests and four others were

deemed close contacts.

Their scheduled season-opener on Wednesday against Oklahoma City had been postponed.

CJ McCollum’s threepointer with 6.9 seconds left sealed the victory.

It came after a threepointer from James Harden with 15.3 seconds left had put the Rockets 126-125

up. Harden, who finished with 44 points and 17 assists, matching his career high, returned after being fined $50,000 (£36,820) by the NBA for a breach violation of its coronavirus protocols. Christian Wood added 31 points and 13 rebounds on his Rockets debut, while rookie Jae’Sean Tate managed 13 points.

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