February 16, 2021

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 71

DIMAPUR, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Eng face defeat as Ashwin shines with bat & ball sports, Page 8

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Myanmar security forces intensify crackdown international, Page 7

NPF criticizes Gov’s address on Naga pol issue Says, Governor’s speech on Naga issue misleading

Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 15 (NPN): Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Monday witnessed a heated debate over governor RN Ravi’s speech to the House on February 12. Irked by Ravi’s mention in his speech that negotiation between Government of India and Naga groups had concluded, opposition member Imkong Imchen launched a scathing attack on the government, alleging that the governor’s address was misleading and contradicting.

Initiating the debate on the second day of seventh session of 13th NLA, NPF legislator Imchen recalled that even in 2019, the governor and chief minister’s budget speeches had mentioned that the negotiation had concluded and repeatedly mentioned in the House, which he said was mislead-

Tokheho clarifies statement made in Parliament

DIMAPUR, FEB 15 (NPN): A day after the NSCN (I-M) reacted to his statement made in the Parliament, the lone Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland, Tokheho Yepthomi, Monday said that he had “no ill-motive or intention” to go against the Naga political negotiations, which had been going on for the last twenty-three and half years.

In a statement, Lok Sabha MP clarified that on February 12, 2021, the Speaker of Lok Sabha gave two minutes to a few members of parliament to raise “Matters of Urgent Public Importance”.

Adhering to the twominute time given, MP said he could not have gone on to divulge the historical and political dynamics of the Naga political issue which has been going on for more than seven decades now. “I appreciate and support the Framework Agreement and Agreed Position between Government of India and Naga Groups, therefore as and when the Agreement is signed it will go down the annals of history as testimony of the grit and determination of Nagas,” Tokheho said.

According to MP, he did not contradict his statement about the ongoing negotiations, rather the only

ing and questioned how the negotiation had concluded.

Wondering whether the statement was a fact, he asked the government to clarify the matter in the Assembly and tell people of the State whether it had indeed concluded else, he said leader of the House must admit it was a mistake.

Imchen pointed out that the sentence “there was a need for efforts to build on substantial gains made so far” was contradictory as Union minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy stated in Parliament on February 12 that “negotiations with Naga groups are at an advanced state, however no time frame can be indicated at this stage” and asked whether the response of the Central minister should be considered or the governor’s who said it was concluded.

Responding to the query raised by Imchen, Rio clarified that Governor RN Ravi, who is also the Interlocutor to the Naga peace talks, was the one who had announced that talks had concluded and not the State government.

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As the house was expected to witness a daylong debate on the Naga issue, among others, on Tuesday, Rio informed that members would be given sufficient time to discuss on the Naga issue on February 16.

Participating in the motion of thanks to the governor’s address, Health minister Pangnyu Phom said doctors, nurses, church organisations and civil societies should be appreciated for their efforts in combating COVID-19 pandemic.

He remarked that although the State’s health infrastructure was in a poor shape, the mortality rate due

to COVID was relatively very low. He claimed that all district hospitals, community health centres (CHCs), public health centres and sub-centres were improved at the initiative of the State government during the pandemic. On Naga political issue, Pangnyu said the Assembly had already adopted several resolutions and even at the October 15, 2020 consultative meeting, which a few political parties could not attend, a seven-point resolution was adopted and submitted to Government of India (GoI).

He claimed that the law and order situation in the

even without any test being performed on them. Taking a jibe at the Nagaland’s failure to have even one medical college till now, Yollow said other States could start asking questions like which State in India does not have a medical college in their civil services exams.

Taking par t in the motion of thanks to the governor’s address, Rural Development minister Metsubo Jamir said Nagas have shown solidarity in the fight against the pandemic.

He said active participation and contribution by members from every community had helped in overcoming the pandemic and contributed in keeping the general population safe from the virus.

Opposition member Vikheho Swu pointed out that completion and inauguration of projects were not accomplishments to be celebrated and reminded the government that most of these were initiated by the NPF-DAN government and there was no real pride in wearing someone else’s feather.

(Cont’d on p-5)

RCC T-Beam Bridge over Dhansiri river, near Urban Haat, Dimapur on Monday. (NP)

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR FEB 15 (NPN): The much-awaited RCC TBeam Bridge over Dhansiri river, near Urban Haat, Dimapur is likely to open for traffic by the end of February.

Reliable sources told Nagaland Post that the bridge, which connects Super Market and Purana Bazar, was almost ready for use, but owing to some issues the opening of the bridge has been delayed.

Sources said that land

owners stopped the construction of retaining walls for the approach road at Purana Bazar side, which stalled the progress of work.

It was learnt that after officials from Urban Development department wrote a letter to the Revenue officer to look into the issue, the official along with survey team had inspected the site two weeks back.

Sources said that if the Revenue officer initiate appropriate actions, the bridge was most likely to be open for use.

Fuel prices rise for 7th day NLA: SARFAESI Act referred to House Select Committee DIMAPUR, FEB 15 (NPN): State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) increased prices of petrol and diesel by around 30 paise for the seventh consecutive day on Monday.

With this increase, petrol is now priced at Rs 88.99 a litre and diesel Rs 79.35 a litre in the national capital.

After Monday’s rate revision, petrol price in Dimapur rose to Rs. 91.40 per litre and diesel price climbed to Rs.82.28 per litre. Likewise, in the state capital, petrol price increased to Rs.92.33 per litre and diesel soared to Rs.83.01 per litre.

In the last seven days, the price has gone up by Rs 2.06 per litre for petrol while diesel rate has risen by Rs 2.56 a litre.

Across the country as well the petrol price increase ranged from 23-26 paise per litre and diesel price 28-30 paise per litre depending on the level of local taxes on the two petroleum products.

According to IANS report, the increase on Monday has followed the firming global

oil prices (both product and crude) that have maintained a record streak of gains in the past few days with crude reaching close to $ 63.5 a barrel mark (single day gain over 2 per cent).

But experts said that fresh lockdown in various parts of the globe on new coronavirus strain may impact demand and push down prices soon. Also, Saudi Arabia unilateral production cuts may also be withdrawn post March putting downward pressure on oil prices.

Crude prices have remained firm for the last few weeks in the wake of unilateral production cuts announced by Saudi Arabia and a pick up in consumption in all major economies globally. The current price rise is largely on account of steep increase in central taxes of petrol and diesel and firm crude prices. The Budget has also imposed a new agriculture infrastructure and development cess. Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ruled out any cut in duty on petro products.

Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 15 (NPN): Due to the complexities involved in implementing SARFAESI Act, 2002, Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Monday referred the matter to House Select Committee to study the Act in consultation with legal experts.

After prolonged discussion, leader of the house and chief minister, Neiphiu Rio agreed to leader of the opposition, T.R. Zeliang’s proposal to refer the matter to House Select Committee for seeking legal opinion and more discussion. Rio asserted that there was no differences between the opposition and ruling benches

over the SARFAESI Act. The house unanimously agreed to the proposal.

Explaining the advantages and implications involved in implementing SARFAESI Act, leader of opposition, T.R. Zeliang said the Act gave the power to “seize and desist” to banks, which can give a notice in writing to the defaulting borrower requiring him or her to discharge the liabilities within 60 days.

But if the borrower fails to comply with the notice, the bank can take possession of the security for the loan, sell or lease or assign the right over the security, manage the same or appoint any person to manage it, he added. Zeliang recalled that

when this Act was passed in 2002 by Parliament, NLA had remained silent – neither opposed nor supported it. He said the problem arose when law & justice deputy secretary wrote to finance secretary pointing out that the Act could not be made applicable in Nagaland, adding that the letter was copied to state level bankers’ committee. This was the root cause for not being able to implement the Act, he added..

After July 19, 2019, he said no bank or financial institution was willing to extend loan, which affected entire people of the State.

He maintained that there were two dimensions – whether to accept Act and

DIMAPUR, FEB 15 (NPN): No new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the State on Monday, State Health department said, adding that the total caseload stood at 12189. With the recovery of 15 patients on Monday, the active cases came down to 58.

You may be 2-3 trillion dollar company but people value privacy more than money, SC tells WhatsApp by the Parliament then it will follow it.

The bench said that “there is apprehension that WhatsApp will share the information and data about their circuit of message with others”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said that it is the concern of the nation and they cannot be allowed to share users’ information with anyone. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for WhatsApp, said there is no discrimination in the new privacy policy. The apex court issued notice to the central government and the

implement it in toto or reject and go with the State’s own Act in this regard.

Being a Central law, Zeliang observed that NLA had no authority to it and warned against making any amendment as this could land the State in trouble.

Earlier, planning & coordination, land revenue and parliamentary affairs minister Neiba Kronu initiated the discussion on the matter of urgent public importance pertaining to SARFAESI Act under Rule-50.

He stressed that the Act must be thoroughly discussed as it empowered banks to confiscate land and sell it to recover unpaid loans without court interference.

Minister Jacob Zhimomi said there was a need for few changes in the SARFAESI Act as certain provisions could not be agreed in the present form due to the land holding system in Nagaland under Article 371 (A).

Zhimomi said the State government had to protect land and its people, but also help young and aspiring entrepreneurs to avail loan for business start-ups. Therefore, he called for necessary amendments whereby land could be sold, but only to indigenous inhabitants of the State. He suggested fixing a reserved price for banks in such a manner that the banks could also recover their loans with interest.

(Cont’d on p-6)

No new COVID cases reported in State Over 13k inoculated till date: H&FW PTI adds: India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 1,09,16,589 with 11,649 new infections, while fresh fatalities were recorded below 100 for the ninth time this month, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death toll increased to 1,55,732 with 90 daily new fatalities.

SC issues notice to Centre, WhatsApp over new privacy policy

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI): “You may be twothree trillion dollar company but people value their privacy more than the money,” the Supreme Court told WhatsApp on Monday as it (Cont’d on p-6) sought the US-based instant messaging firm’s reply on a fresh plea challenging its new policy to share users’ data with parent company Facebook and others.

It is the duty of the judiciary to protect citizens’ privacy, the top court said, asking WhatsApp as also the Centre to file replies on affidavit within four weeks on the plea which alleged that lower standards of privacy are being applied by the firm for Indians in comparison to its European users of the app.

WhatsApp told the top “Funny, the stock markets court however that Europe are at an all time high but has a special law (General our incomes are at all Data Protection Regulation) time low.” and if such a law is passed

This is it!

Neiphiu Rio addressing the assembly session on Monday. (DIPR)

State had greatly improved and the State was largely peaceful after the PDA government took over.

Participating in the debate, opposition MLA YM Yollow said pandemic was a blessing in disguise for the people as the much-needed BLS labs were set up.

Taking a dig at the government for claiming all credit for successfully combating the pandemic, as evident in the governor’s address, Yollow said the credit should be shared with the people. He claimed that the pandemic was largely contained due the concerted efforts of NGOs from all the 1,285 recognised villages in the State.

Pointing out that there were only around 25,000 returnees to Nagaland, he said they could have been easily accommodated in Kohima and Dimapur, but the government decided to send them even to far flung districts. He alleged that while all funds were being used up for developmental activities in Kohima and Dimapur, the returnees were sent to their home districts

Bridge over Dhansiri likely to open soon

Facebook-owned app on an interim application filed by Karmanya Singh Sareen in a pending petition of 2017, which has been referred to the Constitution bench.

At the outset, senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Sareen and others, argued that the plea has also challenged the new privacy policy of WhatsApp which will come in effect from May 15, 2021.

Divan alleged that the app is applying lower standards of privacy for Indians in comparison to European users and they be barred from sharing data with Fa-

cebook and others. He said that till the Centre comes up with new data policy, WhatsApp be restrained from implementing its new policy and direction be issued to the government to ensure that the app comply with all the orders of the court.

Senior advocate Arvind Dattar, also appearing for the US firm, and Sibal said that they can swear on affidavit that WhatsApp does not store or share any personal data of users and all these allegations are “misinformation”. Dattar said the messaging app is complying with the Centre’s guidelines and this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution is not maintainable.

The bench said, “Put on oath all this. We are giving you four weeks to file the affidavit”. As per the new privacy policy which was earlier scheduled to come in effect from February 8 but

later deadline was extended to May 15, WhatsApp will share user information internally within the Facebook Companies and externally with partners and service providers.

The top court had in 2017 referred the WhatsApp’s privacy policy issue which came into effect after its merger of with the Facebook to a Constitution bench saying it concerns the larger issue of privacy and right to personal liberty.

The appeal filed in the apex court by Sareen and Shreya Sethi had assailed the Delhi High Court verdict on the ground that no relief was granted on sharing of users data post-September, 2016 by the WhatsApp, and it amounted to an infringement of fundamental rights under Article 19 (Freedom of Speech and Expression) and 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution.

District Kohima Dimapur Mokokchung Mon Zunheboto Wokha Phek Tuensang Peren Kiphire Longleng State

Frontline workers (1st dose) 1733 1175 948 781 455 340 311 132 257 250 106 6488

Total beneficiaries vaccinated with 1st Dose 13,384

Healthcare workers (1st dose) 1261 1372 937 648 491 524 511 458 360 140 194 6896

Healthcare workers (2nd dose) 118 161

Total beneficiaries vaccinated with 2nd dose 341

DIMAPUR, FEB 15 (NPN): 1628 frontline workers and 172 healthcare workers were vaccinated across the state by the Covishield Vaccine on Monday. According to state immunization officer (UIP) Dr. Ritu Thurr, 218 health care workers received the second dose and no adverse events have been reported which needed medical intervention.

Till date, a total of 13,725 doses have been administered successfully administered across 284 sessions, Dr.Thurr said.

Over 85 lakh vaccinated in India: The number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against the coronavirus in the country has surpassed 85 lakh, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. A total of 85,16,771 beneficiaries have

17 45

341

Total doses administered 3112 2708 1885 1429 946 881 822 635 617 390 300 13725

Total doses adminstered 13725

been vaccinated through 1,83,664 sessions, according to a provisional report till Monday 6 pm.

Those vaccinated include 61,54,894 healthcare workers (HCWs), out of whom 60,57,162 have been administered the first dose and 98,118 given the second dose. Besides, 23,61,491 frontline workers (FLWs) have been inoculated so far.

The 2nd dose of COVID19 vaccination started from Saturday for those beneficiaries who have completed 28 days after receipt of the 1st dose. The vaccination of the FLWs had started from February 2.

Total 35 persons have been hospitalised after being administered a vaccine so far, which account for 0.0004 per cent of the total vaccinations.

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nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Are continuing rise of fuel price affecting the price of various commodities ?

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

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

‘Special Handloom Expo’ COVID-19 vaccinations held across the state commences in Dimapur

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A

B

C

A Yes. B No. C Can’t Say.

98% 1% 1%

Next poll

Q: Is the state govt delaying

DC Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan inaugurating the special handloom expo 40th AR Wokha personnel during the COVID-19 vaccination drive. at Urban Haat, Dimapur (NP)

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

Staff Reporter

WEATHER FORECAST February 16

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Sunshine

31 13

Aizawl

Sunny and pleasant

26 8

Guwahati Sunshine and pleasant Imphal

29 12

Sunny and pleasant

27 4

Itanagar A p.m shower in places

24 13

Shillong

Mostly sunny

20 6

Kohima

Pleasant with sunshine

21 7

Dimapur Sunshine and nice Mkg

28 12

Mostly sunny and comfortable 23 9

Tuensang Cooler; a shower in the p.m

15 6

Mostly sunny

21 12

Wokha

Zunheboto Sunny

20 7

DIMAPUR FEB 15 (NPN): Special Handloom Expo, Sekrenyi, was inaugurated on February 15

by Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan, here at Urban Haat, Dimapur.

Addressing media persons at the inaugural programme, GM, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, P Tokugha Achumi stated that the expo was held with an aim to help weavers showcase their products, earn revenue and to provide source of employment opportunity

for them. With regards to differences of prices of products in the stalls from those being sold in the market, Achumi maintained that prices would vary from those in the market as most products sold in the expo were all hand woven.

He informed media persons that all stall owners would receive some amount of incentives from the department.

Achumi further stated that only two stalls from Assam were able to turn up for the expo and in this, another official from the department added that weavers from Manipur

were not able to attend the expo due to the bad road conditions.

It may be noted that 30 stalls would be set up in the expo with each stall selling different handloom products such as Naga shawls, waist coats, neck ties, hand woven bed sheets, traditional accessories, etc. The expo will continue for 14 days and would culminate on February 28.

It was being organised by directorate of Industries and Commerce and funded by office of Development Commissioner for Handloom, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

news in Brief NSUP (Prayagraj) informs students: Naga Students’ Union (NSUP) Prayagraj has requested Naga students who have applied new admissions in Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh (211007) for further studies to contact NSUP officials at 883-7048407 (president, Sitenlo Tep), 8794784370 (vice president, Shedevikho Kuotsu or 6009117319 (general secretary, Sentiliba Jamir.

DC Wokha notifies public: DC Wokha has notified general public of certain NGOs/colonies within Wokha town had come under the scrutiny of authorities for illegal use of the public address system without prior permission and cautioned that stringent actions would be initiated as per relevant provisions of law against defaulters. Announcements made through public address system should be done only after Power outage in Longleng: Power department, seeking prior permission from the office of the DC Longleng has informed that up gradation of power Wokha. transformer to 2.5 MVA is underway at Longleng CM to inaugurate SDC: Inaugural function of State sub-station and a complete outage of power supply Data Centre (SDC) constructed under National at Longleng district during day and partially at night Hydrology Project (NHP) will be held on February would be initiated till completion. Citizens of Long- 17, 2021, 2:30 p.m. at chief engineer’s office, Water leng district have been requested to cooperate and bear Resource Department (WRD), Kohima with chief with the inconvenience. minister, Neiphiu Rio as the special guest.

Starred questions raised on 2nd day of the ongoing NLA session on COVID-19 vaccination drive, Health & Family Welfare minister, Pangnyu Phom informed that around 31% of the registered health workers in the State were inoculated.

Phom also informed that various sensitisation workshops were conducted.

On the question of display of national flag on official vehicles raised by opposition member, Imkong Imchen, deputy chief minister informed that as per the Flag Code of India, 2002, it was up to a minister whether to use the national flag in the official vehicle.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT NAGALAND STATE RURAL LIVELIHOODS MISSION NAGALAND : KOHIMA

NO.NSRLM/SMMU/ADVT-2/2019

Dated Kohima, the 15th February 2021

CORRIGENDUM In reference to Advertisement NO.NSRLM/SMMU/ADVT2/2019, Dated Kohima, the 12th February 2021, which was published in the local dailies on 13th /14th February 2021, for the posts under Phek District, any other dialect speaking indigenous inhabitant tribe of Phek District are eligible to apply.

DC-149

(IMTIMENLA) Jt. Secretary, RD & Mission Director, NRLM Nagaland: Kohima

IN THE COURT OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DIMAPUR DISTRICT DIMAPUR : NAGALAND NOTICE

NO.M-69/2021/12134-35 Dt. Dimapur the 15/2/2021 Notice is hereby given that Smti. S. Hriisha Chakre Vrs Shri Alemwabang resident of Kuda 'C' Khel Village in the District of Dimapur, Nagaland of land Rule 50 & 51 of Assam Land Revenue Regulation 1886 have applied for Mutation of land described in the schedule below:The undersigned under Rule 52 of the said Rules do hereby invites Claims/Objections concerning to the said land if any & should there be any, should submit to this court on or before 1(one) month from the date of publication in local newspaper.

SCHEDULE OF LAND AND BOUNDARY Name of Patta Holder : Smti S. Hriisha Chakre Village : Nagarjan North : Dolly Patta No. 994 South : Dolly Dag No. : 38/800 East : Kiza Angami Area : 00B-02K-1½Ls West : Road DP-911

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SD/- RAJESH SOUNDARARAJAN, IAS Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur

Lt. IMLONGCHABA CHANG, GB February 1919 – 7th December 2020 We, the bereaved family of Late IMLONGCHABA CHANG convey our heartfelt appreciation to one and all for your unceasing prayer support and benevolent act of kindness extended to us throughout the time of his illness till his demise.

May our good Lord bless all individuals and well wishers who loved, helped and came to bid adieu.

“May God bless you all.”

Loving children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and relatives.

IN THE COURT OF Smti. Y. Longkumer (NJS) PRINCIPAL JUDGE FAMILY COURT, DIMAPUR :: NAGALAND SUMMON FOR SETTLEMENT OF ISSUE (ORDER-V, RULE- 1, 5, 20) CASE NO. : Divorce Case No. 33/2020 PETITIONER : Smti Puja Roy RESPONDENT : Shri Ajay Das To, Shri. Ajay Das S/o. Rakhal Chandra Das R/o House No. 148 (B) Sematila Colony Dimapur, Nagaland Whereas the above named petitioner has instituted a case against you for Divorce U/S. 13(1) (i-a) and (i-b) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

You are hereby summoned to appear before the Court in person or by pleader duly instructed and able to answer all material questions relating to the case on 02/03/2021 at 10:30 AM without fail.

Take notice that in default of your appearance on the date mentioned the case will be heard and determined in your absence.

Given under my hand and the seal of this Court, this 20 Day of January 2021.

PRINCIPAL JUDGE DP-906 Regd. No. 4028

AFFIDAVIT

One of the beneficiaries receiving the COVID vaccine in Tuensang. (DIPR)

DIMAPUR: COVID-19 vaccinations were held in various districts across the state.

Medziphema: Second dose of vaccination began at Community Health Center (CHC), Medziphema on February 15, where SMO Dr. Nosezol Sezo and 27 beneficiaries received the first vaccine shots on January 18 were administered for the second dose. According to DIPR report, the second dose was given to the beneficiary after a gap of 28 days. A total number of 15 frontline workers also received their first Covid vaccination dose on February 15.

Wokha: Vaccination of COVID-19 for armed forces of 40th Assam Rifles, Wokha battalion and Chukitong out-post was held on

Baba, You were like a warrior who fought all our childhood battles. You brought so much joy in our lives. Your legacy remains a blessing to the people you left. We know you are in a better place and we promise to live up to all your expectations as you continue to rest in eternal peace.

The family of Late Bobby Angami wishes to acknowledge the many expressions of sympathy and gestures of kindness shown to us at the time of his demise and our grief. We are truly humbled by the love and support shown to us by our family members, relatives, friends, neighbors, churches and well-wishers; and we wish to say thank you to all. We pray that God bless each one of you abundantly.

Loving, wife, children & relatives DP-895

Dr. K. Akaho Sema interacting with the participants

D I M A P U R : Awa r e ness and sensitisation on COVID-19 vaccination was held in Sumi Baptist Church Nito Mount, and 8th NAP, Naltoqa, Zunheboto district on February 15.

A press release by district media officer stated that during the programme, CMO Zunheboto, Dr. K. Akaho Sema motivated all to come forward and get vaccinated and not miss the opportunity.

He gave detailed explanation on the Covishield vaccine and how the doses were administered. He also appealed to all the participants to get vaccinated in

order to stay safe and to protect oneself, family and neighbours.

Further, the CMO encouraged participants to get vaccinated and not to believe in the misconceptions about the vaccine on social media.

He also gave a detailed report on the number of healthcare workers in Nagaland who were vaccinated for the first dose so far as well as the number of healthcare workers vaccinated in Zunheboto.

Earlier, the workshop was followed by interaction and discussion with the resource person and participants.

5th DEATH ANNIVERSARY of Late Nzothung Humtsoe 16th February 2021

Your death left us with a heartache no one can heal, You are quietly remembered as you walk beside us everyday, unseen, unheard but always near.

You’re no longer in our life to share, but in our hearts; You’re still loved, still missed and very dear.

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Loving wife and children

1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY

2nd DEATH ANNIVERSARY of Late K. NILOTO YEPTHOMI

Date 09/02/2021

I, Smti. M. WONOK KONYAK, resident of Kongan Village do hereby most solemnly affirm and state as under:1. That, in my Aadhar Card my name has been entered mistakenly as M. WANOK instead of M. WONOK KONYAK. 2. That, in my Aadhar Card my DOB has been mentioned as 25/12/1946 instead of 10/06/1947.

3. That, the name Smti. M. WONOK KONYAK and M. WANOK is one and same person who is none other than myself.

4. That, I swear this AFFIDAVIT to place before my authority as declaration.

That the facts above are all true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.

DP-900

February 15 at 40th Assam Rifles, Wokha headquarters and Chukitong, PHC. 92 army personnel (Wokha & Chukitong) and four frontline workers were administered. District Immunization Officer, Wokha, Dr. Khelito Zhimomi also informed that the second dose of COVID vaccine for the health care workers started on February 15 at Dr. Motsuo Memorial District Hospital, Wokha.

Dimapur: Receiving the vaccine shot, District nodal officer (SW) for Covid vaccination and CDPO (U) Dimapur, Robert Odyuo called upon all the anganwadi workers and helpers under Dimapur district to avail the vaccine provided by the government free of cost and not to believe in rumors and hearsay circulated on social media.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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DIMAPUR: Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio informed that the NPSC roster table is maintained subject-wise and post-wise with reference to the Advertisement no.

NPSC-3/2019 dated 13th November, 2019 and Addendum/Corrigendum dated 27th January, 2021.

Replying to a starred questions raised by opposition MLA, Yitachu, Rio also informed that no Backward Tribe has been left out under the mentioned advertisement.

Responding to NPF legislator, Dr. Chumben Murry’s starred question

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Awareness on COVID vaccine in Zbto

DP-875

the appointment of the next Lok Ayukta?

Deponent Magistrate

LATE VIHELI SEMA

Died on 16th February 2020

Date :16-02-2019

You’ll always be in our hearts, Because in there you’re still alive.

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Loving parents and siblings

On the Anniversary of the day you went away.

Although we smile and seem carefree, yet the pain of your absence has not been erased.

You fought so hard to live yet God wanted you with Him. We are glad, when we are reminded of your eternal peace; although it has cost us your presence herewith us.

Thank you for your love. You are irreplaceable.

DP-893

Fondly remembered by Husband, Children, In-laws, Grandchildren & Loved ones

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

Assam springboard of Act East Policy: Jaishankar

S Jaishankar being presented with a traditional ‘japi’ during an event on Act East policy, in Guwahati. (PTI)

Guwahati, Feb 15 (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said, Assam is the springboard of India’s Act East Policy and for making it successful and attracting investments, there is need for all-round development of the state.

The minister, accompanied by Japanese Ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki, was here to review JICA-assisted projects in the northeastern state.

Addressing a press conference, Jaishankar said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deeply committed to the development of Assam, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)- aided projects in the state are examples of how international policies and partnerships can contribute to the development of states.

“The Modi government’s deep commitment for the progress and welfare of Assam can be seen in the various projects that

are being implemented and changes that happened in the last six years,” he said.

Noting that his visit to the state was “very much a part of this trend”, he expressed hope that many of the projects would fructify.

“One way, Assam can bring in more investments will be to build better infrastructure to which the Union government is committed, and specifically how to appeal to businesses of a particular country,” he said. After visiting the Guwahati drinking water supply project with the envoy, Jaishankar said that this was an important project being implemented in the state with Japanese assistance.

“We want to cite this as an example of how foreign policies can make a difference in the lives of ordinary people of a country,” the minister said.

JICA’s footprint in the state would be roughly

between Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000 crore, including bridges, roads, water supply, sewerage, health and agriculture projects, he said.

Referring to Japanese investments in the state, the minister said that human resources must respond to Japanese companies in an environment where they are comfortable, and “we need more sessions with these companies to highlight the plus points of the state”.

Jaishankar requested the envoy to respond to a question at the press conference regarding investments by his country in the northeastern state, to which he replied that his government can give assistance to create necessary infrastructure but for that “Japanese companies will have to choose Assam for their investment”.

“There should be healthy competition among different states and Japanese businessmen must know the state better.

There are already many young entrepreneurs of our country who know the potential of this state”, he added.

Referring to the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, he said that the Sittwe port is operational but there are logistical challenges with the navigability part proving to be more difficult than what the surveys had indicated.

Attack on media house: Mnp scribes set 48-hr deadline

Correspondent

IMPHAL, Feb 15: Journalists protesting the grenade attack at the office of local media on Monday served 48-hour deadline to the state home department to book the miscreant(s) behind the attack even as no newspaper hit the stands for the second consecutive day in the state.

The protesting journalists also demanded a clarification from the attacker(s) with reason(s) behind the threat to the media house within 48 hours which commenced on Monday midnight.

Meanwhile, journalists abstained from discharging their duties from Saturday night following the attack at the office of the Poknapham, a local daily which also housed its sister publication, People’s Chronicle, in Imphal’s Keishampat on February 13 evening.

Correspondent IMPHAL, Feb 15: After almost 11 months, Ima markets (all women run markets) in the heart of Manipur’s capital city reopened on Monday for resumption of normal business activities.

The three multi-storey market-sheds remained closed following an order of the state government on March 21 last year. The closure of the markets was related to precautionary

IDANSB organises free dental camp

DIMAPUR: Indian Dental association, Nagaland state branch (IDANSB) organised free dental camp in all the districts of Nagaland as part of community dental health programme on February12 and 13.

A press release by president IDANSB, Dr Kaketo Yepthomi stated that the free dentures were delivered to 441 patients along with free medicines, tooth

brushes, toothpastes.

Kohima district headed by honorary secretary, Dr Vichovol held the camps in Viswema CHC and Tseminyu wherein a total number of 542 patients were screened. 106 dentures were delivered, 82 extractions and 54 restorations were done.

Dimapur district was headed by president of IDA, Dr. Kaketo Yepthomi

DC Dmu convenes meeting on army recruitment rally DIMAPUR: Deputy commissioner (DC), Dimapur Rajesh Soundararajan convened a meeting on February 15, comprising of administrative officers, Army, police, medical, education and other concerned departments and discussed issues pertaining to army recruitment rally to be held at Bhagat Stadium Rangapahar Dimapur from March 10 to 20.

According to DIPR, in the meeting, DC directed the departments on handing list of names to be deployed for duty on or before February 25.

He specifically directed the medical team and police team to reach the recruiting K Y M C

site for duty from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the entire period and directed the education team to depute their staff for verification of documents of the candidates during the recruitment rally.

Director, recruiting ARO Rangapahar, Colonel Rajesh informed that online registration which was underway would continue till February 22 and requested all to circulate the message in order to provide opportunity to the youth.

He further requested the staff of various departments detailed for duty to be present in the recruitment site during the rally for smooth and successful conduct.

and CDH convenor, Dr. Naomi Zhimomi where the camps were held in nine different locations such as Chümoukedima, 5th mile, Diphupar, Thilixu, Aoyimti, Railway colony, Nisato colony, Rilan and Kevijau. 632 patients were screened, 203 dentures were delivered, 10 extractions and 30 restorations were done.

In Wokha district, the

After a sit-in-protest staged in Imphal on Sunday, the scribes under the aegis of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) deliberated on the latest threat to the media in a joint emergency general body meeting convened in Imphal’s Manipur Press Club.

Meanwhile, no newspaper hit the stands for the second consecutive day as journalists were on cease work strike despite the assurance given by the chief minister.

In response to a memorandum submitted by the leaders of AMWJU and EGM, chief minister N Biren Singh on Sunday assured security coverage to all media houses in the wake of the attack.

Singh further gave his assurance that the attacker(s) will be booked soon.

M’laya budget session from Mar 5

Correspondent

Shillong, Feb 15: The budget session of Meghalaya Assembly will commence from March 5. The session is likely to be a stormy one as the opposition Congress party is expected to raise the illegal mining and transportation of coal, besides price rise and corruption.

During the session, four days have been earmarked for Private members’ busi-

ness and seven days for Government business.

The NPP-led government would be presented the budget after the lockdown and is likely to announce some sops to rejuvenate the economy.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who also the hold Finance portfolio, will present the budget of estimates on March 10.

Sangma always put up a strong fight in the Assem-

bly whenever the opposition Congress tried to corner it, defending that the issues raised by the opposition were worst when it was in power.

However, with the number of evidence piling up against the government for failing to stop the illegal coal mining in the State, it’s unlikely to be easy going for the Chief Minister to continue defending the government.

47th Karbi Youth Festival begins

Correspondent

Diphu, Feb 15: The 47th Karbi Youth Festival got underway on Monday with the inauguration of a traditional entrance gate to Taralangso connecting Mirjeng Musoso Adonri Road, the main entry point of Karbi People’s Hall, by Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council’s Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang.

The inaugural programme was also attended by Member of Parliament, Horensing Bey; president of Karbi Cultural Society, Chandra Sing Kro and

other dignitaries.

Tuliram Ronghang also inaugurated another landmark festival place, a colossal clock tower visible from all directions named after Karbi legend Kajir Ronghangpi and Nothengpi the Karbi heritage museum. He also laid the foundation stone for construction of the capital complex for the four Karbi Kings and other edifices.

Beside the formal inaugurations the day was marked by the arrival of thousands of folk artists from various zones, who will take part in cultural and traditional events.

Manipur’s all-women run markets reopen after 11 months

State

IDANSB members and others at one of the camps.

3

Northeast/State

camp was held at Yikhum village with total of 70 patients and 24 dentures.

Ts e m i n y u d is t r i c t team was headed by Dr. Arenla Walling with total 374 patients, 35 dentures and 43 extractions. Kiphire district saw 17 patients and 13 extractions while in Mon district, the camp was held at The Old Age Home with 15 patients and five dentures.

Meanwhile, in Zunheboto district, 21 patients were screened and 27 dentures were delivered and in Mokokchung, 32 patients were screened and 17 dentures were delivered.

Peren district saw a total of 43 patients with 30 dentures and 12 extractions.

It may be noted that members of IDANSB contributed funds for Community Dental Health Camp.

Funds collected were used for procure dental materials. Equipments and consumable goods were also contributed by the members for the denture camp.

It may be noted that follow-up of patients treated during the camp would be done in clinics without charging fees.

measures being taken up by the state government to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The state government decided to reopen the markets with COVID-19 situation in the state significantly improved in the last around two months.

While reopening the markets, chief minister N Biren Singh announced that vendor license free for the women vendors of Ima Markets would be exempted for the current year. “Gov-

ernment takes the decision considering the hardship faced by the women vendors during the COVID-19 pandemic as the markets remained closed for nearly a year,” Singh said.

The chief minister graced the reopening function held at the market as chief guest. He said that the government had to close the markets as precautionary measures amid the outbreak of the pandemic. He stated that the government had successfully contained

Chief Minister lays down administrative reports

DIMAPUR: State chief minister Neiphiu Rio laid down various administrative reports and bills (2020-21) in the ongoing seventh session of the thirteenth Assembly on February 15.

According to DIPR report, the reports were of Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation Ltd; State Council of Educational Research & Training; Youth Resources and Sports; Industries and Commerce; Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship; Excise & Prohibition; Chief Electoral Officer.

Rio also laid down Report and Rules of Annual Report of 2017-18 of Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation Ltd; Annual Report 2018-19 of Nagaland Information commission and Nagaland Food security Rules 2016 of Food & Civil Supplies Department.

While, minister of Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu, laid down the administrative Report of the following departments of Planning & coordination

and Land Revenue.

The assembly committee reports, 96th & 97th Reports of the Committee on Government Assurances, was presented by Keneizhakho Nakhro, MLA. Advisor Horticulture & Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan, chairman of the Committee on Public Undertakings laid down a copy of 87th, 88th, 89th, 90th, 91st, 92nd and 93rd report on the examination of the Audit contained in the comptroller & Auditor General of India for 2012-13, 201516 pertaining to Nagaland Handloom &Handicrafts and Commerce & Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. Further, advisor School Education, K. Tokugha Sukhalu, presented a copy of 123rd & 124th report for the year 2014-15 to 2015-16 on the State of Finances Audit Report and Audit reports on the Social, Economic, Revenue and General sectors.

Rio also introduced the Nagaland Goods and Service Tax (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2020. The bill is to be introduced on February 16, 2021.

the spread of COVID-19 and was able to save the precious life of the people mainly due the contribution and responsible decision of women vendors to close the markets.

Stating that the pandemic had made humans learn a lesson about the importance of preserving nature, Singh called for a change of mindset and move towards a clean environment to prevent mankind from such other diseases in future. He also urged the officials of MAHUD department to supply garbage bags to women vendors so that garbage and spoiled vegetables could be put to the same and collected for proper disposal.

“Such conduct would be helpful in maintaining cleanliness in and around the marketplaces and prevent the women vendors from certain diseases,” he said.

The chief minister asked the women vendors to allot a day to the government once in a month for maintenance and cleaning work of the market areas.

He further added that construction work on roads along the markets would be completed soon.

He further appealed to the women vendors to bring up their grievances to the concerned authority before resorting to any strikes or rallies.

Later, the chief minister announced the new names of the three Ima Markets as Leimarel Sidabi Ima Keithel for Market No. 1, Imoinu Ima Keithel for Market No. 2 and Phouoibi Ima Keithel for Market No. 3.

State education minister Sorokhaibam Rajen, CAF & PD minister Thokchom Satyabrata, MAHUD minister Okram Henry, officials and others attended the function.

Fire incidents, jungle fire reported in Dimapur, Wokha

DIMAPUR: Two houses were gutted in two separate incidents of fire break out in Dimapur while a jungle fire was reported in Wokha. No casualties were reported.

However, properties worth lakh of rupees were destroyed, stated in a press release issued by R.O. (E) Fire and Emergency Services, Kenny Khing. In the first incident, a house with four rooms and kitchen were reduced to ashes in the inferno at Mishikito Village, Thilixu area Dimapur on February 13.

Property worth Rs. 15 lakh was destroyed. Two fire tenders and & fire personnel were pressed into action and timely intervention prevented the fire from

Fire personnel engage in controlling the fire in Dimapur.

spreading further, the release stated.

A “kutcha” house was completely razed down in the fire that broke out at Seiuruzha Colony, Dimapur on February 15.

Property worth Rs.8 lakh was destroyed. Here too,

timely information and response from fire personnel prevented the fire spreading further to the surrounding houses. In both the incidents, the cause of fire was suspected to be due to electrical short circuit.

Meanwhile, tree plan-

tation and property worth Rs. 50,000 were destroyed in a jungle fire that broke out at Lower Mount Tiyi, Wokha on February 14.

Fire and Emergency Services team from fire station Wokha proceeded and control the fire.

K Y M C

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXxI NO. 71 Dimapur, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

Fuel prices on fire

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etrol and diesel prices continued to rise for the seventh consecutive day on February 15,2020 and making both at their costliest ever. Petrol has breached the 90-mark in Nagaland and costs Rs 91.40 a litre while diesel also breached the 80mark and now costs Rs.88.99. People, especially the middle and salaried class are groaning as their income is rapidly dwindling in the face of rising fuel and food costs. Congress leaders said when the UPA-2 left the government in 2014, price of crude was $108 per barrel but price of petrol was Rs.71.51 and diesel at Rs.57.28. Despite record high prices of crude oil, UPA-II maintained the price however after Modi came to power and when global prices came down, the NDA II hiked excise duty on fuel nine times between November 2014 and Jan 2016. It reduced it only once in October 2017. Price hikes used to spur huge outrage from the public, especially the opposition and notably the BJP. Much of this increase has happened in the last one year in 2020 alone. In 2020, people have lost jobs and incomes, and inflation has soared. That’s a double whammy- fuel getting expensive just when people have less money in their pockets. In an economy where the official growth rate contracted by 7.5 per cent, this should have been a matter of huge public concern, even outrage and uproar. Today, nobody seems to care and those who do are shouted down and their protests drowned by the offensive launched by the government. The difference exposes a lot about what appears to be ‘public opinion’. Yet six to seven years ago, Indians seemed to be very angry about high fuel prices. In fact, it was one of the reasons that the Manmohan Singh-led UPA-2 government was voted out of power in 2014.

Compare that with today over an issue that has consistently inflamed Indians. Both the media and the opposition did not spare the then UPA-2 government but today, both are silent. The media has the excuse of government pressure. What does the opposition have to say on being muted? Before 2014, fuel price hike was one of the strongest issues that the BJP used to take up. The BJP’s fuel price hike protests would include ‘jail bharo’ or voluntary detention, and a Bharat Bandh every now and then. Their Bharat Bandhs, or all-India strikes, were so large-scale that even global media took note. There was a bike rally organised by the Delhi unit of the BJP in 2013, led by senior party leaders, that drove to then Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s residence. Party workers broke barriers and tried to enter the CM’s residence, resulting in the police using water cannons. Enough and more visuals were created for the media. That’s why UPA-2 often had to roll back fuel price hikes. The government has a lot of room to cut fuel prices since almost two-thirds of it is tax. The government has been using taxes on fuel to make up for its revenue losses as economic growth has turned into a recession. This means that a high-pitched protest on fuel prices by the opposition can easily result in a small political victory for them.

Then why is the opposition not doing that is a question that only they can answer.

DailyDevotion

“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”

None of us lives to himself… —Romans 14:7 Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places…” (Ephesians 2:6).

“If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it…” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God…” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).

“You shall be witnesses to Me…” (Acts 1:8).

How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “…lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Quotes

Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. ~ John F. Kennedy

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

Post-mortem

Regressing Democracy and the resurgence

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merica may have her problems, but the recent attempts by former president Donald Trump (including the Capitol Hill riot) did go towards showing the strength and independence of its state institutions. The Supreme Court, and other courts, including judges appointed by the Republicans, refused to entertain Trump’s conspiracy theories.

The executive branch of government ensured an orderly transition. The legislature, most exposed to the consequences of public opinion, turned out to be the most unreliable of the three branches of government, but even the legislature showed that a large number of the elected Republicans went against their disturbingly frenzied president.

In short, American institutions preferred to get back to business as usual rather than pursue a partisan pipedream. Sitting in India, this seems a worthy standard to aspire to.

Erosion of India’s institutional credibility Governments come and go in a democracy.

What will remain are the institutions. Our present government does not seem to go by the constitution or

morality. It is a government which revels in allegations of horse-trading, of religious bias, generally of anything that arises from the philosophy of ‘might makes right’.

This also makes it a delightfully ‘honest’ government, it is hardly hypocritical, and that too in a system where hypocrisy had become a byword for political acumen.

The opposition, which consists of almost every other major party apart from the BJP, has this challenge to meet. The BJP can do or say whatever is expedient for the purpose of winning elections. It is famously not concerned with the sanctity of institutions or the future of the nation state.

In its zeal to pursue the Hindu Rashtra, it would happily consign the constitutional system to the sacred fire. It would be easier to fight the BJP using its own tactics, an amoral surrender to the exigencies of electoral politics, though at great, perhaps fatal, cost to the constitutional system.

Defending the constitutional system while aiming for electoral success is a much trickier task.

Democracies, it is trite to say, are defined by their institutions, which owe

their loyalty to a constitution, whether written or unwritten. Elected leaders, without any constitutional restrictions upon them, would only be temporary autocrats.

What happens when popular wisdom starts regarding everybody and everything as corrupt? If a constitutional system rests on a foundation of constitutional morality, can such a system survive when ideas of morality no longer hold currency? If the institutions are corrupt, why should the citizen not be?

India’s institutions can be said to be faltering at best. Parliament passes crucial laws through a ‘voice vote’, not to mention that parliament and state legislatures are routinely bypassed through the ordinance route, while governors hold early morning swearing-in to help their old political party.

The Supreme Court prefers to adjourn cases of grave constitutional importance.

The less said about the executive the better. Much has been said and written about these institutions and where they have failed, or have at least been perceived to have failed. This is a very dangerous situation for any nation state.

Way to resurrect the faltering system The concern, regarding the current state of our institutions, is the fast evaporating faith of the average person in them. Depending on one’s political proclivities, the institutions are seen as biased, corrupt or even as irrelevant. Both sides are seen as praising an institution one day and castigating it the next, depending on the stand taken by that institution on that day.

For instance, for the opposition, the chief justice when he speaks against hate speech is praised to the high heavens, and is castigated when he appoints a farm law committee which seems rather one-sided in its view of the farm laws.

For supporters of the ruling dispensation, the reaction is equal and opposite. The point here is not whether either is correct, but the issue is whether an institution qua an institution will have any credibility left.

If we need these institutions to survive, somebody will have to fight for them. A bipartisan political project to strengthen the state’s institutions is not possible under the current regime.

Civil society, insofar as it exists on social media, is more interested in daily

State must not defame youth standing with farmers

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outh action throughout history has shaken the status quo. In recent times, young people have been the heart of citizen mobilisations across the world — against authoritarian regimes in the Arab world and Chile, global finance and corporate impunity in the Occupy movement, racism in the US and elsewhere, mining and pipeline projects in North and South America, and the climate crisis with networks like Fridays for Future. In India, they have mobilised against communalism and religious hatred, abrogation of democratic rights by the state, and environmental violations.

In all these cases, there is state backlash, often siding with powerful corporate interests. And in this, it has ample support from a pliant media and reactionary forces aligned with it or forming its base.

Environmentalist youth across India have legitimately supported the ongoing farmers’ movement, recognising the intricate connections between environmental, social, economic issues. Now, the government has used the violence that marked one day of the farmers’ movement (which the farmers’ coalition, even if not directly responsible, has denounced and apologised for) as an excuse to defame this multi-pronged movement.

At the centre of the controversy is a “toolkit” and an exhortation to “action” that were contained in a tweet by climate activist Greta Thunberg. What does this call to action contain?

It asks supporters of the farmers’ movement to take up Twitter storms, physical actions wherever relevant, solidarity messages, and so on.

Delhi’s Special Commissioner of Police reportedly believes that: “If you go by the unfolding of events, including the violence of January 26, it reveals a copycat execution of the action plan.” If indeed he did say this, it is a stretch of the imagination that would make a rubber band blush. Any call for protests, digital and physical, and a toolkit that lists out such actions, cannot be

automatically assumed to be a call for violence. The actions recommended are a time-honoured part of non-violent dissent for centuries, including Gandhi’s during India’s independence struggle and Martin Luther King’s in the black rights movement in the US. All political parties have at some point been out on the streets protesting, blocking roads, doing gheraos and dharnas, to voice their dissent. Many in the current government were on the streets in the India Against Corruption movement. The right to dissent non-violently, including physically, is a fundamental part of democracy. The Supreme Court and many high courts have upheld this in many judgments. Toolkits, for all the official and media bluster, are not weapons of mass destruction!

Heavy-handed state actions are an attempt to scare dissenters, create a “chilling effect”. Over the last few years, the state has used laws like UAPA arbitrarily and spitefully, or tried to defame movements by linking them to “anti-national” or “terrorist” elements like “Maoists” or “Khalistanis”, and now the Prime Minister’s coinage, “andolanjeevis”. This is an easy but illegitimate way to defame entirely legitimate citizens’ movements acting within the bounds of India’s Constitution.

These are also deliberate diversions from issues of substance. Recently, young people have been vocal on environmental issues, pointing to the folly of government decisions allowing mining, industrialisation, expressways through ecologically-fragile areas, and its inadequate attention to air and water pollution that kills or maims millions. Every political party has in its manifesto or other documents admitted the seriousness of the environmental (including the climate) crisis. And yet, here is what a news site close to the current dispensation, which attacked young environmentalists, is saying: “India cannot afford to pay heed to environmental concerns… cannot afford the lack of sustainability and high production costs of currently available sources of sustainable energy, and

also hope to raise 50 million people out of extreme poverty. India also has the fifth highest coal reserves in the world, which should be utilised for the development of India, not discarded in favour of renewable energy.”

Apart from factual distortions (renewable energy worldwide is now cheaper than fossil fuels if full costs are integrated), does this contradict the environmental concern shown by the BJP as the party in power?

On paper, yes. In actuality, no. This government’s actions over the last 6-7 years have shown it to be least concerned about the massive loss of livelihoods, hunger and malnutrition, displacement and other impacts caused by environmental damage. The grossly unscientific draft EIA notification of mid-2020 and the 2021 Budget exemplify this. In decisions relating to projects of several big corporations, environmental laws have been blatantly bypassed.

Having inherited a legacy of unsustainable “development” from the Congress, the BJP is taking it to new depths. Crony capitalism continues to rear its ugly, undemocratic, corrupt, head.

In a “business-as-usual” scenario, today’s youth will inherit a world with all rivers and lakes polluted or drained out, air in cities not fit to breathe, no prospects for satisfactory and dignified livelihoods (given the “jobless growth” that India has witnessed for over two decades), so-called “natural” disasters waiting for them at every turn, and complete subservience to the diktats of powerful corporations and the state.

Why should they not protest? They have every right to do so, and if activists abroad support them, this is not evidence that there is an international conspiracy, or that anything is threatening India’s security. Indeed, the real anti-national here is a government that undermines the country’s ecological present and future, and the democratic rights of its citizens.

Ashish Kothari The writer is with Kalpavriksh, an environment research and advocacy group in Pune.

(Views expressed are personal)

potshots than in any constructive engagement on the future of the state. The offline civil society is more prepared to engage with these issues but has little influence to bring to bear on anything. There needs to be a larger engagement with institutional health. An institution will operate as per its internal logic. Expecting an institution to deliver an emotionally acceptable result is a partisan approach that is simply not working.

This is not to say that criticism must cease. Far from it, institutions have to be held to the standard that they are supposed to adhere to. These standards will be legal, ethical and professional, and yes, sometimes even political. To expect institutions to behave as per an external political standard has brought us to the mess that we are in. An external political standard is one where the institution is supposed to have differential standards dependent on who is dealing with that institution.

Expecting Kunal Gurjar and Shahrukh Pathan (both accused of firing from guns, one caught on video on the Shaheen bagh protesters and the other allegedly at a policeman) to be treated the same is a standard that the courts ought to be held to.

It is distressing that there are many who expect the courts to go easier on one or the other. The fact that the courts have been easier on Gurjar is a problem, a sign that the institution is in trouble. The solution is not to campaign for amnesty for all pointing guns at protesters or the police, but the solution is to seek equal punishment under the law.

This is a simplistic example, but a relevant one.

The slide, in our constitutional system, has to be arrested. In functional democracies, this function is performed by the government. In the topsy turvy position which India finds herself in, this is a function to be performed by the opposition, by civil society and the citizenry.

On a day when a 21year-old has been sent to five days police custody for editing an online toolkit, such exhortations might even seem naïve. It is a hard ask, some might even feel it is an unfair ask. However, this is the only way to ensure the continued survival and progression of the Republic of India. The people have to be more moral than their government.

Sarim Naved Delhi-based advocate

Vaccination of manual scavengers must be prioritized

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he government has focused on the vaccination of frontline sanitation workers, but the most vulnerable among them, the manual scavengers, have not got the attention they deserve.

When it comes to understanding who sanitation workers are and what are their different categories, India has always been far behind.

The “lowest” denominators in the work of sanitation are the manual scavengers, who are by far the most unprotected.

While the sanitation worker who works in a hospital or school may have limited safeguards, the manual scavengers are left to clean dry latrines and enter septic tanks. To many, manual scavenging has already been eradicated since it is legally prohibited and the practice of dry latrines is dying out. But the ground reality is very different.

To name a few categories, sanitation workers can be classified into faecal sludge handlers, sewage treatment plant sanitation workers, toilet sanitation workers (community, hospital, public, school, domestic household), public transportation site sanitation workers (railway, roads), sewer and drain sanitation workers, septic tank sanitation workers, waste recovery sanitation workers (householdcommunity-landfill), operational sanitation workers, sanitation-waste intersection workers. Workers who manually discard human excreta in any form do the work of manual scavenging. For instance, sewer and drain cleaners and septic tank workers do it more often than toilet sanitation workers. Similarly, the risk involved in septic cleaning is the highest, killing one sanitation worker every five days. A toilet sanitation worker forced to clean human excrement because of lack of water supply is also said to be doing the work of manual scavenging. Even waste recovery sanitation workers perform the work of manual scavenging as they come in regular contact with unprotected bio-medical waste, animal carcasses and faeces. The

implementation of the many laws banning this practice has always been the weakest.

Sewer deaths continue to happen. Caste and economics are complicit in the deprivation of the most deprived.

In the initial days of the pandemic, the absence of policy for the protection of the sanitation workers resulted in the loss of many lives, cases that you cannot even find in the records of the National Commission of the Safai Karmachari (NCSK). The Safai KarmacharI Andolan (SKA) has had a far better grasp of this data. Politicians have washed the feet of sanitation workers but, in effect, left them to die. Toilet infrastructure is of much more value to the government than the toilet cleaners. There is no social security, no accountability in the actual expenditure of the rehabilitation schemes, no definite provision for healthcare or pension. Lastly, no importance is given to the representation of a sanitation worker during formulation of policies for them. The many layers of sanitation work make them prone to longterm diseases, as in most cases they do not even live till the age of retirement. Their children suffer from malnutrition, TB and cholera because they live in settlements on the periphery of the waste generated by the cities. During the pandemic, the sanitation workers worked full time to ensure safety to the people of the land.

The manual scavengers have kept entering septic tanks because we failed to provide them a safety net. Some migrant labourers also took up the work of scavenging because of lack of work. Therefore, it does not matter to the sanitation worker if the person to first get vaccinated in India is a sanitation worker or not.

What matters is how many of them have actually been vaccinated without the argument that they have already developed “herd immunity”. The government must urgently prioritise vaccination for manual scavengers.

Pragya Akhilesh National convener of RRI, India, and secretary of the Bhim Safai Karmachari Trade Union

Reader’s Post Sir,

Travel fare hike

As a concern citizen I would like to address the problem face by the common people due to hike of travel fare. These days everything is coming to normal as before and all the public places such as shopping malls, markets, parks, institutions etc are already opened. But the hike of travel fare not reverted, why? For how long must the travelers pay double when all passenger vehicles are fully occupied? Yes, the fuel price was hike to its highest level but this does not mean we can’t maintain balance.

The new sitting arrangements in public transports are nothing but looting its citizens.

It’ll be good if the concern authorities look into this matter and set things straight.

Especially the people from rural areas facing untold hardships, the sick, poor farmers, and daily wagers from different districts are paying their hard earned money for travel fare rather than their children’s school fees and other necessary needs.

Some local drivers are taking due advantage and charging “koshi koshi” knowing fully well that the common people have no option but to pay. It’s no less than day light robbery. I earnestly request to the concern department to understand the burden face by the common people and revert the transportation fare or maintain balance before schools/universities/colleges reopens. This will not only help the students, but their parents back home as well.

P Henpah Phom

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.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

Toolkit: After Disha’s arrest, 2 more wanted

Members of various social organisation protest against the arrest of Disha Ravi, in Bengaluru, Monday. (PTI)

Nath, the email account created by Shantanu is the “owner” of the Google document and PFJ founder Mo Dhaliwal had contacted them through a Canadabased woman called Punit.

“Disha, Shantanu and Nikita created and edited the toolkit. Disha sent the toolkit to Greta Thunberg through Telegram. Disha deleted a Whatsapp group which she created to spread the toolkit. Due procedure was followed when Disha was arrested,” Nath said.

“The toolkit was aimed at tarnishing the image of India,” he added and described the toolkit as a dynamic document with hyperlinks to Google docs, “a lot of which are ‘pro-Khalistani”. The police claimed that Ravi “coaxed” teen activist Thunberg to act on it.

Ravi was arrested from Bengaluru on Saturday and sent to police remand for five days by a Delhi court on Sunday with officials claiming she was an editor of the “toolkit Google doc” and “key conspirator” in its formulation and dissemina-

tion. A day later, Delhi Police officials said they were conducting raids in several places, including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Beed, to nab Jacob and Muluk. Both moved the Bombay High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail. Their pleas will be heard on Tuesday.

While Jacob’s plea was filed in Mumbai, Muluk submitted his application in the Aurangabad bench of the High Court. Both the pleas sought transit anticipatory bail for four weeks so the applicants could approach the concerned court in Delhi to apply for pre-arrest bail.

Their pleas claim they are targets of political vendetta.

Many political leaders like Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, CPI leader, Sitaram Yechury, WB chief minister Mamata Bannerjee, Congress leaders like Chidambaram, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Shashi Tharoor, Jairam Ramesh, Surpriya Shrinate, and Kapil Sibal have registered their protest against Disha’s arrest on Twitter and have asked for her release.

‘18-19 vax in different stages of trials’

NEW DELHI, FEB 15 (IANS): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday that 18-19 potential vaccines against novel coronavirus were in different stages of clinical trials, adding that vaccination of around 27 crore Indians above the age of 50 will be-

gin three weeks from now.

“Some are in Phase I, some in Phase II, and a few approaching Phase III of the clinical trials. We are elated to have a huge portfolio in the near future,” he said at a press conference here.

The Minister said that the Department of Biotech-

DECORS AND DESIGN

(From p-1) He recalled that Union road transport & highways minister Nitin Gadkari had, during his visit to Nagaland in 2015 to lay foundation stone for the four-lane road from Dimapur to Kohima, made a commitment for a Rs 10,000-crore package for Nagaland for construction of concrete roads Swu asked the PDA government why no work had started on roads that were already approved and declared as national highways like NH 29 to NH 29 (new NH) Dimapur Bypass (2.70 km), Mon-LongwaPangsha-Kiphire-Avangkhu Trans Eastern Highway (280 km), Showba-GuzunyuPughoboto- Zunheboto- Aghunato- Shamator-NoklakPangsha (200 km), Gandhi Ashram Chuchuyimlang NH 2 to Pangsha ITC (167 km) and Maibung in Tening in Nagaland to Tamenlong via Tamei in Manipur (75 km) totalling 724 km.

On maintenance of existing roads, he said the roads in Nagaland were pathetic due to lack of a maintenance policy. He said the NEC road that was promised and assured to be upgraded to national highway was in a very deplorable condition for over a decade, though this was the shortest and best route to connect Mokokchung district and entire ENPO areas.

Sharing his travelling experiences, Swu said the legislators have collectively failed to meet the State’s urgent need for bridges, pointing out that Dikhu bridge between Salulamang and Mongtikang required top priority as it connected the remote areas of Mokokchung, Longleng, Mon, Tuensang and Noklak and would significantly improve development of the eastern region. He mentioned that COVID-19 was just a warning and called for upgrading health services in the State.

He said the State’s agriculture sector was badly hit by the pandemic.

Swu obser ved that though the pandemic prompted education department to come out with online student evaluation portal, it was done without much thought being

OFFICE OF THE

OLD RIPHYIM STUDENTS’ UNION

given to students who did not have access to smart phones and internet, especially in rural areas where networks are abysmal. He referred to the higher and technical education department’s proud proclamation of implementing 10 new projects under RUSA 2.0, the major ones being the construction of engineering college at Tzurangsa, Mokokchung and one new model degree college at Tzupaksa, Mangkolemba, Mokokchung.

However, he pointed out that the pace at which these were being implemented contradicted the already assured upgrade of Khelhoshe Polytechnic at Atoizu to that of engineering college in 2007. He reminded that Neiphiu Rio was chief minister at that time too and sought assurance of starting it without any further delay.

Appreciating the power department for strengthening transmission, Swu remarked that the power sector was badly lacking despite the fact that electricity was one of the eight core industries of the country.

The peak power demand in the State was approximately 175 mw, which he said was met with 90% import from outside. He termed this as alarming as the supply from outside the State could get disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances, thereby effectively crippling the entire State. He said this lesson had been thoroughly taught by the pandemic during which Nagaland had to heavily rely on networking and technology.

He said the Doyang hydro electric project (HEP) was owned by NEEPCO, but Nagaland gets only 15% share of the power generated by it. He said Dikhu HEP and Tizu-Zungki HEP alone had the potential to provide more than 200 mw of power, which was more than the peak-level demand of 175 mw.

Though the State spent more than Rs 300 crore annually on purchase of power, Swu said the revenue realized was just Rs 150 crore, thus accumulating a loss of 50% each year. He asked the chief minister to explain the government’s policy in resolving the issue

With immense pride, the Old Riphyim Students’ Union extend our heartiest congratulations to Er. Thungdemo Patton on being promoted to Superintendent Engineer, PWD (R&B), Govt. of Nagaland.

The Union wishes him good health and a bright future in all his endeavors.

Renlamo Patton President, ORSU

Renchio Patton General Secretary, ORSU

as the power infrastructure of Nagaland continues to be a relic of the past.

Leader of opposition TR Zeliang said the speech of the governor was always prepared by the State government. He remarked that the governor’s address was largely dominated by COVID-19 pandemic, pointing out that the fight against the pandemic was a common fight, regardless of political colours or affiliations.

He acknowledged the role played by the church, NGOs and voluntary organisations in the fight against the virus and lauded them for their tireless efforts.

Zeliang said the socalled achievements claimed by the government were greatly exaggerated. He alleged that despite the assurance given by the government at the beginning of the pandemic, it was not prepared to handle the situation as reports of positive cases started to emerge, which led to confusion and complete chaos.

He pointed out that even the frontline workers were not equipped with proper gears, while the BSL labs were not completed on time, forcing the State to send COVID samples to neighbouring States for testing. He regretted that the government functioned in a dictatorial manner during the pandemic by placing gag orders on the medical and by trying to stifle any dissenting voice. The media was barred from acquiring information through any source except from heads of departments , which showed the State in a poor light and exposed lack of preparedness, he added.

He cautioned that in the event of any such pandemic in the future, the State would be faced with greater danger, if a similar approach was replicated.

On the Dzükou fire, Zeliang asked the government to put precautionary measures in place so as to avoid such tragedies in the future. He said since there were annual fire outbreaks, the government should resolve land disputes with neighbouring Manipur and make sure that such cases did not recur.

On ag riculture, he

OFFICE OF THE

MIDDLE P.W.D COLONY COUNCIL Kohima : Nagaland WORD OF APPRECIATION

WOKHA : NAGALAND

FELICITATION

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nology had been provided a budget of Rs 900 crore for the development of potential vaccines against Covid-19.

“The money has been kept aside for the department for use in research and development of potential vaccine candidates against the viral disease,” he added.

NPF criticizes Gov’s address on Naga pol issue

The MPWD Colony Council with it's residents would like to sincerely extend our gratitude to the PHED, and especially to EE, SDO and JE (Urban Division) Kohima for their initiative in repairing the pipe line which was damaged for the last two and half years and restoring the normal supply of water which has brought a relief to the residents. Further, we would like to request the department to keep up the good work and deliver quality service to the citizens.

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NEW DELHI, FEB 15 (PTI): A Mumbai lawyer and a Beed engineer joined arrested climate activist Disha Ravi in creating a protest toolkit backing the farmers’ agitation with the aim of “tarnishing the image of India” and collaborated with pro-Khalistani elements, Delhi Police officials said on Monday.

Non-bailable warrants have been issued against lawyer Nikita Jacob and engineer Shantanu Muluk, who are absconding.

On January 11, 15 days ahead of the Republic Day violence in the national capital, the two attended a Zoom meeting organised by pro-Khalistani group Poetic Justice Foundation, said Joint Commissioner of Police (Cyber) Prem Nath.

The meeting decided the modalities to create the toolkit titled “Global Farmer Strike” and “Global Day of Action, 26 January”, Nath said at a press conference.

As the case added layers, polarising views on social media and outside, officials said they are also probing an ISI element through a man called Peter Friedrich whose name is on the document and who is known to be associated with an operative of the organisation.

Ravi, Jacob and Muluk created the toolkit and sent it to others, officials alleged as a fierce political debate broke out between the opposition and the ruling BJP over the action against 21year-old Ravi in the case related to the “toolkit Google doc”, which came to light when it was shared by global climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. According to

5

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(TOSOZHOL NATSO), Chairman MPWD Colony Council Kohima : Nagaland

wanted to know from the government whether distribution of agricultural machineries to farmers had helped the State’s agriculture produce. He said any policy or programme initiated by the government should be followed with financial package else, he said it would not be productive.

Referring to governor’s reference to road construction in his speech, Zeliang said the issue was discussed during the last session and the agreement was for total reconstruction of the road from New Field check gate to Patkai bridge, and not repairing the existing road as was done currently. He pointed out that although the road from Purana Bazaar to Chümoukedima had been completed, there was still no drainage in some portions, which could cause problems during the monsoon.

In his concluding remarks, leader of the house, Neiphiu Rio thanked and acknowledged all the participants for their healthy and positive feedbacks and said that all suggestion given by the members were duly noted. On COVID-19 pandemic, Rio said the world

was taken by surprise as no one was prepared to deal with such crisis.

While admitting that there had been some mishaps along the way, he said that all precautionary measures were taken to ensure that such instances were avoided at all cost possible.

To tackle the food shortage issue, Rio said the government was working on a cluster agri called ‘Naga Integrated Farming’ which was initiated in some locations and the same would soon be taken up in the rest of the districts. On the road construction, Rio said the government was satisfied with the road constructions made so far including the four-lane road from Purana Bazaar to Chümoukedima, which, he said, was the first four-lane road in the state.

The chief minister moved for the adoption of the motion of thanks to the governor’s address after the debate which was passed by the house. Minister Kashiho Sangtam, adviser Dr. Neikiesalie Kire and members from the opposition bench K Khalo and Amenba Yaden were among those who took part in the debate.

U’khand disaster: Toll climbs to 54 DEHRADUN, FEB 15 (PTI): Three more bodies were recovered Monday from the Tapovan tunnel, taking the toll in the Uttarakhand flash flood to 54 as hopes of finding survivors there over a week after the disaster dimmed.

So far nine bodies have been pulled out from Adit tunnel at the National Thermal Power Corporation’s ‘s Tapovan-Vishnugad project

site, choked by debris after the February 7 flood. Apart from the confirmed 54 dead, 150 others are still missing.

The multi-agency rescue effort in Chamoli district is focusing on the Tapovan tunnel where about 30 workers were feared trapped.

Rescuing the trapped people is now possible only with the help of excavators, Chamoli District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria told PTI.

PROCLAMATION REQUIRING THE APPEARANCE OF A PERSON ACCUSED See Section 82 Cr. P.C. Whereas complaint has been made before me that Phungthing Shimrang @ P H Shimrang @ James Jamir, S/o Samuel Shimrang, R/o H. No. 89, Diphupar B Village, Dimapur, Nagaland has committed (or is suspected to have committed) the offence punishable under section 10, 13, 17, 18, 20 & 21 of UA(P) Act in FIR No. RC-26/2019/NIA/ DLI, and it has been returned to a Warrant of arrest hereupon issued that the said accused Phungthing Shimrang @ P H Shimrang @ James Jamir cannot be found and whereas it has been shown to my satisfaction that the said accused Phungthing Shimrang @ P H Shimrang @ James Jamir has absconded (or is concealing himself to avoid the service of the said warrant.).

Proclamation is hereby made that the said accused Phungthing Shimrang @ P H Shimrang @ James Jamir is required to appear before this Court to answer the said complaint on the day of 06.04.2021.

By Order Sh. Parveen Singh Additional Sessions Judge-03 New Delhi District, Room No. 39, Patiala House Court New Delhi

davp 19133/11/0018/2021

JOB VACANCY The North East Initiative Development Agency is looking for committed Professionals to fill the following posts for the Handloom Development project “Charkha to Market” Program Officer: Textile Design (1 Position) Knowledge, Experience, Qualification 1. Desirable minimum 5 years in the domain of woven textile production, preferably handloom textiles 2. Graduate degree in Textile Design from NIFT/NID 3. Thorough knowledge of textile design particularly of Handlooms textiles 4. Subject expertise in woven textiles, hand spinning, dyeing (preferably natural dyeing) Cluster Lead (1 Position) Knowledge, Experience, Qualification 1. Thorough knowledge in Fashion Management/ Business Management 2. Subject expertise in micro-enterprise development/rural livelihoods 3. Desirable minimum 10 years in the subject domain of rural livelihood/ microenterprise development.

4. Post Graduate degree in Fashion Management from NIFT or any other reputed institution/ Post Graduate in Business Management from reputed university/institution Programme Officer (1 Position) Knowledge, Experience, Qualification 1. Thorough knowledge in Business Management 2. Subject expertise in micro-enterprise development/rural livelihoods 3. Desirable minimum 5 years in the subject domain, Loin Loom Training 4. Graduate with relevant Experience /Post Graduate degree in Management or any other reputed institution/ Post Graduate in Business/Rural Management from reputed university/institution Job Posting: Kohima /Dimapur, Nagaland Salary: Will be competitive and shall be commensurate with experience Application Procedures: Your application should be sent to jobs. nagaland.org.in by February 20, 2021 consisting of: a) Curriculum Vitae (CV) with all contact details “Only short listed candidates will be contacted for next stage of the selection process” Charkha to Market (C2M) Program is a comprehensive handloom program which aims at arresting drift of weavers, particularly younger generation from the handloom sector. Overarching objective is to create entrepreneur led microenterprises across each element of the value chain viz. pre-loom, on-loom and post-loom activities.

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Crossword

Su doku

KAKURO

K Y M C

NLA: SARFAESI Act referred to House Select Committee

(From p-1) In response to the discussion, leader of the House and chief minister Neiphiu Rio thanked the members for their participation and reminded them of their equal shared responsibility regarding the Act. Speaking on various fac-

ets pertaining to the Act, Rio informed the House that the banks were requesting its implementation and expressed their unwillingness to extend loans, if it was not implemented, as they were required by the Act to give loans against mortgage of immovable properties and

fixed assets, including land.

And in case of non-payment of loans, they could take possession of the mortgaged assets and auction them to recover the loans. Opposition member Yitachu, advisers KT Sukhalu and Zhaleo Rio also joined the discussion.

No. 9834 Yesterday’s solution No. 9833

No. 4453 Yesterday’s solution No. 4452

No. 3477 Yesterday’s solution No. 3476

Across 4. Rigorous (6) 7. In the open air (8) 8. Of the face (6) 10. Vote in (5) 13. Renown (4) 14. Disastrous (4) 15. Approximately (2,2) 16. Small barrel (3) 17. Prima donna (4) 19. Paradise (4) 21. From childhood (3,3,3) 23. Farm building (4) 24. Type of duck (4) 26. However (3) 27. Cognate (4) 29. Weave on this (4) 32. Of the ears (4) 33. Stage whisper (5) 34. Defeated (6) 35. Attain success (3,5) 36. Erupts (6) Down 1. Without clothes (5) 2. Following, behind (5) 3. Superlative of good (4) 4. Couches (5) 5. Run against others (4) 6. Cowardly (6) 9. Single-cell organism (6) 11. Illuminated (3) 12. Tree (5) 13. Desperate, hurried (7) 15. Egg cells (3) 16. Lock opener (3) 18. Congenital (6) 20. Toys for girls (5) 21. Floor covering (3) 22. Lair (3) 23. Writing desk (6) 25. Head movement (3) 28. Male monarchs (5) 30. Lubricated (5) 31. Fixes (5) 32. Boy’s name (4) 33. Slightly open (4)

SHOP FOR SALE Phoolbari, Kohima

Contact: 9612967115

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LAND FOR SALE

at Padumpukhuri Dimapur Area : 86,400 sq. ft.

Rs. 350 per sq. ft.

Negotiable No Filling Required

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No Brokers

WANTED DOMESTIC HELPER (Full Time) For Naga Couple in New Delhi, Preferably female. 18 years and above. Transportation allowance one way annually. Free medical and accommodation. Best Salary. Contact – 6009189768, 8416092059 DP-904

DP-903

LAND FOR SALE (Ao Only)

Location : Indisen, Dimapur Price : 270 per sq. ft.

Area : Any size available * No filling required, plain area * Developed Land with Concrete Road * Concrete drainage and Retaining wall Contact : 7005227608 DP-181(B) 8787777148

FOR SALE Land with Building (3 storey foundation) with ground floor complete with 6 rooms bathroom kitchen at Burma Camp, Old Khatkhati Road. (only 2 minutes distance from highway) (Only genuine buyers to contact) Contact : 9863293501

AFFIDAVIT

I, Senlem Jamir, through this affidavit vide Registration Number 7394/2021 do hereby declare that the names Senlem Jamir and Senlem are one and of the same person.

Henceforth, the name Senlem Jamir will be used in all my official correspondence.

Deponent MKC-50

STOLEN NOTICE Motorcycle (Bajaj Pulsar 160 NS) Owner : James Shitiri Colour : Saffire Blue & Satin

Chassis No. : MD2A92CY1JCF39960

Engine No. : JEYCJ67511 Stolen Date : 07/02/2021 Location : Naga Cemetery Colony Time : Around 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Finder may Please Contact Mobile No. 7005133598)

URGENTLY REQUIRED 1 Steward at Oppa Gimbap Korean Restaurant, Kohima

IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENT Male F&B Staff

Criteria: * Must be between 18 and 28 years. * Must have relevant experience.

Location : 3rd Mile Contact: 7085099052

DP-914

1. Nagarjan 2. Padumpukhuri 3. Kushiabill Village 4. Ura Colony 5. United Village

FLAT FOR RENT 3 BHK Flat full furnished, Earthcon Sanskriti, Delhi NCR (Noida Extension). Flat Owner : Naga Doctor. Rent Rs. 15000/- Per Month.

Contact No. 9612167301 DP-902

URGENT LAND FOR SALE

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3500 sq. ft. with Assam type house, Near Zion Hospital, Purana Bazaar, Dimapur, 30 Lac (Negotiable).

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LAND FOR SALE

FOR SALE

DP-905

the prerogative of negotiating parties involved.

Asserting that Nagas have been living together with mutual respect, love, tolerance and understanding, the MP said it was “this reciprocity” that has made “our land peaceful” for many years now. He expressed hope that “by the grace and mercy of God we can leave behind a society better than we found for future generations.”

LAND FOR SALE

sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently.

Further, Indian and Chinese troops are also falling back from eyeballto-eyeball confrontation

at Razhaphe, Dimapur 2 Plots, Apr Rd. Touched 100 x 100 sq. ft. = Rs. 6,00,000/100 x 100 sq. ft. = Rs. 6,00,000/Contact : 9383235835 8258954751 K-371

LAND FOR SALE at Padumpukhuri near Monday Bazar Area : any size @ Rs. 295/- per sq. ft.

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SCORPIO S10 4x4 Model : 2016 NL Registration Price : 9,20,000

DP-909

LAND FOR SALE 1. At Sukhovi near Videma Village area 58400 sq. ft.

Price : 36 Lakhs (negotiable) 2. Near Zion Hospital United Colony area 8000 sq. ft. @ Rs. 190 per sq. ft.

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DP-658

laid the contradiction to the reply of my Unstarred question which made me raise this issue in Parliament for clarification,” MP said. Further, Tokheho said that his participation was only focused to draw attention of the Indian Parliament for an early agreement to Naga political negotiations. He said that whether agreement to Naga political negotiations was made within a time bound period or not was

A senior government official said there has been a considerable thinning of troops from Finger 4. The official also said that the PLA is removing its boats from the lake. China has deployed a lot of men and materiel at Finger 4 and south of the lake to alter the status quo at the LAC. Before the tensions last year, boats were deployed beyond Finger 8 of the lake.

Once withdrawal happens, patrolling will be resumed only when both

LAND FOR SALE 1. 1 Km away from Chathe river bridge between Naga United boundary & Nihoto Village Area : 10,600 sq. ft.

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DP-908

JALGAON, FEB 15 (PTI): Fifteen people were killed and five others injured after a truck carrying labourers overturned and fell into a roadside pit in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district in the wee hours of Monday, police said. The accident took place near a temple in Kingaonvillage around 1 am when the papaya-laden truck was on its way to Yawal tehsil in Jalgaon from Dhule, an official from Yawal police station said. The deceased included two children, aged 3 and 5years, and a 15-year-old girl. A 14-year-old boy, who was sleeping on top of the truck, escaped unhurt, the official said. The labourers belonged to Abhoda, Vivra, Kerhala villages and Raver tehsil in the district, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief at the loss of lives. The Maharashtra government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased. After the accident, police and some locals rushed to the spot and the truck was brought out of the pit with the help of a JCB machine, the police official said.

Tokheho clarifies statement made in Parliament

(From p-1) issue he raised was in correspondence to the reply of Ministry of Home Affairs to his Unstarred Question No 1330 laid on February 9, 2021, wherein the reply was that negotiations were in advanced stage. He said that the governor, on the other hand, had stated on the floor of the State Assembly on February 12, 2021 that negotiations had been concluded. “Herein

A view of the picteresque Pangong lake in Ladakh.

positions on the south bank of the lake. On the southern bank of the lake, tanks that were separated by less than 100 metres have been pulled back by both countries’ forces.

India and China are engaged in a nearly 10-monthlong military standoff at the Line of Actual Control. The confrontations began on the north bank of Pangong lake, both in the waters and the bank as Chinese incursions increased in early May last year.

The confrontation later spilled over to the southern bank following which the Indian Army occupied crucial heights irking the Chinese that led to incidents of gunshots being fired in the air.

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Maha: 15 killed, 5 injured after truck overturns in Jalgaon

ple’s Liberation Army is finally vacating Finger 4 area on the northern bank of Pangong lake that it had occupied last year and changed the status quo on the Line of Actual Control with India. The Chinese troops are dismantling shelters and removing other structures they had built up during the occupation. This is happening as per the disengagement agreement between India and China.

The agreement states that Chinese troops will move back to Finger 8 and Indian troops will pull back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3 of the north bank of Pangong lake. Further, there would be a temporary moratorium on military activities, including patrolling in the traditional areas.

The mountain spurs jutting into the lake are referred to as ‘Fingers’ in military parlance. The north bank of the lake is divided into 8 fingers. India has claimed its territory till Finger 8 and China disputes its claims till Finger 4.

There have been regular face-offs between the two armies between Finger 4 and Finger 8, a distance of eight kilometres, on the northern bank of the lake.

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“martyrdom” is a significant thing, she said, “No one has the right to raise a finger on a person who has attained martyrdom while protesting for his rights, be it the prime minister or any other minister.”

Attacking the prime minister, the Congress leader alleged that the central laws are not for farmers but for his capitalist friends.

“The country is not blind and every citizen is watching as to what is happening in the country for the past seven years. His capitalist friends are running the entire media, his capitalist friends run his elections,” she said. “All big industries set up in the past 75 years have been sold and plans are afoot to sell the unsold ones.

What will such a govern-

NEW DELHI, FEB 15 (PTI): The Supreme Court Monday granted 5-day interim bail to journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested on his way to Hathras where a young Dalit woman had died after being allegedly gang-raped, to visit his ailing mother. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, however, said that during his visit he shall not give any interview to the media, including social media.

The bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said that Kappan will not meet members of the public except his relatives and doctors concerned.

It said he will be escorted by a team of Uttar Pradesh police officers and police in Kerala will cooperate with them. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), stated that Kappan’s mother could not talk on video conference and the doctors have said she might live only for two or three more days.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, said however that the condition of Kappan’s mother was not as serious as was being projected and no medical certificates are provided.

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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

ment do for you,” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked.

Further lashing out at the PM, she said, “The prime minister can go to the US, hold a gathering for Trump (ex-US president), visit China and Pakistan, and there is no country which he has not visited.

And you could not go twothree kilometres from your house and meet the farmers who are saying please come and talk to us.”

“There are two types of leaders. There are some leaders who have a lot of arrogance and they forget as to who gave them power.

In the history of the country, whenever a leader has become arrogant, the people of the country have taught him a lesson, and he feels ashamed.

Then he understands what his religion is. His religion is not to divide people but to work for their development. Top priority should be given to the public and you (leader) should be behind them,” she said.

After the Congress leader ended her speech, a two-minute silence was observed for the farmers who died during the course of the protest.

Chinese vacating Finger 4 area of Pangong lake

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LUCKNOW, FEB 15 (PTI): Accusing the Narendra Modi-led Union government of insulting farmers, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said the men who protect the country’s borders are sons of farmers.

Addressing a “kisan panchayat” in UP’s Bijnore, the Congress leader said farmers were ridiculed in Parliament and dubbed as traitors by ministers.

“The farmer who is standing on your door, his son is standing at the border of the country. The farmer whom you are insulting, his son is safeguarding the country’s border,” she said referring to the protest against the farm laws at the Delhi borders.

“They were given a new name ‘aandolanjivi’ and ‘parijivi’. All of you know the meaning of ‘parijivi’. Your ministers called the farmers traitors,” she said. Priyanka also criticised Haryana minister J P Dalal, who had stoked a controversy on Saturday saying the farmers who died during the course of the agitation would have passed away even if they had stayed back home. Stressing that

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

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Govt insulted farmers, called them traitors, says Priyanka

national/state SC grants 5-day bail to journalist to NEW DELHI, FEB 15 visit ailing mother (IANS): The Chinese Peo-

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international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

Military conflict in S. Asia could Myanmar security forces intensify crackdown endanger regional stability: Qureshi

A policeman aims a slingshot towards an unknown target during a crackdown on anti-coup protesters holding a rally in Mandalay, Monday. (AP)

Biden calls for gun law reform on Parkland shooting anniversary

Joe Biden

is protected by the Second Amendment to the US constitution and is staunchly defended by many conservatives, including ex-president Donald Trump.

In his statement, President Biden also called for the introduction of background checks for all gun sales, a ban on high-capacity magazines, and for an end to legal immunity for gun manufacturers.

“We owe it to all those we’ve lost and to all those left behind to grieve to make a change,” Biden said. “The time to act is now.”

In a separate statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress would resurrect background check legislation that had stalled when Republican former President Donald Trump was in office.

flame tensions between the military and the protesters who have taken to the streets of cities across the Southeast Asian nation seeking the return of the government they elected.

Protesters continued to gather across Myanmar on Monday, following a night in which authorities cut the country’s internet access and increased the security presence in major cities seeking to curtail demonstrations.

Thousands of engineers marched on the streets of Mandalay chanting and holding signs that read: “Free our leader,” “Who

Shah Mahmood Qureshi

he said. Qureshi said Pakistan is an important stakeholder in the Indian Ocean security framework, which includes counter-piracy as well as human trafficking and narcotics smuggling.

“In the light of these developments, Pakistan will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure its security and to maintain credible minimum deterrence,” he said.

He said the Pakistan Navy continued to maintain a robust security posture along the coast and in the regional seas, in order to prevent nefarious elements from illicit activities in the maritime domain.

He said Pakistan recognised the importance of safeguarding the world’s oceans to promote the pru-

dent use of marine resources for socio-economic development, while ensuring environmental sustainability.

“We are ready to cooperate and collaborate with other friendly nations and partners around the world, to realise this goal for mutual benefit of the entire humanity,” he said.

He said Pakistan was an important maritime state with an over one thousand kilometer long coastline and its maritime zones were richly endowed with living and non-living resources.

Qureshi said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and development of the Gwadar Port were game-changing projects that would further enhance the geo-economic significance of Pakistan. He said the Gwadar Port has the potential to develop into a full-fledged regional hub and a trans-shipment port.

The IMC 21 organised under the aegis of Pakistan Navy coincided with the 7th multinational naval exercise Aman-2021. It is themed on ‘Development of Blue Economy under a Secure and Sustainable Environment: A Shared Future for Western Indian Ocean Region’.

Tougher Covid travel rules come into force in UK China’s space probe performs LONDON, FEB 15 (PTI): The UK’s tougher new travel rules to contain the spread of COVID-19 variants came into effect from Monday, involving compulsory hotel quarantines for anyone returning to England from one of the 33 high-risk “red list” countries.

Those arriving will have to pre-book and pay 1,750 pounds to spend 10 days quarantining in government-sanctioned hotels, covering the cost of the hotel, transport and two separate tests post-arrival. Extremely serious breaches of the new norms could result in a 10year jail term and fines of up to 10,000 pounds.

Those who have not visited a “red list” country, such as India, must still quarantine for 10 days at home and complete two mandatory COVID-19 tests on the second and eighth day after arriving.

“With the emergence of new variants, we must go further. The rules coming into force today will bolster the quarantine system and provide another layer of security against new variants at the border,” said UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

“These new measures are important to protect our

vaccination programme, which has now seen 15 million people vaccinated, we all work towards restoring normal life,” he said.

Starting Monday, any UK or Irish resident who has been in a high-risk destination on the UK’s red list – comprising 33 hotspots with COVID-19 variants in circulation – will have to enter England through a designated port and have pre-booked a quarantine package to stay at one of the government’s “Managed Quarantine Facilities”.

Non-residents are currently not part of the essential-only travel rules of the coronavirus lockdown.

The government said it has tough measures already in place requiring all travellers into the UK, from any location, to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before departure and non-UK residents from the 33 red list countries are already banned from entering Britain.

New regulations equipping the Border Force and police staff with the powers needed to ensure people arriving in England conform

orbital adjustment around Mars

BEIJING, FEB 15 (PTI): Tianwen-1 probe was igChina’s Tianwen-1 probe on nited at 5 pm (Beijing time) Monday performed an orbit- on Monday to ensure the al manoeuvre around Mars, probe’s trajectory passes days after it successfully the poles of Mars, China entered the orbit around the National Space Administrared planet capping a nearly tion said. The spacecraft will seven-month voyage from perform several more orbital Earth. Ahead of China’s adjustments to enter a parkprobe, UAE’s Hope probe ing orbit, said CNSA. The made it safely into the orbit probe, including an orbiter, Travellers arrive at Heathrow Airport, as Britain of Mars on Tuesday. NASA a lander and a rover, sucintroduces hotel quarantine programme for arrivals. will attempt to put another cessfully entered the Mars of its big rovers on the sur- orbit on February 10 after a to the new rules have also and where necessary detain face on the red planet on nearly seven-month voyage been put in place. them for up to three hours.

Thursday. A 3000N engine from Earth.

The Border Force have As part of the regulathe power to issue fixed pen- tions, a requirement for alty notices to individuals quarantining individuals to suspected of lying on their self-isolate in their room is Passenger Locator Form set out in law.

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WASHINGTON, FEB 15 (IANS): US President Joe Biden has called for the Congress to pass gun law reforms, including a ban on assault weapons.

Biden released the statement on Sunday, the third anniversary of the Parkland school shooting in Florida, the BBC reported.

“All across our nation, parents, spouses, children, siblings, and friends have known the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence,” he said.

In 2018, 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were killed by an ex-student armed with an AR-15 rifle. Many of the school’s teenage survivors went on to become prominent advocates for gun legislation reform.

The right to bear arms

Suu Kyi, whose remand was set to expire and whose freedom is a key demand of the crowds of people continuing to protest the February 1 coup.

Suu Kyi will now be remanded until February 17, when she will likely appear in court by video conference, according to Khin MaungZaw, a lawyer asked

by Suu Kyi’s party to represent her. The Nobel laureate remains under house arrest on a minor charge of possessing unregistered imported walkie-talkies.

Suu Kyi’s extended detention is likely to further in-

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, FEB 15 (PTI): Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday that any military conflict in South Asia could endanger stability in a region that is critical for global trade flows and security.

Addressing the 9th Inter national Maritime Conference (IMC 21) in Karachi, Qureshi also said that the Indian Ocean offers promising potential for mutual cooperation and collaboration.

“The inter national community needs to be cognizant of the fact that any military conflict in South Asia could endanger stability in a region that is critical for global trade flows and security,” he said.

The foreign minister also alleged that India has nuclearised the Indian Ocean and was continuing to induct advanced weapons systems and naval delivery platforms.

“The Indian Ocean offers promising potential for mutual cooperation and collaboration but geo-strategic competition and the pursuit of military dominance by some States have gravely jeopardised that potential,”

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dents who were detained while joining in anti-coup activities.

One student who managed to escape told reporters that the pupils — thought to range in age from 13 to 16 — were demonstrating peacefully when a line of riot police suddenly arrived and began arresting them. It wasn’t clear exactly how many students were rounded up, but estimates put the figure at between 20 and 40.

Earlier Monday, Myanmar’s military leaders extended their detention of deposed leader Aung San

stands with justice?” and “Stop arresting people illegally at midnight.”

In Yangon, the country’s most populous city, fewer protesters gathered on Monday due to the loss of the internet and reports of military vehicles on the streets. Nevertheless, more than 1,000 anti-coup demonstrators were outside the Central Bank of Myanmar building, where there were also military trucks full of soldiers, riot police, water cannon trucks and armored personnel carriers.

Demonstrators carried placards that read “#SupportCDM #SaveMyanmar.”

CDM refers to the civil disobedience movement that has seen doctors, engineers and others in Myanmar refuse to work until the military releases elected political leaders and returns the country to civilian rule.

Some protesters posed for photographs in front of military vehicles while holding red signs that read “Join in CDM.” When the militar y seized power, it detained Suu Kyi and members of her government and prevented recently elected lawmakers from opening a new session of Parliament.

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YANGON, FEB 15 (AP): Security forces in Myanmar pointed guns toward anti-coup protesters and attacked them with sticks on Monday, seeking to quell the large-scale demonstrations calling for the military junta that seized power earlier this month to reinstate the elected government.

More than 1,000 protesters rallied in front of the Myanmar Economic Bank in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, when at least 10 trucks full of soldiers and police arrived and immediately started firing slingshots toward the protesters, according to a photographer who witnessed the events.

The soldiers and police then attacked the protesters with sticks, and police could be seen aiming long guns into the air amid sounds that resembled gunfire. Local media reported that rubber bullets were also fired into the crowd, and that a few people were injured.

Police were also seen pointing guns toward the protesters.

In the capital, Naypyitaw, protesters gathered outside a police station demanding the release of a group of high school stu-

(Affiliated to Nagaland University, Recognized by the Govt. of Nagaland and Accredited by NAAC with B++ Grade) A.G. Colony, Kohima: 797001, Nagaland Advt. No. MCC/Adm/2017/10 09th February 2021

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sports

Eng face defeat as Ashwin shines with bat & ball

C h e nna i , F e b 1 5 (IANS): Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday scored his fifth Test century as India tightened the noose around England in the second Test as they set England a target of 482 runs and then reduced them to 52 for three at stumps on the third day.

Ashwin scored 106 runs off 148 balls with the help of 14 fours and a six as India’s second innings came to an end at 286 in the post-tea session. Mohammad Siraj remained unbeaten on 16, and added 49 runs for the final wicket with Ashwin who was the last wicket to fall.

India then knocked out openers Dom Sibley (3) and Rory Burns (25) as well as night-watchman Jack Leach (0) to set England back in chase of 482.

England are still 430 runs adrift.

Ashwin’s century followed a five-wicket haul in England’s first innings, making him only the second cricketer to achieve the feat of a century and a fifer in the same game on three different occasions. Ian Botham of England had done it five times.

R Ashwin celebrates after scoring a century, Monday. (PTI)

Earlier, resuming at 54/1 on the third day, India lost five wickets but added 102 runs to get their lead past 350 in the morning session. The hosts lost the wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara (7), Rohit Sharma (26), Rishabh Pant (8), Ajinkya Rahane (10) and debutant Axar Patel (7) in quick succession to give a glimmer of hope to England.

However, skipper Virat Kohli and Ashwin then

shared a 96-run stand for the seventh wicket to put India in a commanding position.

Kohli, who showed his class on a Chepauk wicket that aided turn, was the first wicket to fall in the postlunch session as he was dismissed by Moeen Ali at his individual score of 62.

This was the fifth time that Ali had dismissed the India skipper in Test cricket.

Kuldeep Yadav (3)

and Ishant Sharma (7) also shared eight and 27-run partnerships respectively with Ashwin to frustrate the England bowlers.

India had posted 329 runs in their first innings.

The hosts then bowled out England for 134, securing a 195-run lead in first innings.

Meanwhile R Ashwin, who scored his fifth Test century after a five-wicket haul to help India take the

stranglehold of the second Test, said he brought out his sweep shot for the first time after well over a decade.

“After the last Test, we were thinking on how to counter [Jack] Leach and start bringing sweep to the game. The last time I was sweeping was probably when I was 19 years old; hit a couple of sweep shots, got dropped from the side, and maybe never played a sweep for the last 11, maybe 13-14 years. I’ve been practicing that shot for the last week to 10 days.

Very, very thankful that the plan has really paid off,” Ashwin, who scored 106 to help India make 286 in the second innings and set a target of 482 runs for England, said after the third day’s play.

Ashwin credited India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour, a former India opener, for improvement in his batting.

BRIE F S CORE S : England: 134 and 53/3 in 19 overs (Rory Burns 25; Axar Patel 2/15) India: 329 and 286 all out in 86.5 overs (Virat Kohli 62, Ravichandran Ashwin 106; Moeen Ali 4/98, Jack Leach 4/100).

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

ISL: Chhetri shines as BFC beat Mumbai 4-2 New Delhi, Feb 15 (Agencies): Mumbai City FC had 23 shots, the most they have had in the entire season but they just couldn’t get the result they were looking for. Instead, it was a rejuvenated Bengaluru FC side that walked away with three points after an impressive 4-2 win at the GMC Stadium, Bambolim, on Monday. The night saw the best of BFC skipper Sunil Chhetri, who scored a brace (57’, 90’) in his 200th game for the club. Cleiton Silva also bagged his double (1’, 22’) while Adam Le Fondre (50’, 72’) scored for Mumbai.

It took just 25 seconds for BFC to take the lead with Silva scoring the fastest goal of the season and secondfastest in the history of the league. After getting the ball in midfield, Chhetri released Udanta Singh on the wing.

The winger sprinted down the flank and sprayed a pass across the face of the goal to Silva, who made no mistake.

As Mumbai looked to wrest control, the Blues were rewarded with their second in the 22nd minute from a set-piece. Xisco Hernandez sent in a delightful ball at the far post and Silva timed his

Sunil Chhetri marked his 200th Club appearance with a brace. (ISL)

run to head it into the back of the net. Amrinder Singh, who moments earlier had denied Erik Paartalu with a fine save, couldn’t do much.

Lobera’s side had two good chances to get back into the game, one through Le Fondre and another through Raynier Fernandes but both were not converted.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu then made a big save to deny Mourtada Fall.

The Islanders came back stronger in the second half and Cy Goddard made a run on the right and threaded a well-time cross inside the box. Le Fondre got in front of Harmanjot Khabra and caressed the ball past Gurpreet.

But BFC restored their

two-goal lead within seven minutes through Chhetri.

Gurpreet’s goal kick found Chhetri upfront who had Hernan Santana on him.

However, the latter took a tumble, setting Chhetri free with just Amrinder between him and the goal and the skipper made no mistake.

But there was another twist as, with 20 minutes left, Le Fondre scored his second, guiding a Goddard freekick past Gurpreet.

BFC scored their fourth when Edmund Lalrindika set Chhetri through and he coolly scored past Amrinder for his second.

TUESDAY’S MATCH Hyderabad Vs Kerala Blasters 7:30 pm

Rahul at 2, Kohli at 7 in T20 rankings AUS OPEN: Nadal, Medvedev, Barty, Karolina in last 8

Dubai, Feb 15 (IANS): India batsmen KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have maintained their respective second and seventh spots in the ICC T20I rankings for batsmen which got updated on Monday.

India are slated to take on England in five T20Is, following the culmination of the ongoing four-Test series, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) and the duo will get a chance to gain some points.

The rankings got updated following the culmination of the three-match series between Pakistan and South Africa which the Babar Azam led-side won 2-1.

South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has g rabbed a career-best second position among bowlers while Pakistan wicketkee per-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has raced to 42nd place in the rankings.

Shamsi’s series-top-

Yuvraj Singh booked for ‘casteist slur’ Chandigarh, Feb 15 (IANS): Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has been booked by Haryana Police in an eight-monthold complaint of making a “casteist slur” against Yuzvendra Chahal, officials said on Monday.

A c o m p l a i n t wa s lodged against Yuvraj by Hisar-based Dalit activist Rajan Kalsan in June last year for allegedly using the “casteist slur”. He had alleged the comments of Yuvraj, made during an Instagram live session with Rohit Sharma in April last year, degraded and defamed the Dalit community.

The former India allrounder was on Sunday booked by the Hansi Police in Hisar district under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. As per the complaint, the remarks were meant to provoke the community in an attempt to create unrest by hurting social sentiments of the country.

Following the controversy, the 39-year-old former cricketer had come out with an apology on Twitter after facing a lot of backlash on social media.

KL Rahul

ping six wickets, which included a haul of four for 25 in the final match, helped the left-arm wrist-spinner overtake Australia’s Adam Zampa, England’s Adil Rashid and Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman to within three points of topranked Rashid Khan of Afghanistan.

Rizwan too benefited from heading the run-aggregate in the series with 197 runs, which comprised knocks of 104 not out, 51 and 42. The string of impressive scores won him the player of the series award and lifted him a whopping

116 slots to a career-best 42nd position.

Haider Ali is another Pakistan batsman to advance, moving up 13 places to 137th position while fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi (up five places to 11th) and Hasan Ali (up 14 places to 82nd), and spinners Mohammad Nawaz (reentered at 64th) and Usman Qadir (up 129 places to 92nd) are the bowlers to progress.

For South Africa, Reeza Hendricks’s 98 runs in the series have lifted him seven places to 17th and David Miller’s 116 runs, which included a 45-ball 85 not out in the second match, sees him gain seven places to 22nd position in the list led by Dawid Malan of England.

Fast bowler Dwaine Pretorius has moved up from 121st place to 51st, after matching compatriot Shamsi’s six wickets in the series, a huge gain considering his previous best was only a 107th rank.

Melbourne, Feb 15 (IANS): World number two Rafael Nadal on Monday entered the Australian Open quarter-finals for the 13th time after getting past Fabio Fognini in their fourth round contest.

Nadal, the 2009 champion, registered a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over the Italian No. 16 seed in two hours and 16 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.The 34-year-old is looking to become the first man in the Open Era to clinch each of the four major championships on two or more occasions.

He will next face fifthseeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who received a walkover after No. 9 seed Matteo Berrettini of Italy withdrew due to an abdominal strain.

Earlier in the day, fourth seed Daniil Medvedev also booked his place in the quarter-finals after a commanding straight-sets win over Mackenzie McDonald. Medvedev beat the 25-year-old American 6-4,

Rafael Nadal

Daniil Medvedev

Ash Barty

Karolina Muchova

6-2, 6-3 in his fourth-round match that lasted an hour and 29 minutes at the Margaret Court Arena. He will face Andrey Rublev in what can be a blockbuster quarterfinal clash on Wednesday.

Medvedev can now face Andrey Rublev -- who takes on Casper Ruud in the fourth round -- in what can be a blockbuster quarterfinal clash.

With the win, Medvedev had moved into his third Grand Slam quarter-final,

and his first away from the US Open. He is looking to become Russia’s first male Grand Slam champion since Marat Safin won the Australian Open in 2005.

Top-ranked Ash Barty moved into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third straight year by beating Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-4.

Barty lost in the semifinals last year to eventual champion Sofia Kenin and didn’t play another major tournament in 2020 after

deciding to stay in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She had two match points in the eighth game of the second set but made four consecutive errors. Rogers capitalized to break and then hold and force Barty to again serve for the match.

Barty made no mistakes the second time when she held at love to close it out. Barty is aiming to be the first Australian woman since 1978 to win the Australian

title. She will next play No. 25 Karolina Muchova.

Muchova rallied from 5-2 down in the first set to upset 18th-seeded Elise Mertens 7-6 (5), 7-5.

Mer tens won the Gippsland Trophy tuneup tournament at Melbourne Park before the Australian Open started and won the first four games against Muchova but then started to tighten up as the Czech player found her range with her big ground strokes.

Inter beat Lazio to top Serie A table

Lukaku added a second goal for Inter just before half time as his team took control of the game.

Rome, Feb 15 (IANS): Romelu Lukaku took the center-stage at the San Siro as the Belgian scored two and set up another, helping Inter Milan conquer Lazio 3-1 to leapfrog AC Milan, into the top place of Serie A. Both sides were in sharp form on Sunday as a win would secure Inter the top place while Lazio was coming off six consecutive Serie A victories, reports Xinhua news agency.

Inter players wore a special edition jersey with

their names in Chinese characters to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.

The home side went ahead in the 21st minute as Lukaku laid it off for Lautaro Martinez, the Argentine broke into the box and was brought down by Wesley Hoedt. Lukaku stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, sending Pepe Reina the wrong way.

The Nerazzurri doubled the lead before the interval, when Marcelo Brozovic’s tackle bounced

off Manuel Lazzari, turning into an assist for Lukaku to drill home. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the referee corrected it after consulting the VAR. The Biancocelesti seemed to be getting a lifeline on the hour mark, as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s free-kick took a huge deflection off Gonzalo Escalante to go beyond a helpless Samir Handanovic.

But Inter shattered Lazio’s hopes three minutes later with a textbook counter-attack as Lukaku sprinted from his own-half, resisting a shoulder-toshoulder challenge against Marco Parolo, and squaring for Lautaro to tap in totally unmarked.

The win, coupled with AC Milan’s stunning 2-0 defeat to Spezia, sent Inter to the top of the table with 50 points, one point clear of its city-rivals.

Also on Sunday, Roma swept Udinese aside 3-0, as Jordan Veretout’s brace put the Giallorossi firmly in charge in the first half, and Pedro Rodriguez sealed the win before the whistle.

Elsewhere, Luis Muriel’s last-gasp winner helped Atalanta edge past Cagliari 1-0. In Sunday’s other fixtures, Sampdoria defeated Fiorentina 2-1, and Sassuolo won 2-1 away to Crotone.

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