Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXX No. 71
DIMAPUR, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00
Airstrikes kill over 30 civilians in Yemen
Mane cracks Norwich resistance as Liverpool go 25 points clear
Shah suggests Delhi Police in dealing with miscreants
INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9
SPORTS, PAGE 12
NATIONAL, PAGE 5
We are firm on Art 370, CAA: PM
Narendra Modi
VA R A NA S I , F E B 1 6 (AGENCIES): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the NDA government was facing pressure from the world over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), but the government would continue to take decisions that are important for the country. Even as protests continue in several parts of the country and many countries have also expressed their reservations on the decisions regarding CAA and making instant triple talaq illegal in the country, this is the first time Modi has acknowledged that the Union government was facing pressure on its recent decisions. “Be it the decision on Article 370 or the Citizenship Amendment Act, it was necessary in the inter-
COVID-19: WHO appeals chief urges broader response NEW DELHI, FEB 16 ( AG E N C I E S ) : Wo r l d Health Organization director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged the international community to make their response to the coronavirus governmentwide. “This is not a job for health ministers alone. It takes a whole-of-government approach,” he said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference. “That approach must be coherent and coordinated, guided by evidence and public health priorities.” Meanwhile, the death toll from China’s coronavirus epidemic has climbed to 1,666 after 142 more people died, mostly in the worst-hit Hubei Province, and the confirmed cases jumped to almost 70,000, officials said on Sunday. China’s Health Commission confirmed 2,009 new infection cases across the country. A man died on Sunday in Taiwan, marking the first such death on the island. Two more Indians on board a quarantined cruise ship off Japan have tested positive for the novel coronavirus even as India assured that it will provide all possible assistance. (See more on p-9)
This is it!
“No. I’m not aware of backdoor appointments. I’m not the appointing authority. Ask those in police department.” K Y M C
est of the country. Despite pressure, we stand by our decision and will remain so,” he said. Speaking at a public meeting in his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi, the PM said, “The abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have been pending for a long time. People wanted these decisions to be taken. There is pressure from the world but we will continue to take decisions that are important for the development of the country.” He said the ruling BJP government was committed to working for the development and betterment of the financially and socially weaker sections. “The government is constantly striving and trying to reach the downtrodden. Government wants to ensure that the fruits of development reach the financially and socially weaker sections. The aspirations of the poor have not been met for long, but now things have changed, the union government has resolved to give priority to the poor,” Modi said. Modi also launched or
laid foundation of 50 projects worth Rs. 1,254 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency. He also flagged off the IRCTC’s ‘Maha Kaal Express’ through video link during his day-long visit to the city. It will be the first overnight private train in the country to connect three Jyotirling pilgrim centres of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and Ujjain and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh. Modi also dedicated to the nation the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Memorial Centre and unveiled a 63-feet tall statue of the RSS ideologue - the tallest statue of the leader in the country. Modi said that Deendayal Upadhyaya always focused on the last man in the line with his ‘antyodaya’ concept. “Our government is working on his concept of self-reliance and selfservice. Our schemes like free gas connections and toilets cater to the poorest of the poor,” he said. “Projects worth Rs 25,000 crore have either been completed or are in the process of being completed in Varanasi and this is due to the blessings of Lord Shiva who has given
me the responsibility of serving you. Projects worth Rs 12,000 crore that have been launched today include hospitals, schools, roads, flyovers and water projects. We are trying to turn western Uttar Pradesh into a medical hub with improved connectivity,” he said. Modi said that when “we talk of a five trillion dollar economy in India, we must remember that tourism is a major part of it”. “Besides nature, heritage tourism has a strong role to play in achieving the goal. Also, along with Varanasi other holy sites are being developed using new technologies. The Kashi Vishwanath temple complex will soon get a new attractive look. The Ram temple in Ayodhya will also turn into reality because the trust for construction has been formed,” the Prime Minister said. Modi referred to the setting up of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. “A trust has been formed for construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. This trust will work rapidly,” he said.
SC to hear plea against Shaheen Bagh protest today
Pan Naga Hoho post ‘IndoNaga’ political solution: ENNWA
NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): Supreme Court will hear the petition filed against the sit-in protest against the CAA at Shaheen Bagh on February 17. In the previous hearing on February 10, the court had maintained that people are entitled to protest but they have to do so in an area designated for agitation. “There has to be an area for protest and one can’t block the entire road or the city,” the court said. The court in the last hearing had issued notices to Centre, Delhi government and state police on pleas seeking removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh and sought a reply on the matter within a week. The PIL, filed by Dr Nand Kishore Garg and Amit Sahni through their lawyer Shashank Deo Sudhi, sought appropriate directions to the Centre and others for removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh near Kalindi Kunj. It said that people in Shaheen Bagh are illegally protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, by blocking the common and public road connecting Delhi to Noida.
DIMAPUR, FEB16 (NPN): Eastern Naga National Workers Association (ENNWA) comprising of GPRN/NSCN, NSCN (Reformation), NSCN/ GPRN (Khango), NNC/ FGN, NNC/GDRN, NNC/ NPGN and NNC (Parent Body) under the Working Committee (WC) have rejected the statement of the Eastern Naga National Workers Union (ENNWU) which backed the proposed Pan-Naga Hoho as part of the final agreement. In a joint statement, ENNWA has said “Nagas of Nagaland will not accept the so-called Pan-Naga Hoho, without integration” since the proposed Pan-Naga Hoho would be “simply interpreted as political annexation of Nagaland.” ENNWA said twenty years of political negotiations with the government of India under WC place on record that the “political ambiguity of IM group has tormented the soul of Naga nationalism and people just for Pan Naga Hoho and that the FA (Framework Agreement) of 3rd August 2015, lacks clarity and transpar-
ency” adding FA resembled “ a discarded monument flawed from within and outside.” On the other hand, ENNWA said the “Agreed Position” signed between the government of India with WC/NNPG on November 17,2017 left “nothing to ambiguity or illusion” but outlined a clear political concept on who Nagas were and where Nagas are and what Nagas ought to be. It said the document took forward the spirit of the January 10,1929(Naga Club memorandum), August 14,1947 (Naga independence day) and May 16,1951(Naga Plebiscite” which are historical dates embedded in the “Agreed Position.” Questioning what is Pan Naga Hoho? ENNWA said Eastern Nagas of Nagaland and Myanmar heard of it only in the month of November 2019 and reiterated that “Naga freedom struggle cannot end with a Naga cultural body”. It said in the Naga context, “cheap lacklustre political lexicons such as –integration, suprastate, shared sovereignty, Pan Naga Hohoetc, coined
at Hebron Camp, are diluting the very spirit of Naga nationalism exhibited in 1929,1947 and 1951.” ENNWA also termed Pan Naga Hoho as a “noose on the necks of Nagaland tribes and not a cultural garland to bind all Nagas together, as is being propagated.” ENNWA said Pan Naga Hoho was in fact a “plan to ensure that Nagaland, shall, in their own words ‘cease to exist’”. ENNWA said as being under WC/NNPG, it has great hope that the ENPO leadership and affiliated tribe hohos, along with the rest of Naga tribes “ will not be victims of dubious propagands at play” and that Eastern Naga national workers, irrespective of political affiliation, “must not be forced to chase a bubble called Pan Naga Hoho, like little children.” ENNWA said WC/NNNPG has, without hesitation, shared its status paper detailing the blueprint of “the Indo-Naga political solution” and also made available to all Naga tribal hohos, intellectuals and civil societies.” (Cont’d on p-8)
Kejriwal takes oath as CM for third time NPRAAF alleges irregularities in MDM scheme
Kejriwal and other ministers sign the register after taking oath at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the chief minister of Delhi for the third consecutive time on Sunday at Delhi’s iconic Ramlila Maidan. Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal administered the oath of office and secrecy. Besides Kejriwal, all the six ministers in the previous government- Manish Sisodia,
Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain and Rajendra Gautam- took oath as ministers. Several banners and posters bearing messages like “Dhanyawad Dilli (thank you Delhi)” along with Kejriwal’s image was put up on Saturday at Ramlila Maidan ahead of the oath-taking swearing ceremony which was “open to people of Delhi”. Addressing his supporters after taking oath as chief minister, Kejriwal said his victory is the victory of every Delhiite. Kejriwal added that he has only worked to bring happiness in the lives of every Delhiites in the last five years. Calling for an end to political slugfest between AAP, BJP and Congress, he said, “I want to work by taking everyone along. We forgive our opponents for whatever remarks they made during campaign.” “I have never stopped anyone’s work based on which party they belong to. I invited PM Modi but he could not come but I wish for his blessings to fulfill my dreams of making Delhi the best State,” remarked Kejriwal. Kejriwal had invited around 50 people from different walks (‘Delhi ke Nirmata’) who had helped in the development of the city during the last five years-- tennis player Sumit Nagal, Delhi government school student and IITian Vijay Kumar, mohalla clinic doctor Alka, bike ambulance service officer Yudhishtir Rathee, night shelter caretaker Shabina Naaz, bus marshall Arun Kumar, Signature bridge architect RJ Batliboi and metro pilot Nidhi Gupta.
DIMAPUR, FEB 16 (NPN): Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has claimed it has detected anomalies in transportation of food grains meant for providing free meals to school children from the age of 6-14 in Class I and VII under the government of India’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS). In a statement, Information & Publicity wing of NPRAAF cited the government order dated September 30,2015for MDMS as specified in schedule II of the Act. NPRAAF claimed that Nagaland receives around 4000 metric tons of food grains annually that was equivalent to 80,000 bags(50 kg bag) in four instalments or quarter o914.35 metric tons or 10 lakh kgs or 20,000 bags each quarter. Citing unnamed sources, NPRAAF said the quantity is lifted from FCI godown by three carriage contractors- 112 quintals by an NGO from eastern Nagaland, 300 quintals by National Child Labour Project Scheme(NCLPS) and the remaining by a non-local contractor. According to NPRAAF, Nagaland received the 3rdquarter
(October to December 2019) and the 4th quarter (January to March 2020) respectively for the financial year 2019-20. It said the above were as per the directive of the under secretary Rajeev Kumar, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Department of School Education & Literacy (Mid-Day Mean Division) government of India, New Delhi dated September 20,2019. On the number of children who are beneficiaries of MDMS, it cited records that there were 1,06,298 school children under government primary schools (unless it has been increased). However, NPRAAF said, food grain received from the government of India was in excess of the actual requirement and despite receiving such a huge quantity, the DoSE did not regularly implement the MDMS as per government of India’s guidelines. NPRAAF informed that carriage contractors receive payment at the rate of Rs.125 per 100 kgs as transportation charge to various destinations. While the role of carriage contractors was restricted to transportation, NPRAAF alleged
CAG detects anomalies in various govt. departments DIMAPUR, FEB 16 (NPN): Repor t of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for the year ended March 31, 2018, tabled at the recently concluded fifth session of the 13 Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), detected financial anomalies in various departments. CAG detected anomalies with regard to implementation of North Eastern Council (NEC) funded projects. CAG stated that implementing departments paid Rs.44.29 crore without actual execution of the works. CAG also revealed that in the Department of Power (DoP) an excess payment of Rs. 22.50 crore was made to the suppliers by inflating the rate of materials/equipments. CAG has therefore recommended to the state government initi-
ate departmental inquiry to fix responsibility on officials involved. Besides, initiating probe CAG recommended that government consider filing FIR for the fictitious billing and payment of Rs. 38 lakh to the contractor for the works not executed. It also asked that the amount should be recovered. Under PWD (R&B) the CAG report revealed that two executive engineers of PWD (R&B) division paid Rs.18.08 crore to the contractors without execution of works. The CAG maintained that the government should ensure recovery of Rs. 18.08 crore and initiate probe and also fix responsibility on officers/ officials involved apart from filing FIRs. CAG also disclosed that payments were made for unexecuted items of
works under PWD (R&B). It has recommended recovery of a total of Rs.42.58 crore (Rs.13.80 cr, Rs.15.60 cr, Rs.8.76 cr and Rs.4.42 cr) from those contractors, besides action to be initiated to fix responsibility on erring officials for making excess payment and facilitating payment without actual execution of various items of works. Under Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection department, the CAG said that during joint inspection in July 2018, it detected that Rs. 60 lakh was incurred on fictitious procurement of 12 laboratory equipments. CAG therefore recommended that the department initiate action against the officials involved and recovery of the payment made fraudulently. Under Health department, CAG pointed out
that the Nursing hostel that was constructed was being utilized for other purposes and that Rs.24 lakh was paid to the contractor without execution of nine items of works needed to be recovered. In this regard, CAG has recommended the government to consider initiating a departmental probe for utilization of the hostel for other purposes other than the intended purpose and also initiate action for recovery of Rs.24 lakh besides fixing the responsibilities of erring officials responsible for making the irregular payment. Under Forest department, CAG also detected payment of Rs. 54 lakh, without ensuring execution of works under DFO Wokha. It has recommended to the government to initiate disciplinary proceedings and fix the responsibil-
ity on the erring officers/ officials and file FIR against those involved. NABARD loans (201318): CAG said payment of Rs.8.29 crore was made without actual execution of works and short execution of item of works in 29 projects. It pointed out that departmental charges of Rs.9.75 crore were irregularly deducted by the nodal department in contravention to the general terms and conditions of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) which entailed avoidable interest liability of Rs.2.13 crore. CAG also stated that the state government neither provided its share of Rs. 22.99 core in the budget nor released its share of funds to the implementing agencies.
that instead, carriage contractors in the state, over and above receiving transportation costs also eventually “become owners of the food grains” which it said was “totally illegal.” NPRAAF also claimed that when its members met with the nonlocal contractor to ascertain the reasons for the anomaly, it was revealed that it was not easy to transport entire food grains due to demand for tax by various organisations. It said the contractor also admitted a racket where politicians and officials demand percentage from profits after illegal sale of food grains to the market. It said the contractor admitted that food grains was re-polished then re-packaged before selling it to the highest bidder in the market. NPRAAF said that due to nonavailability of food grains, cooking cost, fuel or absence of cook, students entitled to MDMS as per National Food Security Act 2013, are not provided free meals in any school. It pointed out that the state government as per the Act Clause(c) or rule 2 was obligated to pay food security allowance for preparing MDMS by the 15th of the succeeding month.” (Cont’d on p-8)
NIA files charge-sheet against 2 for terror funding
DIMAPUR, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): National Investigating Agency (NIA) has filed a charge-sheet against two people, who are accused of allegedly financing terrorist activities of NSCN (I-M), a ANI report stated. The accused have been identified as Luckin Mashangva, a resident of Dimapur and Jaikishan Sharma of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh. A case was registered after the special team of Dimapur police seized Rs. 10,46,100 cash on August 28 last year from the possession of Luckin Mashangva and Jaikishan Sharma. The NIA has registered the case against both the accused under Sections 120B and 384 of IPC and Section 17 of the UA (P) Act, Sections 384 and 34 (Cont’d on p-8) of IPC, Sections 13 and 20
of UA(P) Act, and Section 7 of the NSR Act. “Investigation has established that accused Luckin Mashangva was a self-styled major of NSCN (I-M) and Jaikishan Sharma is a contractor in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh,” said NIA in a statement. “Accused persons were running an organised racket of extortion from several businessmen/contractors to finance the activities of NSCN (I-M). Accused Jaikishan Sharma managed to secure tenders of government works by threat, coercion, and manipulation, and then paid substantial money to the leaders of NSCN (I-M), thus raising funds for terrorist activities of NSCN (I-M),” added the NIA in the statement. K Y M C
