Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVII No. 75
DIMAPUR, monday, february 20, 2017 Pages 12 ` 4.00
Pakistan’s absence at South Asian Speakers’ Summit raises eyebrows
Chelsea battle past Wolves in FA Cup
Donald Trump vows to totally destroy IS; rebuild US military
national, Page 7
sports, Page 12
international, Page 9
Zeliang quits as CM; MLAs to elect leader lature of around 49 MLAs scrambled to Kaziranga after learning that BJP central leaders had signalled their preference for Rio as the next chief minister.
Staff Reporter/Correspondent
DIMAPUR/KOHIMA, FEB 19 (NPN): Nagaland Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya accepted the resignation of T.R. Zeliang as chief minister of the state along with his council of minister, after he submitted it at Raj Bhavan on Sunday night. After accepting the resignation, the Governor asked Zeliang and his council of ministers to continue till alternative arrangement was made. A communiqué issued by Raj Bhavan stated that Zeliang was accompanied by some of his cabinet colleagues. In another statement to the NPF Legislature party and DAN Legislature, T.R. Zeliang informed about his resignation and to select a new consensus leader to succeed him. In this regard, he has called for an emergency meeting of the NPF legislature party at 10 a.m. Monday at State Banquet Hall followed by meeting of the DAN legislature party at 11 a.m. at the same venue. All NPF and DAN members have been requested to at-
Apply for passports at select post offices from March NEW DELHI, FEB 19 (PTI): From next month, people in select cities will be able to apply for passports in post offices under an ambitious initiative of the external affairs ministry. This is aimed at making the passport issuance process hassle-free and ease burden on passport offices across the country which are grappling with large volume of applications. In the first phase of the project, passport services will be made available in select post offices in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Jharkhand and some other states. The external affairs ministry, which issues passports, is making all required arrangements for roll-out of the scheme in some of the select cities in first half of March. Currently, 89 Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) are operating across the country as extended arms of the 38 Passport Offices. According to the MEA, the government rendered 1.15 crore passport and other related services during 2016. In Rajasthan, passport services will be available in Kota, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jhunjhunu and Jhalawar while in West Bengal it will be in Asansol, Nadia, North Dinajpur North Kolkata.
This is it!
“Those youths show a stick and cars stop. When show AK47s to stop cars they shout at us.” K Y M C
CMO on Delhi trip
T.R. Zeliang submits his resignation to P.B. Acharya.
tend the meeting for selecting a consensus leader so as to ensure smooth transition of office. It was learnt that T.R. Zeliang had endorsed Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu to take over as the next chief minister. Later in the evening, Shürhozelie drove to the residence of chief minister T.R. Zeliang for a closed door meeting. T.R.Zeliang returned four days after he was asked to step down by 42 legislators on February 15 postmidnight. Zeliang was to have resigned the next day but instead air-dashed to Delhi the same day, while the
state continued to reel under imposition of bandh to press for his resignation. According to sources, BJP central leaders asked both T.R. Zeliang and Neiphiu Rio to bury their hatchet and work towards restoring normalcy in Nagaland in the interest of the Naga peace process. Zeliang was to have met with Rio and the legislators at Kaziranga on Saturday but did not show up. With the state of political flux causing much anxiety, Zeliang’s prolonged absence since February 15 only added to the suspense. On February 17, almost the entire DAN legis-
At Sunday afternoon’s meeting with several NPF legislators in the State Banquet Hall, chief minister T.R. Zeliang briefed them on his recent visit to Delhi. Zeliang said during the course of his meetings with Central leaders, he learnt that various reports submitted to the Central government sought for President’s Rule in Nagaland. He said besides the normal reports passed on to the Centre by the Governor, Intelligence Bureau, Assam Rifles and CRPF, there were reports submitted by NPCC and a retired Supreme Court judge recommending immediate imposition of President’s Rule citing breakdown of government machinery. CMO said Zeliang reportedly spoke against PR in view of adverse affect on solution to the Naga political issue. Zeliang also claimed that after he pre-
NTAC members call on Governor
NTAC delegation at the meeting with P.B. Acharya on Sunday evening.
DIMAPUR, FEB 19 (NPN): Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) delegation on Sunday called on Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya and discussed with him on the prevailing situation in the state and reminded him that delay by T.R Zeliang in meeting the demands of the people may further
complicate the volatile political situation prevailing in the state. According to NTAC media cell, the Governor assured to the delegation that smooth transition of office of the chief minister would take place very soon. In this regard, the Governor also appealed to the
NTAC members to exercise maximum restrain and efficiently manage the people whose voice they represent, claimed media cell. Meanwhile, NTAC has asked all citizens to be prepared for any eventuality in the event chief minister T.R. Zeliang failed to keep his word to step down by Sunday midnight. NTAC also informed that the ongoing bandh on government offices and movement of government vehicles will continue till further information. In this regard, NTAC media cell informed all tribal hohos in their respective districts to deploy volunteers to ensure that the bandh has been enforced. Further, NTAC appealed private hospitals and medical establishments to be on standby for any casualty or emergency cases in the event the situation aggravate and goes out of hand.
sented his case against PR, there “is little chance of PR being imposed in Nagaland.” Zeliang said central leaders and some groups in Delhi had told him that they received suggestions for Neiphiu Rio to return to state politics. Zeliang however told them that it could only be decided by NPF and alliance partners.
Central leaders for Rio
Political crisis within the ruling NPF might fizzle out with a likely ‘selection/ election’ of party president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü as the next chief minister to replace incumbent T.R. Zeliang. The BJP, which is the only party in alliance under DAN, finds itself in a situation. BJP sources said that the Central leaders wanted former CM and Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio as the alternative candidate for chief minister. It was also disclosed that the BJP legislators were unlikely to attend the DAN meeting Monday at 11 a.m. where Dr. Shürhozelie would be elected as the next chief minister.
No force can disintegrate Manipur’s territory: Rajnath Correspondent
IMPHAL, FEB 19: Union Home minister, Rajnath Singh on Sunday categorically stated that no force in the world can disintegrate Manipur’s territory and clarified that “no word related to Manipur contained in the framework agreement signed between government of India and NSCN (I-M).” “There is no such provision in the agreement. Even the name of Manipur is not mentioned in it,” asserted Rajnath and reiterated that Manipur’s territorial integrity will not be compromised at any cost. He said this while addressing BJP election rallies at Imphal and Bishnupur district on Sunday accompanied by BJP national general secretary, Ram Madhav. Rajnath who arrived Imphal on Sunday, accused the ruling Congress government of trying to gain political mileage by misleading the people of the ‘Framework Agreement’. He further reassured that BJP-led NDA government at the Centre would not allow anyone to distort
Rajnath Singh (File)
the territorial integrity of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh at any cost. Asserting that BJP was always committed to translate its assurances into action, he appealed to all not have any doubts that Centre would compromise territorial integrity of Manipur and other states of the region even though peace talks were on with the NSCN (I-M). The assertion of Rajnath comes was at a time when All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) was demanding Centre to disclose the contents of the Framework Agreement signed between Government of India and NSCN (I-M) on August 3, 2015.
AMSU had launched series of agitation in this regard. On Sunday as well, AMSU activists had staged a demonstration at Imphal’s Palace Compound when Rajnath was at a function to release the vision document of BJP ahead of the polls. Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh went on to slam the O. Ibobi government for total chaos in the state and accused Congress for conspiring the economic blockade to divert attention from its failures. “I think there is a political conspiracy to divert the attention from the failures of the Congress government here. I want to know why despite Centre extending all help, the economic blockade is still there,” the senior BJP leader said. Also speaking at the vision document release function, Arunachal Pradesh chief minister, Pema Khandu echoed Rajnath’s statement that “BJP government at the Centre will not allow re-mapping of boundaries of North Eastern states, particularly, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.”
Partial bandh in Dmu; govt Nagaland crisis impacts offices to remain shut: JCC NPF’s preparation in Mnp DIMAPUR, FEB 19 (NPN): Consequent upon the resignation of chief minister, T.R. Zeliang, the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on Sunday informed that the bandh in Dimapur would be partial, JCC media cell informed through a press note. From February 20, JCC said all business establishments, Central offices, schools/colleges, banks, private vehicles etc. would function normally. However, bandh would remain in force on all government offices and movement of government vehicles till further notice. When contacted, a JCC member clarified that bandh on government machineries would be imposed until the time the new dispensation officially takes over. “JCC during its emergency meeting on Sunday night decided that it will not accept T.R. Zeliang even as the caretaker chief minister,” the member said. JCC further warned the state government against any action on any government employee who had responded to the clarion call by their respective tribal bodies to support the people’s movement. Rejecting the one man Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) to look into the January 31 incident, JCC said the commission should be headed by three persons including one from an NGO selected by JCC. JCC further reiterated its demand for the suspension of former police commissioner and the erring police personals. JCC has also requested 100 volunteers from every tribe to assemble at DC’s office on February 20, 8 a.m.
GUWAHATI, Feb 19 (Agencies): The ongoing political turmoil in Nagaland has marred Naga Peoples Front’s (NPF) preparation in Manipur assembly polls. NPF, opposition party in Manipur has put up 15 candidates in the Manipur polls however most of the top leaders of the party are yet to hit the campaign trail, reports The Economic Times. NPF made its electoral début in Manipur in 2012 assembly polls and won 4 seats out of 12 seats it contested. NPF support base is mainly in the hills (20 seats). N P F p r e s i d e n t D r. Shürhozelie Liezietsu told ET, “The ongoing crisis in Nagaland has created confusion. However soon this confusion will be over and we will be concentrating on Manipur election, we are contesting 15 seats in Manipur.”
The crisis was triggered by the death of two people in police firing which resulted in tribal bodies demanding chief minister T.R. Zeliang’s resignation. This also led to largescale arson in government properties in Kohima followed by indefinite bandh on government machineries since January 28. A s a n a l t e r n a t i ve, NPF MLAs had backed Dr. Shürhozelie to take over as chief minister. However, former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio too was propped by some legislators. Political analysts opined that ongoing tussle in Nagaland will impact NPF’s performance for most of their leaders have given campaign a miss. Manipur assembly polls will be held in two phases on March 4 and 8.
India may meet its energy needs from Moon by 2030 Demand for restoration of data services NEW DELHI, FEB 19 (IANS): India may be able to meet all its energy requirements from resources on the moon by 2030, a scientist associated with the ISRO said on Saturday. Sivathanu Pillai, a distinguished professor at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said here that India’s all energy requirements can be met through Helium-3 mined from the moon. “By 2030, this process target will be met,” Pillai said while delivering the valedictory address at the three-day ORFKalpana Chawla Space Policy Dialogue, organised by Observer Research Foundation. Pillai, a former chief of BrahMos Aerospace, said mining lunar dust, which is rich in Helium-3 is a priority programme for the ISRO. According to an ORF release, Pillai said other countries are also working on the
Staff Reporter
project and there is enough helium on the moon, which can meet the energy requirements of the world. “In a few decades, people will be going to the moon for honey-moon,” Pillai quipped. Lt. Gen. P.M. Bali, Director General, Perspective Planning, Indian Army, said the launch of GSAT-7, India’s first dedicated military satellite,
is a testimony to the country’s outlook towards using the outer space for national security. He noted that India possesses one of the largest constellations of communication and remote sensing satellites covering Asia Pacific. Lt. Gen. Bali said although India continues with a civilian orientation to its space programme,
the changing regional and global realities require it to also develop military assets in space and on ground as an emerging regional and global power. He said there is a need for a dedicated military space programme with adequate resources at its disposal because of “the changing realities in our neighbourhood”.
DIMAPUR, FEB 19 (NPN): Extremely dismayed by the way the state government had been acted upon to black out all mobile data/SMS services, various sections of the society have voiced out against the suspension and demanded that the state government immediately withdraw the ban. A young entrepreneur who recently started his online business was appalled that the ban on mobile data services had adversely affected his business. He said the situation in Nagaland was normal now and there was no need to impose such ban. “My business was just picking up and now I am crippled,” he said. But if the government tries to cut the hand and limbs of every businessman from earning their daily
bread, the situation would be worse, he added. Another renowned businessman said just by banning mobile internet services, how could the government justify that it has been done so just to stop the spread of rumours. What kind of rumors will people spread now when one can easily make calls or spread rumours if at all through word of mouth, he wondered. “We deal with online transactions to receive and make payments. The ban has not only made the business community suffer but various institutions like schools etc. They cannot have a tit-for-tat attitude and make the people suffer more, to protect themselves after creating all the mess.” One of the most vocal was a woman entrepreneur who also deals with online clothing business.
She said she had lost many of her clients after years of struggle to market her brand. “Now, do you think those calling the shots at the government will compensate people like us when they are not at all bothered about the economy and only knows how to loot,” she questioned. Principal of a CBSE affiliated school was extremely worried about his students. He said most of them do not have broadband connections at home and depend only on mobile data to carry out their assignments and other activities like downloading materials etc. He said 70% of the works at schools depend on internet. Besides these, the schools also need to make online submission of documents for exams, students practical papers etc., he added. K Y M C