Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVII No. 44
DIMAPUR, friday, january 20, 2017 Pages 12 ` 4.00
May affirms UK trade ambitions
India win ODI series 2-0
Manmohan ‘protected’ RBI in PAC meet: Kapil Sibal
international, Page 9
sports, Page 12
national, Page 5
Jallikattu uprising in TN PEOPLE SAY TRADITION SUPREME OVER COURT INTERPRETATION
NEW DELHI, JAN 19 (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam decided to stay back in the capital on Thursday to figure out how to allow the annual bull-taming event jallikattu in the face of a Supreme Court ban and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reluctance to use the ordinance route to bypass it. Modi has indicated his government’s inability to promulgate an ordinance to allow the event, pointing out that the matter is sub-judice. “While appreciating the cultural significance of jallikattu, the Prime Minister observed that the matter is at present sub-judice,” the Prime Minister’s Office said after the meeting. At the same time, it said, “The Centre would be supportive of the steps taken by the state government.” Panneerselvam then discussed the issue with his Additional Advocate General Subramonium Prasad, while supervising the developments back home personally. An official statement said the chief minister is giving directions to the officials concerned.
AYO reiterates warning to excom-candidates DIMAPUR, JAN 19 (NPN): Reiterating its warning to excommunicated candidates not to take refuge in Angami areas of Dimapur and Kohima, the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) has further cautioned that any family or house owner in the Angami areas found harbouring them would be held accountable and viewed seriously. In a press release, AYO president, Neinguvotuo Krose, and vice president, Peter Rutsa, thanked all for paying heed and adhering to its directive. It also expressed hope that the current imbroglio would be resolved at the earilest by all stakeholders in the interest of the present and future generation. Till then, AYO reiterated its resolve to uphold the APO resolution passed in the interest of Angamis in particular and Nagas in general. AYO also noted that every Angami heeded to the voice of the community and Nagas in general by not filing their nominations and, if nominated, withdrew and pledging to relinquish office even if they had failed to withdraw. as advised.
(Protest against rape of minor in Phek, see p-8)
This is it!
“We are in a lose-lose situation.Whether to listen to the tribe bodies or the political bodies?” K Y M C
Prime Minister Modi with Tamil Nadu chief minister, O. Panneerselvam during their meeting on Thursday. (R) Thousands of protestors gathered at Marina beach Chennai.
“We will soon take steps with the backing of the Centre for the holding of the sport. You will soon see (the steps). All is well that ends well. Wait, good will happen,” he said after meeting with Modi. Late evening reports indicated that the state government could consider promulgating an ordinance to ensure holding of jallikattu or convene the Assembly for adopting a resolution in its favour. Protests demanding jallikattu gathered further momentum and agitators rejected the statements by Modi and Panneerselvam. The state braced for a shutdown on Friday. In a
virtual replay of the antiHindi agitation of the 1960s, lakhs of students and youths took leadership of the peaceful protests across the state, while agitators in Madurai, the main area which has been hosting jallikattu sport for centuries, stopped trains pressing for their demand. Businesses, theatres, schools and transporters have declared a day-long strike tomorrow supporting the demand for immediate permission to allow jallikattu. The agitation in support of jallikattu gathered momentum in Tamil Nadu and also outside India in the Tamil diaspora. Protests were reported from Sri Lan-
ka, Britain and Australia. In London, the protest group includes London Tamil Sangam, World Tamil Organisation and British South Indians. They held protests outside the Indian High Commission in London on Tuesday and Wednesday. Protests are also planned in Leeds in England and Dublin in Ireland. ”Hundreds have been turning out to highlight that jallikattu is part of our tradition and identity. We are also working on a major hungerstrike this weekend to raise awareness around the issue in the UK. We are expecting over 1,000 people to join that protest,” a spokesperson for the protest group told PTI.
CM takes up border fencing issue with MHA
APO advisory board on ULB reservation issue
DIMAPUR, JAN 19 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang reiterated that the Government of India should ask Myanmar government to stop border fencing in Noklak area of Tuensang district in Nagaland, saying it would adversely affect free movement of people in the area and also the traditional land holding system prevailing in the area since time immemorial. CMO media cell through a press note informed that Zeliang on Thursday night held a separate meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after the joint meeting with Manipur CM, wherein he took up the issue with the Union Minister and pointed out that people of Noklak area stand to lose some 3500 acres of land which they have been cultivating since generations.
NSF for PM’s intervention
(Cont’d on p-8)
(Cont’d on p-8)
Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has urged Prime Minister of India to bring about an amicable solution to what it described as “divisive border fencing between India and Myanmar.” In a representation submitted to the Prime Minister, through Nagaland Governor, NSF president, Subenthung Kithan, assistant general secretary, Kesosul Christopher Ltu said despite the artificial geographical boundary created, the people in the region were peace loving and have been rendering much effort to maintain peace and tranquillity along the area. In this regard, the NSF sought immediate intervention of the Prime Minister in addressing the matter and delivering justice to the people.
Sec 144 to remain in force at Phek town DIMAPUR, JAN 19 (NPN): Deputy Commissioner (DC) Phek has notified that Section 144 of CrPC would remain in force at Phek town till further orders. Section 144 was imposed at Phek town on January 17, 2017 evening after the town witnessed vandalism of property and houses of three intending candidates to the town council elections 2017 by the Chakesang Youth Front (CYF). However, DC Phek on Thursday gave relaxation of few hours to let the public of the town procure the essential commodities. All shops and business establishments in the town remained closed on January 18 and 19 crippling the normal life at Phek town and causing immense hardship to the public. Mobile services and data connection have also been suspended at Phek town in the wake of mob violence. District administration, police and para military forces have been deployed round the clock to ensure peace in the town. Meanwhile, DC Phek has appealed to the people of Phek town to comply and cooperate with the order in the larger interest of the town and its people.
NPF asks BJP to clarify on Kheto’s remarks D I M A P U R , JA N 1 9 (NPN): NPF has demanded immediate clarification from State BJP leadership on former minister and BJP member Kheto Sema’s remarks, who had accused its DAN alliance partner NPF of failing to perform its duties, at the BJP election campaign. Hitting back at Kheto, the NPF media and press bureau said that it was not interested to meddle in the internal affairs of the BJP, but since BJP legislators are part and parcel of the present government, it wanted the alliance partner
to behave like a responsible ruling party rather than behaving like an irresponsible opposition party. NPF claimed that despite challenges and “thorniest tasks” faced by the state, the NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government has been working to create a clean and self reliant society by keeping the welfare of the people as its top priority. It went on to allege that the during the ten-year rule Congress led-UPA government, the State was left in “utter negligence” and even the 2013-14 Annual Plan
Fund was slashed leading to acute financial hardship. However, despite of this, NPF-led DAN government under the leadership of T.R. Zeliang has taken up necessary developments where ever deemed imperative. Therefore, NPF has asked Kheto, whether he was ignorant of the facts or merely making wild allegations for the sake of rhetoric. Further, NPF also asked Kheto, a former minister in the previous DAN government, to stop bragging carelessly as people have become more matured.
NPF kick-starts campaign for DMC polls Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, JAN 19 (NPN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) Dimapur division Thursday kick-started its campaign for the ensuing Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) elections from Ward 13 and Ward 14. Ward wise campaign, which is scheduled from January 19-28, is being headed by advisor Urban Development, S.I. Jamir, as convenor of Campaign Committee DMC election, parliamentary secretary IPR, Khekaho Assumi, as campaign director and NPF Dimapur division president I. Nungsang Jamir as member. Speaking at the campaign launching programme, SI Jamir appealed to the gathering to vote for the ruling party in order
to receive funds for development. Jamir informed that an amount of Rs.200 crore meant for Nagaland was lying idle in the Ministry of Urban Development for want of an elected local body. He further said that no stone would be left unturned as far as development of Dimapur was concerned. In his address, Khekaho stated that in order to form a NPF-led DMC, a minimum of 12 members was required to form a simple majority out of the 23 wards that go to polls on February 1, 2017. “As of now NPF has six DMC members elected unopposed and therefore out of the 17 more members to be elected, the party’s expectation is to further secure another 15, if not all,” he stated. (Cont’d on p-8)
D I M PAU R , J A N 1 9 (NPN): A nine-member APO Advisory Body has said the issue of reservation of women in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) has created “highly-charged emotions” as Naga society which was emerging from its traditional past “is responding to an issue never faced before”. The APO Advisory Body also noted the “divergent stands” taken by the government and women on one side and the apex tribe organisations on the other, which nearly caused a “confrontation on January 7 and 9” but which was averted due to “wise restraint and far-sighted responsibility” shown by the conflicting parties. In this regard, the APO Advisory Body expressed gratitude to all parties involved in the crisis, for “preventing the worst from happening”. (Cont’d on p-8)
SC rejects divorce given by Church NEW DELHI, JAN 19 (PTI): Divorce granted by ecclesiastical tribunal under Christian personal law are not valid as it cannot override the law, the Supreme Court said on Thursday as it rejected a PIL that sought according legal sanction to such separations granted by the Church Court. A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud dismissed the plea filed by Clarence Pais, a former president of a Karnataka Catholic association, saying the issue has been settled by it in its 1996 verdict delivered in the case of Molly Joseph versus George Sebastian. “Canon Law (personal law of Christians) can have theological or ecclesiastical implications to the parties. But after the Divorce Act came into force, a dissolution or annulment granted under such personal law
cannot have any legal impact as statute has provided a different procedure and a different code for divorce or annulment,” the apex court had then ruled. Pais, in his PIL filed in 2013, had said the divorce granted by a Church, set up under its personal law, should be considered valid under the Indian common law as was done in the case of Muslims with regard to ‘triple talaq’. Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, appearing for Pais, had contended that when oral ‘triple talaq’ could get legal sanctity for granting divorce to Muslim couples, why could Canon law decrees not be made binding on courts of law. He had alleged that many Catholic Christians, who married after getting divorce from Christian courts, faced criminal charges of bigamy as such divorces are
not recognised by the criminal and civil courts. Pais, in his plea, had said, “It is reasonable that when the courts in India recognise dissolution of marriage (by pronouncing the word talaq three times) under Mohammedan Law which is Personal law of the Muslims, the courts should also recognise for the purpose of dissolution of marriage Canon Law as the personal law of the Indian Catholics.” The plea contended that Canon Law is the personal law of Catholics and has to be applied and enforced by a criminal court while deciding a case under section 494 (bigamy) of IPC. The Centre, however, had opposed the plea saying Canon law cannot be allowed to override Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 and Divorce Act, 1869. K Y M C