June 10, 2017

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVII No. 184

NTC apprises CM on various state issues DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) called on chief minister Dr. Shrurhozielie Lezietsu at his office chamber, Kohima on Friday. In a statement NTC media cell said that the NTC officials apprised chief minister on the several issues pertaining to the state and urged him to bring to a logical conclusion by keeping the protective laws in full force. The issues include- strict implementation of Land and Revenue (amendment) Act, 1978, to review the standard procedures to establish indigenous inhabitant status as per 1977 notification, ongoing political process and the danger of Nagaland Special Development Zone concept if implemented. NTC also raised other related issues that needed immediate attention of the government in view of the prevailing situation. Further, NTC assured to extend full co-operation to uphold the interest of the state on the above issues. NTC appreciated CM for the patient hearing and assurance to address the issues.

NNPGs have lost will power to fight for Nagas: NSCN (I-M)

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): NSCN (I-M) on Friday alleged that the NNPGs have completely lost their will power to fight for the rights of the Nagas and Naga nation. NSCN (I-M) through its MIP said that after many years of struggles and sufferings, the Nagas of all ages “impatiently awaits the final moment to mark the end of political unrests and disputes with Govt. of India at the earliest.” However, MIP said the “so called NNPGs have tried to strike emotional chord and brain wash few individuals from present State of Nagaland” without gauging the fact that no Naga wants to re-live in the past that was marked by bloodsheds and fighting. (Full text on p-6)

Guj textbook prefixes Jesus with ‘devil’

AHMEDABAD, JUN 9 (PTI): In a blunder, a class IX Hindi language textbook published by the Gujarat board has used the word “haivaan” (devil) before Jesus Christ instead of intended word ‘bhagwan’ (God) in a passage in one of its chapters, triggering protests from the Christian community. Left embarrassed, officials of the Gujarat State School Textbook Board, have rectified the blunder in the online version of the book available on their website and removed the controversial word.

Bangladeshi infiltration under full control: Sonowal

Stan stuns Murray to enter French Open final

India’s borders ‘more secured’ than before: Rajnath Singh

northeast, Page 4

sports, Page 12

national, Page 5

NSCN/GPRN chief S.S. Khaplang passes away

Late SS Khaplang (File) Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): NSCN/GPRN president, Shangwang Shangyung Khaplang, age around 77 years, passed away Friday evening around 7.30 p.m. at NSCN/GPRN Council Headquarters, Taka region Myanmar. He is survived by his wife, three sons and one daughter. NSCN (K) MIP confirmed that SS Khaplang “passed away peacefully while resting in bed without any sickness.” MIP said Khaplang,

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who had undergone surgery in 2015 at a Yangon general hospital after suffering from a medical condition complicated by diabetes, had been exceptionally healthy and fit. NSCN (K) said that the group was yet to decide where SS Khaplang would be laid to rest. Meanwhile, MIP informed that a state of national mourning would be declared and the state funeral would take place after the NSCN/GPRN finalizes the programme. Khaplang, a Hemi Naga tribe of Myanmar, was born in April 1940 in Waktham village, East of Myanmar’s Pangsau Pass. He also heads the United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFWSEA) a conglomeration of various North East insurgent outfits based in Myanmar. Meanwhile, NSCN (K) MIP rubbished rumours on social media that the president was shot by his own bodyguard. NSCN

(K) said “can’t even imagine why people resort to such false alarm, too aghast and disrespectful to the departed.” In 1988, NSCN (Khaplang) was formed after it broke out from Th. Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu. Khaplang’s recent and biggest success was being able to bring five other rebel groups -- United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent), Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) and National Democratic Front of Boroland (Songbijit) -- under one umbrella and coalesced to form UNLFW. However, Khaplang signed a truce deal with the Government of India on 27 April, 2001. While government of India was trying to broker peace, Khaplang refused to budge and went back to his demand and repealed the ceasefire agreement in April 2015. (NPMHR condoles on p-7)

SC stays order of linking Aadhar with PAN card for Income Tax return NEW DELHI, JUN 9 (AGENCIES): The Supreme Court today upheld the validity of an Income Tax Act provision making Aadhaar mandatory for allotment of PAN cards and filing of tax returns, but put a partial stay on its implementation till a Constitution bench addressed the issue of right to privacy. A bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan also upheld the legislative competence of Parliament in enacting Section 139AA of the Income Tax (I-T) Act. It, however, clarified that it had not touched upon the issue of right to privacy and concerns that Aadhaar scheme affected the human dignity, which, it said, had to be decided by the Constitution bench. It said the I-T Act provision was valid subject to the outcome of the batch of petitions before its Constitution bench which was examining if the Aadhaar scheme infringed on the right to privacy and if there was any threat of data leakage. The bench asked the government to take appro-

priate steps to ensure there was no leakage of data from the Aadhaar scheme. The bench made it clear that there was no conflict between the impugned provisions of the Income Tax Act and the Aadhaar Act. It also said that PAN cards without Aadhaar number would not be treated invalid till the Constitution bench decided the larger issue of right to privacy. It said previous transactions would not be affected or nullified with partial stay on the new law till privacy issue linked to Aadhaar was decided. The court had on May 4 reserved the verdict on a batch of petitions challenging section 139AA of the I-T Act, which was introduced through the latest budget and Finance Act, 2017. Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act provides for mandatory quoting of Aadhaar or enrolment ID of Aadhaar application form for filing of income tax returns and making application for allotment of PAN with effect from July 1 this year.

The Centre had earlier said that the programme of PAN had become suspect as it could be faked, while Aadhaar was a “secure and robust” system by which the identity of an individual could not be faked. While opposing the government’s move, the petitioners, including CPI leader Binoy Viswam, have contended before the bench that the Centre cannot “belittle” the apex court’s 2015 order holding the unique identification number as voluntary. They had argued that government should not have enacted section 139AA in the Act to make Aadhaar mandatory for PAN as the apex court’s five-judge bench order was clear that Aadhaar was voluntary and not mandatory. However, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had contended that Aadhaar was made mandatory for allotment of PAN to weed out fake cards. Rohatgi had said that with the implementation of Aadhaar, the government had saved over Rs 50,000 crore on various schemes to benefit the poor as well as pension schemes.

NPCC objects to ZTKK serves 30-day ultimatum Night curfew in border area holding bye-poll on govt. over deplorable road DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has submitted a representation to the Election Commission of India on June 8 to draw attention on the provision of Article 151A of the Representation of People’s Act 1951as amended in 1996. This was stated by NPCC’s Media Cell. NPCC pointed out that the term of the present 12th NLA would expire on March 12, 2018, which is eight months away. It said if by election was held on the fourth week of July or August, the code of conduct could come into force by December 2017 for the general election leaving hardly four working months. In addition, NPCC said there might be only one day session to fulfil constitutional provisions. In the light of the above, NPCC maintained that its objection against by election was justified. NPCC also said Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha has also assured of taking the matter to ECI but at the same time, pointed out that many by elections were held under similar instances in the past.

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): In protest against the deplorable road conditions in and around Zunheboto town, the Zunheboto Area GBs’ Association (ZTKK) has served one-month ultimatum on the state government. In a representation addressed to the Governor of Nagaland, ZTKK chairman, Vikato T Jimomi, and secretary, Kihoto Shohe, stated that the association at its general meeting held on May 31, 2017 resolved to impose total bandh on the movement of government vehicles if the responsible authority failed to initiate works within one month of publication of its representation in local dailies. The association demanded that filling of potholes around the town and surrounding areas should begin before the expiry of the deadline. The association said ultimatum served was to ensure that the government was taking its representation seriously. The association reminded that the Sumi Hoho as well as several NGOs and local civil bodies have time and again apprised the government concerning the deplorable road

conditions. However, besides verbal assurances and commitments, nothing remotely resembling road development in reality has been carried out. ZTKK also stated that people of Zunheboto have been further deprived of pliable road, which once connected Chozuba-Zunheboto-Mokokchung, ever since the road was taken under the National Highways as two-lane 702-A project. It stated that the said project has been left incomplete and has ironically made the old existing road totally unfit for vehicular movement. Further, the association reminded that the governor during his maiden visit earlier this year had witnessed firsthand the “absence of town level road construction.” Admitting that its proposed bandh could affect the citizens of the town, the association, however, stated that it was compelled to endorse the resolution so the governor would understand “our dire predicament” and ensure that the road construction in and around the town began at the earliest.

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): Night curfew has been reinforced in the areas of Assam side bordering Nagaland from 6pm to 6am prohibiting movement of any person, group of persons and vehiculs in the 5 km belt in Assam side of Sivasagar district bordering Nagaland.

According to a DIPR report, additional district magistrate, Sivasagar stated that security personnel and officials on duty have however been exempted from the purview of the prohibitory order. The prohibitory order, would remain in force for a period of 60 days.

IT raids: Police vehicle used to transport money KOCHI, JUN 9 (AGENCIES): Following Thursday’s raids conducted by Income Tax sleuths in the house and Sreevalsom institutions of MKR Pillai, former Addl. SP and Consultant to DGP Nagaland, illegal assets worth Rs 100 crore was discovered so far. Sources said police also got the information that money was transported to Kerala from Nagaland through Hawala channel. For this, Nagaland Police vehicles were also allegedly used. In between, police also spotted Nagaland police vehicle from Pandalam. Incidentally, in December 2015, Pillai had disclosed assets worth Rs 50 crore to IT. Sreevalsom Group owns five jewelleries, garment shops, hotels, vehicle show rooms and financial institutions. Real Estate business is also run in Konni, Harippad and Panthalam. The firm owns three flats in Delhi, two flats, business shops in Bangalore and investments in Mussoorie and Tiruchirappalli. The IT department filed cases against Pillai’s sons Arun Raj and Varun Raj. In states like Nagaland, which are facing threats from terror groups, Centre allocates hundreds of crores of rupees each year for police modernisation and security-related expenditures . Such huge funds have been found to be embezzled by top government officials and politicians and later deposited in benami names in banks and financial institutions.

PSAN hits out at RD minister’s approach

DIMAPUR, JUN 9 (NPN): Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland (PSAN) has hit out and expressed shock over the unruly approach of Rural Development minister, C.L. John’s when its members met the minister Friday to ask questions and (Full report on p-7) discuss about rampant backdoor appointments in the department. Terming it as utterly unbecoming of a leader of his stature, PSAN media cell alleged that the members “were welcomed with fist thumps on the table and fingers pointed at their faces” when the met him. When the minister was asked as to how and why so many backdoor appointments were made in the department, PSAN claimed that C.L. John respond“Why’s he persisting ed saying “these were not with NPSC? He has better ‘backdoor’ appointments chance with UPSC. With but rather ‘political appointbackdoor appointments, ments’ which were norit’s impossible.” mal and there was nothing

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wrong with it.” In this regard, PSAN demanded C.L. John to either come clean and justify his statements or apologize to the people of Nagaland. PSAN questioned whether so-called political appointments made by politicians could not be termed as ‘backdoor’ appointments? “If so, what is the meaning of ‘backdoor’ appointment according to him?” PSAN wondered. “While there were thousands of deserving educated unemployed Nagas burning the midnight oil and waiting for a fair chance of employment to public offices, here is an arrogant politician who thinks that government jobs in his department are at his whims and fancies,” PSAN stated. PSAN reminded C.L. John of his foremost duty, which was “to serve the very public whom he does

not have any respect for, as clearly understood through his unexpected and uncalledfor actions in his chamber today.” PSAN further alleged that C.L. John had the audacity to tell them that-“You cannot reduce the powers of ministers by asking us to stop making political appointments.” Lamenting that the state was in shambles, PSAN expressed pain that such “mindset runs among most of the politicians of today who run the ‘job bazaar’ in exchange for votes.” Further, PSAN demanded to know which part/article of the Constitution of India provides for unabated, unethical, opaque and rampant backdoor appointment ‘rights’ to the ministers and bureaucrats. The association alleged that the department, through various RTI queries and plain observation, was

found to be one of the dirtiest departments under the government of Nagaland with numerous backdoor appointments and rampant corruption. PSAN also alleged that after the minister took over RD department, only four BDO posts were requisitioned to NPSC despite RTI replies clearly proving the existence of vacancies. Many of the posts were occupied through ‘backdoor’ or ‘political’ contractual basis, which completely disregarded Article 16 of the Constitution of India that provides for equal opportunities in the matter of employment to public office(s), PSAN stated. Meanwhile, PSAN has challenged C.L. John for an open debate on the mentioned issue if he still felt that backdoor appointments/political appointments were the absolute rights of politicians. K Y M C


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