Nagaland Post
Watch us on YouTube
www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXX No. 194
DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00
La Liga: Real Madrid ease past Valencia
Follow us on @Nagaland_Post
sports, Page 12
Cab asks ENLU to meet ENPO over JIC recommendation
Correspondent
KOHIMA, JUN 19 (NPN): Declining to take a decision on the findings and recommendations of the Judicial Inquiry Committee (JIC) constituted to probe the fiasco on May 26, when returnees that included a COVID-19 positive case were sent together in buses to Tuensang, the state cabinet has instead, entrusted the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU) to address the issue with the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO). This was disclosed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio, while briefing media persons here today. Rio, while not divulging the contents of the JIC report, informed that after over three-hour long meeting, the cabinet decided to entrust ENLU to discuss the JIC report with the ENPO. It was learnt that ENLU will meet with ENPO representatives at social welfare adviser Noke Wangnao’s residence Saturday. Appointments: On the issue of regularisation of services of doctors appointed
‘Odd-even system’ for vehicles in Kma KOHIMA, JUN 19 (NPN): Kohima police will implement the ‘Odd-Even’ dated system for all vehicles within Kohima municipality from June 22 till June 30 except on June 28 (Sunday). Kohima police informed that on Monday, Wednesday, Friday vehicles with number (0,2,4,6,8) will ply while on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday vehicles with odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9)will ply. Sr. SP Kohima K. Sophie also informed that the restriction will not apply to following categories-emergency service vehicles (police, prison, administration, para military, medical, NST buses, govt. staff buses, fire services, NSDMA & SDRF), press and twowheelers, trucks carrying emergency medical equipment/commodities and LPG cylinders and Manipur bound inter-state trucks carrying essential commodities. All vehicles restricted to ply as per government notifications, shall remain enforced (e.g. Inter-district zonal Taxis, city bus etc.) Government employees were requested to use staff bus instead of private vehicles during this period to help minimize traffic congestion. Violators will be penalised under Sec. 177 & 179 of the MV Act 1988, it added.
This is it!
“If this work-at-home continues, we’ll need more rooms and institutions less rooms.” K Y M C
on contingency which has attracted flak from various organisations, Rio said the cabinet has directed the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department to prepare a comprehensive report for the cabinet to take an informed decision. He said the previous day, the department had not mentioned about National Health Mission (NHM) nor the service rules but submitted proposals in peace-meal manner that created confusion. Rio further clarified that the sole intention of recruiting doctors, nurses and subordinate staff was to upgrade healthcare system throughout the State. He assured that the cabinet will take a decision on the matter once the department submitted a comprehensive report. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the cabinet has asked H&FW department to submit its report at the earliest before the 15-day assurance given by Health minister S Pangnyu Phom to NHM employees expired. Kronu appeals for forgiveness: Meanwhile speak-
ing to this Correspondent over phone, planning & coordination, land revenue minister and government’s spokesperson on COVID19, Neiba Kronu has sought forgiveness from the citizens of both Tuensang and Peren districts for similar fiascoes. He appealed to them to forgive and forget as the lapses were unintentional. Kronu expressed regret for the unintentional mistakes and urged the citizens to also understand the situation and move together in the fight against COVID-19. He mentioned that many returnees from Peren district who were tested positive for COVID were being taken care of in Dimapur considering the limited medical facilities in Peren district, adding the State government was trying to take care of everyone. Kronu also said during such pandemics, things might not work out as per one’s expectation, but emphasised that in order to move forward together, one must first forgive and forget another’s mistake and stressed on the objective of Nagas to work for self-sustenance.
India’s COVID-19 tally crosses 3.80L NEW DELHI, JUN 19 (PTI): India saw another record spike of 13,586 new COVID-19 cases in a singleday, pushing the tally to 3,80,532, while the death toll rose to 12,573 with 336 new fatalities. The number of recoveries crossed two-lakh mark while there are 1,63,248 active cases, according to updated ministry data at 8am. One patient had migrated. With the confirmation of 10,386 patients having recovered from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the total recovery rate consequently rose to 53.79 per cent. The trend in daily numbers shows an increasing rate of recovery, and an increasing gap between active and recovered cases, the health ministry said. The increase in proportion of recovered cases is a demonstration of India’s strategy of timely management of COVID-19, it said. “Proactive measures like implementation of lockdown, sensitisation of general public to COVID19 appropriate behaviour by the government of India in coordination with states/ union territories, have significantly restricted the spread,” the ministry said.
Nagaland COVID-19 tally rises to 198 Nagaland COVID-19 STATUS as ON June 19, 2020 COVID HOSPITAL
Total Cases
Active Cases Asymptomatic cases
Recovered
Dimapur DH
121
27
94
AR Hospital Dimapur
7
0
7
Kohima NHAK
19
10
9
Kohima Chedema
13
5
8
Jakhama Army Hospital
1
1
0
Mon DH
23
23
0
Peren CHC Jalukie
8
6
2
Tuensang DH
6
1
5
Wokha DH
0
0
0
Zunheboto DH
0
0
0
Kiphire DH
0
0
0
Longleng DH
0
0
0
Mokokchung IMDH
0
0
0
Phek DH
0
0
0
State Total
198
73
125
DIMAPUR, JUN 19 (NPN): Nagaland on Thursday reported three new COVID-19 positive cases, taking the states tally from 195 to 198 on Friday. According to Health department data, 2 positive cases were reported from Kohima quarantine centre
and one from Dimapur quarantine centre. All positive cases were shifted to the respective COVID-19 hospitals. Further, with 16 persons having recovered from the infection on Thursday, the recovery rate of COVID19 patients in the state has
jumped to 63%. Out of 16 recoveries, Dimapur DH registered 6, AR Hospital Dimapur-3 and Kohima NHAK-9. All recovered patients have been shifted to the respective COVID care centres. With this the total tally as on June 19 stood at 198-73 active and 125 recovered cases. As per the severity of symptoms, all the 73 active cases are asymptomatic. As per the distribution of the 198 cases by age, 4 cases are between 0-17 years, 187 cases between 18-44 years, 5 cases between 45-64 years and 2 cases between 65-74 years. As per the distribution of gender, there are 126 males and 72 females. Results of 1185 awaited: Out of 8174 COVID19 suspected samples sent for testing till date, 6989 samples were received and results of 1185 samples were awaited.
Beijing says it values Indo-China ties
nagalandpostofficial nagalandpostofficial
international, Page 9
All parties back govt against China
No one entered Indian territory, no border posts were occupied: Modi NEW DELHI, JUN 19 (AGENCIES/PTI): The all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday to discuss the situation in India-China border areas saw most political parties backing government’s stand against China with Congress President Sonia Gandhi seeking details of intrusion. At the meeting, Modi said that no one entered Indian territory nor were Indian posts taken over. He said the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice taught a “lesson” to those who had dared to look towards India and that the army has been given
CPO welcomes delimitation DIMAPUR, JUN 19 (NPN): Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) has thrown its weight behind the proposed delimitation exercise in the State and welcomed Chief Election Commission’s decision in this regard. CPO president Vichütuolie Mere and general secretary Mhiesisato Vüprü in a statement pointed out that the existing allocation of Assembly constituencies in Nagaland did not do justice to the people. Stating that it was aware and that it respected wish of State’s every tribe to have representatives in the state Assembly, CPO however said that people’s representative was also based on population. Citing Dimapur as instance, CPO said it had only five seats despite having the largest population, whereas some other districts having lesser population were having more than 6 representa(Cont’d on p-8) tives.
“freedom” to take necessary steps. “At the outset, prime minister clarified that neither is anyone inside our territory nor is any of our post captured,” the government said in a statement, adding he assured the leaders that the armed forces are leaving no stone unturned to protect the country. The categorical statement by Modi came in the wake of reports that Chinese military has transgressed into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto border, in several areas of eastern Ladakh including Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley. “While on the one hand, the army has been given freedom to take necessary steps, India has also conveyed its position clearly to China through diplomatic means,” he said, adding that India today has such capability that no one can even dare to look towards “an inch of our land”. Modi said the entire country is hurt and angry at the steps taken by China at the LAC and underscored that India wants peace and friendship, but upholding sovereignty is “foremost”. The nearly four-hour
meeting through video conference was attended by top opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee and Sitaram Yechury among others. The government said the leaders of the political parties hailed the bravery displayed by the armed forces in Ladakh and reposed faith in the leadership of the prime minister in this hour of need. They expressed commitment to stand united with the government. At the meeting, Gandhi asked some tough questions to the government like whether there was any intelligence failure on the situation along the LAC, and sought an assurance from Modi that status quo ante would be restored at the border. In her introductory remarks, she said even at this stage they were in the dark about many crucial aspects of the crisis as she posed a set of questions to the government and sought specifics about when Chinese troops intruded into the Indian territory. “In the government’s considered view, was there a failure of intelligence,” she asked.
DC Dmu reiterates ban on import of pigs DIMAPUR, JUN 19 (NPN): Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi, has reiterated that the ban on import of pigs from neighbouring states still stands. In an order, DC Dimapur warned that any person found violating the order would be liable to be punished as per Sec. 188 of IPC. The reiteration comes after taking note of pigs still being imported into the district despite ban of import of pigs owing to outbreak of “African Swine Fever” and high mortality rate of pigs in the neighbouring states.
Advertise posts of pharmacists: URPAN DIMAPUR, JUN 19 (NPN): Unemployed Registered Pharmacists’ Association Nagaland (URPAN) has urged the state government to advertise the posts of pharmacists. URPAN convener Savizo Kezieo and secretary M Metmei Phom stated that the state government in 2015 had abruptly cut down the existing 490 posts of pharmacists to 309 without proper analysis on ground of cadre review, which was precisely loss of 181 posts of pharmacists in the state. (Cont’d on p-8)
Amid turmoil, BJP wins lone RS seat in Manipur Correspondent
IMPHAL, Jun 19: Dealing a big blow to the plan of the newly formed Secular Progressive Front (SPF) of winning the lone Rajya Sabha seat, the BJP candidate and Manipur’s titular king RK Sanajaoba won seat in the poll held Friday even as and counting of votes was delayed beyond the scheduled 5 p.m. The BJP candidate Sanajaoba got 28 votes while his rival Congress candidate T Mangibabu got 24 votes out of the total 52 votes cast. Voting commenced at 9 am and ended at 4 p.m. under tight security at the Legislative Assembly complex against the backdrop of political turmoil when nine MLAs, including four cabinet ministers belonging to NPP, withdrew support to the BJP-led coalition government. The counting of votes was delayed after poll-
ing agents of NPP lodged a complaint with returning officer (RO) alleging violation of secrecy of voting by BJP Speaker Khemchand Singh and Ngamthang Haokip of Congress. However the RO dismissed the allegations as baseless. “I was present during the poll process and have reconfirmed the allegation through the video recording of the poll process. I’m convinced that there is no violation of the secrecy and that the complaint is baseless. The complaint is therefore disposed of,” the RO’s order stated and paved the way for counting of votes. The counting was held around 8 pm and results declared at around 8.30 pm. Sources said the complaint was disposed of with the knowledge of Election Commission of India (ECI), where the complaint was forwarded to.
NDA gains 4 seats in NE
Agencies: BJP and its allies grabbed the four Rajya Sabha seats in the four North Eastern states and increased its tally to eight out of a total of 13 seats in the region. Except for Manipur, where BJP had to fight off a fierce political battle against Congress before its ‘royal’ candidate, the titular king of Manipur, Leishemba Sanajaoba emerged victorious, its two partners had easy victories in each seat in Meghalaya and Mizoram where simultaneous elections were held on Friday. BJP won the lone Arunachal Pradesh seat without any contest. But, the elections had varied characteristics in Mizoram, Meghalaya and Mizoram. If BJP was pitted against ally NPP in Manipur, they were together in Meghalaya and in Mizoram, BJP lone MLA abstained from voting either for or (Cont’d on p-8) against ally MNF.
Unfair for Therie to make personal attacks on Rio: NDPP Over `3 crore worth ‘areca nut’ seized DIMAPUR, JUN 19 (NPN): Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) said it was unfair on the part of NPCC led by K Therie to make personal attacks on chief minister Neiphiu Rio when the State Congress chief ’s own record was far from satisfactory. In a statement, the ruling party recalled that Therie was dropped as a cabinet minister from the Congress ministry in 2002 for his non-performance and misappropriation of funds and later even expelled from Congress for “anti-party” activities. He then joined NPF and became finance minister under Rio. But history repeated itself when circumstances compelled Rio to drop him from the council of ministers for his non-performance and fund misappropriations.
NDPP stated that it was under Therie’s stewardship as finance minister when the Nagaland government was given a generous grant of Rs 365 crore to wipe out accumulated deficit carried over from the Congress ministry in 2003 by the then Union government under the Prime Ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, his handling of the grant and management of the State’s finances were rejected outright by then opposition Congress, which had demanded a white paper on Rs 365 crore. “Therie’s tabling of white paper was rejected by Congress and till today his own party has refused to accept his explanation,” the statement added. Subsequently he was dropped from the Rio ministry and later pulled up for
anti-party activities. Now, he had come full circle with his return to Congress and his leadership landed this grand old party with no seat in Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the ruling party stated. Reminding the state Congress party that the members of COVID Working Committee were giving daily update on the status of pandemic in the State, NDPP said to accuse the chief minister of failing to “instil confidence in the people” was nothing but taking cheap pot shots at Rio, which was unbecoming of a political party of the stature of NPCC. It asked the Congress State unit to refrain from taking advantage of the current global pandemic by making personalised attacks on Rio and his government. The ruling party as-
serted that the State government should be commended for trying its best to provide “maximum with the minimum” it had at its disposal. As 70% of the State’s finances went into paying salaries and pensions and the State lacked any source of income to supplement the huge funds going to pay its employees, NDPP said any government would struggle to bring development with the remaining 30% of the funds available. “However, the NDPPled PDA government is doing to its best to provide the needs of the people. The vast improvement in roads and other infrastructure are testaments of the government’s commitment to work for the people under the banner ‘Development for all; Together with all’,” the statement claimed.
(Bags of areca nuts stored at a godown in Dimapur (R) trucks seized while transporting areca nuts. (PRO)
DIMAPUR, JUN 19 (NPN): Assam Rifles (AR) personnel have reportedly seized contraband amounting to Rs 3. crore at Oriental Colony in Dimapur on June 19, 2020. PRO IGAR (N) said AR troops and state police, based on specific information, searched a suspected godown, in which 1550 bags of Areca Nut amounting to Rs 3 crore was seized. One Lalan Kumar, resident of
Rajapakse, Vaishali village, Bihar was apprehended. The arrested individual along with the seized items was handed over to assistant commissioner of Custom, Dimapur for further investigation, PRO stated. In another incident, PRO said the AR troops seized contraband moving from Manipur to Dimapur amounting to Rs 45.3 lakh at Ghaspani on June 18, 2020. Based on specific informa-
tion, the troops established a mobile vehicle check post between Zubza and Lalmati on NH-29 on June 18, 2020. While conducting spot check of vehicles, two trucks were intercepted carrying 135 bags of Areca Nut amounting to Rs 45.3 lakh. PRO said three individuals were apprehended and handed over to Custom Preventive Division, Dimapur along with recovered items for further investigation. K Y M C