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Vol XXXII No. 91
DIMAPUR, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022 Pages 12 ` 5.00
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Exit poll: AAP sweeps Punjab; BJP to retain UP, Mnp 3rd round talks: Russia sets cease-fire
NEW DELHI, MAR 7 (PTI): Several exit polls on Monday forecast a clear majority for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab with some of them giving an edge to the saffron party in Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. UP: Exit polls on CNN News 18, Times Now, India Today, Republic TV, News 24 and News X channels showed the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) getting anywhere between 326 and 211 seats, and its main challenger Samajwadi Party-led alliance getting anywhere between 160 and 71 seats in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly. While India TodayAxis My India predicted 288-326 seats for the BJP and its partners in Uttar Pradesh and 71-101 for the SP alliance, News 24-Today’s Chankya predicted 294 seats for the NDA and 105 for the Akhilesh Yadav-led alliance. N e w s 2 4 - To d a y ’ s Chanakya predicted 43 per cent vote share for the BJP
UTTAR PRADESH 403 SEATS HALFWAY MARK: 202
BJP+ CONG SP+ ABP News-C Voter
PUNJAB 117 SEATS HALFWAY MARK: 59
UTTARAKHAND 70 SEATS HALFWAY MARK: 36
MANIPUR 60 SEATS HALFWAY MARK: 31
BSP BJP+ CONG AAP SAD+ BJP CONG AAP OTH BJP CONG+ OTH
BJP CONG+ TMC+ OTH
228-244 4-8 132-148 13-21 7-13 22-28 51-61 20-26 26-32 32-38 0-2 3-7 23-27 12-16 15-27 13-17 12-16
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India News
222-260 1-3 135-165 4-9
6-8 23-26 39-43 22-25 32-41 27-35 0-1 0-4 23-28 10-14 19-26 13-19 14-19
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2-5
India Today- Axis My India
288-326 1-3 71-101 3-9
1-4 19-31 76-90 7-11 36-46 20-30
0
4-9 33-43
10-23 14-18 15-20
2-5
0-4
182-220 2-8 168-208 2-12 2-6 49-59 27-37 20-30 25-29 37-41
0
2-6 26-31 12-17 11-22 10-14 20-25
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1-4
1-3 23-31 62-70 16-24 35-39 28-34 0-3 0-3 27-31 11-17 11-23 13-17 13-17
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India TV -Ground Zero Republic-P Marq Zee News-DESIGNBOXED Poll Of Exit Polls
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140
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223-248 4-9 138-157 5-11 3-7 26-33 52-61 24-32 26-30 35-40 242
alliance in Uttar Pradesh and 35 per cent for the SP and its partners. CNN News 18-Matrize predicted 262-277 seats for the BJP and allies and 119-134 for the Samajwadi Party and allies in Uttar Pradesh. Times Now-Veto predicted 225 and 151 seats for them, respectively. Punjab: Most of them were also unanimous in predicting a big win for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, with India Today-Axis projecting up to 76-90 seats in the
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28
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117-member assembly. A few exit polls also forecast a hung assembly in Punjab, the only poll-bound state where the Congress is in power, while giving a clear edge to the AAP. N e w s 2 4 - To d a y ’s Chankaya predicted a wave in the AAP’s favour in Punjab, giving it 100 seats with a margin of 10 seats either side. It gave 43 to the BJP and 24 to the Congress in Uttarakhand. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat, however, predicted 56-61 seats for the AAP in Punjab, making it
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Rio-led delegation to meet Central leaders this week Staff Reporter (L-R) T.R. Zeliang and Isak Sumi addressing the media. (NP)
tee held another closed-door meeting with WC, NNPGs delegation led by its convener N Kitovi Zhimomi at the same venue. Addressing the media after the meeting, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman TR Zeliang disclosed that the core committee had requested WC, NNPGs not to indulge in paper war with other groups or any political party, adding that it would help the interlocutor to have a free mind to come to a conclusion.
He said Rio, deputy chief minister Y Patton and himself would meet Central leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on March 10 to discuss what best the Central government could think for Naga solution. After hearing from the Centre, he mentioned that they would come back and hold talks with the two negotiating groups so that they could sit across the table to discuss and agree to come together for a solution.
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3-6 32-38 12-17
7-14 13-18 14-19
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the frontrunner. The Congress was mostly predicted to be securing the second spot in Punjab. Uttarakhand: In Uttarakhand, both Congress and BJP were favoured by different exit polls to win the polls. The ABP News-CVoter forecast an edge for the Congress in Uttarakhand, giving the party 32-38 seats in the 70-member assembly and the BJP 26-32 seats. Goa was predicted by most pollsters to be heading for a hung assembly. The BJP was given a clear edge by
Panel on Naga political issue, NNPGs hold meeting
DIMAPUR, MAR 7 (NPN): Parliamentary Core Committee on Naga Political Issue held its second round of talks with Working Committee, Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) at Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex, Chümoukedima here on Monday. Prior to meeting the WC, NNPGs delegation, the Core Committee on Naga Political Issue held a closed-door meeting in the afternoon chaired by chief minister Neiphiu Rio. Later, the core commit-
for evacuations but battles continue
GOA 40 SEATS HALFWAY MARK: 21
Zeliang also informed the media that though Government of India’s representative for Naga talks, AK Mishra was supposed to meet the chief minister, deputy chief minister and himself in the first week of January, the meeting did not take place due to Assembly elections in some States. As reported, Mishra is expected to arrive in Nagaland later this month to hold deliberations with Naga political groups and legislators. M e a n w h i l e, w h e n asked about the second meeting with the core committee members, WC, NNPG coconvener Isak Sumi claimed that it was a “very fruitful discussion”, adding that the meeting proceeded without any reservation.
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most exit polls in the election to the 60-member Manipur assembly, with the Congress being seen a distant second. The BJP is in power in four of the five states. The exit polls signal that the BJP remains the dominant party in these states and indicate a big swing in AAP’s fortunes as Kejriwal’s party is also seen to have emerged as a force in Uttarakhand and Goa where it may corner a decent poll percentage, if not many seats. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
State logs 10 fresh Covid-19 cases
DIMAPUR, MAR 7 (NPN): Nagaland on Monday recorded 10 fresh Covid-19 positive cases while no deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Of the fresh cases, five were from Dimapur, two each in Kohima and Mokokchung and one in Kiphire, taking the total caseload to 35430. PTI: India has recorded its lowest daily COVID-19 cases since May 17, 2020, at 4,362, which took the total tally to 4,29,67,315, according to Union health ministry data updated on Monday. Further, the death toll in the country climbed to 5,15,102 with 66 fresh fatalities, the data updated at (Cont’d on p-8) 8 am stated.
LVIV, MAR 7 (AP): Russia announced yet another limited cease-fire and the establishment of safe corridors to allow civilians to flee some besieged Ukrainian cities Monday. But the evacuation routes led mostly to Russia and its ally Belarus, drawing withering criticism from Ukraine and others. Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of resorting to “medieval siege” tactics in places, and in one of the most desperate of the encircled cities, the southern port of Mariupol, there were no immediate signs of an evacuation. Ru s s i a n P r e s i d e n t Vladimir Putin’s forces continued to pummel some cities with rockets even after the announcement of corridors, and fierce fighting raged in places, indicating there would be no wider cessation of hostilities. Efforts to set up safe passage for civilians over the weekend fell apart amid continued shelling. But the Russian De-
People cross an improvised path under a destroyed bridge while fleeing the town of Irpin close to Kyiv on Monday. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
fense Ministry announced a new push Monday, saying civilians would be allowed to leave the capital of Kyiv, Mariupol and the cities of Kharkiv and Sumy. The two sides met for a third round of talks Monday, according to Russian state media, though hopes for any breakthrough were dim. The countries’ foreign ministers are also scheduled to meet in Turkey on Thursday, according to that country’s top diplomat. Ukrainians, whose ferocious resistance
has slowed the invasion and thwarted any hopes Moscow had for a lightning victory, have been reinforcing cities across the country. In Kyiv, soldiers and volunteers have built hundreds of checkpoints, often using sandbags, stacked tires and spiked cables. In Mariupol, where an estimated 200,000 people hoping to flee were becoming increasingly desperate, Red Cross officials waited to hear when a safe corridor would be established.
Nagaland has highest unemployment in NE Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAR 7 (NPN): Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship commissioner and secretary R Asenla Keitzar has disclosed that Nagaland had the highest unemployment rate in the Northeast and second highest in the country. Speaking at the inauguration of Iconic Week organised by directorate of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in collaboration with Women Resource Development department, HCL Technologies and Elite Academy here, she said India experienced an average unemployment rate of about 7% prior to Covid-19
R Asenla Keitzar speaking at the inaugural session, Monday. (NP)
pandemic. But, despite the unemployment rate, said India’s economy was expected to continue to grow. Keitzar acknowledged that many had lost jobs during the pandemic, which further increased the dependence on government jobs in Nagaland. She said this was understandable as the job losses were witnessed in the private sector. But, she urged everyone not to have a negative
perception regarding jobs in the private sector and that the overall job market was picking up again. She requested the youth to use the opportunity of job placement drive of HCL Technologies. She remarked that though the Naga society was more oriented towards government jobs, the reality was that the government jobs were becoming scarce and competition had increased manifold. (Cont’d on p-8)
SKK serves deadline to eliminate proxy teachers Covid in wildlife threatens ASTD, NCD sign MoU to revamp Naga Cemetery emergence of new variant: WHO
DIMAPUR, MAR 7 (NPN): All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) has served a onemonth deadline on school management committees (SMCs) and headmasters of government schools in Sumi inhabited areas to “eliminate the plaguing culture of proxy teachers”. In a press note, SKK through its education secretary, Ngukato L. Aye expressed anguish that despite government directives, there has been rampant proxy teachers in government schools in Sumi inhabited areas. While appreciating
This is it!
“Ukrainians now realise NATO means No Action Talk Only.” K Y M C
the role of teachers in educating the children, SKK, however, said that appointing proxy teacher was not only unethical but also violates the fundamental rights and hamper the future of the children. Pointing out that there were no proper infrastructures like toilet, electrification, benches/desk, white/ black boards, playground, potable water, including student friendly kits and uniforms etc., SKK has asked the School Education department to direct its officials to ensure prop-
er allocation of designed programmes, schemes and other necessary requirements for the welfare of the students. SKK also cautioned government aided school teachers to refrain from being involved in other institutions and offices except teaching. It also urged all units under SKK to “avert any irregular development encircling from achieving the standard order in school education.” SKK also said that punitive action would be taken against those parties in conflict.
GENEVA, MAR 7 (IANS): The introduction of SARSCoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19 infection, to wildlife could result in the establishment of animal reservoirs, which may, in turn, result in the emergence of a new virus variant, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday. The WHO made the statement jointly with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
It called for prioritising monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infection in wildlife and preventing the formation of animal reservoirs. Although the Covid pandemic is driven by human-to-human transmission, the SARSCoV-2 virus is also known to infect animal species. Current knowledge also indicates that wildlife does not play a significant role in the spread of SARSCoV-2 in humans, but spread in animal populations can affect the (Cont’d on p-8)
ASTD and NCD office bearers after signing the MoU. (NP)
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAR 7 (NPN): Ao Senso Te l o n g j e m D i m a p u r (ASTD) will undertake a beautification and revamp
CBCC urges state govt to fully implement NLTP Act DIMAPUR, MAR 7 (NPN): Reacting to the proposed move of the state government to review the Nagaland Total Liquor Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) has urged the government to fully implement the NLTP Act, 1989 in the greater interest of the people and the state. In a press note, CBCC executive secretary Rev. Khrotso Mero pointed out that the NLTP Act came into being after nearly three decades of persistent appeal of
the Naga public spearheaded by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Naga Mothers’ Association and other civil society groups “to eradicate the menace of drinking in our land.” CBCC said that although the Act was realised and inspired by the teachings of the Bible, it was literally enacted in conformity with the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) as enshrined in the constitution of India (Article 47). CBCC also stated that when India gained indepen-
dence in 1947, prohibition was included in directive principles of the Constitution of India and accordingly the government of several states adopted and introduced these liquor prohibition laws. It said those states included Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Manipur, Mizoram, Lakshadweep and Nagaland. Although some of those states have relaxed on prohibition Acts, CBCC said the two prominent states that were still enforc-
ing those prohibition laws were Gujarat and Bihar. CBCC claimed that Gujarat Prohibition Act 1949 was being enforced till today with significant success. In the case of Bihar, CBCC said ever since the Bihar Prohibition Act 2016 was introduced, the socioeconomic effects of the state revealed that “within a year of prohibition, the number of murders and gang robberies decreased by 20%. The number of riots fell by 13% and traffic accident were reduced by 10%. For the econ-
omy, spending per household rose: increase in sales of milk by 10%, cheese by 20%, twowheeled vehicles by 30% and electrical appliance by 50%, CBCC said. “Considering the significant success of implementing the Prohibition Acts in Gujarat & Bihar and comparing with the contentious issues of the NLTP Act, 1989, what concerns us most is the political will of the government to implement the Act in letter and spirit,” CBCC stated.
of the Naga Cemetery at Lake View Colony Dimapur in preparations for the platinum jubilee of Naga Cemetery Dimapur in 2024. This was agreed through a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ASTD and NCD at the latter’s office here today. Speaking to the media after signing the MoU, NCD president Etsungmomo Kikon said that beautification of the old Naga cemetery was one of the activities proposed to take up in commemoration of the platinum jubilee, scheduled to be celebrated in 2024. Kikon informed that the cemetery was established in 1972 and spread over an area of 18 bighas. (Cont’d on p-8)
RS polls to fill 13 seats in 6 states on March 31
NEW DELHI, MAR 7 (PTI): Elections to fill 13 Rajya Sabha seats across six states falling vacant in April will be held on March 31, Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Monday. While members from Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland and Tripura are retiring on April 2, five members from Punjab are retiring on April 9. “Out of the five seats (Cont’d on p-8) to be filled from Punjab,
three are to be filled by holding one election and other two through another election as these seats belong to two different biennial cycles,” the Commission said in a statement. The notification for the biennial elections will be issued on March 14 and the polls will be held on March 31. As per established practice, the counting will be held on the day of polling from 5 pm onwards. K Y M C