March 28, 2017

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVII No. 111

DIMAPUR, tuesday, march 28, 2017 Pages 12 ` 4.00

May vows to keep Britain united

India on course for series victory

Consider alternatives to pellet guns in Kashmir: SC

international, Page 9

sports, Page 12

national, Page 5

21 killed in Mnp road mishaps Correspondent

IMPHAL, MAR 27: It was a tragic day for Manipur, with three roads mishaps along the highway, killing at least 21 people and leaving over 33 injured on Monday. Two accidents took place along the ImphalDimapur section of NH-2 Monday morning while the third accident that claimed lives of eight people took place along Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37. In the first accident, at least 12 people were killed and over three dozen seriously injured when the interstate bus (MN01-4A-9503) in which they were travelling plunged into a deep gorge at Chakumai area in Senapati district around 3.30 a.m. Eight people died on the spot while one succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital. Three critically injured people later died at separate hospitals in Imphal where they were rushed along with other injured passengers. People from nearby villages with the assistance of 34 Assam Rifles and representatives of Drivers Welfare Union, Senapati

Lawyers to observe countrywide strike

NEW DELHI, MAR 27 (IANS): Lawyers across India will abstain from work on March 31 to protest against a proposed bill that bars advocates from going on strike, it was announced on Monday. Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said the proposed amendments by the Law Commission in the Advocates Act were “draconian, anti-lawyer, unconstitutional, undemocratic and anti-people”. “The recommendations of the Law Commission are against the legal profession and legal education of the country is in danger because of this proposed bill,” Mishra said.

Governor condoles

DIMAPUR, MAR 27 (NPN): Nagaland Governor, P.B. Acharya has expressed shock over the demise of Wokshing Phom, ex-MLA. In a condolence message to Mrs Apokla, wife of late Wokshing Phom, Acharya said the state has lost a politician who was always concerned about the welfare of the people. Governor said late Wokshing had served the people in different capacities as a pastor, chairman of Tamlu Area Council and MLA. He dedicated his entire life towards the welfare of the Naga society and his demise has left a great void which will be hard to fill, the Governor added.

This is it!

“It appears one is speaking on behalf of most of them.” K Y M C

The ill-fated bus that plunged below the road on Monday morning at Chakumai area.

rushed to rescue the injured people. Most of the injured were rushed to nearest hospital at Senapati district headquarters and Assam Rifles hospital. Sources said that the death toll was likely increase as some of the injured were in critical condition at RIMS and JNIMS hospitals. Police were yet to ascertain the cause of the accident. The second mishap involving a truck was reported from Lairouching at around 10 a.m., just before reaching the first accident site. The

incident claimed the life of the driver while his assistant survived with injuries. Later, the third accident that claimed lives of eight people including two women occurred at a place between Khongsang and Irang along Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37 at around 12.20 p.m. when the ill-fated taxi (cruiser AS11-BC-2923) headed towards Imphal with 15 passengers rolled down some 300 meters from the highway. All the injured were rushed to Imphal’s RIMS

hospital while seven were stated to be in critical condition, hospital sources informed. Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla and chief minister N Biren Singh expressed condolences to the bereaved family members. The chief minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the families of the deceased. Singh who is currently in New Delhi also assured all possible help from the government side to the victims of the tragic road mishaps.

Aadhaar not mandatory for welfare benefits NEW DELHI, MAR 27 (PTI): The Supreme Court today made it clear that Aadhaar cards cannot be made mandatory by the government and its agencies for extending benefits of social welfare schemes. A bench comprising Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and S.K. Kaul, however, said that government and its agencies cannot be stopped from seeking Aadhaar cards for non-welfare schemes like opening of bank accounts. SC also said that a 7-judge bench needed to be constituted for authoritatively deciding a batch of petitions challenging the Aadhaar scheme on grounds including that it infringes on the Right to Privacy of citizens. It, however, expressed inability in setting up of the seven-judge bench saying it would be decided at a later stage. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for one of the petitioners, alleged that the Central government is not following the various orders passed by the apex court that the usage of Aadhaar would be voluntary and not mandatory.

Pen down strike to continue: CANSSEA pealed to the government employees to withdraw their strike as the cabinet subcommittee has been constituted to look into their demands. According to an official bulletin, the state cabinet at today’s meeting expressed concern over the ongoing pen down strike by the state government employees. At the meeting, the cabinet sub-committee briefed the cabinet of the discussions it had held on the 7th ROP issue with representatives of CANSSEA and the various state services associations on March 26, 2017. In this regard, the cabinet has directed the cabinet sub-committee to meet the CANSSEA representatives immediately after the budget session for an amicable resolution of the issue. Meanwhile, all the state government employees have been requested to call off their pen down strike and allow the smooth functioning of the offices. Further, the CANSSEA and the various state services associations have also been requested to carry on the process of dialogue with the cabinet sub-comState cabinet, which mittee for resolving their met on Monday, has ap- issues. DIMAPUR, MAR 27 (NPN): Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA) informed that the office bearers of state services associations at an emergency meeting held at CANSSEA conference hall, Kohima on March 27, decided to continue the ongoing protest. The pen down strike called by the state service associations began March 25, after the state government failed to fulfil their demand for implementation of 7th ROP w.e.f. March 1, 2017. In a letter to the chief secretary, the CANSSEA president, S. Takatuba Aier, said the members felt that the state government was not sincere to the request of the associations for implementation of 7th ROP. At the meeting, the members also observed that the government has not conveyed any decision except an appeal to call off agitation. Talking to Nagaland Post, Takatuba Aier reiterated that the association would continue with the strike until the state government gives a positive response.

Cabinet appeals

Bodies support

Nagaland School Education Administrative Officers’ Association (NSEOA), the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) and the Nagaland Government Higher Secondary Employees Association (NGHSSEA) have resolved to support the pen down strike for implementation of 7th ROP w.e.f. March 1, 2017. In a joint press release, NSEOA president, Y. Khetoshe Yepthomi; ANSTA president, Ponchilo Wath, and NGHSSEA president, Kelhikha Kenye, stated that the directorate of school education, all the SDEO establishments, SDEO establishments, SSA and RMSA would strictly implement the pen down strike. The signatories stated that school classes and examinations would be exempted in the first phase as per the directive of the CANSSEA. Meanwhile, they have informed that all the members of the school education department would participate in the next stage of agitation should the deadlock continue between the state government and CANSSEA on the issue. (Cont’d on p-8)

ACAUT targets HM for illegal appointments DIMAPUR, MAR 27 () NPN): After maintaining a deafening silence for months over the issue of backdoor appointments, ACAUT Nagaland has followed up its earlier demand on the government to cancel all backdoor appointments by training its guns on the home minister Y. Patton over his statements made on backdoor appointments on the floor of the house adding that the chief minister now has no choice but take “cognisance of the failure of the home minister” Media Cell of ACAUT has termed Patton’s recent “justification and reply” on backdoor appointments in the house as “a direct insult to lakhs of unemployed Naga youths”. It also said the minister’s statement exposed the “pitiable condition” in which the minister was running the home department as “personal industry along with its subordinate fiefdoms.”

ACAUT took on the minister for justifying that as per P&AR memorandum 2010 appointments of lower grade posts in the police department- ABSI/UBSI and clerical posts- were done from the PHQ and constables appointed at the level of SPs and commandants was “a pitiable excuse as the memorandum does not permit backdoor appointment.” ACAUT also questioned home minister Y. Patton who was sworn under the constitution of India if he knew about Article 16 and its clauses that ensured “equality of opportunity in matters of public employment”? ACAUT said if the minister was ignorant about the Article then he should educate himself of such constitutional provisions so as to run an important department such as home affairs. ACAUT reminded the home minister about an allegation levelled by

the Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) on November 5, 2015 wherein it exposed backdoor appointments of thousands in his department. It said that despite the CSU allegation, the minister had taken no corrective steps to streamline “his employment industry” by depriving lakhs of unemployed youths of the opportunity for open recruitment. Further, it said the home department had also “ignored and undermined the state reservation policy” of 37% for backward tribes, 25% for Eastern Nagaland and remaining 12% for others. A C AU T s a i d t h e home minister’s figure, that there were 2078 posts filled through backdoor between 2013-17 (equivalent to the strength of 2 Battalions) and that as per reservation policy, 519 was for Eastern Nagas and the remaining 249 for others. (Cont’d on p-8)

ACAUT members backdoor political agents: NPF DIMAPUR, MAR 27 (NPN): NPF on Monday dubbed as “backdoor political agents” the ACAUT members, who it said talk against corruption, but were in fact having close link with corrupt market monopolies. NPF through its media & press bureau (M&PB) said its attention has been drawn to ACAUT press release, which was published in local dailies on Monday, implicating the party president and chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu in connection with unstarred question that was raised in the ongoing Assembly Session. NPF advised ACAUT to first clean up their own house first before they launch their “hateful tirade” against the democratically elected leaders and the government. It stated that ACAUT, of late, has been “poking its nose” into everything as if it was the sole authority to pass judgment on the daily affairs of the government carried out in the best interest of the people. Asserting it clearly understood the motive behind its members, NPF accused them of being “players of back-door politics” looking for easy entry by confusing the minds of the general public under the guise of raising corruption issues. To begin with, NPF said ACAUT members should declare their personal incomes and assets both movable and immovable, and “the years of public service

they have rendered if they are really clean to talk of corruption-free society.” Claiming that the public knew each and every member of the ACAUT, NPF said they should not claim or act to be free from corruption. It also challenged ACAUT members to first face election and talk with mandate of the people rather than bark against the mandated government every time it did something for the people. NPF said the appointments were given to deserving Naga youths who possessed requisite qualifications, and not to any outsiders or undeserving candidates. It further said that appointments were given to the unemployed youths only. The party said what more was expected of the government when the chief minister had stated on the floor of the House that mistakes, if any, would not be repeated in the future? NPF said it welcomed any corrective measures placed before the elected authority, but cannot agree to the “dire consequential statements” spewing political venom against the party. Further, NPF accused ACAUT of tirelessly working to bring down the government and to bring President’s Rule in the state “at the behest of vested interests”. It also said ACAUT inciting youths to vote against NPF party in 2018 clearly exposed their political intentions. K Y M C


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March 28, 2017 by Nagaland Post - Issuu