Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVII No. 160
DIMAPUR, wednesday, may 17, 2017 Pages 16 ` 4.00
Muslim board equates triple talaq with Lord Rama’s birthplace
Chelsea beat Watford in thriller
Mnp CM inaugurates Shirui Lily festival
national, page 9
sports, Page 15
northeast Page 5
CBI, IT raid houses of Chidambaram, Lalu P. Chidambaram
Chidambaram says government wants to silence his voice Lalu Yadav: Will not be cowed by such frightening actions
ter, Bhupinder Singh Hooda been conspiring against Lalu for nearly nine hours at its Prasad for his vocal critioffice in Sector 30 Tuesday cism and his bid to unite all in connection with a case non-BJP parties ahead of pertaining to the Manesar the 2019 general elections,” land deal. Singh said. Senior RJD leader The IT Department’s and former Union Minister action comes in the wake Lalu Prasad Yadav Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of the allegations made by said the IT raids are part of former Bihar Deputy Chief hundreds of cases and there the BJP’s political vendetta Minister and senior BJP is no allegation against of- against rivals. “BJP has leader Sushil Kumar Modi. ficials, who are members of the FIPB, or against him. In the other case, the Income Tax Department Reacting to the raids on Chidambaram and his son, conducted raids at 22 places the Congress said: “The truth is that revenge has become a in and around Delhi in con- DNA of the BJP. Neither Chidambaram nor any Congress nection with alleged “bena- leader or any other leader of opposition will be deterred, mi” property deals allegedly would be cowed down or would fear the politics of revenge to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore and vendetta.” involving RJD chief Lalu Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the BJP Prasad. The raids started and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to take around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, action against its leaders such as Madhya Pradesh Chief in which over 100 officials Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Vyapam scam, and were involved. Income Tax Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and External officials also searched over Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who allegedly helped for10 premises of some govern- mer cricket administrator Lalit Modi leave the country. ment officials. “The entire landscape of BJP is mired by one scam Hours after the Income after another. If yardstick is morality then why is he (Modi) Tax raids on his alleged shying away from ordering an inquiry into the Sahara-Birla benami (proxy) proper- Computer Excel sheets, in which none other but the Prime ties, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Minister himself has been named repeatedly about having tweeted that he would not be taken bribe,” Surjewala said. cowed by such frightening West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also hit actions and also “congratu- out at Narendra Modi government for “political vendetta”. lated BJP for its new alliance “Maya, Akhilesh (Yadav), Chidambaram, Lalu (Prasad) partners”. However, he did and other leaders from the Opposition were harassed and not elaborate who the “new targeted by the present dispensation,” Mamata said. alliance partners” were. “Just because the government does not approve of our CBI also questioned ideological standing, we are being targeted, media too is former Haryana chief minis- muzzled,” Mamata Banerjee alleged.
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI/PATNA, MAY 16 (IANS): The premises of two top opposition leaders, P. Chidambaram and Lalu Prasad, were on Tuesday raided by CBI and IT officials with Karti Chidambaram accused of getting pay-offs for helping a media company get FIPB clearance, while the former Bihar chief minister was accused of “benami” land deals -- actions the opposition denounced as vendetta by the BJP-led central government. The day began with raids by the CBI in New Delhi, Chennai, Gurugram and Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, while the Income Tax raided 22 locations in Delhi and Gurugram on a number of premises said to be owned by Lalu and kin. The CBI raided the residence of Chidambaram and his son Karti in Nungambakam in Chennai, after registering an FIR on Monday night in which
it was alleged that his son could have benefited to the tune of Rs 3.5 crore for helping in the clearance of an FIPB proposal of media company INX Ltd when his father was at the helm in the North Block. The CBI FIR alleged that invoices for approximately Rs 3.5 crore were raised by the INX Ltd in favour of companies in which Karti was having “sustainable interests” either directly or indirectly. The FIPB clearance was given to Mumbai-based INX Media (now called 9X Media) when it was run by Peter and Indrani Mukherjea, and Chidambaram was then the Finance Minister. Both Chidambaram and his son denied there was any misconduct on their part and said the whole action was aimed at “muzzling” the voice of Chidambaram senior, who has been writing against the NDA government. Chidambaram said FIPB clearance is given in
AYO reaffirms to protect environment
Cong’s dig at Imchen, BJP
D I M A P U R , M AY 1 6 (NPN): Reaffirming the commitment to protect and preserve “our very fragile environment, its natural biodiversity, flora & fauna”, the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) on Tuesday issued several directive to be implemented in every Angami jurisdiction. In a press release, AYO president, Ato Krose, and environment secretar y, Mhiesiriato Punyu, reiterated the August 7, 2010, AYO presidential council meeting declaration and asserted that jungle burning was strictly prohibited and would not be tolerated. AYO has also imposed blanket ban on both usage/sale of air gun including pellets. AYO also advised those having stone crushers, stone quarry and car wash to “maintain maximum distance away from the main national highways and roads.” It further said that relaxation of hunting period was entirely the prerogative of the concerned village and youth organizations. AYO while urging all to adhere to the directive, warned that defaulters would be sternly penalized by the concern unit/range youth organization.
This is it!
“How is it that when fuel prices have come down your prices are still going up?” K Y M C
Staff Reporter
D I M A P U R , M ay 1 6 (NPN): A day after the Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Imkong L Imchen, said that the state government should also be consulted in the ongoing political talks, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and in-charge of Nagaland, Dr. K Jayakumar, questioned why Imchen had to plead to include the state government when it was the right of the state government to be a participant in any such agreement. Addressing a press conference at Hotel Saramati here on Tuesday, Dr. Jayakumar questioned the integrity of the Framework Agreement signed between Government of India and NSCN (I-M) and said that Congress wants the contents of the agreement to
Opposition parties cry ‘vendetta’
be made public. He said the Congress party welcomed the agreement, but would support it only after the contents were made known. He maintained that if Congress formed government in the coming assembly election, it would ask for the contents of the Framework Agreement to be made known to the state government. At the press conference, the AICC secretary also responded to the Nagaland BJP unit’s refutation to his claims over the rise in attacks on religious minorities like killings and burning of Churches in India. BJP unit had asked Dr. Jayakumar “to produce specific proofs of where and when it occurred.” In this regard, AICC secretary listed out 21 instances to justify his clam that BJP has been acting to fulfil their communal (More on p-9) agenda.
Another regional political party, PDP to be formally launched today Correspondent
K ohima , M ay 1 6 (NPN): It will be the second regional party to come up in 2017 when Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) will be formally launched at a function at Niathu Resort Dimapur on May 17, 2017. The other regional party that was launched and subsequently registered with the Election Commission of India is Nagaland Congress (NC), comprising of former veteran Congress members. Former Congress veteran and ex-Lok Sabha MP Chingwang Konyak who was appointed as Advisor by Neiphiu Rio as then chief minister, will head the new party. The PDP comprises of several former NPF ministers and parliamentary secretaries, most of who did not get a berth after the recent ministry reshuffle. It is also believed that the new party is likely to attract fence sitters. In one such development, OSD (Backward Areas) to CM and party general secretary P. Mulang resigned from the party and the post on the eve of the launch of the PDP. Besides the dissidents within NPF, the PDP will also see several senior retired
bureaucrats trying a stint by plunging into elective politics in the forthcoming 2018 assembly election. President –designate of the nascent PDP, Chingwang Konyak told this Correspondent that invitations have been extended to like minded people to the launch including those who have expressed desire to join the party. Dissidence within NPF marked Rio’s departure for national level politics since 2014 over who would succeed him. The January 2015 dissidence was the most serious as it led to Rio’s loyalists being sidelined, though few were rehabilitated as parliamentary secretaries or advisors. The violent incidents during January-February 2017 eventually cost T.R.Zeliang his chair but it was not Rio who benefitted despite wide expectations that he(Rio)would retain the chair. Rio’s suspension in 2016 for engineering the 2015 dissidence was not revoked while it was done so in the case with Imkong L. Imchen prior to being inducted as minister of forest and wildlife etc. In the recent reshuffle after current chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie took over,
several ministers and parliamentary secretaries were dropped from the ministry. It is believed that all of them will likely join the newly floated PDP in the coming weeks ahead of the state assembly election. As for the NPF, there are speculations that it is divided into three factions-A, B and C. While NPF (A) favour chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie, the other (B) is in favour of Advisor (finance) and former chief minister T.R. Zeliang and the third (C) are those sidelined. While all seven independent MLAs and parliamentary secretaries will be issued NPF tickets for the next election, the party faces an uphill task in trying to overcome anti-incumbency. Much will also unfold when Dr. Shürhozelie contests the by election due within August 2017 and the party looks ahead to the forthcoming assembly election. With divisions within NPF affecting regional votes, BJP hopes to do better under such circumstances. According to BJP sources, the party will continue to have alliance with regional parties under NEDA and that could even mean both NPF and PDP.
1 held for alleged rape of minor girl Staff Reporter
D I M A P U R , M ay 1 6 (NPN): A 43-year old man was arrested Monday night for allegedly raping a minor girl of class-2 on May 15, at Yanpa village, Wokha district. The accused was identified as one Abdul Kuttuh, s/o Abtush Sadda. In a statement, Dimapur Yanpha Ekhung (DYE) secretary Yelobemo Odyuo, quoting the victim’s parents, said the incident took place Monday afternoon while the parents were away from home. The incident was brought after the victim narrated the horrific incident to her parents. The accused was later apprehended and handed over to Ralan Old police station. DYE condemned incident and demanded befitting punishment to the perpetrator.
NNC marks 66th Naga Plebiscite anniversary Correspondent
K O H I M A , M AY 1 6 (NPN): Naga National Council (NNC) on Tuesday observed the 66th anniversary of Naga plebiscite at peace hall Chedema on Tuesday. NNC president Adinno Phizo in her address reminded that 66 years ago (on May 16, 1951) the Naga National Council (NNC) had joyfully gathered together in Kohima to give their thumb impression not to join the Indian union. She said “at the end of the national plebiscite, 99% of Nagas expressed their wish to be Independent and everything was done openly and the papers were all packed into boxes.” Adinno also recalled saying Nagaland, before 1954, was quite normal with no fear of anything. However, she said it was unfortunate that few groups of Nagas had been playing politics with the enemy.
Adinno Phizo (NP)
Those people should realize that Nagas are not demanding anything from India, she said, adding, the present situation was aggression by India and the solution would be the simple act of India withdrawing from Nagaland. “Nagas are not Indians and Nagaland is not Indian territory this is absolute and indisputable historical fact,” Adinno asserted. Highlighting the importance of holding the plebiscite, Phizo said it was necessary to dispel India’s doubt on Nagas that “only a few educated Nagas were
talking about independence”. The response in 1951 was an overwhelming verdict to show both India and the world that Naga stood of independence. Reacting to an article published in the local dailies about genocide in Nagaland, blaming a British missionary of having patronized Phizo to commit genocide, she said it was a mischievous article. She rather accused the Indian army of committing genocide in Nagaland. She said Nagas were matured people, which was why Nagas continue to uphold their rights. (Message on p-6) The programme was led by Kolezo Chase member CEC NNC, bible reading and prayer by Rev. Phomlee Van pastor Phom Baptist Church Kohima, special song was presented by Rengma Baptist Church Kohima. A documentary on Naga plebiscite was also screened after which the programme ended with a mass prayer. K Y M C