Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXXII No. 146
DIMAPUR, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2022 Pages 12 ` 5.00
NSU to nurture sporting talents of NE: Reddy
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SPORTS, PAGE 12
CM asks youth to explore Agri-allied sector STALLS AT NE AGRI-EXPO FOR ORGANIC, AGRI & HORTI PRODUCTS
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAY 2 (NPN): Celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in commemoration of 75 years of Independence, chief minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated the Community Marketing Complex (CMC); while Minister of State for DoNER and Cooperation, Government of India, B.L. Verma inaugurated the “Naturally Nagaland” exhibition at NE Agri Expo 4th mile, Chümoukedima Monday. Rio roots for agri & allied sector: State chief minister Neiphiu Rio urged upon youths to explore the potential offered in agriculture and allied sector by engaging in farming activities, instead of just pursuing white-collar jobs. In his speech at the inauguration of Community Marketing Complex (CMC)
Lightning shutters down in Mon town D I M A P U R , M AY 2 (NPN): Mon Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) on Monday imposed an indefinite “lighting shutdown of shops” in Mon town in protest against rampant taxation, donation drive, checking of goods etc. In a letter addressed to deputy commissioner (DC) Mon, Mon Chamber of Commerce & Industry president Ngamom Konyak and general secretary Yanpong Nyemlin said if such activities continue to function/operate, affecting the business establishments, MCCI would continue the shutters down. “We can no longer shoulder such illegal activities upon the business establishment,” MCCI stated. Besides being severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the trade body said they were unable to conduct business activities due to the “rampant taxation and checking by different individuals, NGOs, over ground and underground” groups against the business community. Meanwhile, district administration sources confirmed that the DC had received the letter. In this regard, a meeting has been convened at DC's office on Tuesday with all stakeholders to deliberate on the issue.
This is it!
“Career counselling is ok but these days we need mental counselling because of backdoor appointments.” K Y M C
(L-R) Neiphiu Rio and BL Verma address the gathering and stalls opened at the Agri Expo site. (NP)
in the presence of Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Cooperation BL Verma at Chümoukedima Monday, Rio expressed the hope that the CMC would serve as a platform for young entrepreneurs for selling and promoting organic produce of Nagaland. He said many parts of the world, including India
faced food shortages while Nagaland was blessed with abundant fertile lands and therefore, urged upon all to take advantage of it. Rio called upon the youth should take up agri and allied activities to benefit the local community and improve the State’s economy. He also underscored the need for increasing organic produce and for agri-horti
link roads for connecting Nagaland with other States. He also stressed on the need for setting up more cold storage facilities in order to store organic and exotic produce so as to keep them readily available for export. Rio also cautioned government officials against misappropriation of funds and that everybody should collectively discuss improv-
ing the economy. While urging all to concentrate on boosting the state’s economy instead of focussing too much on politics, Rio maintained that politics be best left to politicians. Verma on NE potential: Union Minister of State for DoNER and Cooperation BL Verma, in his speech, pointed out that 10% of the country’s budget was being allocated to the North Eastern States. He said prime minister Narendra Modi was especially serious about development of the region because of its immense potential, especially in agri and allied sectors. Verma admitted that people outside in general perceived the region in a negative way and admitted that his opinion had changed after visiting the States, including Nagaland. (Cont’d on p-8)
None will be victorious in Russia-Ukraine war: Modi INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9
NDPP reassures BJP on alliance Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAY 2 (NPN): Against the backdrop of recent merger of 21 NPF legislators to NDPP, that led to speculations about the fate of the NDPP-BJP alliance, NDPP Monday reaffirmed its commitment to continue the 2018 alliance with BJP. Further NDPP media & communication committee also reaffirmed it will uphold the spirit of the alliance and adhere to their collective commitments during the recent election of the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Nagaland. NDPP said that the party remained “unwavering in our pre-poll commitments and alliance with the BJP”. NDDP assured the people that the recent development did not in any way undermine “our continued alliance, but in fact, strengthens the alliance, providing more stability to our government.” NDPP also affirmed it will continue to remain steadfast
“in our role as facilitators to the Indo-Naga talks”. The party expressed belief that with the “recent positive development”, their role has been further strengthened. NDPP also welcomed the 21 legislators led by the former chief minister TR Zeliang, who joined the party on April 29, to support the “dynamic leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio”. It also said the NPF MLAs joining NDPP enhanced the stability of the government and at the same time, facilitate growth and development of the State. It also said the increase in the number of MLAs (42) as well as well as the party rank and file would re-strengthen the leadership of the chief minister and party president Chingwang Konyak. NPDD also said its doors will continue to remain open and would welcome anyone who wanted to join the party “under the banner of ‘Facta non Verba; Deeds not Words’!”
BJP to wait & watch
M e a n w h i l e h i g h ly placed sources in the BJP have expressed their disappointment with the recent political developments which they said, had put a question mark over the NDPP-BJP alliance. According to these sources, divesting of Roads & Bridges portfolio from BJP legislature party leader and deputy CM Y. Patton was unexpected. However, they said the next decision to strip Land Resource Department from BJP minister Paiwang Konyak and then re-allot to another BJP leader (Patton) was unwarranted. The sources said all these only put strain on the alliance. On the “merger” issue, BJP sources said it was another indication that perhaps the NDPP wanted to marginalise BJP in the state which would have an adverse impact on the seat sharing formula of 40:20 that was at the core of the NDPP-BJP alliance.
RPP slams govt for not releasing scholarship money JCCV locks office of SDO (C) Dhansiripar
D I M A P U R , M AY 2 (NPN): Rising People’s Party (RPP) has slammed the government for not releasing scholarship money which were given by the Centre for students on one hand while siphoning off huge funds for construction works. RPP in a statement said it wondered how the State government could comfortably build chief minister’s residential complex “Hollywood style” at ten times the actual cost, but could not release a few crore scholarship money given by the Centre? It alleged that if the Finance department had money to release Rs 30 crore as “Additional Funds” for a
ghost road project in Phek district, what had stopped it from releasing the few crores of rupees meant for genuine beneficiaries? RPP questioned: “Has the UDA (United Democratic Alliance) coalition fallen so low? This is called theft.” Further, the Rising People’s Party said it was unacceptable that the State government should humiliate and harass the student community year after year over the scholarship issue. It pointed out that the scholarship money released by the Central government did not belong to the Higher Education department or the UDA government, but that it was meant for the
DoPN to carry out jungle cutting Schedule Date
Feeder
Affected Area to be under Total Shutdown
33kV Lamati & Zubza and Lalmati area AP-1 Feeder Southern Angami Area 9th May 22 to 10th May 22 33kV Jakhama Kohima Northern Angami Area 9th May 22 to 21th May 22 33kV Botsa Kohima 33kV Chakha- Chakhabama & Choth th 23 May 22 to 24 May 22 bama zuba area 4th May 22 to 7th May 22
D I M A P U R , M AY 2 (NPN): Following the declaration of May and October months of each calendar year as “Vegetation Clearance Months”, the Department of Power Nagaland (DoPN) has released the schedule for jungle clearance and maintenance of 33kV lines starting May 4 to May 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exercise has been
initiated in an effort to avoid disruption and facilitate stable power supply. In a press release, transmission division Kohima executive engineer informed that the department would try to minimize the total shutdown, but said there would be intermittent disruption of power supply in some pockets during the activity which is unavoidable.
students. RPP asked was “it so that unless the ANCSU (All Nagaland College Students' Union) or the student community remind the department every year funds cannot be released, money which rightfully belongs to the students? On appointments in all Group D category, RPP said that apart from fleecing innocent students, the UDA coalition has also become adept at peddling lies. It alleged that some politicians and department officials were going around in trying to convince landowners that all Group D appointments had been banned by the high court because of a PIL filed by RPP. RPP enclosed a court
order dated November 10, 2021, wherein the high court categorically directed the State government to conduct recruitment in Group D posts. In the light of the above, RPP informed all landowners that there was no ban on appointment to Group D post in the State adding that if any department refused landowners their right to employment, such departments would be answerable to the court. RPP also said it was the responsibility of the Additional Advocate General representing the State government in the case to put a stop to “this political propaganda against RPP”, it added.
JCCV functionaries with banner, standing at the entrance of the office.
D I M A P U R , M AY 2 (NPN): As part of its protest to lock government offices at Dhansiripar, the Joint Co-ordination Committee of Villages (JCCV) for Dimapur district Monday began the process by locking the office of the SDO (Civil), Dhansiripar. JCCV is protesting against what
India’s Covid positivity rate past 1 per cent again after two months NEW DELHI, MAY 2 (PTI): India's Covid case positivity rate went past one per cent again after over two months as the country witnessed a single-day rise of 3,157 infections and 26 fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The rise reported on Monday pushed the country's overall Covid tally to 4,30,82,345 cases and 5,23,869 deaths, the data said. The number of active cases rose by 408 in a 24hour span to reach 19,500, the data updated at 8 am showed.
At 1.07 per cent, the daily positivity went past one per cent again after a little over two months, the ministry said. It was at 1.11 per cent on February 27. The weekly positivity rate was 0.70 per cent, according to the health ministry. Positivity rate refers to percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that return positive result. A higher positive rate means higher transmission rate for the virus. The death toll has now climbed to 5,23,869 with the latest 26 fatalities being
reported, 21 of them from Kerala alone. The active cases constitute 0.05 per cent of the total infections. The country's COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.74 per cent, the health ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease rose to 4,25,38,976, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.22 per cent. The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 189.23 crore.
Nobody can be forced to undergo Covid vaccination: SC NEW DELHI, MAY 2 (PTI): Supreme Court on Monday held that no individual can be forced to be vaccinated against COVID-19, observing that bodily integrity is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. Asking the Centre to make public data on the COVID immunisation’s adverse events, the top court, however, said that in the interest of protection of communitarian health, the government is entitled to regulate issues of public health concern by imposing certain limitations on individual rights, which
are open to scrutiny by constitutional courts. Upholding the government's current COVID vaccination policy, the court said on the basis of available material and considering expert views the policy “cannot be said to be manifestly arbitrary and unreasonable”. Noting that COVID infection rate in the country remains low, the court also suggested a review of the existing orders and that no restriction be imposed on unvaccinated individuals on access to public areas or recall the same if already not
done. The number of active COVID cases rose by 408 in a 24-hour span to reach 19,500 on Monday. Observing that restrictions on unvaccinated individuals imposed through various vaccine mandates by State Governments/Union Territories cannot be said to be proportionate, the court clarified that the suggestion to review vaccine mandates imposed is limited to the present situation alone. The judgement came on a petition filed by Dr Jacob Puliyel, a former member of the National
Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, who has sought directions to disclose post-vaccination data regarding adverse events among other pleas. The bench also reiterated that subject to the protection of privacy of individual subjects, with respect to ongoing clinical trials and trials that may be conducted subsequently for COVID-19 vaccines, all relevant data required to be published under the extant statutory regime must be made available to the public without undue delay. On
the issue of vaccination for children, the bench said that it is not possible to second guess the opinion of experts and the vaccination indeed follows global standards and practices. “On paediatric vaccines, the decision taken by the Union of India to vaccinate children in the country is in tune with global standards... We direct the Union of India to make sure the key findings of the stages of trials already approved by regulatory authorities for children be made public at the earliest,” it said.
it described as “arbitrary merger” of some fifty villages under Dhansiripar subdivision and Urra area with the newly created district of Chümoukedima. In a press release, JCCV convenor LK Swu and coconvenor Tsithrongshe Sangtam informed that more than 200 leaders from 50
odd villages participated in the protest. The committee also informed that it has “unanimously” resolved to impose bandh on vehicular movement as well as schools in the sub-division if the government failed to initiate the process for resolution of the impasse after the expiry of 48 hours starting May 2, 2022. According to JCCV, it has tried its best to avoid extreme steps of agitation, but was compelled to “resort to these steps for the larger interest of the people against the government indifference.” At a meeting called in the afternoon by DC Chumoukedima, JCCV said they held a discussion to explore possibilities to solve the impasse amicably.
FIR filed against LPG distributor Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 2 (NPN): An FIR has been filed against one Alavizo Rürhie at Medziphema Police Station for allegedly operating an illegal LPG business without permit in violation the Indian Explosives Act and endangering lives of people at the same time. The FIR was filed by three residents of Medziphema town-- VDB secretary Selie Seyie, general secretary ward no. 8 Kedokhoto Seyie and businessman Ngukato Swu Sema-- in which they accused Alavizo of cheating the community by engaging in the illegal act. The complainants disclosed that the accused, aged
around 35-40 years, was the proprietor of M/s Sangci Indane, Gramin Vitrak, an IOC Ltd-appointed LPG distributor having licenced godown and showroom at Poilwa village in Peren district. They claimed that the accused had been engaged in the illegal and criminal operation of LPG business in Medziphema area, around 94 km from Poilwa. The FIR stated that Alavizo was operating the business at Medziphema in a deceptive way by bluffing the public with a noobjection certificate (NOC) issued by additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Medziphema. (Cont’d on p-8)
Mon killings: SIT submits final report to district court G U WA H AT I , M AY 2 (AGENCIES): The Nagaland government-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT), which probed the December 4 civilian killings in a botched ambush by the Army’s elite Para commandos in Mon, has submitted its final report (chargesheet) to a local court, The New Indian Express report said. Three senior Staet government officials confirmed the report was submitted to the District and Sessions Court, Mon, last month.
One of them told The New Indian Express that the report was currently with the public prosecutor as some parts were to be added. Once the changes are made, the report will be resubmitted to the court, the official added. The content of it, however, has been kept under wraps. The members of the SIT have remained tightlipped all along. The second senior Nagaland government official said the investigation (Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C