23 Feb 2023

Nagaland Post

Women’s T20 WC: SA beat B’desh; seal SF spot

NDPP-BJP alliance will win 40-50 seats: Rio

Correspondents

MOKOKCHUNG, FEB

22: S tate chief minister

Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday renewed his claims that the NDPP-BJP alliance would from the next government in the state by winning 40-50 seats in the ensuing general election for the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

Addressing election rally at Sungratsu village under 23 Impur assembly constituency for NDPP candidate TN Mannen, Rio maintained that that the next government (NDPPBJP) would work towards a state of excellence. He also asserted that the new 14th NLA would continue to press for early Naga solution as it could not materialise during the 13th NLA despite all political parties forming an oppositionless government, because Nagas remained divided. Highlighting numerous pro-

grammes undertaken by the NDPP-BJP government, Rio said the next government would give special focus to farmers, entrepreneurs, youth, connectivity etc.

Pointing out that programs like CMHIS, CM Micro Financing etc benefited the people of the state at large, Rio assured that more such programme would be included after the formation of the government. He therefore, appealed to voters of Impur constituency to consciously vote for NDPP candidate so the area could be part of development,

peace and prosperity. Short speeches were also delivered by Tongpang Ozukum and NDPP candidate TN Mannen.

At Aonglenden: Campaigning for 26 Aonglenden for NDPP candidate and Speaker 13th NLA, Sharingain Longkumer, at Soyim Aonglenden, Ungma, chief minister Neiphiu Rio asserted that NDPP stood for preservation of Naga identity, history, culture and tradition. Rio said that NDPP alliance with BJP was “a positive prospect for the future of Nagaland” in terms social and economic prosperity.

Earlier, delivering his speech, Sharingain assured to work towards the upliftment of the constituency if elected. Short speeches were also delivered by NDPP star campaigner Metsubo Jamir, and NDPP CEB vice president Imtiyanger and BJP Mokokchung district president, Imolemba.

Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 22 (NPN):

As the countdown to the election day draws closer, the BJP has once again reaffirmed its alliance with NDPP and refuted the claims made by some political parties that they were also part of the alliance.

Addressing an election rally at Wozhuro in Wokha district on Wednesday for 38 Wokha Assembly constituency BJP candidate Renponthung Ezung, BJP’s national spokesperson and Nagaland in-charge Nalin Kohli, said other parties had started a propaganda and spreading rumours that they were also involved in the alliance.

He alleged that parties like NCP and LJP never had any time for Nagaland but rushed to the State only during elections just to show that they care and asked such

BJP-NDPP failed to deliver basic amenities: Tharoor

Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 22 (NPN):

Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Shashi

Tharoor lamented that the basic issue of welfare of the community was not being addressed by the BJP-led government at the Centre and the NDPP-led coalition government in Nagaland.

Addressing a public meeting here at Congress

Bhavan on Wednesday, Tharoor accused the BJP-NDPP government of having failed to deliver the basic amenitieslike water, electricity, health and roads in a state which had attained statehood 60 years back.

He said Nagas deserve

better than such kind of deception, corruption, dishonesty and inefficiency.

Tharoor also lamented that Nagaland was the only State in the country that did not have a single medical college as people were only served empty promises. He called for prioritising health

Voter slip not proof of identity of voters: CEO

DIMAPUR, EFB 22 (NPN): Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland has informed that the voter information slip would not be allowed as proof of identity of voters in the ensuing general election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, 2023.

In a public notice, CEO Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar, stated that all electors, who have been issued Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC), have to produce the EPIC for their identification at the polling station before casting their votes.

Those electors not able to produce EPIC could produce one of the following alternative photo ID documents: Aadhaar Card; MNREGA job card; passbooks with photo issued by bank/post office; Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour; driving licence; PAN Card; Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR; Indian Passport; Pension document with photo; Service ID Cards with photo issued to employees by Central/State Govt. PSUs/ Public Limited Companies; Official ID Cards issued to MPs/ MLAs/ MLCs; and Unique Disability ID Card, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.

and education for overall social welfare.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic exposed the serious gaps in public healthcare system and wondered how long the State government would take to wake up and see how little had been achieved in public healthcare.

Tharoor, who is campaigner for Congress, reminded the gathering that the promise of setting up Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) in the State had disappeared in thin air with no sign of construction nor appointment of any faculty.

He further alleged that even though money had been allotted and spent, the high

10 Palestinians killed in Israel West Bank raid

1 abducted and murdered in prepoll violence in Mokokchung

parties whether they had any organisational base in Nagaland. Kohli mentioned that leaders coming from Bihar, Mumbai or elsewhere were not serious about Nagaland and cared little. He termed such leaders as “political tourists”.

He, therefore, urged people not to be misled by propagandas of the opponents and waste their votes by voting for such parties. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi loved the Northeast, including Nagaland, and that under the leadership of Neiphiu Rio, PM-related schemes were implemented properly in the State.

He stated said the vision document of BJP was the party’s promise and agenda for governance, assuring that the party’s agenda was peace and development.

court building was nowhere near completion.

The Congress leader urged the people to stand up and demand answers from the government where the money had gone and make the people responsible accountable for the misappropriation.

He also expressed eagerness to see the end of Naga insurgency and recalled how then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had announced in 1959 the decision to form a State, which finally became a reality in 1963, with an additional safeguard by inserting Article 371(A) in the constitution gave special rights to Naga people.

LJP claims NDA a ‘natural ally’

DIMAPUR, FEB 22 (NPN):

Despite union home minister Amit Shah, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and State and Central BJP leaders’ categorical clarification that there would be no other alliance except BJP and NDPP either pre-poll or post-poll, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Wednesday claimed that the party “is a natural alliance of NDA government.”

In press note, LJP (RV) further said that its national president Chirag Paswanj “is in a good relation and a blue eye boy” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah.

While claiming that the party was in good position in Nagaland as well as in the Centre, it said that LJP (RV)

DIMAPUR, FEB 22 (NPN):

In view of the visit of Prime Minister on February 24, 2023, Dimapur police have issued traffic advisory to ensure comprehensive security along the stretch of VVIP route.

In a press release, commissioner of police Dimapur stated that vehicular movement along the highway route from Green Park Junction till 3rd Mile Junction would be diverted between 9am till 12 noon. No parking of any vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles would be permitted along or near VVIP route. Vehicles coming down from Chümoukedima to -

wards Dimapur would be rerouted to Sovima via Green Park/5th Mile Junction.

Vehicles coming up from Dimapur towards Chümoukedima would be rerouted at 3rd Mile Junction via Thilixu/Toulazouma.

Feeder/approach roads and lanes (leading to the highway) along VVIP route would also be sealed off.

Further, no vehicles will be allowed to be parked on the stretch from Central Jail road/junction leading to Referral Hospital.

Dimapur police have, therefore, requested the public to cooperate and in case of

Nagaland would be the “king maker in this upcoming Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election 2023 and the party will be playing a crucial and vital role in government formation with blessing from the centre NDA government.”

It said that the main aim objective of LJP was to bring changes in Nagaland be political or social development and to uplift the minority and the people as whole and also bring about socio-economic development, education, infrastructure and most importantly the long standing Indo-Naga solution. Meanwhile, LJP (RV) welcomed all like-minded parties to join them in a post-alliance to form a government to work together in bringing changes in Nagaland.

dire emergencies, they could re-route taking the by-lanes.

Restrictions: Dimapur police have also imposed other restrictions from 3am to 6pm on February 24, 2023 within Dimapur and Chümoukedima districts due to security concern.

In an order, CP Dimapur has banned use of any kind of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) like Drones etc.; conduct of any kind of firing practice by Security Forces/ Civil Police/ Central Police/ Private Firing Range or any civilian holder of licensed fire arms and bursting of any kind of firecrackers.

Correspondent/PTI MOKOKCHUNG, FEB

22: The badly beaten up and dead body of a supporter of JD(U) candidate under Koridang constituency, who was reportedly abducted by unidentified persons Tuesday night between New Camp and Satier, was found in a forested site near the same area Wednesday.

The victim was identified as Imkongchiba Kichu (34), a mechanical engineering graduate.

According to Police, the victim and another person, both from Chungtia village, were reported missing since Tuesday night. While the other person returned home later, Imkongchiba’s body was found by a road in a forested area on Wednesday.

According to sources, the deceased along with his friend were returning

DIMAPUR, FEB 22 (NPN): Clean Election Movement (CEM) under the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has cancelled its much-anticipated common platform for public debate between BJP and Congress scheduled on Thursday

from Chungtiayimsen village (New Chungtia) when they were waylaid by some unidentified persons between New Camp and Satier at around 9 p.m. Tuesday night.

The unidentified person(s) physically assaulted the victim’s friend and left him at the spot while the victim (Imkongchiba) was reportedly taken away, sources said.

The news of this incident came to light only after the victim’s friend reached the village and informed the villagers about what took place. On searching the area, villagers found the victim on Wednesday afternoon around 3 p.m. near the surrounding area where he was reportedly taken away. The body bore unmistakable signs of brutality inflicted on the victim.

Meanwhile, Chungtia Medemchanger Putu Menden (village council) in a

after BJP had expressed its inability to participate following arrival of its central leaders and a tight programme schedule that day.

CEM convener Dr Villo Naleo in a press release also apologised to the public for the inconvenience and

statement, by its chairman N. Bendang, condemned the murder of its member by unknown miscreants and sending shockwaves among the people of Chungtia village.

The council asserted that there was no justification for such gruesome act and demanded that the concerned authorities probe the murder thoroughly and award befitting punishment to those involved so that such “barbaric crimes were not repeated”.

CSU: Chungtia Students’ Union has condemned the cowardly and inhuman act committed against one of its bona fide member, Imkongchiba Kichu. CSU president Mangkoneken and general secretary Chubakatila Kichu said that Imkong was brutally murdered by unknown miscreants and was left to die alone.

disappointment that the cancellation of the programme might have caused. He pointed out that facilitating common platform to intending candidates as well as political parties was one of the mandates of the movement.

No other alliance except BJP-NDPP: Kohli

CEM’s common platform for debate between BJP, Cong cancelled

Neiphiu Rio (NP)

Shashi Tharoor (NP)

(Cont’d on p-8)

(Cont’d on p-8)

Phinjem, LFIC observe

Mother Language Day

DIMAPUR: Phinjem, the media organ of Chang Baptist Church Dimapur (CBCD) and Livingstone Foundation International College (LFIC) observed the International Mother Language Day on February 21.

To mark the day, Phinjem organised a literary competition under the theme “Transformation of education through mother language”.

A press release by CBCD stated that the Mission Coordinator, NMM and former secretary of Chang Literature Board, Jonathan Chang, was the speaker for the programme, and attended by officials from Chang Union Dimapur, Changsao Thangjam Dimapur and Chang Students Union Dimapur.

The release informed that literary competition

Ash Wednesday observed at Christ King Church

Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 22(NPN):

Ash Wednesday, a holy day of prayer and fasting was observed by the Catholic community at Christ the King, Church, Kohima on Wednesday.

Fr. Varghese Palathingal, SDB, who led the morning service spoke on the Lenten season- a time where the Christians prepared for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline for forty days.

comprised of Spelling Bee and Essay competition, where winners were awarded certificates along with cash prize of Rs. 3000, Rs. 2000 and Rs. 1500 respectively.

LFIC: The day was also observed at Livingstone Foundation International College (LFIC) with HoD Department of English Jemsungba Walling, as the chief spokesperson.

A press release by LFIC stated Walling stressed on importance of individuals in preserving one’s mother tongue while emphasizing current situation of many North East Indian languages being at risk of becoming critically endangered due to lack of proper documentation and laidback nature of native speakers.

He also commended the crucial initiatives by

DIMAPUR: Office of the BJP 38 Wokha constituency has condemned the February 21 incident wherein the party alleged of “brazen buying of ballot votes” led by agents of a rival candidate during the casting of postal ballots at GHSS Wokha.

In a press note, the chief agent of 38 Wokha A/C BJP candidate claimed that the agents were caught red handed with huge amount of cash and other documents in their possession.

BJP said that such action was a blatant disregard to the Model Code of Conduct and a serious offence. While assuring that it would take all necessary measures to ensure free and fair election in the constituency, 38 BJP Wokha appreciated Wokha police for

Government of India, such as Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Indigenous Languages (SPPEL), and appreciated the masterstroke of NEP 2020 in fostering multilingualism among young minds of the future.

Walling also encouraged students to preserve and promote language by cultivating habit of documenting one’s local folktales/folklore and to encourage using one’s mother tongue. A special folk song was performed by the BA 4th semester students (Department of English LFIC).

The release stated that the programme was organized by Department of English to commemorate significance of the occasion and to foster the crux of preserving one’s own Mother tongue.

their vigilant and swift action in nabbing the accused persons. The party is also lauded BJP karyakartas for their role in exposing the modus operandi of the agents.

BJP further appealed to the district administration to take strict action against the accused persons as per law so as to discourage such nefarious activities in future.

The party also called upon all right thinking citizens of 38 Wokha AC to condemn the illegal activities and not to be swayed by monetary enticements in true Christian spirit. BJP 38 Wokha, while reiterating to stand for free and fair elections, also appealed to supporters of both the parties to abstain from violence and unitedly work for peaceful elections.

Speaking on the significance of 40 days in the Holy Bible, Fr Varghese narrated the flood in Noah’s story that lasted for 40 days,

how the Israel people wandered the deserts for 40 years and Jesus fasted and prayed for forty days in the desert, which he undertook

before entering into public ministry and after his resurrection, he lived among his disciples for 40 days before assencsion into Heaven.

He also shared on the smearing of ash on the forehead, which was a symbol of penance and reminded the gathering with words

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”, which symbolized the fragility and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God.

During the holy period, he said that prayer was a conversation with God other than to receive praise and appreciation from other people. He therefore called upon the gathering to extend more love and care to others and encouraged on alms giving.

The most important days in the season of Lenten apart from Ash Wednesday, were Palm Sunday, Maundy or Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, leading to Easter.

SP Kiphire lauds CSOs support for peaceful election

Correspondent

KIPHIRE, FEB 22 (NPN): Superintendent of Police, Kiphire, K. Swarnambika at the meeting with civil societies of Kiphire on February 22, lauded their efforts for extending support to the district administration and police in ensuring a peaceful environment. The meeting was organised by Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer. Swarnambika called upon

the members to continue to extend support till the election process gets over. She also requested the leaders of the civil societies to disseminate information among the general public to uphold clean election practices with emphasis on one man-one vote and also to abide by the rules and regulations laid down by the Election Commission of India. She reiterated that the Right to Vote was one of the most important right and responsibility of every adult citizen of India and that

no voter should be threatened or intimidated while exercising his or her franchise. The SP warned that any person/group found indulging in any corrupt and illegal practices shall be strictly dealt with as per the provisions of law. Also speaking at the meeting, Addl.SP, Kiphire added that the advancement in technology has now enabled the ECI monitor the whole electioneering process in microscopic detail and therefore cautioned everyone to refrain from indulging in corrupt

Alleged assault on Manglamukh Village chairman condemned

DIMAPUR: NDPP Minority Committee and Dimasa Welfare Women Organisation (DWWO), Nagaland have vehemently condemned the alleged physical assault on Manglamukh Village chairman Udil Haflongbar and his wife by some youths on February 21 night at Manglamukh Village. In a condemnation note, media cell of NDPP MC claimed that back glass shield of a public transport bus owned by Doyapur village council chairman, Darjen Phonglo was also damaged. The note stated that it was disheartening to witness that sections of

people trying to create a fear psychosis among the minority communities by threatening and intimidating them during election period.

NDPP Minority Committee therefore urged the minority communities in particular and all the right thinking masses in general to strongly condemn such incidences and to not side with any group/parties that stoop to such lowly measures and take firm decisions while exercising their precious voting rights.

DWWO: Condemning the ugly incident at Manglamukh village, the DWWO said that such “barbaric incidents” have recently become

the order of the day ever since the election campaigns started.

The women organisation claimed that the people of the area particularly the Dimasa Kacharis have been subjected to constant threatening and intimidation by the neighbouring village youths. DWWO also alleged that such incident clearly “shows that these youths have been hired to create fear psychosis among the innocent people for political gain of their masters”.

It therefore appealed to all right thinking citizens to condemn such barbaric acts meted out to the minority community.

practices. Meanwhile, the office bearers of the civil societies also spoke in the meeting and conveyed that they will strive to ensure peaceful, free and fair election in the district. Along with the officers of the district administration and police, the meeting was attended by the office bearers of the USLP, ESH, YTC and TTC, P.A. to DC, All Ward president, Head GB Kiphire Town, Head DB HQ, KASU president and vice president USSC.

Second mock drill on live webcasting held

DIMAPUR: Second Mock drill on live webcasting was conducted at State webcast control room CEO, Office Kohima, on February 21.

A press release by CEO Office, Nagaland, Media Cell, it stated that the programme was supervised by Assistant Chief Electoral Officer R. Toshi-

meren Aier and State Manager V Mukti Solution Pvt. Ltd, Sanen Longchar. It added that mock drill on live webcasting was conducted in more than 50% of total identified Polling station in the state, of districts which was monitored by the ECI/ CEO/DEOs.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Late Neilhoupe Koza

We the bereaved family of Late Neilhoupe (Alhou), S/o Late C. Kodonyi Koza would like to express profound heartfelt gratitude to every individual, churches, associations and sympathizers for comforting us spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially at the demise of our son/brother on 9th February 2023. Words do not suffice to express the comfort you have given us during this difficult time. We are truely indebted and will not be forgotten. May our Almighty God bless each and everyone of you manifold.

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Loving Family Members

The winners of the literary competition with the speaker Jonathan Chang and the members of Phinjem editorial board.

Believers in queue to smear ash on their forehead. (NP)

NEXT POLL

CEO, employees cast vote through postal ballot

MON: Service personnel engaged in the upcoming general election began voting on February 20. The facilitation centre for the first day was DC Conference Hall Mon.

The first day of the postal ballot voting went peacefully, as per the ECI guideline. DC and DEO informed that Postal Ballot Voting will go on till February 23 at Mon, as per the schedule, in various categories: DEF, Home Guard, Fire & Emergency, District Jail at SP Office, Mon; 6 NAP Battalion, Tizit at 6 NAP BN HQ, Tizit and 11th NAP (IR) Battalion, Aboi at 11th NAP (IR) Bn. HQ Aboi.

CEO interacts with students on SVEEP

been advised to encourage students from their institutions to participate in the competitions as part of the (SVEEP) programme. Winners will be selected from each category and awarded certificates and cash prizes. All the videos and essays will be uploaded to the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and social media handles for wide publicity.

DIMAPUR: Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, V.Shashank Shekhar, officers from election departments, service and police personnel engaged in the election process 2023 began voting through postal ballot.

The CEO cast his vote through postal ballot from 9 AC-Kohima, at the DBs Court DC office, Kohima on February 22.

Media cell of CEO informed that CEO expressed happiness at being part of the election

process- which has been called the festival of democracy. He expressed the hope that everyone will come together and ensure that the elections were conducted in the true spirit of democracy.

Other officers who exercises their franchise on the same day included Additional CEO,Ruokuoviltuo Khezhie, Jt. Secretary & OSDs to CEO, Hiazu Meru, and Razouvolie Dozo, Jt. CEO Awa Lorin and ACEO R. Toshimeren Aier

CHUMOUKEDIMA: Voting through postal ballot for the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Elections, 2023 was held on February 21 at DC Office Chumoukedima.

Postal ballot casting was held for DC Staff Chumoukedima; DC Staff Niuland; ADC Staff Medziphema; Sector Magistrate; BLO; Govt. Drivers requisition for election duty and any personnel drafted for election duty. Voting under 4-Ghaspani-I, 5-GhaspaniII, and other districts ended peacefully.

CSOs, village bodies resolve for peaceful election

DIMAPUR: Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), village bodies and various organisations have adopted/ passed resolutions to ensure peaceful environment during election and on the polling day.

KIPHIRE CSOs: The four tribal apex bodies of Kiphire- USLP, YTC, ESH and TTC at the consultative meeting held on February 22 at USSC office Kiphire have resolved several points related to election process.

At the meeting, the apex bodies after thorough discussion, unanimously resolved the following points.

It was resolved that no individual/group will be allowed to practice tribalism, clannism, etc and prohibited involvement of Naga Political Groups (NPGs) by way of vote capturing under Kiphire district.

The electors under Kiphire district have been advised to practice “free and fair election”

Individual or group have been advised to refrain from destroying/damaging properties in connection with the election matter in any of the constituencies under Kiphire district.

The four bodies warned that stringent action will be initiated against the violators of above points by any person/party/group.

The resolution was contained in a press release issued by USLP vice president, L. Kipitong Sangtam and Eastern Sumi Hoho vice president, H. Phutoi Sumi.

YVC resolves; condemns twin blasts: In view of the escalating tension among its citizens in Wokha town related to the assembly election 2023, the Yikhum Village Council (YVC) has

warned that action will be initiated against any person or party found involved in anti-social activities.

In a press release, YVC chairman, R. Subenthung Odyuo secretary, Mhonbemo Murry stated that the resolution was adopted at the emergency general meeting held on February 21.

YVC said that coinciding with the 125 years of Yikhum Baptist Church celebration to held on October 2, 2023 all individual difference were also discussed and resolved unanimously that henceforth if any person or party was found involving in anti-social activities “such as bomb blast, physical assault, burning of houses or vehicles, threatening etc, the action shall be initiate by the village public in future”.

The council stated that the unanimous resolution will be enforced before and after the general assembly election 2023.

YVC also condemned the alleged twin blasts at the residence of former candidate of 37 Tyui A/C, Chopathung Odyuo on February 16 and at the residence of Y. Daniel Kithan on February 21 both at Orchid Colony, Wokha.

Terming the act as “barbaric”, the YVC appealed to the law enforcing agencies to investigate the twin blasts properly and book the culprits as per the law of the land. The council warned that it will take its own course of action on the failure on the part of the investigating agencies and the concerned authority will be solely held responsible

NBCD: Notun Bosti Council Dimapur (NBCD) executive committee has unanimously resolved to

maintain peaceful atmosphere within its colony jurisdiction during election.

In a press statement, NBCD Imkongnukshi Imchen and secretary, Kavito Ayemi stated that only genuine voters will be allowed to cast vote, senior citizens and person with disability (PwD) will be given voting preference/privilege, no political parties will be allowed to organise youth camp within its jurisdiction and any candidate willing to express their party manifesto will be welcomed. In this connection, the council warned that stern action will be initiated against any person creating unnecessary disturbance within the colony under the influence of alcohol/illegal substance.

DDCF: Dimapur District Citizens Forum (DDCF) has appealed everyone to maintain peace and avoid violence during election and also to uphold democracy in truest sense.

A press release by DDCF through its media cell also urged participating parties to not use any unfair means but let the process of election a clean and democratic manner.

Expressing sadness and resentment on the recent election related incidences in and around Dimapur, DDCF urged everyone to not fall prey to any enticements or give in to pressure while exercising their franchise.

DNH: Dimasa Naisho Hosom (DNH), Dhansiripar Sub-Division has appealed the supporters and volunteers of all candidates of 3 Dimapur III A/C to maintain peace and tranquillity in all Dimasa villages.

A press release by DNH through its media

cell stated that setting up of camps and offices was not necessary as it bring only tensions among villagers and workers of different candidates.

It stated that stray incidents of manhandling village leaders and damaging public property by miscreants should not be repeated.

DNH also appealed to the supporters of candidates to win the peoples’ heart by explaining advantages and disadvantages of electing candidates instead of indulging to coercion and intimidation.

RCC: Residency Colony Council (RCC), Dimapur have adopted resolutions to promote free and fair polls for the ensuing 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly 2023.

A press release issued by RCC chairman N. Lemba Chang, president, RCC Mother’s Union Zhetoli and VP, RCC youth wing Chonbemo that in their joint meeting with Mother’s Union (MU) and Youth Wing (YW) on January 26 resolved various points in regard to the upcoming elections within its jurisdiction.

The colony resolved that, no candidates should set up party camps within colony jurisdiction, drinking of alcohol and creating any situations that hinders colony’s peace should be strictly dealt, no person should go door to door distributing cash/goods in lieu of votes for the upcoming election and no outsiders will be allowed within its jurisdiction.

It was informed that colony council will take appropriate action to those person violating against the above mentioned resolutions.

ENSF appeals for clean election

DIMAPUR: In the interest of developmental justice and securing the future of students of Eastern areas, Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has urged all and sundry –candidates under eastern jurisdiction, people and students – to participate in ensuing State Assembly election in the spirit of all fairness by maintaining election-friendly environment in all the constituencies of eastern areas.

ENSF president Chingmak Chang and general secretary Khomo

P Khiam also strongly denounced use of money and muscle power during election as it led to backwardness of areas and the people. The federation said it was dismayed to learn that some candidates

in Eastern Nagaland area constituencies were luring students/electorate on the pretext of providing jobs if elected.

In the light of the candidates giving false promises to innocent students, the federation cautioned that such male fide steps taken for individual benefit would have a negative ramification on the students and discourage them from hard work.

In this regard, ENSF encouraged the students to study sincerely and bring laurels to the eastern people as backdoor appointments has already been scraped off in the State, consequent upon implementation of Nagaland State Staff Selection Board (NSSB).

DIM APUR: As part of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar held an interactive session with the Campus Ambassadors of various Government Higher Secondary Schools and colleges of Nagaland at the CEO Office chamber on February 22. According to media cell of CEO, at the session V.Shashank encouraged the students to participate in the election in an ethical and fair manner. He also encouraged them to participate in the ongoing

essay and video challenge organized by the CEO Office and also to inform fellow students about the challenge. The students shared their opinions on the current scenarios and their wish to usher in peace and development. They also shared about voting based on merit and capability and not by force due to money and pressure.

Essay and video making competitions

Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland will be organising essay writing and video making competitions as part of

the Syste matic Voters’ Education & Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme in connection with the upcoming 14th General Election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, 2023 on the topic “My Opinion of Elections in Nagaland”.

Essay should be comprised of 1500-2000 words and the video should be 3-5 minutes in duration. Entries should be submitted to ceonagaland.itcell@ gmail.com on or before February 24 by 6 pm.

Heads of all Schools (Government/Private) functioning within the Sta te of Nagaland have

It urged the aspirants to remain vigil and conscientious from falling into such deceitful intent of the candidates.

The federation also urged the electorate and candidates to promote clean election in the entire Eastern area constituencies so as to bring about a sea change in developmental aspects in eastern jurisdiction.

Further, the federation appealed to all students appearing for board exams to refrain from indulging in election-related activities.

ENSF said it was of firm conviction that the Assembly election would be clean, free and fair in the eastern jurisdiction, which had always been its aspiration.

CEO Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar with the Campus Ambassadors at his office chamber,. Kohima on February 22.

CEO V.Shashank Shekhar cast vote through electoral ballot on February 22.

Rahul Gandhi calls for collective fight against BJP

BJPwilldestroyyourlanguage,religion,culture,andhistory:RahulGandhi

Correspondent

SHILLONG, FEB 22:

Describing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are like a “class bully”, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday appealed to the people to fight against them collectively through nonviolence

Drumming up support for the Congress here in poll-bound Meghalaya, Gandhi also alleged that the Trinamool Congress’ “idea in Meghalaya” was to ensure that the “BJP is strengthened”.

“The BJP-RSS is like a class bully who thinks he knows everything, understands everything and has no respect for anybody else. We have to fight them collectively,” he said. Calling on people to fight against the BJP and RSS through non-violence, and love and respect for each other’s traditions, cultures, language and religions, the Congress leader appeal to the religious sentiments of

the Christian-majority tribal state, saying that his party would protect their religion, even as he mentioned about “huge rise in prices” under the present regime at the Centre.

Campaigning for his party in the previous assembly elections in Meghalaya in 2018, the former Congress president had similarly raked up the issue of alleged atrocities on Christians in the country.

Donning a traditional Black Jymphong (waistcoat traditionally worn by Khasi men, particularly during

I come here with humility to learn and to understand from your history and tradition and your culture,” Gandhi said.

Alleging the BJP of indulging in “communal polarisation”, the Congress leader said, “The anti-conversion bill in Karnataka, you see in television the mob lynching taking place. You understand exactly what they are trying to do.”

Rahul Gandhi continues to attack PM over Adani issue

Is it intentionally going to cheat the people of Meghalaya also?” Gandhi asked, asserting that TMC must clarify why is it silent about the BJP in Meghalaya.

Correspondent

RAJABALA (MEGHALAYA), FEB 22: Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged the electorate of poll-bound Meghalaya to “change the scandalous government” and install her party in power. Addressing an election meeting at Nekikona Tilapara ground in Rajabali, Garo Hills today, she said, “Delhibased BJP and Congress can never be your friends. They were in power for so many years but could not even

build roads in Meghalaya. Trinamool Congress is the party that works for the people...Change this government which has been in power for the past five years. Nothing was done [by the government]. No medical colleges, no good roads, and no system for healthcare facilities were developed. There was no development but only scandals. Change this scandalous government”.

She also lashed the Congress for failing to fulfil their duties as Opposition leaders.

“Congress is asking for

important ceremonies and festivals, Gandhi said he was wearing it as a sign of respect to the culture and tradition of the people of Meghalaya, which is also reflected in his actions.

The Congress leader however claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the other hand, puts on the jacket and goes on to “attack your religion, culture, history and language.”

“We are here to defend your culture, to defend your language, to defend your religion, and I am here as a partner, as a friend, and

“The RSS has captured all the state institutions and they are attacking the people and their faith each passing day. They do not respect the culture and faith of minorities and tribal,” Gandhi said, asserting the anti-conversion bill passed in Karnataka in January 2021 has put the entire Christian community and minorities in fear.

Gandhi also fired salvos at TMC and termed it as B team of the BJP.

“Is TMC a silent partner of the BJP? Was the entry of TMC in Goa only a charade done to divide the votes against the Congress? Is TMC attempting something similar in Meghalaya?

Urging the electorates of Meghalaya to support his party and “vote for our young and experienced candidates” to ensure a “thumping majority” for the Congress in the coming assembly elections. Elections are scheduled on February 27 and the counting would be held on March 2 to form the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly.

He mentioned that 47 of the 50 candidates that the Congress has fielded in the State were “fresh and young” and below the age of 45, which reflected an “Youthful party”.

The Congress leader promised Rs 3000 every month to single mothers and “one job per household in Meghalaya” if his party was voted by the majority and also said about taking action against “illegal coal scam”.

“We will make sure

Split in Oppn votes to help NPP: Meghalaya Dy CM Tynsong

votes but where is their moral right? I was in Congress but they expelled us from the party. We are fighting the battle against BJP and every day BJP is knocking at our doors with ED-CBI,” Banerjee said.

Urging the electorate of Meghalaya to choose leaders “from the soil”, Banerjee said, “Outsiders want to rule here while oppressing you with NRC, CAA, bullets, and scandals. We too won’t run it from Bengal”.

The Bengal CM said, “Our biggest identity is that we are humans and love humanity. We respect all religions. No religion is bigger than the religion of humanity”.

Promising “political medicine” for the BJP, Banerjee said, “Ensure victory for TMC in the state as we are the ones who will remove BJP from Delhi in the coming days. Cast your vote in favour of the TMC and tomorrow we will show the way on how to remove BJP from the country. Vote for TMC and we will defeat BJP in the 2024 elections. This is our commitment”.

Correspondent

IMPHAL, FEB 22: Manipur will be faced with an insurmountable security challenge if the menace of drug trafficking is not tackled seriously, said Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, in the house of state Assembly on Wednesday.

The second part of the budget session of the state legislative Assembly commenced on Tuesday with the chief minister, who is also in-charge of finance portfolio, presenting an estimated budget of Rs 35022 crore for the year 2023-24.

The house took the budget estimates for discussion. Leader of the opposition and former chief minister O Ibobi Singh, Congress members - K Meghachandra and Th Lokeshwor participated in today’s discussion.

The chief minister, while highlighting the seriousness of the drug trafficking menace in the state, said that the state will face an insurmountable security challenge if the problem of drug trafficking was not tackled with seriousness.

A total of Rs 14 crore has been provided to intensify the security concerning

drugs and rehabilitation for the victims of drug abuse, he said.

The government has allotted Rs 12 crore to end drug menace which includes alternative livelihoods and Rs two crore for establishing drug de-addiction centres, he informed the house.

“The ‘war on drugs’ is not only about arrests and punishment. We had started a scheme for ‘Alternative Livelihoods’ for farmers of affected areas. We are working with the Ministry of DoNER to expand this project to all affected areas in the state,” he said.

In addition, the state government has taken up a complementary scheme from this year to focus not only on alternative livelihoods but also protection and rejuvenation of de -

graded areas.

For this year, an amount of Rs 12 crore has been provided in the budget, Singh said.

The chief minister told the house further that there were 6498 beneficiaries or business units identified for the financial support under the Start Up scheme.

Of these, 5041 beneficiaries were receiving the financial support under the scheme and 4719 units were running profitably.

Steps were also taken up to restrict outsiders from purchasing land in the valley areas of Manipur. Land can be purchased after the approval of the concerned municipality or gram sabha, he added.

On the other hand, state transport minister Khashim Vashum told the house that as per VAHAN data, there were 422753 vehicles in the state till January 2023.

Out of these, 110674 vehicles were older than 15 years, of which 6965 are diesel run vehicles and 103709 are petrol run vehicles. He also clarified that the scrapping of vehicles did not depend upon the age of the vehicle but upon the fitness of the vehicles.

SHILLONG, FEB 22

(PTI): Star campaigners like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee or Congress’ Rahul Gandhi who have helicoptered in to pitch for their respective party candidates, leave National People’s Party leader and Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong unimpressed.

Tynsong, a former Congress leader likened the “big guns” campaign style to a “car rally show” which he claimed will not cut ice with local voters, even as he also quickly added that the multicornered contest with BJP, Congress and TMC pitching in to battle it out with local parties like his, will help the NPP as “opposition votes will be divided”.

“It’s just like a car rally

show, so many people want to take a ride, but ultimately you don’t get the votes,” Tynsong said in an interview to PTI, while explaining his reaction to the galaxy of national leaders who have descended on this picturesque northeastern state, often described as ‘India’s Switzerland’. He said that the NPP does not bother about the heavyweights who have pitched their tents in this state of an estimated 33 lakh people, most of them tribals from the Khasi, Garo and Jaintia tribes.

“Conrad Sangma is our national president and I am the national vice president, we are the star campaigners of the NPP and we are locals from this state.

Playing the son of the soil card, Tynsong said that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and he were born and brought up in Meghalaya and know the issues which really matter to the people of Meghalaya. Exuding confidence, the leader who hails from the Khasi community claimed that his party would win a “minimum 32 to 34 seats” in the 60-member assembly.

(FOR CHANGE OF NAME OF WIDOWS OF DECEASED SOLDIERS AND CHANGE OF NAME FATHER/MOTHER OF VETERANS AND SERVING SOLDIERS)

I, JACK SPARRoW S son of SuDHAGARAN E presently residing at V ILL o NDIG u DISAI , P oVELLERI, TEH - ARNI DISTT - TIRuVANNAMALAI (TN), PIN - 632317 have changed my Name from JACK SPARRoW S to AATHIRAN S vide Affidavit dated 18/01/2023 before Notary, Arni, Tamilnadu. dp-760/23

follows:

1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India

2. That my name has been entered and recorded in my official and service documents as K. Paoshim and Paoshim Kapai.

3. That the name K. Paoshim and Paoshim Kapai refers to one and the same person.

4. That by swearing this affidavit it is to declare that the above mentioned names K. Paoshim and Paoshim Kapai refers to one and the same person. As such, the names be treated as the name of one person in all official purposes by the competent authority.

5. That the statements made in the above paragraphs are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and nothing false has been stated or concealed herein.

K-364/23

DEPONENT

that the people of Meghalaya get uninterrupted power supply to their houses and to industries. We will fight the menace of drugs and try to provide a drug-free Meghalaya and take strict action against peddlers and set up de-addiction centres,” the Congress leader promised, if his party is voted to power. Gandhi also cast aspersions on all media organizations in the country saying, “The media of this country is completely controlled by two or three large industrialists, who have a relationship with the prime minister. So we can’t even express ourselves in the media anymore. And that was one of the reasons we decided to do the ‘Bharat Yodo Yatra’ to listen to the people of the country and we expressed what this country is going through”. Gandhi also mentioned about his asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha recently about the latter’s relationship with Adani, even as he alleged that there was corruption in Meghalaya “at a scale that has never been seen”.

ClaimshisLSspeech notcoveredbymedia

SHILLONG, FEB 22

(PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday continued his attack on PM Narendra Modi over his relationship with the Adani group, claiming that whenever the PM goes abroad, the conglomerate gets a “gift”.

Addressing an election rally here, Gandhi asserted that the group has access to every single business because its head Gautam Adani is close to the prime minister.

Claiming that television channels and newspapers did not properly cover his speech in Lok Sabha on this subject, he alleged that the media is in the hands of the powerful and close aides of the prime minister.

“Whenever the PM goes abroad, Mr Adani gets a gift. PM goes to Bangladesh, Mr Adani gets a gift. PM goes to Australia, Mr Adani gets a gift. PM goes

to Sri Lanka, Mr Adani gets a gift. PM goes to Sri Lanka, Mr Adani gets a gift,” Gandhi said, referring to contracts bagged by the ports-to-energy conglomerate in those countries.

One businessman became the second richest man in the world from the 609th in a matter of years, the Congress leader said without naming Adani.

“He (Adani) owns ports, airports; he does constructions; he works for the defence sector; he dominates the apple trade in Himachal Pradesh,” Gandhi said.

The former Congress president claimed that the scale of corruption at the Centre is probably “never ever seen” in Indian history. Gandhi said he had asked the PM to disclose his relationship with Adani in a Lok Sabha speech earlier this month, but got no reply.

“My speech was nowhere to be seen. It was not visible in the media, not heard about in newspapers and not seen in channels,” he said.

SC protects Akhil Gogoi from arrest in NIA case related to anti-CAA stir

NEW DELHI, FEB 22

(PTI): The Supreme Court has granted independent Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi protection from arrest in connection with a case related to anti-CAA protests and suspected Maoist links, and sought response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on his plea.

The lawmaker, who has allegedly been vocal against the Central government during the antiCitizenship Amendment Act protests, moved the top court against the February 9 order of the Gauhati High Court allowing the special NIA court in Assam to proceed with the framing of charges against him in one of the two cases.

“Let notice be served on the standing counsel for the State (NIA), for the limited purpose of considering the grant of protection to the petitioner from arrest pursuant to the impugned order, returnable on February 24, 2023.

“In the meantime, the petitioner (Gogoi) shall be

protected against arrest in connection with FIR bearing ... dated December 14, 2019, Police Station NIA, Guwahati,” a bench of justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal ordered on Tuesday after hearing arguments from senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the lawmaker.

Earlier, the high court had permitted the NIA to seek framing of charges in the special court against Gogoi and three of his associates in connection with anti-CAA protests and suspected Maoist links.

The high court’s order had come on an appeal of the NIA challenging the

order of a special NIA court giving clean chit to the four.

A high court division bench comprising Justices Suman Shyam and Malasri Nandi had asked the agency to go ahead with framing charges after reopening the case.

“The high court has accepted NIA’s plea to reopen the case and frame charges against the four persons. The case will be heard again in the Special NIA Court,” Gogoi’s counsel Santanu Borthakur had said. The MLA has come to the apex court against the order.

The other three accused were Dhaijya Konwar, Bittu Sonowal and Manash Konwar, all of whom got bail in the NIA case and were released from the jail.

Gogoi was the only one whose bail was rejected by the court and he was released after spending 567 days in jail once Special NIA Judge Pranjal Das cleared him along with the three others of all charges.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public meeting in Shillong, Wednesday. (PTI)

‘Change Scandalous Government’, Mamata tells voters in Meghalaya

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting at Rajabala in Garo Hills, Wednesday. (PTI)

Prestone Tynsong

Akhil Gogoi

N Biren Singh

Security challenge in Manipur if drug menace not tackled seriously: CM Biren

SNIPPETS

Army chief visits

northern Army hqs

JAMMU, FEB 22 (PTI):

Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Wednesday visited the northern army headquarters at Udhampur and reviewed the operational preparedness and security situation, an official said. The Chief of Army staff was briefed by northern Army commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi and other officers during the day-long visit, the official said in a tweet. “General Manoj

Pande, #COAS visited HQ @NorthernComd_IA & reviewed the operational preparedness & prevailing security situation.

#COAS complimented all ranks for their high standards of professionalism and devotion to duty,” the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army wrote.

Aaley Md Iqbal is Delhi’s Dy mayor

NEW DELHI, FEB 22

(PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party’s Aaley Mohammad Iqbal defeated the BJP’s Kaml Bagri by a margin of 31 votes to become the deputy mayor of Delhi, officials said on Wednesday. Iqbal bagged 147 votes against Bagri’s 116. The voting was held at the Civic Centre. Earlier in the day, Shelly Oberoi of the Aam Aadmi Party emerged victorious in the mayoral elections, defeating the BJP’s Rekha Gupta. This was the new municipal council’s fourth attempt to elect a mayor and deputy mayor. The three previous elections were stalled amid ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members.

PM congratulates

Sansad Ratnas

NEW DELHI, FEB 22

(PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated the parliamentarians who will receive the “Sansad Ratna” awards. Thirteen MPs, including Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, RJD’s Manoj Jha and CPI-M’s John Brittas, have been nominated for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2023. The 13 MPs include eight from the Lok Sabha and five from the Rajya Sabha, including three retired members. The prime minister tweeted, “Congratulations to the MP colleagues who will be conferred the Sansad Ratna Awards.”

Pondy budget session from Mar 9

PUDUCHERRY, FEB 22 (PTI): Puducherry

Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has convened the territorial Assembly session on March 9, a Raj Nivas communication said here on Wednesday. The Assembly is being convened for the budget session (2023-2024) and the Lt Governor would deliver the customary address on the first day. Puducherry

Chief Minister N Rangasamy would present the full budget of the fiscal 2023-2024 and the date of presentation would be decided soon, government sources said.

Goa govt to launch

‘Goa Ki Baat’ program

PANAJI, FEB 21 (PTI):

The Goa government will introduce a monthly program called “Goa Ki Baat” on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to propagate various schemes, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said here. A state minister will speak about the schemes of his or her department during each program, to be aired every third Saturday of the month, he said.

Conservation is commitment for India: PM

NEW DELHI, FEB 22 (PTI): Environment conservation is a commitment and not a compulsion for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, asserting he believes development and nature can go hand-in-hand.

India strives to meet an increased portion of its power demand from renewable and alternative sources of energy, he said in a message read out at the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) being organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) here.

The country is devising solutions to diverse urban challenges, particularly those related to pollution and cleanliness, through latest technology and innovation, he said.

“Extolling the Earth as Mother, our scriptures say, ‘The Earth is our Mother and we are her children’. The sentiment of universal

brotherhood has constantly guided the nation and its people. With such a glorious culture and philosophy of lofty traditions of living in harmony with nature, it is only natural for India to remain at the forefront of global efforts for environment protection,” he said.

“We firmly believe that development and nature can go hand-in-hand. With the objective of making sustainable development an integral part of everyday life, we launched Mission LIFE. The objective of this

Major fire in Mumbai’s Dharavi

Nagar localities near the Dharavi fire station around 4.15 am, they said.

“The fire broke out in some structures of one to four stories serving as godowns, bakery, garment units. It was confined to electric wirings and installations, clothes, papers, sewing machine, garments,” a civic official said.

Mission is to adopt a lifestyle for the environment. Environment is today not just a global cause, but also a personal as well as collective responsibility for every individual,” he said.

Modi said environment conservation is a commitment and not a compulsion for India. Human empowerment is impossible without a better environment and the way forward is through collectiveness rather than selectiveness, the prime minister said.

India’s initiative to adopt a healthier and cleaner lifestyle include upgrading infrastructure to encourage electric mobility, increased use of biofuel for transportation, leverage hydrogen as a fuel, convert waste to wealth and water treatment plants to ensure clean rivers, the prime minister said.

The country has adopted a multi-dimensional approach to chart a long-term roadmap for sustainable

and environment-friendly lifestyle, be it through measures for upliftment and empowerment of the poor, or encouraging organic farming, or protecting farmers from the vagaries of nature, he said.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said India is emerging as an inspiration for countries across the globe under the leadership of PM Modi “particularly on the fact that economic development and conservation of environment can go hand in hand”.

He said the country has demonstrated that it has never been a part of the problem and is contributing significantly to become a part of the solution.

The focus on ‘green growth’ in the Union Budget validates how sustainable development has been mainstreamed in Indian policymaking process through a visionary approach, Yadav said.

SC refuses to stay EC order recognising Shinde faction as real Shiv Sena

bench, also comprising Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, that it will not issue any whip or initiate process to disqualify the lawmakers of the Thackeray faction in the meantime.

“All right, issue notice. The counter affidavit will be filed within two weeks,” the bench said.

While issuing notice, the bench, however, refused to stay the decision of the poll panel acknowledging the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena, saying it cannot be done without hearing the other side.

NEW DELHI, FEB 22

panel’s decision.

MUMBAI, FEB 22 (PTI):

A major fire broke out in some structures in Dharavi, the biggest slum in Mumbai, in the wee hours of Wednesday, but there was no report of injury to anyone, officials said.

The blaze erupted in Kamala Nagar and Shahu

“At least 12 fire engines, eight water tankers and other fire brigade vehicles were engaged in the firefighting operation. The fire was doused around 11.50 am after more than seven hours of efforts,” the official said.

Personnel from the Mumbai Police, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) administrative ward and other agencies had rushed to the spot on being alerted about the incident, he said.

NEW DELHI, FEB 22

(PTI): BJP president J P Nadda said on Wednesday that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership does not shy away from taking a stand on complex issues, asserting that he has changed the way the country is looked at globally.

Releasing the book, “Modi: Shaping a Global Order in Flux”, Nadda cited India’s stand on the RussiaUkraine war as a classic example of this. India took a stand which may not be acceptable to all countries but is being appreciated by all that the country has taken a stand and stayed with it, he said.

“Unlike the past, India now does not shy from taking positions. For a long time, India has been shying from taking hard positions. Under Prime Minister Modi, India on international issues would take a stand on complex issues, that too from positions of strength,” he said.

Indian government

leaders earlier did not “dare” to visit Israel due to domestic vote bank politics while Modi changed it, he said.

“The domestic vote bank politics compelled, and India couldn’t develop a relationship with Israel,” he said, adding that the prime minister visited Israel as well as Palestine.

This shows India is capable of handling two different countries in the best possible manner, the BJP president said.

Modi has also succeeded in de-hyphenating India with Pakistan which was not the case earlier, he said.

India is now seen as

NEW DELHI, FEB 22 (PTI): Nearly two-anda-half months after the civic body polls, Delhi on Wednesday got its mayor with Aam Aadmi Party candidate Shelly Oberoi defeating BJP’s Rekha Gupta in the much-anticipated election on Wednesday.

The AAP, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, termed the results as a victory of Delhiities and hit out at the BJP, saying “goons” were defeated. The winning margin was 34 votes.

The arithmetic in the mayoral poll was favouring the AAP which had 150 votes against the BJP’s 113 out of the total of 274 votes. There were two votes of independent councillors.

However, Oberoi received all the votes accounted for by her party, while the BJP got three votes extra

against its total strength. The electoral college comprised the 250 votes from the elected councillors, seven BJP Lok Sabha members and three AAP Rajya Sabha member from Delhi and 14 MLAs, including 13 from the AAP and one from the BJP.

In the MCD House, the Congress has nine councillors.

(PTI):

The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to stay the Election Commission order recognising the Eknath Shinde-led bloc as the real Shiv Sena and issued a notice to the group headed by the Maharashtra chief minister on the plea of the rival Uddhav Thackeray camp challenging the poll

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Thackeray, and sought response of the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde.

The counsel for the Shinde faction told the

The top court had on Tuesday agreed to hear the plea of the Thackeray camp against the Election Commission’s decision.

Besides recognising the Shinde-led bloc as the real Shiv Sena, the poll panel had also ordered allotment of the party’s original ‘bow and arrow’ poll symbol to it.

Delhi gets its mayor in AAP’s Shelly Oberoi

116 votes, three more than the total votes accounted for her party. She got two votes of the independent councillors and Congress councillor as well, MCD sources claimed.

Delhi got its mayor on the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid ruckus over voting rights being given to the LG-appointed nominated members.

Declaring the poll results, presiding officer and BJP councillor Satya Sharma announced the names of eight councillors who were absent from the voting process. All these councillors were from the Congress.

Oberoi, a Delhi University teacher, is the first mayor of the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

BJP’s Gupta received

Under PM Modi, India does not shy away from taking stand: Nadda

of the PM was eroded.”

Modi took over in difficult times and has navigated foreign affairs and international relationships in the best possible manner, he said, crediting him for changing the country’s image internationally.

much ahead of Pakistan internationally and the neighbouring country is isolated on the issue of terrorism, he claimed.

Relatively less is written on Prime Minister Modi’s contribution in changing how India is looked globally, and this book will start a debate, he said.

Nadda said, “It is necessary to understand what was the image of India before Modi ji came to power. The economy was declining, India had an image of a corrupt state, repeated terrorist attacks and a lack of stable government. The very sad part was that the authority

The prime minister visited around 60 countries and he undertook over 100 overseas journeys, he said, adding that he strengthened India’s ties with old allies and started new partnerships as well.

Modi visited practically all neighbouring countries and strengthened the relationships, he said.

While India had good ties with countries like the UAE, Sri Lanka and Nepal, efforts were not made by previous dispensations to further strengthen them, something Modi did, he said.

The prime minister’s tough decisions like surgical strikes, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan, were appreciated globally, Nadda

added. The book gives a deep insights into how the way India is looked at globally has changed, the BJP president said.

The prime minister also pursued India’s civilisational credo of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” (world is one family) as India rushed to help other countries facing humanitarian crisis, he added.

India has also been playing a more effective role in multilateral forums, he said, noting that it is now chairing G20. It has also taken a lead on environmental issues.

BJP’s foreign department in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale, one of the editors of the book, said the Modi government has had many achievements on the foreign policy front. The biggest of them has been the “democratisation” of foreign policy, with the common man now also talking about India’s successes in the field, he said.

38 CBI request prior approval in corruption cases of govt depts

NEW DELHI, FEB 22 (PTI):

Thirty-eight CBI requests seeking prior approval to begin investigation into corruption cases against a total of 83 employees are pending with various central and state government departments, according to an official data.

Section 17 (A) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act bars any police officer to “conduct any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant” without the previous approval of the competent authority.

Earlier in the day, the Centre accorded permission under Section 17 A to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for initiating a probe against Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a case related to alleged collection of “political intelligence” through a Delhi

government department. The Section was inserted in the PC Act, 1988 through an amendment in 2018.

However, no such approval is “necessary for cases involving arrest of a person on the spot on the charge of accepting or attempting to accept any undue advantage for himself or for any other person”, according to the amended law.

A total of 38 requests, a few of them sent in 2019, seeking prior permission to act against 83 allegedly corrupt public servants were pending with different central and state governments authorities for more than four months of stipulated time period, according to the latest data, updated till November 2022.

Of the total cases, three requests seeking prior approval to proceed against 13 allegedly corrupt public servants were pending with

the Uttar Pradesh government; nine requests against as many employees were pending with the Income Tax department, according to the data.

Two references sent by the central probe agency to the CVO, Union Bank of India, to act against eight public servants were also pending, according to the data.

Four requests seeking prior sanction to act against seven allegedly corrupt public servants were pending with the Chief Vigilance Officer, Central Bank of India and a reference sent to the “LG, Chief Secretary and Revenue Secretary, Government of NCT Delhi” for permission to act against six allegedly corrupt public servants was awaiting the permission, the data showed.

Such requests were also pending with Chairman, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India; Depart-

ment of Higher Education; Directorate General of Defence Estate; IDBI Bank Ltd; Indian Overseas Bank; Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Principal Secretary, Government of Rajasthan; and Additional Director General of Foreign Trade among others, according to the data.

Besides these, the CBI was also awaiting mandatory sanction under Section 19 of the PC Act to prosecute corrupt employees in 66 cases from different central and state government departments for over four months. Section 19 makes it compulsory for the probe agency to seek permission from the government department concerned before filing a charge sheet against the public servant after its investigation. Such requests for permission need to be decided up on within a maximum of four months.

Last week, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena gave his nod to convene the municipal House for holding the mayoral election following the Supreme Court order.

The top court on February 17 ordered the issuance of a notice within 24 hours for convening the first meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to fix the date of

elections for the mayor, the deputy mayor and the members of the standing committee of the civic body. The court issued the order after hearing a plea moved by Oberoi.

In a shot in the arm for the AAP, the apex court also held that the members nominated to the MCD by the Lt Governor cannot vote to elect the mayor. After the results were announced, Oberoi wearing a garland acknowledged people’s greetings with folded hands.

Soon after the results were announced in the MCD House, AAP councillors offered sweets to the newly elected mayor while women councillors were seen jostling on the dais to take a selfie with her, as other members flashed victory signs.

Narendra Modi

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) MP Anil Desai and Anil Parab arrive at the Supreme Court, Wednesday. (PTI)

AAP’s Shelly Oberoi speaks after winning the mayoral election, at the Civic Centre in New Delhi, Wednesday. (PTI)

Firefighters at Kamala Nagar and Shahu Nagar in Mumbai.(PTI)

BJP President J.P. Nadda addresses at the launch of a book titled ‘Modi: Shaping a Global Order in Flux’, Wednesday. (PTI)

Un-healthy habits

Recent campaign speeches by Congress directed against the NDPP-BJP oppositionless coalition government, made much mention about the lack of adequate health delivery system in Nagaland among several other alleged failures or non-performances. Improvement of health services has been misinterpreted as opening more centres, procurement of equipments or fixtures which do not necessarily translate into providing quality health care. Thousands of poor and needy patients within the state continue to languish as they cannot afford treatment outside and it is unfortunate that their plight continues to be ignored. Again, hundreds of cancer patients from Nagaland are compelled to travel to nearby Assam or Meghalaya for treatment every year and have to incur huge expenditure not to talk about care and attention. This when the state is supposed to be getting enough funds for health services. The problem that plagues the health services in the state was blamed to use of more than 90% of the funds for payment of salaries. However, there appears to be a contradiction between this figure and the figure on the other side of the coin which claimed that only a small amount of the state health expenditure was available for service delivery. There are several factors that contribute to poor health delivery system in the state such as insufficient number of doctors and nurses as highlighted by Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association(NIDA) during their 2022 agitation or the lack of basic facilities in government hospitals with most far flung areas having hardly any facility worth mentioning. To offset these, the government spends huge sums for procurement of medical equipments which eventually become unusable due to lack of technicians or the equipments themselves being substandard etc or outdated etc.

According to one doctor, the state has one of the worst performing health service system as shown by service indicators such as –anti natal care coverage, full immunisation coverage, hospital births etc. It was reported that some hospitals in some districts do not even have a single functional X-ray machine, not to talk of Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Computerised Tomography(CT) scans. In some hospitals, some of the sophisticated scanners as mentioned above, costing the department several crores of rupees, are lying unused for many years since trial runs could not be done either because they were not installed or because there was no qualified and experienced technicians to man them. Though Nagaland is the second oldest state in the region, its progress in the field of medical health care has not been as expected. Even the need for a medical college which could have been set up in Dimapur was taken to Kohima. Under the central scheme district hospitals with 200 beds can be turned into district medical colleges with a total fund of Rs.189 crore. Even there, the central scheme was exceeded and today the state will need not less than Rs.400 crore to complete it. The same fate befell the erstwhile Referral Hospital at Dimapur which had to be abandoned after it was milked dry of funds and left unfinished. Many doctors themselves are certainly unhappy with the state of affairs and some have even complained or written about how the department was wilfully neglecting the health care system. The problem is that the outward genuine concern for improving health system is used as an excuse to turn health scheme into wealth scheme.

DailyDevotion

The Discipline of Spiritual Perseverance

Be still, and know that I am God… —Psalm 46:10

Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered. Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Also, our fear is that the very things our Lord stood for— love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men— will not win out in the end and will represent an unattainable goal for us. Then there is the call to spiritual perseverance. A call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated.

If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified. Every hope or dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God. But one of the greatest stresses in life is the stress of waiting for God. He brings fulfillment, “because you have kept My command to persevere…” (Revelation 3:10).

Continue to persevere spiritually.

Quotes

‘Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone.’ John Quincy Adams Today there are many political parties, both regional and national, fighting for elections in Nagaland.

They are organized on some particular ideologies which may or may not fully represent the political aspirations of the locals. Some of them may even be considered strange and foreign ideologically or culturally. Despite that many Nagas have readily embraced them gladly and selfishly with a view to piggyback on the success of others without properly understanding first that a regional political party cannot thrive without regionalism nor can a national political party flourish successfully without nationalism. Perhaps many of them may feel cheated, disappointed, and frustrated afterward and abandon the parties after the election if their expectation is not fulfilled. Winston Churchill said, ‘Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of the party.’

‘Wherever it takes a disaster to unite, politics generally divide: and in eras of intense uncertainty, a nation’s people retreat into the tribes in which they feel the most secure’ asserted author Criss Jami.

It is said that most political parties criticize

Zombies in politics

the party in power, not for the best of the people, but to get the power for themselves. ‘If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power,’ said Dwight D Eisenhower. Ideas move the world and drive politics. Without them, they will become dead bodies and cannot attract followers. Politicians must be committed to the ideologies of their party otherwise they cannot inspire and enthuse the public to follow or support them to win any election.

Joining them without commitment will only make them mere passengers and opportunists. How many Naga politicians have joined the regional or national party without the ‘ism’? The body dies the moment the spirit leaves it. It becomes a corpse and unresponsive to any external stimuli. Will the political parties remain alive and active even after the election?

Occasionally, it is publicly expressed and felt that there is a need for political and social change in Nagaland. Accordingly, many new national political parties have been introduced and new regional political parties have been launched this time. They are all contesting the election with great hope of winning at least some seats. Will they

With just few days left before election let us remember that the “Power to change” is in our hands yet again. Remember it is our Right as well as our Duty to cast our vote wisely. Therefore, let us stand for a principle and vote for those who are not only upright but are worthy of stewardship over the “Trust of the people”.

Let us not weigh our elected members on the basis of the number of people he/she has appointed to government jobs or how many contract works/ supply orders allotted over the years.

(Ironically, in the land of Christ, an elected member is as good as the no. of employment he/she has secured or the amount of donations made to different Churches, Institutions, Organisations, Groups etc.). Instead, let us take into account a broad spectrum of features such as the extent of infrastructures, road connectivity, medical facilities, educational institutions, employment generation and other basic amenities for a realistic and foolproof assessment of the worth of a legislator in a particular constituency. If you think the above essentials have not been met then your choice was no better than mine and we made a bad bargain during the last election. Alas! We cannot change the past but we can definitely shape the future. What we do with our vote today will determine what future we are carving for us tomorrow. We have been lawfully given sole ownership over our one vote. For once let us be sure of who we are voting for. If you long for

win it? Will they survive the hustle and bustle of Naga politics?

The politicians committed to their ideologies will remain unchanged regardless of the results not otherwise. They will sacrifice personal interests for the party.

In Nagaland, every election is largely driven to success by money and muscle power. They rarely consider the quality of the candidates. That’s why we keep on electing condemned and notorious candidates again and again. However, common sense will tell us that unless we elect new and fresh candidates, we cannot have a change in the government.

Because JS Mill said, ‘The worth of the state, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it.’ That is why we should not put ‘too much faith in the systems, and look too little to men’.

Benjamin Disraeli said, ‘The government of a nation itself is usually found to be the reflex of the individuals composing it. In the order of nature, the collective character of the nation will as surely find its befitting result in its law and government, as water finds its own level. The noble people will be nobly ruled, and ignorant and corrupt ignobly.’ ‘National progress is the sum of individual industry, energy, and uprightness, as national decay is of individual idleness, selfishness,

progress and positive changes, be sure you are voting for that leader who can ensure all that. Nothing less! We need leaders who exude political maturity and will to serve the people he represents, who can reach out and touch the hearts of his people through simplicity in words and deeds, who profoundly values the one free vote each of us has cast in his favour because we saw in him genuine competence and spirit for transformation. More than anything, we need a Hero, a trailblazer, an avant-garde; who can fearlessly take down the atrocious system we have gradually created – a system where the host and the parasites feast together. Let us therefore, do away with our complacent attitude and silent commiseration which are wrecking the very foundation upon which our land was built upon. Let us bring to accountability the leaders who have ravaged the land with their lies and deeds and brought more problems than solutions. Let us engage in Nationbuilding by promoting the culture of Accountability and Responsibility. To quote Jeremy Cronin “let us speak truth to power, make truth powerful and the powerful truthful.

“VOTE WISELY” lest you and I stand accused of electing a dumb ass, corrupt, good for nothing, self-righteous, fund hoarding, nymphomaniac entity “AGAIN”.

L. Imlinungba Lkr. (imlilkr@gmail.com)

and vice.’ Have the Nagas become too materialistic and selfish abandoning every political ideology and becoming blind followers of others without any original idea of their own or self-respect? Once upon a time, the Nagas were very vocal and assertive about their regionalism and identity but it appears that the spirit of regionalism or Nagaism has lost its charm with this generation searching for a new identity or ideology; getting lost in the crowd without a sense of direction while moving from one political party to another is like a shuttle cock without a thought except for instant personal gratification devoid of any attachment to national or regional political ideology. Making themselves an easy target for political merchants available to the highest bidder. Intentionally or unintentionally become or becoming the scum of modern politics corrupting the political system. They are amoral and oblivious to the effects of their political activities, encouraged by their supporters, and are causing irreparable damage to politics and society.

It’s a pity that a state known as the bastion of regionalism in India is, today, grappling with its identity and in a quandary. They sacrificed so much for Nagaism but are being lost again literally groping in

darkness and the political wilderness. They are still unable to figure out which national or regional political party would suit them best in the State Assembly or the Parliament of India. Neither do most of them seem to be comprehending the implications of their actions. Perhaps, many politicians are contesting because of personal reasons, rather than for political differences or principles. Neither do the voters care for the personal qualifications nor reputation or merit of the candidates.

Some sporty politicians may even be attracted by the sheer excitement of the election campaign that it generates and join the fray for fun. The ‘tamasha’ is unmatched. Every citizen can play a great role and be given great importance during the election campaign, receiving royal treatment everywhere from the candidates for their precious votes, turning them into monarchs instantly after winning it while simultaneously converting the voters into subjects.

We, the Nagas witness some of the most despicable characters during every election where the ignorant and ignoble rule like autocrats. It is not fair to blame the politicians alone for this mess. This is due to our collective shortsightedness as responsible citizens only looking for instant monetary gratifications. Our weakness for individualism and crass

materialism has been exploited by clever and selfish leaders to capture power. Once they achieve their goal, they become Frankenstein’s monsters and spiritually dead bodies loitering around without conscience for public service or sensitivity to any external stimuli. James Freeman Clarke said, ‘A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation.’ This present generation hasn’t produced any worthy statesmen or nationalists though it has created some wealthy persons through corruption. The affluent society without conscience has destroyed the traditional egalitarian Naga society and divided us into the haves and have-nots and possible class conflict in the future caused by the obnoxious, pompous, flamboyant, and ostentatious lifestyle of the nouveau riche who have attained their position by questionable means. All right-thinking Nagas must address the importance of public service and promote the spirit of the region or nation first before the self.

‘No class is ever long stationary.

The mighty fall and the humble are exalted.

Oliver Cromwell’s great-grandson was a grocer, others died in poverty. Thanks be to God! we are all made men.’ - William Phillip Besesayo Kezo, IPS, Retd. DGP

The Anguish of decision making

The nature of divisiveness in Naga politics is so astounding that the most common people are left behind. The intrinsic qualities of democracy is diminishing without knowledge in this present time. The word, ‘compassion’ and ‘trustworthiness’ is equally synonymous with the development of the people and care for the people. If one truly believes that the actions one takes would be held accountable and justifiable for the people without any qualms in their mind then I could perceive that person would be equally beneficial for the society as a whole. Without an ounce of progressive action, I personally believe that one cannot stack their bets on someone who hasn’t proven themselves. We should not be concerned for this current generation but for the upcoming youths of the future generation.

Many of the public would agree in believing the greater independence of the Naga nation as whole and as I heard and quote from one respected candidate (Shri Y.

Vikekho Awomi DimapurII), ‘that it is not arms or force but the true way of governing/government leading the people through the way of dialogue not concerning for the complications but genuine care for the Naga people that the people can arise as a whole, unitedly with one purpose and greater vision not only for this generation but their sons and daughters which would lead to betterment of life’.

Money can buy power no doubt in line with the current authority or position one is inplaced (seated) but one cannot impose a barrier to the judgement for the choice for a better life and advocate for a greater and prosperous welfare for the people without genuine integrity from the heart.

So, I ask the people, could you distinguish the reasons of greed or the future of the next and next generation without a guilt in one’s conscience.

I have seen the residency of the ruling party members in power (like for example the roads from Court Junction to St. John) which is a prime example of craters which leaves people of the society

with hollow dreams. One should realise the valuablity of their votes as it deems inheritance of a better quality of life but also for the upcoming current generation of the Naga people. I wouldn’t say I can advise people on who to vote but I have a made a conscious decision of who to vote in ways of literacy, past achievements and not the way of the general rule of where money talks. We should not let religion/greed in casting a doubt in the way of our true Christian beliefs.

With an earnest appeal, I would like to quote these the two verse for greater of Nagaland and her people; Hosea 4:6 (ESV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.. Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.; One vote equals to better governance which would lead in change for the upliftment of the society as a whole.

K. Sema, Notun Bosti

This is a clarion call of the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) upon its members to be the change. Change is a buzz word of our day! Everybody talks about it, but very few are serious about it! Almost two centuries ago, author Leo Tolstoy wrote, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” For most of us, this statement is already a cliché because we’ve heard of it 101 times! If only hearing were enough to make impact, the world would have been positively different today! A time to act is overdue!

We know the kind of situation we’re in but we’re slow to initiate positive change. Ignorance says, “I

don’t know!” Apathy says, “I don’t care.” Our society is suffering from both of these diseases. Many don’t really know what’s happening; some have no idea at all what to do; some don’t really care! When apathy and ignorance become friends, anomie rules the day!” At this juncture, many are getting smarter in shifting the blame than own the responsibility of the mess we create among ourselves! Some blame the politicians, some politicians blame the public, some blame the corrupt system as if the system is pre-existent! Corrupt system is the byproduct of corrupt human mind. Hence, it can be rectified only by human initiative. Yet, the blame game goes on! Adam blamed Eve for

eating the forbidden fruit, so did Eve on the serpent and the original sin was born! Anyone can shift the blame on anybody for the transgressions he or she commits but ultimately each one is responsible for his or her own conduct! To usher in change is to be the change. It’s everybody’s responsibility to be responsible! Some intellectual giants, activists, and brilliant reformers have these to say: “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it” (Albert Einstein - Germany); “The world suffers a lot not because of the violence of bad people but because of the silence of the good people”

(Napoléon BonaparteFrance); “Bad people need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good people should look on and do nothing” (John Stuart Mill - England); “Tragedy is not the brutality of evil people, but the silence of good people”(Martin Luther King Jr. - America); “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” (Martin Luther King Jr.- America); “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little” (Edmund Burke – Great Britain)

2 Chronicles 7:14 gives its readers a sense of direction which is so relevant for the Naga Christians

today: “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We have said enough prayers; however, change of behavior influenced by change of mindset remains undone! If prayers or word of mouth were enough, we would have been in paradise on earth today! The Lord doesn’t only command us to pray and seek his face but to turn away from our wicked ways; we all have home works to do during the forthcoming assembly election and beyond! We must act responsibly all the time but more so during this crucial time and specifically

on the polling day. Vote responsibly! Cast your vote without selling it! Your vote today will determine your tomorrow. Vote with a purpose; vote with a vision. Your vote can be a spark towards a significant change! Indeed, “It is better to light a candle than to curse darkness” (Adlai Stevenson). Romans 13:12 says, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

Let’s not wait for change to come, it doesn’t come; change is within you and me. Let’s be the change!

“They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.”

~ Dinos Christianopoulos

T. Chikri, Pfütsero Chakhesang Baptist Church Council

SNIPPETS

Sharad Pawar meets agitating students

PUNE, FEB 21 (PTI): NCP chief Sharad Pawar on late Tuesday night met agitating students who are opposed to the Maharashtra Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) decision to switch to new syllabus for its competitive exams from this year. Pawar assured them that he would arrange a joint meeting of student representatives and MPSC officials with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Pawar also called Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from the spot and apprised him about the plan to hold a joint meeting. “I also spoke to CM before coming here. He told me that he is ready to convene a joint meeting of student representatives, me and the officials of MPSC in the next two days,” the NCP chief said.

UP govt tables Budget in Assembly

LUCKNOW, FEB 22 (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Wednesday tabled Budget 2023-24 in the state Legislative Assembly. Earlier, the budget was passed in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The finance minister had told reporters that it would be the biggest budget in the history of Uttar Pradesh.

Last year, the state government presented an annual budget of Rs 6.15 lakh crore for 2022-23. A supplementary budget for Rs 33,769.55 crore was presented in December 2022, taking the total size of the budget to about Rs 6.50 lakh crore.

Engineering

student

run over by train

PALGHAR (MAHA), FEB 22 (PTI): An 18-year-old girl, student of an engineering college, was killed on Wednesday morning after being hit by a train while crossing the tracks at Palghar railway station, Railway Police said. The deceased was a student of St John College of Engineering at Palghar, said an official. She had boarded the train at Virar and was crossing the tracks after getting down at Palghar when she was hit by the August Kranti Express.

Bus for street children launched in Thane

Thane, Feb 22 (PTI): A special bus for street children where they can get educational and counselling facilities was rolled out here. Thane district collector Ashok Shingare launched the bus, named ‘Bal Snehi’, on Tuesday.

It is an initiative of the Women and Child Welfare department, to be run through an NGO. Such buses will also be introduced in Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and Mumbai, officials said. Every bus, with capacity to accommodate 25 children at a time, will visit six places in the district and have a counsellor, teachers and a care taker.

Five killed in accident in Guj

LUNAWADA, FEB 22 (PTI): At least five persons were killed and nearly 15 injured when a tempo turned turtle in Gujarat’s Mahisagar district following a headon collision with a car on Wednesday afternoon, a police official said. Sources said the death toll might increase. About 20 passengers travelling on a tempo to attend a pre-wedding event when the vehicle met with an accident near Kotha village of Lunawada taluka, said Deputy Superintendent of Police P S Tadvi citing preliminary investigation.

Jaishankar ‘failed’ foreign min: Cong

Slams remarks on China

NEW DELHI, FEB 22 (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday hit out at External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, calling him a “failed” minister and alleging that his remarks on the China issue have “demeaned” the valour of India’s armed forces.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also alleged that foreign policy has been reduced to photo-ops and a chest-thumping exercise and is being used to secure contracts for a businessman. She claimed that the minister had said that “we are the smaller economy and China is the bigger economy and we cannot go and pick a fight with them”.

“What exactly does he mean by saying this? Is he telling us that we are not capable of protecting our territorial sovereignty,” she said.

“What he is trying to do by saying this is essen-

Supriya Shrinate

tially ‘break and shake’ the confidence of our Indian economy and demean the valour of our armed forces. This is one of the most blasphemous statements made by any foreign minister,” she told reporters.

On Jaishankar’s reported remark that he has been the longest-serving Indian Ambassador in China, the Congress said in that capacity will he tell when the status along the Line of Actual Control will be restored to the April 2020 position.

“Why do the prime minister and you stay quiet on China? Why have we increased the trade deficit to 100 USD with China and we are almost funding the Chinese Army to do the incursions that they do,” sh e said. “As India’s

Eastern Ladakh row: India, China discuss disengagement

NEW DELHI, FEB 22

(PTI): India and China on Wednesday discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in an “open and constructive manner” and agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date.

The two sides discussed the proposals at an in-person meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in Beijing, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of India-China border areas and discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining areas in an open and constructive manner, which would help in restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in Western

Sector and create conditions for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations,” the MEA said.

“To achieve this objective in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols, they agreed to hold the next (18th) round of the senior commanders meeting at an early date,” it said in a statement.

The MEA said the two sides agreed to continue discussions through military and diplomatic channels.

“The 26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs was held on 22 February 2023 in person in Beijing,” the MEA said.

“This was the first WMCC meeting since the 14th meeting held in July 2019, to be held in person,” it said.

Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation.

longest-serving Ambassador to China what do you have to say on Chinese aggression at the border,” she asked.

She also criticised the minister for targeting the Congress-led governments over their China policy, saying, “You can keep attacking your political opponents but do not do this at the cost of our national security... some things are sacrosanct”.

The Congress spokesperson also listed several steps taken by the UPA government to strengthen border infrastructure, including sanctioning of a 50,000 strong two new mountain divisions and stationing armoured units in Ladakh and Arunachal

“Foreign policy is supposed to further the interests of this country. Foreign policy is not supposed to be a tool to manage and allocated projects from foreign countries to one business group - that is Adani,” the Congress leader alleged.

Shrinate also spoke of reported remarks of Jaishankar’s father K Subrahmanyam, who she said had

written in 2002 after the Gujarat riots that religion has been attacked and “those who did not save innocent citizens are ‘Asuras’ (demons)”.

“You may attack anyone, but you must listen to the words of the elderly who have wisdom and experience. You should listen to your father... He may be old but has wisdom and experience and you should listen to him,” she said.

She claimed that the border with China was largely silent for 50 years after 1967, barring an incident in 1987 and asked why are there so many multiple incursions happening now. She claimed the UPA government had in 2006 adopted the current active border infra policy and roads, and tunnels, actively marked, were mostly planned by the Shyam Saran task force in 2006. The construction of roads, tunnels and high landing grounds for heavy aircraft began in 2008 and was largely completed by 2014, she claimed.

G20 can contribute to finding solutions to global challenges: Anurag Thakur

BENGALURU, FEB 22

(PTI): Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Wednesday said the G20 can contribute significantly to find solutions to global challenges such as climate change and geo-political tensions. Speaking at the inaugural session of the G20 Second Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD)

Meeting here, he noted that the theme of India’s G20 Presidency is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (one earth, one family, one future).

The global economy is facing the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, food and energy insecurity, broad-based inflation, heightened debt vulnerabilities, worsening climate change, and geopolitical tensions, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, and Youth Affairs & Sports said in his address.

The impact of all these crises can set back progress on the world’s key development priorities, Thakur said.

“The G20 can make a significant contribution

Congress and friendly parties, will form government collectively: Mallikarjun Kharge

definitely form the government in 2024.

“This will happen with everyone’s cooperation, collectively,” the Congress chief added. He also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks that he alone outweighs all, saying such arrogance is not good.

NEW DELHI, FEB 22

(PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said the Congress, together with friendly parties, will form the government collectively in 2024.

His remarks at the Indian National Trade Union Congress plenary session here came a day after he said at an election rally in Nagaland that a coalition government led by the Congress will form the next government at the Centre.

In his remarks at the INTUC event, Kharge said everyone will work jointly and the Congress, together with friendly parties, will

‘We accept their leadership,’ says Pawar

to find pragmatic global solutions to these challenges through focused dialogue and deliberations and the Indian Presidency seeks to actively facilitate this,” he told the gathering. The theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ reflects the importance India places on collaborative efforts to address global challenges, the minister said. Towards fulfilling this goal, the G20 Finance Track discussions in 2023 will include strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to meet the shared global challenges of the 21st

century, financing ‘cities of tomorrow’, leveraging digital public infrastructure for financial inclusion and productivity gains and advancing the international taxation agenda, among others, Thakur explained. According to the Union Minister, various work streams in G20 have already initiated work on these key issues. The Deputies meeting is dedicated to the finalisation of the Communique that will be endorsed by the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on February 24 and 25.

Thane police team meets Sanjay Raut in Nashik to collect info on ‘threat to life’

MUMBAI, FEB 22 (PTI):

“You are not alone, there is BJP, the RSS... 56 inch has become a bit weak now. The person who talks with such arrogance, people will not tolerate such a person,” Kharge said.

“This is democracy. That is why I want to say to him, don’t talk like this,” he said.

Kharge said that on the one hand, the BJP talks of democracy and on the other, it topples democratically elected governments.

Addressing an election rally in Dimapur on Tuesday, Kharge alleged that the BJP used “pressure tactics” to form governments in six to seven states, including Nagaland.

Reacting to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark that a Congress-led alliance would come to power at the Centre after 2024 elections, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said that his party accepts Congress’ leadership.

“Congress is a big party, let them lead. We accept Congress’ leadership,” Pawar said at a press briefing here.

Earlier on Tuesday Congress president said that a Congress-led alliance will form the government in the Centre in 2024.

“The alliance government will come to the Centre in 2024 and Congress will lead,” he said during a public gathering in pollbound Nagaland’s Chumoukedima, adding that talks are going on with other parties.

Morbi tragedy: Oreva Group to pay Rs 10 lakh to kin of each deceased

AHMEDABAD, FEB 22

(PTI): The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday directed clock manufacturing firm Oreva Group, the company that maintained the Morbi suspension bridge which collapsed killing 135 people in October last year, to pay Rs 10 lakh as “interim” compensation to the kin of each deceased and Rs 2 lakh to each injured within four weeks.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sonia Gokani and Justice Sandeep Bhatt gave this direction to the company.

The British-era suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi town collapsed on October 30 last year, killing 135 persons and injuring 56 others.

The court ordered the company that the kin of each deceased and every injured person be paid interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively, within four weeks.

On Tuesday, during a hearing of a suo motu (on its own) PIL admitted last year following the tragedy, Ajanta Manufacturing Ltd

AI Newark-Delhi flight makes emergency landing in Stockholm

NEW DELHI, FEB 22

(PTI): An Air India flight from Newark to Delhi, carrying 292 passengers, made an emergency landing in Stockholm on Wednesday due to an oil leak in one of the engines and aviation regulator DGCA will probe the incident, according to senior officials.

A senior DGCA official said the flight, operated with a Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, had an oil leak in one of the engines. Following this, the engine was shut down, and later the aircraft made an emergency landing in Stockholm. The plane landed safely, the official added.

In a statement in the afternoon, an Air India spokesperson said its flight AI 106 from Newark (US) to Delhi faced a technical issue and was diverted to Stockholm early this morning with 284

passengers and 8 infants onboard. The airline said the aircraft is being thoroughly checked to address the technical issue.

The flight had total 311 people onboard, including 15 cabin crew and 4 pilots.

During the ground inspection, oil was seen coming out from the drain mast of engine two. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will probe the incident, the DGCA official said.

“The flight landed safely at the Stockholm airport. Passengers have been provided lounge access and meals. The immigration procedure of the passengers is being carried out to ensure their stay at the city’s hotels,” the statement said.

On Monday, an Air India flight from New York to Delhi was diverted to London due to a medical emergency.

Jaysukh Patel

(Oreva Group) had offered to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of those who died and Rs 1 lakh to the injured persons.

In its interim order, the court said the central and the state governments have

together provided Rs 10 lakh compensation to the kin of each victim so far.

“The company had offered to give Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of those who lost their lives and Rs 1 lakh to those injured. However, this is not enough. The company has to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the victims and Rs 2 lakhs to those injured,” Justice Gokani said.

Advocate K R Koshti, who represented the victims, had said that several families have lost their bread-winning members,

and many children and women were left to fend for themselves.

The court also noted in its order that the company has offered to take responsibility of seven children who were orphaned in the tragedy.

“They (company) will pay for education and hold their hand till they find footing in the society,” the court said.

The bench had earlier made it clear that Oreva’s offer of compensation “will not absolve it of any liability”.

A team of police from Thane in Maharashtra on Wednesday went to Nashik and met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut to collect information about his allegation that he faces “threat to life” from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son.

The Rajya Sabha member had made the allegation in a letter written to the Mumbai police commissioner, copies of which were also sent to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Thane city police.

In his letter, Raut alleged, “Lok Sabha member Shrikant Shinde (Eknath Shinde’s son) has given a ‘supari’ (contract) to kill me to a Thane-based criminal Raja Thakur. I have confirmed information regarding the same. I am informing you as a responsible citizen.”

Raut, who resides in Mumbai, is currently in Nashik. A police official said, “A team of the Thane police’s crime branch went to Nashik city this morning

Sanjay Raut

and met Sena leader Raut as part of the probe.” Police are collecting information from Raut about the threat to his life, he said.

The Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader had submitted the letter to the Thane Police Commissioner, following which the crime branch launched a probe into his allegation, the official said.

CM Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde is a Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.

CM Shinde on Wednesday assured a probe into Raut’s allegation, but said the police will also check if the complaint is based on facts or whether it is a stunt.

Anurag Thakur with folk artists on the first day of the second meeting of the G20 Finance in Bengaluru,Wednesday. (PTI)

Mallikarjun Kharge

Adani stocks tumble after wikipaedia claim

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, FEB 22(AGENCIES):

Shares of Adani group stocks suffered steep losses in Wednesday’s trade after Wikipedia editors said employees of the Adani Group have “almost certainly” manipulated Wikipedia entries with non-neutral PR versions. The stock of Adani Group’s flagship Adani Enterprises tumbled

11.43 per cent to Rs 1,391.55 per share on the NSE at around 12:40 pm. Many of the Adani Group firms also hit their lower circuit limits in today’s trade. Shares of Adani Power declined 5 per cent, Adani Transmission fell 5 per cent, Adani Total Gas (5 per cent), Ambuja Cements (5 per cent) Adani Green Energy (4.99 per cent), Adani Wilmar (4.99 per cent) and NDTV (4.55 per cent).

The stock of Adani Ports declined 5.77 per cent and ACC fell 5.75 per cent.

On Wikipedia row

“Over 40 later banned or blocked sock puppets or undeclared paid editors created or revised nine related articles on the Adani family and family businesses. Many of them edited several of the articles and added non-neutral material or puffery. A declared paid editor, using a company IP address, completely rewrote the Adani Group article,” read an article on The Signpost run by Wikipedia.

Nate Anderson, founder of the Hindenburg Research, in a tweet said the Signpost article shows how Adani systematically manip-

ulated its Wikipedia entries using sock puppet accounts, undisclosed paid editors and removing evidence of conflicts of interest.

The conglomerate’s market capitalisation (mcap) has slipped below the $100 billion mark as a selloff intensified in a majority of the the Adani Group firm’s listed counters.

Since late January this year, the group stocks took a major hit on the exchanges after US-based short seller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against it. Adani Group, however, refuted the claim as baseless.

Meanwhile, the broader equity market also faced weak trend as the BSE Sensex fell 596.95 points or 0.98 per cent to 60,075.77 in morning trade. Both Sensex and Nifty lost around 0.9 per cent and 2.14 per cent so far in 2023.

Adanifirms’loans&securities rating underSebiradar:Report

After the Hindenburg’s controversial report, billionaire Gautam Adanibacked group’s companies’ debt and securities ratings have come under Sebi’s radar. As per a report by livemint on Wednesday, the market regulator has likely sought details of all the ratings from credit rating agencies on local loans and securities of Adani companies.

By end of February 22nd, Adani firms’ market valuation dropped by 70% from its peak level. As Adani firms embattle allegations of the Hindenburg report in court, last week, it looks like the rating companies were asked by Sebi to share the information including all outstanding ratings, outlook, and possible updates from any discussions with

No other alliance except BJP-NDPP: Kohli

(From p-1)

He also rubbished rival party’s claim to have the support of Rio and clarified that except for Ezung, there was no other candidate from either BJP or NDPP. He urged the people not to be fooled by false propaganda of other parties but vote for NDPP-BJP for peace and development.

In his address, deputy chief minister Y Patton said he was unable to attend the February 17 rally as there was no helipad for their chopper to land at Wozhuro and stressed that for a range comprising of six villages, there should be one. He assured that if the BJP candidate was voted to power, developing Wozhuro would be the top priority.

He acknowledged that the road leading to Wozhuro range from national highway was pathetic, but pointed out that a Central scheme was required to construct the road since its length of 10 km could not be handled by

a single contractor. H e however promised to build the road if Ezung was elected. He disclosed that delimitation of constituencies would take place in 2026 and if Ezung was given a chance to represent the constituency, he said he would work for the interest of six villages and would not go against their wishes in any way.

“If you want development, stay with us and vote for BJP-NDPP since the alliance will secure more than 40 seats,” Patton exhorted, clarifying that NDPP-BJP would not take other small parties and invite trouble, as stated by Rio. He assured to work for Wozhuro if Ezung was elected.

Meanwhile, with reports of election-related violence taking place across the State, Patton said violence only led to violence, highlighting that election came only once in five years, but people had to stay together.

He appealed to everyone to shun violence and

participate in the election peacefully. In his welcome address, Ezung thanked Kohli and Patton for attending the rally.

He also briefly shared his priority for Wozhuro range if voted to power and said he would take up development activities in consultation with the advisory board constituted from the six villages.

Modi to address election rally in Dimapur tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a joint election rally of the BJP-NDPP in Dimapur.

Confirmed this to media persons, Nalin Kohli said that Prime Minister Modi would be addressing the joint rally on February 24 at Dimapur.

Referring to the debate challenge thrown by BJP, he said Congress’s entire campaign was based on media interactions, hurling abuses and misinformation against BJP.

CEM’s common platform for debate...

(From p-1)

Adani Group officials. A person aware of the communication from the regulator told Economic Times, “Sebi is probably trying to ascertain whether the sharp fall in stock prices of several Adani companies would have any bearing on the liquidity positions and the debt repayment capability of the borrowing companies... Most of this information, however, is in public domain.”

On Wednesday, investors saw the destruction of ` 40,000 crore of wealth in Adani stocks. All of the Adani stocks were in the red. The market valuation of Adani group companies together is now down 70% from its peak, from around Rs.25 lakh crore to 7.55 lakh crore.

MPC dismayed over women group frisking media persons

DIMAPUR, FEB 22 (NPN): Mokokchung Press Club (MPC) has expressed dismay over frisking of press and media personnel by a group of women at Mongsenyimti village while on their way to cover election related event on February 22, 2023.

In a press release, MPC said that the press personnel reasoned with women and produced their ECI Media Identity Cards issued by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland, but the women did not honour. MPC said they also produced their respective media organizational ID Cards but the women were unreasonable.

Further, MPC said the media persons were forced to step out of their vehicles despite ‘Press’ and ‘On Election Duty’ stickers, issued by DC & DEO Mokokchung, were prominently displayed. “The women then conducted unauthorized body frisking of the media personnel and searched the vehicles,” MPC said.

Strongly condemning the “illicit body frisking and unlawful vehicle searching” by the unauthorized group of women at Mongsenyimti village, MPC stated that perpetrators of “such illegitimate acts” were liable for legal prosecution.

MPC has requested the DC & DEO Mokokchung to rein in such unscrupulous elements to ensure that freedom of the press in Mokokchung is not subdued.

Hence, when BJP called for a debate on election manifestos with Congress on February 16, he said CEM had come forward to facilitate and stage the common platform at Dimapur on Thursday.

He also expressed unhappiness over political parties having no political accountability and for not translating their words into action. Taking exception to lofty rhetoric about democracy, Naleo asserted that CEM endorsed that voting was one of the most powerful tools for change to keep democracy vibrant and it stood for clean, free, fair and informed choices.

He said public sphere was the centre and medium of democracy and all possible means and resources must be used to explore the possibilities of public discussion, stressing that public desire, aspiration and needs stood above party position and manifestoes. He clarified that CEM’s common platforms were non-partisan space for transparent and open exchange of ideas and beliefs in unscripted environment that the public deserved in any democracy from their leaders and political parties.

Naleo declared that CEM would continue to work in enhancing a safe and neutral space for educating the citizens through use of common platforms and other democratic means.

(From p-1) Urging the district authorities apprehend the culprits, CSU cautioned it would not rest till justice was delivered as per the law.

The union further conveyed heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family and prayed that Almighty God grant them solace.

NPP Mokokchung unit condemns: NPP Mokokchung district unit has strongly condemned the “brutal killing” at Chungtia village, on February 21, 2023. NPP unit expressed deep grief over the loss of life and demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The party also demanded that those responsible for the heinous crime were brought to justice and held accountable for their actions.

It may be mentioned that there are four contestants for the 28 Koridang assembly seat- sitting MLA and former NPF and NDPP member Imkong L. Imchen (BJP); Chalukumba Ao (JD-U); Maj (Retd) Toshikaba (NPF) and Talitsuba Imchen (Ind).

It may also be mentioned that five years back, around the same time (on February 22, 2018), a supporter of NDPP candidate for 21 Tuli constituency JI Yaden was grievously injured and succumbed to injuries in a stone-pelting incident, by supporters of a candidate in Tuli town.

BJP-NDPP failed to deliver...

(From p-1)

He asked BJP to clarify whether it will abolish Article 371(A) and strip Nagas of Nagaland of their special privileges, similar to the way it had abolished Article 370 from Jammu &Kashmir, in view of his concern against the monolithic idea of India.

Tharoor also rejected Union Minister of State for Electronics, Information Technology, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s assertion that Indian constitution was BJP’s ideology. Instead, he accused BJP of aggressively pursuing Hindutva politics.

Tharoor also mentioned that Nagaland with 97% non-Hindus (Christians) should be cautious about BJP. He urged the people not to allow BJP to succeed in changing the State’s unique cultural identity. He alleged that a series of attacks on minorities across the country under BJP rule, should make people realise the reality and not to believe what BJP promises as it always conducted itself exactly in the opposite manner.

He accused the BJP of fooling the Nagas by saying one thing in Nagaland and another thing in other parts of the country. “The BJP should not be allowed to conceal its basic orienta-

tion, that is belief in ‘one nation , one religion, one language, one culture and one leader’,” he said Noting that Nagaland would be celebrating 60 years of its formation soon, the Congress leader lamented that it had still not realised its full potential in terms of human resource and infrastructure development and partly held insurgency problem responsible for this.

He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in 2015 announced that the Naga political issue had been resolved, though the reality was totally different.

Under Modi, he said the Naga accord instead turned into a Framework Agreement and though talks had officially concluded in 2019, there was still no sign of the solution now.

He commented that if a solution could be reached on Naga political issue, then development would pick up pace. Chief operations officer of All India Professionals’ Congress Aalim Javeri also delivered a brief speech on the occasion.

Indian stock markets plunge down on fear of new ‘Cold War’

CHENNAI, FEB 22 (IANS): Indian stock markets closed in red on Wednesday, with the Sensex of the BSE going down by 927.74 points and the Nifty of the NSE by 272.40 points. The markets reacted adversely following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements and the threat of war escalation, said Mitul Shah, Head of Research at Reliance Securities.

Since the release of the Hindenburg report on January 25, Adani group stocks have lost 60%of their value. Globally, geopolitical instability persists as Russian President Putin asserted that his war against Ukraine will not end any time soon. Russia also suspended its nuclear treaty with the US.

The Nifty plunged 1.53%to close at 17,554 points the lowest since October 21, 2022, said Devarsh Vakil, Deputy Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities.

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Gautam Adani

Palestinians killed in Israel West Bank raid

NABLUS, FEB 22 (AP):

Israeli troops on Wednesday entered a major Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank in a rare, daytime arrest operation, triggering fighting that killed at least 10 Palestinians and wounded scores of others.

The raid, which reduced a building to rubble and left a series of shops riddled with bullets, was one of the bloodiest battles in nearly a year of fighting in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. A 72-year-old man was among the 10 killed and 102 people were wounded, Palestinian officials said. The brazen raid, coupled with the high death toll, raised the prospect of further bloodshed. A similar raid last month was followed by a deadly Palestinian attack outside a Jerusalem synagogue, and the Hamas militant group warned that “its patience is running out.”

The Israeli military said it entered the city to arrest three wanted militants suspected in previous shooting attacks in the West Bank. It said it tracked down the men in a hideout.

Palestinians clash with Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Nablus, Feb. 22. (AP/PTI)

The army said it surrounded the building and asked the men to surrender, but instead they opened fire. It said all three were killed in a shootout.

It said that during the raid, armed suspects “shot heavily toward the forces,” which responded with live fire. It said others hurled rocks and explosives at the troops. There were no Is -

raeli casualties. It released photos of what it said were two automatic rifles confiscated in the raid.

In the Old City of Nablus, people stared at the rubble that had been a large home in the centuries-old casbah. From one end to the other, shops were riddled with bullets. Parked cars were crushed. Blood stained the cement ruins. Furniture

High-level Pakistani team meets Afghan Taliban’s acting deputy PM

ISLAMABAD, FEB 22

(PTI): A high-level Pakistani delegation led by Defence Minister Khwaja Asif on Wednesday met with Afghanistan’s Taliban regime’s acting deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and discussed security-related matters including counter-terrorism measures, amidst the worsening of ties between the two neighbours.

Asif is accompanied by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan, Charge d’Affaires to Afghanistan Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani and Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq.

“A high-ranking delegation led by the Minister for Defence is in Kabul today to meet with officials of the Afghan Interim Government to discuss security-related matters including counter-terrorism measures,” the Foreign Office said in a brief statement.

A statement from the Afghan Council of Minis-

ters (prime minister) said the two sides discussed economic cooperation, regional connectivity, trade, and bilateral relations.

It said that the Afghan deputy prime minister asked the Pakistani delegation to release Taliban prisoners detained in jails across Pakistan. He also asked for more facilities at the two key border crossing points of Torkhan and Chaman.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbours and should have cordial relations. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants expansion of commercial and

economic relations with Pakistan as such relations are in the interest of both countries,” the statement quoted Baradar as saying. He noted that political and security issues should not affect trade and economic matters between the two countries and be kept separate from political and security problems. The Pakistani side assured Afghanistan to resolve the problems, adding that the concerned ministries and committees would be asked to step up efforts for solutions to these problems, according to the statement.

from the destroyed home was scattered among mounds of debris. The Palestinian Health Ministry said of the 102 people wounded, six were in critical condition. Palestinian militant groups claimed three of the dead as members. But a 72-year-old man was also killed. There was no immediate word on whether the others belonged to armed

SEOUL, FEB 22 (AP):

North Korea on Wednesday accused UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres of “an extremely unfair and imbalanced attitude,” as it lambasted him for condemning its recent missile test but ignoring alleged US hostility against the North.

The accusation came as US, South Korean and Japanese destroyers were holding trilateral anti-missile training near the Korean Peninsula, a move the North could regard as a provocation.

After the North’s intercontinental ballistic missile test on Saturday, Guterres strongly condemned the launch and reiterated his call for the North to immediately desist from making any further provocations.

In a statement, Guterres also urged North Korea to resume talks on denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

“To be most deplorable, the UN secretarygeneral is going on the rampage of illogical and

groups. An amateur video posted online appeared to show security camera footage of two young men running down a street. Gunshots are heard, and both falls to the ground, with one’s hat flying off his head. Both bodies remained still.

Amateur video footage appeared to show Israeli troops operating in downtown Nablus, and army vehicles firing tear gas canisters. Last month, Israeli troops killed 10 militants in a similar raid in the northern West Bank. The following day, a lone Palestinian gunman opened fire near a synagogue in an east Jerusalem settlement, killing seven people.

Days later, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli arrest raid elsewhere in the West Bank. That was followed by a Palestinian car ramming that killed three Israelis, including two young brothers, in Jerusalem.

The fighting comes at a sensitive time, less than two months after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new hard-line government took office.

Biden meets eastern NATO allies after Putin’s nuclear warning

WARSAW, FEB 22 (AGENCIES): U.S. President Joe Biden met leaders of NATO’s eastern flank on Wednesday to show support for their security after Moscow suspended a landmark nuclear arms control treaty, which he called a “big mistake”.

Biden arrived in the Polish capital Warsaw late on Monday after a surprise visit to Kyiv just days ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Amid the highest tension between Russia and the West since the Cold War over three decades ago, Biden addressed thousands in downtown Warsaw on Tuesday and said “autocrats” like Russian President Vladimir Putin must be opposed. Hours earlier, Putin delivered lengthy remarks laden with criticism of Western powers, blaming them for the war in Ukraine. Biden said the West was never plotting to attack Russia and the invasion was Putin’s choice. Putin also backed away

miserable remarks, which are little different from those of US State Department officials over the years,” Kim Son Gyong, the North’s vice foreign minister for international bodies, said in a statement carried by state media.

Kim said North Korea’s ICBM test was a response to the security threat the US posed to the North by temporarily deploying long-range bombers for joint training with South Korea earlier this year. Kim said the test was also a warning to the earlier convocation of the UN Security Council on the North.

North Korea views US-South Korea military drills as an invasion rehearsal and is particularly sensitive to the US mobilisation of B-1B bombers that can carry a massive conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons.

After the North’s ICBM test, the United States flew B-1B bombers again for separate drills with South Korean and Japanese warplanes.

SL trade unions warn govt of strike if tax hikes not withdrawn

COLOMBO, FEB 22

(PTI): Around 40 trade unions belonging to various sectors on Wednesday urged the debt-ridden Sri Lankan government to withdraw its tax hikes and warned of holding a nationwide strike on March 1 if their demands were met.

The warning from the trade unions from sectors such as ports, power, electricity, water, and telecommunications among others came as they took part in an hour-long protest on

Wednesday to show solidarity against the problems faced by businesses due to tax hikes.

“We have been protesting continuously. We are telling President Ranil Wickremesinghe that we will be launching one-day strike action on March 1,” Niroshan Gorakanage, a port trade unionist, said.

Ranjan Jayalal, an electricity trade unionist, said: “We are here to protest the Tax Act. Electricity consumers are burdened

with high tariffs. We will defeat this government. They said the workers will wear black armbands during the week to protest the higher taxes.

The Sri Lankan government introduced tax hikes with effect from January widely believed to be on demand by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence

Office O f the Kiyet O Village cO uncil

Dhansiripar, c hum O u K e D ima : n agalan D regd. no. gaB-9/5/91

Declarati O n

In humble effort to support the Clean Election Movement, the Kiyeto Village Council and the Kiyeto Ghami Baptist Church jointly declares the following resolutions.

1. No voters of the village would seek cash, material or other inducements from any candidate.

2. All the candidates are requested to respect the conscientious decision of the village and desist from offering cash for vote, materials or other inducements.

3. Sharing solidarity with Clean Election Movement, the households of the village would voluntarily hoist the white flags in their homes during the election week.

(rev. K tokhevi awomi) (l holuvi sema) (Benjamin sema)

Pastor KGBA V.C.C. Atokukau

from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking political turmoil in the country which led to the ouster of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family.

The IMF in September last year approved Sri Lanka a 2.9 billion dollar bail out package over 4 years pending Sri Lanka’s ability to restructure its debt with creditors -- both

bilateral and sovereign bondholders.

With assurances from creditors, the 2.9 billion dollar facility could get the IMF board approval in March.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he was aware of the burden placed on people by higher taxes but the high taxes are part of the rescue operation of the Sri Lankan economy.

from the New START arms control treaty - a 2010 agreement that limits the number of Russian and U.S. deployed strategic nuclear warheads - and warned that Moscow could resume nuclear tests.

“It is a big mistake,” Biden said of Putin’s decision as he headed into the meeting with eastern European allies.

Earlier on Wednesday, Biden met staff from the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw before gathering leaders of the Bucharest Nine, the countries on NATO’s east-

ern flank such as Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania that joined the Western military alliance after being dominated by Moscow during the Cold War. Most are among the strongest supporters of military aid to Ukraine, and officials from countries in the group have called for additional resources such as air defence systems. At the opening of the meeting, Biden reaffirmed U.S. commitment to their security. “As NATO’s eastern flank, you are the frontline of our collective defence,” Biden said.

Mysterious metal ball found on Japanese beach causes bomb scare

HAMAMATSU, FEB 22 (AGENCIES): A large, yellow metal ball washed up on Enshuhama beach in Japan, prompting a flurry of online speculation as to what the mysterious orb may have been used for.

The object’s appearance on the coastline of Hamamatsu city prompted the police to scramble the bomb squad, but close examination showed there was no immediate threat.

Authorities dismissed the possibility that it could be a sea mine, after X-raying the device and finding that it was hollow.

On Wednesday, authorities went to inspect the object, which has a diameter of 1.5m, cordoning off a section of the beach because of fears it could be an unexploded war remnant or a mine that had drifted far from an active conflict zone.

A member of the public reported the object, which led to explosives experts in protective clothing carrying out their assessment while a large

Authorities inspect the mysterious metal ball.

surrounding area was closed off. Thought to be iron, the ball has a rusty appearance and there are two raised handles on the surface, suggesting it is normally hooked to something. The Japanese armed forces and coastguard officials are examining images of the ball.

Speculation on social media suggested the ball had come from space or asked whether it was another type of surveillance balloon.

It comes after the US shot down a suspected

Chinese spy balloon on 4 February off the South Carolina coast.

Russia and Ukraine have each used mines in the Black Sea, while some countries still consider sections of their coastal waters dangerous because of unexploded naval mines from the Second World War.

Estonia believes there may be thousands of unexploded mines from the Second World War that could still pose a risk to shipping and, in 2018, a harbour at Brownsville, Washington state, was briefly closed due to fears that a mine had been discovered.

Army engineers later said it was an inert device used for training.

Online speculation has led many to believe that the as-yet-unidentified object is a buoy that has escaped its mooring, a somewhat less exciting explanation than that of conspiracy theorists who say it may be an alien device.

inc candidate chief agent resigns

We, the following Congress functionaries under Dimapur District have resigned from the primary and active membership of Indian National Congress (INC) party and have unanimously resolved to support the leadership and candidate of Shri. H. Tovihoto Ayemi, BJP Candidate 1 Dimapur-1 Assembly Constituency, 2023.

Joe Biden attend the NATO Bucharest Nine (B9) Summit in Warsaw, Poland, February 22. (Reuters)

Khwaja Asif meets Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

North Korea calls UN chief’s remarks on missile test ‘unfair’

Spielberg, 76, wins

‘Walking Dead’ actor Jansen Panettiere dies aged 28

‘DNA World Tour’: Backstreet Boys to perform in India in May

Berlin lifetime award I

idea that I think would make a good movie: that excitement ... supersedes everything.”

Spielberg, professing he “loves to work and needs to work”, is finalising a script left unfinished by his friend Stanley Kubrick at the time of his death in 1999.

Director Steven Spielberg, picking up a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival, said the prospect of making new films continued to excite him at 76, and unveiled new details of his planned HBO series.

The director, whose credits include some of the biggest-grossing and best-loved works in cinema history, including “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Jaws”, has just finished two films back to back: the semi-autobiographical “The Fabelmans” and “West Side Story”, a film of the classic Broadway musical.

“Whatever seized me as a little kid is the same feeling I retained all those decades later,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “When I find a book or a script or come up with an original

“We’re mounting a large production for HBO based on Stanley’s original script ‘Napoleon’,” he said. “A seven-part limited series.”

Reflecting on the past two years of frenetic filmmaking, Spielberg said the pandemic prompted him to revisit his childhood in “The Fabelmans”.

“My mom used to say: ‘I’ve given you so much good material. When are you going to use that material?’” he said. “The fear I felt about the pandemic gave me the courage to tell my personal story.”

Spielberg, known for his accessible, compelling movies, advised would-be filmmakers to start with the story.

“If you want to be a movie director, first of all write,” he said. “Because it’s the stories that are going to get an audience to pay attention to you, not the shots.”

Actor Jansen Panettiere, the younger brother of actress Hayden Panettiere who followed his sister into show business with appearances on ‘Even Stevens’, ‘Blues Clues’, ‘Ice Age: The Meltdown’ and ‘The Walking Dead’, died in New York aged 28.

A rep for the actor confirmed the news, but did not reveal the cause of death or other details, reports ‘Deadline’.

Born on September 25, 1994 in Palisades, New York, Panettiere earned his first credits as a voice actor before landing a 2002 appearance on Disney Channel’s ‘Even Stevens’ starring a young Shia LaBeouf. Subsequent credits include 2003 appearances on the sitcom ‘Hope & Faith’ and the drama ‘Third Watch’, and the following year he voiced the recurring character Periwinkle on ‘Blue’s Clues’.

As a voice actor, his credits include ‘100 Things To Do Before Middle School’, ‘Robots’, ‘Ice Age: The Meltdown’, and ‘The X’s’,among others. (IANS)

conic band ‘Backstreet Boys’ is all set to bring their ‘DNA World Tour’ to India in May, returning to the country after 13 years. Brought to India by BookMyShow and Live Nation, the DNA World Tour celebrates 30 glorious years of the band’s music and makes a stop in India after five years of globetrotting.

They will be performing in Mumbai and New Delhi. For the India leg, Backstreet Boys: DNA World Tour will play at Jio World Gardens, Mumbai on May 4 and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on May 5. The Tour comes on

the back of the boy-band favourite’s tenth studio album ‘DNA’.

AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson have been enthralling fans across the globe for over three decades and are expanding their massive world tour to India on popular demand.

The DNA World Tour celebrates their rich history of flawless choreography, harmony-laden vocal prowess and an arsenal of mega-watt hits such as ‘I Want It That Way’, ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’ and ‘As Long As You Love Me’, along with the latest hits from their recent album ‘DNA’. (IANS)

Akshay Kumar smashes world record with 184 selfies taken in 3 minutes!

Actor Akshay Kumar has broken a Guinness World Record for the most selfportrait photographs (selfies) taken in three minutes at a meet-andgreet with fans in Mumbai for the promotion of his upcoming movie ‘Selfiee’.

The superstar is the title holder with 184 selfies.

Akshay Kumar has broken the previously held world record of 168 self-portrait photographs (selfies) taken in three minutes by James Smith (USA) aboard the Carnival Dream cruise ship on 22 January 2018. Earlier to this, in 2015 global icon and Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson held this

Amitabh Bachchan, Tiger Shroff-starrer ‘Ganapath’ to release on Oct 20

Upcoming dystopian action film, “Ganapath” has booked its release date.

On Wednesday, the makers of the film revealed the release date of the film with a power-packed video featuring Tiger Shroff in a rugged avatar.

The film will be released around Dussehra on October 20, in five lan-

guages - Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu.

Tiger Shroff was recently spotted in Mumbai donning a new tattoo on his forearm, which was the big reveal for the announcement of the release date. The film also stars Kriti Sanon and veteran superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who will be playing

OFFICE OF THE LOWER TSIEPFÜTSIEPFHE WOMEN ORGANIZATION

KOHIMA: NAGALAND

Dated 21st Feb. 2023 APPRECIATION

an important character in the film.

This will be the first time when the audience will see Amitabh Bachchan and Tiger Shroff together on the silver screen.

On the occasion, producer Jackky Bhagnani said: “I have always been a fan of seeing this new world through the lens of cinema, that’s what really excited me about this film. And I am thrilled, excited and can’t wait for the audiences to witness and visually experience

this new dystopian world of ‘Ganapath’.”

“As always, it’s been our endeavor to bring to the audience larger than life cinema and ‘Ganapath’ will surely enthrall you with its unique and picturesque storytelling.”

Pooja Entertainment presents “Ganapath” in association with Good Co.

Directed by Vikas Bahl, the film is produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, and Vikas Bahl. (IANS)

The Lower TsiepfüTsiepfhe Women Organization, A.G.Colony have taken initiatives and completed the project of footpath railing construction for the safety of children and senior citizens along the landslide area (100 metres) near Model Hr. Secondary School with a grateful heart. This project could have been made possible only through the help of so many generous well wishers and concerned residents in and around A.G. Colony who rendered selfless service as well as contributed big amount towards the fund drive.

The Organization expresse its special thanks to Donors; President, LTTU & his colleagues; President, LTTYO & his Team and all colony residents for their guidance and support all throughout. All the names shall be placed on record.

(SANO NAROH) (VIPHRE KINTSO)

President, LTTWO Secretary, LTTWO

record with 105 self-portrait photographs (selfies) in three minutes at the premiere of San Andreas in London.

Akshay said: I am ecstatic at breaking this unique World Record and sharing this moment with my fans! Everything that I have achieved so far and where I am at this moment of my life, is due to the unconditional love and support of my fans everywhere.”

“This was my way of paying a special tribute to them, of acknowledging how they have stood by me and my work in my entire career.”

‘Selfiee’ is all set to release on February 24. (IANS)

dc-239/23

Odisha’s playoff hope uncertain with loss to JFC

BHUBANESWAR, FEB 22 (AGENCIES): Odisha

FC slumped to a startling 0-2 home defeat against Jamshedpur FC in their final league match of the ISL 2022-23 season on Wednesday with a cloud of uncertainty now enveloping their playoff hopes. Despite the buzzing home crowd at Kalinga Stadium, the hosts put up an abysmal performance, allowing JFC to score twice in the second half.

Right from the build-up to the game, the equation was crystal clear for the Juggernauts - bag a win or at least a draw to secure their first-ever playoff berth. On paper, this should’ve been plain sailing for the hosts.

However, the first half was drastically anti-climatic as Josep Gombau’s men opted for a largely cautious approach. The visitors benefitted from OFC’s lackluster performance and created some neat opportunities to pull ahead. In the 25th minute, Jamshedpur arguably had the best chance of the

match when Harry Sawyer was set through on goal.

The Australian forward, however, was unable to beat an outstretched Amrinder Singh. Minutes later, Daniel Chima Chukwu came close to breaking the deadlock from a stunning pass by debutant Nikhil Barla from the right wing. But the Nigerian marksman’s half-volley was blocked away by an Odisha

defender. Inching closer to the half-time break, Chima had another opportunity to score but then Narender Gahlot stepped in with a last-ditch block.

For the visitors, Isak Vanlalruatfela was the most potent attacking option throughout the wide areas. However, coming out after the half-time break, Josep Gombau opted for

Portugal, Haiti qualify for Women’s WC

fresh legs and made wholesale changes and even Isak was taken off to introduce Jerry Mawihmingthanga.

Despite the changes, Odisha seemed a little overwhelmed and startled by the occasion.

Still, they did fairly well to maintain parity. But right at the hour mark, the Juggernauts were left stunned.

Aided by a couple of nervous defensive lapses, Dan-

B’luru Open: Ramkumar enters QFs

iel Chima Chukwu received the ball inside the box from wide. The Nigerian forward lobbed a looping cross into the center and Harry Sawyer buried it home with an acrobatic header. In a match that was set to be a celebratory affair, Odisha were left trailing. Jamshedpur were hungry and further piled on the hosts’ misery. Sawyer turned provider as his through ball into the box was expertly finished by the in-form Ritwik Das. Down to goals in just a matter of minutes, there was no coming back even for a side that had established itself to be one of the most resilient in the league after falling behind.

The night for OFC was perfectly summed up by an astonishing miss from their top scorer and current Golden Boot holder Diego Mauricio in the 83rd minute. Substitute Aniket Jadhav drilled a neat cross into the box and all the Brazilian had to do was sort out his feet and hit the target. Yet, he faltered.

India’s Ramkumar Ramnathan and Italian Francesco Maestrelli in action against North Mariana Islands Colin Sinclair and Serbia’s Miljan Zekic. (PTI)

BENGALURU, FEB 22

(PTI): India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan along with his Italian partner Francesco Maestrelli stormed into the doubles quarter-finals of the Bengaluru Open here on Wednesday. Ramkumar and Maestrelli recorded a 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over Colin Sinclair of North Mariana Islands and Miljan Zekic of Serbia at the KSLTA courts. Sinclair and Zekic had replaced Sumit Nagal and Mukund

Sasikumar after the Indians withdrew from the event.

The India duo of Anirudh Chandrasekhar and N Prashanth also booked their berth in the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 6-2 win over compatriots SD Prajwal Dev and Parikshit Somani.

Another India player Arjun Kadhe in the company of Max Neuchrist of Austria also reached the last eight, as the No. 4-seeded pair defeated Petr Nouza and Andrew Paulson of the

Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 6-4. Meanwhile in the singles, the top-seeded ChunHsin Tseng of Taipei moved into the quarter-finals with a hard-fought win over countryman Yu Hsiou Hsu. Tseng won 6-2 5-7 7-6 (4) to assure himself a quarterfinal place. There was an upset on the day as France’s Harold Mayot defeated third-seeded Ryan Peniston, a world number 145, of Britain in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-0.

Games can’t exclude and divide: IOC amid Russian athletes’ row

BERLIN, FEB 22 (AGENCIES): The Olympics cannot be divisive and exclude athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday, defending its plan to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to qualify for the Paris 2024 summer Olympics.

In a statement to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on Feb. 24 last year, the IOC said the Games had a unifying c haracter that promoted peace.

“They can open the door to dialogue and peacebuilding in ways that exclusion and division do not.”

Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions. Ukraine has also threatened to boycott the Olympics over Russia’s participation.

“Our mission has always been to promote peace through sport. The IOC remains committed to this mission to unite the

entire world in peaceful competition to this day,” the IOC said.

“Peace-building efforts need dialogue. A competition with athletes who respect the Olympic Charter can serve as a catalyst for dialogue, which is always a first step to achieving peace.”

1ST D EATH A NNI v ERSARY

AUCKLAND, FEB 22 (AGENCIES): Portugal sealed a 2-1 victory over Cameroon and Haiti defeated Chile 2-1 in the final qualifying playoffs in New Zealand on Wednesday, securing berths for both winners at soccer’s upcoming Women’s World Cup.

Portugal will be in Group E at the World Cup alongside defending champions United States, Vietnam and the Netherlands, while Haiti will be in Group D with England, Denmark and China.

Paraguay and Panama will meet on Thursday to decide the final team that will qualify for this year’s World Cup, which will be the first edition to feature 32 teams. The event will be held in New Zealand and Australia from July 20 to Aug. 20.

Portugal, who secured World Cup qualification for the first time, made a solid start at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton and went 1-0 ahead in the 22nd minute

after defender Diana Gomes scored from a rebound following a free kick.

Portugal could have made it 2-0 before the break but Jessica Silva failed to connect with Diana Silva’s cross in the box. Diana later had a thumping effort saved by the goalkeeper and she also sent an acrobatic shot wide early in the second half.

Cameroon’s Michaela Abam had a goal ruled out for offside in the 84th minute but Ajara Nchout finally equalised five minutes later when she latched on to a pass from Monique Ngock and scored on the turn, unleashing a left-footed shot.

Portugal were handed a penalty in stoppage time for a handball by Estelle Johnson, and Carole Costa made no mistake in finding the net from the spot.

Haiti will also play at the World Cup for the first time after two goals by Melchie Dumonay guided them to victory at North

Harbour Stadium in Auckland. Midfielder Dumonay opened the scoring at the stroke of half time with a powerful strike into the top corner as she finished off a brilliant team move and followed it up with a celebratory backflip.

Striker Roselord Borgella missed an opportunity to add another before the break and captain Nerilia Mondesir had a penalty kick saved in the 89th minute after Isidora Olave was penalised for a shirt pull in the box following a VAR review. Mondesir later made amends by setting up the second goal for Dumonay, who doubled their lead in the eighth minute of stoppage time with a low shot into the bottom corner.

Maria Rojas found the net for Chile soon after following a goalkeeping error, but it proved to be a consolation goal as they failed to secure a second successive appearance at the World Cup.

The Olympic body is facing a mounting backlash after setting out a path last month for athletes of both Russia and Belarus to earn slots for the Olympics through Asian qualifying and to compete as neutrals, with no flags or anthems.

Athletes from those countries were banned from many international competitions in after Russia launched what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine, but some international federations are now allowing them back following the IOC guidance.

“The Olympic Games cannot prevent wars and conflicts. Nor can they address all the political and social challenges in our world,” the IOC said in its statement.

“This is the realm of politics. But the Olympic Games can set an example for a world where everyone respects the same rules and one another.”

Ukraine and its Eastern European and Baltic neighbours are leading the call for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be banned

from Paris as long as Russia’s troops maintain their invasion of Ukraine, which Belarus helped facilitate. On Monday, more than 30 countries including the United States, Britain and France pledged their support for banning

In memory of our dearest mother Lt. Sonei-ü

He will swallow up death forever. The sovereign lord will wipe away all tears. Isaiah 25:8

Late Yangulie Kense

23-02-2022

Despite the passage of a year your memories remain vivid in our mind. Losing you create a vacuum in our life and you are irreplaceable, dad. Forever in our hearts, greatly loved, deeply missed.

K-330/23

Loving Wife, Children and loved ones

(Died on 23-02-2022)

“ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Romans 8:38-39 Loving children, grandchildren and loved ones.

K-345/23

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dp-769/23

3rd Death a nniversary

of our beloved

Born on : August, 1936 Died on : 13th February, 2023

The bereaved family of Lt. Tsenchibemo Ovung of Lotsu Village would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who offered their condolences and support during this difficult time following his passing. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and community. We would also like to extend our thanks to the healthcare professionals and caregivers who provided compassionate care to him during his brief illness. We regret our inability to thank each and everyone of you individually but we hope that this message of gratitude will reach everyone who has reached out to us as we cope with this painful loss. Thank you again for your support and for being a part of our lives during this difficult time. We pray that the good Lord bless each and everyone of you abundantly. Loving children, grand children, great-grandchildren, & In- Laws

KEKHRIESELIE THEüNUO (BABY)

23rd Feb 2020

Remembering and honouring you on this day.

Three years has elapsed, yet your memories live on in our hearts, it feels just a day has gone by. Your absence is deeply missed.

K-354/23

Loving Family Members

Jamshedpur FC players celebrate after their victory against Odisha FC. (ISL)

Portugal players celebrate after defeating Cameroon in their FIFA women’s World Cup qualifier in Hamilton, New Zealand, Wednesday. (AP/PTI)

Women’s T20 WC: SA beat B’desh; seal SF spot

CAPE TOWN, FEB 22 (IANS): Hosts South Africa reached the semi-finals of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2023 with a thumping 10-wicket win over Bangladesh in their last group game, here on Tuesday night.

The Proteas made heavy weather of chasing down a modest target of 114 set by Bangladesh, powered by their outstanding captain Nigar Sultana Joty’s 30. The hosts chased the target with 13 balls to spare as Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits chiselled out their team’s first halfcenturies of the tournament when it mattered most.

It means Sune Luus’s side are the first South African team -- male or female, junior or senior -- to reach the final four of a major ICC event staged on their soil. They face an unbeaten and dangerous England team in Friday’s semi-final in Cape Town.

With Bangladesh opting to bat, Wolvaardt grassed a regulation chance in the second over to hint at that home ground pressure,

Shamima Sultana adding salt to the wounds with a four two balls later. But the Proteas still st ruck twice in the powerplay, Murshida Khatun chipping Marizanne Kapp to mid-on for a six-ball duck and Shamima then skying Shabnim Ismail to midwicket.

From 22 for two, Nigar Sultana Joty and Sobhana Mostary carefully rebuilt and rotated strike

Pro Chess League: Indian GM Vidit

runs came from the first four overs, Brits was dropped by Sobhana and Wolvaardt somehow survived a mix-up in the middle.

Wolvaardt hit a towering six over mid-on but Brits only survived thanks to Shamima missing two stumping chances off the spinners as they crawled to 43 without loss from 10 overs.

The pressure gradually eased and the much-needed big overs eventually came. Brits peeled back-to-back boundaries off Shorna’s legspin and Wolvaardt brought up her half-century from 48 balls by flaying Nahida Akter twice through the off-side.

Gujrathi stuns world champion Carlsen

ment,” Gujrathi said.

In the Pro Chess League match, the Indian team led by Gujrathi and comprising Vaishali, Raunak and Aronyak won against Carslen, Aryan Tari, Razvan Preotu and Jennifer Yu to go into the final round with deficit of just one point.

CHENNAI, FEB 22

(PTI): Grandmaster Vidit

nicely without peppering the boundary.Sobhana was dropped by Brits on 25 but the third-wicket stand was snapped at 33 when she missed a slog sweep across the line and Nonkululeko Mlaba hit the stumps. The 16-year-old Shorna Akter hinted at her talent by lofting Mlaba handsomely over mid-off but soon departed when she was yorked by Ayabonga Khaka at 81 for four.

Narender storms into quarters of Strandja Memorial International Boxing

SOFIA (BULGARIA), FEB 22 (IANS): Indian

boxer Narender reached the quarterfinals of the ongoing 74th Strandja Memorial International Boxing Tournament, here on Wednesday.

The super heavyweight (+92kg) clash between Narender and Congo Gerlon of Ecuador went down to the wire as the crowd was in anticipation till the last minute to find out about the winner.

Both the boxers went toe to toe from the start of the bout and made calculative moves on their opponent.

Narender tried to take advantage of his height and long range, while the Ecuadorian boxer brought his swift movements into the play to gain points in every round. In the end, the Indian pugilist prevailed over his opponent in a 3-2 split verdict to progress into the quarter-finals of the tournament.

On the other hand, in the round of 16 match, Varinder Singh (60kg) lost

by 0-5 against Abdumurodov Dilsoh of Uzbekistan to bow out of the tournament, while Sumit went down 1-4 against Rami Kiwan of Bulgaria in the pre-quarters.

Unfortunately, India’s experienced campaigner Shiva Thapa couldn’t take the ring due to fever and as a result, gave a walkover to his opponent Malik Hasanov of Azerbaijan in the pre quarter-finals.

Later on Wednesday, three women boxers will be in action as Simranjit (60kg) will take on Australia’s Danielle Scanlon, while Arundhati Choud -

hary (75kg) will face Catilin Parker of Australia. Jyoti (52kg) will square off against Nozimakhon Bulturova of Uzbekistan.

Late on Tuesday night, two male pugilists won their respective matches and progressed into the next round of the tournament.

2021 World Youth Champion Sachin (54kg) defeated Henrik Sahakyan of Armenia 4-1 to reach the quarterfinals of the prestigious competition. He will face Shakhzod Muzafaroz of Uzbekistan in his next bout.

Akash (67kg) registered a comfortable 5-0 victory over his Bulgarian opponent Rosen Markov to reach the last 8 stage of the competition. He will take on Italy’s Manuel Lombardi in his next bout and will look to register another comfortable victory.

Meanwhile, Sahil (80kg) bowed out of the Strandja Memorial after going down by 0-5 against Vladimir Mironchikov of Serbia in the 80kg division.

Kapp came back for a third ball and showed her class with a slower ball that got the big wicket of Nigar, comprehensively bowled for 30. Khaka repeated the yorker trick to get rid of Fargana Hoque but as the Proteas began to tire in the field, Bangladesh were indefatigable and inched their way up to 113 for six. Thereafter, South Africa’s reply was a fraught affair from the very start. Nine

Brits brought up her sixth T20I half-century and two balls later, Wolvaardt struck successive boundaries to put her side in the final four.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 113/6 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 30, Sobhana Mostary 27; Marizanne Kappp 2-17, Ayabonga Khaka 2-21) lost to South Africa 117/0 in 17.5 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 66 not out, Tazmin Brits 50 not out) by 10 wickets.

Gujrathi became the fourth Indian to stun Norwegian chess wizard Magnus Carlsen, in a Pro Chess League online match. Playing for team Indian Yogis, Gujrathi capitalised on a mistake committed by world number one Carlsen, who missed a checkmate late on Tuesday.

Carlsen was playing for Canada Chessbrahs in the Pro Chess League, an online tournament for teams from all over the world. The event features 16 teams playing rapid games and has a USD 150,000 prize fund.

This was Carlsen’s maiden victory over the reigning world champion.

Significantly, Gujrathi won the match with black pieces as he exploited a tactical oversight from his famous opponent.

The 28-year-old Gujrathi thus joined the likes of fellow Indian GMs R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi to defeat Carlsen. The trio had earlier pulled off wins over the Norwegian superstar in various events last year.

“It is an amazing feeling to defeat the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of chess and I couldn’t have asked for a better mo-

As per the format, the team that scores 8.5 first wins the game. And the Yogis simply turned the tables by winning on all the four board with Gujrathi leading the pack on the top board.

“Striking victory at the crucial moment and the team winning on all four boards even makes it more special. I’ve come very close on a few occasions to edge over Magnus (Carlsen) but couldn’t capitalise on it,” Gujrathi said.

“Glad that I’ve finally done it. Credit to all the players, team and our coach R B Ramesh. After yesterday’s amazing performance, everyone’s mood in the team is very high, and hopefully, we make it big this time.”

Aishwary Pratap Singh wins gold in ISSF World Cup

CAIRO, FEB 22 (PTI):

Olympian Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar claimed the gold medal in the men’s individual 50m rifle 3 positions competition at the ISS F World Cup here on Wednesday as India continued their dominance in the tournament. This was India’s sixth medal, including four gold, in the tournament as the country strengthened its position at the top of the medals tally.

The 22-year-old Tomar, who had also won a gold in the Changwon World Cup last year, won 16-6 in the gold-medal contest to comfortably beat Austria’s Alexander Schmirl.

Tomar was placed second in the ranking round, with a total score of 406.4, while Schmirl was at the top with 407.9.

Earlier, the Indian had topped the qualification after aggregating 588 over the three stages of kneeling, prone and standing.

Akhil Sheoran, another Indian participating in the event, was second in the qualification with 587.

This was the Indian’s second individual World Cup gold, the first coming in South Korea.

Tomar first topped the qualification round with a score of 588 after 20 shots each in the kneeling, prone and standing positions. He had teammate Sheoran for company in the ranking round. The Indian duo began slow in the ranking round with Tomar sixth and Sheoran eighth after the first five kneeling position shots.

RealMadridcomefromtwodowntoearn5-2winatLiverpool

After the end of the allocated 10 shots in the second prone position however, both had moved up with Sheoran in second and Tomar in fifth. All the while the Austrian Schmirl was leading the match and did so till the end of the ranking round.

It changed dramatically after the first five standing position shots, as India number one Tomar got up to second, just 0.5 behind Schmirl who was still lead-

ing. Sheoran was down to fifth and eventually bowed out in seventh place after 30 shots. After 40 shots both the Austrian and the Indian held on to the top two positions to set up a gold medal clash.

In the gold medal round, which is basically a race to 16 points with two points being awarded to the winner of each singleshot series, Tomar took the first series. However,

it remained tight with the scores reading 4-4 and then 6-6 before the Indian broke away with some sensational shooting to close out the match.

A timeout taken by the Austrian at 6-12 did nothing to break Tomar’s momentum.

Rhythm finishes outside podium

In the day’s first medal event, India’s Rhythm Sangwan, who had qualified for the ranking rounds after shooting 589 in the women’s 25m pistol, could not make the final four medal round. She had shot 295 to lead the first precision round on Tuesday and then 294 in the rapid-fire round to qualify second behind Doreen Vennekamp of Germany.

Rhythm bowed out in the second ranking round match, finishing fourth with nine hits out of 20. Hungary’s Veronika Major won gold in the event.

Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh shot 571 and 570 to finish 32nd and 34th respectively.

ICC Test Rankings: Anderson dethrones Cummins to become No.1 ranked bowler

Holders

LIVERPOOL, FEB 22 (AGENCIES) :

Real Madrid produced a stunning comeback from two goals down to earn a devastating 5-2 victory at a shell-shocked Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Two goals each from Vinicius Jr. and Karim Benzema turned what had looked like being an unpleasant evening for Real into a stylish romp that left Juergen Klopp’s side flat on the canvas and facing a monumental task to reach the quarter finals.

It was Liverpool’s heaviest home defeat in Champions League history, eclipsing a 3-0 loss to the same opponents in 2014.

In a re-run of last year’s final, the first half was played at a ferocious pace, with the hosts racing into a fourth-minute lead through a superb Darwin Nunez flick -- the quickest goal Liverpool have ever scored at Anfield in the Champions League.

The stadium erupted 10 minutes later when an horrendous miscontrol from Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois let Mohamed Salah in for the second, with the Egyptian now Liverpool’s all-time

top goal scorer in European competition.

Yet just as they did on several occasions en-route to their 14th European Cup crown last season, Real quickly turned things around, with Vinicius scoring one sublime strike and one fluke goal after another goalkeeping mistake to level the match by halftime.

A bullet Eder Militao header completed the turnaround for Real early in the second half, sapping all the life out of Anfield in the

process. The hosts’ misery was not done there, however, as Benzema’s double ensured Liverpool shipped five goals at home for only the third time this century in all competitions.

First, Nunez darted onto Salah’s pinpoint pass and flicked the ball through his legs into the net, before the Egyptian’s record-breaking goal, from a mistake by Courtois, who was man of the match in the Paris final, made it two.

A player of Vinicius’s

ability only needs one chance and a superb slotted finish from the edge of the penalty area started the comeback, before Alisson fired the ball at the Brazilian, with the rebound bouncing into the unguarded net.

The second half was a lesson in how to kill a game, and potentially the tie, from Real, who did not give Liverpool an inch and took their chances clinically.

Benzema’s second was expertly put away on the

counter, as the Real striker coolly took his time to find the net and finish the hosts off. The Frenchman has scored six goals against Liverpool in the Champions League, more than any other player.

Napoli staged a faultless performance on the road, stunning ten-men Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Di Lorenzo at the first leg of Champions League last 16 on late Tuesday night.

DUBAI, FEB 22 (IANS):

Veteran England pacer James Anderson displaced Australia captain Pat Cummins to become the No.1 ranked bowler in the latest ICC Men’s Test Rankings, released on Wednesday after finishing with seven wickets in the first Test against New Zealand that helped his side win by 267 runs, last week.

Anderson, who has grabbed the top spot in the Men’s Test Player Rankings for the sixth time in his career, first became No. 1 in May 2016 and was last at the top in November 2018 before being overtaken by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada.

Anderson’s rise to the top at the spritely age of 40 years and 207 days also means he is the oldest bowler to hold the top ranking since Australian great Clarrie Grimmett did so back in 1936.

However, his lead at the top is very slender, with Ashwin remaining in second place on a total of 864 rating points and just two rating points behind the England pacer.

Meanwhile, Cummins, who had been at the top since February 2019, drops to third on 858 rating points,

but could still regain top billing with some strong performances during Australia’s ongoing Test series against India. While the shakeup at the top of the Test bowler charts is the highlight of a big week of change on the rankings, there are also plenty of players on the move in other categories.

England batters Ollie Pope (up six places to 23rd), Harry Brook (up 12 places to 31st) and Ben Duckett (up 13 places to 38th) have achieved career-best rankings, as have New Zealand’s Tom Blundell and Devon Conway. Blundell’s first innings knock of 138 has lifted him four places to 11th while Conway’s 77 has

helped him move up five places to 17th. India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has progressed seven places to ninth after his 10-wicket match haul in the second Test in Delhi, the first time that he is in the top 10 since September 2019.

His spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin has moved to second place while other India spinner Axar Patel who is the second leading run-scorer for the series thus far with 158 runs - is also rewarded by moving up two places to fifth overall on the latest Test all-rounder rankings. Australia’s Nathan Lyon has gained two places to reach 15th after finishing with seven wickets in the match, which his team lost by six wickets.

There are some movements in the ODI rankings too after matches of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2. Scotland’s George Munsey has gained seven spots to reach 39th position among batters while Nepal’s RK Paudel has progressed from 76th to 67th. In the bowling rankings, Nepal legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane is up 12 places to 31st while Scotland seam bowler Safyaan Sharif is up from 51st to 45th.

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their fifth goal with teammates. (Reuters)

South Africa women’s cricket teammates celebrate.

James Anderson

Narender

Vidit Gujrathi

Aishwary Pratap Singh