to

ban BBC in India over Modi documentary

Anand, representing the petitioner, urged the bench to hear the petitioner and argued that the BBC was “deliberately maligning India’s image”.

The court also declined a request by Anand to tag the petition with a pending joint petition filed by journalist N. Ram, advocate Prashant Bhushan and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and another one filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma.

Earlier this month, the top court, acting on pleas of N.Ram and others, had asked the Centre to produce original records related to its decision to block the BBC documentary on PM Modi.

Anand urged the bench to examine the background in which India has become powerful with its rise as economic power and also a man of Indian origin has become UK Prime Minister.

However, the top court asked how she could argue all these in support of her plea for a ban on the BBC.

The bench said: “Let us not waste any more time. The writ petition is entirely misconceived and has no merit. Thus, it is dismissed.”

The plea filed by Vishnu Gupta, Hindu Sena president, and others, contended that the petitioner had made a representation to the Centre in January to ban the media network, but no action has been taken till date.

The Centre has banned the documentary on social media and online channels though it has been screened in various colleges and universities across the country.

The plea contended that the documentary is a “result of deep conspiracy against the global rise of India and its Prime Minister”. The plea also sought an investigation into the “conspiracy” behind the documentary.

Officials misled Governor for cause of incomplete projects, claims Cong

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, FEB 10

(NPN): Congress has been holding almost daily press conferences either in Dimapur or Kohima, to attack the NDPP and BJP alliance on various alleged failure on various fronts.

On Friday, AICC media coordinator Mahima Singh focussed on the medical college and high court complex, both at Kohima which are running much behind schedule as noted by Nagaland governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi during his visit to the sites in July last year. Mahima claimed that when queried by the governor about the cause of delay, government officials “lied to him (governor), that the construction works” were delayed since funds could not be released due to covid-19 pandemic. She maintained that the fact was that funds were released to the state in November 2019 itself before the pandemic. Further, Mahima cited the reply by H&FW Ministry to a question posed by Nagaland Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi in 2019. She said the government informed the MP that the state government had been requested to expedite completion of the Kohima Medical College since the Centre had already paid the full amount of Rs.171.10 crore or 90% of its share of the project.

Miscreants torch farmhouse of Patton’s PA

Correspondent

KOHIMA, FEB 10 (NPN):

In a suspected case of pollrelated violence, unknown miscreants torched a farmhouse belonging to Chiyingo Kikon, personal assistant to deputy chief minister Y Patton, on Friday morning.

Wokha police told Nagaland Post that on receiving an information about 3:30 am Friday, police personnel rushed to the spot, but found the house razed to the ground.

Police said the farmhouse was located at Koio village under Chukitong police station. Fortunately, at the time the incident no one was present. However, police said that properties worth Rs. 16 lakh were destroyed. It was informed that FIR was lodged and inquiry was initiated.

Condemnations: State deputy chief minister Y Patton took to twitter to condemn the incident. He said that razing of his PA’s residence at Chukitong by unknown miscreants was “deeply disturbing.” Stating that the safety of citizens was of utmost importance, Patton urged Wokha police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

Senchumo NSN Lotha, JDU Candidate from 37 Tyui A/C, and Y. Kikon, RJD candidate from RJD 37 Tyui A/C, have also condemned the arson incident at Koio village on February 9.

Khango-led NSCN (K) reacts to allegations ‘Prayer rally’ in Dimapur on Feb 19

by NSCN Yezhabo was making a mockery of themselves and were delusional, dwelling in a “parallel universe”.

MIP claimed that the nomenclature NSCN/ GPRN-K referred to the government under the leadership of Khango Konyak, adding that the clarification had been issued for general Naga public and necessary remedial measures and cooperation.

The Khango-led group reiterated the earlier statement that impeachment of the ato kilonser was endorsed by 2/3rd majority of the house and not by at the president’s discretion alone, as alleged by few “misguided party workers” who were not even an active member of NSCN/GPRN (K) as they still did not take the oath of allegiance to the government.

The group also condemned the accusations “money mongers, power mongers and opportunist” levelled against certain of its senior party workers as the impeachment of Isak was a collective decision of the house and not undertaken at the behest of any individual with self-vested interest. The release asserted that the maligning of president’s image by labelling him as “money monger” could be contradicted by comparing the standard of living of the president and the impeached ato kilonser. It claimed that while the president still dwelled in a thatched house, devoid of basic amenities, Isak had acquired a palatial house and assets worth crores of rupees. The group also termed the allegation that an attempt was made on the life of Isak as nothing but a political stunt to garner public sympathy.

(Cont’d on p-8)

Turkey, Syria quake death toll tops 23k

ISKENDERUN, FEB 10

(AP): Rescuers pulled several earthquake survivors from the shattered remnants of buildings Friday, including some who lasted more than 100 hours trapped under crushed concrete after the disaster slammed Turkey and Syria and killed more than 23,000 people.

Turkey’s disaster-management agency said more than 20,200 people had been confirmed killed so far. More than 3,500 have been confirmed killed in Syria, bringing the total number of dead to more than 23,000.

DIMAPUR, FEB 10

(NPN): Christian Forum

Dimapur (CFD) has decided to organise a “prayer rally” at Super Market, Dimapur on February 19 at 1 p.m.

The forum has requested all the churches in Dimapur and like-minded religious institutions and organizations to join and pray for various intentions-- pray for the persecuted minority religious groups particularly Christians in the mainland India and parts of Northeast; pray for the nation and its leaders, Constitutional heads and judiciary; clean, fair and free assembly election; all the political parties and candidates etc.

In a press release, CFD chairman Rev. Moses Murry and secretary Rev. Fr. CP Anto said that the decision was taken at CFD executive board meeting held on February 10, 2023 in Dimapur. At the meeting, the forum said the members also discussed to pray for the national workers and to create common platform for all the groups to come together to pray and seek God’s blessings. The members further proposed to help other districts of Nagaland to start autonomous Christian Forms to strengthen unity and spiritual growth of the various communities.