DA crisis: WB governor agrees to mediate, claim agitators

party in the last couple of Assembly polls, fell short of majority due to continued poor show in the Old Mysuru region. Sumalatha Ambareesh announcing her support to BJP is also likely to help the J P Nadda-led party in the upcoming polls.

The Old Mysuru region, where 89 seats (including 28 in Bengaluru) are up for grabs, is spread across 11 districts in south Karnataka including Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan and Kolar, and it is here that the BJP is now sharply focusing on. In the 2018 polls, the BJP managed to win one seat in Hassan; later in the high-voltage 2019 bypolls, it managed to win the K R Pet seat, its first victory in Mandya district and also won Chikkaballapur, another first. Creating a history of sorts, the party bagged the Sira Assembly segment in Tumakuru district for the first time in the 2020 bypolls.

Modi said the double engine government’s consistent effort is towards repaying people for their love with interest, through fast paced development, and added that the projects inaugurated or for which foundations were laid today is an effort in that direction.

KOLKATA, MAR 12

(IANS): West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has agreed to mediate between the state government and agitating government employees to find out an amicable solution to the ongoing stir and fasting agitation over the demand of payment of dearness allowances.

A five-member delegation of the joint forum of state government employees, the umbrella organisation spearheading the movement in the matter, met the Bose at Governor House on Sunday morning.

Emerging out of the meeting, the delegation members claimed that the Governor has assured them that if the state government agrees, he is ready to play the role of a mediator on this count.

On late Saturday evening, Bose from his official Twitter handle sent an appeal to state government employees to withdraw at least their fasting agitation.

“Governor is deeply pained that the hunger strike of the aggrieved employees is entering its fourth week. The issues involved may be complex but there is always a simple way out. What is of paramount importance is the precious life of

C.V. Ananda Bose

our brothers who are on a continuous fast for a cause which is close to their heart. Governor entreats all those who are on the perilous fast to kindly end it and request all stakeholders to sit together and find an acceptable way out of the imbroglio,” his Twitter message read. After getting the message, the delegation of agitating employees met the Governor on Sunday.

“We had been demanding a tripartite meeting involving the state government and the Governor. The Governor has assured us that he will attempt to arrange that. He is himself a former government employee. So, he understands that our demand for pending DA arrears are justified. The Governor has assured us of initiating the needful from within his constitutional provision,” a member of the delegation told media persons after meeting the governor.

Cong Prez Kharge meets VP Dhankhar ahead of 2nd leg of Budget session

NEW DELHI, MAR 12

(IANS): A total of 3,038 labconfirmed cases of various subtypes of influenza including H3N2 have been reported till March 9 by the states, as per the latest data available on IDSP-IHIP (Integrated Health Information Platform). This includes 1,245 cases in January; 1,307 in February and 486 cases till March 9.

A real-time surveillance of cases of Influenza like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) presenting in OPDs and IPDs of health facilities is undertaken by Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Apart from H3N2 influenza, two other important circulating influenza are Influenza A H1N1, Influenza B Victoria.

The ICMR data, however, reports a combination of respiratory viruses ranging from Covid-19 virus, swine flu (H1N1), H3N2, and the seasonal Victoria and Yamagata lineages of influenza B viruses, as responsible. Meanwhile, the Covid infection has also reported a spike after four months as daily Covid cases were reported 524 on Sunday.

An integrated surveillance of Influenza like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) for the detection of human influenza virus and SARS-COV-2 virus is ongoing through structured ILI/SARI surveillance network of 28 sites, an official said.

The surveillance network is comprised of 27 DHR-ICMR’s Virus Research & Diagnostic Laboratories and country’s National Influenza Centre (WHO-NIC) housed at ICMR-National Institute of Virology Pune, also a WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Influenza Surveillance & Response System (GISRS).

During the period of first nine weeks of this year, the surveillance network has monitored the human influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection in SARI and ILI cases.

“The IDSP-IHIP data from health facilities indicate that during the month of January 2023, a total of 397,814 cases of Acute Respiratory Illness/Influenza Like Illness (ARI/ILI) were reported from the country that increased slightly to 436,523 during February, 2023. In the first 9 days of March 2023, this number stands at 133,412 cases,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The weekly data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reveals that H3N2 has of late taken the lead pushing Covid-19 aside. Besides, of the samples tested for the 9th week, 56 are of H3N2, 13 of Victoria, 5 of Influenza A H1N1.

“Seasonal H3N2 flu is a human flu from H3N2 that is slightly different from one of the previous year’s flu season H3N2 variants. Seasonal influenza viruses flow out of overlapping epidemics in East Asia and Southeast Asia, then trickle around the globe before dying off. Identifying the source of the viruses allows global health officials to better predict which viruses are most likely to cause the most disease over the next year,” said Shuchin Bajaj, a doctor and director at Ujala Cygnus Hospitals.

Meanwhile, the ministry has said: “Oseltamivir is the drug recommended by WHO. The drug is made available through the Public Health System free of cost. The government has allowed the sale of Oseltamivir under Schedule H1 of Drug and Cosmetic Act in February 2017 for wider accessibility and availability.”

Doctors in UP warn against self-medication in H3N2 flu

LUCKNOW, MARCH 12

(IANS): With influenza A subtype H3N2 virus claiming two lives in India, one each in Karnataka and Haryana, doctors in Lucknow have urged people to avoid self-medication.

Sheetal Verma, senior faculty department of microbiology at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) said, “The influenza A virus sub-type H3N2 is nothing new but as people are experiencing longer spells of cough, self-medication should be strictly avoided. There is nothing to panic. This variant does not lead to a pandemic but taking precautions against it will certainly help.”

She said that it is better for people experiencing fever, cough or respiratory distress to consult a doctor instead of buying a drug over-the-counter because

1 held in J&K for killing woman, chopping body into pieces: Police

SRINAGAR, MAR 12

(PTI): A man has been arrested for allegedly killing a woman, chopping her body into several pieces and burying the body parts at different locations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, police said on Sunday.

He added that on March 8, the Soibugh police post received an application from Tanveer Ahmad Khan, a resident of the Soibugh area of the central Kashmir district, stating that his sister left for coaching classes on March 7, but did not return home. A missing report was registered and a probe launched, the police spokesperson said.

During the course of the investigation, police rounded up several suspects, including Shabir Ahmad Wani, a resident of Mohandpora Budgam. this flu variant is different.

After sustained questioning, Ahmad confessed to his involvement in the commission of the crime, the police spokesperson said. The accused told police that he had chopped the victim’s body into several pieces and buried the body parts at different locations, he added.

Following Ahmad’s disclosure, the body parts were recovered, the police spokesperson said, adding that the medico-legal formalities are underway and further investigation is on.

According to doctors, the precautions people should take include -- keeping body immunity adequate and avoiding close contact with unknown people, particularly avoiding crowded places.

Abhishek Shukla, Secretary General of the Association of International Doctors, said, “A majority of those experiencing a longer spell of cough these days have poor body immunity may be due to age (elderly) or due to some other pre-existing illness.”

P.K. Gupta, former President, IMA, Lucknow, said, “Children and elderly are the most vulnerable. They are advised to avoid cold weather conditions during the morning and late evening. This will reduce the chance of getting infected. Everyone should avoid self-medication.”

Felicitation

The Tsarü Suro Union Dimapur with immense pleasure to express our heartiest Congratulations to Dr. Imtinungsang Sangtam, S/o Late Y.Lepden Sangtam of Tsarü Village for achieving a degree of Doctor in Ministry (D.Min) from International Institute of Mission and Leadership (IIML) Bengaluru, India.

The Union prays and wishes him good health and success in his future endeavours.

Sd- Sd(Y.TAKO ANAR) (MECCADEN) President G/Secretary Tsarü Suro Union, Tsarü Suro Union, Dimapur Dimapur

NEW DELHI, MAR 12 (PTI): Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge met Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar here on Sunday, after which he asserted that opposition parties want a discussion during the second leg of the Budget session on every burning issue facing the nation.

Kharge also asserted that opposition parties are keen to play a constructive role in making the government accountable.

Kharge met Dhankhar, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, at the Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas.

“Met @VPIndia, ahead of the forthcoming session of the Parliament to seek his cooperation,” the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said in a tweet.

“We as Opposition parties are keen to play a constructive role in making the Government accountable and would want discussion on every burning issue facing the nation,” he said. The second leg of the Budget session will commence on Monday with the government asserting that its priority is to pass the Finance Bill and the Opposition planning to raise issues like the action of central agencies against the BJP’s political rivals and allegations against the Adani group.

Office Of The Old Riphyim Village Council

WOKHA: NAGALAND FELICITATION

With immense pride, the Old Riphyim Village Council and Old Riphyim Students’ Union extend our heartiest congratulations to Shri.Yanthungo Patton on being elected as an MLA to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly for the Fourth Consecutive Term and on his subsequent appointment as the Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland with portfolio for Home and Border Affairs and as the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party.

We pray and hope that God will give you good health, wisdom and understanding as you start your journey for the service of the people.

Shanpan Ngullie Rhanbemo Y Patton Henry M Ngullie Chairman, ORVC VDB Secretary President, ORSU DB-318/23

EXPRESSION OF PLEASURE FOR SHRI Y. MHONBEMO HUMTSOE OVER HIS GOOD FORTUNE:

The WVC, WVSU, WVEE, WVGEU, WVEF, WVYO, WVBC Wokha Village public in general, the adjoining villages and colonies of Wokha Town under 38th A/c are honored to extend our pleasure of good fortune to Shri. Y. Mhonbemo Humtsoe, S/o Shri. Yanphamo Humtsoe of Wokha Village, the Hon’ble MLA of 38th A/c to serve the people in general cutting across all political ideologies. May our Almighty God bless him with good health and wisdom to lead the people to greater heights in the days to come.

We also take this opportunity to thank our God Almighty for his faithfulness, Dr. Chumben Murry Ex-MLA and his family and the people of 38th A/c for reposing confidence upon Shri. Y. Mhonbemo Humtsoe, the Hon’ble MLA with their mandate with great humility as also with deep sense of duty having collective efforts by voting for him with the passion for development and for a positive change of better tomorrow. The people’s will and attitudes of 38th A/c is tested and determined to march forward together in true spirit without any differences in views and opinions.

“Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is a progress, and working together is a success”.

We call upon every section of the Naga society to continue to extend their supporting hands to Shri. Y. Mhonbemo Humtsoe, the Hon’ble MLA to achieve this goal.

KUKNALIM!

(SHANTHUNG MURRY) (K. VANDAN E/RÜI) Secretary Chairman

Re-kindling animosity

There have been several incidents particularly along the Assam-Nagaland border covering Sivasagar and Mokokchung districts during the past few years and the latest being two incidents when some forest and police personnel from Assam accompanied by Assam media personnel intruded inside Aosenden village on February 8 when the villagers were cultivating their land. According to Aosenden chairman and secretary, the armed party from Assam took away a car belonging to a member of the village. In order to restore normalcy, it was reported that officials of both Assam and Nagaland held a joint meeting at Chungtiayimsen on February 13 and agreed that the landowners can go ahead with cultivation works in their fields. On this basis, the villagers of Aosenden resumed their cultivation works on March 6. However, while they were busy, some miscreants from Assam side set fire to the jungle even before the clearing was completed for cultivation. Such incidents have become quite frequent and have raised suspicions that there is a conspiracy to create tension in the border between the two states. The reason is that Assam has failed to respect the legitimacy of the traditional boundary of the peoples of the states with which it has disputes.Assam bases its claim over the colonial boundary after independence and dismissing the legitimate claims of people (mostly tribals)whose ownership has been even acknowledged by the Ahom kings. The major cause for border disputes has been the arbitrary transfer of tribal lands and forest under districts within the provincial Assam which remained within the state and gradually became legitimate in reasserting the constitutional and political boundary of the states. The British took special interest in Assam mainly for growing tea gardens and extraction of natural resources. Quite obviously, the simple minded tribal folks were none too adept in the politics or modern methods in convincing the white colonial supremacists about their legitimate and traditional rights over the lands. All these lands were arbitrarily transferred to Assam purely for administrative convenience such as the 1925 notification issued by the then British colonial government of Assam. As many as 16 boundary line and 6 Inner Line Notifications were issued between 1866 -1923 by British India after the creation of Naga Hills district in 1866 in Samaguting (Chümoükidema) as the first HQ. The boundary lines overlapped each others in some areas creating problems in administration and revenue collections. The frequent shifting of the boundary and the inner lines were done unilaterally mainly to usurp the ancestral virgin forest of the Nagas, which were rich in untapped forest resources and mineral wealth. Knowing its commercial values, besides the fertility of the land for expansion of the tea plantation, the British India had arbitrarily declared Reserved in as many as 22 forest areas(reserve forest) and subsequently transferred to the neighbouring districts of Assam for free commercial exploitation. It is time that Kohima woke up to the alarm bell being rung from the other side of the border and ensure that respect for rule of law is maintained and also issue clear statements to expose any nefarious designs.

DailyDevotion

Total Surrender

Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” —Mark 10:28

Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is “for My sake and the gospel’s” (Mark 10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, “I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy.” Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, “No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ‘This is what God has done for me.’ ” Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.

Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse— “Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further” (see Luke 9:57-62). “Then,” Jesus says, “you ‘cannot be My disciple’ ” (see Luke 14:26-33).

True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.