4 March 2023

3rd Test: Australia crush India by 9 wickets

Rio elected leader of NDPP legislature party

the NLA. They encouraged all members to work tirelessly for the people and fulfil the commitments made during the entire campaign period based on the party manifesto.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that most of the legislators from other parties

Truth has become victim in age of false news: CJI Chandrachud

like the NCP (7), NPP (5), LJP (2), RPI-A (2), JD-U (1) including four Independents were willing and ready to be part of the next government. Several of the newly elected members have openly said they will be with the government and not sit in opposition.

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party Legislature Party (NDPPLP) of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, which held its first meeting at the NDPP Central Office, Kohima on March 3, 2023, unanimously elected Neiphiu Rio as the leader of the NDPP legislature party.

NDPP through its media & communication committee said the NDPP legislature party, which adopted four-point resolutions at the meeting, further endorsed its leader, Neiphiu Rio, to take the prerogative

AG must be from state’s legal fraternity: NBA

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Lamenting that for the past 60 years the advocate general for the state had been appointed from outside the State, the Nagaland Bar Association (NBA) has resolved that the state government must appoint someone from the legal fraternity in the State to the said constitutional office.

In a press release, Nagaland Bar Association president A Zhimomi and secretary S Keyho informed that the resolution to this effect was adopted at the NBA executive committee meeting held on March 3, 2023.

According to NBA, the “unanimous opinion” on the subject was that it would be “unfair, unjust and a slur upon the legal fraternity” in the State, if yet again, the office of the advocate general is proposed to be filled by a lawyer from outside the State, ignoring the members of the legal fraternity in the State.

Further, the Bar also resolved to request state government and the central government to expedite the establishment of a separate High Court for Nagaland and to “delink this matter from the ongoing political negotiations.”

NBA opined that “uncertainties in the ongoing political negotiations” should not result in further delays for the State to have its own High Court.

of forming the new government.

NDPPLP also resolved to work with the vision for peace and development and take Nagaland towards a

State of Excellence.

Further, the NDPPLP conveyed heartfelt gratitude to all the electorates of Nagaland for once again reposing their faith and confidence on NDPP and the leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio by electing them as their respective representatives to the 14th NLA.

At the meeting, chaired by NDPP secretary general Abu Metha, the chief minister Neiphiu Rio and party president Chingwang Konyak congratulated and welcomed all the newly elected NDPP Members of

NDPP-BJPallianceyettostakeclaim

PTI: Despite securing a clear majority of 37 seats in the 60-member assembly in the recently concluded elections, the NDPP-BJP alliance was yet to stake claim to form the government in Nagaland.

Sources from both parties said their legislators would hold a joint meeting with consensus leader Neiphiu Rio, the outgoing chief minister, before staking the claim to form the government.

The term of the present government ends on March 12.

Rio held a closed-door meeting with new NDPP legislators at the party head office to take their views on government formation.

NDPP sources said most of the newly elected MLAs are staying together till government formation.

BJP sources said party legislators will have a coordination meeting by Sunday after which the joint meeting with NDPP MLAs will take place.

Tussle within BJP for post of BLP

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): BJP is undergoing a power tussle over who will be the BJP Legislature Party (BLP) leader. Another BJP leader is throwing his hat on the ring to be the next BLP leader.

According to sources, the tussle for the post of BLP leader, will mean becoming the next deputy chief minister.

The tussle nearly led to supporters of both contenders to hole up in separate camps but this was discouraged by other members of

the party, sources said. In order to settle the issue, a senior BJP leader said that the party high command will decide the issue.

“Be it any state, BJP being a national party, the party high command takes the final decision,” the BJP leader said.

It may be recalled that central BJP leaders including union home minister Amit Shah and NEDA Convenor and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made it clear that the BJP-NDPP alliance in Nagaland will be headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio.

However the tussle for BLP leader has become concern for the party in the State. The post was earlier held by deputy chief minister Y. Patton in the outgoing house. Sources said that the Central high command has also cautioned the party legislators to stay put and await the decision of the Central leadership. It was also learnt that chief minister Neiphiu Rio and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma would be leaving for Delhi soon to discuss about formation of the new government in the State.

Correspondent KOHIMA, MAR 3 (NPN): Elected from Tseminyu district, Lone JD (U) MLA Jwenga Seb has expressed his willingness to join the next government if given an opportunity.

Seb, an architect by profession, defeated senior politician and sitting MLA R Khing by polling a total of 8,096 vote.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, he mentioned that he would give full support to

Polls in Nagaland are about money power: Kikon

Correspondent

KOHIMA, MAR 3 (NPN): Following NPF’s massive electoral defeat in the just-concluded Assembly election, party’s secretary general Achumbemo Kikon, who was elected from 40 Bhandari Assembly constituency (AC) regretted that the election in Nagaland was all about money.

NPF had fielded candidates in 22 constituencies, but only two managed to win.

Speaking with Nagaland Post at his residence here on Friday,

Kikon claimed that NPF had lost in some constituencies by very small margins, which showed that people still loved the party. He alleged that money factor was the main reason for the loss. He disclosed that the oldest regional party had received 41 applica-

tions and, after careful scrutiny, the number of candidates was reduced to 22.

He remarked that being in the opposition for five years was not easy and said the party could not help the candidates in term of monetary support, for which the candidates focused on party manifesto, youth and women empowerment, improvement of roads, etc. Kikon, however declared that though NPF might be down for some time now, it was still not out of the game yet.

Kikon explained

NEW

DELHI, MAR

3 (PTI): Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Friday said truth has become a “victim” in the age of false news and with the spread of social media, something which is said as a seed germinates into virtually a whole theory that can never be tested on the anvil of rational science.

The CJI said today we live in an age where people are short on their patience and tolerance because they are not willing to accept perspectives which are different from their own.

Justice Chandrachud was speaking at the American Bar Association India Conference 2023 here on the theme “Law in the age of Globalisation: Convergence of India and the West”. CJI spoke about a range of issues, including technology and its use by the judiciary, especially during the CO -

VID-19 pandemic, issues confronting the judicial profession and on having more women judges.

“Truth has become the victim in an age of false news. With the spread of social media, something which is said as a seed germinates into virtually a whole theory which can never be tested on the anvil of rational science,” he said.

Justice Chandrachud said in many ways, the Indian Constitution is a prime example of globalisation

even before we ventured into the age of globalisation. He said when the Constitution was drafted, its makers had possibly no idea of the lines along which humanity would evolve.

“We did not possess notions of privacy, there was no internet. We did not live in a world which was controlled by algorithms. We certainly did not have a social media,” he said.

“For every little thing that we do, and believe me, as judges we are no exception to this, for everything that you do, you face the threat of being trolled by someone who does not share your point of view,” the CJI said. He said just as humanity has expanded with the global advent of travel and technology, humanity also has retreated within by not willing to accept anything that people, as individuals, believe in.

Delay in formation of new government testing time for political parties

the government, keeping in mind that Tseminyu district had only one MLA and for that matter, he had to be in the government. Regarding his priority, he referred to his election campaign slogan “Transformative, Progressive and Resilience”, asserting that he still stood by the slogan and that he intended to transform Tseminyu into a model district, thereby setting an example for others to follow.

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, MAR 3(NPN): Making its political debut in the state with two elected members, the LJP (Ram Vilas) national general secretary Dr Ajay K Pandey said that the party will have to wait and watch

that NPF went alone without any pre-poll agreement with any political party as it did not want to antagonise other parties. He acknowledged that the party failed to field candidates in all the 60 seats. He remarked that NDPP and BJP might have got the requisite numbers to form the next government but, according to him, numbers did not matter to NPF as it was more concerned about Naga political issue on which the party did not want to go wrong.

the political developments that will unfold in the coming days. He said this while responding to a query if the two MLAs would be a part of the new government. Addressing the media, Pandey said he had come to take stock of the situation would have to wait for the central high command to take a final call.

Pandey thanked the people of Nagaland for helping the “regional party from Bihar” secure around 9% votes in the just-concluded Assembly election, which he termed historic.

NCP to announce name of legislature party leader today NPP MLAs urged to work with sincerity

Correspondent

KOHIMA, MAR 3 (NPN):

Having won seven out of 12 seats it contested in the recently concluded assembly election and emerging as the single largest party in the opposition, the Nationalist Congress party (NCP) has informed that it would announce the NCP legislature party leader on Saturday.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, NCP state unit president Vanthungo Odyuo said that party’s national general secretary and North East in-charge Narendra Verma would be arriving Nagaland on Saturday after which certain decisions

will be taken. Odyuo said survival of NCP was important in Nagaland, but maintained that more details will be known after meeting with Verma.

The winning NCP candidates include Y Mhonbemo Humtsoe from Wokha, Y Mankhao Konyak (Mon Town), A Pongshi Phom (Longleng), S Toiho Yeptho (Suruhoto), Namri Nchang (Tening), Picto Shohe (Atoizu) and P Longon (Noklak).

On Thursday, Narendra Verma told a national daily that the party would be holding a meeting of legislative party within two days to decide on the leader of the Opposition.

BJP-NDPP’s focus on eastern Nagaland fails to yield desired result

MON, MAR 3 (PTI): Prom-

ise of ‘equal development’ for eastern Nagaland by the NDPP-BJP alliance seems to have not cut much ice with voters as the allies failed to improve their tally from the region, which has been vocal for a separate state.

BJP brought in its home minister Amit Shah, who had been brokering a deal with organisations demanding ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state, to campaign in Mon and Tuensang districts.

But the focus on six districts with 20 seats did not meet with the desired success as both BJP and its major partner NDPP’s tally remained unchanged at nine, the number

of seats it won in 2018.

Though the number of seats won remained the same. Many of the seats it held earlier were lost and new ones gained. The saffron party bagged three new seats this time -- Phomching, Longkim Chare and Tuensang Sadar I -- by margins ranging from 1,500 to 5,600 votes.

Phomching was held by NDPP in the last Assembly, but it was given to BJP in 2023.

NDPP could retain Tapi by a slender margin of 82 votes and Shamatore Chessore by 2,295 votes.

It lost Tobu to LJP (Ram Vilas) candidate by 506 votes and Noksen to RPI (Athawale) nominee by 188 votes. The

vote share of NPF seemed to have been eroded by parties like RPI (Athawale) and LJP (Ram Vilas).

Shah had termed issues raised by Nagas from the eastern part of the state as ‘legitimate’ and maintained that the solution to these problems is ‘not far’, with NDPP supremo and chief minister Neiphiu Rio also asserting that the state government will ‘partner’ the Centre in its decisions for the region.

However, with BJP not being able to gain much, analysts said it is a moot question whether poll assurances, made to eastern Naga tribes like the Konyak, Chang, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, Yimkhiung and

Khiamniungan, for a Frontier Nagaland or greater autonomy will be fulfilled.

Organisations there had agreed to withdraw a poll boycott call on the basis of the promises made.

Shah, whose intervention had led ENPO to withdraw its poll boycott call, in his first election rally in Mon Town, had hinted at more budgetary allocation, additional power to the council and equal development. However, BJP nominee from Mon lost to the NCP candidate. The constituency was held by NPF in the last Assembly. A leader of a local civil society organisation maintained that candidates matter

more than the party in the eastern parts, especially as people there “distrust” the “bigger parties”.

“The people feel that the major parties, be it the national ones or regional forces, have not kept their promise of development and this part is not at par with towns like Kohima, Dimapur or even Mokokchung. That’s why the focus is more on individuals,” he said.

Besides, politics at the village level also plays an important factor in elections here, he claimed.

But for the general voters, roads, colleges and job openings, possibly matter more than a separate state or which party forms the government.

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland State while congratulating the five NPP elected MLAs, has called upon them to discharge their responsibilities sincerely as dutiful representatives of their respective constituencies.

NPP State president, Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema also thanked the sacrifice and valour of the voters, who voted in favour of NPP. Besides thanking the party rank and file, he also extended gratitude to the families, friends, and loyal supporters who have inculcated capabilities among the NPP family. Ahoto assured that NPP would stand and work for development and prosperity of all, while continuing to voice out the grievances of the people.

Power deptt to carry out raid, disconnection drive

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Power department has informed all the electricity consumers of all categories (government consumers, bulk, industrial, commercial, domestic, VEMB and UEMB consumers) under Dimapur electrical division that raid would be conducted on defaulting consumers for non-payment of power bill (having arrears for more than two months), theft of power through hooking, tampering of Energy meters and pilferage of energy meters.

In a notice, electrical division Dimapur executive engineer Y Akito Sema said the exercise would be carried out at various locations under Dimapur electrical division with immediate effect without further notice. Therefore, all consumers have been reminded to clear their outstanding bills and to desist from the illegal activities in order to avoid inconvenience. EE said any person using power illegally was punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years or with fine or with both.

Jwenga Seb (NP)

Dr AK Pandey (NP)

Achumbemo Kikon (NP)

NDPP Legislature Party leader with newly electd party legislators in Kohima. (NDPP)

Q.: Is fractured mandate going to be the norm for Nagaland elections?

‘World Wildlife Day’ celebrated at NZP

about t he importance of wildlife and how hunting was impacting the environment. He also stressed on the importance of management of garbage or waste.

NEXT POLL

Q: Would the outcome of the recent election, have been different if a strong opposition existed?

DIMAPUR: Environmental Information Awareness

Capacity building & livelihood Programme (EIACP)

Nagaland Pollution Control Board in collaboration with the Department of Forest, Nagaland Zoological Park organised a programme and a visit to the Nagaland Zoological Park, Chümoukedima with the Rintaniemei Neighbourhood Children’s Home and J.N Aier College on the occasion of World Wildlife Day.

The programme was

held at the Conference Hall of the director, Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar, Dimapur.

It started off with a Powerpoint presentation on wildlife by range forest officer, Watisungla Amer, wherein she stressed the importance of wildlife as it brings stability to the environment, their importance in food chains, and the threats faced by the wildlife.

In order to protect the wildlife in nature, Amer said the people can save the

EBC organises cultural programme

A short speech on the importance of the world wildlife day celebration and an opportunity to celebrate the various forms of wild fauna and fauna in the state of Nagaland, and their importance in economic, agricultural, ecological, and social impacts was shared by programme officer, EIAC, NPBC, Khriehunuo Rutsa.

habitat by not destroying the habitat, by saving the water bodies, and volunteer work.

She encouraged the people to resort to ecofriendly products by using jute bags instead of plastic bags, planting more trees, managing waste, and keeping our surroundings clean. The 5R of Solid Waste Management- Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, was also shared among the children.

J.N Aier College principal, I. Limatemjen talked

A short video on a virtual tour of Nagaland Zoological Park was shown to the children. After this, a quiz competition was organised by forester-I, Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), Vinoto K Rochill.

The programme was chaired by NZP wildlife photographer, Onenjungshi; a total number of 28 children and two guardians from Rintaniemei Neighbourhood Children’s Home and 30 final year students with two lecturers in charge from J.N Aier College along with seven staff from NPCB attended the programme. The programme ended with a visit to the zoological park.

NORTHEAST

to return home, when the first lockdown was announced in 2020. He had also arranged a flight to bring home students from Kyrgyzstan to India.

Sood said that he had been working in films for the past 18 to 20 years but “believe me, you may become part of a Rs 500-crore or Rs 1,000-crore film but that achievement won’t give you the same amount of happiness that you will experience as you bring positive changes in a person’s life”.

KOKRAJHAR, MAR 3 (PTI): Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood stated that bringing positive changes in people’s lives gives him “far more satisfaction” than being a part of any Rs1000-crore film.

Sood, who had helped lakhs of migrant workers return homes following the COVID-19 outbreak, said at the concluding day of the Bodoland Knowledge Festival here on Thursday that the pandemic has changed his approach towards life.

“I have worked in around 100 films in different languages- Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada,

GUWAHATI, MAR 3

(PTI): The BJP’s claim that it had formed governments in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura is not entirely accurate as it has negligible presence in the first two states, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a regional party, said on Friday.

The BJP contested the polls in alliance with the regional party NDPP in Nagaland and in Meghalaya, where the party fought on its own, it managed to win only two seats, AJP general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan said.

“We can safely say that the real political power still lies with the regional parties in Meghalaya and Nagaland,” he told PTI.

In Tripura, the third state where the assembly election was held last month, the BJP’s tally came down to 32 from 36 and its ally to one from eight, Bhuyan said.

The two parties fought the 2018 assembly election together and dethroned the Left Front.

On the other hand,

Marathi, Chinese and English. The films were a hit.....I got success but when COVID-19 struck, I got a chance to connect with common people.

“They were people I didn’t know, never met them before and probably will never meet again. It was only when I was able to bring some joy to their lives knowingly or unknowingly and got blessings in return, I realised what success looked and felt like,” he underlined.

The actor had booked chartered flights and buses for stranded migrant workers, who did not have means

Sood said that his relation with Assam is not new.

“When the pandemic had started, I received tweets from a lot of people from the northeast, who were stuck amid heavy rain in Mumbai.

The first chartered flight that I had he booked was for Odisha and the second for Assam.

“Many people had sent texts to say that they would come back to meet me later. Some of them did... a few of them are working with me now and some have gone on to become my friends,” he added.

The actor also urged the youth of Bodoland to work together to develop the region.

Manipur cops foil bid to kidnap driver

Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR (ASSAM), MAR 3 (PTI):

The capacity of Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, a part of Indian Oil, in Assam’s Chirang district will be expanded to five million metric tonne per annum from the existing 2.7 MMTPA, Union Minister Rameswar Teli said.

The Bodoland Territorial Council, led by Pramod Boro, has already allotted 500 bighas of land, out of the required 1,200 bighas for the expansion project, he said at the valedictory session of the first Bodoland Knowledge Festival here on Thursday.

He urged the council to allot the remaining required land so that the expansion work can be expedited.

‘’The expansion of BRPL will not only enhance the capacity of the refinery but also provide a massive employment opportunity along with economic benefits for the region,” Teli, the union minister of state for pe-

troleum, said.

An Army school at Bijni in Chirang district was under construction for which the BTR government has already allotted land and it will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 16 crore by the central government, he said.

Assam’s Numaligarh Refinery has already sanctioned Rs 1.9 crore under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Teli added.

The petroleum ministry has also initiated a survey for the installation of 10 more petrol pumps by BPCL at various places in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), he said.

The ministry will also install an LPG bottling plant at a cost of Rs 500 crore in Komardanga area of Chirang district in BTR for which the required land has been already allotted. This will create the facility for storing 10,57,352 MT gas and provide supply to adjoining districts, he said.

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Students of Eastern Bible College (EBC)

Dimapur organised an exciting cultural programme of various Naga tribes including those from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam at the 49th cultural programme held under the theme “unity in diversity” at the college campus Friday afternoon.

The programme included impressive folk dance, war-cry competition, cultural show, one voice by Metsizolie & Liyingbeni, folk song by Tenyimia students, folk drama by Sumi and Lotha students, folk dance by

Myanmar students and closing ceremony by Eastern Naga students.

Speaking on the occasion as chief guest at the programme, editor-in-chief Nagaland Post Geoffrey Yaden, called on students to go deeper into aspects of culture as it is not only what is visible but the invisible intrinsic human values. He said our forefathers highly revered cultural traditions as they embodied truth, justice and hard work. He said these were factors that made Nagas spontaneously embrace Christianity in the early days.

He urged upon bible students to imbibe inner transformation as taught in the Bible(Romans 12:2)

and syncretise them with traditional values and to that the war cry be deep within our conscience to stand steadfast against all wrongdoings and injustices in contemporary society.

Earlier the program was chaired by James Lotha and Livika S. Swu, invocation by lecturer Tsiatsshuvi Ngouri, welcome address by cultural secretary Gibeon Hongam, vote of thanks by assistant cultural secretary LikaZhimomi and benediction by principal, EBC, Rev. Dr. T.N. Lotha.

The EBC students prepared sumptuous indigenous delicacies of various tribes at the cultural feast at the college hall.

SHILLON G, MAR 3

(PTI): The Congress termed Meghalaya’s NPP seeking the support of its erstwhile partner BJP to form the next government in the state as a “paradox” after the saffron party’s central leadership described the Conrad K Sangma dispensation as one of the “most corrupt” in the country.

Congress MLA Ronny V Lyngdoh, who won from the Mylliem assembly constituency, said the opposition will continue to work with like-minded parties despite facing a defeat.

“There lies the paradox. Union Home Minister Amit Shah says that this (NPP) is the most corrupt government. How can they work with the same party?” Lyngdoh told PTI.

Addressing a poll rally in North Tura constituency, Shah had on February 16 said the Bharatiya Janata Party broke its alliance with the NPP before the elections

in M eghalaya so that it could contest all the assembly seats and emerge stronger.

The National People’s Party (NPP) emerged as the single-largest party in the state on Thursday, bagging 26 seats out of the 59 constituencies that went to polls on February 27.

As the party fell short of the magic figure of 31 in the 60-member assembly, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Sangma sought the support of Shah in forming the new government.

The United Democratic Party (UDP), which was the NPP’s ally in the Sangma government,

emerg ed as the secondlargest party, winning 11 constituencies. It had won only six seats in the 2018 polls.

The Congress and the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won five seats each, while the BJP secured two assembly segments.

“Was not the BJP part of the NPP-led government for the full five years? When you are saying that it is the most corrupt government, are you not blaming yourself? Their party was part of the alliance from the beginning to the end. If corruption was there, they are also equally to be blamed and responsible,” Lyngdoh said.

He also said that the Congress will continue to work to remove economic inequality.

“We will work with like-minded parties. We will work with parties which believe in pluralism, secularism and rule of law, uphold the Constitution and democracy,” Lyngdoh added.

the Tipra Motha, which contested for the first time in the state elections, secured 13 seats and “this speaks volumes on its popularity and success in the state”, the AJP leader pointed out.

In Nagaland, the BJP contested in 20 seats but won only 12 and it is the regional political party NDPP, which has managed to win 25 seats out of 40 to give the alliance a majority figure.

“Therefore, it is actually the NDPP that has any real influence in the state and not the BJP,” he added.

Bhuyan said in Meghalaya, BJP broke off its alliance with the ruling NPP just before the elections levelling serious charges of corruption on the Conrad Sangma-led government and decided to fight alone, managing to secure only two seats as per the latest reports.

“Thus, we can conclude that contrary to BJP’s claim of popularity and power in the Northeast, the real power here has always resided with regional political parties,” the AJP leader said.

IMPHAL, MAR 3: Manipur police claimed to have foiled an alleged attempt to kidnap a driver in Imphal East district on Thursday night.

According to police source, six gunmen allegedly whisked away Md Noor Khan (39) along with the Tata Mega Excel (MN06L 2728) while he was driving home after day’s work from Salanthong area under Heingang police station of Imphal East district at around 6.30pm.

On receiving information, a team of police commandos attached with Imphal East district police swung into action and rescued the driver, who was found hiding in the paddy fields at Chinga Tezpur along Imphal-Ukhrul road, at around 8pm.

Police recovered a .32 pistol with ammunition allegedly abandoned by the gunmen during the rescued operation.

The police quoting the rescued driver said that four of the gunmen forced him to drive along the Imphal-Ukhrul road at gunpoint with the two others on two motorbikes followed them.

Cong term NPP seeking support of BJP to form govt in Meghalaya as ‘paradox’

Helping people more satisfying than being part of Rs 1000-cr film: Sood

Bongaigaon Refinery’s capacity to be expanded

BJP claims victory of regional political parties as its own: AJP

Actor Sonu Sood attends the 1st Bodoland International Knowledge Festival. (PTI)

Ronny V Lyngdoh

Cultural performance by students at the cultural programme.

Officials and students at Nagaland Zoological Park on World Wildlife Day.

Conrad stakes claim to form government

SHILLONG, MAR 3 (PTI): National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K Sangma on Friday called on Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan and submitted to him the letter of support of 32 MLAs, while staking claim to form the government in the northeastern state.

Sangma, the outgoing chief minister, said he has the support of BJP, HSPDP and two Independent MLAs, while asserting the total tally may go up in the coming days as he is in touch with other parties as well. He said the oath-taking ceremony will take place at 11 am on March 7 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given his consent to be present on the occasion.

“I have submitted to the governor the letter of support of different parties.

In all, we have the support of 32 MLAs. Apart from NPP’s 26 legislators, two each are from the BJP and HSPDP, besides two Independent lawmakers,” Sangma said.

“All of them have signed the letter. We are

talking to some more parties and their MLAs. So, the number is likely to go up in the coming days,” he said.

The NPP supremo claimed that different parties have approached him to support the government led by his party.

He, however, said the name of the new alliance has not been decided yet.

Asked about opposition charges that HSPDP MLAs were “hijacked” by the NPP, Sangma, “Nobody has hijacked anyone. We have their full support.”

The two HSPDP MLAs who swore allegiance to the Sangma-led bloc were conspicuous in their absence in the meetings of the nonBJP, non-NPP parties.

Holding talks on new M’laya govt sans NPP, BJP: Mukul

SHILLONG, MARCH 3

(IANS): Though National People’s Party (NPP) chief Conrad Sangma has staked claim to power in Meghalaya with the BJP’s support, Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma on Friday asserted that the next government might be formed without the NPPBJP combine.

Talking to IANS, Mukul Sangma said: “We are in talks with every political party except the NPP and the BJP. All have expressed their desire to come along for the better interest of the state.”

Meghalaya post-poll violence:

Several injured, one found dead

SHILLONG, MAR 3

(PTI): Post-poll violence that erupted in at least three assembly constituencies in Meghalaya left several people injured, while one person was found dead in a mysterious circumstance, officials said on Friday.

The NPP emerged the single-largest party in Meghalaya, bagging 26 of the 59 seats that went to polls on February 27. The BJP, HSPDP and the PDF won two seats each, while two Independent candidates also emerged victorious.

The UDP, which was NPP’s ally in the Conrad K Sangma government, emerged as the second-largest party, winning 11 constituencies. The Congress and the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won five seats each.

The newly formed Voice of the People Party (VPP) won four seats, while the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and the People’s Democratic Front won two seats each.

As per the Trinamool leader, discussions are underway with Congress and other regional parties in the state like the United Democratic Party, the Hill State People’s Democratic Party, and other smaller parties.

The NPP won 26 seats, and the BJP got two. The Congress and Trinamool won five seats each, whereas UDP got 11 seats, Voice of the People Party four seats, People’s Democratic Front and Hill State People’s Democratic Party two seats each, and two independent candidates also won.

If all political parties, including two independents, barring the NPP and

BJP, come together, they can cross the magic number in the 60-member house.

“The mandate was not decisive. It was a fractured one. Therefore, we are holding discussions,” Mukul Sangma said.

Asked about the possible Chief Minister, he replied: “Right now, we are only concerned about the interests of the state. Meghalaya has witnessed large-scale corruption during the tenure of the previous government, and people do not want to see a repetition of the same in the coming years. So, Chief Minister, and the rest of the things can be decided later.”

Mukul Sangma contested from two seats. He won from Songsak where he defeated Nirhim Sirha by a narrow margin of 359 votes but lost Tikrilla seat to Jimmy D Sangma.

Record 14 women elected to Tripura, Meghalaya & Nagaland Assemblies

Sabha member from Shillong parliamentary constituency and Meghalaya state Congress president Vincent H. Pala in the Sutnga-Saipung assembly seat.

AGARTALA/SHILLONG/KOHIMA, MARCH

3 (IANS): Days ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8, good news from three northeastern states -- Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland -- that 14 women were elected to the state assemblies in the recent polls against six women legislators in the outgoing houses.

The highest number of nine women were elected to the Tripura assembly followed by three in Meghalaya and two in Nagaland.

Scripting history in 60 years of statehood, two women, Hekhani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), were for the first time elected to the Nagaland assembly from Western Angami and Dimapur-III assembly constituencies respectively.

In all 183 candidates including four women

NEW DELHI, MARCH

3 (IANS): The Assam government contended before the Supreme Court that Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera’s statement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a part of a “wider conspiracy to degrade and destabilise the nation” and also opposed his plea to club the three FIRs against him at one place.

In an affidavit, the Assam government said: “The verbal defamatory attack on a high constitutional functionary is part of a wider conspiracy to degrade and destabilise the nation.”

It added that “at the outset it is pointed out that apart from the fact that there cannot be any apology for having committed a

nominees contested the February 27 assembly elections in Nagaland.

With nine of the 31 women contestants winning, the Tripura assembly now has the highest number of women legislators since it became a fullfledged state in 1972.

In 2013, five of the 15 women contestants became lawmakers in Tripura, while three women were elected in the assembly polls in 2018.

In Meghalaya three women, the same number as in the previous election (2018), were elected in the February 27 assembly elections when 36 women fought the poll battle.

In the 2018 assembly elections, five women contested in Nagaland and none was elected while in Tripura 24 women fought and three women won. In Meghalaya 32 women tried their electoral fortunes and three were successful.

In Tripura, BJP candidates Mina Rani Sarkar

criminal offence, it is manifest that only the counsel for the petitioner has stated that the petitioner tenders an apology. The petitioner has neither tendered any apology in the petition nor has tendered any apology after this court passed an order on February 23, 2023”.

The affidavit said the submission made before the court tendering an apology clearly appears to be a tactical submission to get a preventive order without any genuine remorse or repentance. “A closer look at the available audio video clearly reveals that the petitioner has mischievously uttered sentences not only with an extreme degree of irresponsibility but reducing the level of discourse at its lowest,” it added.

(from Badharghat assembly constituency), Pratima Bhowmik (Dhanpur), Antara Sarkar Deb (Kamalasagar), Santana Chakma (Pecharthal), Swapna Majumder (Rajnagar), Swapna Das Paul (Surma), Kalyani Saha Roy (Teliamura) and Tipra Motha Party nominees Swapna Debbarma (Mandai Bazar) and Nandita Debbarma Reang (Raima Valley) were elected to the state assembly in the February 16 elections.

In Meghalaya, former state minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh and Santa Mary Shylla, both from the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and Miani D. Shira of the Trinamool Congress, were elected to the assembly.

Congress turned NPP leader Lyngdoh retained her East Shillong constituency while Shira made it to the Assembly once again from Ampati.

Shylla marked one of the biggest upsets of this election by defeating Lok

In the assembly elections in the three northeastern states, women voters’ turnout was higher than men. For the past many years, women voters have outnumbered their male counterparts in the electoral lists of several northeastern states.

Of the total 21,61,729 voters in Meghalaya, the nu mber of male voters is 10,68,801 and that of female voters is 10,92,326.

In Nagaland, the number of male voters is 6,52,938 and that of female voters is 6,55,144.

In Tripura, in seven of the 60 assembly constituencies, women voters outnumbered their male counterparts.

The number of women ministers, MPs and MLAs in several northeastern states is very less compared to their percentage in population.

Mizoram in the last 50 years saw only one minister and three MLAs with a similar situation in the other northeastern states.

Currently, there are no wome n ministers in four of the seven northeastern states -- Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

the criminal conspiracy being a distinct offence, would need to be independently investigated,” said the affidavit, opposing the transfer and clubbing of Assam FIR with the FIR at Lucknow.

Several incidents of violence were reported in Mariang constituency in Eastern West Khasi Hills, Shella in East Khasi Hills and Mokaiaw in West Jaintia Hills, where prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC were clamped, they said.

A number of vehicles parked in the compound of the deputy commissioner’s office in Mairang were set on fire, a senior district official told PTI.

“One person was also found dead in a mysterious circumstance at the place of violence,” he said.

The incident took place soon after Congress supporters had on Thursday gheraoed the DC’s office, expressing dissatisfaction over the Mairang assembly constituency results.

Meghalaya Assembly Speaker and UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh defeated his nearest rival of the Congress, Batskhem Ryntathiang, by a slender margin in Mairang. Lyngdoh was

declared re-elected from the assembly seat as he secured 19,066 votes, while the Congress nominee got 18,911 votes.

The district police fired tear gas shells to disperse the violent crowd last night, the official said.

In another incident in Sohra, supporters of the NPP hurled stones at the office of the SDO after they were disappointed with the Shella assembly constituency results.

“The situation is under control now and additional forces have been deployed,” district SP M G R Kumar said. United Democratic Party candidate Balajied Kupar Synrem won the Shella seat, defeating National People’s Party nominee Grace Mary Kharpuri by 434 votes.

In West Jaintia Hills, the district administration has imposed a curfew in Sahsniang village following a clash between two groups after the announcement of the assembly poll results on Thursday.

There is an “apprehension that the violence may spread and intensify if left unattended” and it may result in destruction of property and loss of lives, said an order issued by the local administration.

NPP chief and outgoing Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma appealed to all to maintain peace and requested leaders of all political parties not to incite their supporters in the wake of the post-poll violence in the hill state.

“I request everyone to refrain from indulging in any kind of violence,” Sangma told reporters here.

The situation in the violence-hit constituencies are “under control now”, he said, adding that no new incident has been reported in the state.

“I also request leaders of all political parties not to incite their supporters. A democratically elected government is going to be formed and peace should be there,” Sangma said.

The NPP emerged as the single-largest party in Meghalaya on Thursday, bagging 26 seats out of the 59 constituencies that went to polls on February 27.

The UDP, which was NPP’s ally in the Sangma government, emerged as the second-largest party, winning 11 constituencies. It had won only six seats in the 2018 polls. The Congress and the Mamata Banerjeeled TMC won five seats each, while the BJP secured two constituencies.

Tipra Motha: Regional party to reckon with

The number of women in many autonomous bodies of the seven northeastern states is equally depressing, if not worse.

Of the total of 466 seats in the assemblies of these northeastern states, only around 5 per cent are currently occupied by women.

Social activist and writer Nandita Datta said: “Women are deprived of sharing governance and policy making despite female voters being more than 50 per cent in the voters’ list of several northeastern states. They are also in the forefront in both domestic and societal affairs.”

“Many issues of northeast India including the drug menace would be resolved more easily if women get the appropriate political empowerment and governance,” Datta told IANS. She said that northeast India traditionally is a woman-empowered society, though the women are given very less scope in politics, governance and policy making.

“Women of the region are educated, efficient and conscious of all basic issues. We are successfully able to take care of our family, society and administration collectively. But male political leaders thought that we are not capable,” said Datta, who has received several prestigious awards for her social work.

he has further deliberately sarcastically stated that though the name is ‘Damodar Das’ but his work is similar to that of ‘Gautam Das’.”

AGARTALA, MAR 3 (PTI): New regional party Tipra Motha which fought the Tripura Assembly elections without an ally and clinched 13 seats made significant inroads into the vote share of the BJP-IPFT and the Left-Congress alliance.

The political party, floated in 2021 seeking Greater Tipraland and banking on the tribal people who dominate 20 of the 60 assembly seats, won the 13 seats of the 42 contested, polling around 19 per cent vote share.

The regional party’s candidate Subodh Deb Barma was able to defeat deputy chief minister Jishnu Dev Varma in Charilam constituency by over 850 votes . The BJP-IPFT alliance retained the state winning 33 seats in the 60-member assembly on Thursday, 10 less than the figure in 2018, but nevertheless a clear majority which will allow it to rule for five years without seeking help from the Tipra Motha.

The saffron party contested in 55 seats and won 32, three less than what it bagged in 2018. The party secured 38.97 per cent of the votes polled. The IPFT, which was affected by a factional fight, managed to emerge victorious in only one seat, while it had got eight seats five years back. Its vote share this time was a meagre 1.26 per cent.

The new party formed

normal procedure available under the Cr.P.C.”

two years back by a scion of the state’s former princely family ate into the tribal votes of both the LeftCongress alliance, which secured 14 seats, as well.

The Tipra Motha’s entry into electoral politics in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections in 2021 was marked by a landslide victory, securing 18 of the 28 seats.

“I don’t foresee a bright future for the regional party as it will be challenge for the Tipra Motha’s leadership to keep all the party MLAs within the party fold in next five years”, veteran journalist Sanjib Deb said.

Replacing Biplab Kumar Deb with Manik Saha as Chief Minister last year did “wonders for the BJP to downplay anti-incumbency”, he said.

In the 2018 assembly elections, the BJP riding on the popularity of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) won 10 ST seats for the first time in the history of state politics and its ally IPFT won eight

Regd. No. 27/23

seats ensuring the defeat of Communist regime.

Rebati Tripura, MP and state BJP vice president, said, “Although the BJP secured a simple majority in the 60- member Assembly , the party needs to work hard in the hills to strengthen the organisation. Winning in 32 seats seems a warning call for the BJP. We need to work as a team to penetrate the tribal belt in the next five years”.

Tipra Motha leader Animesh Debbarma, who won the election from Asharambar Assembly seat, claimed the party fought the election without any ally and created a history as no regional party has won so many seats in the 60-member Assembly before.

In the late eighties, Tripura Upajati Yuba Samity (TUJS) contested the election with Congress and won eight seats while the IPFT also won the same number of seats in the 2018 Assembly elections, he claimed.

“Our target was to position us as a determining factor in government formation but the BJP secured a simple majority. We did well in the elections and it will be an inspiration for regional parties in the northeast how a regional party could fight election and secure good number of seats’’, Debbarma, who is also the Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), told PTI.

Affid Avit

Date 01/03/2023

The affidavit contended that Assam FIR is wider in scope and may be treated as the leading FIR and other FIRs (two registered in UP) may be transferred and clubbed.

“It is seen that the FIR registered at Dima Hasao, Assam is qualitatively different in its scope, as compared to the FIRS at Lucknow and Varanasi. Thus, even the scope of investigation, especially

The Uttar Pradesh government, in a counter affidavit, argued that the petitioner is also seeking indulgence of the apex court to stall due investigations into deliberate utterances of defamatory words relating to one of the highest constitutional functionaries of the country.

In reference to Lucknow FIR, the affidavit said: “It was stated in the FIR that the name of the Late father of the Prime Minister has deliberately been uttered as Gautam Das by the petitioner and

It added that investigating agencies at Lucknow and Varanasi are in the process of ascertaining the truth and in that process have recorded statements of complainants and other witnesses. The investigating agencies are following due mandate of law as enshrined in the Code of Criminal Procedure as well as directions passed by the apex court in a catena of judgments, it said.

Seeking dismissal of Khera’s plea, the affidavit said, “It is submitted that the petition under Article 32 constitutes an attempt of leapfrogging the routine

On Friday, the Supreme Court extended the interim bail granted to Khera and listed the matter for further hearing on March 17.

On February 27, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Assam, and Additional Advocate General Garima Prasad, representing Uttar Pradesh, had sought time to file their response in the matter. The apex court had then extended the interim bail till March 3.

On February 23, the Supreme Court protected Khera, saying that he will be released on interim bail upon production before the magistrate in Delhi and the interim relief is till Tuesday.

I, No. G/5001971m RFN-R Yimto Yimchunger, son of Richamong Yimchunger presently serving at 2 Assam Rifles C/o 99 APO, Home address, H/No.-99, Chessore Village, Chessore Tuensang : Nagaland do hereby solemnly affirm and declare on oath as follows:

1. That I am a bonafide citizen of India.

2. That in my Service record the name of my family members were erroneously entered recorded as follows :-

(a) My mother’s name was recorded as HEJiLA instead of CHiMKiLA YiMCHUNGER DP-826/23

OffiCE Of tHE

CHÜMOUKEdiMA CiRCLE viLLAGES

YOUtH ORGANiSAtiON

Chümoukedima : Nagaland

This is to inform all the friends and well wishers that the lottery in aid of Youth Fund which was Supposed to be drawn on 04/03/2023 has been postponed due to recently held 14th NLA election and the same will be drawn on 08/04/2023.

Inconvenience is deeply regretted.

S/d S/d

david Sekhose Kevitsokho Nagi President Gen. Secy. CCVYO

SUBMITS LETTER OF SUPPORT OF 32 MLAS TO GOVERNOR

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma submits his resignation to Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan, in Shillong. (PTI)

Santa Mary Shylla Ampareen Lyngdoh Minarani Sarkar

Pawan Khera

Conrad Sangma

Pradyot Deb Barrma

‘Todegrade,destabilisenation’:AssamgovttoSConKhera’scommentonPM

9 WOMEN WERE ELECTED TO THE TRIPURA ASSEMBLY FOLLOWED BY 3 IN MEGHALAYA AND 2 IN NAGALAND

SNIPPETS

Witchcraft practiced in school in Surat

SURAT, MAR 3 (IANS):

In a shocking incident, witchcraft was practiced in a government-funded residential school in Surat to treat a girl student who was unwell. As soon as the reports about the incident spread, the state government on Thursday evening directed tribal development commissioner to inquire into the matter.

According to sources, a student of Vatsalya Kanya

Asram Sala at Madhi village, a vocational training residential school for tribal girls, fell ill, however, instead of taking her to a doctor, hostel warden called an occult practitioner who carried out witchcraft on all 140 girls of the institution.

Hijab not allowed during exams: K’taka

Education Minister

BENGALURU, MAR 3 (IANS): Karnataka

Education Minister B.C.

Nagesh on Friday asserted that students wearing hijab will not be allowed inside the examination centres. The II PUC (class 12) examinations are set to begin from March 9 in the state. Speaking to reporters he maintained that it has been clarified that all students should attend exams wearing uniforms. Hijab is not part of it.

Those who want to write exams wearing hijab won’t be allowed into the examination hall, he added. Minister Nagesh further claimed that there is an increase in the number of Muslim students who appeared for the examinations after the hijab ban.

“After hijab ban, more number of Muslim sisters appeared for examinations and the enrolment of Muslim girl students has increased,” he added.

Body with multiple stab wounds found

THANE, MAR 3 (PTI):

The body of a 33-yearold woman with multiple stab wounds was found in her hut at Kalwa in Maharashtra’s Thane city, police said on Friday. The body was found on Thursday evening in Jai Bhim Nagar locality, they said.

The deceased woman was identified as Kamlibai Pawar and her body was sent for post-mortem, the police said.

Nigerian held with drugs worth Rs. 58.74L

PALGHAR, MAR 3 (PTI): Police officials have arrested a Nigerian national and seized from him drugs worth Rs 58.74 lakh in Palghar district of Maharashtra, an official said on Thursday. Senior inspector Shailendra Nagarkar of the Tulinj police station said acting on a tip-off, a team of the Crime Detection Cell laid a trap and nabbed the accused, Ide Imannual Ide Paul, 26, on Wednesday after chasing him for some distance in the Pragati Nagar area. After his search on the spot and later that of his residence, different drugs, including cocaine, worth Rs 58.74 lakh were recovered, he said.

7 arrested, sex racket busted in Noida NOIDA, MAR 3 (IANS):

The Kotwali Sector 39 police along with the AntiHuman Tracking Unit of Noida police arrested 7 people including a woman in connection with a flesh trade being run from a rented house in Noida’s Salarpur village. Two girls have been rescued from their captivity. The officials raided the place on Thursday night. The kingpin, Mala Devi, had been running the racket along with her associate, who has been identified as Manpreet from a rented accommodation in Salarpur.

Quad FMs, wary of China’s might in Indo-Pacific

NEW DELHI, MAR 3 (AP): The top diplomats of Australia, India, Japan and the United States said Friday their Indo-Pacificfocused bloc is not aimed at countering China but released a statement filled with buzzwords and phrases that reflect growing unease over China’s influence in the region.

Meeting in New Delhi, the four foreign ministers barely mentioned China by name and insisted that the so-called “Quad” group is designed to boost their own national interests and improve those of others through enhanced cooperation in non-military areas.

Yet their comments at a joint public event and the written statement made clear the grouping exists to be an alternative to China with repeated references to the importance of democracy, rule of law, maritime security and the peaceful settlement of disputes, all of which Beijing regards with suspicion when coming from Quad members.

“We strongly support the principles of freedom, rule of law, sovereignty and

territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to threat or use of force and freedom of navigation and overflight, and oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo, all of which are essential to the peace, stability and prosperity of the IndoPacific region and beyond,” the ministers said in the statement.

A year into Ukraine war, bodies dug up in once occupied town

Two Americans arrested on charges of selling aviation tech to Russia US to send more ammo, folding armored bridges to Ukraine

‘Attacks’ on Bihar migrants in Tamil Nadu

Nitish to send senior officials toTNtoprobe

PATNA, MAR 3 (PTI):

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday decided to send a team of senior state government officials to Tamil Nadu for looking into allegations of attacks on migrants, which snowballed into a major issue notwithstanding vehement denials by the southern state.

Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Vijay Kumar Sinha, after a meeting with the CM, claimed that the state government has agreed to a proposal to also send an all-party delegation to the southern state on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, it was decided that the team will include officials from the police department while the Chief Secretary and the DGP here have been directed “to keep a constant watch” on the situation in Tamil Nadu. “The government is fully sensitive towards the matter,” asserted the statement. According to highly placed sources, the team is

China slams Quad meeting; opposes ‘exclusionary blocs’

features, the dangerous use of coast guard vessels and maritime militia, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities.”

China has been accused of doing all three.

In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the Quad, saying that “cooperation among countries should conform to the trend of the times for peace and development and should not engage in exclusive cliques.”

Russia, which have blocked actions at the U.N. Security Council and other institutions on matters ranging from Ukraine to Myanmar, North Korea, trade, technology and health, the Quad foreign ministers said they “are committed to cooperate to address attempts to unilaterally subvert the U.N. and international system.”

over increasing Chinese assertiveness in the strategically-vital region.

Kremlin accuses Ukrainian saboteurs of attack inside Russia

In a direct shot at China, which has become increasingly aggressive in the Pacific and has alarmed its smaller neighbors by pushing claims to disputed maritime zones, the ministers said they viewed with concern “challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas.”

“We strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo or increase tensions in the area,” they said. “We express serious concern at the militarization of disputed

“We hope the countries concerned will do something that is conducive to enhancing the security and mutual trust of regional countries and to maintaining regional peace and stability,” ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, accused the United States of “trying to militarize Quad,” an accusation also often made by Beijing that America is trying to set up a new NATO-style alliance in Asia to counter China in the region.

In an oblique reference to China, as well as

scheduled to leave on Saturday and likely to comprise four officials, two of them with roots in Tamil Nadu which will enable them to get “internal feedback”, cutting through the barriers posed by language. The move came even as Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, while speaking in the state assembly earlier in the day, sought to go by the version of the Tamil Nadu DGP who has rubbished reports of attacks on Hindi-speaking people in that state.

Yadav, incidentally, has also faced flak from the opposition BJP in Bihar for having visited Tamil Nadu amid the crisis to attend a function organised on the occasion of the birthday of M K Stalin, the Chief Minister of the southern state.

Stalin heads the DMK, which like Yadav’s RJD is an alliance partner of the Congress and the Left.

The BJP was predictably dissatisfied with the stance adopted by Yadav and its members staged a walkout soon after Yadav finished speaking.

During lunch hour, BJP legislators from both Houses met the chief minister and Sinha, the LoP, spoke to journalists after the meeting.

And just a day after China and Russia thwarted the Group of 20 largest industrialized and developing nations from adopting a joint communique on Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Quad specifically endorsed language to which Beijing and Moscow objected. That included a line that said, “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.”

“We underscored the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, including the U.N. Charter,” they added, repeating another line China and Russia refused to agree to at Thursday’s G-20 foreign ministers’ meeting, which was also held in the Indian capital.

‘130 cr people pray for PM Modi’s long life’: Amit Shah jabs Congress, AAP

BIDAR, KARNATAKA, MAR 3 (AGENCIES):

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday lashed out at Congress and Aam Aadmi Party for objectionable slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said that their prayers would not be heard as the people of the country are praying for his long life, reports ANI.

“Congress is not left with any source of winning. The level of Congress is falling day by day under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. These people are raising slogans ‘Modi teri kabar khudegi’ and AAP says ‘Modi Tu Mar Ja’. God will not listen to you because 130 crore people are praying for PM Modi’s long life,” Amit Shah said while addressing a public meeting in poll-bound Karnataka, while further asking if people should vote for such a party.

Congress leaders were heard chanting slogans against the Prime Minister at the Delhi airport on February 23 when Pawan Khera deboarded from the flight.

Naming Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar and former state chief minister Siddaramaiah, Amit Shah said that the leaders would not suc-

NIA attaches property of Hizbul terrorist in J&K’s Sopore town

ceed no matter how much they “abuse” the Prime Minister.

“Congress, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar should hear, whatever message Rahul Gandhi might have given you, the more you throw mud, the more the lotus will bloom. It is the nature of lotus to spread fragrance amid mud. No matter how much you abuse PM Modi, you won’t succeed,” he said.

Further taking potshots at JDS and Congress, which are allies in Karnataka, the Home Minister said that they are only fulfilling their “selfish motives”.

“JDS and Congress, both are ‘Family Parties’. They never can think about the welfare of people. They are inclined towards just fulfilling their selfish motives. Modi govt’s PFI ban was a good decision. And

our double-engine government has been working with the double-speed. Congress and JDS, on the other hand, have never ensured development in Karnataka,” he said. Shah accused Siddaramaiah of promoting corruption and said that the Congress leader was an ATM for a “family residing in Delhi”.

BEIJING, MAR 3 (PTI):

China on Friday renewed its criticism of the Quad grouping comprising the US, India, Australia and Japan, saying that state-tostate cooperation should be consistent with the trend of peace and development, rather than putting up “exclusionary blocs.”

The Quad foreign ministers carried out a comprehensive review of the situation in the Indo-Pacific at a meeting in New Delhi on Friday. Presided over by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australian foreign minister Penny Wong.

The meeting came against the backdrop of growing global concerns

A joint statement issued after the meeting reaffirmed the four-nation grouping’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and said it strongly supports the principles of rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity and peaceful settlement of disputes.

Responding to the Quad statement at a media briefing here, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China has stated its position on QUAD on multiple occasions.

“We believe that stateto-state cooperation needs to be consistent with the trend of peace and development, rather than be about putting up exclusionary blocs,” she said. “We hope certain countries can do more things that contribute to security and mutual trust between regional countries and that help to maintain regional peace and stability,” Mao said, reaffirming Beijing’s oft-repeated opposition to the Quad that it is an exclusive bloc aimed at containing China’s rise.

NIA officials put up a notice for attachment of the properties of Basit Ahmad Reshi, in Jammu and Kashmir, Friday. (PTI)

SRINAGAR, MAR 3 (IANS/PTI): National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached the property of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, Basit Reshi in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore town. The NIA action against Basit Reshi comes a day after the agency attached the property of Al-Umar terror group founder, Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar in Srinagar city.

The Ministry of Home Affairs recently declared Basit Reshi, presently in

Pakistan, as a ‘designated terrorist’ under the unlawful activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for his involvement in ‘subversive activities and for coordinating target killings’. NIA attached the property of Basit Reshi in Dangerpora area of Sopore town. The agency claims that Reshi planned and executed an attack on a police guard post at Tujar Sherief near Sopore on August 18, 2015 in which one police personnel and a civilian were killed.

NIA attaches assets worth over Rs 20 cr in Jharkhand: Striking a blow to a funding source of leftwing extremism, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached 152 bank accounts and special term deposit receipts and a mutual fund account containing more than Rs 20 crore belonging to a firm and its different partners. This is the largest-ever amount attached by the federal agency in cases pertaining to the left-wing extremism, an official of the agency said. A total of 152 bank accounts, including 124 special term deposit receipts, and one SBI Mutual Fund account containing more than Rs 20.65 crore belonging to M/s Santosh Construction and its different partners were attached under the UAPA, a spokesperson of NIA said. The official said these accounts had earlier been frozen under the provisions of the CrPC but have been found to be “proceeds of terrorism” during investigations warranting their “attachment” under the UAPA.

Mao Ning

Amit Shah

Antony Blinken, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Penny Wong and S. Jaishankar in New Delhi Friday. (AP)

A tale of two parties

After results of the February 2023 assembly elections were declared on March 2, the outcome was neither surprising nor unexpected for various reasons. In Nagaland the NDPP-BJP alliance managed to obtain a huge majority of 37 seats in a house of 60. At one point of time during the election, the two allies were literally indulging in proxy war in the numbers game. It became an open secret that many disappointed ticket aspirants from NDPP as well as BJP were advised by the patrons of the parties, to as NCP or LJP(RV) or NPP candidates. The NCP headed by Sharad Pawar is against BJP while LJP(RV)on the other hand, is a national ally of the BJP at the centre. Even if the two parties have opposite leanings, in Nagaland it wouldn’t matter since power knows no boundary. This happened in 2015 when Congress joined a coalition with BJP as a partner in Nagaland. In the recent election, the party contested 23 seats but drew a blank. Even in 2018 Congress drew a blank in the 18 constituencies it contested. Congress vote share has been dropping since 2003 and this is a serious issue which the party needs to address, if it wants to remain relevant. In Meghalaya National People’s Party (NPP) emerged as the single-largest party, winning 26 of the 57 it contested with a vote share of 31.49%. The BJP, which contested all 60 assembly constituencies had brought star campaigners, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief J P Nadda and Shah, but managed to win only two seats with a vote share of 9.33%. The TMC contested 56 seats and won 5 with a vote share of 13.78. TMC had no MLA in the previous house. The Congress contested all 60 seats(like the BJP) in a leap of faith but could win only 5 seats and a vote share of 13.14%, marginally lesser than the poacher of its MLAs, the TMC(13.78%). The Congress fielded new faces and it worked but only to the extent of winning 5 seats. If the Congress continues to work hard it can do better in the next assembly election in 2028. The TMC had predicted it would strike gold in Meghalaya when 12 Congress MLAs led by their leader and former chief minister Mukuk Sangma joined the party. Unfortunately, the voters in Meghalaya are not prepared to accept a West Bengal –based and centric party. The NPP has not yet called on the United Democratic Party(UDP) with which it had an alliance. The UPD contested 46 seats and won 11 with a vote share of 16.21%.

The other regional party HSPDP with which NPP is already talking for a post poll coalition won two seats and a vote share of 3.56% out of 11 it contested. The People’s Democratic Front(PDF) which contested nine seats won two with a vote share of 1.88%.

Two independent candidates also won election this time. In Meghalaya the BJP has been rejected by the people and can only fight election with help of local parties. This is amplified in Nagaland where the local parties have been the BJP’s biggest and best bet to rise. In Meghalaya the BJP is not ascending despite huge potential while in Nagaland it is gaining ground not due to its ideology but because it is in power at the Centre.

DailyDevotion

His Commission to Us

Feed My sheep. —John 21:17

This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father?

He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).

Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— “Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ‘Feed My sheep.’ ” Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God.

Quotes

On a budget day, there has been a lot of discussion about increasing rebate limit. Profits/incomes are increasing at a slower pace in comparison to continuous increase in cost of goods, while government’s overriding concern is to reduce inflation. As the inflation rate surges globally, middle-income families find it increasingly difficult to cope up with their aspirations and goals.

However, homemakers are very much concerned about, how to manage financial situation. Besides creating a monthly budget and emergency fund, it’s always advisable to save at least 20% of income and for liability; person should have term insurance coverage, while debts are to be paid as soon as possible. PPF/SSA is good saving option as its interest/maturity amount is tax-free and it’s wise to save early for a longer period of time to see the magic of wonder from

Deductions, Exemptions & Tax Slabs

compound interest. Union Budget 2023 had announced to what everyone was waiting for personal income tax with proposals for rationalization of tax structure to benefit hard-working middle class, which is expected to raise disposable income and transition to the New Tax Regime with minimal exemptions and simpler/lower tax slabs. Ironically, many tax payers were reluctant to opt for the existing new tax regime since FY 2020-21 as most of the deductions and exemptions were not available. However, the recent change in this budget has made this option more lucrative.

The rebate limit now enhances to Rs. 7 lakh from Rs 5 lakh in the new tax regime (proposed). The number of slabs reduces to 5 and rates are revised, however basic exemption limit fixes at Rs. 3 lakh from Rs. 2.5 lakh. For every 2.5 lakh income increment, tax rate increment was 5%, whereas

for each 3 lakh income increment, the tax rate increment would be 5% and there won’t be any 25% slab rate. New tax regime becomes the default option. The highest surcharge rate capped at 25% instead of 37% and gives exemptions on leave encashment on retirement for non-government salaried employees to Rs. 25 lakh.

The enhancement also signifies not to invest anything to claim exemptions except the following. Tax payers are eligible for deductions from Employer contribution to NPS [section 80CCD(2)], deductions for new employment creation [section 80JJAA], standard deduction of Rs. 50,000 [section 16(IA)], family pension deduction of Rs. 15,000 [section 57] and contribution to Agniveer Corpus Fund [section 80CCH] under the revised new scheme. However, all deductions from section 80C-80U [except 80CCD(2) and 80JJAA], housing loan interest, HRA

exemption, LTA exemption and professional tax etc. are ineligible now. New scheme seems certainly more lucrative for the tax payers who are either reluctant to invest specified schemes to become eligible for deductions or don’t want to invest at all. But who are already covered under old regime and opting-in to choose new regime, a comparative analysis of the tax liability is required before choosing the right scheme. Switchover scheme is possible only once in a lifetime, while tax payers can shift every year as long as their income do not consists from either business or profession.

As the FY (Financial Year) concludes by 31st March, assesses is liable to pay taxes against any kind of income earned or any losses incurred for a particular AY (Assessment Year) under the Income Tax Act, 1961. A four-month window extends for every

AY to the non-audit cases and tax paying individuals to consolidate their income details for the relevant FY and file ITR on or before 31st July and 31st September for audit cases. A form in which taxpayers declare their income details; tax payable on their income, exemptions and deductions for a particular FY is known as an ITR (income tax return).

However, missing the ITR deadline has legal consequences as per Section 234F for maximum penalty of Rs. 5000 (Rs. 1000 for total income below Rs. 5 Lakh) and may subject to tough imprisonment. Apart from the penalty, interest will be charged under Section 234A at 1% per month or part thereof on tax due until the payment of taxes.

Not everyone needs to file ITR mandatorily other than income exceeding the basic exemption limit of Rs 2.5 lakhs (Rs 3 lakh for senior citizens, Rs 5 lakh for super senior citizens, and Rs. 7

lakh from FY 2023-24) or other conditions specified under Section 139(1) are met. As deadline nears, it’s time to gather statements such as Form 16 (salary income), Form 16A (other income), interest earned from savings account and other tax saving investments / exemptions from banks / treasuries / employers. Form 16 is a certificate issued by employers to their employees that reflects a detailed summary of total salary and TDS that has been deducted at source and remitted with the government exchequer. Form ITR-1 or Sahaj is largely used by the salaried class of taxpayers. ITR-V is used for acknowledgement of filing ITR along with net banking, ATM and Aadhaar link, once it is submitted. Senior citizens above 75 years can get full exemption from ITR filing. Let’s file ITR at the earliest to avoid last minute rush.

Kamal Baruah

Global indignation over saudi development plans

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to build a large cubeshaped structure as part of a re-development project in the capital, Riyadh, triggering angry reactions from Muslims on social media, saying it resembles the Kaabah. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) announced the launch of the New Murabba Development Company, last week. The new company will oversee developing a new downtown area spread over 19 sq. km. in capital Riyadh Authorities claim that plans have been created keeping sustainability and environment in mind. The project would include green spaces, walking and cycling pathways, to improve the quality of life by encouraging active, healthy lives and social interaction.

What is Mukaab?

The main feature of the project has been named The Mukaab, a gigantic cube structure has been described as the future ‘face of the city’, and critics say it may even be the face of a new Saudi Arabia, focussing and generating more revenue through tourism than petroleum. At present, the plan is to fill the cube with 100,000 residential units as well as 9,000 hotel rooms. In addition, it will also have over 80 entertainment

and cultural venues. A renowned museum, and a campus for a technology and design university. The 19 km space will accommodate thousands of people. The 25 million sq.mt. floor area is divided strategically into 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms & 620,000 sq.mt. of leisure assets. Additional 980,000 sq.mts. will be covered by retail and 1.8 million sq.mt. will be dedicated to recreational facilities. The building, will be 20 times bigger than the New York City’s Empire State Building, and will be a one-stop location for shoppers and business owners, with more than 980,000 square metres of retail shops and 1.4 million square metres of office space. The Mukaab’s core structure will be an atrium, allowing for tons of natural light and foliage to thrive inside. The government brief promises an immersive ‘gateway into another world’ that is completely powered by the latest digital, virtual, and holographic technologies.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia’s abundance of oil money has sparked the design of some absolutely insane architectural projects. In 2021, MbS announced his $500 billion futuristic Neom city in the northwest of the country, with promises of robot maids, flying

taxis, and a giant artificial moon. And last year, he unveiled a giant linear city, The Line, which aims to stretch over 106 miles and house 9 million people. The one-trilliondollar project will essentially be its own massive city in the middle of a desert once it’s finished. A New Kaabah?

Authorities claim that the project will add 180 billion riyals ($48 bn) to the Saudi economy and “create 334,000 direct and indirect jobs,” though the cost of the gargantuan project has not been mentioned. New Murabba (square) and The Mukaab were widely ridiculed by social media users, both within and outside Saudi Arabia, apart from a large number of Muslims all across the globe, as soon as the plans were announced. The Mukaab was also denounced for its likeness to the most important cube-like structure in Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world: the Kaabah. During Namaaz Muslims around the world face towards the structure in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and circumambulate it during Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Though one would have expected a much more vociferous outcry from the clerics in Saudi Arabia, but it has not happened as they can’t unyoke clutches of the

ruling dispensation and have lost free voice and expression.In India, the All India Shia Personal Law Board has condemned the project.

In a statement, general secretary of the Board Maulana Yasoob Abbas said the Saudi government was deeply hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims across the globe by building a structure that resembles the Kabaah which is the holiest sites of Islam. Maulana Abbas said a massive movement would be launched to oppose this project. The first protest will be held at the Imambara in Lucknow on 5 March.

Why this new developmental push?

Apparently it seems that Saudi Arabia, has embarked on an ambitious project to diversify the economy away from oil and shed its image as a conservative, closed-off state. Besides promoting new narratives of development and progress. Additionally, it has serious regional competition from neighbouring Dubai and the Qatari capital Doha, both of which have for decades tried to position themselves as regional tourism and investment hubs. The kingdom already has an $800 billion plan to double the size of the capital in the next decade, as well as transform it into a cultural and economic

hub for the region, according to Saudi media.

Over the years Saudi Arabia, which has seen an economic boom and a desert country transformed into a modern developing country was essentially based on the petroleum industry. In addition it earns billions in revenues through the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages. In recent years, it has made travel to the kingdom friendlier for the pilgrims and expansion plans in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah are underway to accommodate more number of tourists.

As a strategy it also is promoting the Umrah pilgrimage more than the annual Hajj, as the revenues through Umrah pilgrims flows throughout the year and the government is not forced to spend more on providing facilities and security to the Umrah pilgrims, whose stay is much shorter as compared to the Hajj pilgrims. So far, the government was focussing more on promoting tourism, but with the ascension of MbS, it seems to have changed tracks. As his critics say he is pursuing a growth plan which seems more unIslamic than his parleys with the Israelis.

Asad Mirza

The writer is a political commentator based in New Delhi.

Take life as rare gift for promoting the general good

The Hindu spiritual thought resting on two fundamentalstheory of Karma and concept of Rebirth - calls for pursuit of righteous action with dedication without getting deterred by the fear of ‘failure’ in regard to its results and generally defines the mission of life in terms of devotion to duty towards all including the ‘self’, practice of honesty and remembrance of the supreme power of God. It is remarkable that it commends non-attachment towards ‘material’ things on one hand and treats the striving for ‘legitimate’ means of earning money at par with Dharma, on the other.

The idea of ‘rebirth’ or the ‘cycle of births’ may be in contrast to the interpretation of science that human beings were the culmination of a process of evolution propelled by ‘natural selection’ and that the body of all living beings was a machinery that one day ‘stops’ working, marking its end. It is also different from the prescription of many religions that the dead would wait for the Judgement Day and then would spend the last spell of their ‘only life’, in heaven or the hell, on a balance of their good and bad deeds.

Hindu philosophy provides some comfort on the unsettling mystery of what happened after death through an appealing idea of the individual redeeming oneself in another birth in case the given life turned out to be not totally flawless.

The spell of retribution or heavenly reward went with that particular birth

as the ‘soul’ - the ultimate identity of the individual - moved towards the final goal of liberation from the trap of rebirth. All faiths gave primacy to a life lived with honesty and conscious abstinence from sins that also served the purpose of establishing a bench mark in socio-cultural conduct.

The underlying message of any religion is to emphasise the importance of ‘the present life’ gifted by nature in a limited timeframe, to be spent in ‘happiness’ and steered clear of socially mandated ‘misdeeds’ committed consciously - even the man-made code of punishment did not count something done unknowingly.

For both spiritual and temporal reasons the best one can do is to live an active and purposeful life without being pulled down by the saddening thought of having to ‘leave everything behind’.

This great commonality of purpose of human existence across beliefs, communities and geographical boundaries should be the best guarantee for global peace but it so happens that religion is either pushed back to a degree where it became inconsequential in determining the socio-cultural outlook of the person or is made, on the other hand, a symbol of national or political identity that only caused international and communal disputes.

Respect for all religions presumes that there will be no declared ‘supremacist’ element in a faith or promotion of a kind of ‘exclusivism’ that led to a ‘rejectionist’ attitude towards others.

If there is ‘One God’, then it also means ‘the same God’, whatever be the name given to ‘Him’ and the mode of worship adopted by the faithful. Conflict between communities can arise when this is not accepted and on a wider level between nations when they chose to be governed on an exclusivist religious identity.

Today, global security is threatened by faith-based terrorism that advanced a ‘political cause’ using religion as an instrument and advocating ‘superiority’ of a faith for driving the ‘motivation’ behind it.

During the G20 at Bali an inter-faith conference led by Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation, Nadwatul Ulema, clearly disapproved of extremism and ‘radicalisation’ - this stand has to be carried forward for isolating those forces which were instigating violence in the name of Jehad. This is a threat to the democratic world as a whole. Faith represents a personal relationship between man and his God and it need not come in the way of all citizens of a country upholding the ‘national culture’ and feeling proud about it. Entry of religious separatism in national and international politics is a great cause for concern as it negates all that religion was expected to do for human goodwill and world peace.

A w ider meaning of religion as something that provided the impetus for leading a life of personal and social morality needs to be restored everywhere for making the world a better

place. India’s motto ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ for its G20 Presidency is ideally suited for this.

Regardless of spiritual theories on life after death, all religions give prime importance to the present life and call for an idealism about seeking the best outcome of it for the individual - and for the society at large.

The thought that this life is all that you had, is sure to add positivity to one’s approach to the available span and left to himself man - at the apex of ‘evolution of species’ - is gifted with enough ‘wisdom’ to put him on the side of good deeds that took note of fellow human beings as well.

Democracy perhaps comes out of a churning of ideas on a bigger scale on how best a state could help and facilitate the growth of an individual who had freedom of right to worship as well. There is a lesson in this for the democratic world to unite to counter the forces that used faith-based militancy for their political advancement. The thought of its combined security should come to the democratic world even before the matter of economic cooperation was given its due attention.

India as a major power of global South - more so as the leader in South Asiamust consider both global security and international economic relations during the G20 Presidency and get the forums formed in that connection, particularly Think 20 and Civil 20, to deliberate on this challenge.

India is ideally placed to show light to the world

- beyond the political and economic spheres - on how to improve the human life, promote brotherhood on a cultural - not religiousbase and take to the path of renunciation of armed conflicts. ‘Covert warfare’ is a new phenomenon that represents a common challenge for the democratic order all over the world - its leading protagonists are Pakistan and China, working in cahoot to use Terrorism as a weapon for furthering their interest. Countering this should be an important mission of G20 as the world could be getting pushed towards a religion-based ‘war’ precipitated by Pakistan with the Marxist dictatorship of China watching it as a spectator and looking out for its own gains in it.

In the Indian context, values of a nationhood shared by all citizens regardless of their faith and mode of worship, have to be promoted in various ways, among students, work force and those handling the tasks of governance.

Equality of opportunity and protection of the state, can be firmly established through elimination of corruption at all levels, public-service orientation of the police and an affirmation secured from all players in public life that national security will be kept above party politics.

‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ appropriately, is India’s call to the world to unite for a higher human cause.

India should project the danger of faith-based militancy as a threat to human rights and to the

d emocratic content of a state run on the principle of ‘one man one vote’. All democratic countries of the region and those beyond must cooperate in countering the new global terror that was disrupting economic development and growth required for improving the lot of the common people. Apart from putting down terrorists behind the ‘covert’ violence through Intelligence-based operations of Army and the police, there should be an organised effort to spread public awareness against terrorism and closer exchange of information among the democratic countries affected by the same.

G20 should deal with this problem at the global and regional levels and expose the hidden hands of all those who were fomenting it themselves or conniving with the terror sponsors for their vested political interest.

India as the biggest victim of cross border terrorism has the right to lead this campaign during its G20 Presidency since this is as important as cooperation for economic development, climate security and technology. It is a matter of great satisfaction that our leadership at the top is fully cognisant of the total world scene and is already setting off the process of deep examination of all relevant aspects of it through specially created bodies of experts, for taking the mission of G20 forward.

D.C. Pathak

(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views expressed are personal)

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci

SNIPPETS

Six dead in road accident in Faridabad

FARIDABAD (HARY-

ANA), MAR 3 (PTI): Six people died when a speeding dumper rammed a car on the Faridabad-Gurugram road here, police said on Friday. The accident took place late Thursday night near the Mangar police post, they said. The victims were residents of Palwal who were coming to Faridabad from Gurugram in the Maruti Alto car after attending a party, the police said, adding that all six died on the spot.

Woman loses over Rs 21 lakh in fraud

HAMIRPUR, MAR 3

(PTI): A woman here was allegedly duped of over Rs 21 lakh by online fraudsters on the pretext of providing her with a franchise of a company, police said on Friday. Monica, a resident of Hamirpur’s Dalchera, in her complaint said that in February she a Noida-based company’s manager to get a franchise of the business after seeing their advertisement on Facebook. A meeting was held on a video call and a deal was finalised to give the franchise of the company to the victim.

Man shot dead by daughter-in-law’s

family in UP

MUZAFFARNAGAR

(UP), MAR 3 (PTI): A 60-year-old man was allegedly shot dead by his daughter-in-law’s family here, police said on Friday. The incident happened in Rasulpur village under Miranpur police station on Wednesday, they said, adding the deceased has been identified as Omkar Singh Gujjar. According to a complaint filed by Gujjar’s son Sachin, the seven family members of his sister-in-law entered his house and shot dead his father.

1 held for abduction, attempt to rape a minor

HOSHIARPUR (PUNJAB), MAR 3 (PTI): A 46-year-old man has been arrested here on charges of kidnapping and attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl, police said on Friday. Station House Officer (SHO) of Sadar police station, Hoshiarpur, Sub-Inspector

Baljinder Singh said accused Harpal Singh, alias Raju, kidnapped the minor on Thursday while she was walking towards her school.

Man held for printing

fake currency notes

MUMBAI, MAR 3 (PTI):

Police have arrested a man for allegedly printing fake Indian currency notes at his house in Jalgaon district of north Maharashtra, and their probe has revealed that he learnt to make counterfeit bills through YouTube videos, an official said on Friday.

The accused had set up the printing unit at his residence located in Kusumba village in Jalgaon, around 410 kms from here, he said.

Elderly man dies in Mumbai local train

THANE, MAR 3 (PTI):

A 65-year-old man died inside the luggage compartment of a Mumbaibound local after he was allegedly manhandled and pushed by a co-passenger following a tiff during the train journey that started from Titwala station in Thane district, police said on Friday.

Truck rams into bus

in Haryana, 8 killed

AMBALA, MAR 3 (PTI):

Eight people were killed and around 15 injured on Friday when a truck rammed into a bus near village Kakkar Majra in this district, police said. The incident took place on the Panchkula–Yamunanagar National Highway near village Kakkar Majra

Rs 6 crore unaccounted cash recovered from BJP MLA’s son’s house in Bengaluru

In the FIR that has been registered, Virupakshappa is the accused number one and his son is the second accused. Within hours of the trap, a team of Lokayukta officials raided his house and recovered the unaccounted cash.

Prashanth was allegedly receiving ‘first installment’ of the bribe on behalf of his father, according to Lokayukta sources.

BENGALURU, MAR 3

(PTI): Lokayukta sleuths recovered unaccounted cash of more than Rs six crore from the house of BJP MLA

K Madal Virupakshappa’s son Prashanth Madal close on the heels of his arrest for allegedly accepting a bribe of

Rs 40 lakh.

Prashanth, the chief accountant of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, was caught red-handed on Thursday evening while accepting the bribe from a contractor at the Karnataka Soap and Detergents

AAP to conduct nukkad sabhas to inform about

NEW DELHI, MAR 2

(PTI): The AAP will be conducting 2,500 nukkad sabhas across Delhi to reach out to people and inform them about BJP’s “authoritarianism”, following the arrest of its senior leader and former minister Manish Sisodia by the CBI in the excise policy case.

BJP’s ‘authoritarianism’

Minister Narendra Modi has “adopted an authoritarian approach and arrested the country’s best education minister Manish Sisodia and also misused the central agencies to keep Satyendar Jain in jail”.

Limited (KSDL) office. The MLA is the Chairman of KSDL, makers of ‘Mysore Sandal’ soap. The incident is seen as an embarrassment to the ruling BJP in Karnataka, where Assembly elections are due by May.

PM’s statement on BJP coming to power in Kerala kicks up debate

owing to the alleged harassment they are facing at the hands of the Sangh Parivar.

Earlier in the day, the Congress, CPI(M) and the IUML, said that the PM’s statement was a “dream” and that it was made without being conscious of the ground reality in the state.

Facing the heat, Virupakshappa, MLA from Channagiri constituency in Davangere district, today tendered his resignation from the post. In his resignation letter to the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, he said there is no “relation” between him and the Lokayukta raid which he termed as a ‘conspiracy’ against him and his family.

On Thursday, an organisational meeting was chaired by Delhi state convenor Gopal Rai and the state unit decided to organise mohalla sabhas and nukkad sabhas to reach out to the residents and inform them “about the misuse of central agencies by the Modi government”, the AAP said in a statement. Rai said on March 3, a volunteer meeting will be held in all 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi to “expose” the BJP.

Subsequently, on March 4, the party will hold

Arvind Kejriwal

mohalla sabhas at the state level and on March 6 and 7, meetings will be organised in every polling station of Delhi. Eventually on March 10, nukkad sabhas will be organised in every neighbourhood of Delhi to reach out to the residents. “The AAP will hold mohalla sabhas in more than 2,500 neighbourhoods of Delhi, where the people will be informed about the BJP’s authoritarianism,” the statement said.

Rai, who is also the environment minister in the city government, said Prime

“On Wednesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with all the MLAs and councillors and asked them to reach out to the people and inform them of the truth of the case. It was decided at the meeting that every plot and conspiracy of the BJP will be given a strong answer. “We will organise nukkad sabhas in every neighbourhood of Delhi and reveal to the people the conspiracy organised by the prime minister to stop the Aam Aadmi Party. Our leaders have been arrested for these reasons and we will inform the people about it,” he said.

Remarks against PM: SC extends interim bail to Khera

NEW DELHI, MAR 3

(PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday extended till March 17 the interim bail granted to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case related to alleged objectionable remarks he made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Assam Police had arrested Khera in the case.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAR 3 (PTI)

The Prime Minister’s claim that the BJP-led alliance will capture power in Kerala has kicked up a debate in the southern state with the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress on Friday terming it as a “dream”, which will never come true and the saffron party asserting that Narendra Modi’s wish will be fulfilled with the people’s support.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said that BJP will not gain power here as the people are against communal forces.

BJP’s Kerala state unit chief K Surendran, on the other hand, vowed that the

party will make all possible efforts to make the PM’s “wish or direction” come true.

He said that the “double engine of development” has to come to Kerala and added “we will bring it here”.

Buoyed by his party’s poll performance in three minority dominated northeastern states, Modi on Thursday said that BJP’s alliance will form government in Kerala too in view of the increasing support of minorities for the saffron party.

In response to his claim, Vijayan in a statement said that the saffron party coming to power in Kerala was “wishful thinking” as even minority groups will not take a pro-BJP stand

Dubbing the statement as a “daydream” which the PM was entitled to have, senior CPI(M) leader and Politburo member M A Baby said Modi should remember that his party lost the only seat it ever had in the Kerala Assembly in the 2021 state elections.

“The PM is entitled to daydream, but he should remember that the only seat the BJP had in the state legislature has been lost. That sole seat was wrested by the Left front in the last election and the BJP in Kerala is now in a deplorable condition.”

Senior Congress leader Satheesan too spoke along similar lines when he said that the BJP will never come to power in Kerala as the people here would “unite against the fascist and feudal movements”.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala adjourned the hearing to March 17 as it had run out of time.

The bench also pointed out that the replies of Uttar

Pradesh and Assam were not on record and it will hear the plea after the Holi vacation.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Assam government, told the bench that the state has filed the reply to the petition of Khera and would like to argue the case whenever the

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court deems it fit to hear.

The court made clear that the interim bail granted to Khera will be extended till March 17 when it will hear the matter.

Earlier, on February 27, the court had extended the protection to the Congress spokesperson till Friday.

Khera was arrested from the Delhi airport after he was de-boarded from a plane that was supposed to take him to Raipur in connection with his alleged remarks against Modi made at a press conference in Mumbai on February 17.

The Congress leader obtained bail from a magis-

terial court here on February 23 after the CJI-led bench granted him the interim bail during an urgent hearing earlier in the day.

“In order to enable the petitioner (Khera) to apply for regular bail before the jurisdictional court, upon the FIRs being transferred to one jurisdiction, we direct that the petitioner shall be released on interim bail by the court of the competent magistrate at Delhi where he is to be produced this evening,” the apex court had said.

“The above order shall remain in operation till February 28,” it had said.

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Pawan Khera

Narendra Modi with JP Nadda and Amit Shah.

Lokayukta police recovers cash from the house of BJP MLA Madaal Virupakshapps’s son Prashanth Kumar in Bengaluru. (PTI)

Star investor Rajiv Jain bets $2.5 bn on Adani

NEW DELHI, MAR 3

(IANS): One of the biggest names in emerging market investing is betting US$1.87 billion (S$2.5 billion) on Indian tycoon Gautam Adani’s empire, in the most significant show of support from a major money manager since a short-seller report lopped US$153 billion off the conglomerate’s market value, Bloomberg reported.

Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners bought shares in four firms from an Adani family trust at discounts to Thursday’s closing prices, according to a statement from the Adani Group and exchange filings.

Jain’s investment comes as a vote of confidence at a crucial time for the beleaguered group, which has spent the past few weeks trying to repair an image damaged by Hinden-

Gold jumps Rs 160; silver climbs Rs 220

NEW DELHI, MAR 3

(PTI): Gold price jumped Rs 160 to Rs 55,940 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday amid a rise in rates of the precious metal in overseas markets, according to HDFC Securities.

The yellow metal had closed at Rs 55,780 per 10 grams in the previous trade.

Silver also climbed Rs 220 to Rs 64,700 per kilogram. “Comex gold prices edged higher in the Asian trading hours on Friday,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities, said. In the international markets, gold and silver were quoting higher at USD 1,843 per ounce and USD 21.03 per ounce.

“The gold was trading in the green tracking overseas markets. However, the upside was capped as the rupee gained against the dollar this Friday,” Sriram Iyer, Senior research analyst at Reliance Securities, said.

Rajiv Jain

burg Research’s accusations of accounting fraud and share price manipulation, Bloomberg reported.

The Adani Group will hold additional fixed income meetings with investors after such gatherings this week in Hong Kong and Singapore. It will hold meetings from March 7 to 15 in Dubai, London and the US, according to a person familiar with the matter.

India’s macro stability indicators to improve in FY24: Morgan Stanley

Adani is a bold wager for Jain, the chairman of GQG, who is known to broadly prefer safe, defensive stocks of companies that have what he calls bulletproof balance sheets, Bloomberg reported.

Born and raised in India, Jain made his name as a star emerging market fund manager at Swiss firm Vontobel Asset Management. He later co-founded GQG and built it into a US$88 billion powerhouse with investments in industries like oil, tobacco and banking. In 2022, when most asset managers watched clients yank cash from their funds as markets cratered, Floridabased GQG thrived. The firm lured US$8 billion in fresh investment and three of its four flagship funds beat benchmark indexes by wide margins, Bloomberg reported.

CHENNAI, MAR 3 (IANS): India’s macroeconomic stability indicators will gradually improve in FY24 owing to a combination of factors, Morgan Stanley said in a report. According to Morgan Stanley, the macro stability indicators will gradually improve in F24 from somewhat elevated levels inAF23.

“A combination of easing in global commodity prices (YoY terms), healthy growth mix (more capex driven), and fiscal and monetary policy on a consolidating path create the basis for the trend in macro stability indicators to improve,” the report said.

Polls in Nagaland are about money power: Kikon

(From p-1)

On whether the regional party would join the next government since it was part of the previous UDA government, he replied that the party would take a stand on this later.

He claimed that NPF was a very disciplined party and its functionaries did not overlap each other’s responsibilities. Hence, he said the party and parliamentary board meetings would take final call on this.

Referring to shifting of political allegiance witnessed in the past, Kikon commented that those who had left NPF already met their fate as many of them did not even get tickets, while out of those who did receive tickets, many could not win. These were the consequences of defection and people ought to learn their lessons, he added.

Further, he stressed

on a strong regional party and commented that though NPF might have got just two MLAs now –Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu and himself – he declared that both of them would together rebuild the party, recalling that NPF has stood the test of time since 1964 onwards to date.

He cautioned that if Nagas did not have a strong regional party rooted at the grassroots, “we will all have to hang our head in shame in front of enemies”. Hence, even if defeated in electoral politics, NPF would work on ground.

He thanked the electorate of 40 Bhandari constituency for electing him with a huge margin. He also acknowledged the support from well-wishers from across the State and Naga-inhabited areas, claiming that he had received blessings from many

known and unknown people. Kikon also underlined that his win also showed that it was not money and muscle power alone that determined the fate of candidates, but “principles and ideology“.

He lamented that road infrastructure in the State was still very poor even after 60 years of Statehood, pointing out that many villages in his constituency did not have road connectivity. He said 40 Bhandari constituency was one of the most challenging constituencies in terms of area, despite having lots of mineral resources like oil that could fuel growth in entire Nagaland.

Towards this, he appealed to the State government to develop 40 Bhandari constituency, take special interest and assured to fully cooperate as far as development was concerned.

“We expect CPI inflation to average 5.5 per cent (6.7 per cent in F23 estimates) and the current account deficit to track at 2.5 per cent of GDP in F24 (2.9 per cent in F23 estimates).”

As regards to the repo rates, Morgan Stanley expects the Reserve Bank of India to hike in April and peg the terminal repo rate at 6.75 per cent.

A shallow rate cut cycle (of cumulative 50 basis points) from 1Q24 as visibility on durable moderation in inflation improves, the report said.

“We see risks to macro stability as tilted to the upside driven by changes in global commodity prices, domestic or global exogenous weather events and the pace of the growth recovery,” the report notes. Sticky trends in inflation and elevated trade deficit have raised some concerns on India’s macro stability outlook, Morgan Stanley said.

NSF extends wishes to HSLC, HSSLC students

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Naga Students Federation (NSF) has extended best wishes to all the students appearing in the HSLC and HSSLC examinations 2023 to be conducted by Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE).

In a press release, NSF president Kegwayhun Tep and secretary Medovi Rhi have appealed to the candidates to work hard and give all-out effort in order to come out successfully in the upcoming examination.

Meanwhile, the federation has appealed to the power department to ensure that stable electricity was provided across the state in view of the HSLC & HSSLC exam.

NSF also requested all responsible citizens to extend cooperation by maintaining conducive atmosphere.

RBI slaps Rs 3.6 cr penalty on Amazon Pay

MUMBAI, MAR 3 (PTI):

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday said it has imposed a penalty of over Rs 3.06 crore on Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited for non-compliance with certain provisions related to Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) and Know Your Customer (KYC) direction. “It was observed that the entity was noncompliant with the direc -

tions issued by RBI on KYC requirements,” the RBI said in a statement.

The RBI had issued a notice to Amazon Pay (India) advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed for non-compliance with the directions.

“After considering the entity’s response, RBI concluded that the aforesaid charge of non-compliance

LJP (RV) to wait for high command

(From p-1)

He said problems of Bihar and Nagaland were not different, noting that both the States had similar problems like unemployment and poor infrastructure, while the educated youth migrated to other States in search of jobs. He assured the people that LJP (RV) would take up their issues not only in Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) but also in Parliament through its charismatic and dynamic leaders like Chirag Paswan. He mentioned that the party would prioritise healthcare and employment opportunities for local youth so that they did not migrate to others States for petty jobs. Pandey asserted that LJP (RV) would take up the cause of whole of Northeast as the party considered the region an inseparable and a very important part of India. Pandey also announced that LJP (RV) would start a Northeast cell and its headquarters would be located either at Dimapur or Kohima. He said the cell would help bring different government schemes to the people of Nagaland and conduct various workshop. He disclosed that the party would also come up a mobile app where all its members would be included so that they could all work as team by coordinating. Meanwhile, LJP (RV) State parliamentary board president Kitoho S Rotokha claimed that though he had lost the electoral battle, he had won the hearts of the people. He attributed his loss to many factor, including tribalism, clan and money power.

JOB

Ane Moriam School, Sangram, Dt. Kurung Kumey, Arunachal Pradesh requires a Mathematics and Science teacher for Class 8, 9 & 10 C.B.S.E. Course. Apply online at http://www. anemoriamschool.in

with RBI directions was substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty,” it said. The central bank, however, added the penalty is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the Amazon Pay (India) with its customers.

JD(U) MLA offers to join new govt

(From p-1) He noted that infrastructure in Tseminyu district was poor, stressing that a modern township required good roads and basic amenities like reliable power and water supply. He assured that he would take initiatives in this regard.

Seb also thanked the people of Tseminyu district, especially JD (U) supporters, for electing him and invited all stakeholders cutting across party lines to come forward and join hands to contribute towards the growth and progress of the district.

8787775772

VLCC Femina Miss India Nagaland, 2020 and Miss Dimapur, 2019, Zucobeni Tungoe, at the promotion of 10 Kg composite Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder on Friday at Niathu Resort, along with Divisional LPG head Tinsukia Area, office IOCL, Solai Kumrah (extreme left) and other IOCL staff.

Star investor Rajiv Jain bets $2.5 bn on Adani

NEW DELHI, MAR 3

(IANS): One of the biggest names in emerging market investing is betting US$1.87 billion (S$2.5 billion) on Indian tycoon Gautam Adani’s empire, in the most significant show of support from a major money manager since a short-seller report lopped US$153 billion off the conglomerate’s market value, Bloomberg reported.

Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners bought shares in four firms from an Adani family trust at discounts to Thursday’s closing prices, according to a statement from the Adani Group and exchange filings.

Jain’s investment comes as a vote of confidence at a crucial time for the beleaguered group, which has spent the past few weeks trying to repair an image damaged by Hinden-

Gold jumps Rs 160; silver climbs Rs 220

NEW DELHI, MAR 3

(PTI): Gold price jumped Rs 160 to Rs 55,940 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday amid a rise in rates of the precious metal in overseas markets, according to HDFC Securities.

The yellow metal had closed at Rs 55,780 per 10 grams in the previous trade.

Silver also climbed Rs 220 to Rs 64,700 per kilogram. “Comex gold prices edged higher in the Asian trading hours on Friday,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities, said. In the international markets, gold and silver were quoting higher at USD 1,843 per ounce and USD 21.03 per ounce.

“The gold was trading in the green tracking overseas markets. However, the upside was capped as the rupee gained against the dollar this Friday,” Sriram Iyer, Senior research analyst at Reliance Securities, said.

Rajiv Jain

burg Research’s accusations of accounting fraud and share price manipulation, Bloomberg reported.

The Adani Group will hold additional fixed income meetings with investors after such gatherings this week in Hong Kong and Singapore. It will hold meetings from March 7 to 15 in Dubai, London and the US, according to a person familiar with the matter.

India’s macro stability indicators to improve in FY24: Morgan Stanley

Adani is a bold wager for Jain, the chairman of GQG, who is known to broadly prefer safe, defensive stocks of companies that have what he calls bulletproof balance sheets, Bloomberg reported.

Born and raised in India, Jain made his name as a star emerging market fund manager at Swiss firm Vontobel Asset Management. He later co-founded GQG and built it into a US$88 billion powerhouse with investments in industries like oil, tobacco and banking. In 2022, when most asset managers watched clients yank cash from their funds as markets cratered, Floridabased GQG thrived. The firm lured US$8 billion in fresh investment and three of its four flagship funds beat benchmark indexes by wide margins, Bloomberg reported.

CHENNAI, MAR 3 (IANS): India’s macroeconomic stability indicators will gradually improve in FY24 owing to a combination of factors, Morgan Stanley said in a report. According to Morgan Stanley, the macro stability indicators will gradually improve in F24 from somewhat elevated levels inAF23.

“A combination of easing in global commodity prices (YoY terms), healthy growth mix (more capex driven), and fiscal and monetary policy on a consolidating path create the basis for the trend in macro stability indicators to improve,” the report said.

Polls in Nagaland are about money power: Kikon

(From p-1)

On whether the regional party would join the next government since it was part of the previous UDA government, he replied that the party would take a stand on this later.

He claimed that NPF was a very disciplined party and its functionaries did not overlap each other’s responsibilities. Hence, he said the party and parliamentary board meetings would take final call on this.

Referring to shifting of political allegiance witnessed in the past, Kikon commented that those who had left NPF already met their fate as many of them did not even get tickets, while out of those who did receive tickets, many could not win. These were the consequences of defection and people ought to learn their lessons, he added.

Further, he stressed

on a strong regional party and commented that though NPF might have got just two MLAs now –Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu and himself – he declared that both of them would together rebuild the party, recalling that NPF has stood the test of time since 1964 onwards to date.

He cautioned that if Nagas did not have a strong regional party rooted at the grassroots, “we will all have to hang our head in shame in front of enemies”. Hence, even if defeated in electoral politics, NPF would work on ground.

He thanked the electorate of 40 Bhandari constituency for electing him with a huge margin. He also acknowledged the support from well-wishers from across the State and Naga-inhabited areas, claiming that he had received blessings from many

known and unknown people. Kikon also underlined that his win also showed that it was not money and muscle power alone that determined the fate of candidates, but “principles and ideology“.

He lamented that road infrastructure in the State was still very poor even after 60 years of Statehood, pointing out that many villages in his constituency did not have road connectivity. He said 40 Bhandari constituency was one of the most challenging constituencies in terms of area, despite having lots of mineral resources like oil that could fuel growth in entire Nagaland.

Towards this, he appealed to the State government to develop 40 Bhandari constituency, take special interest and assured to fully cooperate as far as development was concerned.

“We expect CPI inflation to average 5.5 per cent (6.7 per cent in F23 estimates) and the current account deficit to track at 2.5 per cent of GDP in F24 (2.9 per cent in F23 estimates).”

As regards to the repo rates, Morgan Stanley expects the Reserve Bank of India to hike in April and peg the terminal repo rate at 6.75 per cent.

A shallow rate cut cycle (of cumulative 50 basis points) from 1Q24 as visibility on durable moderation in inflation improves, the report said.

“We see risks to macro stability as tilted to the upside driven by changes in global commodity prices, domestic or global exogenous weather events and the pace of the growth recovery,” the report notes. Sticky trends in inflation and elevated trade deficit have raised some concerns on India’s macro stability outlook, Morgan Stanley said.

NSF extends wishes to HSLC, HSSLC students

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Naga Students Federation (NSF) has extended best wishes to all the students appearing in the HSLC and HSSLC examinations 2023 to be conducted by Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE).

In a press release, NSF president Kegwayhun Tep and secretary Medovi Rhi have appealed to the candidates to work hard and give all-out effort in order to come out successfully in the upcoming examination.

Meanwhile, the federation has appealed to the power department to ensure that stable electricity was provided across the state in view of the HSLC & HSSLC exam.

NSF also requested all responsible citizens to extend cooperation by maintaining conducive atmosphere.

RBI slaps Rs 3.6 cr penalty on Amazon Pay

MUMBAI, MAR 3 (PTI):

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday said it has imposed a penalty of over Rs 3.06 crore on Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited for non-compliance with certain provisions related to Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) and Know Your Customer (KYC) direction. “It was observed that the entity was noncompliant with the direc -

tions issued by RBI on KYC requirements,” the RBI said in a statement.

The RBI had issued a notice to Amazon Pay (India) advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed for non-compliance with the directions.

“After considering the entity’s response, RBI concluded that the aforesaid charge of non-compliance

LJP (RV) to wait for high command

(From p-1)

He said problems of Bihar and Nagaland were not different, noting that both the States had similar problems like unemployment and poor infrastructure, while the educated youth migrated to other States in search of jobs. He assured the people that LJP (RV) would take up their issues not only in Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) but also in Parliament through its charismatic and dynamic leaders like Chirag Paswan. He mentioned that the party would prioritise healthcare and employment opportunities for local youth so that they did not migrate to others States for petty jobs. Pandey asserted that LJP (RV) would take up the cause of whole of Northeast as the party considered the region an inseparable and a very important part of India. Pandey also announced that LJP (RV) would start a Northeast cell and its headquarters would be located either at Dimapur or Kohima. He said the cell would help bring different government schemes to the people of Nagaland and conduct various workshop. He disclosed that the party would also come up a mobile app where all its members would be included so that they could all work as team by coordinating. Meanwhile, LJP (RV) State parliamentary board president Kitoho S Rotokha claimed that though he had lost the electoral battle, he had won the hearts of the people. He attributed his loss to many factor, including tribalism, clan and money power.

JOB

Ane Moriam School, Sangram, Dt. Kurung Kumey, Arunachal Pradesh requires a Mathematics and Science teacher for Class 8, 9 & 10 C.B.S.E. Course. Apply online at http://www. anemoriamschool.in

with RBI directions was substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty,” it said. The central bank, however, added the penalty is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the Amazon Pay (India) with its customers.

JD(U) MLA offers to join new govt

(From p-1) He noted that infrastructure in Tseminyu district was poor, stressing that a modern township required good roads and basic amenities like reliable power and water supply. He assured that he would take initiatives in this regard.

Seb also thanked the people of Tseminyu district, especially JD (U) supporters, for electing him and invited all stakeholders cutting across party lines to come forward and join hands to contribute towards the growth and progress of the district.

8787775772

VLCC Femina Miss India Nagaland, 2020 and Miss Dimapur, 2019, Zucobeni Tungoe, at the promotion of 10 Kg composite Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder on Friday at Niathu Resort, along with Divisional LPG head Tinsukia Area, office IOCL, Solai Kumrah (extreme left) and other IOCL staff.

SNIPPETS

Nobel laureate

Bialiatski sentenced to 10 years in Belarus

TALLINN (ESTONIA), MAR 3 (AP):

A Belarusian court on Friday sentenced Ales

Bialiatski, Belarus’ top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, to 10 years in prison. Bialiatski and three other top figures of the Viasna human rights centre he founded were convicted of financing actions violating public order and smuggling, Viasna reported Friday. Bialiatski and two of his associates were arrested and jailed after massive protests over a 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a new term in office.

Biden, Scholz to huddle on Ukraine war at White House

WASHINGTON, MAR

3 (AP): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is visiting the White House on Friday for a private meeting with President Joe Biden as both allies become increasingly vocal about their concerns that China may step off the sidelines and supply weapons to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Such a step could dramatically change the war’s trajectory by allowing Moscow to replenish its depleted stockpiles.

Indian democracy under attack: Rahul

BJP

ACCUSES HIM OF MALIGNING COUNTRY’S IMAGE ON FOREIGN SOIL

LONDON/NEW DELHI, MAR 3 (PTI): Indian democracy is under attack and several politicians, including himself, are under surveillance, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged during a lecture at Cambridge university, drawing sharp reactions from the BJP tha accused him of maligning the country’s image on foreign soil after facing successive electoral setbacks.

Gandhi delivered the lecture ‘Learning to Listen in the 21st Century’ at the Cambridge Judge Business School on Tuesday evening as a Visiting Fellow, a video recording of which was posted on Twitter by Congress leader Sam Pitroda, ex-adviser to former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Referring to the controversial Pegasus snooping issue, Gandhi alleged that the Israeli spyware was installed on the phones of a large number of politicians, including him.

“I, myself, had Pegasus on my phone. A large number of politicians have Pegasus on their phones. I’ve been called by intel -

ligence officers who say please be careful what you say on the phone because we are sort of recording this stuff. So, this is a constant pressure that we feel,” the 52-year-old former Congress chief claimed.

The BJP on Friday also made light of Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that he was being snooped upon, saying that the Congress leader was “hallucinating” and makes such claims as he wants to create headlines wherever he goes.

The former Congress president listed five key aspects of the alleged attack on Indian democracy --Capture and control of media and judiciary; surveillance and intimidation; coercion by federal law enforcement agencies; attacks

Cambodian opposition leader gets 27 years on treason charge

on minorities, Dalits and tribals; and shutting down of dissent.

“Everybody knows and it’s in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack…The institutional framework which is required for a democracy: Parliament, a free press, the judiciary and just the idea of mobilisation, these are all getting constrained. We are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy,” he said.

Hitting back on Gandhi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur wondered what prevented Gandhi and other Congress leaders from submitting their phones to a Supreme Court-appointed technical committee that probed the Pegasus snooping issue.

“We can understand his hatred towards the Prime Minister, but the conspiracy to malign the country on foreign soil with the help of foreign friends raises questions on the agenda of the Congress,” Thakur, the Information and Broadcasting minister, told reporters in Delhi.

Thakur said Gandhi was aware of the electoral rout the Congress was facing in the assembly elections and had resorted to levelling allegations from foreign soil.

“Once again, the Congress lost in the elections but their bankruptcy was evident when they lost no opportunity to malign India from foreign soil,” Thakur said.

Thakur said Gandhi should have at least listened to what Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had to say about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Today, the kind of respect that Modi ji has in the entire world and the recognition that India has gained under the leadership of Modiji … If no one, Rahul Gandhi should have at least listened to Italy’s Prime Minister and its leaders,” he added.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said Gandhi was “hallucinating” and makes such claims as he wants to create headlines wherever he goes.

“What we can say for

Rahul Gandhi’s hallucinations. If he makes his (Congress) MoU with China public, we will be interested and the people of India will also like to know. Who is interested in his telephone conversations,” he said.

Gandhi, who gave a presentation, noted that in the Constitution, India is described as a Union of States and that Union requires negotiation and conversation. He also showed slides on the screen of him being confronted by police officers outside Parliament in New Delhi.

“It is that negotiation that is coming under attack and threat... you would have also heard about the attack on the minorities and press,” he said, adding that protecting and defending Indian democracy is more than just about India but about defending the “democratic structure and democratic system on the planet”.

“I have got a number of criminal liable cases for things that should under no circumstances be criminal liable cases, but that’s the story and that’s what we are trying to defend.

LONDON, MAR 3 (PTI):

An influential UK parliamentary committee examining former British prime minister Boris Johnson’s conduct related to the party gate scandal of COVID lockdown law-breaching parties at Downing Street said on Friday that he may have misled the House of Commons multiple times.

The House of Commons Privileges Committee has published a summary of its findings and called in Johnson to give oral evidence later this month before decisively concluding whether he knowingly misled Parliament and submitting its complete findings to Parliament.

The 58-year-old former prime minister, whose exit from 10 Downing Street last year had been

hastened by the party gate scandal, repeatedly denied COVID lockdown rules were broken within government quarters when asked in the Commons.

“The evidence strongly suggests that breaches of guidance would have been obvious to Johnson at the time he was at the gatherings,” reads the cross-party committee’s report.

“There is evidence that those who were advising Mr Johnson about what to say to the press and in the House were themselves struggling to contend that some gatherings were within the rules. The Director of Communications stated in a WhatsApp on January 25 last year to a No. 10 official in relation to the gathering of June 19 in 2020 that: ‘Haven’t heard any explanation of how it’s in the rules’,” it notes.

The interim report goes on to highlight specific instances over the course of 2020 and 2021, during successive COVID lockdowns in the UK, when the House of Commons may have been misled by Johnson’s claims that “no rules or guidance had been broken”

Army blocks Israeli rally supporting torched West Bank town

HAWARA (WEST BANK), MAR 3 (AP):

New

leaders, economy to dominate China’s LS

BEIJING, MAR 3 (AP):

The installation of new leaders and the need to shore up a flagging economy will dominate the annual session of China’s rubber-stamp parliament that kicks off Sunday. The nearly 3,000 delegates attending the meeting of the largely powerless National People’s Congress will hear reports on the work of government that lay out the ruling Communist Party’s priorities.

Greek crash: Funerals begin after ID process

KATERINI, MAR

3(AP): The funeral for the first of nearly 60 victims of Greece’s worst rail disaster this week was held Friday as families began receiving the remains of their loved ones following a harrowing identification process. Recovery teams spent a third day scouring the wreckage in Tempe, 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens, where a passenger train slammed into a freight carrier just before midnight Tuesday. The government has blamed human error and a railway official was charged Thursday with manslaughter, in an accident that shocked the nation and highlighted safety shortcomings in the small but dated rail network. Checks of all the human remains recovered so far confirmed the death toll at 57, authorities said Friday.

Pak to receive USD 1.3 bn from China

ISLAMABAD, MAR 3

(PTI): Pakistan will get another USD 1.3 billion from all-weather ally China to shore up its fast-depleting forex reserves, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday, days after the cash-strapped country received USD 700 million from Beijing. Addressing a press conference here, Dar said that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC) would provide the funding in the coming days. “All our formalities with the ICBC are complete as of last night. We returned them USD 1.3bn in the last few months … they are giving it back and have renewed this facility,” he said.

PHNOM PENH (CAMBODIA), MAR 3 (AP): A court in Cambodia convicted opposition leader Kem Sokha of treason on Friday and sentenced him to 27 years of house arrest, the latest blow in a campaign by the government to silence its critics or drive them out of the country.

The ruling against the country’s most prominent opposition politician not in exile, widely condemned by rights groups and foreign governments, comes just four months ahead of a general election.

Kem Sokha’s September 2017 arrest marked the beginning of a fierce campaign by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government to use the courts — widely considered to be under its influence — in a crackdown on dissent.

Since then, most other top government critics have fled Cambodia to escape what were generally seen as politically inspired prosecutions. Kem Sokha’s Cambodia National Rescue Party was seen as an electoral threat to Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2017, and his arrest came about 10 months before the country’s last general election. The Supreme Court dissolved the party soon after and its members were expelled from Parliament.

Rights groups, US, condemn verdict Rights organizations decried Friday’s court ruling.

“It was obvious from the start that the charges against Kem Sokha were nothing but a politically motivated ploy by Prime Minister Hun Sen to sideline Cambodia’s major opposition leader and eliminate the country’s democratic system,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

US, S Korea announce largest field exercises in 5 years

Israeli troops fired stun grenades and blocked hundreds of Israeli left-wing activists from staging a solidarity rally on Friday in a Palestinian town that was set ablaze by radical Jewish settlers earlier this week, protesters said.

The soldiers shoved at least two protesters to the ground, activists said, pressing their knees into their necks and backs before briefly detaining them.

Activists from Israeli rights organisations said soldiers and border policemen prevented busloads of protesters from entering the occupied West Bank town of Hawara, which still bears the scars of Sunday’s settlerled attack.

According to Sally Abed from the group Standing Together, soldiers threw at least two demonstrators to the ground as they tried

Police officers block Israeli left-wing activists from staging a solidarity rally in the Palestinian town. (AP)

to arrest them, kicking and handcuffing them. Both were eventually released, she added.

The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hundreds of settlers, some armed with knives and guns, rampaged through Hawara on Sunday and torched dozens of homes

and businesses after two Israeli brothers were shot and killed nearby. One Palestinian was killed in the mob assault. On Friday, some 500 people holding signs of solidarity and Palestinian flags — mostly older men and women, both Jews and Arab citizens — stepped off the buses and headed down the highway toward Hawara

OFFICE OF THE MAO UNION KOHIMA

kOhima : NaGaLaND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The recent fire incident at Mao Market Kohima and surrounding areas on the evening of 27th February 2023 has brought much loss and pain to our community and the concerned citizens of Kohima, particularly those affected by the ravaging fire. Even in a moment such as this, the Mao Community in Kohima is humbled and filled with assured hope that has come through physical and financial help, and support extended by various individuals, groups and Government Machineries. To the affected, this philanthropic deed will go a long way in ameliorating the pain and loss caused by the unfortunate incident and give reason to rise above and move ahead with strength and renewed hope. The Mao Union Kohima would like to express our profound gratitude and special thanks to:

in defiance the army’s orders. Palestinian motorists honked in support. The protesters chanted, “No to occupation” and “End Jewish terror”.

Facing the mass of police and troops deployed to halt their peaceful protest, they shouted, “Where were you when Hawara happened?” — referring to the intense rampage that went largely unchecked and unpunished.

In response to the crowds of protesters streaming toward Hawara, the Israeli military fired stun grenades and tried to stop them, said Abed.

“It is ridiculous that the army allows settlers to enter Hawara as we speak, but we — Israeli Jews and Arabs who wish to show our

solidarity — are told that there is no entry,” Standing Together said. The group said the rally was coordinated with the local council and residents. Unlike Palestinian cities like Ramallah that are under the control of the Palestinian Authority, Hawara is mostly under Israeli security control.

The Israeli army has said that the ferocity and scope of the settler mobs earlier this week caught them by surprise. The Defence Ministry has sent two suspected ringleaders of the violence to administrative detention. A town of 7,000 Palestinians surrounded by ideological settlements, Hawara long been a flashpoint for violence between Israelis and Palestinians

Office O f the Dapfhütsumia t u O üpfük O k r O th O kO hima

This is to bring to your notice that all the members of "The Dapfhütsumia Tuoüpfüko Krotho "are requested to kindly attend the programme to be held on 8th March 2023 at LCS Building Near Ao Church Kohima at 10:30 A.M. positively.

mrs Neitounuo khoubve Gen. secretary Dtk K-401/23

Office Of the suOhu cLaN, t kheL, kOhima ViLLaGe kOhima, NaGaLaND

Ref. No. SUOHU/MEDIGEI/PRESS/2023-24 Dated, Kohima the 28th Feb 2023 pu BL ic NO tice

SEOUL, MAR 3 (AP):

The South Korean and US militaries announced Friday they will hold their biggest joint field exercises in five years later this month, as the US flew a long-range B-1B bomber to the Korean Peninsula in a show of force against North Korea.

The North has threatened to take “unprecedently” strong action against such exercises. It’s likely that it will respond to the upcoming training with missile tests because it views it as an invasion rehearsal.

In a joint news conference, the South Korean and US militaries said they will conduct the Freedom Shield exercise, a computer-simulated command post training, from March 13 to 23 to strengthen their defence and response capabilities, and separate large-scale joint field training exercises called Warrior Shield FTX.

Col. Isaac L. Taylor, a spokesperson for the US military, said the field train-

ing will include a combined amphibious drill and that their size would return to the scale of the allies’ earlier biggest springtime field exercises called Foal Eagle.

The two countries last conducted Foal Eagle in 2018. They then cancelled or downsized some combined drills to support nowstalled diplomacy with North Korea and guard against the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, however, the two countries have been expanding their joint military exercises in the face of an evolving North Korean nuclear threat.

Friday’s deployment of a US B-1B was the aircraft’s first such flyover in joint aerial training with South Korean warplanes since February 19. North Korea is highly sensitive to the deployment of B-1Bs, which are capable of carrying a large conventional weapons payload. It responded to the previous flights of multiple B-1Bs by test-launching two short-range missiles the next day.

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5.

6.

7. Shri. Shanavas C, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Kohima & his team.

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12.

13. Sokhriezie Market Development Committee.

14. Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KVYO).

15. Tsütuonuomia Youth Organisation (TYO).

16. Peraciezie Baptist Church, Kohima.

17. Kohima

18.

19.

20. Various Organizations, Groups, Neighbours and individuals (who contributed equally in dousing the fire and extended financial help).

Secretary

In reiteration of the earlier Press Release and subsequent follow-up actions initiated by the Clan to facilitate the affected persons of land purchasers/ Allottees/occupants at Medigei (Agri/Electrical Colony), Kohima Town, Ward No.17, the Suohunuomia Clan hereby issued this Press Release once again to remind all concerned to furnish their documents on or before 20th March 2023. Failing which the Clan shall take necessary action as per the Resolution of the Clan without further notice.

(thepfuZakie suOhu) President K-404/23

Office of the ABOI TOWN STUDENTS' UNION pO. & ps aboi - 798603 Dist. mon: Nagaland

FELICITATION

The Aboi Town Students' Union with immense delight expressed heartfelt congratulations to Shri C Manpon Konyak on his great achievement, being elected as the member of Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 47th A/C Aboi. We further extends hope that his leadership will guide and lead the community towards higher paradigm, socio-economic stability and advancement. May he uphold his ambitious dream with upright and dedication in bringing transformation in all spheres. We wish him good health and great success in his future endeavours.

Sd/- Sd/(M HAMSHEN KONYAK) (N LONGMOI KONYAK) President General Secy.

Shri. Neiphiu Rio, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland.

Shri. N. Biren Singh, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur.

Shri. Keneizhakho Nakhro, Ex-MLA, Government of Nagaland.

Shri. L. Dikho, Hon’ble MLA, Government of Manipur.

Shri. N. Kayisii Hon’ble MLA, Government of Manipur.

Shri. Rupin Sharma, DGP, Nagaland & his team.

Er. Meshenlo Kath & team.

Col. Umesh Chandra Sati, Commandant, 1st Battalion Assam Rifles team & IGAR (North).

Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA).

Nagaland Fire & Emergency Services.

Tsütuonuomia Khel Council, Kohima Village.

Ao Baptist Church.

Mao Baptist Church, Kohima.

Mao Catholic Union, Kohima.

Col. Isaac Taylor, left, and Col. Lee Sung-jun attend the press briefing at South Korea, Friday. (AP)

Boris Johnson Rahul Gandhi

Christina Aguilera says social media has changed landscape for performers

Singer Christina Aguilera is a “very sensitive person.” She’s learned how to deal with the scrutiny that’s come her way.

She told Allure magazine: “I’ve grown up in this business. I started performing at six or seven and then I broke when I was a teenager. No matter what you do, you’re going to have people that hate on you.”

“The bigger you are and the more successful, unfortunately, that comes with more hate or more scrutiny. And I’m a very

sensitive person, but I’m also very tough at the end of the day.” Aguilera said that

Acknowledgement

I am extremely humbled to acknowledge my depth to all who have helped me physically, spiritually, emotionally & financially for my candidature for the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election.

Regardless of the Result. I express my heartfelt appreciation to all my supporters who stood still against all the negative forces and won over the colossal odds.

Through this column, I stretch my unfeigned congratulations to Smti. Hekani Jakhalu for being elected as the MLA of Dimapur-3 Assembly Constituency.

My best wishes are with you for the future endeavours of the constituency.

social media has changed the landscape for up-andcoming stars. The ‘Genie in a Bottle’ hitmaker is also conscious of how it might influence her own children.

The pop singer, who has Max, 15, and Summer, eight, explained: “Social media wasn’t around when I was coming up, and now I feel bad for people that don’t want to be in the business and just look at comments. My daughter’s not there yet with looking or posting yet, but I’m very conscious of the day when these things happen.” (IANS)

The Nest Guest House (Parking Available) with Suit Rooms Near State Museum, Bayavu, Kohima # 87948 58540

HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS TO

MRS. SALHOUTUONUO KRUSE

On being elected to the 14th

FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS (NPSC/NSSB)

KENEIZHAKHO NAKHRO

Independent Candidate

8-Western Angami Assembly Constituency IN GRATITUDE

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the people of my constituency for electing me and giving me the opportunity to serve you as your MLA for the last ve years. It has truly been my honour and privilege to represent the 8-Western Angami Assembly Constituency in our State Legislative Assembly.

I would also like to take this moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for the overwhelming support through spiritual prayer, cash, kinds and trust you placed in me during this campaign. Although the results were not in our favour, I am humbled by your unwavering support and encouragement. I am also grateful for the opportunity to share my vision and ideas with you and to be a part of this important democratic process.

I extend my sincere congratulations to Mrs. Salhoutuonuo Kruse, NDPP, who has been elected as the new MLA. I wish her all success as she takes on this important role. I have no doubt that she will serve our constituency with integrity and dedication. I o er my support and cooperation towards our common goal of progress and development.

My commitment towards the betterment of our constituency remains rm and I promise to continue working to make our constituency a better place to live, work, and raise our families.

All glory and gratitude to God Almighty for His constant love and grace. I pray that God will continue to guide us as we march forward for our Constituency and our State.

God bless us all!

Er Zale Neikha

Message of Gratitude

It’s a privilege and honour to receive remarkable love and support from electorates of 15-Southern Angami-II Assembly Constituency in the just concluded 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly General Election 2023

I am grateful to all the electorates for imposing full faith on me during my needs and remain deeply indebted to all my supporters Together as family, we fought well but the better candidate won We shall remain strong and look forward for a better outcome that lay ahead of us

I congratulate Er Kropol Vitsu, BJP candidate from 15-Southern Angami-II A/C for emerging victorious and becoming the new MLA of our Constituency and I also acknowledge my fellow candidate Shri Vipopal Kintso, JD(U) candidate for giving his best ability to show-cast his true motive in helping the needs of the 15-Southern Angami-II A/C

I thank the NCP party rank and file from the Central and the State unit for giving me the opportunity to contest the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly General Election 2023 with the party ticket

I profoundly thank the UDA Government for giving me the opportunity to serve my people and the people of Nagaland in general for the last five (5) years I shall continue to serve my people on my own capacity and look forward to a better and brighter future I shall remain with the electorates of 15-Southern Angami-II A/C

Thank you

Shri Azheto Zhimomi Ex-MLA & Family Members

AFC Asian Cup final on May 11 in Qatar

NEW DELHI, MAR 3

(IANS): The final draw for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 will be held on May 11 at the Katara Opera House, in Doha, Qatar, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced.

In a letter to all the Participating Member Associations (PMA), the AFC informed that Qatar will host the upcoming edition of the AFC Asian Cup, and invited the President of each PMA, head coach and team managers to attend the final draw.

The AFC also announced the AFC Asian

Hockey India name Craig Fulton as new Chief Coach

Cup Qatar 2023 will be held in the nation that hosted the FIFA World Cup last year, with the proposed tournament dates set between January 12 to February 10, 2024. The final dates of the competition will be formalised after confirmation with FIFA.

After the announcement by AFC, India head coach Igor Stimac said that they can now start planning for the road ahead.

“Now we can start

planning for the road ahead. It’s necessary we start discussing with other stakeholders as soon as possible, on how to organise the calendar for the upcoming season which will be an enormous challenge for everyone,” Stimac said in an AIFF media release on Friday.

Stressing on the importance of the preparation for the AFC Asian Cup, he said, “Our priority is to get as much time as possible for preparation throughout

December and January prior to the Asian Cup. We have a packed schedule this year with the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, the Asian Games, and the FIFA windows for the Senior Team. It is necessary for us to plan early.”

The India head coach also wants to get the ball rolling for the Asian Cup right after the final draw.

“For now, we are planning to choose appropriate accommodation right after the draw, and also discuss possible friendly games before the tournament,” he said.

OFFICE OF THE NATIONALIST DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY

Kohima Regional Office

"Facta Non Verba" Regd. No. 56/222/2017-17/PPS-I

A CONGRATULATORY NOTE

The NDPP Kohima Region heartily congratulates the victorious party candidates from Kohima Region, Shri. Neiphiu Rio, 11th Northern Angami II, Smt. Salhoutuonuo Kruse, 8th Western Angami and Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome of 10th Northern Angami I, who had secured the mandate of their respective Constituency electorates during the recently concluded General Election to the 14th NLA.

The NDPP Kohima Region also congratulate Er. Kropol Vitsu, our alliance BJP candidate from 15th Southern Angami II for his victory. We pray that Almighty God will grant them good health and wisdom as they endeavour with the mandate to serve and lead our Naga people and society to greater heights, towards peace and prosperity.

OFFICE OF THE SUMI HOHO

Oking : Zunheboto, Nagaland

March 3, 2023

FELICITATION

The Sümi Hoho, on behalf of all the Sümi people, heartily congratulates all the Sümi victorious candidates of the 14 th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election 2023.

Craig Fulton

NEW DELHI, MAR 3

(IANS): Hockey India on Friday announced the appointment of Craig Fulton as the new Chief Coach of the Indian men’s hockey team ahead of their home matches in the FIH Hockey Pro League, starting from March 10.

The 48-year-old South African, with nearly 25 years of coaching experience, will join the team at the earliest upon completing formalities, Hockey India said in a release.

Fulton has shown exemplary results in his previous roles. His rise to fame started with a stint with the Irish men’s team as the head coach between 2014 to 2018 when the team qualified for the Rio Olympic Games 2016, their first Olympic qualification in 100 years. This historic feat also won him the FIH Coach of the Year in 2015.

He worked as the Assistant Coach with the reigning Olympic Champions Belgium, where the team won the gold medal in Tokyo. He was also part of the Belgian coaching Staff when the team lifted the World Cup in 2018, in Bhubaneswar.

Troubled Jones set to make new bid for UFC greatness

Jon Jones

LONDON, MAR 3

(AGENCIES): Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns to the octagon on Saturday in Las Vegas after a three-year absence seeking to re-state his claim to be the greatest fighter of all time, despite his many troubles.

It speaks volumes about his stature in the sport that the 35-year-old will get an immediate shot at the heavyweight title against France’s Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, despite not fighting since beating Dominick Reyes in February 2020.

“I’m ready to dominate, but if I don’t dominate and the fight goes five rounds, I’m ready to press forward, I’m ready for a dog fight,” Jones told a media conference ahead of his return at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.

“I’m ready to bleed and sweat and leave my heart out there. I’m ready for however it goes. I feel pretty prepared for victory.”

The NDPP Kohima Region also empathizes with the party candidates from Kohima Region, who could not make it this time. We impress upon them not to lose heart but to be comforted by the prospect of the party coming to power and continue to dedicate and work for the people.

The NDPP Kohima Region place on record our deep appreciation and gratitude to the electorates, the various organizations and authorities from both the rural and urban sector of Kohima District, for exemplary conduct making our district perhaps the most peaceful district during the entire election process till completion of the election to the 14th NLA.

(PRASIELIE PIENYÜ)

(KECHANGULIE KENSE)

Acting President General Secretary

NDPP Kohima Region k-412/23

NDPP Kohima Region

OFFICE OF THE NATIONALIST DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY

24TH ANGETYONGPANG A/C

Ref No …………………….

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

date: 02.03.2023

I express my profound gratitude to all my party workers, friends, near and dear ones who have supported my electoral campaign to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly election. It is through your dedication, commitment, perseverance and good will that we have achieved this tremendous win with a thumping majority. This campaign has been both exciting and challenging in many new ways and I have learnt through this experience to continue to serve my people with humility and thanksgiving to God. I also earnestly appeal for your continuous support in all the responsibilities that I endeavor to undertake. I shall always keep your sacrifices close to my heart. Thank you all.

mkc-74/23

Office of the JAK h AMA S T u DENTS ’ uNION Kohima: Nagaland Felicitation

The Jakhama Students’ Union, heartedly Congratulates Mr Kevipodi Sophie, S/o Zelul Sophie and Mrs Nosakule Sophie for his significant milestone as the newly elected Member of the Legislative Assembly, the 14th Southern AC-I as an Independent candidate with the motto "People First".

We further extend our prayer and wish that our Almighty God continue to guide and lead you in all the days to come.

Keviseto Tase Visakunu Tetso President, JSU General Secretary, JSU

We pray that our Almighty God grant you good health and wisdom as you lead our people ahead.

I Nikheto Jimomi Dr. Vihuto Asumi President General Secretary

Sd/-

G. Kaito Aye, Satakha

H. Tovihoto Ayemi, Dimapur I

KT Sukhalu, Zunheboto

Dr. Sukhato A. Sema, Pughoboto

S. Toiho Yeptho, Suruhuto

N. Jacob Zhimomi, Ghaspani I

Er. Picto Shohe, Atoizu

Kazheto Kinimi, Akuluto

Ikuto Zhimomi, Aghunato

Hekani Jakhalu, Dimapur III

(Tongpang Ozukum)

3rd Test: Australia crush India by 9 wickets

INDORE, MAR 3 (IANS): Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne slammed unbeaten 49 and 28 respectively to take Australia to a comprehensive nine-wicket win over India in the third Test at Holkar Stadium on Friday.

Day three’s play began with Australia needing 76 runs to win on a minefield of a pitch. Despite losing Usman Khawaja early for a two-ball duck, Head and Labuschagne were able to make short work of the target and got the job done in 18.5 overs to make the four-game scoreline 2-1.

The victory also means that Australia have qualified for the World Test Championship final, to be held from June 7-11 at The Oval in London. The day began with Ravichandran Ashwin getting an outside edge on Khawaja’s forward defence and KS Bharat catching it behind. Khawaja went for a review, but replays showed a healthy spike on the Ul-

traEdge, giving India some relief.

A fiercely determined Ashwin asked tough questions of Head and Labuschagne and even took a DRS against the latter when Virat Kohli, at leg-slip, took a diving catch, which result-

ed in India burning a review.

After some quiet overs as Australia were just 13/1 in ten overs, Head broke the shackles by whacking Ashwin over mid-on for four and followed it up with a huge six down the ground in the 11th over where India

In his father’s footsteps: Ronaldinho’s son Joao joins Barcelona academy

MADRID (SPAIN), MAR

3 (IANS): FC Barcelona made an important connection with their past when they confirmed the signing of forward Joao Mendes -- the son of legendary Brazilian forward Ronaldinho.

The 18-year-old is expected to initially form a part of Barcelona’s B team, which plays in Spanish football’s third tier, the club informed on Thursday.

Mendes, who had been without a club since leaving Brazil’s Cruzeiro in February last year, impressed Barcelona coaches

during a trial earlier this year, reports Xinhua.

The youngster has already made his debut with

Barca’s under-19 side in a friendly against Manchester United. He is a player who can play as a central striker or in a deeper role.

He is right-footed but good with his left, and Barca hope he will be able to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Ronaldinho spent five seasons with Barcelona between 2003-2008 and played a huge part in lifting the club to dominance between 2004-2006 when Barca won back-to-back La Liga titles and the Champions League trophy.

had got to change the ball. Head welcomed Ravindra Jadeja by hammering a four over his head and Labuschagne ended the over by sweeping the left-arm spinner through mid-wicket for another boundary in the over.

When Ashwin overpitched, Labuschagne quickly brought out the cover drive for a delightful four. When Jadeja sent in an arm ball, Head played the cut late through backward point for another boundary.

Ashwin was taken apart in the 15th over, as Head danced down the pitch to punch through cover while Labuschagne placed a reverse sweep well through backward point to make it two fours in the over.

India introduced Umesh Yadav in the bowling attack as a last throw of dice. But Head and Labuschagne were unstoppable; the former slapped the Vidarbha pacer through cover while the latter pulled past square leg to make it two boundaries.

Brief scores: Australia 197 and 78/1 in 18.5 overs (Travis Head 49 not out, Marnus Labuschagne 28 not out; Ravichandran Ashwin 1-44) beat India 109 and 163 by nine wickets

‘Messi, we’re waiting for you,’ - threat left after attack on family business

BUENOS AIRES, MAR 3 (AGENCIES):

Two people on motorcycles shot at a supermarket belonging to the family of Antonela Roccuzzo, wife of Lionel Messi, in Rosario, in Argentina’s Santa Fe province early on Thursday morning, local media and the city’s mayor reported. A threatening hand-written message for 35-year-old Messi, Argentina’s captain and seventimes World Player of the Year, was also left on the shop door.

“Messi, we are waiting for you, (Pablo) Javkin (the mayor) is also a narco, he is not going to take care of you,” it read. Javkin blamed the security forces for failing to effectively combat organized crime, which in recent years has grown in the important port city, where dozens of ships daily load thousands of tons of grain.

“I spoke (with the Roccuzzos) and they are wor-

ried,” Javkin told reporters outside the supermarket that was attacked. Television images showed bullet casings on the sidewalk where the business belonging to Roccuzzo’s family is located. The front of the building was hit by 14 bullets and the shop remained closed on Thursday morning. Santa Fe’s Security Minister Claudio Brilloni told reporters

that authorities did not have any firm assumptions regarding the motives for the attack. Prosecutor Federico Rébola said the Roccuzzo family had not received any previous threats, a Rosario media outlet reported. On the official Twitter account “Team Messi” and Antonela Roccuzzo’s Instagram profile there were no mentions of the incidents.

Copa del Rey: Barcelona beat Real Madrid 1-0 in semis

MADRID, MAR 3 (IANS): FC Barcelona produced a rock-solid and very untypical defensive display to beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal. Real Madrid dominated the ball and had Barca pinned back for much of the game, with Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde all outstanding; Madrid barely produced a save from Marc Andre Ter Stegen all game.

Without Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele, Barca opted for a pragmatic ap-

proach, with Franck Kessie in the starting 11 and Raphinha and Ferran Torres carrying the visitors’

attack. Real Madrid dominated possession in the first half, with Luka Modric running on goal in the first

minute, although the offside flag went up. The flag went up again in the 12th minute to rule out an effort from Benzema after a good cross from Vinicius Junior, who was involved in most of Madrid’s attacking play, but also looking for niggles with the Barca players, reports news agency Xinhua.

Barca opened the scoring with a touch of fortune in the 27th minute. Eduardo Camavinga lost possession in his own half, the ball was threaded to Kessie and although Thibaut Courtois saved well with his feet, the ball rebounded into the net off

Eder Militao. Vinicius responded with a cross that was cut out by Ter Stegen and after Gavi’s cross just evaded Raphinha, Dani Carvajal wasted Real Madrid’s best chance of the half, drifting in unmarked behind the Barca defense before volleying high and wide. Madrid came strongly out of the blocks at the start of the second half, but despite Barca at times being reduced to clearing the ball aimlessly upfield for Raphinha to chase, the only save Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to make was from Vinicius’ curling cross.

Australian players being greeted by Indian players after winning the 3rd test cricket match between India and Australia, at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Friday. (PTI)

Paris St Germain’s Lionel Messi with Antonela Roccuzzo before the Best FIFA Football Awards. (Reuters)

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, right, controls the ball as he is challenged by Barcelona’s Gavi, bottom. (AP/PTI)

Joao Mendes