November 7, 2016

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVI No. 331

DIMAPUR, monday, november 7, 2016

Scientists must help battle hunger: Modi national, Page 5

Pages 12 ` 4.00

AFC Cup: Iraq’s AFC beat Bengaluru FC

Iraqi PM warns IS fighting in Mosul

Sports, Page 12

international, Page 9

Govt. defends ban on TV channels CENTRE SAYS ‘EMERGENCY SITUATION’; SCHOOLS ASKED TO SHUTDOWN Delhi smog situation worsens

ity, encouraging violence, Venkaiah asked electronic media and cinema should seriously think about how to avoid vulgarity, obscenity and violence. He said, “The important thing in media is credibility... which is very important...but now credibility is missing in most of the media, which is unfortunate. We must always work for credibility.” Emphasising that news and views should never be combined, Naidu said “But it is now happening in the country. People are trying to combine news and views, which should never be mixed.” The minister further said information along with confirmation is the “best ammunition”. “Information can fight corruption, inequality, discrimination, oppression. Information can give you entitlement. Through information people will be empowered,” he said. “First give the news and then have the debate. But what is happening is, even TV debates try to mix both the things and then they argue and try to teach us also,” he said.

Opposition parties hit out at Centre

HYDERABAD, NOV 6 (AGENCIES): With opposition and media slamming action against NDTV India, terming the action as ‘second emergency’, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the NDA government is committed to freedom of press but media should use it keeping in mind the interests of the nation and the people. Centre also ordered an Assam-based television news channel to remain off air for a day next week. An inter-ministerial committee set up by the Union information and broadcasting ministry also accused News Time Assam of two other violations . Naidu said the wellbeing of the country and society should be kept in mind before broadcasting or publishing any news, and stressed that news and views should not be mixed. “A big discussion is going on in the country that there should be freedom of press. It should compulsorily be there and the government is committed to this. But, there is a need to think. We are citizens first and then the journalists. That’s my view,” he said.

“Our government believes in freedom of press and wants the media to truly appreciate the value of such freedom so that it is best used in the interest of the country and the people,” Naidu said addressing a programme for Urdu journalists here. He said while giving/broadcasting news, one should keep in mind the interests of society and nation first. Journalists should remember that freedom of expression is best utilised only when the value of such freedom is fully appreciated, he said, adding that when this freedom is not exercised judiciously, our existing laws provide for necessary interventions. He advised that journalists must always look for information, but must run the news only after confirmation. “Be nearer to truth and keep away from sensationalism. But what is happening in the electronic media is sensationalism,” he said. Stating that there are some regulations that media should not preach, something which is anti-national; not propagate against the interest of the country aspects like obscenity, vulgar-

NSCN (I-M) demands release of four persons

TVCU opposes 33% quota Shutdowns and blockades for women in civic polls continue to cripple Manipur

D I M A P U R , N OV 6 (NPN): NSCN (I-M) has demanded the immediate release of four persons without any condition, who were arrested by Manipur police on October 27, stating that the four have no connection with NSCN whatsoever. NSCN (I-M) MIP in a press note said that the four-- Ningkhangam Muivah, Ramthem Muivah, Chonreisem Phungshok and Vivian Ruivah from Imphal were arrested without any rhyme or reason. MIP said the four have been confirmed as law abiding citizens of Somdal village. MIP said branding them as over ground workers of NSCN (I-M), simply on the basis of person belonging to a particular community and falsely implicating them and framing charges is an heinous act. Further, NSCN (I-M) cautioned the “communal Manipur government” to desist from indulging in such activities so that such incident does not reoccur compromising the safety and security of the Nagas. It may be noted that the Imphal East district police commandos arrested four persons, claiming that they were linkmen/over-ground workers of the NSCN (I-M).

This is it!

“Whatsapp has freed us from computers and papers and sending daks. Now office orders on mobiles.” K Y M C

TUENSANG, NOV 6 (NPN): Tuensang Village Citizens Union (TVCU) on Sunday made its stand clear that it was against the decision of the state government to hold civic polls with 33% reservation for women. This was unanimously resolved by the union, it added. In a press note TVCU president H. Wongto and joint secretar y Imlong Zanchu while clarifying that the decision of the union had “no motive against the women folk or their rights”, said it was done so to protect the aged old respectable customs and traditions of the Nagas. TVCU however pointed out that the implementation of reservation was “a serious and crucial issue which in long term would definitely hamper the respectable positions and

norms which has been descended down to us by our forefathers.” Such move was destructive for the Nagas, the union added. TVCU further stated that “Article 371 (A) clearly affirms the right to maintain the traditional procedures and practices of the Nagas and this move of the Naga Mothers Association (NMA) stepping against Naga customs is an extreme disrespect and is something which Naga society cannot adhere to the stand”. The union said it welcomes the decision to hold the civic polls, but was completely against implementation of 33 % women reservation. TVCU said the union would have no problem if any capable women are nominated or contest openly in the civic polls without any reservations.

Slamming the Central government, the opposition parties said the government’s proposed move would lead to “a second Emergency”. JD(U) president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said in a statement in Patna: “The central government’s decision to ban NDTV India is condemnable. The decision tantamounts to controlling the freedom of media. It is necessary to have a free and impartial media in a country like India.” The Centre’s decision was an “insult to right to free speech”, he said. In Lucknow, Kumar’s senior party colleague Sharad Yadav said the government’s action recalled the days of the Emergency, when the media was gagged. “I want to advise all BJP men to be cautious. You have attacked media and this will be taken seriously,” Yadav said. BSP leader Mayawati told a news conference: “If the central government continues with such activities, it will lead to a second Emergency.” Former minister and

Cong ress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, “It is a message to the entire media of the country that either you work according to our views or we would not allow you to run.” India, In Chennai, DMK president M Karunanidhi said: “The Prime Minister must intervene and come forward to give a guarantee that there will be no threat to freedom of expression. Else, the accusation across the country that the BJP government is implementing authoritarianism under the garb of democracy will be construed as true.” The CPI (M) politburo said in a statement: “This is a brazen attack on media freedom and an attempt to gag freedom of expression. It reveals the increasingly authoritarian attitude of the Modi government. RJD president Lalu Prasad said in Lucknow that the government action was “an attack on democracy”, and that “Narendra Modi, the BJP and the RSS are taking the country towards dictatorship”. “The country”, Lalu said, “has been facing an Emergency-like situation”.

IMPHAL/GUWAHATI, NOV 6 (IANS/AGENCIES): Normal life in Manipur continued to be affected on Sunday in the wake of multiple strikes and blockades since October 30, with essential commodities either in short supply or available at inflated prices. The state government failed to provide foolproof security to escort over 1,500 loaded trucks and oil tankers stranded on the Nagaland-Manipur highway due to these strikes. Truck driver Rakesh Taorem said keys of their vehicles have been snatched by activists of the United Naga Council. “A handful of policemen cannot provide ironcast safety to us since the number of stranded vehicles is over 1,500. In the past, vehicles that broke down on the way were torched by protesters. The government should give us meaningful protection,” he said.

NEW DELHI, NOV 6 (AGENCIES): Cases of severe breathlessness, asthma and allergy have sharply risen in Delhi as the city remains blanketed in thick layer of toxic air due to the worst smog in 17 years. Delhi is facing its worst smog in last 17 years, prompting the high court to observe that it was akin to “living in a gas chamber”. The Centre has termed it an “emergency situation” and called a meeting of environment ministers of all neighbouring states on Monday to curb stubble burning by farmers. The Delhi government on Sunday unveiled a slew of steps, including closure of all schools for three days, to battle unprecedented smog levels that have drastically cut visibility and turned the national capital into a virtual gas chamber. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also banned construction and demolition work for five days and the use of diesel-run generator sets for 10 days in a desperate bid to control a crisis that has choked Delhi. The school closure is aimed at preventing children from getting affected by the dangerous pollution levels which have forced people to use surgical masks while travelling in the city. But Kejriwal maintained that this was a larger problem involving neighbouring states, where farmers are said to be burning crop stubble in a wide area, and sought the central government’s intervention. “This is the time to set aside politics

A group of citizens protest against air pollution at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday. (PTI)

and find a solution (to the problem),” Kejriwal said after presiding over an emergency meeting of his cabinet. “The base level of pollution was already very high. We have consulted experts and we are taking some emergency measures,” the Aam Aadmi Party leader told reporters. Kejriwal said the coalbased thermal power plant at Badarpur in south Delhi, which generates fly ash, would be shut for 10 days. Water would be sprinkled on the fly ash scattered within the plant. With high levels of PM 2.5, the pollution crisis in Delhi continues to be classified as “severe”, with a blanket of smog covering the entire city as well as neighbouring states. Delhi’s pollution levels worsened after Diwali on October 30. Meanwhile, Doctors and experts say that besides spike in fresh cases, health complications have aggravated in people having a history of asthma, allergy or other related ailments. “Earlier 15-20% pollution-related

ailment cases were reported at our hospital. But now these have gone up to 60%. “The most common problem is related to respiration. But this time we are seeing a rather large number of cases of severe breathlessness, coughing and sneezing and bronchiolitis due to the smog,” says Dr S P Byotra, senior consultant and chairman of the department of medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH). Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the bronchioles, the smallest air passages of the lungs. “Children and elderly are the most vulnerable to infections and allergies due to smog and pollution. So, they should take extra care, and try not to venture during early morning and at dusk when the toxic level is highest,” Byotra says. According to experts, it is estimated that over 20 per cent of the world’s population suffers from allergic diseases such as allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis, atopic eczema and anaphylaxis.

OIL loses Rs 50-60 cr due to bandhs, blockades

Oil India Ltd incurs an annual loss of Rs 50-60 crore in oil and gas production in Assam due to disturbances caused by bandhs and road blockades, OIL CMD Utpal Bora said today. Last year, 2,000 tonnes of oil & gas worth Rs 45 crore was lost due to these two reasons, Bora told reporters here. The oil fields produce 100 kilolitres of oil per day and if the production is stopped, they cannot be restarted easily, he said. “We are committed to the development of the Northeast and we need the support of the people,” he added. Over 100 tonnes of oil is also lost when miscreants close the oil wells by turning off the knobs in remote areas, steal their condensers and cut oil pipelines, he said.

Nagaland, others fail to implement anti-infanticide law Spl. Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV 6 (NPN): Nagaland is among 23 states/UTs in India that has not implemented the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act, 1994. This was stated in the latest report released by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR)-- “The State of the PC&PNDT Act: India’s losing battle against female foeticide” The Act has not been implemented 23 States/ UTs, even as 1.3 million girls are found to be “missing” every year, the report 290page report stated. Out of the 23 states Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep and Puducherry had not registered a single case

under the PC&PNDT Act since 1994. It further pointed out that the states and UTs which had not secured a single conviction under the PC&PNDT Act since 1994 are Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep and Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka , Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal and Union Territories of Chandigarh. Expressing regret that “the Child Sex Ratio (CSR) is all set to fall further from 919 as per 2011 census to below 900 as per the current sex ratio at birth being registered by the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report”, the report criticizes governments for under-reporting “actual number of missing girls due

to sex selection.” “More cases of infanticide under Indian Penal Code were registered than cases under the PC&PNDT Act during 1994-2014, and this exposes abysmal implementation of the PC&PNDT Act,” ACHR observed. Pointing out that “India registered 2,266 cases of infanticide under Section 315 and Section 316 of the Indian Penal Code against 2,021 cases under the PC&PNDT Act during 1994-2014.”, the report says, “During 1991 to 2011, a total of 25.5 million girls, i.e. 1.3 million girls per year, went missing primarily because of the sex selection.” “As only 2,021 court and police cases were filed from 1994 to 2014 under the PC&PNDT Act, it implies that on an average only one court case was filed approximately for 12,614 cases of sex selection:, the report notes, adding, “As conviction was secured only in 206

cases during 1994-2014, it also implies that only one conviction was secured per 1,23,755 cases of sex selection.” The report further says, “As many as 17 out of 29 States and six out of seven Union Territories (UTs) had either not registered any case or failed to secure any conviction under the PC&PNDT Act as on date”, adding, “All these states are covered under the Beti Bachao Beti Padao scheme, the flagship programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrest the falling Child Sex Ratio (CSR) under the age of 0-6 years.” ACHR stated that it had taken strong exception to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s proposed amendments to the PC&PNDT Act in March 2016, which seeks to “weaken the Act further at the insistence of the medical (Cont’d on p-7) lobby.” K Y M C


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