October 5, 2020

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Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXX No. 301

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Trump says he is ‘starting to feel good’

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COVID vax for 25 cr people by July 2021

NEW DELHI, OCT 4 (AGENCIES): The government plans to cover approximately 25 crore citizens by July 2021 under its Covid-19 vaccine programme, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday. “The Centre is working on plans for building capacities in human resources, training, supervision and others on a massive scale and roughly estimates to receive and utilise 400-500 million doses covering approximately 20-25 crore people by July 2021. All this is under various stages of finalisation,” Vardhan said. “Our government is working round the clock to ensure that there is a fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, once they are ready. Our utmost priority is how to ensure vaccine for each and everybody in the country,” the minister said. During an interaction with his social media followers on ‘Sunday Samvad’ platform, he said a high-level expert group is going into all the aspects of vaccines and the health ministry is preparing a format in which states will submit lists of priority population groups by October. Priority would be given to health workers engaged in Covid-19 management in getting the vaccine, the min-

Union minister Paswan undergoes heart surgery NEW DELHI, OCT 4 (PTI): Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party patron Ram Vilas Paswan has undergone a heart surgery, his son Chirag Paswan said on Sunday. Ram Vilas Paswan (74), has been hospitalised for the last few weeks. He was operated upon at a private hospital in the national capital. In a tweet, Chirag Paswan said his father underwent a heart surgery due to sudden developments on Saturday evening, which forced him to cancel a party meeting and rush to his father’s side. If needed, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution will undergo another operation in a few weeks, he said.

NU: LLB exams postponed DIMAPUR, OCT 4 (NPN): Nagaland University has announced postponement of LLB first, third and fifth semester exams (online/ offline) that were scheduled from October 5. Controller of examinations Dr Maongsangba said in a notification on Sunday that the varsity authority was compelled to take the decision following difference of opinion among the stakeholders. He also advised principals of law colleges to convey their collective decision on the matter within two weeks to NU for further necessary action.

This is it!

“After their debate, Joe Biden is shattered that Trump has now tested positive for COVID-19.” K Y M C

Harsh Vardhan

ister said. The list of frontline health workers will include both government as well as private-sector doctors, nurses, paramedics, sanitary staff, ASHA workers, surveillance officers and many other occupational categories who are involved in tracing, testing and treatment of patients. This exercise is targeted to be completed by the end of this October and the states are being closely guided to also submit details about cold chain facilities and other related infrastructure which will be required down to the block level, the minister said. He further informed his audience that the government is also keeping an eye on immunity data concerning Covid-19 disease while finalising these plans.

“Our government is working round the clock to ensure that there is a fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, once they are ready. Our utmost priority is how to ensure a vaccine for each and everybody in the country,” Vardhan said. The minister stated that a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Niti Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul is drawing up the entire process. Vaccine procurement is being done centrally and each consignment will be tracked real-time until delivery to ensure it reaches those who need it most, he said. The Union health minister added the panel is working on understanding the timelines of availability of various vaccines in the country, obtaining commitments from vaccine manufacturers to make available maximum number of doses for India inventory and supply chain management and also on prioritisation of highrisk groups. “This is a work in progress which will be completed by the time the vaccines are ready to ensure the swift rollout of an immunisation programme.” Assuring a social media follower that there would be no

diversion or black-marketing of the vaccine, Vardhan said, “Vaccines will be distributed as per pre-decided priority and in a programmed manner. To ensure transparency and accountability, details of the entire process will be shared in the coming months.” He stressed on the need to prioritise healthcare workers and adults or those who have underlying health conditions. To a question regarding the phase-three clinical trial of Russia’s ‘Sputnik-V’ vaccine in India, Vardhan clarified that the matter was still under consideration, and no decision has been taken yet. To another question, he replied it is not possible to comment on the superiority of one vaccine over the other, but said, “Even if we have multiple vaccines available, they will all be safe and will elicit the requisite immune response against novel coronavirus.” He said that all vaccines that have proven to be safe, immunogenic and efficacious in clinical trials outside India need to undergo bridging studies to prove their safety and immunogenicity in the Indian population as well, although these studies can be conducted with much smaller sample size and end quickly.

Cong will revoke farm sector laws if voted to power: Rahul national, Page 5

Centre planning to amend IPC, CrPC: MoS Home

Centre more focused on Naga pol solution than State politics

HYDERABAD, OCT 4 (PTI): Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Sunday said that the Centre is planning on bringing amendments in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Kishan Reddy said this at a programme in Hyderabad’s Amber pet Assembly constituency’s, where he inaugurated 280 CCTV cameras. “The Central government is planning to make changes to the IPC and CrPC. We are also seeking suggestions on this (to amend IPC, CrPC),” an official statement said. On National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), he said “it would enable students in the country to enrich themselves in law, criminology and other related disciplines, as well as excel in forensic science research”. He said under the Centre’s Safe City project (especially for surveillance, protection of women and rapid criminal investigation), eight cities including Hyderabad have been selected.

Correspondent

KOHIMA, OCT 4 (NPN): Expectations of the much hyped agreement signed between the government of India with two Naga political groupsNSCN (I-M) and WC/NNPGs-- which was speculated to have been completed within September has lingered on. As per reports, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) under the Home ministry is trying to iron out the demand from NSCN (I-M) for Naga flag and Naga constitution to be part of the agreement. Meanwhile, Naga stakeholders are looking at a post-agreement scenario by fine tuning their blueprints. According to sources, the Centre is looking at an early settlement through one solution with all and has made the point clear. Political parties in the state are also anxious about an immediate fallout of an agreement since it would also open the possibility of having to “pave way” when solution arrives. There has also been much speculations about the state BJP and the schism between its top leaders-- deputy chief minister Y. Patton (also the BJP legislature party leader) and state unit president and minister H&T Education and Tribal Affairs Temjen Imna Along. What has heightened the speculations is about possibility of a recalibration of coalition between BJP and NPF. Sources while some within NPF are not disinclined, its party president

Dr. Shürhozelie and others would not be amiable to such a tie-up. Coincidentally or not, the Dy CM and some party colleagues are in Delhi waiting for an audience with top central leaders. The Political Affairs Mission (PAM) of the NPF is also currently in Delhi hoping to meet with senior central ministers over the Naga political issue. However, putting an end to all speculation about in the state, it was learnt that the central government is more serious and focused on solution to the protracted Naga political issue than with state politics. Sources within BJP informed Nagaland Post that solution to the Naga political issue remains the singular focus for central leaders and therefore state politics was not in the agenda or list for discussion at the moment. The sources stressed that for the Central leaders, a “change of guard” at this juncture was out of question since the main focus was on resolving the Naga political issue. Meanwhile, BJP legislator and advisor Prisons and Printing & Stationery department H. Haying informed Nagaland Post that the BJP legislators from Nagaland were currently in Delhi to consult with the central BJP leaders on the ensuing by-election scheduled on November 3. He disclosed that though NPF legislators are in Delhi, both the parties are on different missions and there was no basis to speculate on state politics.

Nagaland COVID tally 6552 Congress-ruled states mull convening ‘Students will need parents’ COVID-19 STATUS AS ON october 4, 2020 assembly to annul Central farm laws consent to attend classes’ District

Dimapur Kiphire Kohima Longleng Mokokchung Mon Peren Phek Tuensang Wokha Zunheboto Total

ACTIVE CASES AsSymptomatic ymptomMod- Se- Critical-ICU Mild atic erate vere On Ventilator 707 33 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 349 8 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 75 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 31 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1176 41 3 1 0

Death ReMiunder Total cov- Death gratInvestiCases ered ed gation

2645 12 1727 4 44 301 272 33 77 25 118 5258

14* 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 17

5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

30 0 6 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 51

3437 12 2092 11 52 384 272 35 108 26 123 6552

*5 deaths not due to Covid-19 *5 deaths in under investigation

DIMAPUR, OCT 4 (NPN): With 123 fresh COVID-19 positive cases being reported in Nagaland on Sunday-- 74 in Dimapur, 48 in Kohima and 1 in Longleng, the tally rose to 6552 cases. Out of the 6429, there were 1221 active cases while 5258 had recovered. As per the severity of symptoms, 1176 active cases were asymptomatic, 41 mild, 3 moderate and 1 severe. Further, out of 6429 positive cases, the distribu-

tion across various categories of people include 3101 cases from the armed forces/police, 1523 returnees, 1574 traced contacts and 354 frontline workers.

COVID-19 cases in India breach 65-lakh mark

PTI: India’s COVID-19 caseload went past 65 lakh, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 55 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

NEW DELHI, OCT 4 (PTI): Close on the heels of Congress president Sonia Gandhi proposing the negation of three Central farmrelated laws by bringing in state-specific legislations, the states ruled by her party are mulling convening special assembly sessions for the purpose. The AICC legal team last week drafted a model law for states to take reference from for passing the relevant legislations in their respective assemblies. “The Congress-ruled states will soon convene an assembly session to annul the central farm laws,” a party source said. The chief ministers of Congress-ruled Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Puducherry have already made it clear that they will not implement the central farm laws in their respective jurisdictions. They also said they will get a new bill

in their state assemblies to annul these laws. The Congress is strongly opposing the three legislations and it has launched a countrywide protests against them. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had recently advised the party-ruled states to pass laws in their respective assemblies under Article 254(2) of the Constitution. Congress claims that rules under Article 245(2) allow a state legislature to enforce laws “repugnant to the parliament law”, a provision used by the BJP earlier against the Land Acquisition Act enacted by the UPA. Sources said that while Congress-ruled states are set to pass the law, some of the non-NDA ruled states are also likely to pass it, as they are opposed to the central farm legislations. Parliament passed The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion

CPO holds consultative meet for 2 lane project

Minister Neiba speaking at the consultative meeting.

KOHIMA, Oct 4 (NPN): For better coordination between villages and landowners and the administration, Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) convened a consultative meeting on Kohima-Jessami two-lane road with the district administration, law enforcement and implementing agencies and concerned public leaders of villages in Phek district benefitting from the project at Pfutsero Multipurpose Hall on Saturday. Speaking at the meeting, Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and

Parliamentary Affairs minister Neiba Kronu remarked that while education, water supply and health were important for development, road and power were major indices for development and progress. Mentioning that road connectivity and power are of paramount importance for Phek district for development and progress, Neiba said, as a legislator of the district and supported by the State government, he approached the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)

seeking two-laning of the Kohima-Jessami road as it was the lifeline for Phek. With National Highways & Infrastructure Development Cor poration (NHIDCL) Ltd as the implementing agency, he said the project had been subcontracted as the State’s local contractors were not qualified to take major contracts in the global tenders. Maintaining that the road passing or touching the villages should consider themselves as benefactors, Neiba said “We are all stakeholders and if we don’t cooperate, it will be our loss.” He said as village councils, which were recognised by the State government, were the sole authority of the respective villages, they should play a pivotal role of bringing together the landowners so that the development process was not hampered.

On the part of the government, he assured to ensure that the project was completed in a time-bound manner by the implementing agency without any disturbances. The minister further requested the district administration, CPO and the land survey committee to complete the verification process at the earliest. Neiba also informed the gathering that several other road projects, including Chozuba-Phek, Phek-Meluri, LozaphuhuAvankhu and PfutseroTadubi roads have also been approved and works were under progress. Stating that Nagaland’s portion of Pfutsero-Tadubi road had already been completed, he requested his counterpart in Manipur to give efforts to complete the other portion of the road.

and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 during the Monsoon Session. The laws seek to liberalise the agriculture sector and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. The model law brought by the Congress shall declare “null, void and inoperative” anything that is inconsistent in the three central legislations with the state law. It will also include a provision to ensure that no farmer shall be paid below the minimum support price for the price of the produce. The draft model bill seeks to ensure safeguards for farmers including the MSP regime and the framework under the APMC Act to protect their interests.

NEW DELHI, OCT 4 (IANS): Students would need written consent from their parents before attending classes at school, while attendance would not be made mandatory, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday. “The guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs state students may attend school only with the written consent of parents and that attendance will not be enforced upon the students,” he said during his weekly online interaction “Sunday Samvaad”. He also said that it would be mandatory for schools that are allowed to open to follow the Standard Operating Procedures set by the government. The Education Ministry Saturday released guidelines for reopening of educational institutions, holding that schools, colleges and other institutions can open

outside containment zones after October 15. However, the decision on reopening educational institutions has been left in the hands of states concerned. The Ministry has also asked institutions to encourage online learning, if students decide not to attend schools, while also noting that a limit has been set for the screen time of online classes. The limit of screen time set for the nursery level is 30 minutes, 90 minutes for students of Classes 1 to 8 and 3 hours for students from Classes 9 to 12, he said. “For nursery level, parents will be guided to assist the kids and this class will be of 30 minutes; students from Class 1 to 8 will be allowed to take two sessions of not more than 45 minutes each, and four sessions not more than 45 minutes each for students from class 9 to 12,” he said.

AR jawan dead, 1 injured in ambush in Arunachal Pradesh

G U WA H AT I , O C T 4 (AGENCIES): After a brief spell of calm, suspected militants have once again targeted security forces in North East India. Troops of the Assam Rifles came under attack on Sunday morning in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Myanmar. One personnel was killed and another injured in the ambush by suspected militants around 9:40 am, the police said. The incident took place at Tengmo village under Jairampur police station of Changlang district, around 300 km from capital Itanagar. The area is close to Hetlong Village of Monmao. “The incident took place on Sunday morning. One security forces jawan was martyred. Another one (Cont’d on p-8) is injured. A massive comb-

Water tanker of the Assam Rifles at the ambush site.

ing operation is on in the area and we have also intensified counter insurgency operations as well,” said the police chief of Changlang district told NDTV. According to military intelligence sources, a group of 30 to 35 militants of the Paresh Barua-led independent faction of the ULFA along with cadres of NSCN

(K) faction. The militants laid an ambush and when they saw an approaching water tanker of the Assam rifles in their range, they fired grenades and sprayed it with bullets from automatic weapons. One Assam Rifles jawan died from his injuries while another was injured, intelligence sources added. K Y M C


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