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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 342
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‘Freedom from fear’ could be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights Modi-Putin talks: 12 new n-reactors in India, 20 agreements inked [ PAGE 08]
DC office complex at new Peren hq inaugurated
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Friday, December 12, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –Dag Hammarskjold
Captain Kohli scores [ PAGE 2] ton as India UN officials demand prosecutions for US torture fight back
Freida Pinto splits from Dev Patel
[ PAGE 09]
[ PAGE 11]
[ PAGE 12]
Conversion issue rocks Lok Sabha
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Government proposes anti-conversion law
What do you do with the money you collect from us, huh? At least pay for the vegetables.
JD-U opposes extension of AFSPA in North East New Delhi, December 11 (PTi): JD-U on Wednesday questioned in the Rajya Sabha the decision to extend Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Northeast, wondering as to why it is being done there despite massive protests in the region. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, party chief Sharad Yadav also took an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying “AFSPA has been extended in northeast. All of us go there, wear all kinds of fancy dresses. Prime Ministers go there.” While Manipur extended the status of ‘disturbed area’ on December 1 for another year under AFSPA, it has been extended for another six months in Tripura. He said that women held nude protests against it while activist Sharmila Irom is fasting for for years. “How long will the country ignore Sharmila? Why this Act is being extended...The law of dictatorship. Nobody is listening to Sharmila. On a hunger strike of 10 days, Telangana is created and here this woman is on hunger strike for a decade. Women held nude protests against it (AFSPA). “How much suffering and pain the women would have undergone that they held a nude protest,” Yadav said.
Ensure timely distribution of study material: NSF
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Kohima, December 11 (mexN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has submitted a representation to Director for School Education seeking timely distribution of study materials for the academic session 2015. In the representation, the NSF informed the latter that every academic year students are faced with untold hardship and inconveniences due to delay in distribution of text books, which in turn hampers the smooth flow of classes and timely conduct of examinations. NSF impressed upon the government and the department concerned to give significant importance and seriousness for timely distribution of study materials for the academic session 2015. “The Federation will henceforth, sincerely monitor that the students avail the texts books on time and quality of the materials,” stated the NSF representation. A copy of the representation was also sent to the Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and the Commissioner and Secretary for School Education.
Members of the ethnic minority known as the “Karen” look on at the IDP camp of Ei Tu Hta, Myanmar. The camp, located in a remote area along Salween river, is part of the Karen National Liberation Army’s territory. Myanmar’s government calls them signposts of modernity: a string of huge dam projects along the mighty Salween River, one of Asia’s last untamed waterways, needed to meet economic goals and energy demands as the country opens its doors to the outside world. Yet to the Shan, Karen, Karenni and other ethnic minorities living in the river’s basin, the six proposed hydro-power dams symbolize violence, anxiety about the future and a tool used by authorities to secure a greater grip over their lives. (AP Photo)
New Delhi, December 11 (iaNS): The issue of alleged forced conversions in Agra rocked the Lok Sabha Thursday, even as the government proposed an anti-conversion law at both the central and state levels. The opposition attacked the government over the conversion issue, saying it was “polarising” the country. The government on its part hit back by saying that the matter was blown out of proportion and was “false propaganda”. “Let there be anti-conversion law in all states and at the Centre. We are all one,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said replying to a discussion on the issue. “There were laws made in some states after they realised that fraudulent conversions are taking place,” he said. He said the entire issue was a false propaganda against the government. Naidu strongly defended the RSS and said it was wrong to blame the organisation for such incidents. At this point, the opposition walked out, protesting the minister’s defence of the RSS and Naidu had to conclude his remarks without their presence. Earlier, opening the debate from the opposition benches in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said the government was trying to polarise the country and demanded a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the matter. “This is against the Constitution. It (government) wants to digress from real issues like black money, rail fare hike and incursions by China. So, it has started this campaign for polari-
sation,” he said. The alleged forcible conversion of about 300 Muslims in Agra had found its echo in parliament on Wednesday as well. Nearly 300 members of some 60 Muslim families living in a settlement on Agra’s outskirts were reported to have embraced Hinduism Monday. The debate on the issue Thursday took place under rule 193, which does not entail voting, after almost all opposition parties staged vociferous protests as soon as the house assembled in the morning. Members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Communist Party of IndiaMarxist gathered near the speaker’s podium, and raised slogans like “Modi sarkar hosh mein aao” (Wake up, Modi government) and “HinduMuslim bhai-bhai” (Hindus, Muslims are brothers). Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said the matter should be taken “seriously”. “Otherwise, there might be riots”. However, when the discussion began in the afternoon, a mellowed down Mulayam Singh said there was no need to discuss the matter. “I don’t understand why and for what is the debate taking place,” he said, wondering if “newspaper reports would now run the parliament”. Uttar Pradesh has a Samajawadi Party government with Mulayam Singh’s son Akhilesh Yadav as the chief minister. CPI-M member M. Salim said that on the one hand, the prime minister talks about development but incidents like these across the country show the contrary. “Our Constitution
does not permit such incidents,” he said, adding it was an attempt at polarisation. Trinamool’s Saugata Roy said the Bhagavad Gita does not teach us this. “I cannot impose my views on other people. Let us give up this divisive attitude for political gains,” he said. BJP member from Rajasthan Sumedhanand Sarawati said incidents of conversion were rampant during the middle ages specially during Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s rule. “Gandhiji also said Hindus were being converted to Christianity by being offered incentives,” he said. Another BJP member Rajendra Agrawal said the issue of forced conversion over the ages needs to be addressed. He gave examples of the Kashi Vishwanath temple, and said it was “painful to see a mosque built there”. Outside the Lok Sabha, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati said religious conversion was a “very serious” issue and asked all opposition parties to be serious on the issue. “The issue of religious conversion is very serious. The BJP and its other organisations like the RSS, Bajrang Dal and others, although want to create communal tension in the entire country... in this particular issue, they (BJP) have made Uttar Pradesh their main adda (hub). All opposition parties should become serious on this issue.” Congress leader Digvijay Singh slammed the government for suggesting that a legislation can be brought to ban religious conversions, saying it was an infringement of fundamental rights.
NPCC questions 10% deduction
DimaPUr, December 11 (mexN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) President, SI Jamir today alleged that the Parliamentary Secretary for School Education, Yitachu has “directed his department to deduct 10 percent from the first installment bill to be paid to the contractor” with regard to the construction of a science wing at the Senayangba Government Higher Secondary School in Ungma village. A press note from the NPCC President termed the Parliamentary Secretary’s alleged actions as “unbe-
coming” and informed that the Science wing building of the school is being funded by the DONER Ministry under NLCPR. The village authorities, he added, got the DONER to fund the project “under much difficulty.” “However, instead of applauding the village for initiating development of priority sectors like education when the state fund is almost nil resulting in neglect of government schools all over Nagaland, that the Parliamentary Secretary could only think of deduction of 10% of the bill amount for the works completed is most shocking indeed,” the
NPCC President said. He asserted that the Village Council of Ungma is not prepared to compromise on the quality of the work and lamented that “demanding money under the garb of percentage is completely immoral, totally unacceptable, and most shameful.” The NPCC President further informed that he had tried to meet with the Parliamentary Secretary and clarify the actual position of the project. “Regrettably, he did not want to meet the NPCC chief for reasons best known to him,” it was informed.
Rio for peaceful solution to Naga issue New Delhi, December 11 (mexN): “A peaceful, democratic and just conclusion will not only strengthen the foundations of Indian democracy but it will also bring to an end, the more than seven decades of violent conflict in a crucial region of the country that is of strategic importance in multi dimensional manner,” stated Member of Parliament from Nagaland state Neiphiu Rio today while addressing the zero hour of Thursday’s parliament session. Rio urged the Government of India to expedite the Indo-Naga peace process and bring about an early solution in a time bound manner.
The MP from Nagaland state said that the Naga issue is of utmost national importance and that the peace process and negotiations must be approached to be resolved in a time bound manner. Rio told the House that the Naga people have been crying out for peace and the peace process has the popular support of the people including the mass based civil societies, church organisations, tribal hohos, NGOs, and political parties. He further informed of the formation of the Joint Legislators Forum (JLF), its support for the peace process and the NPF commitment to pave way for any honorable and acceptable solution.
Horti department clarifies ‘Question of unilateral decision does not arise since issues relating to policy matters rest with the government’ Kohima, December 11 (mexN): The Nagaland state department of Horticulture today clarified that the department had made its stand clear through a letter dated November 30 that the “question of having taken unilateral decision in matters of HMMEH by the then Joint Director and Mission Director does not arise since issues relating to policy matters rests with the Government.” A press release from the Nagaland state Director for Horticulture asserted that the department “maintains the same stand being the actual position and supplements the statement of the former Mission Director, HMNEH that he alone had no power to
utilize the funds received by the Mission.” With regard to the timely implementation of schemes, it informed that “implementing officers were permitted to draw certain amount on need base.” It further denied the suggestion that, “some vested interest in the department gave false information to the opposition party.” It clarified that “some information relating to some bank accounts were furnished by the Bank itself.” The department has appealed for all “not to cast aspersions on the department as it has been putting all efforts to the service of the farmers and the people of the state as a whole.” It claimed that the “rapid increase in the production of horticulture crops and increase in the state’s economy through this sector during the last decade is apparent.” The department further assured that “positive steps are being undertaken to offer our best services for the welfare of the farming community of the state.
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