Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVIII No. 237
Hillary boards Spielberg TV voting drama as executive producer
FC Pune City sign ISL top-scorer Iain Hume
GST on petroleum products only after revenue stabilises
Infotainment, Page 10
sports, Page 11
business, Page 8
2019 LS polls: Oppn unite to bring in ballot papers NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (AGENCIES): A bouquet of opposition parties have managed to unite on the crucial issue of using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines to conduct the Lok Sabha elections next year and have decided to approach the apex polling body to make a formal request. According to sources, as many as 17 parties will approach the Election Commission. Those on board include the Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP, NCP, RJD, AAP, YSR, DMK, JDS, TDP, Kerala Congress Mani, Left parties CPI and CPM and Trinamool Congress. The parties have, however, not yet sought a date from the poll panel. First, the Congress will decide its strategy at a meeting of its highest decision making body - Congress Working Committee – this weekend and this will be followed by an all-party meeting at senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s house on Monday.
They are expected to approach the Election Commission sometime next week. Sources said that consensus on the issue was built thanks to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who visited Delhi for two days and held a series of meetings with leaders of several opposition parties, including Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. She had come to the capital to invite them for her federal front rally in January 2019. Banerjee was heard appealing to all opposition party leaders who visited her in the TMC office in Parliament, to send a joint delegation to the Election Commission over reports of EVM tampering and to demand that the 2019 general election be held on ballots. “All opposition parties should go to EC on this matter. There should be a joint delegation of opposition parties to EC,” Banerjee was heard telling opposition parties, includ-
NBCC calls for prayers, extending help to needy
College teachers go on leave
D I M A P U R , AU G 2 (NPN): In the backdrop of the prevailing inclement weather that had caused loss of human lives and property, Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has called upon everyone to seek God’s intervention and mercy through prayers. In a communiqué, the council called for extension of all possible help to those who were working hard to bring the situation to normal. “We need each other when things are beyond our control. We need to extend support in any possible way to bring comfort to those who are affected badly.” It added. NBCC requested all churches to set aside this weekend, especially Sunday, to intercede and seek God’s intervention and deliverance and bring healing to “our people and our land”. (Cont’d on p-7)
Office shifted
N a ga l a n d Po s t Kohima Office Shifted to Mharon Building top floor Old Taxi Stand, Near Bank of Baroda, Kohima. All are therefore requested to contact us at the new location. Kohima Bureau
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018 Pages 12 ` 5.00
DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): Joining hands with over six lakh University and College teachers from across the country, the All Nagaland College Teachers Association (ANGCTA) would go on a mass casual leave on August 3, 2018 to protest against the proposed Higher Education Commission of India Act, 2018 and other issues. The protest has been called by All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (AIFUCTO). In a press release, ANGCTA president, Lily Angami, and general secretary, Dr. Kekhriseno Christina, said the protest was against Centre’s decisions that would affect the future of higher education and hurting the interest of teaching and teachers community in the country. They said university and colleges teachers would observe a simultaneous Massive Dharna and Rally
ing the Congress. “This is a matter on which all opposition parties agreed. We are planning to meet next week. We plan to go to Election Commission and demand that the EC conduct the coming Lok Sabha election on ballot papers,” TMC leader Derek O’Brien told reporters. Several opposition parties have been demanding since last year that EVMs be replaced with ballot papers, alleging that the machines have been rigged to favour the ruling BJP. This demand had gained momentum after 2017, when Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party and Mayawati’s BSP suffered huge reverses in the Uttar Pradesh elections, leading them to contend that EVMs were tampered to help the BJP. Some parties have also said that if EVMs are to be used, the ECI should ensure that they are all equipped with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.
on the same day in Delhi. Thousands of teachers from across the country would congregate at Parliament Street, New Delhi to voice their demands and grievances. All other teachers associations and organisations have also extended support to AIFUCTO movement. Some of the main demands of AIFUCTO include immediate withdrawal of Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Act, 2018, Cent per cent central assistance to the states for simultaneous and uniform implementation of 7th UGC pay scale across the country, uniform pay scale and service condition for ad hoc, part time, contractual, guest and block grant teachers, permanent appointments in all vacant post in universities and colleges, to maintain the democratic, secular and public funded higher education system in India.
Tokheho raises calamity issues D I M A P U R , AU G 2 (NPN): Lone Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland, Tokheho Yepthomi, Thursday raised the emergency situation being faced by Nagaland due to rain-triggered landslides and flood in the Parliament. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lower House, the MP sought the permission of the Speaker and requested the Union Home Minister to send an officer to Nagaland to visit the affected areas in the state. Tokheho said that Nagaland was facing serious situation due to heavy rain and thunderstorm, which has disrupted normal life in the state. He pointed out that the state capital and all districts particularly Phek, Kiphire and Tuensang districts have been cut off due to numerous landslides. Further, the MP told the house that six persons have been washed away in floods and many families have been evacuated from the collapsed houses in the landslides areas. He also highlighted about clogging of River Sidzu by landslide that was posting grave danger to downstream villages.
Rio’s message at Tsungremmung festival Mokokchung, Aug 2 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio graced the second day of the Tsungremmong Mini-Hornbill Festival in Mokokchung town as principal guest where he joined in the traditional vine pulling from the town square (police point) to the venue at Imkongmeren Sports Complex. Later addressing the public at the slushy complex and under an inclement weather condition, the chief minister sought God’s blessings on everyone, as the tenets of Tsungremmong was purification and sanctification of the self as well as the community for a bumper and rich harvest. Expressing his happiness at the way in which the festival was being celebrated , Rio said rich or poor, old or young came together to celebrate Tsungremmong and despite the heavy rain the festival spirit was very high. Lauding the people of the district, which was renamed by the government as ‘Land of pioneers’ (which was earlier called ‘Land of Fashion and Music’), Rio said the sobriquet was befitting as Aos have been ahead as a
NEW DELHI, AUG 2 (IANS): CBI has registered a murder case against Army Major Vijay Singh Balhara and seven others in the killing of a 12-yearold boy in Manipur in an alleged “encounter” in 2009, the agency said on Thursday. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) named Balhara in an FIR it filed on Tuesday against the accused in the death of Azad Khan. Balhara was attached with Assam Rifles and was heading a team when the alleged ‘encounter’ took place. The CBI’s move comes after the Supreme Court on July 14 directed the agency to go through the records of the case, lodge necessary FIR and complete the investigation on the basis of a report submitted by the Justice Santosh Hegde Commission. Khan’s father Wahid
Ali, a resident of Phoubakchao village in Manipur, had deposed before Justice Hegde Commission that his son was killed by the personnel of Manipur Police Commando in a staged encounter after picking him from his home on March 4, 2009. Besides Balhara, Broason Thanga (Havaldar), Suresh Meitei (then Havaldar) and Thangjapo Toithang (a driver) are named along with four other unidentified security persons in the CBI FIR. All the accused allegedly took Khan, a Class VII student with no criminal antecedents, from his home before his death, the Commission said in its report. The evidence given by the security forces revealed that the deceased was a suspected member of the Peoples United Liberation Front (PULF) and that the
litical issue wherein he expressed gratitude to the government of India for recognising Naga history for its uniqueness and the need among Nagas to preserve and promote their culture. Rio reiterated that Naga political issue was not a law and order problem but one that required a path of negotiation. He said talks were at an advanced stage. He also maintained Nagas were not hostile against their neighbours in making their historical demands but respected all other states, their rights and their history and for which there it was imperative for all to live together in harmony. Rio also reminded
(Cont’d on p-7)
group was not a banned organisation as per the Manipur government. Khan’s family had said that at 11.50 a.m., about 30 security personnel came to the house and dragged Khan to a nearby field where he was severely beaten up amid protests from parents. On the Supreme Court’s July 14 direction, the CBI registered another FIR on Tuesday naming two then Army Havaldars -- Laisram Premkumar Singh and L. Romesh Singh -- and three other security personnel in the death of Khumbongmayum Orsonjit Singh on March 16, 2010 in an alleged “encounter”, which has also been investigated by Justice Hegde. The two cases were termed as “fake encounter” by the Supreme Courtappointed Justice Santosh Hegde Commission.
once again, says NH
D I M A P U R , AU G 2 (NPN): On the eve of the third anniversary of the signing of the Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN(I-M), the Naga Hoho has asserted that the hopes of Naga people have been crushed once again. Stating this, Naga Hoho through its communication cell explained that the happenings around has led Nagas to feel that the agreement was “likely to vanish into thin air again” as people’s last bet for signing the agreement will be in the ensuing Monsoon session of Parliament. NH said Meitei demand on the government of India to refrain from signing any Peace Agreement with the Nagas should not be a stumbling block. NH said Nagas would
not react to such “destructive forces” from both within and outside unless it was to be costly for the Nagas. It said Nagas were “crystal clear” that the Naga problem was an issue that involved both the National and International arena. Recalling the continual stand of the Nagas that “ India must strike at the right opportune time to resolve the Indo-Naga imbroglio” NH wondered what better opportunity does the government of India want than the present political scenario? It said that while considering the forthcoming parliamentary election in 2019, Naga people would not expect any political solution in future years if there was no solution beyond September 2018.
IAF to airdrop essential commodities in landslide-hit areas
GB Union, DUCCF issue dos and don’ts on influx
(L) NH-202 damaged by landslide between Wapher village and Shamator town on August 2, 2018. (R) Zhadima-Niuland road cut off due to the incessant rains. (DIPR)
K Y M C
tribe of ‘pioneers’. He also expressed his hope that kicking off the mini hornbill festival from Mokokchung will give the right message to the Nagas. Rio said the PDA government decided to spread Hornbill Festival at Kisama to all districts of Nagaland as mini hornbill festivals. Through this, tourism, business enterprises and showcasing of culture would get boosted he said. Rio said with Mokokchung as the first mini-hornbill, he hoped it would enthuse other districts also to live up to the state as the land of festivals. The chief minister switched on to Naga po-
CBI books Maj for Mnp ‘encounter’ Nagas’ hopes crushed
This is it!
“By the time the red light turns green, the flood from the road will rise above us.”
Chief minister, Neiphiu Rio addressing the Tsungremmong Hornbill Festival on Thursday.
about the present calamity which has struck Nagaland where properties were damaged, landslide causing road to be cut off and lives also lost on account of torrential rains. He said the state government along with the disaster management agency were doing everything possible to assist the affected people and districts. Rio also said he had written to the prime minister and home minister to extend assistance to the state and that there has been positive assurance. Rio said he has also written to DCs to be alert and take preventive measures. On the occasion, the chief minister also announced that the PDA govt has been implementing various programmes some of which included the foothill road project which has been renamed as ‘Trans Nagaland Highway’. He said the project was stopped but the PDA government has taken it up as priority. He said it will cover Tizit to Longtho a total of 170 km and in the second phase it will be from Longtho to Niuland a distance of 126 km.
DIMAPUR, AUG 2 (NPN): Indian Air Force (IAF) Eastern Air Command would be air dropping essential commodities in the landslideaffected districts tentatively on August 3, 2018. Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Home Department informed that the operation would begin
at 9:30am subject to weather conditions. The districts where essential commodities would be air-dropped include Peren district (at Tening and 36 AR Coy Camp, Peren), Mon district (at Tobu), Kiphire district (at Kiphire Hq & Pungro) and Tuensang district (at Noklak & Noksen). Meanwhile, NSDMA
has informed the general public that the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) toll free number is 1070. It stated that the toll free number, which is functional 24/7, is an emergency helpline for any kinds of natural disasters. Further, one may also call on 03702291120/22 the land line number of the SEOC.
All-out effort to reach essentials
State government is making all-out effort to reach essential commodities including petroleum products to Kiphire and Pungro area, which have been completely cut off due to massive landslides and sinking of portions of roads
leading to the district from both Meluri and Tuensang sides. According to the district administration, Kiphire has food-stock to last for a couple of days and rationing has been imposed for food and petroleum products, a DIPR report stated. Home department has tied up with the Central Ministry of Home Affairs for Air lifting essential commodities to the cut off areas. However, the operation has been hampered by inclement weather and is on standby at present. Food & Civil Supplies Department are also geared up and has prepared the food grains for transport as and when the air lifting is feasible. Meanwhile, the officers from the district administration of both Kiphire and Meluri are camped at the spot where a large section of the road has sunk 8km from
Meluri side. Te m p o r a r y t r a n s i t camps have been constructed with the help of volunteers on either side for facilitating manual carriage of essential commodities across the affected area from where the trucks could be utilised to transport the goods to Kiphire. A few goods-laden trucks are already reported to be stationed at Meluri while oil tankers are already on their way negotiating via Mao gate towards Meluri with dobashi guides. More essential commodities are expected to reach Meluri soon. Volunteers of Association of Off-Road Nagaland with specialised light and medium vehicles have left Kohima August 2, 2018 morning in route Meluri to assist in the lifting of essential commodities and petrol/diesel. (Cont’d on p-7)
(Cont’d on p-7)
D I M A P U R , AU G 2 (NPN): Four days after the “compete” draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published in Assam, its reverberations continued to be felt beyond its borders. Fearing large scale influx of illegal immigrants from Assam following publication of the NRC draft, GB Union (Sadar) and Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) issued a new set of instructions for all GBs and chairmen of colonies under Dimapur municipal area to stem possible infiltration. This followed a consultative meeting held between office-bearers of both the organisations here on Wednesday. The meeting discussed effective implementation of the order by (Cont’d on p-7) K Y M C