April 12, 2019

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXIX No. 125

DIMAPUR, FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Will never give in to sanctions: Kim Jong-un

Champions League: Barca beat Man Utd in first leg

Yechury, Cong allege vote rigging in Tripura

international, Page 9

sports, Page 11

northeast, Page 4

High voter turnout in Nagaland polls

(L) Voters in queue at Zenuobadze, Kohima. (C) 99 year old Dielepuu casting her vote at Chiechama. (R) CM arrives with his family to cast their vote. (DIPR)

78.67% turnout for LS poll and 88.5% for by-poll Correspondents

KOHIMA, APR 11 (NPN): Nagaland on Thursday saw a high voter turnout for election to the Lok Sabha seat with 78.67%, while by-election to the 26-Aonglenden witnessed 88.5% percent turnout.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said that the polling process was conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner with no report of untoward incidents. As per data (till 4

SC to decide on electoral bonds scheme today NEW DELHI, APR 11 (AGENCIES): Supreme Court on Thursday said it will pronounce its verdict on the plea to stay operation of electoral bonds on Friday, rejecting the Centre’s appeal to let them continue till the end of Lok Sabha elections.

Centre and the Election Commission have taken contrary stands in the Supreme Court over political funding, with the government wanting to maintain anonymity of the donors of electoral bonds and the poll panel batting for revealing the names of donors for transparency.

Attorney General KK Venugopal described the scheme, which the Election Commission has said would hurt transparency in funding of political parties and introduce black money in elections through shell companies, as an “experiment” and asked the Supreme Court to let it continue as it is a policy decision. Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, one of the petitioners, submitted that the scheme has done nothing to curb black money in political funding as donors remain anonymous.

Bhushan that out of the Rs 220 crore worth of electoral bonds purchased so far, Rs 210 crore went to the ruling BJP. (More on p-7)

This is it!

“Actually I was about to hand them over to the Excise department.”

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p.m.) made available by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Pughoboto election district recorded the highest voter turn-out at 93.93% followed by Mon district with 88.43%, Wokha 85.

98%, Kiphire 85.37%, Longleng 84.70 %, Mokokchung 83.16%, Phek 82.48%, Zunheboto 81.76 % and Dimapur 74.59%.

The lowest voter turnout was in Peren district with 64.43% followed by Kohima 64.73% and Tuensang district 73.9%.

“We expect the percentage to increase,” Sinha said while addressing the media here along with Commissioner Nagaland and Returning officer (RO), M. Patton. Despite low physical

voter turnout, the overall voting percentage was reportedly high.

However, when asked whether this was a result of rampant proxy voting, Sinha assured to check proxy voting. Sinha also informed that his office was yet to receive any official complaint or evidence of proxy voting. If any such complaint/s is received, appropriate action would be initiated, he added.

A voter under of P.S. 24 under 9th Kohima town informed this Correspondent that his vote was casted some other person. Accordingly, the voter said he had lodged a complaint with the presiding officer.

Though there were reports of technical snags

in some electronic voting machines (EVMs). Sinha however said that the EVMs were replaced immediately.

He also informed that 35 Ballot Units, 54 Control Units and 68 VVPATs were replaced during the mock poll exercise.

CEO informed that a complaint was received at a polling station in Lumami regarding machine malfunction. However, after DC Zunheboto was directed to check the machines along with the polling agents and polling personnel, it was found that the allegation was wrong.

Sinha said that another complaint was received under Tyui AC and re-poll was demanded. This will be

decided during the scrutiny, after analyzing the documents, he added.

Commissioner Nagaland and Returning officer (RO), M. Patton said complaints were also received from NDPP party apprehending disturbance in polling station 30 and 47 at Dimapur III A/C. He said DEO Dimapur was informed to take stock of the matter and found no complaints were received during polling process.

Patton also informed that some machines failed to work at Polling Station no. 19 under 21-Tuli AC, but were replaced from the neighboring sector. The polling process went on till (Cont’d on p-7) 8 p.m.

Assam police obstruct poll party at Ladigarh

I’ll be back, as will Citizenship Bill, says Modi

(L) A makeshift polling booth at Yonglok village. (R) Truck setup by Assam police to block the road leading to polling station No. 1 at Ladigarh on Thursday. (NP)

Correspondent LONGLENG, APR 11 (NPN): A ssam police personnel on Thursday blocked the road leading to the polling station No. 01 Ladigarh village under 49 Tamlu Assembly constituency by placing trucks to obstruct polling officials from reaching the designated location.

However, polling was held at a makeshift polling booth in the middle of Yonglok village adjacent to the original local after obtaining permission from the Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland.

Assam Police has been blocking polling at Ladigarh polling station.

The issue has been cropping up every election

since 2006 as Assam claim that Ladigarh fell with Sivasagar district.

Several attempts by the Centre to resolve the dispute have failed.

In 1988, the Assam government filed a case in Supreme Court seeking its intervention but the final verdict is still pending.

Ladigarh polling station has over 300 voters.

NEW DELHI, APR 11 (AGENCIES): The BJP will focus on passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill once it returns to power after the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday, indicating that the party has no plans to back off on an issue that spurred intense protests in the North East for months.

Addressing an election rally in Assam’s Silchar, PM Modi said that the legislation - aimed at making it easier for non-Muslim immigrants from neighbouring countries to obtain Indian citizenshipwill be implemented after “proper consultations with all sections of society”. He, however, assured the people of Assam that their language, culture and identity will be protected when the legislation is taken up for consideration again.

Dimapur district witness moderate turnout Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, APR 11 (NPN): Voters in Nagaland cast their votes to elect the state’s lone Lok Sabha member on Thursday, while the electorate of 26 Aonglenden assembly constituency in Mokokchung district voted in the by poll to chose their MLA. The results will be known on May 23, the day of counting.

The voting for the Lok Sabha began with relatively moderate turn out in most districts till noon but which picked up by evening to record high voting percentage.

Dimapur which has the highest number of voters in the state of 208216 witnessed poor to moderate turnout in most polling stations.

The meteoric rise in voting towards the last hours

A view of polling booth at Thilixu village under 4 Ghaspani-I A/C on Thursday. (NP)

was explained as due to proxy voting which invariably pushes up the voting percentage.

In most of the polling booths which the Reporters visited, there were at the most around 100 voters

in queue. In other booths, most of the voters were non-Nagas.

One polling station under the largest constituency of the state (4-Ghaspani-I) had hardly a few dozen voters till around 12.40 p.m.

Asked about the poor turnout an official explained that most of the voters arrived “early morning” and left after casting their votes.

He claimed that 89% of the votes had been cast by then.

(Cont’d on p-7)

Lok Sabha polls phase-I: Tripura records highest voter turnout NEW DELHI, APR 11 (AGENCIES): The Election Commission said on Thursday that voting across 91 Lok Sabha seats spread over 20 states and Union Territories in the first phase of the seven-phase elections was largely peaceful, barring a few stray incidents.

According to Election Commission officials, highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura (81.8 per cent) followed by West Bengal (81 per cent). Bihar recorded lowest voting percentage with 50 per cent voters turning out followed by 56 per cent voting in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

The officials said that 70.67 per cent voting was recorded in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 66 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, 60 per cent in Telangana, 57.85 per cent in Uttarakhand, 58 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir, 69 per cent in Sikkim, 60 per cent in Mizoram, 78 per cent in Nagaland, 78.2 per cent in Manipur and 68 per cent in Assam.

Uttar Pradesh recorded 63.69 per cent while in Lakshdweep, 66 per cent voters exercised their franchise and

Meghalaya recorded 67.16 polling.

The 10 states and two Union Territories, where voting happened in all parliamentary constituencies, are Andhra Pradesh (25), Telangana (17), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Uttarakhand (5), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Sikkim (1), Lakshadweep (1), and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1). Eight out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar

Pradesh that voted Thursday are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Bijnor, Meerut and Gautam Buddha Nagar The four parliamentary constituencies in Bihar that voted are Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui.

Cooch Behar and Alipurduar were two of West Bengal`s 42 seats that also voted as well as 7 out of 48 in Maharashtra and two out of six in Jammu and Kashmir.

Violence, EVM glitches plague polls Death of two people in Andhra Pradesh clashes, an IED blast in Maharashtra, reports of EVM glitches and multiple complaints from voters about their names not being on the electoral list or the indelible ink fading made for a troubled start to the Lok Sabha election 2019 on Thursday.

As round one of the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections began in 91 constituencies across 18 states and two Union territories, reports of unrest and irregularities cast shadows over the world’s biggest poll process.

There were reports of violence from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh while the chiefs of several parties, including TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu, AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal and PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, came forward to complain about administrative and other lapses.

More than 14 crore people are listed to vote in the first phase, held in 91 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across 18 states and two union territories. The votes for the election, being held over seven phases, will be counted on May 23.

NPCC alleges violation of model code

by Patton; demands re-poll in PS 31 DIMAPUR, APR 11 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has lodged a complaint with Election Commission of India (ECI) and the State’s chief electoral officer (CEO) alleging violation of model of conduct by deputy chief minister Y Patton. The Congress has also demanded a re-poll at polling station (PS) no. 31 under 37 Tuyi Assembly Constituency in Wokha district.

NPCC communication cell, alleged that Patton violated all election norms at 31 Riphyim Old-III polling station under 37 Tyui Assembly constituency when he campaigned by openly displaying a BJP scarf, which was an illegal act on polling day. It also claimed that Patton was caught on camera entering polling station with seven to eight voter slips and proceeding to vote on EVM. Condemning the “irresponsible” act and “blatant” violation by Patton, minister in-charge of home department, NPCC said such disregard and blatant violation of election rules by a home minister has brought disrepute to the office he holds.

NPCC also demanded that Election Commission and CEO take cognisance of the “shameful” act perpetrated by “none other than the deputy chief minister and

home minister of Nagaland”.

It further expressed its belief that the Election Commission will uphold its constitutional sanctity by taking due action against Patton under relevant sections of the law. In doing so, NPCC hoped elected leaders will not set a precedence to abuse their positions and make a mockery of the entire democratic process.

Correspondent adds: Addressing a press conference, chief electoral officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha confirmed that a complaint was received on the matter and informed that it will be scrutinised after receiving reports from the presiding officer, sector magistrate and comments of the district election officer (DEO) concerned. Sinha refused to make any comment on whether there will be re-poll or not at this stage.

On the deputy chief minister entering the polling station with BJP scarf, the CEO admitted that it was violation of model code of conduct and said the DEO will issue a notice in this regard.

He, however, clarified that the video clip being circulated in social media was not from the state election office.

On the request of NPCC for using additional lock in the strong room, Sinha said this was permissible.

Will remove infiltrators, except Buddhists, Hindus & Sikhs: Shah R A I G A N J, A P R 1 1 (AGENCIES): Referring to illegal migrants from Bangladesh as “termites”, BJP president Amit Shah Thursday said his party will throw them out after coming to power at the Centre for a second consecutive term.

Addressing a rally, he alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal was only interested in appeasing minorities.

The BJP chief claimed that TMC stood for Tushtikaran, (appeasement), Mafia and Chit Funds.

“The illegal immigrants are like termites.

They are eating the grain that should go to the poor, they are taking our jobs.

The ‘T’ of TMC stands

Amit Shah (File)

for Tushtikaran, (appeasement), M for Mafia and C for Chitfunds,” Shah said.

After coming to power, the BJP would find these termites and throw them out, he asserted, adding that citizenship would, however, be granted to every Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh.

Maintaining that the countdown to “corrupt” TMC government’s down-

fall will begin on May 23, when the BJP bags 23 Lok Sabha seats from Bengal, Shah appealed to the voters to give the saffron party an opportunity to serve them.

Shah was campaigning for party candidate Debasree Chaudhury in the minority-dominated Raiganj, where the BJP is looking to consolidate the Hindu votes while hoping that the minority votes will get divided among the Opposition outfits.

Sharpening his attack on Banerjee for opposing the NRC, the BJP president said, “Mamataji can try to obstruct as much as she wants. Modiji will bring NRC in Bengal and every single infiltrator will be indentified and thrown into the Bay of Bengal.”

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state

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

News in picture: Lok Sabha poll and by-election

Tokheho Yepthomi get his finger inked at Dimapur.

Lhovishe (82) being assisted to a polling station at Tsaphimi.

Sharingain Longkumer and his family after casting vote.

Alem Jongshi and his family after casting vote.

Mother with kids in queue 80 year old getting his finger inked at Diphupar Council Hall, Dimapur. at Tening.

Zhaleo Rio in queue to cast his vote.

PwD voter at Zunheboto.

Voters in queue at Dilong ward Mokokchung.

Voter in queue at Tehok.

DC Tuensang, Mohammad Ali Shihab assisting the PwDs.

Voters of Kiphire district in queue to cast vote. (NP)

Voters in queue at Singrijan-I, GPS, Dimapur. (NP)

Voters in queue at Chingai ward, under 46 Mon town. (NP)

Voters in queue at Shamator.

Elderly voters waiting to cast vote.

Commissioner of People with Disabilities (PWDs) Diethono Nakhro before casting her vote.

Voters in queue to cast vote at Meluri.

news in Brief

Chief secretary, Temjen Toy and other monitoring the election proceedings at RO office.

Voting in progress at Darogapathar under 4 Ghaspani 1 AC. (NP) K Y M C

All women polling officials at South Point East Zunheboto.

Voters in queue at Pfutsero.

GPRN/NSCN budget session: Government of the GPRN/NSCN will hold its Budget session for fiscal year 2019-2020, on April 23 and 24, 2019 at Khehoi designated camp. GPRN/NSCN through its MIP wing has informed all the rank and file from civil, Army and Regional set up to attend the Budget session 2019-2020 without fail.

GSU Kiruphema annual meeting: Government School Union (GSU) Kiruphema has convened its first annual meeting on April 16 at 10 a.m. at GHS Kiruphema. All the respective members have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.

PDTTU general meeting: Peren District Timber Traders Union (PDTTU) has convened its general meeting on April 16 at 11 a.m. at Forest Rest House, Jalukie. All the bona-fide members have been requested to attend without fail. The union has also welcomed new members for registration.

One may contact 9436843184 or 7628945707 for information.

PNTMK career counselling programme: Poumai Naga Tsiidoumai me Kohima (PNTMK) in collaboration with Poumai Naga union Kohima (PNUK) will be organizing career counselling programme under the theme “connecting your future� on April 13 at 10.30am at Baptist High Higher Secondary School auditorium mission compound Kohima.

2 arrested with brown sugar

The two arrested persons with the seized drugs.

DIMAPUR: Kohima police manning Khuzama inter-state police check gate arrested two persons and seized 900 grams of brown sugar from their possession on Thursday.

Two live rounds and two empty shell of 12 bore

gun were also seized, PRO of Kohima police said in a press statement.

The seizure was made during routing checking from a vehicle (Mahindra Bolero- NL 10-5432), PRO said.

The arrested persons

have been identified as Aharavi (21) son of late Weikho, and P. Zaisho (27) son of Punei, both from Senapati, Manipur.

A case has been registered under Khuzama police station for further investigation, PRO said.

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nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Will people in Nagaland vote on issues?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

NDO launches community development programmes

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A

B

Yes. No. Can’t Say.

C

45% 48% 7%

Next poll

Q: W i l l a r e t u r n t o

paper ballot restore voter confidence in elections?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST April 12

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Some sun; a t-storm, humid

34 23

A t-storm around in the p.m.

28 17

Aizawl

Guwahati Hazy sun

33 20

Hazy sun

30 14

Imphal

Itanagar Hazy sunshine

30 17

Shillong

A p.m. thunderstorm in spots 21 12

Kohima

A p.m. shower or thunderstorm 24 14

Dimapur Hazy sun Mkg

Hazy sunshine

Tuensang Hazy sun; not as warm Wokha

Hazy sun; humid

Zunheboto A thunderstorm in spots

32 19 27 14 19 10 25 16 24 12

Members of NDO with delegates at the child friendly environment and rural community health programmes launching on April 3.

DIMAPUR: Nagaland Development Outreach (NDO) Dimapur, a development wing of Nagaland Baptist Church Council –NBCC, launched its child friendly environment and rural community health programmes at its Human Resource Development Centre (NDOHRDC), Nikhekhu village, Nuiland block on April 3.

A press release from NDO director, Rev. C. Amop Noklang stated that the child friendly environment programme will be carried out in 12 villages under Niuland block to create strategic approaches and

enhance children participation in decision making, resilience and life skills to protect and empower them.

This programme will be implemented in collaboration with local Churches, councils, village leaders and with the government.

The Rural community health programme was also launched in partnership with Christian Institute of Health Science and Research (CIHSR) for these 12 villages. This programme will identify and train community health workers from each of the twelve villages on basic health care and to

Orientation programme on MDR

Dr. Rebecca Y. Sema with participants of the orientation programme to new guidelines of the Maternal Death Review, held on April 8 in Dimapur.

DIMAPUR: An orientation programme to new guidelines of the Maternal Death Review (MDR) was held at Dimapur CMO’s office chambers on April 8.

A press release from DPO, RCH-UIP, Dimapur, media cell, stated that Dr. Rebecca Y. Sema, was the resource person for the programme, who reoriented the members to the subject of maternal death and various common causes leading to maternal death in India.

She also stated that besides medical causes, there

are others contributing factors that lead to maternal death such as low socioeconomic status, illiteracy, lack of transportation, early marriage, etc.

Dr. Rebecca stated that the Maternal Death Review was initiated in 2010 under National Health Mission, and to provide it with a proper response mechanism, it has been moved to the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR).

Dr. Rebecca stated that with proper reporting and analysis of any maternal

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State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

death, suggested corrective measures can be implemented to improve service delivery and preparedness of patients to avoid preventable maternal deaths.

A single mater nal death can throw light into various issues at the community level, during referral, facility level, district and state level and also provide an opportunity to fix such issues, she stated.

The orientation programme was attended by members of the Maternal Death Review Committees.

collect village health information and “upload” village health conditions for quick response. This programme will also involve itself the Church and community.

Along with the representatives from twelve villages, dignitaries who attended the program were Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho (general secretary NBCC); Maj. Dr. Mughavi (NDO Board chairman); Rev. Dr. Hevukhu Achumi (executive secretary WSBAK); Rev. C. Amop Noklang (director NDO); and Dr. Atsung Aier (community medicine, CIHSR).

MGMHSS first primary section PTA meet DIMAPUR: MGM Higher Secondary School (MGMHSS) Midland, organized its first primary section PTA meeting at the School Auditorium on April 6.

A press release from MGMHSS media cell stated that, principal Rev Fr. Dr. PS Varghese, in his speech called for a collaborative efforts from parents and teachers for better education of their children.

He requested parents to cooperate with school authorities for holistic and all round development of the children, and also give positive criticism.

Headmaster B. Paul also stated that parents should take up responsibilities for the welfare of their children in every sphere of their growth.

A music competition was also held in which students from classes 1 to 4 participated.

Teachers from Tarang Music Academy also preformed during the meeting and the parents shared their views and opinions.

Free dental health camp at T Khel

KOHIMA: The Tsiituonuomia Student’s Union (TSU), Kohima Village observed World Health Day on April 7 by organizing a dental health camp at T. Khel Government Middle School, Kohima. TSU joint secretary Kiyakhrienuo Solo in a release stated that the programme was blessed with an invocation prayer by Khedi Baptist Church associate pastor Kezhakietuo Belho followed by an exhortation delivered by Dr. Avilie Solo, senior dentist.

Dr. Avilie, in his speech, said that conducting such programmes was the need of the hour as it not only provides medical assistance but also directly impacts the lives of people. Also speaking on the occasion, T. Khel Council Chairman, Thepfuvilie Suohu, encouraged the TSU to conduct more programmes for the welfare of its people even in the days to come.

Charing the programme, TSU president, Kekhriesetuo Sekhose, gave a brief introduction and spoke about the significance of observing World Health Day. The camp was headed

by Dr. Avilie Solo along with other dentists -- Dr. Neikhozo Belho, Dr. Vizokhotuo Solo, Dr. Pitibo Kibami -- and assisted by two volunteer nurses.

MITE team visits NZP and NBA

The MITE student-teacher team at Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar on April 5.

DIMAPUR: A team of student-teachers and staff comprising of 100 members from Modern Institute o f Te a c h e r Education (MITE) Kohima, visited Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP) Dimapur and the school for visually impaired students run by Naga Blind Association (NBA), Notun Bosti, Dimapur on April 5.

The visits were initiated under the theme “Learning to live with the physical and social environment”

ordinator Lipok was informed that Reservation Policy for PwDs (1995) although enacted in 2003 was yet to materialize.

T h e studentteachers, through the press release, urged the concerned authority to look into the implementation of the policy in the interest of progressing towards an inclusive society.

Reservation Policy for PwDs (1995) enacted in 2003 but yet to materialize the visit was undertaken as part of B.Ed curricular activity.

A press release from MITE principal, Devanand Sinha stated that the team, interacting with NBA co-

‘Investiture ceremony’ held at Sainik School Punglwa

The investiture ceremony in progress at Sainik School Punglwa on April 10.

DIMAPUR: The “investiture ceremony” of Sainik School Punglwa for the academic session 2019-20 was held on April 10 at the school premises.

The occasion was graced by Colonel Udai Bhanu, Commandant 41 Assam Rifles, Medziphema as chief guest.

A press statement from the Saink School Punglwa authority stated that the chief guest in his

address motivated the cadets by reminding them that being in an institution like Sainik School and to be put through training was a matter of pride and privilege.

He therefore urged them to do their best and help the administration in taking the school to greater heights. He also expressed confidence that cadets in the school will do extremely well in their

fields.

During the “investiture ceremony”, rank badges were conferred to newly appointed cadets who were selected for their past achievements and capabilities to don leadership roles in their respective houses and classes.

The programme began with the senior master, Kanu Barman welcoming the chief guest.

The release stated the

school and House appointees administered an oath and pledged to discharge their responsibilities honestly, sincerely and to the best of their abilities. The cadets also promised to display their dignity, integrity, discipline, leadership approach and a role model to all cadets.

Earlier, Gp Capt Sharad R Keskar, principal of the school presented a memento to the chief guest.

BRIDGE training for ASHAs, AWWs and ANMs

ASHAs and AWWs participating in the game session.

DIMAPUR: A month long Boosting Routine Immunization Demand Generation (BRIDGE) training for ASHAs, AWWs and ANMs under the aegis of the Chief Medical Office (CMO), Peren district which began on February 27 culminated on March 30 at Peren disK Y M C

trict. The objectives of the training was to equip the trainees to effectively mobilize parents/communities for Routine Immunization (RI), deliver key messages on RI and new vaccines introduced, improve vaccine confidence and reduce vaccine hesitancy among

communities by answering their concerns effectively, etc.

The training was led by District Programme Officer UIP/RCH, Dr. Nukshisangla Jamir along with District Media Officer, Pezanguno Celine and District Community Mobilizer, Sekholu

Ringa. The training was held in all the four blocks, batch wise under Peren district.

Altogether 208 participants were trained. The training was scheduled accordingly with nine sessions per batch where each session was specifically designed to present and address the specific topic. All the sessions were done with power point presentation and BRIDGE films were flashed to the trainees for better communication and understanding.

The training focused more on interactive sessions in order to clear doubts and also to ensure the trainees participation.

Dr. Nukshisangla gave a proper explanation of all the importance vaccines for RI and also adverse event following immunization. The training also focused on the importance of communication- Inter Personal Communication: three approaches to communication: one-to-one or interpersonal communication, conducting small group meetings and community meetings and advocating with local influencers for mobilizing community participation and the importance of supportive supervision, a supportive approach.

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northeast

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BJP committed to passing CAB: Modi

Silchar/Kendukona, Apr 11 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday asserted that BJP is committed to passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament in consultation with all sections of the society.

Modi said he will ensure that the interests of the Assamese people, their language, culture, traditions, heritage and identity are protected "at all costs" and appealed to the people to have faith and confidence in him.

"We are committed to bring the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. We will do it in consultation with all sections of the people in the state and take their views into account," he said at an election rally in Silchar.

The Bill provides for according Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after seven years of residence in India instead of the current norm of 12 years, even if they do not possess any document.

It was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, but was not introduced in the Rajya Sabha. It is now set to lapse on June 3.

Speaking for the controversial bill, he said that

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being presented an Assamese ‘japi’ during an election rally, at Kendukona in Kamrup (Rural) district of Assam on Thursday. (PTI)

Pakistan was created on the basis of religion but the Congress did not think about the minorities there while dividing the country during Independence.

Modi said, "Our brothers and sisters who are in the minority in the neighbouring countries have been tortured by fundamentalists and the then Congress government was responsible for this ...

They (the people) believed in 'Ma Bharti' but they had to suffer for the policies of the Congress".

People going to mandir and gurudwaras in Bangladesh and Pakistan had flee to India. Congress had compromised their identity and made them stateless in their own countries, he alleged.

He accused the party of "playing with the lives and future of lakhs of people by keeping their fates hanging in balance ... Our daughters are being tortured in Pakistan even now".

"It is the people of the country who have to make the opposition party accountable by voting against them," he said.

Keeping up his attack on the Congress, the prime minister accused it of indulging in corruption and making it a way of life to win elections.

The "naamdari parivar" (famed family) is engaged in corruption and has made it a way a life for which the members are now on bail.

But they call the "chowkidar a chor", Modi said while

addressing another rally at Kendukkona in Kamrup district.

The prime minister said a new scam by the Congress 'Tughlaq Road Chunav Ghotala' has now come to the fore. In the new scam crores of rupees meant for nutrition of poor children and expectant mothers have been seized even even as old cases of corruption against it are still on.

He held Congress responsible for compromising the security of the nation by demanding proof of attack on terrorist camps in Pakistan.

"We (union government) gave proof to them when brave soldiers had entered Pakistan and attacked terrorist camps there," he

asserted.

Modi alleged that the previous Congress government was scared and compromised with the security of the country.

Holding the Congress responsible for indulging in vote bank politics, he said if the party had wanted it could have solved the problems in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. "But they kept the issues burning deliberately for their vested interests".

The Congress allowed infiltration to ensure that their vote bank remained intact, he alleged adding "But this chowkidar will ensure that infiltration is stopped to protect the interest of the people of Assam and the North East".

"Now you tell can the security of the nation be compromised ? ... Can there be any understanding with the atankvadis, maovadis or naxalvadis (terrorists, Maoists or naxalites ?" he asked.

The BJP, when it is voted to power will ensure that the Indo-Bangla border fencing is completed soon, that there are no names of foreigners in the National Register of Citizens and no genuine Indians are left out, he added.

First phase poll concludes in Manipur

5 schools served show cause for 78.87% voter turnout; proxy voting reported at several places violating MCC

A woman shows her documents at a polling station manned only by female officials during the first phase of the 17th Lok Sabha elections in Manipur. (NP) Correspondent

IMPHAL, Apr 11: Proxy voting was alleged at several polling stations across the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency that went to poll in the first phase of the 17th Lok Sabha elections on Thursday.

Amidst the reports of proxy voting, the voting in the constituency that spreads over 10 hill districts and three valley districts concluded by and large peacefully.

Except for some sporadic incidents of EVM glitches, polling went off peacefully with overall 78.87% voter turnout, officials in the state chief electoral officer (CEO) said.

Even though, the CEO

office has received no complaint of any electoral malpractice, reports of proxy voting at various polling stations were received from various sources.

The reports said that at various polling stations across the 10 hill districts, armed miscreants suspected to be militants of different groups indulged in proxy voting.

Such electoral malpractices allegedly by armed miscreants were reported at as many as six polling stations under Saikul segment in Kangpokpi district, four in Chandel district and some other polling stations located in the interior hill areas.

A scuffle broke out at a polling station where

some armed miscreants attempted to capture booths for proxy voting in three polling stations in Chandel district.

A scuffle between the workers of BJP and Congress was also reported at a polling station in Khangabok area of Thoubal district.

As per a report compiled by the CEO office, the overall voter turnout was recorded at 78.87 % till 5 pm.

It was not the final report as voting at some polling stations were going on till the time of compiling the report. The final poll percentage will be known only after all the polling officials submitted their final reports, they said.

The voting that begun from 7 am was to conclude 4 pm. However, the voting continued at some polling stations where voting started late against the scheduled timing owing to EVM glitches.

“Final figure will be known only after all polling parties submitted their official records,” the officials said.

Eight candidates are in the fray to the Outer Manipur (ST) PC, spread over all 10 hill districts and eight Assembly segments from three valley districts –Thoubal, Kakching and Jiribam having a total of 10,10,618 voters, including 495583 males, 515022 females and 13 voters in third gender category.

The candidates were NCP's Angam Kar ung Kom, INC's K James, NPP's Thangminlien Kipgen, NPF'’s Lorho S Pfoze, BJP's Houlim Shokhopao M a t e a l ia s B e n ja m in , NEIDP's Ashang Kasar, JD-U's Hangkhanpau Taithul and independent candidate Leikhan Kaipu.

The polling in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency which covers 32 Assembly segments across the valley districts will go on April 18, the second phase of the 17th general elections to the Lok Sabha.

A total of 11 candidates are in the fray in this constituency.

Hailakandi, Apr 11 (PTI): The district election officer (DEO) of Hailakandi has issued show cause notices to five schools for violating the model code of conduct (MCC) by sending students to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s rally at Panchgram.

The rally was organised there on Tuesday.

The DEO, Keerthi Jalli, also asked the heads of the educational institutions as to why immediate action, including cancellation of certification and permission to run the schools, should not be initiated for violation of the MCC and Representation of People’s Act, 1951.

The heads of Adarsha Vidyalaya, Panchgram Quomi Madrassa, Moulana Abdul Ali Memorial Jaliliya Madrassa, Oxford High School and Cambridge High School - all situated at Panchgram - were the ones to get the notices on Wednesday, an official release said.

Taking exception to the presence of a large number of students in uniform at the Congress rally at Intake Field in Panchgram, DC Jalli, in her notices to the schools said, “You have insulted your position as an educator, the noblest of professions.”

The institutions have been given 24 hours to reply to the notices, failing which strict action will be initiated against them, the release said.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

Shillong BJP candidate against CAB S h i llo n g, A p r 1 1 (IANS): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Sanbor Shullai from the Shillong parliamentar y seat on Thursday said he would rather “kill himself than allow” the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to be implemented in Meghalaya and other northeastern states.

“The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will not be implemented as long as Sanbor Shullai is alive. I will kill myself. I will commit suicide than to allow the Bill to be implemented in Meghalaya and northeast,” Shullai said after casting his vote.

The former Deputy Speaker of Meghalaya Assembly said did not have any problem if the Bill is implemented in any other part of India. “I had earlier submitted a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP central leaders and NGOs that Meghalaya and northeastern states should be exempted from the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The Bill needs to be amended,” Shullai said.

In its poll manifesto, the BJP promised to enact the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill if it returned to power at the Centre.

Yechury, Cong allege vote rigging in Tripura Agartala, Apr 11 (IANS): The Congress and the CPI-M have alleged poll malpractices by the BJP government at the Centre and in Tripura during the voting for the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat on Thursday.

But the BJP rejected the charges saying "opposition parties are making false allegations to cover up their defeats".

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the BJP government at the Centre and in Tripura kept the security forces out of poll duties to facilitate rigging by party workers.

Q u o t i n g r e p o r t s, Yechury said the BJP workers and BJP-sponsored criminals rigged more than 464 of the 1,679 polling stations across the constituency. The number of polling booths might increase after we receive full reports, he added.

Yechury said the BJP workers and their hooligans drove Left parties' polling agents out from several hundred polling stations and prevented thousands of opposition supporters from casting votes.

He said a party delegation met the Election Commission (EC) in Delhi and submitted a memoran-

Sitaram Yechuri (File)

dum detailing vote rigging by the BJP supporters and their hoodlums. "We would submit more details of poll violence to the EC and demand repolling in those booths to give thousands of voters a chance to cast their votes," said Yechury.

Former Chief Minister and CPI-M politburo member Manik Sarkar, after casting his vote said this election was "to save the country from the atrocities and utter misrule of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre". "The BJP is afraid of facing free and fair elections in Tripura," he said.

He alleged the BJP members and their hoodlums, locally called "bike bahini" (two-wheeler group), since Tuesday visited houses of thousands of opposition supporters and CPI-M members and told them not to venture out to vote.

Voting ends peacefully; 67.03 % voter turnout in Meghalaya

Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 11: 67.03 per cent of the 19,14,795 electors on Thursday exercised their franchise to elect two new members to the Lok Sabha from Shillong and Tura parliamentary seats in Meghalaya.

“An estimated of 63.56 per cent voter turnout has been recorded in Shillong parliamentary constituency and 75.60 per cent in Tura seat,” Chief Electoral Officer, Frederick Roy Kharkongor said.

He said the final voting figure would be available later as the polling officials from 644 polling booths are yet to send their voters turnout.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the voter turnout was around 62 per cent in Shillong and around 70 per cent in Tura. “Polling has been conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner barring the violation of model code of conduct by Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate for Shillong parliamentary seat Sanbor Shullai against a presiding officer,” Kharkongor said.

Police have registered a case against Shullai based on FIR filed by the presiding officer of polling booth in Sankardev Vidyapith L.P School.

He said there were reports of snags in some VVPAT machines but were

Voters show their finger marked with indelible ink as they get a selfie clicked, after casting their vote in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya on Thursday. (PTI)

replaced.

In Shillong parliamentary constituency, there are six candidates but the contest is mainly between outgoing MP Vincent H. Pala against United Democratic Party’s (UDP) Jemino Mawthoh and BJP’s Sanbor Shullai.

“I am confident that majority of the electors of Shillong parliamentary constituency will vote in my favour because of their love for the Congress party,” Pala said after casting his vote at Lamyrsiang village in East Jaintia Hills district.

Pala is seeking re-election for a third consecutive term.

However, all eyes will focus on the Tura seat where former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of the Congress is confident to defeat former Union Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) nominee Agatha Sangma and Meghalaya’s BJP vice-president Rikman G. Momin. “We are very happy, satisfied and confi-

dent of winning both Tura and Shillong seats comfortably,” Mukul said.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma voiced confidence that candidates of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government will win both the seats.

The MDA has fielded former Union Minister National People’s Party (NPP) nominee Agatha Sangma from Tura and former United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator, professor Jemino Mawthoh from Shillong.

Meanwhile, 82 per cent of the 31, 717 electors cast their votes to elect one of the four candidates to the Meghalaya assembly from Selsella constituency.

The by-election was necessitated due to death of Congress legislator Clement Marak on October 8, 2018. Marak’s June Eliana R. Marak is pitted against Ferlin CA Sangma of the NPP, UDP’s Sayeedullah Nongrum and BJP’s Adorsho Sangma.

Over 62% voters cast ballots in Mizoram PM’s visit to Assam on polling day violates MCC: Gogoi

Aizawl, Apr 11 (IANS): Over 62 per cent of the 7,87,777 electorate cast their votes on Thursday for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram under heavy security cover, a top official said.

The state’s Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said that over 62 per cent voters had cast their votes by the end of polling at 5 p.m. since voting began at 7 a.m. across 1,175 polling stations.

“Voting has been absolutely peaceful and smooth.

Conducive weather helped people to exercise their franchise without any trouble,” Kundra told the media.

The voters will decide the electoral fortunes of six candidates, including independent aspirant Lalthlamuani, who is the first woman candidate contesting parliamentary polls in K Y M C

the northeastern state.

Besides polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat, a by-election for the Aizawl West-1 Assembly seat was also underway on Thursday.

The by-election was necessitated after the legislator of Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), Lalduhoma vacated the seat to retain his Serchhip constituency.

The parliamentary constituency in Mizoram, reserved for Scheduled Tribes, is set for a multi-cornered contest.

However, according to political analysts, the main contest is between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate C. Lalrosanga and Lalnghingolva Hmar, jointly fielded by the opposition Congress and the ZPM. BJP has fielded vet-

eran tribal leader Nirupam Chakma, a former Congress minister who joined the BJP a few years ago.

People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (Prism) -- an anti-corruption watchdogturned-political party -- has fielded T.B.C. Lalvenchhunga, a young retired Naval officer.

Lal Hriatrenga Chhangte, another independent, makes it a six-cornered contest.

Abeda Nanda Baidya, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of northern Tripura’s Kanchanpur sub-division where some of the refugee camps are located, told IANS over phone that around 3,000 of the 12,081 Reang tribal refugee voters went to Kanhmun in Mizoram to cast their votes while others were reluctant to do so.

Jorhat, Apr 11 (PTI): Former Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state for campaigning on polling day is a violation of the model code of conduct (MCC).

Gogoi said this at the DCB Girls High School polling station in Jorhat when he was there to cast his vote. His son Gaurav Gogoi, a sitting MP, was accompanying him.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi soliciting votes in Assam today when the polling process is on, across five constituencies in the state, is a violation of the MCC,” Gogoi said.

He was speaking to reporters as he stood in line to exercise his franchise for the Koliabor parliamentary constituency, which his son,

said, “Yes, otherwise why will the prime minister come here repeatedly. Modi claims himself to be the ‘chowkidar’ of the country.

“Why could he not take the money from the people who looted the country’s money. The BJP speak only about ‘acche din’ when we want development and progress,” Gogoi said.

Polling in Assam is scheduled to take place in

three phases. In the first phase on Thursday, polling for five parliamentary constituencies in Assam, is being held amid tight security. The Tezpur, Kaliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituencies have an electorate of 76,03,458, including 38,65,334 male, 37,37,970 female and 154 of the third gender, who will decide the fate of 41 candidates.

Tarun Gogoi and his son Gourav Gogoi show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting vote. (PTI)

Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress, represents.

“Modi could have campaigned tomorrow since no polling is scheduled for the day. Soliciting votes in the name of the martyrs of the Assam Agitation is also an indirect violation of the MCC. The martyrs are ours and not of the BJP,”

the former chief minister asserted.

Modi is scheduled to address two poll rallies in Assam on Thursday to campaign for the second phase of polling to be held on April 18. Asked if the BJP was worried about its performance in the state, the veteran Congress leader

Dear, "May you be gifted with life’s biggest joys and never-ending bliss. After all, you yourself are a gift to earth, so you deserve the best. Happy birthday."

Lots of love from parents, grandparents, aunties,uncles and siblings.

K Y M C

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

Sonia files nomination; says Modi not invincible

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi files her nomination papers for Raebareli Lok Sabha seat, in Raebareli, Thursday. (PTI)

RAE BARELI (UP), APR 11 (IANS): UPA Chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination papers for the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday and declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not invincible.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who accompanied his mother Sonia Gandhi, again mounted a blistering attack on the Prime Minister.

“There have been many people in Indian history who had the arrogance to believe that they are invincible and bigger than the people of the country,” he said.

“Modi has done nothing for the people in the past five years and his invincibility will be there for all

to see after elections.”

Rahul Gandhi reiterated his challenge for a debate with the Prime Minister and said that he was ready to go over to the Race Course Road if Modi wanted.

Sonia Gandhi told reporters that she was confident of the love of the people of Rae Bareli.

Asked whether she believed that Modi was invincible, she said “Remember 2004. Vajpayeeji was (considered) invincible but we won.”

Sonia Gandhi was also accompanied by Congress General Secretary and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi, her husband Robert Vadra and their children.

They earlier performed a ‘havan’ at the Congress office before the roadshow.

Thousands of supporters and party workers carrying party flags and cut-outs of their leaders were a part of the show of strength.

After filing her nomination papers, Sonia Gandhi visited the home of late Maulana Ali Miyan, a renowned cleric. She also held a meeting with party workers Sonia Gandhi is trying to retain the Rae Bareli seat for the fifth time. She had won the seat in 2004, 2006 (by-polls), 2009 and 2014.

In 2014, there were 15.94 lakh voters in the constituency and the poll percentage was 51.73 per cent, in which Sonia Gandhi had got 5,26,434 votes.

Rae Bareli will vote in the fifth-phase on May 6 and will see a straight contest between Sonia Gandhi and Dinesh Pratap Singh, who recently joined the BJP after leaving the Congress.

The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have not fielded any candidate in this Congress bastion. It is noteworthy that since 1957, the Congress has won the seat 19 times, including three byelections, and lost the seat only thrice - 1977, 1996 and 1998.

national Naxal killed, STF jawan injured in C’garh gunfight RAIPUR, APR 11 (PTI): A Naxal was killed and a Special Task Force (STF) jawan suffered injuries in a gun-battle in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on the day of polling for the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday, police said.

The encounter took place at around 4:20 pm when the ultras attacked a team of security forces out on an area dominationcum-search operation in a forest near a helipad in the Orchha area, Deputy Inspector General (AntiNaxal Operation) Sundarraj P told PTI. The patrolling team, also comprising STF personnel, had launched the operation in the morning in view of polling in the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, of which Narayanpur is a part, he said.

On way back after polling in the area, the patrolling team came under fire from a group of Naxals, leading to the gunbattle, the IPS officer said.

However, soon the ultras fled the spot, he added.

“STF constable Hriday Ram Sahu sustained injuries in the gunfight,” he said. Later, during a search at the encounter spot, the body of a male cadre was recovered, Sundarraj said.

‘Namo’ food packs trigger political row N O I DA / L U C K N OW (UP), APR 11 (PTI): Some security personnel on election duty in Noida were served meals in packets labelled “Namo Foods”, triggering criticism from the opposition even after the local police said the packs only displayed the name of food shop.

The Bahujan Samaj Party said it has complained to the Election Commission.

“NaMo” are widelyrecognised Hindi initials of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, previously seen on BJP merchandise and recently as the name of a TV channel.

T h e p a c k e t s we r e brought in the boot of a hatchback and distributed among police personnel in Noida’s sector 15A around 9.30 am, while polling was on in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency under which the Delhi suburb falls.

Union minister Mahesh Sharma is the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate seeking re-election there.

The packets, coloured

Police seize saffron coloured food packets from ‘Namo Foods’ in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Thursday. (PTI)

in a shade of saffron, had ‘Namo Foods’ emblazoned on top in Hindi. They soon started generating a buzz among curious onlookers.

When contacted in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer L Venkateshwarlu said he has already spoken with the district magistrate on the issue.

“It is nothing related to the prime minister as the name of the company itself is Namo,” he told PTI. But the Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh

Yadav blamed the BJP. “Voters are turning out in large numbers to vote for #MahaParivartan which perhaps explains this desperate move. Clearly, the only thing the BJP knows how to do is branding and marketing,” he said, quoting a re-tweet.

The SP’s alliance partner Bahujan Samaj Party said it has contacted the EC. “We have already taken it up both at the state level and with the Election Commission,” its national

general secretary S C Misra said.

Election r ules ban paraphernalia related to parties or candidates within 200 metres of polling booths.

Misra also forwarded photographs of the food packets through social media to substantiate his claim.

Earlier, Guatam Buddh Nagar’s senior superintendent of police Vaibhav Krishna issued a statement, saying the packets had nothing to do with any political party.

“Misinformation is being spread that some policemen have been distributed food from a political party,” he said.

“This is absolutely wrong. At the local level, some food packets were procured from Namo Food Shop and not from any political party,” he said.

“Some people are spreading wrong and politically motivated rumours.

There is no official order to procure food from any particular food outlet,” he said.

5

Sitharaman praises ‘flawless’ Balakot operation NEW DELHI, APR 11 (PTI): Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday complimented the Indian Air Force for its “flawless execution” of the February 26 Balakot operation and subsequent thwarting of the Pakistani response as she addressed top IAF commanders here.

Sitharaman, in her inaugural speech at the twoday IAF conference, also commended Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who had become the face of the conflict between the two nations.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal B S Dhanoa emphasised on further enhancing the IAF’s capability in the field of space, cyber, artificial intelligence and drone technology to further boost its overall combat capability.

The IAF said the commanders will deliberate on a range of issues including the “successful strike over Balakot” and the subsequent Pakistani air action on February 27, besides exploring ways to enhance India’s air power capability in the short and long term.

“The defence minister complimented the IAF and its air warriors for achieving and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism in the service of the nation. She praised the IAF for its flawless execution of the Balakot strikes and

Congress clears 2 more names; Tewari and Dhillon NEW DELHI, APR 11 (AGENCIES): The Congress on Thursday approved the nomination of Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari from Anandpur Sahib seat and Kewal Dhillon from Sangrur in Punjab for the Lok Sabha elections.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi approved the nominations while Bathinda and Ferozepur are still pending.

Tewa r i , w h o wa s Union minister of state of Information and Broadcasting, was seeking a ticket from Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency which the party gave to veteran leader Pawan Kumar Bansal.

In 2009, he won from Ludhiana constituency whereas he opted out in 2014.

Senior party leader Ambika Soni has preferred to opt out of the electoral race this year.

Soni had unsuccessfully contested from Anandpur in 2014.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman interacts with the IAF commanders in New Delhi, Thursday. (PTI)

subsequent thwarting of the Pakistani response,” the IAF said. On February 26, India carried out an aerial strike on a terrorist training camp of the Jaish-e Mohammad terror group in Pakistan’s Balakot, in response to Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Pakistan Air Force retaliated the next day by trying to target military installations but it was repulsed. The PAF downed a MiG-21 Bison in an aerial combat besides capturing IAF pilot Varthaman, who was handed over to India on March 1. Varthaman had shot down an F-16 of Pakistan before his Mig21 Bison was hit.

Sitharaman said the IAF has proved its mettle

during last year’s exercise Gagan Shakti and Vayu Shakti drills in February and the same was reflected in the successfully conducted of the Balakot strike and the air action on February 27, IAF said in a statement.

“She expressed great appreciation for the training imparted to all personnel in the IAF as reflected in the actions and conduct of Wing Commander Abhinandan,” it added.

Sitharaman stressed on a proactive role of the IAF in the Indian Ocean Region and called for enhancing defence cooperation with countries of the region.

She also asked the force to look at bringing latest technologies available across the world and those that can

be developed within India, in order to meet its needs.

“She added that she is aware of the critical requirements projected by the IAF and assured that as a nation we need to build those capabilities,” the IAF said.

Sitharaman said the IAF will play a vital role in enhancing the defence manufacturing capabilities of India through its acquisitions under the strategic partnership model.

The government unveiled the strategic partnership model in May 2017 under which select private firms were to be roped in to build key military platforms like submarines and fighter jets in India in partnership with global defence majors.

Strong wave in favour of BJP, says PM Modi SILCHAR, APR 11 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the BJP is committed to passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill once the NDA returns to power after the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

The Bill will be amended after proper consultation with all sections of the society and ensuring safety of the Assamese community, Modi told a poll rally here, his second of the day in Assam.

Protection to Assa-

mese language, culture and identity will be ensured while considering the Bill again, he assured.

The Bill had been passed by the Lok Sabha by the Modi government on January 8 but was not introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill is now set to lapse on June 3.

Slamming the Congress, he said it did not think about the minorities in Pakistan while dividing the country during Independence.

“The fundamentalists

tortured our brothers and sisters in Pakistan. Is Congress not a culprit for this?

People going to mandirs and gurdwaras in Bangladesh and Pakistan had to come to India. Congress sins made them foreigners in their own land?” he added. “Our daughters are being tortured in Pakistan even nowadays,” he alleged.

On the triple talaq Bill, Modi said his government will “strongly try” to pass the legislation after it comes to power at the Centre.

Flutter after ‘green light’ pointed at Rahul; MHA says no threat press interaction of Rahul Gandhi near the collectorate at Amethi.

“Director (SPG) has also informed MHA that this position was conveyed to the personal staff of Rahul Gandhi. Director (SPG) has confirmed that there was no security implication whatsoever,” the spokesperson said. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala the party has written no letter pertaining to alleged security breach to Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The home ministry spokesperson corroborated this saying, “MHA has not received any letter from the Congress party.”

When asked at the AICC briefing, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said there is no letter, there is no complaint.

“Let me make it very clear that the obligation of security, especially, during election time and in particular for a SPG protectee is squarely on the SPG, on the security forces and ultimately in some sense on the MHA”, he told reporters.

davp 17112/11/0002/1920

DC-531

NEW DELHI, APR 11 (PTI): A ‘green light’ pointed at Congress President Rahul Gandhi during his roadshow in Amethi on Wednesday created a scare, but the Home Ministry said there was no threat to his life.

However, sources said that a security breach was alleged when the light was seen pointed at the head of Rahul during the roadshow.

This led to security concerns within the party, but it was later found that the light was from a camera.

When contacted, a home ministry spokesperson said as soon as the ministry’s attention was drawn to reports about the incident, the Director (Special Protection Group) was asked to verify the factual position.

“Director (SPG) has informed MHA that they have gone through the video clipping of the incident very closely. The ‘green light’ shown in the clipping was found to be that of a mobile phone used by the AICC photographer, who was videographing the impromptu

DC-532

6

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXIX NO. 125 Dimapur, FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

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Power play

oming 24 hours ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha polling, the Modi government suffered a big political setback when the Supreme Court on April 10 dismissed the government’s “preliminary objections” of allowing the admissibility of three documents related with the Rafale deal as evidence.

The Apex court order came after re-examining the review petitions against its December 14,2018 judgment. The government had used every means including deploying top air force officers to speak in defence of the jet besides rushing off a delegation to have the French issue a clean chit on the deal. The Rafale deal was most elaborately exposed by The Hindu in a series of reports which raised very pertinent questions about how the PMO directly intervened to clinch the deal besides revealing how the seven-member Indian Negotiating Team (INT) concluded that the deal by the Modi government was not on better terms offered by Dassault to the UPA government while negotiating for purchase of 126 Rafale aircraft. Among several other issues, the deal done by the Modi government with Dassault also did not contain any ‘sovereign guarantee’. This is given by a sovereign government (France) to another sovereign government (India), guaranteeing enforcement of the terms and conditions of the contract signed under their auspices. The Modi government only signed a ‘letter of comfort’ with the French which is definitely not on a par with a sovereign guarantee. Loosely, it can be said to be a ‘letter of intent’, as is often used in international contracts. The Indian firm which was made offset partner filed a slew of defamation suits against media organisations, journalists and politicians for raising questions about the Rafale deal. According to The Hindu, the firm had also filed a defamation against The National Herald to the tune of Rs.5000 crore for publishing reports on the Rafale deal in 2018. The review petition in the Supreme Court was filed by former BJP Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie including activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan against the court’s December-14 judgement, in which it dismissed all petitions against the Rafale jet deal. The Modi government had tried to stonewall any probe under the plea by alluding that documents sourced by a newspaper were stolen. The government had claimed “privilege” over the leaked Rafale documents under Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act and told the SC these papers couldn’t be considered as bases to re-examine its verdict on the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal. The government had also warned media against publishing about the deal under the Official Secrets Act since it involved national security. The Supreme Court has dismissed that contention and will now open the case for further hearing. It was a day of disappointments for Modi when the Election Commission of India (ECI) stopped the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biopic and also ordered a ban on NaMo TV till the Lok Sabha elections conclude. ‘Modi Biopic’, the Vivek Oberoistarrer film was also strategically planned to be released a week prior to elections. Prior to the biopic, the launch of the NaMo channel created a storm. The BJP capitalised on a grey area in the regulation by calling it an advertising platform to bypass licensing from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. These are setbacks but perhaps Modi is not giving up to ensure he returns to power by all means.

DailyDevotion Complete and Effective Divinity If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection… —Romans 6:5 Co-Resurrection. The proof that I have experienced crucifixion with Jesus is that I have a definite likeness to Him. The Spirit of Jesus entering me rearranges my personal life before God. The resurrection of Jesus has given Him the authority to give the life of God to me, and the experiences of my life must now be built on the foundation of His life. I can have the resurrection life of Jesus here and now, and it will exhibit itself through holiness.

The idea all through the apostle Paul’s writings is that after the decision to be identified with Jesus in His death has been made, the resurrection life of Jesus penetrates every bit of my human nature. It takes the omnipotence of God— His complete and effective divinity— to live the life of the Son of God in human flesh. The Holy Spirit cannot be accepted as a guest in merely one room of the house— He invades all of it. And once I decide that my “old man” (that is, my heredity of sin) should be identified with the death of Jesus, the Holy Spirit invades me. He takes charge of everything. My part is to walk in the light and to obey all that He reveals to me. Once I have made that important decision about sin, it is easy to “reckon” that I am actually “dead indeed to sin,” because I find the life of Jesus in me all the time (Romans 6:11).

Just as there is only one kind of humanity, there is only one kind of holiness— the holiness of Jesus.

And it is His holiness that has been given to me. God puts the holiness of His Son into me, and I belong to a new spiritual order.

Quotes

Growth is painful. Change is painful.

But, nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong. ~ N. R. Narayana Murthy

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

Post-mortem

Cricket, Naga-lim and chief minister-2

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ife should be simple; like lining up Nagaland cricket officials and barking “YOU ARE FIRED.” Long after news channels and print media in India carried allegations of corruption in cricket, Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA) officials were forced to issue a rebuttal that they “are unaware of any such matter,” where miscreants are alleged to have promised Ranji berths to Delhi based players in the cricket teams of different states including Nagaland. The NCA may not be ‘aware’ of the matter but its parent body, the BCCI, has already filed a FIR with Delhi police on the complaint of a certain Kanishk Gaur and two others who were promised Ranji berths in Nagaland team.

Kanishk actually went on to play two matches for Nagaland but felt necessary to approach the BCCI because he wasn’t allowed to play 3 more matches as promised. According to Delhi Police, it’s a multi-Crore scam.

So while the NCA plays ostrich in the sand, the Delhi police is investigating the allegation that Kanishk Gaur was “Called to meet with the head coach of Nagaland cricket team and some members of the board. He was asked to pay 15 Lakhs for 5 matches” (Source: Hindustan Times, firstpost.com, Indian Express). To jog the memory of Nagaland cricket, a picture of Kanishk Guar is circulating in social media where he is seen with few so-called ‘Nagaland’ players all wearing Nagaland jersey. Amen.

To be fair, under BCCI rules, 3 guest players are allowed to play for the state associations.

Theoretically, if the NCA is rich enough, Sachin Tendulkar can be lured out of retirement to play for the state. But the real issue is, why is it that so many players from outside Nagaland are clamouring to play for the state? Is it a new found love for Nagaland or is it far more insidious than we naive Nagas think it to be?

Rohit Jhanjhariya, Paras Sehrawat, Nitesh Lochab, Rachit Bhatia, Rahul Sharma, VKK Reddy, Aditya, Dhavanath, Bhavik Patel and AJ Kaushik. These players are not from Nagaland but they managed to represent the state in Ranji trophy matches (1st class, four day test matches), Vijay Hazare matches (1st class, one day matches) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali (T20) matches.

So how did these 10 outsider players manage to get into the system, the playing XI? Look at the Ranji team composition for Nagaland Vs Pondicherry (Source; Cricbuzz).

Jonathan Rongsen (C), KB Pawan (wk), Nitesh Lohchab, Paras Sehrawat, Rachit Bhatia, Hokaito, Abrar Kazi, Pawan Suyal, Sedezhalie Rupreo, Tahmeed Rahman and Imliwati Lemtur. Here, excluding Tahmeen, a resident of Nagaland, there’re 6 outsiders in the playing XI. Another example: T20 game, Nagaland Vs Jammu & Kashmir (Source: Cricbuzz). There are a total of 8 outsiders. Rohit Jhanjhariya, Sedezhalie Rupreo, Nitesh Lochab, Rongsen Jonathan (c), Mughavi Wotsa, Rahul Sharma, KB Pawan (wk), Abrar Kazi, Pawan Suyal, Tahmeed Rahman, Imliwati Lemtur, Toni Chishi, Paras Sehrawat, Inakato Zhimomi, & Rachit Bhatia.

So the Kaun Banega Crorepatti question is why hardly any Naga faces in Nagaland cricket? Before answering this question, let’s look at the BCCI pay structure for players: Player Fees for playing XI Fees for reserves Rs.35,000 per day x 4 days Senior-Ranji Trophy Half of Rs. 140,000 = Rs. 140,000 per match Senior-Vijay Hazare Rs. 35,000 per match Trophy Under-23 Rs. 17,500 per day Rs. 8,750 per day Under-19 Rs. 10,500 per day Rs. 5,250 per day Under-16 Rs. 3,500 per day Rs. 1,750 per day Note: T-20 fee is 50% of the respec- once a player gets the BCCI/State/ Ranji-trophy-player tag, the players are tive category.

So far, starting November 2018, guaranteed admission into some of the Nagaland has played 8 Ranji and 8 Vi- best colleges or universities in India jay Hazare matches against Manipur, and even abroad, with scholarships Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, to boot. Thirdly, once you’re a Ranji Bihar, Sikkim, Mizoram, Meghalaya, player – never mind that you were in and Pondicherry. For T20 the opposi- the Reserve the whole season – one’s tions were Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, resume becomes impressive, allowing for employment in PSUs, Central J&K, Delhi, Manipur, Jharkhand.

So If a player is paid Rs.1,40,000 services/Para military, etc. Given the per match for Ranji, his overall Ranji vast scope for corruption why should earning would be Rs. 1,40,000 x 8 Nagaland cricket promote local Naga matches = Rs. 11.20 Lakhs. If the players?

The NCA can easily explain same players – in NCA players are not dropped, simply banished if you are away that 3 of the outsiders are ‘guest good – played 8 Vijay Hazare Trophy players.’ However, for the remaining matches, they would earn another outsider players this explanation will Rs.35,000 x 8 matches = Rs. 2.80 L not suffice because a player has to be each. Again, the seniors played 6 a resident of the state in order to be T20 matches @Rs. 17,500 per player in the playing XI or team XV. The per match, which is, 6 x 17,500 = Rs. names - Rohit Jhanjhariya, Paras 105,000. Therefore the total earnings Sehrawat, Nitesh Lochab, Rachit of a single player (Ranji+Vijay+T20) Bhatia, Rahul Sharma, VKK Reddy, from last November till date would Aditya, Dhavanath, Bhavik Patel, AJ be roughly Rs. 15 Lakhs! This is not Kaushik, etc., are not only non-locals including the DAs and we still talk but clearly outsiders. Therefore, it about lost opportunities. Besides, the can only mean that some colony or BCCI takes care of fooding, lodging villages in Dimapur must have issued and travel expenses through the state resident NOCs to these players attested by the district administration (or even associations.

The outsider player conundrum forged) in which case it’s a clear-cut is simple. Players representing the case of cheating and forgery. The states are getting minimum Rs. 15 NCA SHOULD PRODUCE THE Lakhs each from the BCCI. To cut DOMICILE CERTIFICATES OF a long story short, would Nagaland ALL THESE PLAYERS. As the head of the NCA, the cricket officials benefit if local boys Chief Minister should line up his start playing for the state? First of all, locals are not aware that there’s so cricket officials and say “YOU ARE much money in the game. Secondly, FIRED.” No sir, no investigation is no local boy will shell out 15 Lakhs required because we know what hap(nor Nagaland cricket entertain this pens in investigations. And anyway, idea from a local) to get into the team. the Delhi Police is on the lookout.

Thirdly, Nagaland cricket is a very The mere overwhelming presence of tight coterie; with some of the officials outsiders in the teams backs up the fit for Lifetime Award; and their mo- FIR filed by the BCCI. The much nopoly is absolute. But for the outsider anticipated ‘firing’ is the Change we who drinks, eats and sleeps cricket the Nagas are looking forward to. stakes are very high. It’s a life invest- Nota bene: Post hue and cry, NCA ment that they’re making in Nagaland officials are hurriedly conducting open cricket; and the ‘investment’ is easily selection trials but only pure locals recovered from the BCCI. There’s may apply, or so it seems.

In Naga Interest always this off-chance that one may Joel Naga be selected for Team India. Secondly,

Lok Sabha elections - a common man perspective

the spirit of election but also indirectly endorses tribalism.

Both caste and tribalism should be annihilated. To safeguard and elevate the lives of the current and future voters, it is time for voters to educate and empower themselves and not just protest or moan.

Over the past few years we are privy to numerous developmental projects that has fructified in our state e.g Smart city project, 4 lane project, national awardees, social security scheme etc.

This is to be appreciated as development requirement has got the attention of the Central government. In this regard, we cannot deny the fact that the social assistance of the ruling government towards the common people are being taken with due consideration. One or the other way the social and economic development is taking better shape, as compared to the previous governments. However, development must not be restricted to select cities and towns alone and much more needs to be done.

In the midst of the election year where our mind is still confused to choose a good leader, it is always recommended that one should study, how well will our leaders are able to highlight developmental schemes and fight for the rights of our state. For, “democracy is a government - of the people, by the people and for the people”. Let us vote in big numbers and bring about a change for the betterment of our state and society.

Limhathung Louis, New Colony, Wokha Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all” - John F Kennedy.

India, by virtue of its population is the largest democratic country in the world. The campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections has already started with a full swing. The political scenario has been witnessing a roller coaster ride with many politicians switching sides to come to power. Now what is in store for a common Naga?

How does he gain from these elections? This question is being asked by both younger and older generations.

First and foremost, as a common citizen, we must not let the politician divide us on the basis of our tribal affinity. We have had a long history of blood path and infighting among ourselves.

It is time we unite ourselves as one. In every election, every vote counts towards making a huge difference.

This was clearly evident during the Assembly Elections of 2018. Voters have to fight for rights like any other mainland India and ask for development for the state. The political parties for their political gains always commit big promises in order to come to power.

We must not be fooled by their tall claims and ask our prospective Lok Sabha candidates as to what they have done to bring about changes in our state. It is imperative that voters are not taken for granted for which one has to carry out in-depth study of the candidates/parties that only speak at face value. As a common man,

we must arm ourselves with awareness by studying party manifestos, questioning the source and agenda of social media forwards and most importantly learning the facts and figures about current and past governments.

There are a number of think tanks that study and keep a track of the government’s performance and India’s social and economic status, with information readily available to voters. As Buckminster Fuller, an American Architect once stated “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete” Nagaland has only one Lok Sabha seat and only one of the 60 state assembly seats is being contested for. But in a democracy, every vote counts and it can make a wave of difference; it can shift decisions and alter future. Issues which are critical to Nagaland and the Naga people as a whole, such as the much awaited ‘Naga Peace Accord’ and ‘Citizen Amendment Bill’ are influenced by elected leaders. Apart from this, our state is primarily an agrarian economy, having a small economy and large swathes of land connected by bad to terrible roads. Infrastructure development alongwith good all weather roads is the top most priority which must be answered by the leaders of all political parties. Communities and villages in our state may have initially declared their support for particular candidates to show oneness, but today, it has become a system that not only spoils

U

Good roads finally !!

And yes in Nagaland

F

or the past few years Nagaland had been undergoing one of the roughest phase with unstable government, change of leaderships, horse trading of legislators, the protests for women reservation, no scholarship etc. This rough phase has kept the citizens busy and made us forget to demand even our basic rights, one being “good quality roads”. After the 2018 general election in Nagaland, I am sure the general public is relived that ‘the government’ is at least functioning and with a strong opposition at last.

The ‘lipsticking’ of roads and wearing and peeling up of road surfaces have almost become a common sight in Nagaland with videos and pictures of poor workmanship going viral all over the internet. Will the roads in Nagaland ever, even last a season? Is what keeps me wondering. The tenders floated by the department of PWD (R&B) for the improvement of roads within Dimapur and Kohima, come as a ‘sigh of relief ’ for the public. The result can be seen in and around both districts with repair works being undertaken at various places.

I was drawn to a facebook post in one of the groups “The Naga Mirror” appreciating the quality of work done between ‘City Tower Road to DC court Junction’ which drew me to further read the comments to find out that the work was being undertaken by M/s. Multibuilders. The name somehow seemed familiar and upon further introspection, I was reminded of a news article in Nagaland Post about Good and Bad Roads in Nagaland (The department appreciating the quality works of Multi Builders) . Plying between the stretches of the road and seeing with my own eyes I could say now that we have quality roads. Passing by The city tower area, Holy Cross-Dhobinallah, Tragopan area, made me feel, I have just crossed the border to the other side of our state, how you feel a sudden shift in the riding quality. It is a ‘remarkable job’ well done.

Whoever the contractor is, I really would like to appreciate the quality of work being done.

May God bless you and may you inspire other contractors to carry out such works.I feel that the department and the public should encourage and appreciate such works even in days to come.

Besides the contractor not forgetting the efforts put together by the officers in the Department.

Please continue to shoulder responsibility and ensure that the quality of work is not compromised. Also not forgetting minister PWD (R&B) for taking up the initiative on top priority and ensuring that your 60 days assurance to repair all district Hqs road is well kept.(although the deadline is over) It is a humble request to the department and the lawmakers that no matter which government is ruling and in power please ensure that works are allotted to proper experienced and qualified contractors. This will automatically bring good name to the department and the government too and also keep the citizens contended and not regret the leaders we elect.

Bendangakum, Signal Angami, Dimapur

When election comes

nity in diversity has been the hallmark of the state of Nagaland.

The cultural richness has taken everyone outside the region by a wonderful surprise. Assimilation is one of the beautiful qualities of the state. The state like any other Indian states, have occupied a permanent place in terms of diversity of communities irrespective of her small geographical area as compared to other states.

It is with this notion, every ethnic group or indigenous tribe has an aspiration to have an elected member in the state assembly.

Having an elected member of one’s own community in the state assembly is the matter of pride since it determines the status of community among many tribes living in the state. This is common elsewhere, where clan and ethnic base political preference has been the order.

When election comes, it is a general understanding that one community is pitted against other community. Commonly,

during election the environment change from friendship to foe, love to hatred, righteousness to unrighteousness, honest to dishonest, peace to violence, etc. The tug of war between supporters of the candidates become obvious, more so when it is to do with tribes. This tribe narrow based concept of development creates unhealthy practices of all sorts. The election manifesto or party ideology has nothing to do with the people in the matter of choice of candidates as they are more or less govern by clan or tribes rather than the leadership virtues of the candidates. This has been witnessed in the past and it continues to be the way of political process in the state. We need to come up and move beyond this. Individual rights should not be compromised for a social and democratic system that’s regressive.

Wewute Chirhah, Student, Dept of Mass Communication, Patkai Christian College (Autonomous)

Reader’s Post

Over-weight school bags still a problem

Sir,

Looking out my window in the middle of the day here in Dimapur, I just noticed a small kid, just 8-10 years, dragging a huge school bag under the scorching heat of the sun. It’s obviously sympathetic. Now, I can’t complain about the heat of the sun.

But I know something can be done about that massive and clearly over weight school bag he was carrying, that could weight more than 5kg. He was literally bending over entirely horizontal to the ground so the bag rests on his back as he walked, because it’d drag his shoulders backward if he stood upright. Don’t we care?

I faced the same situation in my schooling days where some teachers would make us bring both notebooks and texts books, which for the record, were usually colossal in size, even if it wasn’t necessary. I’m not saying they can’t make the students do that, but it would be nice if they considered the labour that needs to be endured by students that aren’t travelling by buses or other vehicles.

The problem is apparent to all of us and therefore the central government has even instructed that all schools follow a certain prescribed weight of school bags of their students. They are: not more than 1.5kg for classes 1 and 2; between 2-3 kg for classes 3 to 5; not more than 4 kg for classes 6 and 7; not more than 4.5 kg for classes 8 and 9; and not more than 5kg for class 10.

I urge the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Nagaland, to consider this issue at the earliest and take all necessary steps to ensure that all schools adhere to the prescribed pan India law, which clearly haven’t made it to our state. I would hate to see another kid who has to go through any unnecessary labour only because he’s going to school to receive education and possibly be a leader one day.

Motsuthung Yanthan, (motsuthungy.my@gmail.com) reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

national/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

SC reserves order on PIL challenging electoral bonds

NEW DELHI, APR 11 (PTI): If the identity of the purchasers of electoral bonds meant for transparent political funding is not known, then the efforts of the government to curtail black money in elections would be “futile”, the Supreme Court said Thursday.

The top court reserved verdict on the plea of an NGO which has challenged the validity of the scheme and has sought that either the issuance of electoral bonds be stayed or the names of donors be made public to ensure transparency in the poll process.

The Centre vehemently supported the scheme saying that the purpose behind it is to eliminate the use of black money in elections and asked the court not to interfere with it at this stage and examine the whether it has worked or not only after the elections.

“So far as the electoral bond scheme is concerned,

it is the matter of policy decision of the government and no government can be faulted for taking policy decision,” it told the bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna.

The bench asked Attorney General K K Venugopal, re presenting the government, as to whether bank knows the identity of purchasers at the time of issuing the electoral bonds.

Venugopal answered in affirmative and then said the banks issue bonds after ascertaining KYC which is applicable for opening the bank accounts.

“When the bank issues the electoral bond, does the bank have details on which bond was issued to ‘X’ and which bond was issued to ‘Y’,” the bench asked. On getting the response in negative, the bench said, “If the identity of purchasers of bonds is not known then there will

be greater ramification on the Income Tax law and all your (government’s) efforts to curtail black money will be futile”.

Venugopal said bonds are purchased through proper banking channels by using white money and through cheques, demand drafts and electronic means and no third party cheques are allowed to procure bonds.

The bench then asked about donations by shell companies and said that if the identity of donors are not known then such firms would “turn black to white” and moreover, the KYC is only the certification of the source of money.

“Existence of shell companies and conversion of black to white will always exist. What more could we do. There is no alternative method. We are trying to do something which cannot be worse off because shell companies exist,” the top law officer said.

Venugopal said the bank knows the customer, but it does not know which bond was issued to which party.

He also said the anonymity of donors of electoral bonds is to be maintained for various reasons such as fear of repercussions on a firm or an individual if the other political party or group wins.

The voters have the right to know the persons who have funded their candidates.

“It is not voters’ concern to know where the money comes from. Transparency cannot be looked as a ‘mantra’. What is the realities of the country.

This is a scheme that will eliminate black money from the elections,” he said.

He also said that the donors also have the right to privacy and the apex court verdict recognises the right to have political affiliations and urged the court to uphold the scheme.

2 killed in pollrelated clash in Andhra

AMARAVATI, APR 11 (PTI): A ruling Telugu Desam party worker and another belonging to the main opposition YSR Congress were killed Thursday in a poll-related group clash in Anantapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The clash occurred at Veerapuram village under Tadipatri Assembly constituency in the afternoon.

The deceased have been identified as Pulla Reddy of YSR Congress party and Sidda Bhaskar Reddy of the TDP, according to police sources.

TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu condemned the killing of his party worker and accused the YSR Congress of indulging in violence to win the election.

Countering this, the YSRC alleged that followers of local TDP MP and MLA, the JC brothers (MP J C Diwakar Reddy and MLA, J C Prabhakar Reddy), tried to rig the votes in a polling booth at Veerapuram.

Over 55% voter turnout in J&K amid allegations of EMV glitch scale EVM malfunction in Poonch and Mendhar belt of the constituency. He said people protested over the issue. Another Congress spokesman had claimed that in the EVMs, button number four of the Congress was not functioning and complaints were lodged with poll officials.

Former minister and senior Congress leader Shabir Khan had told reporters in Rajouri during the day that defective EVMs had been sent to remote and rural areas of Rajouri and Poonch. But nothing has been done to repair the machines, he had al-

leged. While polling was underway, the National Conference and the PDP had alleged that uniformed personnel “coerced” had people to vote for the BJP. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted a video showing voters raising anti-BJP slogans after they were allegedly “roughed up” by BSF jawans for not voting for the saffron party.

“A voter at polling booth in Jammu was manhandled by the BSF because he refused to cast his vote for BJP. Using armed forces at polling stations to coerce people to vote for the BJP shows their desperation &

hunger to usurp power by hook or crook,” she said in her tweet.

To this, the chief electoral officer said a BSF assistant commandant and a few other personnel were replaced following the incident over dereliction of duty as they were unable to handle the situation.

He, however, counselled politicians to verify facts before putting them in the public domain as he said BSF personnel were not involved in beating the people. Polling began amid tight security at 7 am in the Jammu constituency, with voters in Samba, Jammu,

Rajouri and Poonch turning out early morning to exercise their franchise, officials said.

While Jammu district recorded 72.19 per cent polling, Samba registered the highest turnout of 73.8 per cent, followed by Rajouri district with 65.7 per cent and Poonch with 68 percent, they said.

In the Baramulla seat, Kupwara district registered the highest turnout of 47.7 per cent, followed by Bandipora (30.1 per cent), Baramulla (22.3 per cent), while Kashmiri migrants polled 45 per cent for Baramulla seat, they added.

High voter turnout in Nagaland polls

(From p-1) For the by-poll, with 12,436 voters, the 26 Aonglenden seat witnessed a straight contest between NDPP/PDA consensus candidate Sharingain Longkumer and Congress nominee Alemjongshi Longkumer.

A total of 2,227 polling stations were set up across 12 election districts, while 75 companies of security forces, including central armed police forces, IRBn and State Police, were deployed for smooth conduct of the election process. These forces were complemented

by Home Guards and over 1,000 village guards.

Meanwhile, chief minister Neiphiu Rio, who cast his vote at Tuophema village in Kohima district, in his tweet said he went to cast his vote and exercised his democratic right. “I urge everyone to participate in the electoral process in large numbers,” he tweeted. In another tweet in the evening, the chief minister said peaceful election was an essential requirement for a stable democracy. “I congratulate the people of Nagaland & all the states which peacefully voted, especially the first time voters, who came forward in support of democracy & exercised your right,” he tweeted. It may be mentioned that the lone Nagaland Lok Sabha, with

a total of 12,13,777 voters, witnessed a quadrangular contest among Congress candidate K.L. Chishi, to whom NPF extended support, NDPP-PDA consensus candidate Tokheho Yepthomi, NPP nominee Hayithung Tungoe and Independent Dr. M.M. Thromwa Konyak.

Peaceful election, says Tokheho: Sitting Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and NDPP & PDA consensuses candidate, Tokheho Yepthomi, said this election was “quite peaceful”.

Talking to media persons after casting his vote, Tokheho expressed hope that electorate of Nagaland would exercise their franchise and decide the fate of the lone Lok Sabha seat to represent the state of Nagaland. When asked about his expectation of the poll result, Tokheho said, as per the reports he had collected, the leading margin would be more than last Lok Sabha by-election.

Dr. Shürhozelie laments use of money power: After casting his vote, NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu expressed regret that the whole idea of ‘clean election’ has always been marred by money power.

He said if a Christian like Nagaland remain faithful, then it will not be necessary to educate the public

about ‘clean election’. “This election is very important and crucial in a way but since election is unpredictable and difficult to comment, I don’t want to comment about the future carelessly,” he added.

People have understood BJP’s agenda: Moatoshi NPF MLA from 2 Dimapur II assembly constituency, Moatoshi Longkumer, exuded confidence that the Congress-NPF coalition would register a “thumping” majority in the constituency if voters’ turnout was normal. Dwelling on the prevailing socio-political climate in the Northeast, Moatoshi said that the BJP manifesto released barely 48 hours before polling was a direct affront to the indigenous people of Nagaland and the Northeast at large. “The Uniform Civil Code in BJP’s manifesto is against the cultural and religious practices of the minorities and also people in the Northeast,” he said.

Moatoshi also touched upon the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and expressed apprehension that if the CAB and UCC were implemented “the rights of the minorities will be gone.”

On the promised development of the NDA, he said, “We do not want development when the cultural rights and religious liberties are compromised.”

Dimapur district witness moderate turnout

(From p-1) Talking to Nagaland Post, one youth said the low turnout was due to voters’ indifference to Lok Sabha election.

However, an elderly man said the low turnout was due to proxy voting after and understanding with polling officials. He said the head of the household or a member of the family cast the votes on behalf of the entire family According to officials, the visibly poor turn out was explained as the manner in which voters going in early to vote in small numbers.

The officials claimed that the electorate have been casting their votes smoothly

and peacefully. The Lok Sabha Election in 2 Dimapur-II constituency passed off without any incident with most booths having hardly a dozen or so voters in queue. The pace, however, picked up by around 10:30 to 11 am.

When Nagaland Post visited various booths under 2 Dimapur II constituency, it was observed the average voter turn-out at most of the

booths was low.

There was adequate security in the district comprising police and paramilitary forces. In an informal talk with Nagaland Post, an elderly couple said they had expected high turn out of young people after the furious debate and uproar on social media over “issues raised” in the days leading up to the polls but were disappointed

DC-503

DC-502

K-659

JAMMU, APR 11 (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Thursday recorded an overall turnout of over 55 per cent in the Jammu and Baramulla constituencies in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, even as there were protests over defective EVMs in some areas.

The two constituencies house over 33 lakh electorate.

The overall turnout was 55-56 per cent, with the Jammu Lok Sabha constituency recording 72.19 per cent polling and Baramulla registering 35.01 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shaliendra Kumar told reporters here.

Polling was largely peaceful, Kumar said, adding that there was, however, one incident of firing in Palhalan of Baramulla and it was being looked into.

To a question on the complaints of EVM malfunctions, the official said, “We have rectified all of them.”

Congress candidate from Jammu, Raman Bhalla, who cast his vote in Jammu, had alleged large

7

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MFs close FY19 with 11.41% growth

New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI): The mutual fund closed the year with an 11,41 percent rise in their total assets under management (AUM) at Rs 23.80 lakh crore in the year to March, from Rs 21.36 lakh crore in the previous year, according to the industry data released Wednesday.

On a monthly basis, assets under management grew 2.73 percent from Rs 23.16 lakh crore in February.

“Increase in net inflows in equity and income categories as against net outflows in the previous

month led to the growth in assets under management on a yearly basis,” according to the Association of Mutual Fund Industry (AMFI) data collated by rating agency Icra.

The industry saw net outflows of Rs 22,357 crore in March as against net outflows of Rs 20,083 crore in Febr uar y, the agency said.

On a monthly basis, net outflows in the liquid/ money market category came more than doubled to Rs 51,343 crore from Rs 24,509 crore in February.

“The rise in net out-

No. 9194 Yesterday’s solution No. 9193

No. 3813 Yesterday’s solution No. 3812

No. 2839 Yesterday’s solution No. 2838

flows reflects redemptions at fiscal year-end as corporates usually tend to redeem their investments to meet the advance tax payment deadline,” the agency said.

After witnessing net outflows of Rs 4,214 crore in February, income category witnessed net inflows of Rs 13,856 crore in March 2019 amid the rate cut scenario, according to the Association of Mutual Fund Industry data (AMFI).

Inf lows in equity funds (including equitylinked savings schemes) grew more than 120 per-

Across 1 Wait where the cargo goes (4) 3 Coffee brought by railway recently (8) 9 Two beastly males providing stiff fabric (7) 10 Flower beheaded more quickly (5) 11 Material that did not stand out? (5) 12 Globe initially stayed put in this place (6) 14 Nun wandering around diocese is not observed (6) 16 Bother with false lashes (6) 19 Bird beginning to reveal hidden gunman (6) 21 Structure I made for news channels (5) 24 Farewell to the French about to expire (5) 25 Find a hunter at sea (7) 26 Menial boxers, say, joining main group (8) 27 Drug produced by a police department (4) Down 1 Such a reversal - a bird in the bush (8) 2 One chapter in literature, OK? (5) 4 Flotsam not beginning to drift? Not quite! (6) 5 Team leader spots wreck (5) 6 Rotters breaking glass vessels in the lab (7) 7 Lady Godiva under observation ends tale (4) 8 Go near rotten fruit (6) 13 Dispassionate sort of chat in action (8) 15 Signaller’s first to finish transmission (7) 17 Sign outside Malaysian capital for lots of soldiers (6) 18 Good circular stadium (6) 20 Completely vertical (5) 22 Greek style of Cupid or Icarus (5) 23 Fat constituent of popular democrat (4)

Gold slides on muted demand

cent month-on-month in March to Rs 11,756 crore.

The report said the gains were driven likely by larger flows into tax saving schemes at the end of financial year 19.

Net inflows in the other ETF category came in at Rs 10,540 crore in March 2019 as against net inflows of Rs 5,234 crore in February, the report showed.

However, net outflows in the balanced category came in at Rs 3,181 crore as against net outflows of Rs 1,077 crore in February.

Quarterly average assets under management in the March quarter stood at Rs 24.47 lakh crore, up from Rs 23.62 lakh crore in the December quarter.

Assets under management under equity (including ELSS), balanced, and other ETFs came in at Rs 11.55 lakh crore in March up 9.05 percent.

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New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI): Gold prices Thursday declined by Rs 50 to Rs 33,020 per 10 gram in the national capital on tepid demand from local jewellers amid weak trend in the global market, according to the All India Sarafa Association.

Silver too slipped Rs 175 to Rs 38,550 per kg on reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Traders attributed the fall in the gold prices to subdued demand from local jewellers and weak trend overseas.

In the international market, spot gold was trading lower at USD 1,304.4 an ounce while silver declined to USD 15.22 an ounce in

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On Wednesday, the yellow metal had advanced

by Rs 90.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity fell by Rs 50 each to Rs 33,020 and Rs 32,850 per 10 gram, respectively.

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by Rs 175 to Rs 38,550 per kg, while weekly-based delivery dropped Rs 183 to Rs 37,560 per kg.

On the other hand, silver coins held flat at Rs 80,000 for buying and Rs 81,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

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they submit their initial bids, according to the document issued to interested bidders, a copy of which was reviewed by Mint.

According to the document issued on 8 April, the lenders have now allowed “… restructuring of the existing facilities and infusion of funds by way of loans or acquisition/subscription of up to 75% of equity share capital of the company.”

The SBI-led consortium took control of Jet Airways in late-March, promising to throw open a bidding contest for a new investor that is expected to be completed in the current quarter.

The lenders had in February agreed to convert a part of Jet Airways’ debt into equity by agreeing to take a 50.5% stake in the carrier, nominate two board members and make a cash infusion of about Rs.1,500 crore into the airline.

However, the lenders are yet to convert their debt into equity. The Supreme Court had earlier this month quashed the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 12 February circular, which prescribed rules for recognizing oneday defaults by large corporates and called for insolvency action as a remedy.

The circular directed lenders to refer any loan account over Rs.2,000 crore under the bankruptcy code if it was not resolved within 180 days of default.

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Depending on features introduced across variants, the ex-showroom price in Delhi and NCR region will vary from Rs 3,65,843 to Rs 4,44,777,” Maruti Suzuki said in a regulatory filing.

“In the rest of India the price will vary from Rs 3,75,843 to Rs 4,54,777.”

The new safety features include driver airbag, reverse parking sensors, speed alert system and driver and codriver seat belt reminder.

New Delhi, Apr 11 (IANS): Nearly 79 per cent of Indian firms do not have a computer security incident response plan (CSIRP) in place that is applied consistently across operations, a new IBM-Ponemon Institute study said on Thursday.

In the past two years, 51 per cent of Indian organisations surveyed experienced a data breach and 56 per cent experienced a cyber security incident, revealed the study conducted by US-based Ponemon Institute on behalf of IBM Security.

Of the organisations that do have a CSIRP in place, 57 per cent do not test plans regularly or at all.

Only 23 per cent reported using automation significantly in their organisation, the findings showed.

“In India, Incident Response (IR) strategy is at a nascent stage and organisations are beginning to conceive this as an integral part of risk mitigation and resilience plan,” said Vaidyanathan Iyer, Security Software Leader, IBM India/South Asia.

“Considering the lack of a well-developed and tested IR in an organisation’s cyber resiliency strategy, enterprises need to evaluate and implement the right tools at the earliest,” Iyer added.

The IBM-Ponemon study found that globally, 77 per cent of respondents indicated they do not have a cybersecurity incident response plan applied consistently across the enterprise.

for extension timeline for submission of Expression of Interest which have been updated and made available on the websites,” SBI Capital Markets Ltd, the adviser to the consortium of lenders to Jet Airways said in a statement. The investment bank did not disclose the parties that have submitted their initial bids so far.

N I I F, E t i h a d , A i r Canada and Delta Airlines didn’t respond to emailed queries.

A spokesperson for TPG Capital declined to comment.

Indigo Partners also declined to comment.

With Jet Airways in dire straits, the infusion of fresh funds by a new investor has become critical to stave off a potential bankruptcy.

Jet Airways has salaries pending since January to a section of its staff, including pilots, engineers and general managers. It has failed to pay plane lease rentals forcing lessors to ground a large part of its fleet. It has also deferred interest payments to banks and clearing dues with oil marketing companies. Lenders to Jet Airways, led by the State Bank of India, have also modified the terms of the stake sale process by allowing restructuring of debt and permission to infuse funds into the carrier through loans.

Interested bidders would also have to provide solvency certificates before

MKC-159

New Delhi, Apr 11 (IANS): Maruti Suzuki has hiked the price of its Alto K10 model across India following its upgrade with safety features in compliance with the “AIS-145 Safety Norms”. The price revision will be effective from Thursday.

“Alto K10 is now compliant with AIS-145 Safety Norms... This will result in price increase in all variants of Alto K10 model.

79% Indian firms lack hacking response plan: IBM

Mumbai, Apr 11 (Agencies): India’s quasi-sovereign wealth fund, Etihad Airways PJSC and two financial investors have shown interest the Jet Airways stake sale, even as lenders to the ailing airline extended the bidding deadline by two days to Friday.

Private equity firms TPG Capital and Indigo Partners, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Ltd (NIIF) and current Jet Airways shareholder Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways PJSC have submitted their expressions of interest (EoIs), a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.

“The lenders are currently waiting for EoIs from Air Canada and Delta Airlines,” the person said, requesting anonymity, adding the two carriers are likely to submit their initial bids in the next two days, meeting the new deadline set by the lenders.

The lenders originally set Wednesday evening as the deadline for submitting EoIs to buy a controlling stake of up to 75% in Jet Airways. This has been extended to 6pm on Friday.

“As part of the process, we are in receipt of some EoIs and some more persons have expressed desire to participate if additional time is provided. Accordingly, in order to allow better participation in the process the domestic lenders have agreed

DP-2630

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With lack of transportation often being a hurdle in the world’s biggest democratic process, Honda has asked every two-wheeler rider to pledge that Koi Seat NaJaye Khali (no seat should go empty). “Ensure that your pillion seat doesn’t go empty when you ride to vote. Ride with your friend, relative, neighbour etc. on pillion and ensure every two-wheeler rides two votes to the polling booth,” it said.

K-869

eign Exchange, the domestic unit opened at 69.15 and advanced to a high of 68.83 during the day. It finally settled at 68.92, a rise of 19 paise against the dollar over its previous close.

The rupee Wednesday had strengthened by 19 paise to 69.11 against the US dollar. In the last three trading sessions, it has appreciated by 75 paise.

“Beside weakness in American dollar against G-10 currencies, the fall in crude oil prices added strength in the domestic

Dimapur, Apr 11 (NPN): India’s most trusted two-wheeler brand, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd, announced its biggest social activism movement #ActivIndia.

Honda is spearheading the mission to create meaningful difference in society fuelled by citizen partnership. #ActivIndia urges every Indian to exercise their most important form of self-expression - their right to vote.

Jet Airways stake sale draws interest from four firms

DP-1829

Mumbai, Apr 11 (PTI): The Indian rupee Thursday climbed 19 paise to close at 68.92 against the US dollar, also marking a third straight session of gains, driven by sustained foreign fund inflows.

Besides, weakness in the greenback against major global currencies and easing crude prices aided the rupee uptrend. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.03 per cent to 96.91.

At the Interbank For-

currency. Crude oil retreated from a five-month high after Russia’s comment on crude output and an increase in US crude inventories,” said V K Sharma, Head PCG & Capital Markets Strategy, HDFC Securities.

Sharma further said the bias for the rupee remains bullish following foreign fund flows and more flows are lined up by a couple of overseas companies.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.86 per cent to USD 71.11 per barrel. Further lifting market sentiment, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) put in Rs 476.51 crore on a net basis Thursday, provisional data showed.

Benchmark equity indices ended marginally higher Thursday as voting began in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The 30-share BSE Sensex inched up 21.66 points, or 0.06 per cent, to close at 38,607.01. The broader NSE Nifty settled 12.40 points, or 0.11 per cent, higher at 11,596.70.

Meanwhile, the Financial Benchmark India Private Ltd (FBIL) set the reference rate for the rupee/ dollar at 68.9742 and for rupee/euro at 77.7942. The reference rate for rupee/ British pound was fixed at 90.2762 and for rupee/100 Japanese yen at 62.07.

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UK, EU agree Brexit delay to October 31

B ru s s e l s, A p r 1 1 (IANS): The UK and the European Union (EU) have agreed on a “flexible” Brexit delay until October 31, with the option to leave earlier if British Prime Minister Theresa May can secure Parliament’s support for a withdrawal deal, media reports said.

After a working dinner that dragged long into Wednesday night, leaders of the 27 EU nations agreed another delay to Britain’s scheduled withdrawal from the bloc. European leaders were unconvinced by May’s promise that the UK would leave by the end of June, CNN reported.

President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who had originally proposed an extension of up to a year, confirmed the UK had accepted the deal.

“The course of action will be entirely in the UK’s hands: they can still ratify the withdrawal agreement, in which case the extension can be terminated,” he told the media here, adding that the UK could also rethink its strategy or choose to “cancel Brexit altogether”,

European Council President Donald Tusk, Luxembourg’s PM Xavier Bettel, Britain’s PM Theresa May, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and Portugal’s PM Antonio Costa look at a tablet ahead of a European Council meeting on Brexit.

the BBC reported.

“Let me finish with a message to our British friends: This extension is as flexible as I expected, and a little bit shorter than I expected, but it’s still enough to find the best possible solution.

“Please do not waste this time,” Tusk added.

The UK was meant to

leave the EU on March 29 which was later extended to April 12.

The new extension means that Britain will more than likely have to hold elections for the European Parliament on May 23, nearly three years after the British people voted to leave the EU. If the UK does not

participate in the European Parliament elections, then it will crash out of the bloc without a deal on June 1.

Also on Wednesday night, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “There will probably be a European election in the UK - that might seem a bit odd, but rules are rules and we must

respect European law and then we will see what happens.”

Following the meeting, May spoke to the media early Thursday morning, saying that although the delay extends until October 31, the UK can leave before then if MPs pass her withdrawal deal.

“I know that there is huge frustration from many people that I had to request this extension. The UK should have left the EU by now and I sincerely regret the fact that I have not yet been able to persuade Parliament to approve a deal.”

“I do not pretend the next few weeks will be easy, or there is a simple way to break the deadlock in Parliament. But we have a duty as politicians to find a way to fulfil the democratic decision of the referendum, deliver Brexit and move our country forward. Nothing is more pressing or more vital,” she said Theresa May added that the United Kingdom “will continue to hold full membership rights and obligations (of the EU)” during the delay.

9 Russia approve controversial bill restricting internet Moscow, Apr 11 (AFP): Russian lawmakers on Thursday approved in a key second reading a controversial bill that would allow Moscow to cut off the country’s internet traffic from foreign servers. Lawmakers in the State Duma, parliament’s lower house, voted 320 to 15 to pass the proposed bill. It is set to take effect on November 1 once it formally becomes law.

The proposed measures would create technology to monitor internet routing and steer Russian internet traffic away from foreign servers, ostensibly to prevent a foreign country from shutting it down. Authors of the initiative say Russia must ensure the security of its networks after US President Donald Trump unveiled a new American cybersecurity strategy last year that said Russia had carried out cyber attacks with impunity. The legislation has been dubbed a “sovereign internet” bill by Russian media. Critics say implementing the measures would be expensive and give vast censorship powers to the government’s new traffic monitoring centre.

Will never give in to sanctions: Kim Jong-un Pyongyang, Apr 11 (IANS): North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed never to give in to sanctions, adding that Pyongyang needs to deliver a “serious blow” to those imposing it, state-media reported on Thursday.

According to the staterun Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim made the remark during a plenary session of the Central Committee of the ruling party ON Wednesday, a day before the North is to convene the first session of its 14th Supreme People’s Assembly, reports Yonhap News Agency.

“He underscored the need to more vigorously advance socialist construction by dint of self-supporting national economy... so as to deal a telling blow to the hostile forces who go with bloodshot eyes miscalculating that sanctions can bring North Korea to its knees,” the KCNA said.

“Self-reliance and self-supporting national economy are the bedrock of the existence of our own style socialism, the motive power of its advance and development and the

Kim Jong-un (File)

eternal lifeline essential to the destiny of our revolution,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

According to the report, Kim mentioned selfreliance dozens of times during the meeting.

He also mentioned his second summit with US President Donald Trump in February in Hanoi but steered clear of criticism directly pointed at Washington or his country’s nuclear programme.

The Hanoi summit fell apart as Kim and Trump failed to find common ground over how to match Pyongyang’s denuclearization steps with Washington’s sanctions relief.

US asks UN to recognise Assange found guilty of breach of bail in UK; faces extradition Guaido as Venezuela’s leader

US Vice President Mike Pence addresses the United Nations Security Council at UN headquarters in New York.

New York, Apr 11 (IANS): US Vice President Mike Pence has called on the UN to recognise Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s President and to revoke the credentials of the incumbent Nicolas Maduro government’s ambassador

to the international organisation. “ Wi t h a l l d u e r e spect, Mr. Ambassador, you shouldn’t be here. You should return to Venezuela and tell Nicolas Maduro that his time is up. It’s time for him to go,” Pence told

Venezuela’s UN representative, Samuel Moncada, during a Security Council meeting here on Wednesday.

“The time has come for the UN to recognise interim President Juan Guaido as the legitimate President of Venezuela and seat his representative in this body,” said Pence.

The US was the first country of more than 50 nations to recognise Guaido and wants the UN to revoke the credentials of Maduro’s envoys and allow Guaido to be the one to name an ambassador to represent Venezuela before the international body. Pence announced that the US delegation is working on a resolution to that end, although diplomatic sources say that the initiative will encounter rough going.

London, Apr 11 (PTI): A UK court on Thursday found Julian Assange guilty on the charge of breaching his bail conditions after the Wikileaks co-founder was arrested by Scotland Yard officers from his Ecuador Embassy hideout in London as the South American country withdrew the asylum granted to him.

Assange, who has also been arrested on a provisional US extradition warrant, was produced before Westminster Magistrates Court in London where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to surrender.

Describing his behaviour as that of a “narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interest”, District Judge Michael Snow ruled Assange was guilty for breaching bail and ordered him to appear via videolink on May 2 for an extradition

Julian Assange is led out of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in handcuffs.

hearing.

The court heard that during his arrest at the embassy after nearly seven years in hiding, the 47-yearold had to be restrained as he shouted: “This is unlawful, I am not leaving.”

Scotland Yard said after his initial arrest on

breach of bail conditions in the UK, Assange was further arrested on behalf of the US authorities after his arrival at a central London police station on an extradition warrant.

British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the arrest in Parliament,

Sudan army topples veteran leader Bashir Israeli poll panel puts off

A girl flashes the victory sign and holds the national flag during a rally in Khartoum, Sudan, on Thursday. (Inset) Omar al-Bashir.

Khartoum, Apr 11 (AFP): Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir was ousted by the army on Thursday, brought down by months of anti-government protests against his three decades of iron-fisted rule.

“I announce as minister of defence the toppling of the regime and detaining its chief in a secure place,” Defence Minister Awad Ibnouf said in a sombre televised address to the nation. A transitional military council would replace Bashir for two years, he said, adding that the country’s borders and airspace would be shut until further notice.

The veteran leader, who swept to power in K

Y M C

a 1989 coup, was one of Africa’s longest serving presidents. He is wanted on charges of genocide and war crimes by the International Criminal Court.

Since early mor ning huge crowds of jubilant Sudanese had begun thronging squares across the centre of Khartoum on Thursday as the army promised an “important announcement”.

Chanting “the regime has fallen,” thousands poured into the open ground outside army headquarters where defiant protesters have braved tear gas to keep up an unprecedented sit-in now in its sixth day.

The protests, which erupted in December over

the government’s tripling of the price of bread, were the biggest challenge yet to Bashir’s long rule.

The security agency also announced it was freeing all political prisoners.

Army vehicles carrying troops were seen deploying across the centre of Khartoum from early Thursday.

Troops raided the offices of the Islamic Movement, the ideological wing of Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party, witnesses told AFP. And martial music was played on state television as soldiers ordered the TV to halt its normal programming.

Outside army headquarters, dozens of joyful

protesters climbed on top of landcruisers and armoured vehicles that had been posted to protect them from intervention by other branches of the security forces.

Braving the searing 42 degree Celsius (108 degree Fahrenheit) heat, protesters hugged and kissed soldiers in the crowd.

Sudan’s feared intelligence service said it was freeing all the country’s political prisoners, state media reported.

“The National Intelligence and Security Service has announced it is releasing all political detainees across the country,” the official SUNA news agency said.

But in the eastern cities of Kasala and Port Sudan, protesters stormed NISS buildings after the releases failed to materialise, witnesses said.

Protesters approached the NISS building in Kasala demanding that officers free their prisoners, a witness told AFP by telephone from the city.

“But NISS officers fired in the air after which protesters stormed the building and looted all the equipment inside,” he said.

Protesters chanting slogans against Bashir also stormed an NISS building in Port Sudan, a witness said.

The raids on NISS buildings came despite a call by protest organisers for demonstrators to refrain from attacking government figures or buildings.

results announcement

Jerusalem, Apr 11 (IANS): The Central Election Committee of Isreal on Thursday put off announcement of results of the closely-fought general elections to allow more checking.

“A process of validation of the data that were entered into the computer system began ahead of the publication of the results,” a spokesman of the election committee said in a statement. “In order to preserve the purity of elections, the election committee announced that the examination and control processes continue,” the statement read.

The counting was completed on Thursday, but the Central Election Committee said it had postponed publishing the results to allow

more checking. The committee said it will release the results of the Tuesday election only after more checking.

The counting of 99 per cent votes on Wednesday indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party and his rival ex-military chief Benny Gantz’s centrist Blue and White alliance won 35 seats each. But the rightwing bloc in Parliament secured a majority, big enough to make it highly likely for Netanyahu to form the next coalition government.

The election committee completed counting of votes after an overnight tallying of the last votes of some 270,000 soldiers, diplomats, prisoners and other people who vote in unusual circumstances.

Pakistan Minister asks Britain to return Koh-i-Noor Islamabad, Apr 11 (IANS): Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday asked Britain to return to Islamabad the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is claimed by India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and also Iran.

The 105-carat diamond has been part of the British crown jewels for the past 150 years.

Chaudhry also endorsed the demand that the British empire must apologise to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh for the Bengal famine and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, in which British forces led by Brigadier General Reginald Dyer opened fire on thousands of unarmed and peaceful protesters, including women and children, killing scores of them on April 13, 1919. “Fully endorse the demand that the British empire must apologize to the nations of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh on Jallianwala massacre and Bengal famine. These tragedies are the scar on the face of Britain,” the Minister tweeted. “... Also KohENoor must be returned to Lahore museum where it belongs.”

describing it as a “legal matter” as Assange now faces extradition proceedings to the US on “charges relating to computer offences”.

“He has also been arrested in relation to an extradition request from the United States authorities,” May told the Commons in a statement. “This goes to show that in the United Kingdom, no one is above the law,” she said.

Assange, who was seen in public after many years as he was dragged out of the Ecuador Embassy, appeared visibly aged and sporting a long white beard. He waved a thumbs-up sign at the public gallery in court as he was produced in court.

He now faces a 12-month sentence in the UK on the charge of failure to surrender and will remain in judicial custody until he is sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London

next month. According to details that emerged in court, his extradition to the US is sought on alleged conspiracy charges related to one of the largest leaks of government secrets.

Earlier on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said its officers had executed a warrant against Assange dating back to June 29, 2012 for “failing to surrender” before a UK. The Australian-born campaigner has been holed up in a back room of the Ecuador embassy in central London for nearly seven years since his arrest on sexual assault charges in Sweden.

He had claimed asylum on the grounds that he feared ultimate extradition to the US, where he claims to face a possible death sentence or torture for Wikileaks’ alleged leak of American secrets.

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Infotainment

10

Ruffalo filmed 2 versions of ‘Infinity War’ ending, filmA.R.‘99Rahman’s Songs’ to didn’t know Hulk survived until he saw movie release on June 21

Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk (center) is featured in a scene from the Avengers: Infinity War trailers that was never in the film. (Photo: Marvel Studios)

T

his past weekend Marvel hosted the press junket for Avengers: Endgame and, to preserve the intense secrecy surrounding the film, only invited the survivors of the Snapture. (Not like we expected any less. After all, if any of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “fallen” had shown up, their comments would have been short — just ask Chadwick Boseman.)

In fact, the spoilerweary Marvel didn’t even screen the movie, opting to show us only about six minutes of footage before we interviewed the cast, who also haven’t seen the finished film.

So with a dearth of talking points, we turned towards the shocking climax of Avengers: Infinity War, in which half of our favorite MCU heroes were dusted before our eyes.

We asked those “still with us” if they were relieved their characters did not fall victim to Thanos’s lethal snap, and thus had to watch themselves disintegrate onscreen.

“I have sur vivor’s guilt, mostly,” said Chris Hemsworth (Thor).

“It’s hard being the ones left behind,” agreed Don Cheadle (War Machine).

“I think like every actor you’re just like, ‘Great,

I get more screen time,’” admitted Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow).

Then came a big revelation from our friend Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk): “I didn’t know until I saw the movie,” he said. “For one take, I did disappear, and then the other one I didn’t.” That would mean that during filming even certain actors weren’t aware of their fates.

We’re almost positive Ruffalo is being sincere.

And considering his track record for spoilers, where he ranks alongside Tom Holland and Anthony Mackie (both dusted in Infinity War, by the way)

as the most loose-lipped on MCU’s roster, it’s not surprising. Besides, Marvel admittedly resorts to re-editing scenes for the trailers to misdirect the audience, like when Ruffalo’s Hulk appeared in the Wakanda battle scene in the Infinity War previews but not in the actual film.

“I was pretty sure it was gonna be me,” Ruffalo admitted. “It’s like Survivor. It’s like, who’s gonna get kicked off the island?

And I probably should’ve. … It’s like Project Runway for leakers.”

If you’re looking for intel on why certain supers died and while others survived in Infinity War — all of the original Avengers survived whereas many of the newer MCU’ers (Boseman’s Black Panther, Holland’s Spider-Man, the majority of the Guardians of the Galaxy) — codirectors Anthony and Joe Russo ain’t saying much.

But they will leave you with a tease.

“The only thing we’ll say in that regard,” said Joe, “is that there’s a reason that the original six Avengers survived.”

(Yahoo Movies)

Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

Priyanka, Nick on Met Bachchan, Hashmi Gala host committee to share screen in mystery thriller

A

G

rammy and Oscarwinning musician A.R. Rahman on Thursday announced that his ambitious production “99 Songs” will release on June 21 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

The music maestro tweeted: “I am very excited to announce the release of my very first film as producer and writer, ‘99 Songs’, a young, passionate love story, with music at its soul. “’99 Songs’ will be released in cinemas in three languages Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on June 21, 2019. I thank you all for the love, support and encouragement you have showered on me.”

Directed by Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy, the film is backed by Rahman’s banner Y.M. Movies and Jio Studios. Rahman has been working on the project for a couple of years. The romantic musical film will feature newcomers Ehan Bhat, Edilsy Varghese and Tenzin Dalha.

(IANS)

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c t r e s s P r i ya n k a Chopra Jonas and her husband Nick Jonas have been announced as part of the Met Gala Host Committee, which includes such names as Lena Waithe, Katy Perry, Jared Leto, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez.

Priyanka took to Instagram to reveal that she and Nick are on the committee for this year’s Met Ball, in a post looking back on their journey from when they met.

“From walking the prestigious carpet for the first time, to meeting my husband and many friends for life,” the 36-year-old actress captioned the post, revealing their involvement in the affair.

“Nick and I are hon-

ored to be on the Benefit Committee for this year’s Met Gala. Looking forward to the first Monday in May,” she added of the May 6 event.

The couple walked the Met Gala red carpet together just two years ago, and it had set the pace for more buzz around their relationship.

Other celebrities on this year’s committee for the event include Bradley Cooper, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Met Gala is New York’s most glamorous benefit of the year.

(IANS)

mitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi are teaming up for a mystery thriller, which is set to be released on February 21, 2020.

It is the first collaboration between Bachchan and Hashmi.

The currently-untitled film will be helmed by writer-director Rumi Jaffrey.

“A film is a collaborative effort and when you have one of the best actors in front of the camera and a veteran producer behind the lens supporting you and leading all creative efforts, then making the film is a fantastic experience,” Jaffery said in a statement.

The movie is produced

by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Saraswati Entertainment Private Limited.

Producer Anand Pandit said he is looking forward to the project with the two stars.

“My friendship with Mr Bachchan goes back a long way. I have not met any other actor who matches his skill and commitment. It is an honour to be a part of creating a film with him, and I have always admired Emraan’s body of work, so am looking forward to seeing him onscreen with the legend for the first time,” Pandit said.

(PTI)

O

scar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush on Thursday won a defamation case against an Australian tabloid that reported about his inappropriate behaviour toward an actress.

Justice Michael Wigney said in a federal court here that Daily Telegraph newspaper had been "extravagant and reckless" in reporting that Rush abused a co-star Eryn Jean Norvill during a 2015 stage production of "King Lear", reports hollywoodreporter.com "This was a recklessly irresponsible piece of sensational journalism of the worst kind," the judge said.

Rush won more than Whitecross band members (centre) being welcomed by In The Kingdom Group $600,000 in damages from members and others at Guwahati airport. the newspaper and he could

K Y M C

We pray that the Almighty God bless you both abundantly with a long healthy life.

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in different arenas of politics as a “celebration of democracy”. “Let’s stop thinking that differing opinions imply division. We are a democracy and that means celebrating differences. Everyone is entitled to one’s political opinion. Let’s respect that,” Omung told IANS. ‘Bhonsle’ director Devashish Makhija, among those who made an antiBJP appeal, said: “Artistes are united through their art. Individuals always have different political ideas. I define my art. My art doesn’t define me. I might differ from another artist politically, but that doesn’t stop me from making my art along with that person.

“If some people see a divide, then they probably want it to be there.”

But when veteran actor Anupam Kher, a vociferous BJP supporter who played former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in “The Accidental Prime Minister”, pointed out his colleagues for signing the anti-BJP appeal, the schism was even more pronounced.

“Some people from my fraternity have issued a letter for public to vote out the present constitutionally elected government in the coming elections. In other words they are officially campaigning for opposition parties. Good! At least there are no pretensions here.

Great,” he wrote on Twitter days after the appeal was signed.

(IANS)

HAPPY 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

From your loving children, in-laws and grand children.

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country, any kind of opinion should be encouraged as long it is not abusive. Our industry is not different. Diverse opinions are welcome. We should, however, respect each others’ views and try not to target each other for supporting a particular ideology.”

Last month, over 100 artistes -- largely from the independent cinema space -- issued an appeal urging Indians not to vote BJP in the Lok Sabha elections as it is responsible for “unleashing of polarisation and hate politics; cow vigilantism; marginalisation of Dalits, Muslims and farmers and increasing censorship”.

Days later, over 600 artistes, including film and theatre celebrities Amol Palekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma and Lillette Dubey, came out with another anti-BJP appeal citing it as a force “of religious sectarianism, chauvinism, narrowness and irrationality”. On April 10, actor Vivek Anand Oberoi, classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, music composer Shankar Mahadevan, Kuchipudi dancing duo Raja-Radha Reddy, theatre artiste Waman Kendre, Dhrupad vocalist Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar and Statue of Unity sculptor Ram Sutar, asked voters to support the BJP. National-Award winning director Omung Kumar B, who has directed ‘PM Narendra Modi’, sees the film fraternity’s indulgence

everyone involved".

Rush's legal team said the newspaper had implied he is a "pervert, a sexual predator and committed sexual assault". Those imputations were central to the judges decision, with Rush able to prove these implications were conveyed by the articles but were not true.

(IANS)

Mr. Sopu Zumvu and Mrs. Tuonuo Zumvu

Film industry in ‘dangal’ over Lok Sabha elections

n one of India’s most defining elections, the film fraternity is visibly divided over support for the competing political parties.

Months before the elections, a majority in the film fraternity had let it be known that they were on the ‘right’ side of the ruling dispensation. Yet there were others on the opposite side. So, as the polls drew closer, the divide among them became clearer through films and social media.

Sample movies that have been pointed out for political propaganda in the run-up to the polls: ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’, ‘Thackeray’, ‘Uri - The Surgical Strike’, ‘Laxmi’s NTR’, ‘Udyama Simham’ and the stalled film ‘PM Narendra Modi’.

The BJP employed Bollywood’s soft power, engaging stars such as Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, A.R. Rahman, Ayushmann Khurrana and Alia Bhatt.

Through them, the BJP on its twitter platform appealed to citizens to come out and vote.

And the Congress recently mobilised Twitter to send out a Bollywood celeb-led message to citizens: “Vote karo, magar soch samajh ke” via a video featuring Kalki Koechlin, Varun Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Nandita Das, Swara Bhasker, Vishal Dadlani, Renuka Shahane and many more.

Renuka Shahane told IANS: “In a democratic

be awarded a much larger sum in a followup hearing on May 10.

In a trial that lasted 13 days in late 2018, the "Shine" star sued the tabloid published here

by News Corp., after front page articles in 2017 alleged he engaged in inappropriate behaviour towards an unnamed actress while in rehearsals and on stage in a Sydney Theatre company production of "King Lear" in 2015 and 2016.

After the court appearance, Rush told the media that there are "no winners in this case. It was extremely distressing for

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Rush wins #MeToo defamation case

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Champions League: Barca beat Man Utd in first leg

L o n d o n, A p r 1 1 (Agencies): Barcelona overcame a punchless Manchester United to take the upper hand in their Champions League quarter-final after Luke Shaw’s own goal gave them a 1-0 first-leg victory at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Shaw deflected a Luis Suarez header into his own net after 12 minutes, handing the Catalans a vital away goal that will make them clear favourites in the return leg.

After United’s comeback against Paris St Germain in the previous round, Barca will take nothing for granted, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team will struggle to repeat the trick against a side with a fearsome home record.

Barca have not lost at home for 30 games in the Champions League since 2013 and while United can take credit for staying in the tie, they produced little that will overly worry the Spanish side.

Barcelona’s first win at Old Trafford in European competition was relatively comfortable with their keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen not having a single shot to save.

With Paul Pogba fail-

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019

hold in the game during the opening 45 minutes, but they were much improved after the break, applying plenty of pressure without creating any clear chances.

Barcelona could have added a second had Suarez not fired into the side-

netting from a promising position after a clever through ball from Nelson Semedo and then De Gea did well to foil Jordi Alba’s low drive — again with his legs.

The loss was United’s fourth in their last five games in all competitions.

Rodgers rules out Vardy England return

Juventus held 1-1 by Ajax

back post.

T h e U r u g u aya n’s header deflected off the shoulder of a scrambling Shaw and beat David De Gea to give the visitors the lead and although the linesman initially flagged for offside, the goal was given after a VAR video review.

United had De Gea to thank for keeping the difference down to a single goal as he saved superbly with his feet to keep out Philippe Coutinho in the

36th minute.

Then the home side had an appeal for a penalty waved away after Scott McTominay, who had a fine game in midfield, went down under a challenge from Gerard Pique.

United’s best chance of the first half fell to Diogo Dalot but the Portuguese made a mess of a fine Marcus Rashford ball, heading harmlessly across the goal from close-range.

Solskjaer’s team had struggled to get a foot-

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 125th Champions League goal of his career but it wasn’t enough to give Juventus victory as an impressive Ajax pegged back the Italian champion in Amsterdam.

Ronaldo headed home Joao Cancelo’s cross on the stroke of half time to add to his tally as the competition’s all-time top goalscorer.

However, David Neres curled home for the hosts at the beginning of the second period to leave the quarterfinal tie delicately poised at 1-1.

Ronaldo, who was playing for the first time since scoring a hat-trick against Atletico Madrid in last month’s round of 16, celebrated his goal in front of Ajax fans and appeared to have a beer cup thrown in his direction from the crowd.

The buildup to the hotly anticipated game had been overshadowed by crowd trouble in Amsterdam with Dutch police reporting that more than 140 people were arrested earlier in the day.

A police statement said that a number of weapons as well as flares and fireworks were seized from supporters in the city’s metro and on the approach to the stadium.

Most of those arrested were Italian, police said.

Ajax will feel unfortunate not to take a lead into the second leg next week after dominating for large spells of the game and creating a number of decent chances.

However, Douglas Costa also came close for Juventus, striking the post in the second period.

Singapore Open: Sindhu, Saina into quarter finals

Allegri hints at Juve departure

Curran, Buttler, Kohli in Wisden Five

P.V. Sindhu

Singapore, Apr 11 (PTI): P.V. Sindhu had it easy but Saina Nehwal was tested as the two Olympic medallists entered the women’s singles quarterfinals of the USD 355,000 Singapore Open on Thursday.

Fourth-seeded Sindhu, a Rio Games silver medallist, took 39 minutes to get the better of World No. 22 Mia Blichfeldt 21-13, 21-19, her second straight win over the Danish shuttler, who had clinched the Spain Masters earlier this year.

World No. 6 Sindhu will next face China’s Cai Yanyan, a 2017 BWF World Junior Championships bronze medallist.

Sixth seed Saina, however, had to work hard in her bid to avenge a Malay-

Saina Nehwal

sia Open first-round loss to Pornpawee Chochuwong before pulling off a thrilling 21-16, 18-21, 21-19 win over the Thai shuttler in the second round.

The London Olympic bronze medallist will next square off against second seeded Japanese Nozomi Okuhara.

W h i l e S a i n a wa s plotting the downfall of Chochuwong, her husband and fellow shuttler Parupalli Kashyap was locked in a fierce battle with reigning Olympic champion, Chen Long of China.

K a s hya p, a 2 0 1 4 Commonwealth Games champion, stretched Chen to three games before narrowly losing 9-21, 21-15, 16-21 to the fourth seeded Chinese, who had reached the finals at Malaysia Open

last year.

Sameer Verma, however, continued his impressive run, beating China’s Lu Guangzu 21-15, 21-18 to set up a clash with either second seeded Taipei player Chou Tien Chen or Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen.

Earlier in the day, Sindhu led throughout in the first game after opening up a 3-0 advantage but in the second game, she was locked in a tight battle with Mia till 8-8. The Indian was, in fact, trailing 11-15 at one stage.

H oweve r, S i n d h u managed to claw back at 17-17 and then nosed ahead to seal the issue in her favour. Sindhu had reached the semifinals of the India Open last month.

Coe cleared by IAAF ethics board NRA informs Lo n d o n, A p r 1 1 (Agencies): Lord Coe has been cleared by the IAAF ethics board of any impropriety with regard to evidence he gave to a Parliamentary Committee concerning Russian doping in 2015.

Coe, the IAAF president, had been accused in a report issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) committee of providing “misleading” answers, based around his claim that he had been unaware of the extent of a then-alleged extortion scheme concerning the Russian marathon runner Liliya Shobukhova.

Over two years later, in January 2017, David Bedford, the former race director of the London Marathon, also gave evidence to the committee, indicating he had emailed details of the Shobukhova case to former MP Coe, contained in a series of attachments, in August 2014.

The ethics board accepted Coe’s evidence that his personal assistant had read the body of the emails, K Y M C

affiliated clubs

Lord Sebastian Coe

rather than the attachments, to him, and that by inference, he had been truthful in stating to the DCMS committee that he had no extensive knowledge of the Shobukhova case at the time.

In a statement, the IAAF ethics board said, “The investigation has therefore not identified evidence of a potential breach of the Code of Ethics by Lord Coe. The investigator concluded that there is no realistic prospect of establishing that Lord Coe knew more about the Shobukhova affair at the relevant time than that Liliya Shobukhova had made a complaint, and the complaint was serious.” “...Accordingly the investigator recommended against disciplinary charges being laid.”

Dimapur, Apr 11 (NPN): The Nagaland Rifle Association (NRA) has informed all the shooters of affiliated district clubs, academy to register online to the National Rifle Association of India at www.thenrai.org.

Shooters failing to register online to NRAI will not be able to participate at the forthcoming 7th North East Zone Shooting Championship 2019 at Guwahati followed by the 63rd National Shooting Championship Competitions 2019 at Delhi/Pune.

NRA has also invited interested shooters to the 3rd basic training programme to be held from April 18 to 24 at the Aries Rifle & Pistol Shooting Academy, NST Colony, Dimapur.

For registration, interested shooters can contact 7005656759, 7758002278 or 9436010820.

Milan, Apr 11 (Agencies): Massimiliano Allegri dropped a strong hint he could leave Juventus when asked about his future after their draw with Ajax.

Allegri has repeatedly decided against committing himself to the Serie A leaders in recent months, and held talks with Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli after the club’s win over Atletico Madrid in the last 16 in March about his future.

The club were anxious to have the issue settled by the end of the month, with his existing contract due to expire in June 2020, but there have been no further public developments since that time.

Speaking after Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Ajax on Wednesday night, he said, “My future? A coach does not last forever.”

That comment contrasts with statements made

by Allegri last week to Italian publication Corriere della Sera, where the 51year-old, who has been in charge in Turin since 2014, suggested he would favour a long-term career with the club.

“I would love to be compared to [Sir Alex] Ferguson,” he said. “Because it would mean staying for many years at Juve.”

Sam Curran

Jos Buttler

Virat Kohli

L o n d o n, A p r 1 1 (Agencies): Sam Curran, Jos Buttler, Ror y Burns, Tammy Beaumont and Virat Kohli have been named as Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.

All-rounder Curran, 20, is the youngest Englishman to make the list in a century, having been named Man of the Series as England beat top-ranked Test nation India 4-1 at home last summer.

The Surrey player, who has taken 15 wickets and scored three fifties in his nine Tests to date, also earned a million-dollar IPL deal with Kings XI Punjab.

Jack Crawford, who was 19 when he was one of the five leading cricket-

ers in 1907, was a younger recipient than Curran excluding 1918 and 1919 when schoolboy cricketers were honoured following World War One. Wisden editor Lawrence Booth, said: “Sam Curran was central to England’s 4-1 Test win over India, the world’s number one ranked side, turning the games at Edgbaston and Southampton with hard-hit half-centuries.

“He also removed India’s top three in eight balls at Edgbaston, and continued his form in Sri Lanka with a six-filled 64 in Pallekele.”

Buttler, a key component of England’s whiteball sides, made a triumphant return to the Test

arena last May, scoring his maiden century in the format against India at Trent Bridge.

The 28-year-old, who has passed fifty nine times since his recall, is now Joe Root’s vice-captain.

Surrey captain Burns was selected by England after scoring a Championship-leading 1,359 runs in 2018 as he skippered his county to their first fourday title since 2002.

E n g l a n d Wo m e n opener Beaumont scored her side’s fastest T20 hundred, a 47-ball effort against South Africa, while her tally of 628 runs was a record for England in a home summer, trumping Jan Brittin’s 595 in 1984.

“It’s a real honour to

Bancroft hopes for Australia recall

Melbourne, Apr 11 (Agencies): Cameron Bancroft is eyeing a recall to Australia’s Test team following the conclusion of his ban for ball tampering.

Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner were punished by Cricket Australia for the parts they played in the plot to alter the ball in the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March 2018.

The opening batsman - who will captain Durham in the Specsavers County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup this season - scored three fifties in eight Tests before his suspension, including a top score of 82 against England in Brisbane during the 201718 Ashes series.

“The aspiration to play Test cricket is certainly in my mind and where I’d love to be one day. But I also can’t be there. I’m here right now,” Bancroft said on the eve of his Durham debut, at home to Sussex in the Championship. “[Playing for Australia] would mean a lot to me, definitely. But I also know

manager Rodgers quashed rumours that Vardy might make a return.

Rodgers told The Sun, “Jamie’s made his decision on England - there’s nothing more to say on it.”

“It’s not my job to try and talk him out of retirement, he’s very happy where he is. He gives his maximum in every training sessions, he plays in all the games. He is such an intelligent player, a top player, but he has made his decision internationally.

He did it not just for football reasons, he did it for family reasons.”

However, Rodgers did say he had not held discussions with Vardy about his return. “I don’t expect it to happen,” he said. “It’s not a topic I expect Jamie to raise, and I won’t be going to him about it.”

be named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year,” said Beaumont.

“To be recognised like this, with such a special award, is just so brilliant. When I was younger and first playing the game I remember people telling me I’d never play cricket for England because my hands were too small but deep down I always believed I could do it.”

“I was so proud of my three team-mates who won last year [Anya Shrubsole, Heather Knight and Nat Sciver] and it means a lot to follow in their footsteps and become the sixth woman to ever win this award.”

India captain Kohli rounds off the quintet after hitting 593 runs at 59.30, including two tons, during his team’s Test series in England.

The 30-year-old also made it an unprecedented three years in a row as Wisden’s leading male cricketer of the year, with his 2,735 runs in all formats besting Joe Root by more than 700.

Kohli’s fellow Indian Smriti Mandhana landed the women’s award, with Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan keeping his title as leading Twenty20 cricketer in the world.

OFFICE OF THE

DIMAPUR TONPHYAKTSU-RUI EKHUNG ELANCHO Dimapur Tonphyaktsu-rui nzontsu thyutasanta Meta ji zotoro ndungphen nlio ji yakchia tongphie UNITY COLLEGE na khia la, elanchoe rotale to ntsijantala.

Mr. Zankhomo Jami Chairman Dimapur Tonphyaktsu-rui Ekhung

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ing to impact the game, United were left trying to hit Barca on the break or from set-pieces and too often they lacked the precision to make the most of the few openings that fell their way.

The crucial away goal was well-worked. Sergio Busquets found Lionel Messi with a clever ball into the area and the Argentine carved out space on the left to deliver a lofted cross to former Liverpool striker Suarez at the

Lo n d o n, A p r 1 1 (Agencies): Brendan Rodgers says Jamie Vardy won’t change his mind on his England retirement even if Harry Kane’s injury rules him out of the Nations League finals.

The 32-year-old striker stepped down from international duty last August after making his final appearance at the 2018 World Cup. Vardy had said retirement had “been on my mind for a while”, and made way for manager Gareth Southgate to “bring youngsters in and nurture them into international football”. With England striker and captain Harry Kane waiting to hear the full extent of his ankle injury suffered in the Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City on Wednesday, Leicester City

Mr. James Jungio General Secretary Dimapur Tonphyaktsu-rui Ekhung

Chumukedima Town Students’ Union (CTSU) Notification

Cameron Bancroft

that I’ve got a lot of great things in my life. Even just playing club cricket back home in Perth, it’s a game I felt like where you get selfabsorbed and single-minded in your pursuits to achieve things.”

“At the forefront is just the enjoyment of it all. If I do that then I know the results will take off themselves. Hopefully it will happen one day.”

Bancroft was hit with a nine-month ban following the Newlands scandal, with Smith and Warner receiving year-long suspensions.

Smith and Warner, currently playing in the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively, seem almost certain to make Australia’s World Cup and Ashes squads.

“We all make mistakes and I guess it’s how you’re able to grow as a person, in admitting and being honest with yourself about those mistakes,” added Bancroft.

“I certainly have been and as a person that’s something that I’m completely accountable for. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Keeping the welfare of the students’ community in mind, the Chumukedima Town Students’ Union (CTSU) would like to inform the following guidelines.

1. Number of students in private tuition should not exceed 7 in a batch. Teachers should not supervise more than one batch in a given hour. Tuition should be 5 days a week and of one hour duration @ of Rs. 400 per Student.

2. Cyber cafe owners are asked not to entertain students in uniform during school hours.

3. Home tuition fee should not exceed Rs. 2000 /- per batch.

4. Shops within the jurisdiction of Chumukedima Town are strictly prohibited on the sale of any tobacco/ intoxicating substance to any minor or student. Selling of tobacco/ Intoxicating substance within the radius of 100 meters near any educational institution is a punishable offence.

5. For the security and safety of the students and parents alike, all the school buses are to equip with safety measures.

The directives issued by the Union are strictly to be adhered to. Failing to comply, will lead to serious action against the defaulters.

Thanking you.

Yours faithfully,

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Barcelona’s Lionel Messi vies for the ballduring their Champions League quarter-final match against Manchester United.

Jamie Vardy

(Kezhawelie Richa) President

(Kenivi Yhoshü) General Secretary K Y M C

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CSK win last-ball thriller vs RR Pinki, Sakshi ensure two more medals at Boxing WC

CSK batsman MS Dhoni plays a shot during their IPL match against Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Thursday. (PTI)

Jaipur, Apr 11 (PTI): Bespectacled Mitchell Santner smashed Ben Stokes into the stands off the final delivery to guide Chennai Super Kings to a thrilling four wicket victory in an IPL game which saw a very public outburst from winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

CSK recorded their sixth win in seven games as they made a rough weather of a modest 152 run target before Santner’s six sealed in a dramatic final over in which CSK needed 18 runs.

Dhoni on his part scored 58 off 43 and added 95 with Ambati Rayudu (57 off 47 balls) for the fifth wicket. However Stokes got him with a yorker and a clear waist high no-ball to Santner was ruled out by umpire Ulhas Gandhe

after trying to raise his arm.

This prompted an angry Dhoni to enter the ground and literally blast Gandhe before leg umpire Bruce Oxenford calmed him and sent him back before Santner finished it off in style spoiling a brilliant outing from Jofra Archer (1/19 in 4 overs).

D h awa l Ku l k a r n i bowled a perfect away going delivery that squared up Shane Watson (0) while Suresh Raina (4) was beaten by a direct throw.

Faf du Plessis (7) soon followed the suit as Rahul Tripathi took a well judged catch at the deep mid-wicket boundary off Jaydev Unadkat’s bowling to reduce CSK to 15 for 3.

Ke d a r Ja d h av ( 1 ) didn’t last long but it took an air-borne Ben Stokes to pull off an incredible catch

at backward point off Jofra Archer’s bowling.

At 24 for 4, Dhoni walked in and with two young spinners in Shreyas Gopal and Riyan Parag (0/24 in 3 overs) bowling in tandem, he launched into the duo hitting them for a six each as Rayudu kept on rotating the strike, hitting the odd boundaries in between. Their 50-run stand for the fifth wicket came in 42 balls as Dhoni deposited Gopal into the stands for his third six. Rayudu also did his bit lofting Stokes for a six.

Earlier, Chennai Super Kings produced yet another disciplined bowling effort to restrict Rajasthan Royals to a modest 151 for seven.

Except Jos Buttler (23 off 10 balls) at the top of the order, none of other

Indian eves beat Malaysia; win series

Indian hockey team player Navneet in action against Malaysia on Thursday. (PTI)

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 11 (PTI): The Indian women’s hockey team beat Malaysia by a solitary goal to complete a 4-0 win in the five-match bilateral series here Thursday.

It was Navjot Kaur’s fine field goal in the 35th minute and a good defensive display that helped India win. India did well to create scoring opportunities with substantial circle entries but could not convert enough chances. “We

need to work on converting goals,” stated Indian team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne who was not very pleased with the margin of victory in the final game.

“I am happy with the number of times we entered the opponent’s circle. We created enough opportunities with shots and PCs but we have to keep working on converting in small space,” he said.

Speaking about the tour which saw India win

3-0, 5-0, draw 4-4 and win the last two matches 1-0 respectively, Marijne said, “This tour gave us more insight on how to play against a very defensive team like Malaysia. Also it was good that some of our young players experienced what it takes at international level and this will really help us to create depth in the squad.”

The team will return from its successful campaign on Friday.

Royals batsmen looked the part.

Left-arm spin duo Ravindra Jadeja (2/20 in 4 overs) and Mitchell Santner (1/25 in 4 overs) checked the run-flow as Royals batsmen were always playing a catch-up game.

Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane (14 off 11) failed once again with seamer Deepak Chahar (2/33 in 4 overs) trapping him leg before.

Buttler belted Shardul Thakur (2/44 in 4 overs) for a few boundaries before he mistiming one which was easily caught by Ambati Rayudu.

Once Buttler was gone, Royals lost the momentum as wickets fell at regular imtervals. Steve Smith (15,22 balls) struggled once again as he slog swept Ravindra Jadeja towards deep mid-wicket only to find Rayudu. Samson also top edged a sweep which was caught by substitute fielder Dhruv Shorey.

R a h u l Tr i p a t h i ’s struggles in the middleorder continued while Ben Stokes’ 28 off 26 balls wasn’t good enough.

It was Shreyas Gopal, who struck a few meaty blows en route his 19 off 7 balls to take the target past 150 despite the home team playing as many as 42 dot balls.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings155/6 (A Rayadu 57, MS Dhoni 58; Ben Stokes 2/39, DS Kulkarni 1/14) beat Rajasthan Royals- 151/7 (Ben Stokes 28, Shreyas Gopal 19 not out; Ravindra Jadeja 2/20, Deepak Chahar 2/33)

21 nations are taking at this tournament and it skills ahead of the World New Delhi, Apr 11 (IANS): Commonwealth part in 17 weight categories will help elite boxers hone Championships.

Games bronze medallist Pinki Rani (51kg) and reigning youth world champion Sakshi (57kg) assured India of its third and fourth medal by entering the semi-finals of the Cologne Boxing World Cup 2019 in Cologne, Germany, on Thursday.

Continuing her impeccable form, Rani put up yet another dominating performance to blank Thailand’s Phunsang Cahiranchaya 5-0 in the quarter-final bout. The 18-year-old Sakshi won in contrasting fashion. She faced stiff resistance from Cecille Kelle of Denmark. The Indian had to dig deep to stave off the Dane’s challenge before she won by a split decision on points.

The Indian contingent is confirmed of at least a silver and a bronze after Meena Kumari Maisnam and Pwilao Basumatary reached the final and semi-finals in the 54kg and 64kg, respectively. With only three boxers in the fray in the 54kg category, Strandja Memorial gold medallist Maisnam was directly placed in the final.

Similarly, due to the 64kg category having just five pugilists, Basumatary, a bronze medallist at Strandja Memorial, is through to the semifinals.

Earlier in the day, Anjali Tushir’s campaign came to an end following her 0-5 loss to Yvonne Baek Rasmussen of Denmark.

India has sent a sevenmember team to this European event, following a healthy haul of six medals at the erstwhile Chemistry Cup, held at Halle last year. Gaurav Solanki (52kg) and Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg) were the only Indians to stand on the top podium in the last edition.

May never play for Bayern again, says Robben Munich, Apr 11 (Agencies): Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben claims that he doesn’t know if he’ll get the chance to play for the club again before his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Dutchman has been out of action since November due to a thigh injury which has had a knock-on effect for Robben’s fitness, while January arrival Alphonso Davies has moved ahead of him in the pecking order.

Robben admitted that his short-term future with the club is in doubt and admits that he might not get the chance to have one last farewell with fans before he leaves at the end of the season. “I’m not sure whether I can play for Bayern Munich again this season,” Robben told Sky Sports. “The situation is frustrating, not knowing what exactly it is.”

The 35-year-old has spent the last 10 years at the Allianz Arena where he’s made 305 appearances across all competitions, scoring 143 goals and registering 101 assists.

Diego Costa banned for eight games

Diego Costa suspended for rest of La Liga season after derogatory comments about referee’s mother.

M A D R I D, A p r 1 1 (Agencies): Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been handed an eight-match La Liga ban by the Spanish Football

Federation’s Competition Committee for abusing the referee after he was shown the red card during last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Barcelona.

The official’s report stated the 30-year-old swore and shouted at referee Jesus Gil Manzano and also grabbed him “on numerous occasions” after he had been given his marching orders in the 28th minute.

The ban, which ends Costa’s season as there are only seven games remaining, consists of four games for being found in breach of Article 94 of the league’s code of conduct for using insulting or offensive words towards a match official, and four matches for breaching Article 96, which refers to the use of light violence towards referees.

Atletico were fined 2800 euros ($3,150), while Costa 6010 euros over the incident. They have 10 days in which they can lodge an appeal.

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