April 23, 2018

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVIII No. 135

MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2018 Pages 12 ` 5.00

India’s pace of growth to accelerate in 2018-19: Patel

Arsenal surge to emotional win

Scribe among 25 killed in Nicaragua

business, Page 8

sports, Page 11

international, Page 9

PM issues gag orders on partymen Says don’t blame media, your ‘masala’ hurts party image’ NEW DELHI, APR 22 (AGENCIES): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday issued a stinging rebuke again to party motormouths, who have covered a wide range of subjects from terror and rape to Mahabharata and Darwin’s theory over the last six months. In a strongly worded statement to BJP lawmakers who resort to foot-in-mouth remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked them to avoid making controversial statements before the media, which, in turn, boomerangs to hurt the party as well as one’s image. Interacting with BJP MPs and MLAs through the NaMo App, Modi said party members should not always blame the media for blowing things out of proportion since it was them who provide “masala” to the press. “We make mistakes and give ‘masala’ to the media... as if we are great

DPON ‘pained’ at non-inclusion of Bishu festival DIMAPUR, APR 22 (NPN): While welcoming the State cabinet decision to hold mini Hornbill festivals in all district headquarters, Dimasa Public Organisation, Nagaland, (DPON) has expressed pain for not covering or including the Bishu festival, a post harvest festival of the Dimasas (Kacharis) in Dimapur district. Mentioning that Bishu festival was a governmentrecognised festival in the State, DPON publicity secretary Amon Difoe said it is not understood if the festival was overlooked on purpose by the government to erase the legacy of the Dimasas (Kacharis). Being one of the 16 recognised indigenous tribes, Amon Difoe said the Kacharis are concentrated in 16 very old villages with traditional land holdings within Dimapur district. Demanding to know the reason for the non-inclusion of the Bishu festival by the government, Difoe also wondered if the Kachari tribe’s existence in these traditional villages and their recognition by the government will be abolished. It may be recalled the decision to hold ‘MiniHornbill Festivals’ in all the districts, was taken during a cabinet meeting held on April 16, as follow-up to the chief minister’s proposal in his budget speech.

This is it!

“India is a big family. It requires a family man to understand its problems.” K Y M C

Narendra Modi

social scientists and experts to analyse issues... the moment you see a camera you start speaking. So this halfbaked stuff is picked up,” he said. The message -- sent earlier as well -- came as the nation seethes over a spate of child rapes and murders, in which BJP leaders were seen as being soft on the accused. On Sunday, minister of state for Finance Santosh Gangwar stepped into controversy, saying one “should not make such a big deal” if “one or two such cases are reported” from such a huge country. Two BJP ministers in Jammu and Kashmir who stepped down from their posts over the gang-rape and murder of an 8-year-

old in Kathua, have gone public demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, aggravating the situation in the state which is widely polarized over the issue. In what seemed a reference to two BJP ministers’ comments on the Kathua rape case, Modi also asked legislators to apply restraint before commenting on sensitive issues. “If ever yone starts giving opinions then the main issue gets deflected and harms the party and personal image. Specific people have been appointed to reply on issues,” the PM said. Citing an example, the PM said following the Lok Sabha elections, there were 8-10 MPs who used to make offhand remarks, but after he spoke to them, they have stopped making controversial statements. Last month, as Lalu Yadav’s RJD retained Bihar’s Araria constituency against an aggressive BJP campaign in the by-elections, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said the district will soon become a “hub of terror”. During the campaign, Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai said

if RJD won, Araria would turn into a hub of the ISI, the Pakistani intelligence agency. A tweet from his party colleague Sushil Kumar Modi, the deputy chief minister of Bihar, rubbed in the meaning. “RJD got a lead of 1 Lakh 30 thousand votes from 2 Minority dominated constituency which led to their victory in Araria,” it read. Earlier this month, Tripura’s BJP chief minister Biplab Deb claimed that internet and satellite communication existed in the days of Mahabharata. In January, Union Minister Satyapal Singh has said Darwin’s theory was “scientifically wrong” since there are no witnesses to humans evolving from apes and it should be removed from science books. At a party conclave in April last year, PM Modi had issued a similar message, asking leaders to “practice the art of silence”. Taking a dig at the controversial statements by his partymen, he said, “The microphone is not a machine that forces people to speak”.

Kathua rapemurder: J&K Police refute fake news JAMMU, APR 22 (NPN): Shutting-down the rumour mills, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday said investigating agency is in the process of submitting supplementary charge sheet in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old tribal nomad girl of Kathua. “After completion of all legal formalities of investigation, a charge sheet was produced in the competent court of law and investigating agency is in the process of submitting supplementary charge sheet”, said a Jammu and Kashmir police spokesman. (More on p-5)

Finance dept releases over `48 cr as ‘advance payment’ for SSA teachers

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, APR 22 (NPN): State finance department has so far released Rs. 4809.76 lakh as “total advance payment” on account of salary for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers. In a letter, dated April 20, 2018, written to the director of School Education, Nagaland (a copy with Nagaland Post), secretary to government of Nagaland, Y. Kikheto Sema, reminded the Education department that the state government

had released salary for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teachers up to December 2017 by providing an “advance amount” of Rs. 1473.38 lakh during 2017-2018. He further said that “as requested by the department”, the Finance department on April 20, 2018 authorised payment of Rs. 3336. 38 lakh as salary requirement for the month of January to March, 2018 thus making a “total advance payment” on account of salary for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teachers to Rs.

4809.76 lakh till date. In this regard, the Finance department has requested the school education department to pursue sanction from government of India to “recover the advance and for further salary requirements”. In the letter, the secretary has also made a note that “due to resource constraints” it would be difficult on the part of the state government to provide “further advances without sanctions” from the government of India.

President okays ordinance for death to child rapists

NEW DELHI, APR 22 (IANS): President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday approved an ordinance to provide death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below age 12 years besides clearing another ordinance to confiscate property of fugitive economic offenders. The President promulgated The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, which was approved

by the cabinet on Saturday and which seeks to provide effective deterrence against rape and instil a sense of security among women, particularly young girls. The ordinance follows outrage over rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and similar crimes in other parts of the country. Following the Presi-

dent’s approval, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), The Indian Penal Code (IPC) and The Evidence Act stand amended. The development puts in place a number of measures for speedy investigation and trial of rape cases including a two-month time limit for investigation, two months for completion of trial and six months for

disposal of appeals. There will be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape or gang rape of a girl under 16 years. It also aims at strengthening investigation and prosecution including setting up fast track courts and special forensic labs in each state besides maintaining a national database of sexual offenders.

Cong may move court if CJI ISIS suicide attack in Kabul kills 57 Petrol price hits highest impeachment notice rejected level, diesel at record high

NEW DELHI, APR 22 (PTI): As the Congress awaits the decision of Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on an impeachment notice moved by it and other parties against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, it is considering moving the Supreme Court if the petition is rejected, party leaders said. They said if the Upper House chairman did not find merit in the notice for the impeachment, the decision could call for a judicial review. “The chairman’s decision is open to being challenged. It is bound to go for a judicial review,” said a Congress leader. The Congress was also trying to build up “moral pressure” on the Chief Justice of India in the hope that he would step aside from judicial duty if an impeachment motion was

moved against him. Judges who faced impeachment had earlier stepped aside from judicial work and the Chief Justice should do the same, a party leader said. “It is only a convention, though there is no legal or constitutional bar (on this),” the leader said. The Congress also hoped that the decision on the motion would be taken soon. “He (the RS Chairman) cannot sit on it indefinitely, though there is no deadline laid out in the Constitution,” a legal expert said, citing the case of an anti-defection law where the court had said it should be decided within a “reasonable” time-frame. Meanwhile, an official in Parliament stressed that making public the contents of a notice before it was admitted violated Parliamentary rules.

gave the latest toll for the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group via its propaganda arm Amaq. The interior ministry had earlier said 48 people were killed and 112 wounded. Its spokesman was not immediately available to comment on the new toll. “They are civilians, includPolicemen inspecting the blast site outside a voter registration ing women and children,” interior ministry spokesman centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday. Najib Danish said earlier. KABUL, APR 22 (AGENThere were anguished Another explosion CIES): An Islamic State sui- and angry scenes at Isteqlal in Kabul kills 6 cide bomber killed at least Hospital where many of the In a second bombing in 57 people including women victims were taken, with and children and wounded relatives criticising the Af- Afghanistan on Sunday, six 119 outside a voter registra- ghan government for failing persons were killed and five tion centre in the Afghan to protect their loved ones. injured as a bomb went off capital Kabul on Sunday in “Our patience is run- close to a voter registration the latest attack on election ning out. This government centre in Baghlan. All victims were mempreparations. should take responsibility The assaults under- for the lives of all these inno- bers of the same family, Tolo score growing concerns cent people lost every day,” a News reported. The family about security in the lead-up man called Hussain, whose was driving past the centre to legislative elections sched- cousin was wounded in the in Pul-e-Khumri city when uled for October 20, which blast, told AFP. “Nobody the IED detonated shortly are seen as a test-run for next will go to vote anymore.” after 12 noon, health ofyear’s presidential poll. The health ministry ficials said.

Fuel prices in state capitals AS on April 23 Agartala

`70.19 (Petrol)

`63.74 (Diesel)

Aizawl

`70.33

`62.98

Gangtok

`77.35

`67.35

Guwahati

`76.49

`68.53

Imphal

`72.52

`63.76

Itanagar

`70.39

`63

Kohima

`72.87

`64.03

Shillong

`73.81

`65.46

NEW DELHI, APR 22 (PTI): Petrol price Sunday hit Rs. 74.40 a litre— the highest level under the BJP-led government, while diesel rates touched a record high of Rs. 65.65, renewing calls for cut in excise duty to ease burden on consumers. State-owned oil firms, which have been since June last year revising auto fuel prices daily, on Sunday raised petrol and diesel

NCD proposes to beautify Naga Cemetery 50 IIT alumni quit jobs DIMAPUR, APR 22 (NPN): Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has proposed to give a facelift to the old Naga Cemetery located at Lake View Colony, Kher Mahal here. According to Naga Council Dimapur general secretary Thsapongkyu Sangtam, the old Naga Cemetery, which is being in use for more than 40 years, has run out of space and is now closed. And as the cemetery is covered with grasses and weeds, its maintenance becomes labour intensive, he pointed out. Sangtam said though in the past these were cleared and maintained by Pastor Fellowship Dimapur and other voluntary organisation, Naga Council Dimapur now wishes to make concrete the entire space between every tomb. Pointing out that some families of the deceased had put iron railings around tombs, which will cause inconvenience while carrying out concrete plastering, the NCD general secretary appealed for removal of all such structures before April 24, failing which all these will be removed by council. He pointed out that while the management of the cemetery by

to form political party

The areas between the tombs freshly paved by Naga Council Dimapur.

the council involves space allocation for burial, maintenance of tombstones and other grave monuments is usually the responsibility of families of the deceased. While appreciating organisations that have contributed towards

maintaining the cemetery, Sangtam also appealed on behalf of Naga Council Dimapur to all bodies and institutions to once again come forward in contributing towards beautifying the cemetery and make it more attractive.

NEW DELHI, APR 22 (PTI): A group of 50 alumni from the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country have quit their jobs to form a political party to fight for the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. The group, which is waiting for an approval from the Election Commission, has named their outfit “Bahujan Azad Party”. “We are a bunch of 50 people, all from different IITs, who have quit our full-time jobs to work for the party. We have applied to the Election Commission for an approval and are meanwhile doing ground work,” Naven Kumar, a 2015 IIT Delhi graduate, who is leading the group, told PTI. The party members, however, do not wish to jump the gun and aim for the

2019 Lok Sabha elections. “We do not wish to do a hurried job and end up being reduced to just one of those small political outfits with big ambitions. We will begin with contesting the 2020 Bihar assembly elections and then aim for the next Lok sabha polls,” Kumar said. The group, which includes members mostly from the SC, ST and OBC communities, feels that the backward classes have not received their due in terms of education and employment. The party has already begun a social media campaign. “Once we have the registration, we will form small units of the party which will start working on the ground for our target groups. We also do not wish to pitch ourselves as a rival of any political party or ideology,” Kumar added.

rates by 19 paisa per litre each in Delhi, according to a price notification. The hike, necessitated due to firming international oil prices, comes on back of a 13 paisa increase in rates of petrol effected on Saturday and a 15 paisa hike in diesel, it said. India has the highest retail prices of petrol and diesel among South Asian nations as taxes account for half of the pump rates.

NPA, DPC condole DIMAPUR, APR 22 (NPN): Nagaland Press Association (NPA) and Dimapur Press Club have mourned the sad demise of Nounevilie Kire, younger brother of Mhalezolie Kire, Editor of the vernacular newspaper Capi. He was working at DC’s office, Kohima. NPA, on behalf of the entire media fraternity of Nagaland, expressed deep sorrow to the members of the bereaved family. NPA prayed that God Almighty grant comfort to the family at this time of loss and grief and for the departed soul to rest in peace. DPC: Dimapur Press Club (DPC) through its president, Moa Longkumer and general secretary S. Henlly Phom conveyed heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty God to grant eternal peace to the departed soul. K Y M C


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