August 16, 2018

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVIII No. 250

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 Pages 12 ` 5.00

PTI’s Qaiser sworn in as Pakistan’s NA Speaker

Asiad:India banks on shooters, wrestlers

Forex reserves comfortable to counter rupee fall: Jaitley

international, Page 9

sports, Page 12

business, Page 8

Brought NE closer to Delhi: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation from Red Fort in New Delhi on Wednesday (PTI)

under his government and contrasted it with what he termed as “policy paralysis” during the UPA rule, making a pitch for retaining power in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. On the occasion, Modi also announced the launch date of his signature healthcare scheme for 50 crore Indians, permanent commissioning of women in the armed forces and a plan to send Indian astronauts into space by 2022. In the nearly 80-minute speech, Modi devoted much of the time in presenting the report card of his government and also touched on a host of burning issues including the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, crime against women, legislation on instant triple talaq, state of the economy and the farm sector. “When 125 crore people move towards achieving a goal, there is nothing that cannot happen. In 2014, the people of the country did not just stop at forming the government. They moved together towards nationbuilding and are continuing to do so,” he said. The prime minister also talked about how India “moved” on the

Rio for integration of contiguous Naga areas Correspondent

path of “reform, perform and transform” from the time of “policy paralysis” and “corruption” under the UPA rule. Accused by the opposition of running a pro-business and pro-rich dispensation, Modi dwelt at length about his government’s initiatives to improve the lives of the poor and the backward sections and claimed that five crore people have been lifted out of poverty in the last two years. Modi said negative reports about India, delayed reforms, fragile economy and red tape were the terms often used for the country under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), while it is now being looked at as a multi-trillion dollar economy, offering red carpet welcome to investors. “India was earlier a sleeping elephant which has woken up now and started running,” said Modi, who was wearing a saffronand-red, Rajasthani-style turban. On Kashmir, Modi said, “We will move forward by embracing people and not with bullet and abuse (Goli and Gaali).”

KOHIMA, AUG 15 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday reiterated that the Naga Political issue was the PDA government’s top agenda and extended support to the demand of Naga people for integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas, for which Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) had passed resolutions on four occasions. He claimed that his government had been supporting the “legitimate and democratic right” of the people consistently. Speaking after unfurling the tricolour at Civil Secretariat Plaza here on Wednesday on the occasion of the India’s 72nd Independence Day, Rio also appealed to the neighbouring States to appreciate the history and democratic rights of the Nagas in the spirit of mutual respect to live together as good neighbours under an environment of harmonious coexistence and brotherhood. He remarked that Nagaland, which came into being on December 1, 1963, was on the threshold of a (Cont’d on p-7) bright future with hope for

State chief minister Neiphiu Rio inspecting the guard of honour on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day celebration at Civil Secretariat Plaza Wednesday. (DIPR)

an early and final settlement to the Naga political issue. Stating that political negotiations were going on for the last 21 years, he said there was no problem that was insurmountable with collective will of the people. He exuded confidence that the dream for a developed Nagaland would become a reality one day where economic independence and stability, quality education and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities would be the parameters and indicators of progress of the State and its people. Dwelling on the recent calamities triggered by incessant rainfall across the State, Rio said Independence Day was being celebrated at a time when

the State was ravaged by unprecedented heavy rains and landslides, causing widespread damage to life, property, roads and bridges. He also mourned the loss of 10 precious lives and acknowledged the prompt response of all stakeholders, including the government departments, Association of Off-roaders Nagaland (AON) and people from all walks of life, for their prompt action in making roads and highways operational without much delay so that supply of essential commodities was not disrupted. He said restorative works had been initiated and urged all people to be aware of the imminent

disasters that could occur due to unplanned development and encroachment on to drains, especially in urban areas. Rio referred to the visit of Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju and officials of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), all of whom reviewed the situation on August 5. He expressed his gratitude to the Central government for responding to the distress call of the people of Nagaland and deputing two Indian Air Force helicopters to transport essential commodities to areas that were cut off totally.

NEW DELHI, AUG 15 (IANS/AGENCIES): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said efforts made by his government have brought the people of North East India closer to Delhi. “Four years ago, people from North East used to feel Delhi is far away. In the past four years, we have brought the northeast closer to Delhi,” he said in his address to the nation from the Red Fort here on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 72nd Independence Day, his fifth

speech after the NDA came to power in 2014, Modi said people were ignoring news about this region earlier. “Now, when we read about the North East in the papers, we see villages getting electricity, highways and railways being constructed. New job opportunities have been created and educational institutes are coming up,” he said. Modi also spoke about the achievements of the region in sports, construction and infrastructure and business. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also presented a picture of “rising” India

NRMSATA ultimatum on state government

Patton graces 72nd I-Day at Dimapur Government serious on ANCSU demands

DIMAPUR, AUG 15 (NPN): Nagaland RMSA Teachers’ Association (NRMSATA) 2016 batch has served a seven-day ultimatum, starting August 17, 2018, on the state government to release their four months’ salary. In a press release, NRMSATA2016 president Sao Venuh, and general secretary, Haisoliabe Ndang, cautioned that failure on the part of the government to meet its demand within the stipulated time, the association would be compelled to call for total boycott of classes from August 24, 2018 onwards. (Cont’d on p-7)

Vajpayee critical, put on life support: AIIMS

NEW DELHI, AUG 15 (AGENCIES): For mer Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is critical and on full life support. His condition has sharply deteriorated in the last 24 hours, AIIMS said this in a statement issued late in the night on Wednesday, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the ailing BJP stalwart. Modi reached the hospital at around 7.15pm. He spent around 10 minutes meeting the treating doctors and inquiring about Vajpayee’s health and left thereafter.

This is it!

“Drinking coke cannot give us that cultural spirit. Someone has it all wrong.” K Y M C

Deputy chief minister Y Patton takes salute on the occasion of I-Day at DDSC Stadium Wednesday (NP) Staff Reporter

D I M A P U R , AU G 1 5 (NPN): Joining the rest of India, Dimapur celebrated 72nd Independence Day with much fervour at DDSC Stadium here Wednesday with deputy chief minister, Y Patton, unfurling the Tricolour. After unfurling the national flag and taking rashtriya salute, the deputy

chief minister inspected the guard of honour. This was followed by march past by contingents of police, IR mahila, NCC cadets, school children and Assam Rifles pipe band. Delivering the Independence Day speech, the deputy chief minister, who is also in-charge of home and national highways departments, highlighted key achievements made in sev-

eral sectors by the state government. Patton announced that the state government has decided to set up women police stations in all the districts to ensure Nagaland continued to be amongst the safest states for women in the country. Patton, who graced the 72nd Independence Day celebrations at DDSC Stadium here, reminded that TA/ DA allowances for police personnel were enhanced with the implementation of 7th ROP, that ensures higher emoluments when they are deployed on duty within and outside the state, he said. Patton stated that government has also enhanced the ex gratia payment to the next kin of personnel of Assam Rifles, armed forces, CRPF and Nagaland police in incidents involving fatalities, non-fatal disabilities or injuries. (Cont’d on p-7)

Correspondent KOHIMA, AUG 15 (NPN): Keen on resolving the ongoing agitation by the All Nagaland College Students Union (ANCSU), the state government has been working on the issue despite the ultimatum by ANCSU to fulfil their demands before August 20 or else no government vehicle would be allowed to ply across Nagaland from August 20 Reliable sources informed Nagaland Post that the government was seriously considering the demands of the ANCSU and was keen to resolve the matter at the earliest. On the demand to set up separate nodal cell for scholarship, it was learnt that a committee was set up to study the case and its report was expected within a week. On receipt of the report, the government will take steps to streamline the system. On land encroachment at Kohima Science College Jotsoma , sources said the deputy commissioner Kohima had been entrusted to conduct survey in May and it would take another 30/40 days. Without the survey, the government would not be able to take any decision, the sources said. All these were explained during the meetings held with the students on various occasions so their threat to prevent movement of vehicles had taken the government by surprise, the sources said.

(Cont’d on p-7)

JVC seeks clarification from ANCSU president

DIMAPUR, AUG 15 (NPN): Jotsoma Village Council (JVC) has issued a three-day ultimatum on All Nagaland College Students Union (ANCSU) president Katho P. Awomi to clarify as to, on what basis and under what authority, had he made the threatening statement on August 14 at a meeting with chief minister, deputy chief minister and chief secretary. According to JVC chairman Mego Nagi and JVC secretary Pfüdolhoulie Rino, Awomi on August 14, had purportedly threatened to “dismantle” the DD Kendra, PHED Water Reservoir and the RCEMPA Music Academy Hall and “shift the Kohima Science College out of Jotsoma village jurisdiction”, if the three buildings could not be dismantled. JVC also alleged that the “same person” had issued a statement which was also

reported in the local media on April 24,2018, that the above three buildings would be vandalised. JVC said it could not understand as to why the ANCSU president “is targeting Kohima Science College Jotsoma or to shift the college out of Jotsoma Village jurisdiction, when land encroachment exists in all government colleges in the state”. JVC said it has taken the statement of Katho P.Awomi, JVC not only as an insult and a direct challenge on the village but also “an insult to the Hon’ble chief minister and other officials present in the meeting.” JVC has therefore, asked the All Nagaland College Students Union president to respond within three days from the date of the issue of the press release failing which it should not be held responsible for any untoward incident arising out of the issue.

India to connect NE with Chittagong port: Madhav ECI capable of holding LS, four state assembly polls together in Dec: Rawat B E I J I N G, AU G 1 5 (AGENCIES): India has unveiled a major plan for the development of its North Eastern states by connecting them with Bangladesh’s Chittagong port and invited for the first-time limited Chinese investments which were shunned till now due to security concerns in the border areas. Senior cabinet ministers from Assam, Tripura and Nagaland-- the states governed by the BJP and its allies-- accompanied by BJP general secretary Ram Madhav visited the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou last weekend and met Indian and Chinese businessmen. “There, we had an interaction with the Indian community who are exporters,” Madhav told the Indian media in Beijing on Wednesday. “Later, we had a session with Chinese groups

like e-bike manufacturers, software and hardware firms,” he said, adding that they interacted with ministers and showed interest to explore the opportunities. Madhav outlined a plan prepared by the BJPled government for the development of North Eastern states by providing the landlocked region direct access to Bangladesh’s Chittagong port instead of shipping the goods all the way from Mumbai and Chennai ports. “North-East is a special focus area for our government. So we are connecting Tripura with Chittagong port which is about 90 miles,” he said. Through Chittagong port entire North East is connected with ocean trade, he added. “Right now goods to North East are to be taken by rail and road from Mumbai or Chennai through

Kolkata to Guwahati. If we are going to connect to Chittagong port, it will be an excellent connectivity,” he said. The Chittagong port is the busiest seaport on the coastline of the Bay of Bengal. Madhav said North East connects with five countries, Bangladesh, Bhutan Nepal, Myanmar and China through Tibet. He said India is developing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) sub regional hub and even invited Chinese to use North East to access Indian Ocean through Chittagong. “We have not attempted connecting North East with China. Our vision was that they are natural neighbours. North East has huge boundary with China... “South West China can use North East as hub to go to Indian Ocean through Chittagong. We have not explored much. We only

thought through Sikkim we can give access to China to the Indian Ocean through Kolkata port. But this (Chittagong port) is also an excellent opportunity,” he said. But challenges remain as China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet. “We have issues in Arunachal Pradesh, that is a challenge,” he added. For its part, China is promoting Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar (BCIM) as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Madhav said India is developing North East as a trade hub. “We are developing it as a hub for trade. That concept should sit in the minds of business here. They should not look North East as market. You set up market in Guwahati which can access entire Bangladesh market,” he said. In that context, the visit of the ministers is crucial, he said.

NEW DELHI, AUG 15 (PTI): Election Commission was capable of holding the Lok Sabha elections and polls to four state assemblies together in December if the parliamentary elections are advanced, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said Wednesday. But Rawat emphasised that the question of advancing Lok Sabha polls is “hypothetical and totally speculative as the term of the House is not ending in the next six months.” He also said the polls in the states will have to be held before December 15 and the paper trail machines which EC will get in October and November cannot be used and would create “severe constraints”. While the term of the Mizoram Assembly will

end on December 15, the terms of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan assemblies would end on January 5, 2019 January 7 and January 20, 2019, respectively. Asked whether the required electronic voting machines (EVMs) and paper trail machines would be ready if the LS polls are held in December along with those of four assemblies, Chief Election Commissioner said while all the required EVMs would be in place by September end, paper trail machines would come in November end. The Chief Election Commissioner explained that out of 17.5 lakh paper trail machines, 16 lakh would be in place before November. The remaining 1.5 lakh paper trail or voter verifiable paper audit trail

(VVPAT) machines would be delivered by the end of November. “There would be a serious constraint on the reserves. Instead of 135 per cent (reserves), will have to go for 130 per cent, if the situation arises,” Rawat said about VVPATs. Rawat said there have been delays in the delivery of paper trail machines as the Technical Experts Committee appointed by it analyses the technology stabilisation issues in the initial batches and incorporates essential design improvements. “This ensures we don’t face the problems later,” he said. Over 11 per cent of the 10,300 VVPAT machines across 10 states had developed faults and had to be replaced during the May 28 bypolls. K Y M C


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