August 27, 2018

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVIII No. 161

MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018 Pages 12 ` 5.00

We stand by Muslim women in quest for social justice: Modi

Juventus maintain winning start

US Senator John McCain dead

national, Page 5

sports, Page 11

international, Page 9

700 families affected by flood in Dimapur

State BJP faces huge flak over immersion of Vajpayee’s ashes Correspondent

(L) SDRF personnel ferry victims over a flooded colony road. (R) A flooded house at Aokong colony. Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, AUG 26 (NPN): Around 700 families have been affected after an early morning heavy downpour inundated several colonies here on Sunday. According to Dimapur district administration, colonies like LRC, Sachu, Zeliangrong, HalfNagarjan, Bor-Lengiri and

Meeting held over DVC MGNERGA fund issue

D I M A P U R , AU G 2 6 (NPN): Taking note of the MGNREGA fund issue under Diphupar Village, a joint consultative meeting was held on August 25 at Diphupar Village Council (DVC) hall where a four-point resolution was adopted. In a press note, Hd GB Diphupar Village, Kekhwetsu informed that the meeting was attended by Dimapur District GB Federation, Chumukedima Area GB Union, Nagaland State VDB Association, Dimapur District VDB Association, Village Council Chairmen Forum under EAC Chumukedima and DVC members, GBs and VDB. The house claimed that the crisis was the fall out of mobilization/convergence of MGNREGA fund allegedly taken by RD department from Diphupar village. The house resolved to let NSVDBA president, Tohoshe Awomi file an FIR against RD department director since the department had allegedly taken the fund. They said, as and when the FIR is filed, they house said the director shall not hold office for fair inquiry. As all members of DVC, GBs and VDB had refunded the amount to EAC Chumukedima, the house has asked director RD department to also refund the amount to the EAC.

This is it!

“I don’t mind him attacking me for anything. But I hate it when he mentions the hug.” K Y M C

Lengrijan areas have been the worst affected. Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Dimapur, Alber t told Nagaland Post that relief would be handed over to the affected people on Monday post assessment. He said most of the affected families had returned to their homes by afternoon as the water had receded in most colonies.

He claimed that the district administration had assisted the affected families in coordination with colony leaders. In LRC, which was severely affected, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel carried out rescue operations. ADC said no relief camps were set up as some of the affected families took shelter in community

halls, schools and at their neighbours’ houses. Meanwhile, according to a resident of river belt in the colony’s lower khel alone, around 36 houses have been affected. A report received from K Sachu Colony claimed that around 200 families have been affected there. It may be mentioned that Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)

on August 18 issued a weather alert, predicting heavy to very heavy rain in Nagaland and other parts of the Northeast in the coming days. On Sunday as well, the Met department issued weather alert predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall likely at isolated places over Dimapur, Kohima and Peren district on August 27.

Rijiju says, no mention of any Ensure security for state boundary in framework 4-lane work: ACAUT Correspondent

IMPHAL, Aug 26: Union minister of state for Home has once again assured that there was no reference of any state or its boundary mentioned in the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement signed between Centre and the NSCN (I-M). Rijiju stated this in his letter, dated August 23, 2018, to Manipur’s Lok Sabha MP, Dr T Meinya of Manipur. During the recently concluded monsoon session of the Parliament, Meinya had raised concern over protecting the state’s territorial integrity in the event a final solution is arrived at between Centre and the NSCN (I-M). In the letter, Rijiju said: “In this connection, I would like to mention that there is indeed no reference of any state or its boundary in the Framework Agreement.” Rijiju had also stated that the Interlocutor for Naga talks, RN

Ravi had not given any statement anywhere regarding the contents of the talks, which was yet to be finalized. “Government of India is adequately sensitive to the concerns of states of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and will ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are kept in mind during the talks,” he said. The response also comes at a time when various Manipur NGOs had been protesting against the Centre’s reported intention to extend Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution to Naga inhabited areas of Manipur. On Sunday as well, a sitin-demonstration was staged at Khamnam Bazar in Imphal West district registering protest against Centre intention of extending of Article 371(A) or sixth scheduled in the state. The protest was organized by the local youth club in association with the United Committee Manipur (UCM).

DIMAPUR, AUG 26 (NPN): Following the report of extortion and miscreants harassing laborers of the ongoing 4-lane, ACAUT has appealed to the state government to ensure safety of the contractors and workers for smooth and timely completion of the project. In a press note, ACAUT media cell reminded the government that these issues were not a new phenomenon, and had been going on since the work started. ACAUT said cases of extortion and harassment were also reported in 2017, where Western Angami Public Organization had passed a resolution that no entity shall be allowed to disturb the 4-lane road project. ACAUT said it had also requested the NNPG’s , through a statement on June 18, 2017, to give an public undertaking to the people of Nagaland that it will not in any way disturb the ongoing important dream road project for the welfare of the public. ACAUT expressed dismay that in spite of the support and prayer of the people, for unhindered completion of the project, there were still some anti-social elements stealing work-site vehicles, for their greed. In this regard, ACAUT has asked the government to arrest those rogue elements and expose their identity. ACAUT has also requested the public to create a congenial atmosphere and extend all possible cooperation for the ongoing work.

Kiphire facing acute shortage of essentials K I P H I R E , AU G 2 6 (NPN): Seyochung Area Students’ Union (SASU) has claimed that landslides between Meluri and Kiphire, which has disrupted movement of heavy vehicles between Kiphire and Dimapur for almost four weeks now, has led to “acute shortage” of essential commodities in Kiphire district. In a press release, SASU said, despite the district administration’s tireless and sincere efforts to deliver basic needs to the people, because of heavy vehicles not plying between Kiphire and Dimapur, the district is experiencing extreme shortage of essential commodities, affecting both the common man and traders alike. SASU president K Chumseli Anar and general secretary Holise Sangtam fervently appealed to chief minister Neiphiu Rio to

visit the area and issue instructions for the early repair of the road between Meluri and Kiphire for the interest of the common people. Anar lamented that despite the State government being aware of the hardships and difficulties being faced by the people of Kiphire district, especially the shortage of essential commodities for almost four weeks now, it had not taken into serious account the issue of the repairing the said road to ensure that heavy vehicles could ply on them and deliver basic needs to the people. SASU warned that if the government did not repair the arterial road within a couple of months, then it would be forced to start a “Gandhian peaceful demonstration” in the district. It may be recalled that Kiphire had been complete-

ly cut off for a while following massive landslides due to the incessant rains that battered Nagaland. Even after the roads were cleared, weight restrictions on goods ferrying trucks have resulted in a shortage of essential commodities, especially rice, in Kiphire. Reports received on Saturday claimed that trucks were only allowed to carry loads of nine to ten tons. The normal weight usually carried is around 18 tons. Three truck loads of rice arrived at Kiphire town on Friday through the efforts of the district administration, and hundreds of people swarmed the trucks hoping to buy some the just arrived rice. According to reports, the district administration is doing all it can to solve this of shortage of essential commodities.

KOHIMA, AUG 26 (NPN): Several church and tribe organisations in Nagaland have taken strong exception to the attempt by the state BJP to perform Antim Sanskara (Asthi Visarjan)to immerse the ashes of former prime minister late A.B.Vajpayee in Doyang river; while earlier, the Congress had termed it not only as an insult on the people of the Christian majority state but also to late Vajpayee since the BJP was only trying to extract political mileage after consigning the former prime minister to oblivion after the Modi government came to power in 2014. Among those who have slammed the state BJP included Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Nagaland Christian Forum(NCF) and Dimapur Christian Forum(DCF), Lotha Hoho and Lotha Baptist Church Association . They have strongly opposed the programme of the state BJP to immerse the ash of late A.B.Vajpayee in Doyang river on Monday. NBCC: Responding to the immersion programme, general secretary of NBCC Rev.Dr.Zelhou Keyho said the church along with the rest of the country, mourned the death of the former prime minister of India late Atal Behari Vajpayee and so understood the sentiments of the party(BJP). Dr.Keyho was however unhappy that the state BJP president and minister of higher and technical educa-

tion Temjen Imna Along was to lead the immersion of late Vajpayee’s ash. Dr.Keyho pointed out that Temjen Imna Along was supposed to be a Christian and undertaking a Hindu ritual normally carried out by Hindu priests or religious functionaries. So in a Christian dominated state, if the state BJP president was eager to lower the dignity of his professed faith in undertaking a ritual of another religion , all because of being a BJP, then it would be a very unwise and unwarranted move. Rev. Keyho clarified that questioning Temjen Imna Along did not mean the NBCC was demeaning the memory of late Vajpayee nor Hindu religion itself but the very act of a professed Christian usurping the role of religious functionaries of another religion . He said such unethical practise on the plea of political affiliation was an anathema and unacceptable to Nagas which could even cause a bigger divide . Showing respect for different cultures and religions of the land would help promote harmony, said Rev.Keyho. He believed that such immersions could be done in rivers of states where these are practised as religious rituals but not in Nagaland. Rev.Keyho also informed that the NBCC extended moral support to the stand taken by Lotha Baptist Church (LBES). The other organisation opposing the immersion in Doyang river was the Loth Hoho.

The LH chairman Mhao Lotha and general secretary Mhondamo Ovung disclosed that the hoho was also totally opposed to the move to immerse the ash in Doyang rive located under Lotha area. LBCA warns: Strongly opposing the immersion of late Vajpayee’s ash in Doyang river, Lotha Baptist Church Association(LBCA) executive secretary Rev. Nyanchumo Lotha informed Nagaland Post that LBCA will not allow immersion in Doyang river which comes under Lotha Christian Church inhabited areas and those defying it would be doing so at their own risk. Rev. Lotha said while LBCA respects late Vajpayee for his deeds but it opposed the immersion since it was no a Christian rite and neither was late Vajpayee a Christian and therefore LBCA will not allow the conduct of the ritual. Rev. Lotha also informed all Lotha Christian churches under LBCA not to allow the ritual to take place. He also said communication has been sent to Lotha Baptist Church Doyang to immediately inform LBCA if the ritual went ahead despite opposition . A senior leader of the state BJP expressed dismay over the decision of the state BJP president to lead the immersion. He said people’s sentiments should not be hurt because all the BJP legislators were elected by the public. (Cont’d on p-7)

Nagas will never surrender their rights: NSCN (I-M) D I M A P U R , AU G 2 6 (NPN): NSCN (I-M) asserted that the group had never softened its stand on the Naga history, identity and inherent rights of all Nagas during the negotiation process with the Government of India. NSCN (I-M) through its MIP reminded that “Nagas will never surrender their rights and the Naga national movement spearheaded by NSCN is a people’s movement.” Therefore, MIP said NSCN was prepared “to go to any length against those trying to sabotage the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process as we believe that no one has the right to dictate the fate of others for their own convenience.” Despite repeated clarifications, MIP said the adversaries were portraying confusion through printed and other social media. (Full text on p-6) K Y M C


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