Hospital Dimapur. DDADU President Mr. Tito Yepthomi

Vol XXX No. 66 DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00

AAP-TMC workers celebrate defeat of BJP Natio al, Page 5

NZ script 3-0 ODI sweep over India s orts, Page 12

UK team tests China virus vaccine on mice i ter atio al, Page 9

AAP SWEEPS DELHI; KEJRIWAL TO BE CM FOR THIRD TIME DEVELOPMENT POLITICS WINS AGAINST HATE-DIVISIVE POLITICS; BJP WINS 7 & CONG DRAWS BLANK FOR SECOND TIME

NEW DELHI, FEB 11 (PTI): Arvind Kejriwal led the Aam Aadmi Party to a stupendous victory yet again in the Delhi Assembly polls, dealing a body blow to the main rival BJP and completely decimating the Congress in a keenlywatched battle in the midst of anti-CAA protests.

The 51-year-old bureaucrat-turned-politician almost replicated the AAP’s fairy-tale victory of 2015 by riding on his government’s development agenda, and in the process emerged as a key leader in the national political landscape.

As the AAP cruised to victory, leaders cutting across party lines including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi (Congress), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Naveen Patnaik (BJD) and MK Stalin (DMK) congratulated Kejriwal for the historic win. According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the AAP won in 62 of the 70 seats with a total vote share of 53.57 per cent. The BJP Delhi CM and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal (C) waves at supporters after party’s victory in the State Assembly polls, at AAP office in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

emerged victorious in the remaining eight seats, getting 38.51 per cent of the total votes. The Congress could not even manage a single seat and ended with 4.26 per cent vote share.

AAP’s stupendous victory comes nearly eight months after it suffered a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls in which the party drew a blank while the BJP won all the seven seats.

The victory also assumes significance as it came in the face of BJP’s no holds barred attack against protesters opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as “supporters of Pakistan” during the bitterly-fought campaign.

“Dilliwalon, ghazab kar diya aapne (Delhiites, you have done the impossible). I love you,” Kejriwal, flanked by his wife, daughter and senior party leaders, said in a brief thank you address at the party’s headquarters here. “It is the beginning of new kind of politics today. This is very auspicious message for the country and the politics of work can only take our country to the 21st century,” he added.

“It is a victory for Bharat Mata (mother India),” he said as a large number of supporters cheered him. Later, he visited the famous Hanuman temple near Connaught Place along with his family and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Best birthday gift ever: Kejriwal’s wife Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal said she could not have asked for a better gift on her birthday than the mandate given by the people of Delhi in the assembly polls.

Speaking at the party office, Sunita, a former IRS officer, said the campaigning saw several “ups and downs” but the party members had complete faith in their work.

“Delhi people have given me a gift, could not have asked for a better gift. There was anxiety, several ups and downs were going on. We trusted our work. Delhi has made ‘kaam’ (work) victorious,” Sunita said. She also said the personal attacks on her husband during the campaigning were uncalled for. “Fight politics positively,” she advised. 63 Cong candidates lose deposit The Congress’s hopes for a revival in Delhi, riding on late Sheila Dikshit’s performance as chief minister, were dashed by the Aam Aadmi Party, which scored a landslide victory in the national capital.

Adding salt to the Congress’s wound is the fact that party which had ruled Delhi for 15 years couldn’t cross the five per cent mark as far as vote share is concerned. 63 of its candidates had to forfeit their security deposits, news agency PTI reported.

Only Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar, Devender Yadav from Badli and Abhishek Dutt from Kasturba Nagar - managed to save their deposits. As per the latest Election Commission figures, the AAP has got 53.65 per cent of the votes polled in the February 8 elections, the BJP 38.47 per cent and the Congress 4.31 per cent, news agency IANS reported. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi described the results as “sad”. The Congress may have lost, but he is “happy” that the country has won, he said, referring to the BJP’s loss.

Delhi Congress chief resigns: Delhi Congress chief Subhash Chopra on Tuesday resigned from his post, taking moral responsibility for the party’s debacle in the Assembly polls. “I take moral responsibility for the party’s debacle and have resigned,” he told PTI. He said it is up to the party high command to take a decision on his resignation. Delhi BJP chief may quit: After a crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party is preparing to make a big change in the state organisation. A BJP national official told IANS that the party is preparing to remove not only the state president but also other office bearers of the organisation.

After the election results, Manoj Tiwari has also taken responsibility for the defeat in a press conference at his residence on Tuesday.

Trump to visit India Feb 24-25 WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, FEB 11 (PTI): US President Donald Trump will pay a state visit to India on February 24 and 25 and travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, it was announced on Tuesday, with both governments highlighting that his maiden trip would further bolster the strategic ties and the enduring friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

President Trump will be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and they will visit India on February 24–25, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said.

In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said President Trump and his wife would pay a state visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The announcement from Washington and New Delhi came after Trump and Modi held a telephonic talk over the weekend, Grisham said. “During a phone call over the weekend, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi agreed the trip would further strengthen the IndiaUS strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people,” she said.

This is it!

ENNWU resolves to back Pan Naga Hoho

DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Eastern Naga National Workers’ Union (ENNWU) decided to stand by Pan Naga Hoho and also declared that under no circumstances it would backtrack from the unanimous decision taken by all its members to strongly stand by Pan Naga Hoho “as agreed upon by both NSCN and government of India.”

This was decided at a meeting of the union held on Monday to discuss the importance of Pan Naga Hoho for the Nagas at the crucial juncture of Indo-Naga political talks that was nearing signing of a political agreement. In a statement, ENNWU said the meeting took note of the fact that in the course of the long period of negotiations, it had been agreed upon by NSCN negotiating team and Government of India (GoI) that this statutory body would be established so that Nagas everywhere would be able to get together under one body and under the banner of

Naga flag.

The union said it was highly impressed by the positive outcome of the IndoNaga political talks on Pan Naga Hoho and Naga flag because the essence of the Naga nationhood and political movement was being kept alive under this arrangement. Elaborating that Pan Naga Hoho would enable the Nagas everywhere to come under one umbrella, the ENNWU leaders said they took this stand because they could not forget their brothers and sisters living in others areas like Arunachal, Assam, Myanmar, etc.

There was no need to develop any wrong concept because Pan Naga Hoho was simply a cultural body that would bring all Nagas under one banner and stand for welfare and development of all Nagas, the meeting clarified. ENNWU recalled the resolution taken by ENPO on December 18, 2007 at Tuensang supporting unification of all Nagas, regardless of territorial demarcation. The union said its stand was a reiteration of that resolution.

The meeting was attended by NSCN (I-M) vicepresident Tongmeth Wangnao and collective leadership members T.T. Among and Moba Chang. ENNWU members after the meeting of the union Monday.

Protest in NU campuses today D I M A P U R , F E B 1 1 (NPN): Nagaland University Teacher’s Association (NUTA) has decided to hold protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, NRC and RIIN on February 12 in all four campuses under Nagaland University.

Following the NUTA central executive council meeting held on January 23, 2020, the central body had directed all units in four campuses to observe a oneday protest against CAA, NRC and RIIN and also violence against teachers and students in varsities.

Accordingly, NUTALumami and other units have decided to hold a one-day stir on February 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In this regard, the NU research scholars forum, students’ union and others would be taking part in the protest to express solidarity with NUTA. DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): ACAUT has hailed the “bold and courageous” declaration of Naga Tribal Union Chumoukedima Town (NTUCT) to prevent training of fresh police recruits, who were questionable backdoor appointees until proven otherwise.

ACAUT said NTUCT was one of the few massbased civil society organisations that had voiced out the right issue at the most appropriate time, “a burning issue of public concern, sans political, tribal and bloc lines”. What was shocking about the revelation of NTUCT was the shrewd manipulation of accommodating more backdoor appointees .

“What can citizens expect of new law enforcers who have dodged public advertisement to enforce equality before law without any fear or favour?” it wondered. ACAUT declared that it fully endorsed and supported the plan of action of NTUCT, stressing that the matter should be judiciously pursued until the guilty were punished.

Nagaland Lokayukata as ombudsman should serve the right antidote to arrest the growth of nepotism and corruption in the State, the release demanded.

ACAUT said Nagas have come to a critical stage of existence where they could no longer live with vices, or their cure. It said the state polity had been reduced to a stage where those in power shared the spoils of government as their due rights and privileges with no regard to laid statutes and tested conventions of governance, flouting all rule of law. ACAUT hails NTUCT ‘bold & courageous’ declaration Fuel prices cut for sixth day DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): State-owned oil marketing companies slashed petrol and diesel prices across the major cities of the country for sixth consecutive day on Tuesday. Petrol prices were slashed by 16-17 paise while diesel prices were lowered by 20-22 paise across the country. Following today’s rate revision, Petrol prices were lowered in New Delhi by 16 paise to Rs 71.94 a litre on Tuesday while diesel became cheaper by 20 paise to Rs 64.87 a litre.

In Dimapur, the retail price petrol was reduced to Rs 69.91 per litre against yesterday’s price of Rs.70.06 while diesel was cut by 19 paise to Rs 62.68 per litre from Rs.62.87 on Monday. In the state capital, a litre of petrol and diesel was retailing at Rs.70.75 and Rs.63.35 respectively. Domestic petrol and diesel prices are reviewed by oil marketing companies on a daily basis.

NPF stages state-wide protest against Citizenship Act; demands rollback

Staff Reporter/Correspondents

DIMAPUR/KOHIMA/ MOKOKCHUNG/KIPHIRE, FEB 11 (NPN): The opposition Naga Peoples Front (NPF) on Tuesday staged peaceful state-wide protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act demanding immediate rollback of the contentious Act.

Addressing protest rally organised by NPF Dimapur division at Naga Shopping Arcade Dimapur, NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu described CAA as “discriminatory and divisive” and said that the Act was to support one religion and suppress others.

Stating that whole world considered India as the “greatest democratic nation” or “largest democracy in the world,” Dr. Shürhozelie said “India is great and its greatness depends on ‘Unity (L-R) NPF workers participate in the peaceful sit-in protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Dimapur, Wokha and Kohima respectively on Tuesday.

in Diversity’.” He, however, alleged that the purpose of CAA was to do away with that ‘unity in diversity’. He maintained that CAA would destroy the greatness of India if the “arrogant attitude” of the present government continued to suppress others.

Dr. Shürhozelie said that the explanations of incorporating ILP in the CAA or exemption of Nagaland from CAA etc. have got nothing to do with population politics. “We must understand the dangers of CAA and take precautionary measure before it is too late,” he asserted. NPF president also affirmed that the party stood for secularism and democracy as enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution of India. Meanwhile, commenting on the development programme in the state, Dr. Shürhozelie expressed joy that many developmental activities particularly in road sector in Nagaland have taken place during the last two years. Citing recent announcement made by state government that the state has been given some projects by the Centre, NPF president said “Let us take it as good news, but as far as the works going on now or done during the last two years, sanctions were obtained by the previous NPF government.”

(Full speech on p-6) KOHIMA: Joining the party workers in other districts, the NPF Kohima division organized sit-in protest at Old MLA hostel junction Kohima Tuesday. Hundreds of party workers and well-wishers attended the rally holding banners and placards some of which read “CAA , a threat to future generation”, “CAA murdered secularism”, “condemn vote bank politics condemn CAA” , “NPF condemn CAA”, “ NPF reject CAA” , “down down CAA” “injustice cannot become a law”, etc.

Addressing the gathering, NPF secretary general Achumbemo Kikon said CAA was discriminatory, anti-tribal, anti-minority and against the ideals of secularism enshrined in the constitution.

He reminded that if people remained silent today, other harsher law like Uniform civil code (UCC) would be imposed on them. Kikon challenged the church, students and

MYK C public not to remain silent but rise up.

Kikon said NPF was expressing resentment against the Act on behalf of the Naga people both inside and outside the assembly. Maintaining that people rejected CAA across the country, he said that some states including Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and West Bengal have passed resolution in the assembly against CAA.

(Cont’d on p-8)