February 12, 2021

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Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 67

DIMAPUR, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 Pages 8 ` 4.00

Odisha FC, Kerala Blasters play out 2-2 draw sports, Page 8

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High Court dismisses NPF plea SAYS, 7 SUSPENDED NPF LEGISLATORS CAN ATTEND ASSEMBLY

Correspondent KOHIMA, FEB 11 (NPN): Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court on Thursday dismissed two Interlocutory Applications (IA) filed by the NPF-- one of the plea sought the court’s intervention in restraining the seven suspended party legislators from attending the Seventh session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly session scheduled from February 12, pending a final verdict on a Writ Petition and the other plea filed by the seven MLAs challenging the “maintainability of the writ petition”. The suspended NPF legislators include-- EE Pangteang, Eshak Konyak, Kejong Chang, BS Nganlang Phom, Toyang Chang, N. Thongwang Konyak and CL John. Later speaking to a section of media persons here, Supreme Court lawyer Siddharth Borgohain, representing the petitioners, said the court, after hearing the parties, maintained that there was already another IA (writ petition

DNSU backs JCPI demand to enact RIIN DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has extended its “unflinching support” to the demand of the Joint Committee for Prevention of Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) for tabling the Banuo commission report on Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) and enacting it into an Act in the ensuing assembly session scheduled from February 12, 2021. DNSU through its media cell also supported the demand to regulate registration of indigenous citizens of Nagaland inclusive of Dimapur district with December 1, 1963 as cut-off year. Asserting that the state was “polluted with influx of illegal Immigrants and the citizens have lost its patience”, the union has appealed to the state government “to stop refusing and confusing its people and to put more effort”. It affirmed that the RIIN must, therefore, be implemented without any delay. Failure on the part of the government to comply with the genuine plea of the citizens, the union said it was “ever ready” to extend its full support with any democratic protest of the JCPI.

This is it!

“You’re prompt only to disconnect the line. I wish you’re as prompt when we complain about no power.” K Y M C

(C)/95/2020) relating to disqualification of the seven NPF legislators that was in pendency stage. Hence, he said, the court ruled that there was no merit in passing a judgement to restrain the seven suspended legislators from attending the NLA session. The single judge bench of Songkhupchung Serto in its judgment on Thursday said: “The petition herein is devoid of all such ingredients therefore, it cannot be entertained. As such, it is rejected and dismissed.” In view of the conclusion arrived at, the court had passed the order to let the earlier Writ Petition to be listed after a week for all the parties to complete their pleadings. It may be mentioned that the NPF on February 1 stated that since the disqualification case was being delayed before the session, it submitted its prayer before the Court to restrain the seven legislators from entering the Assembly till the disposal of the writ petition as “the purpose of the 10th Schedule is

being defeated by dilatory means.” NPF had filed a petition in the high court for disqualification of the seven NPF legislators against the backdrop of inordinate delay by the Speaker. It may be recalled that the seven MLAs had been suspended from the party’s membership in April 2019 for defying the NPF’s decision to support the Congress candidate K.L. Chishi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Subsequently, the NPF Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) served a show cause notice on the seven legislators followed by their suspensions from the primary and active membership of the party. Later the NPF filed a petition with the office of the Speaker NLA seeking disqualification against the MLAs on April 24, 2019. In March 2020, Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench had directed the speaker to dispose the disqualification petition against the MLAs within three weeks. The NPF

again approached the High Court when no action was forthcoming. In response, the court had on June 2, 2020 directed the speaker to conclude the disqualification proceedings against seven NPF legislators and pass appropriate orders within six weeks with effect from June 2, 2020. It may be recalled that the Speaker Sharingain Longkumer on July 14, 2020 had dismissed the petition of the NPF which sought the disqualification of seven rebel MLAs, citing the reason that the respondents were not liable to be disqualified under Para 2 (1) (a) of the 10th Schedule of the constitution. Earlier this week, Borgohain had expressed dismay at the speaker for having being kept the decision pending for almost 15 months without looking at the evidence provided on July 14, 2020. Borgohain said his client then went ahead and filed a writ petition challenging the speaker’s judgment.

Fuel prices reach new highs FUEL PRICES ALL TIME HIGH

Petrol per litre Kohima: Rs. 91.18 Dimapur: Rs. 90.26 Diesel per litre Kohima: Rs.81.67 Dimapur: Rs.80.94 DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Stateowned oil marketing companies (OMCs) hiked the prices of petrol and diesel across the country for the third day in a row on Thursday. According to a price notification of state-owned OMCs, petrol price was increased by 25 paise per litre and diesel by 30 paise a litre. This took petrol price to an alltime high of Rs 87.85 a litre in Delhi and to Rs 94.36 in Mumbai. Diesel rates rose to Rs 78.03 per litre in the national capital and to an all-time high of Rs 84.94 in Mumbai. After Thursday’s rate revision, petrol price in Dimapur breached Rs.90 mark as the price increased to Rs.90.26 per litre while diesel price

soared to Rs.80.94 per litre. In the state capital Kohima, prices of petrol and diesel rose to Rs.91.18 per litre and Rs.81.67 per litre respectively. Rates vary from state to state depending on the local incidence of taxation (VAT) and freight. In three days, prices have gone up by 90 paise per litre each. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday had told Parliament that the government is not considering a reduction in excise duty to cool rates from their record highs. Rates have risen as international oil prices touched USD 61 per barrel for the first time in more than a year on improving demand outlook amid the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, he had said. Central and state taxes make up for over 61 per cent of the retail selling price of petrol and about 56 per cent of diesel. Retail petrol rates have risen by Rs 18.26 per litre since mid-March 2020 after the government raised taxes by a record margin to mop up gains arising from fall in international oil prices. Diesel rates have gone up by Rs 15.74.

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Farmer unions to hold ‘kisan mahapanchayats NEW DELHI, FEB 11 (PTI): Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting farmer unions, on Thursday announced that ‘kisan mahapanchayats’ will be organised across the country in the coming days against the Centre’s three agri laws. The morcha said that it will not call off the ongoing protest until its demands to repeal the laws and bring legal guarantee for minimum support price on their crops are met. In a statement, SKM said that its teams are planning the programmes of the state-wise mahapanchayats. The move comes a day after it announced a four-hour nationwide ‘rail roko’ (rail blockade) on February 18 to press for their demands. Protesting farmer leader Darshan Pal said a mahapanchayat will be held in Moadabad (UP) on Friday, followed by Bahadurgarh bypass (Haryana) on February 13, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) on February 18, Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) on Februrary 19 and Silkar (Rajasthan) on February 23.

Tax at check gate:

Kohima police order probe

DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): A day after the Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) alleged collection of tax from a timber-laden truck at Peducha on February 9 by police personnel, the Kohima police have ordered an enquiry into the allegation. In a press note, Sr. Superintendent of Police Kohima stated if any of its personnel found guilty suitable action would be initiated against the erring personnel. Senior SP said that Kohima police had only one inter-state check gate at Khuzama (Manipur-Nagaland border). “Elsewhere highway patrol vehicles with police personnel are deployed in National/state highway to provide security and assistance to commuters/travellers within Kohima district jurisdictions,” Sr. SP said.

the COVID vaccine. The facts were shared by State immunisation officer, Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), Dr Ritu Thurr during a review meeting of Nagaland State Task Force held at the directorate of health & family welfare (H&FW) in Kohima on Thursday to assess the progress of the first and second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the State. Thurr shared a detailed report on the progress of the first and second phase of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive that is scheduled to conclude in nine days time at the meeting, which was chaired by H&FW principal secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia. Several issues related to the overall low coverage percentage in the State were brought out and discussed in detail. As the vaccine

can only be administered to those who volunteer, the H&FW department is working hard to sensitise the people regarding the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. The State Task Force discussed in detail the steps required to be undertaken to tackle the problem of low coverage percentage and make sure that the number of vaccines administered increases rapidly in the remaining nine days before conclusion of phase one and two of the vaccination drive. Other departments like the social welfare, rural development and directorate of information & public relations promised to aid the H&FW department in sensitising the general public regarding the safety of the vaccine and also provide logistical support, as and when the need arises, to ensure that a majority,

international, Page 7

Countries curb diplomatic ties, weigh sanctions on Myanmar SEOUL, FEB 11 (AP): A growing number of governments are curbing diplomatic ties with Myanmar and increasing economic pressure on its military over the coup last week that erased the fragile democratic progress in the long-oppressed Southeast Asian nation. President Joe Biden said he has approved an executive order that will prevent Myanmar’s generals from accessing USD 1 billion in assets in the United States, and promised more measures. The US was among many Western governments that lifted most sanctions in the past decade to encourage democratic transition as Myanmar’s military rulers were taking gradual steps toward civilian rule changes that proved temporary with the ousting of the elected government and detentions of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and others. One of the strongest reactions came from New Zealand, which has suspended all military and highlevel political contact with the country and pledged to block any aid that could go to its military government

Demonstrators shout slogans against the military coup during a protest in Mandalay, on Thursday. (AP)

or benefit its leaders. It also placed a travel ban on Myanmar’s new military rulers. “We do not recognise the legitimacy of the military-led government and we call on the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule,” Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Tuesday. In Washington, Biden said his actions were aimed at freezing US assets that benefit Myanmar’s military leaders while maintaining support for health care programmes, civil society groups and other areas. The U.S. already has sanctions in place

against some Myanmar military leaders over the killings and persecution of minority Rohingya Muslims. In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said European foreign ministers will meet February 22 to review the 27-nation bloc’s relations with Myanmar and explore ways to increase economic pressure. Its options could include sanctions targeting individuals and businesses owned by Myanmar’s military as well as cuts in development assistance. Since 2014, the EU has granted Myanmar almost 700 million euros ($850 million).

NH-29 stretch to reopen from today DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): National Highway-29 stretch would finally be opened for two-way traffic between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. from Friday. The move follows governor RN Ravi’s review of the ongoing traffic restrictions on the highway on Thursday. After elaborate deliberations and due regard to the safety needs of commuters, it was decided that total restriction on traffic was no longer required and hence the highway would be opened for the commuters a press note through PRO Raj Bhavan stated. While NHIDCL will ensure that the contractors place enough resources on the ground and take sufficient measures to stabilise the rocks and clear the debris without delay, the Dimapur district administration will review the situation after one week for further easing of traffic. Earlier, the governor expressed his deep concern

State registers low COVID vaccine coverage DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Nagaland’s COVID vaccination drive has been far from satisfactory as only 31% of the 21,549 registered healthcare workers could be vaccinated in the first phase and a mere 5% of the 51,718 registered frontline workers could be vaccinated in the second phase, a DIPR report stated. The low vaccination percentage has been largely attributed to the reluctance on the part of a majority of the healthcare and frontline workers to take the vaccine for fear of side effects. However, so far, out of 8,948 persons vaccinated in the State, there has been no instance of beneficiaries suffering from serious medical side effects, apart from few cases of mild fever and pain in the injected area, which has been termed as normal for all vaccines and not just

Senate begins Trump’s impeachment trial

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if not all, healthcare and frontline workers receive the vaccine. Several issues and problems faced by different district immunisation officers regarding the vaccination drive in their respective districts were also discussed at length during the meeting and the State Task Force collectively vowed to address the issues at the earliest and with utmost urgency.

10,154 inoculated

State Health department has informed that total vaccinated beneficiaries in the state reached 10,154 on Thursday. In a press release, state immunization officer (UIP) Dr. RituThurr stated that 3,480 frontline workers and 6674 health care workers have been vaccinated across the state in a total of 243 sessions till date.

Strictly follow all safety measures: WSYF to NHIDCL

over untold hardships to the public due to continuing traffic restrictions on the highway. He also conveyed his displeasure to the contractors for reckless rock blasting, which was the cause of the heavy rock slide, while advising the State government to explore legal actions and hold the erring contractors accountable for their reckless acts. The review meeting was attended by ADGP and special secretary (home) SR Saravanan, PWD engineerin-chief Limatongdang Jamir, PWD chief engineer (NH) Kezha Theünuo, DC Dimapur Rajesh S, commissioner of police Dimapur Rothihu Tetseo and NHIDCL executive director (P) MS Deol. In an order, DC Dimapur Thursday stated that light vehicles will be allowed to ply from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and heavy vehicles from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Asserting that it has been closely observing the causes that led to mudslides and rockslides along the NH-29 stretch from Patkai Bridge to Kukidolong, the Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) urged the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited to strictly follow all safety measures during the four-lane road construction. WSYF through its media cell said that the February 2 rockslide incident where several vehicles were damaged, three persons injured and many other similar incidents in the past could have been avoided if the responsible authorities particularly NHIDCL had taken proper safety measures while undertaking earth cutting and blasting activities. WSYF said the major cause of mudslides and rockslides was due to steep cutting instead of adopting the step cutting and slope cutting method. While the contractors carry out works as specified and instructed, WSYF said the responsibility of the disasters should be owned by NHIDCL, which was specifying to the contractors regarding the methodology (Cont’d on p-8) and style of works.

State COVID tally 12175 COVID-19 STATUS AS ON february 11, 2021 ACTIVE CASES Symptomatic AsympCritical-ICU District tomMod- Se- With- With On atic Mild erate vere out Oxy- VentiOxygen gen lator Dimapur 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kiphire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kohima 72 1 0 0 0 0 0 Longleng 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mokokchung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Peren 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Phek 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tuensang 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Death MiRecovunder Total Death gratered InvestiCases ed gation 6328 40 3722 10 183 594 504 47 246

59 1 21 0 3 2 0 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

75 0 44 9 6 9 1 0 1

6476 41 3859 19 192 605 507 47 248

2

39

Wokha

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

35

1

0

Zunheboto Total

0 88

0 1

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

139 11848

0 88

0 0

3 142 150 12175

*10 deaths not due to Covid-19 *0 deaths under investigation

DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Nagaland on Thursday reported seven new COVID-19 cases-- six in Kohima and one in Dimapur, taking the caseload to 12175. With this, the active cases in the state rose to 89 while 11848 persons have recovered from the infection so far. P T I a d d s : I n d i a ’s COVID-19 tally has climbed

to 1,08,71,294 with 12,923 fresh cases reported in a day, while the number of recoveries has surged to 1,05,73,372, the health ministry said on Thursday. The death toll in the country due to the viral disease has gone up to 1,55,360 with 108 more people succumbing to it, according to the ministry’s data updated at 8 am.

Expedite recruitment process: NJDA DIMAPUR, FEB 11 (NPN): Expressing displeasure over the state government’s “lack of sincerity” towards healthcare system, Nagaland Junior Doctor’s Association (NJDA) has said that the recent recruitment drive conducted by health and family welfare department to enhance manpower was yet to see the light of day. N J DA t h r o u g h i t s media cell stated that six months have elapsed since the interview was conducted for medical officers (MO) following the post creation by the government. It said that the department was yet to complete the recruitment process, adding that only 94 Mos and 15 specialists have been appointed on contract basis and the remaining were yet to receive appointment (Cont’d on p-8) order. K Y M C


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