February 1, 2021

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 56

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, FEBrUARY 1, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Mohun Bagan register incredible comeback win sports, Page 12

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Naga solution only with participation of all: Niki Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 31 (NPN): NSCN (K) leader ‘lt. gen.’ (retd) Niki Sumi on Sunday asserted that his group will take into confidence the wishes and desire of the Naga people for achieving an honorable and acceptable solution to the decades-old Naga political issue.

Interacting with a group of people including some media persons on the outskirts of Dimapur, Niki further stressed that unity among the Nagas was paramount for any kind of lasting solution that would be acceptable to all.

He categorically emphasised that talks should be open which should include not only the negotiating parties but representatives from every tribe to sit across the table and hammer out differences.

While indicating that the NSCN (K) led by him will remain as a separate entity like that of the NSCN (I-M) and the Working Committee of the NNPGs- in the peace talks with the Govern-

State COVID tally 12094 DIMAPUR, JAN 31 (NPN): Nagaland on Sunday repor ted four new COVID-19 positive cases in Kohima, taking the caseload to 12094.

Further, the distribution across various categories of people include 4671 cases from the armed forces/ police, 1861 returnees, 4989 traced contacts and 573 frontline workers.

The State currently has 56 active cases, while 11,806 people have recovered from the infection and 144 patients migrated to other states. Out of 88 deaths, 78 people had succumbed to the infection.

PTI adds: With 13,052 new coronavirus cases, India’s COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,07,46,183, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 1,04,23,125, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The national recovery rate has climbed to 96.99 per cent. The death toll increased to 1,54,274 with 127 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,04,23,125. The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent.

Niki Sumi

ment of India, Niki said that there may be differences among various groups, but unless all three-- NSCN (I-M), WC NNPGs and NSCN (K)- sit together, there cannot be any head way.

“If all the groups cannot come and sit together and the public representatives cannot bear witness, there is no point in having dialogue,” Niki asserted.

When asked about the pending cases slapped against him by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Niki said that the concerned authorities were working on the issue to withdraw the cases. Niki, however, made it clear that his decision to revive the ceasefire with the

Centre, which NSCN (K) had unilaterally abrogated in 2015, was to strengthen the peace process and also in view that the desire of the Nagas for a lasting solution.

He maintained that the decision to join the peace talks or to revive the ceasefire was to fulfil the wishes and aspirations of the Nagas- to give peace a chance and not with the expectation that the Government of India withdraw the cases against him. Niki said his only wish was that Nagas unite.

Niki asserted that his group has been striving for years to achieve an honourable and acceptable political solution to the Naga issue and was conscious of the overwhelming sentiments among Nagas for an early solution to the protracted issue.

It may mentioned that Niki Sumi was recently elected as president of the breakaway faction of the NSCN (K) after differences emerged with the leadership of the NSCN (K) group in Myanmar headed by Yung Aung.

DIMAPUR, JAN 31 (NPN): NSCN (I-M) has accused Government of India of not being serious and honest with Nagas vis-à-vis the ongoing political talks.

In his message on the occasion of 42nd commemoration of NSCN raising day, NSCN (I-M) chairman Q Tuccu said: “...Government of India is yet to get serious and honest with the Nagas vis-à-vis the ongoing political talk.” He said that Nagas were being taken as if they were purchasable commercial commodities, but cautioned that things could go wrong in the peace process.

He said Centre was expected to honour the commitments given to the organisation by former Prime Ministers, adding reinforcing trust and confidence were the key words to “crack the nut today”. Tuccu maintained that Nagas never had nor would ever try, to or help cause disin-

tegration of India but rather, wished a prosperous and strong India. He however asserted that Nagas also have no hesitation in stating that 16 Point Agreement was never a solution to the IndoNaga problem.

He recalled that the political stand of Nagas in the past vis-à-vis India was that they had “nothing to do with India”. However, today, he said since Government of India and NSCN (I-M) have signed the Framework Agreement, Nagas would abide by the principles of the agreement– “nothing above and nothing below the Framework Agreement”.

Tuccu said that only the principle of Framework Agreement was the key to an honourable and acceptable solution for durable peace. Neither economic packages nor imposed political packages would bring about lasting solution, he added.

(Full text on p-6)

India providing solutions to world’s problems: Modi NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cited several measures of his government to assert that they are in line with Swami Vivekananda’s vision to help the poor and said from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change, India is now providing solutions to the world’s problems.

Addressing the 125th anniversary celebrations of ‘Prabuddha Bharata’, a monthly journal of the Ramakrishna Order started

by Swami Vivekananda in 1896, Modi listed several schemes, including opening of bank accounts and health insurance for the poor, to assert that they were in line with Vivekananda’s vision.

“Take the COVID-19 pandemic as an example.

What did India do? It did not just see the problem and remain helpless, India focused on solutions. From producing PPE kits to becoming a pharmacy for the world, our country has gone from strength to strength,” Modi said. India is at the forefront of developing COVID-19 vaccines and just a few days ago the country launched the world’s largest vaccination drive, he said.

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (AGENCIES): Emboldened by the massive support which they got from ‘panchayats’ across western Uttar Pradesh, the farmers’ unions on Sunday appeared to have hardened their stand while reiterating that they were ready for talks if the Centre offers more than what it had proposed on January 22.

Insisting for seeking repeal of laws and legal guarantee to purchase at minimum support price (MSP) for all farmers, they said they have not yet received any communication from the government side for talks which can, however, happen only in a congenial atmosphere at a time when more than 100 farmers are still reported to be missing after tractor rally and police action on Republic Day. The unions’ umbrella body, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), has, meanwhile, formed a committee to look into the issue of missing persons. “It is now seeking to compile information on such missing persons following

international, Page 9

‘Budget like never before’: Sector-wise expectations from finance minister

New Delhi, Jan 31 (Agencies): Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to present the budget on Monday, February 1, a task which will be more challenging this year amid the coronavirus pandemic which has not only impacted the Nirmala Sitharaman (PTI) Indian economy but nations “never before” this year, all across the world. As Sithara- sectors are looking up to the man promised a budget like finance minister for a boost

as they face these unprecedented times, Hindustan Times reported.

“Send me your inputs so that we can see a budget which is a budget like never before, in a way. Hundred years of India wouldn’t have seen a budget being made post pandemic like this,” Sitharaman had said while addressing the CII Partnership Summit 2020.

Here’s a look what different sectors expect Household: The coronavirus pandemic has impacted households across the country the most because the nationwide lockdown hit their savings hard.

Incentivising savings as well as investments are expected to be the topmost priority of the government.

Real estate: Although several policy measures have been taken to boost real estate in pandemic-hit 2020, the sector expects the government to widen the scope of its affordable housing scheme and provide more tax benefits to potential homebuyers. The sector wants stimulus in the form of sops in the Union Budget 2021 to boost housing demand. The key demands

comprise tax rebate on housing, GST waiver, personal tax relief, an extension of interest subvention, easing liquidity for the sector, and infrastructure status for realty.

Income tax: Salaried individuals will be looking forward to finance minister increasing the basic exemption limit from Rs. 250,000 to Rs. 500,000. This will help them in having more disposable income and therefore increase personal demand as well. Although it is highly unlikely that the government would take this step.

Healthcare: The pandemic made the healthcare sector face the most difficult year and therefore it expects

the government to increase spending for both infrastructure developments as well as for vaccination. The sector is also expecting a reduction in taxes, especially on treatment.

Banking sector: The banking sector expects more disinvestment, privatising public sector banks (PSBs), higher allocations, setting up of bad banks and focus on investigating financial frauds by instituting an agency for the same.

Auto sector: The sector expects the government to announce measures that create more demand for automobiles in the economy as the sector is focused on sales recovery after the pandemic.

ongoing farmers’ agitation, resembled an impregnable fortress on Sunday with a massive presence of security personnel.

Delhi Police, along with paramilitary forces and ITBP personnel have been deployed at the border exit point. Besides, people can now move towards Haryana from Delhi only through the routes designated by the police.

There won’t be any agreement under pressure, says Tikait Enhanced security during farmers’ ongoing protest at Singhu border, Sunday. (PTI)

which formal action can be initiated with the authorities,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal in a statement.

On the prospect of talks, Yogendra Yadav of Jai Kisan Andolan while referring to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on talks option said, “If the government would take two steps forward (from what it had offered on January 22), farmers will not move backward. We don’t have any ego. We are ready

Nagaland begins polio immunization drive Suokhrie appealed to people to fight against polio by giving the polio immunisation vaccine to children and make the world free of polio.

He remarked that the robust healthcare system of India was evident in the country’s fight against COVID-19. Dr. Suokhrie also administered the Dr. V. Suokhrie administering the polio drop on Sunday. (NP)

Correspondent

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nagalandpostofficial

Tuccu reiterates principle of Farmers harden stand as more support pour in FA as the basis for solution

This is it!

“He has facts but does not know how to use them while speaking.”

On December 23, 2020 Niki announced that his faction, decided to revive the cease fire with the Government of India, in order to facilitate the peace process.

Niki said his group was aware of the sincere and genuine efforts made by the Government of India in the recent past, in finding a final and lasting solution to the Naga issue with involvement of all the stakeholders. Niki said it was in this regard that his group resolved to strengthen and support the peace process at the present critical juncture and established contact with officials of the government of India.

Niki Sumi’s group of NSCN(K) is the latest and perhaps the last to be joining the negotiations which have concluded as all issues have been covered.

According to reports from agencies, the draft of the blueprint for the agreement between the Government of India and Naga groups has been finalised and awaits the approval of the Prime Minister’s Office.

UK to join Asia-Pacific free trade pact CPTPP

nagalandpostofficial

KOHIMA, JAN 31 (NPN): Along with the rest of India, Nagaland on Sunday began the three-day Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) drive with over 2000 immunisation booths being set up across the State where over 1.5 lakh children (0-5 years) are expected to be immunised.

In his brief address at the formal launch of the

National Immunisation Day (NID) at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) principal director, Dr. Vizolie Z Suokhrie pointed out that polio was a dreadful disease and called for making the immunisation drive a huge success in the State.

He said India had already been declared poliofree in 2011 and that World Health Organisation had certified the same in 2014. Dr.

first polio drop to 3 yearold Vikhiesier Sachü at NHAK. Officials like NHM director, Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru, DC Kohima Gregory Thejawelie and others attended the programme.

The programme was chaired

by NHAK managing director Dr Thorüsie Katiry.

89L kids given polio drops across India PTI: Around 89 lakh children under five years of age, as per provisional data, were given polio drops across the country on Sunday on the occasion of Polio National Immunization Day, also known as ‘Polio Ravivar’, the Union health ministry said. The vaccination was done at around 7 lakh booths which were staffed with 12 lakh vaccinators and 1.8 lakh supervisors.

“The booth activity will be followed by house-to-house surveillance (mop-up rounds) over the next two to five days to identify and vaccinate children who missed getting vaccinated at the booths,” the ministry said.

Vaccination teams have also been deployed at bus terminals, railway stations, airports and ferry crossing to vaccinate children in transit to ensure no child misses the life-saving dose.

for talks. We want farmers to get what they want and they want repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantees to MSP.” “If a politician can come to our house asking for our votes, why cannot they come to us here to resolve the issue... If PM Modi wants to talk, he should give us a phone number to call,” said 64year Satbir Singh from Haryana’s Jind district.

The Singhu border in Delhi, one of the major sites of the

Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Sunday demanded that the Centre should release his people and asserted that there will be no agreement “under pressure”.

“There won’t be any agreement under pressure. We will hold discussions on the issue, Prime Minister is ours also, we are thankful for his initiative, we will respect it. We want our people to be released,” Rakesh Tikait was quoted as saying by ANI.

Assam Assembly elections: Cong’s internal report paints bleak picture Spl. Correspondent

GUWAHATI, JAN 31 (NPN): With less than two months remaining for the Assam Legislative Assembly elections, Congress has now discovered that it is on a sticky wicket. An internal study carried out by the beleaguered opposition party has projected a bleak prospect for itself in the upcoming polls expected sometime in April this year.

Congress sources said an internal survey carried out by the party in Upper Assam’s 43 seats, which will decide any party’s political fortune and most of which were considered strong bastions of the party for long, has come out with a rather disquieting fact that the party could manage to win only 19 of them.

The survey has found that even constituencies like Mariani, Nazira and Sivasagar, which were long considered strongholds of Congress, may no longer remain with the party and could slip to BJP. The study further found that Congress’ traditional support base in tea belt of Upper Assam too has been lost. In fact, out of the 43 seats, the survey predicted that only 19 were “winnable” seats, while seven were “half-probable” seats, seven “challenging but winnable” seats and the remaining 10 were “non-winnable” seats.

Noting that formation of new regional parties like Assam Jatiya Parishad at the behest of the influential All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Raijor Dal, under the aegis of farm-

ers’ body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), has changed the political scenario in Assam, the study contended that this would impact voting pattern in Upper Assam where tea community voters remained “loyally committed to BJP”.

In the past, the community formed a strong support base for Congress. The study also observed that many rebels from both Congress and BJP have joined these new regional parties recently.

Hence, predicting division of votes in the “greater Assamese community” due to formation of the new regional outfits, the survey report however mentioned that BJP was likely to offset any erosion of votes due to this with its agenda of polarising Hindu votes.

(Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Don Bosco yearlong golden jubilee celebration Correspondent

Mmhonlumo Kikon, Dr. K. D Vizo and others at Don Bosco Kohima Sunday. (NP)

in and outside the state and even in different parts of the world were a product of Don Bosco, testifying to the value based education received from the school.

He urged the alumni of

Don Bosco to take a pledge that their cause should be for peaceful Nagaland and a change maker for better Nagaland. Dr. Zavie Hiese who was one amongst the first batch reminisced his

JCYE, UCRC celebrates silver jubilee

JCYE choir presenting jubilee song during the programme held at UCRC in Kohima.

DIMAPUR: Junior Christian Youth Endeavour, Union Christian Revival Church, (JCYE, UCRC) New Market, Kohima celebrated its silver jubilee from January 29 to 31 under the theme, “Be strong and work: for I am with you.”

A press release by UCRC stated that, during morning worship service

on Sunday, associate pastor of UCRC, Kikrunielie Yiese shard the Word of God. He said that jubilee was a time to look back, to re-examine one’s life, and to renew the faith, so that one may grow towards a deeper Christian life.

He also said jubilee was a time to reconcile and celebrate, a time to renew

and a time of new beginnings. Main speakers of the jubilee included NCRC ex-secretary central Rev. Dr. D. L. Sanchu, associate pastor KikruneilieYiese and church secretary VetalüKeyho. Earlier, on January 29 jubilee monolith was unveiled by pastor Zhabu Gweirie. The JCYE was established in 1996.

days in Don Bosco and how he drew inspiration from the insitute to become a scientist.

Also Fr. Kuriakose SDB advocated never to be satisfied with what was

news in Brief DC Longleng informs on road restriction: In view of ongoing Changtongya - Longleng two lane construction and in order to facilitate the progress of the work, the DC Longleng, M. Shayung Phom has informed to all concerned that there will be total restriction of all vehicular movement from Dikhu Bridge to Chingtok Junction on February 2, from 8 a.m to 3 p.m. The general public have been advised not to loiter around the work places as a precautionary measure to prevent any injury, loss of life and damage of property.

FBOs informed on FSSAI registration: Principal director-cum-additional food safety commissioner, H&FW, Nagaland, Dr. Vizolie Z. Suokhrie has informed all food business operators (FBOs) of the state that as per the directives of Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), all the FBOs applying for FSSAI license or registration has to be done online via foscos.fssai.gov.in. Submission of fees through treasury challan will not be applicable from January 1 for all states/UTs including Railways. For any further assistance, the concerned applicant may approach designated officer/food safety officer of their respective district at chief medical office.

FGN 74th Nagaland independence day: Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) secretary, Thihü Khamo has informed that central authorities of Naga National Council (NNC) and FGN will observe the 74th Nagaland independence day on August 14, 10 a.m at Oking. All the regions, villages and fellow Nagas have been requested to observe this historic day in accordance with their conveniences and pay a thanksgiving prayer.

Condolences for late Temjen Toy DIMAPUR: United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP) and Mao Union Kohima (MUK) have expressed deep sorrow at the demise of late Temjen Toy, chief secretary of Nagaland, who passed away on January 28.

USLP: United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP) expressed deep sorrow at the untimely demise of late Temjen Toy, chief secretary, a distinguish bureaucrat who had devoted his life to public service selflessly. In a condolence note by USLP president, T. Seopi Sangtam stated that his legacy will stand as an example to all.

USLP pray that almighty

Dimapur police recovers unidentified body DIMAPUR: Dimapur Police has recovered an unidentified body (male/5055 years) from Dimapur Railway Station near PRS gate/FOB 2 on January 30.

According to Police/ PRO, all legal formalities were conducted and the cause of dead is ascertained to be due to illness.

The deceased was shifted to District Hospital Dimapur morgue for post-mortem examination/identification.

The deceased was wearing a yellow shirt, white T-shirt and blue jean pant with black socks.

Claimant/relatives/friends of the deceased have been requested to contact officer-in-charge, GRPS, Dimapur.

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grant peace and solace to the bereaved family and that the departed rest in eternal peace.

MUK condoles: Mao Union Kohima (MUK) in a condolence described late Temjen as a person commanding respect and confidence of all ranks of civil services and public alike, with great administrating skills, qualities of tact, energy, initiative and efficiency, who was looked up to provide guidance and consultation to all officials. MUK further extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and Nagaland Dermatologists held a CME on leprosy at Hotel Lake Shilloi, with Dr. prayed that the departed soul Atoka Sumi, consultant dermatologist Eden Medical Centre (EMC) as the speaker rest in eternal peace. on account of Anti-Leprosy Day celebrated all over India on January 30.(EMC)

OBITUARY

Minister of PHED, Jacob Zhimomi (2nd from left) with others at the inaugural monolith.

DIMAPUR: Western Sümi Students’ Union (WSSU) 39th general conference was held at Alato village, hosted by Sakipheto Range Students’ Union (SRSU) on January 29.

A press release by WSSU stated that, minister of PHED, Jacob Zhimomi

graced the conference as inaugural guest.

Earlier, presidential address was delivered by WSSU president, Kakiho A. Awomi. Programme was chaired by Mughaka Chophy organising secretary WSSU. The second session of

the day was a theme session with Dr. Andrew Ahoto, proprietor Livingstone Foundation International as speaker.

Greeting was delivered by Hutoshe Kits president Sümi Kiphimi Küqhakulu (SKK) in the programme chaired by X. Hinoka Chophi secretary union assembly WSSU.

Khonoma ‘Green village’ re-opens for tourists and visitors DIMAPUR: Khonoma Village Council (KVC)and Khonoma Youth Organisation (KYO) along with Eco Tourism Management Committee (ETMC) have decided to reopen Khonoma “Green village” for tourists (domestic) and visitors with effect from February 1, 2021.

Informing this in a press statement, KVC chairman, Nisamezo Pieru and KYO president, Mhiesilhukho Yalie stated that all COVID-19 SoPs will be strictly enforced and that tourist before his/her entry into the village must fulfil the SoPs issued by the Government Nagaland, Tourism department on December 22, 2020. The order stated that tourist should also produce COVID-19 negative report done not earlier than three days prior to arrival in Nagaland through RT-PCR/ TrueNat/CBNAAT. Visitors/tourists should follow the 3Ws-wear mask, wash hands and watch distance and avoid 3Cs- crowded place, close contact and closed & enclosed spaces, the order stated. It also strictly prohibited collection of flora and fauna,

washing of vehicles/cloths in river and anti-social elements and tourists/visitors should leave Khonoma jurisdiction by 5 pm (winter) and 6 pm (summer).

Further, the order stated that visitors/ tourists violating the above mentioned SOPs will be penalised by Khonoma Youth Organisation.

Tourists/visitors can contact details for visiting Khonoma from: Alder Tours and Travel (aldertours8@gmail. com/986224649/9436011266), Tribal Voyage (tribalvoyage@gmail.com/88 37409590/9862333376/8794029120), Eastern Green Tours (easterngreentours@ gmail.com/8974464632), Ecotone Tours and Travels (ecotonetoursandtravels@ gmail.com/9856119175/8974906631), Naga Bivouac (nagabivouac@gmail. com/8575185649), Pier Tours (piertours@gmail.com, info@piertours. com/9402905046/7085982245), Adventure Nagaland Tours (adventurenagaland@gmail.com/9856556674) and Eco Tours (anguliemeyase@yahoo. com/9856834864/9436071046).

NHIDCL, PMU-Dimapur eye screening camp D I M A P U R : N a t i o n a l Dimapur conducted the vi- and operators of respective Highways Infrastructure & sion testing and screening. contractors were successDevelopment Corporation 60 people including drivers fully screened and checked.

Limited (NHIDCL), PMUDimapur under MoRT&H organised eye screening and vision testing camp under National Road Safety Month’ 2021 on January 28 at base camp of M/s Ramky-ECI (JV).

A press release by NHIDCL, PMU-Dimapur stated that, ADC Medziphema was chief guest for the inauguration programme. Others present were NHIDCL officials and representative of contractors. Chuba Ozukum, ophthalmic along with Hira from Sun Track-Optical, Born on: 21.03.83 – Died on: 23.01.21

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We the family members of Late Nyimsemo Tsopoe convey our profound gratitude and regret our inability to thank each and every individuals, neighbours, churches and well wishers who stood by us physically, spiritually and financially during his brief illness and demise.

We sincerely pray to almighty God to bless you all abundantly.

From family members and relatives.

DP-596

25TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY of our beloved father

LATE ZENEITUO KUOTSU

8TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY Remembering the brightest star in our sky

Ngongo Chumbenthung N Tungoe

Late Zhexuli V Zhimo, wife of Late Vinito Zhimo, passed away peacefully in the wee hours of January 29, 2021 at the age of 104. She was born to Late Khuzuche and Late Heyili at Luthsumi village under Aghunato sub-division, Zunheboto district in 1917 and later, along with her parents, migrated to Keltomi village, where she married and spent most of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband.

Her faith in Christ was an important part of her life. She was an inspiration to many and leaves a legacy of blessing to those who knew her.

She is survived by her two daughters and one son; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Her funeral service was held on Friday at her son’s residence Zukihe village, Dimapur where she was laid to rest.

We, the family members, are grateful to members of Zukihe village and Zukihe Village Baptist Church for the wonderful care and compassion shown to her. We also wish to express our sincere gratitude for all the prayers, support and kindness shown to us during the time of bereavement.

May God bless each and every one of you.

Loving children, grandchildren and relatives DCDC-91

Sadly missed along life’s way, quietly remembered everyday.

No longer in our life to share.

But in our hearts, you’re always there.

Loving children, In-Laws & Grandchildren

K-249

KOHIMA, JAN 31 (NPN): Don Bosco Kohima kicked off its 50 years golden jubilee yearlong celebration at a grand function held on Sunday evening at the school auditorium.

50 representatives of each batch hoisted jubilee flag while 50 candles were placed at the celebration hall simultaneously.

Advisor of Science and IT&C, Science and Technology and NRE, Mmhonlumo Kikon who was also a 1994 batch graced the launching event as special guest. In his address Kikon recalled his days in the school and the values and principles imbibed in the students.

He congratulated the institution for completing 50 years, stating that celebrating 50 years was historic for any organisation or institution. Asserting that Don Bosco rooted in values and ideas, Kikon said today many achievers

there but strive for more and to be tolerant to criticism and face harsh situation with positive mind.

Fr. Dr. P. Suresh, rector and principal Don Bosco College and Fr. T. P James, principal Don Bosco Kohima delivered greetings on the occasion.

Chairman jubilee organizing committee, K. D Vizo in his welcome address said it was time to acknowledge the past and present faculty for shaping and moulding the students of the institution for 50 years.

He said the celebration was also an opportunity as to whether the people were preserving the values and rich heritage taught by the teachers.

The launching programme witnessed brief history of Don Bosco by vice principal DBHSS, Fr. Innocent Panmei SDB, songs, launching of jubilee commemoration music and video album and bonfire.

SRSU hosts WSSU 39 general conference at Alato village

01-02- 2013 Today, it has been 8 years since God took you home, but however long our lives might last, whatever land we view, whatever joy and grief is ours, we always remember you. We will learn to live in the sunshine of your life rather than the shadow of your death.

Soar high. We love you always.

Loving Family K-250 K Y M C

State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

First round of IPPI launched across Nagaland

DC Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan.

DC Wokha, Orenthung Lotha.

DIO Phek, Dr. Kolhitso Khalo.

Deputy CMO Dr. G .Viholi Sema in Tuensang

SDO (C) Dharan Raj in Mokokchung.

DC Longleng, M. Shayung Phom.

DC Mon, Thavaselan K.

ADC Zunheboto, Hito Sema.

Dr Kiholi Assumi at CHC Jalukie.

Dr. N. Adaho in Chümoukedima.

Immunisation booth at Referral Hospital Dimapur.

Shamator Battalion in Noklak district.

DIMAPUR: Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) was launched in Nagaland on January 31 and will close on February 2. For the next two days, house to house visits will be carried out to track all those children who missed the vaccination on the first day. Prior to launching of IPPI, district sensitisation workshop and distribution of logistics and vaccine was held. Prior to launching day, information education communication (IEC) activities in the form of banners & posters were put up in public places.

Miking was carried out in all the prominent places at district headquarters.

Church platforms were also utilized to disseminate the information and seek support.

Dimapur: First two drops of polio was administered by deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur Rajesh Soundararajan, during a brief launching programme held at CMO’s office Dimapur.

519 booths across Di-

ate behaviour during IPPI activities. A total of 200 polio booths have been set up across the district. DC administered the first two drops of polio vaccine.

Phek: The three-day polio vaccination campaign was conducted at District Hospital Phek.

A press release by NHM Phek district media officer, Kutolu Nakro stated that, Phek targets to vaccinate total of 12667 children between the age groups of 0-5 years against polio. Altogether 205 polio booths have been set up across the district. District immunization officer (DIO), Phek, Dr. Kolhitso Khalo briefed the gathering. Earlier, invocation was offered

by Rev.T.Alem pastor of Ao Baptist Church Phek Town.

Tuensang: In Tuensang, the deputy chief medical officer Tuensang Dr. G. Viholi Sema launched the programme by administering two drops of pulse polio to a child at Tower Clock Junction, in the presence of Dr. Thungchanpani Patton, DPO (UIP & RCH), Dr. Limawabang ZLO and CMO staff. A press release

by CMO office media of-

According to DIPR report, Dr Imnameren Phom in his keynote address said that no children below the age of 5 years should be left without immunising.

M Shayung Phom urged upon all parents to ensure that their child was given polio and also to sensitize among themselves.

The first Polio drop was administered by DC followed by SP Longleng, CMO, deputy CMO and others.

Short speeches were delivered by SP Yanithung Ezung, representative from Phomla Hoichem, while CMO Dr Obangjungla delivered welcome address and Pastor, GCL, pronounced invocation.

Mon: Mon launched IPPI at chief medical office (CMO), targeting 24740 children.

A press release from NHM, Mon media officer, Leeyan Chemshy stated that in order not to miss out immunisation of any children, 299 regular booths were set up covering 137 villages under Mon district. Invocation was pronounced by chaplin DH, David Konyak, followed by welcome address by Dy.

eration. Altogether, there are 552 volunteers, 138 booths, 22 supervisor involved in carrying out the tasks. Teams were divided involving health workers, Anganwadi worker, ASHAs of every village including the 36 Assam Rifles covering Samzuiram, Lilen, Phaijol, Phangjang, Jalukieram villages under Jalukie block and Ngualong and Bamsai villages under Tening block.

Chümoukedima: Police Referral Hospital Chümoukedima conducted intensified pulse polio immunisation at NPRH cmd.

The first drop was administered by Dr N. Adaho CMO, NPRH cmd.

Assam Rifles: Shamator Battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (N) organised polio immunisation programme at border area

mapur will be set up to administer polio droplets to 43,355 children between ages 0-5. A press release

by DPO, RCH/UIP, Dr. Rebecca, stated that joint efforts will continue in the years to come and such co-operation will also continue to be extended to other health programmes as well. Other officials present included CMO Dimapur, Dr. Mereninla Senlem, Dy.CMO, Dr. Antoly Suu, DTO, Dr. Benchilo, ZLO, Dr. Heto, Dr. Kheshika, MO (AYUSH), Dr. Sendongyanger, PO, UNDP, Rajesh Monsang and staffs under CMO office and MS office establishments.

Programme was chaired

by DPO, Dr. Rebecca, and dedication prayer proposed by chaplain, DHD, Rev. Yhunlo Thong.

Wokha: Deputy commissioner Wokha, Orenthung Lotha launched the programme at CMO office Wokha. Lotha lauded beneficiaries for taking initiative to give polio drops to their children. CMO Wokha, Dr. CW Tungoe called upon health care nagalandpost.com Poll workers to reach target of 11,337 and also folQ . : W i l l t h e B i d e n low COVID-19 appropriadministration be prepared to oppose Chinese hegemony ?

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ficer, Apheang stated that, Dr. Thungchanpani Patton reported that 242 polio booth centres were set up across the district to cover 13,385 targeted children in the age group of 0 to 5 years.

Mokokchung: Programme was held at Imlong Place Mokokchung with the target to immunize 7982 beneficiaries in 224 polio booths. A press release by CMO office stated that the programme was officially launched by SDO (C) Mokokchung, Dharan Raj who also administered the first polio drop. Dy. CMO, Dr. Kibangkumba also gave a short speech.

DPO (UIP & RCH), Dr. Ayangla Saku chaired the programme.

Longleng: District Health Society (DHD) Longleng launched the IPPI, at NST junction, in presence of deputy commissioner, M Shayung Phom, superintendent of Police Yanithung Ezung, CMO, Dr Obangjungla, deputy CMO Dr Philip Kent, Dr Imnameren Phom DPO (RCH/UIP), representatives from Phomla Hoichem and other wellwishers.

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Yes. No. Can’t Say.

C

50% 43% 7%

Next poll

Q: Was it required to use

draconian laws for filing FIRs against critics of govt?  Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST February 1

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hazy sunshine

25 6

Aizawl

Pleasant with plenty of sun

Guwahati Sunny and pleasant Imphal

Pleasant with plenty of sun

22 3 25 9 24 3

Itanagar Mostly sunny and nice

23 10

Shillong

Sunshine

16 2

Kohima

Plenty of sun

18 4

Dimapur Sunny and pleasant

24 9

Mostly sunny

20 6

Tuensang Mostly sunny and cooler

13 2

Mkg Wokha

Sunny

Zunheboto Mostly sunny

K Y M C

18 9 17 4

of Noklak district. The troops of Assam Rifles in coordination with state health authorities conducted the programme at remote villages of Noklak district. The campaign will continue for next two days till February 2.

Kiphire Battalion of Assam Rifles organised immunisation drive in remote border villages of Kiphire district on January 31.

The medical teams of the unit in coordination with district medical officials reached out to the remote border villages and immunised the children upto 5 years of age with pulse polio drops in remote villages of Ditanvong, Kuisam, Thongsonyu, Tsundang, Mimi, Longkhimong, Mutingkhong, Kiphire village and Longmatre town. A total of 322 children were immunised.

B&K Memorial Award held in Dimapur

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CMO, Dr Limatula Ao. Dr Leamnyei Konyak elucidated on polio and also appreciated and thanked medical team. The first polio drops was administered

by DC Thavaseelan K to a new born baby.

Zunheboto: Zunheboto launched IPPI at CMO office, Zunheboto.

A press release by CMO office Zunheboto, district media officer, Shekho Sophie, stated that ADC, Hito Sema, inaugurated and administered the first polio drop. ADC motivated the parents and health workers to be ambassador to create awareness about the different activities carried out by the medical department.

Keynote address was delivered by DPO (RCH & UIP), CMO, Zunheboto Dr. M. Nukshisangla Jamir. Zunheboto targeted 8495 children by setting up 233 booth.

Peren: IPPI started in Peren district with DPO UIP/RCH, Dr Kiholi Assumi, administering the first polio drop at CHC Jalukie.

Booth day was successfully carried out in the whole district with supervising team consisting of 22 members monitoring the whole op-

3

Family, friends and DNSU officials at the candle light vigil after the programme on Sunday evening. (NP)

Staff Reporter D I M A P U R , JA N 3 1 (NPN): Third edition of late Bendangnungsang and Khriesavizo (B&K) Memorial Award, was held at Diphupar Village Gate, on January 31, organised

by Diphupar Naga Students Union (DNSU) commemorating the death anniversary of late Bendang and Vizo, who lost their lives during the Urban

Local Bodies election imbroglio.

Addressing the gathering, former president a n d t r i b u n a l ge n e r a l , DNSU, Pitovi Achumi, stated that DNSU, on 2019 took upon itself the responsibility and privilege to honour the memories of the two martyr’s, who made supreme sacrifice for a cause that was above any individual, and stated that their heroic sacrifice

and contribution had to be made known to the generations of Nagas.

Highlighting about the award ceremony, Achumi maintained that in a world where every action or venture was met with varying range of criticisms and negativity, he stated that the B&K Memorial Award was a humble venture of DNSU to positively acknowledge those personalities and organisation’s

contribution in various fields towards the Naga society.

He however stressed that the award was in no means intended to judge one work over others, claiming that it would be a monumental error on the part of DNSU to choose the best amongst the contributions in various fields, and opined that all contributions were equally important in the attempt to move forward as a society.

Her further added that the award only seek to acknowledge those personalities and groups in various fields for their invaluable contribution towards Naga society.

Head GB, Diphupar, Kekhwetsu Khutso, in a short and brief speech acknowledged the DNSU for organising the memorial award in the name of late Bendang and Vizo, and also stated that both martyr’s will always be remembered. He also acknowledged the contribution poured in by mothers of Diphupar.

Earlier, programme was chaired by Zuthungbemo K Ngullie, while short speeches were de-

livered by family member of late Bendangnungsang Longkumer and late Er. Khriesavizo Metha. Special numbers by artistes such as Senüto Tetseo, Tutu Terhüja and Muno Shiu was presented, while a melodious opening musical piece, “Arioso”, was played

by Atokali Awomi.

President, DNSU, Mhasizolie Angami, delivered the welcome address while benediction was offered by pastor, ABC, N Lipok Jamir. A candle light vigil followed after the conclusion of the memorial award.

The various awards and awardees are: Promoter Award: Temsusenla Kichu (Fusion Store), Literature Award: Vishu Rita Krocha; Entrepreneur Award: Lichan Humtsoe: (Ete Coffee); Music award: Tetseo Sisters; Art Award: Bambi Kevichusa; Young Achiever Award: Kekhriesilie Rio; Special mention: NK Naga; Green Award: Better Dimapur; Sports Award: Menuopilhou Murice Usou; Humanitarian Award: Kohima Ao Baptist Arogo and Academic Excellency Award bagged by toppers of HSLC and HSSLC 2020.

DC-87

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CMs of two states to blame if abducted men die: ULFA-I

Pranab Kumar Gogoi and Ram Kumar GUWAHATI, JAN 31 (IANS): Anti-talk outlawed terror outfit United Liberation Front of AsomInde pendent (ULFA-I) has warned that the Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh would be responsible for any untoward fate of the two officials of private sector oil company it had abducted last month.

The ULFA-I, in a statement issued on Saturday night, claimed the government has planned delaying tactics instead of trying to get the two abducted men released.

“Instead of trying to get the two hostages released, the security forces, the central government’s intelligence agencies and others are continuing operations. In such a situation, if the two kidnapped officials die, the authorities would tactfully put the onus on

the ULFA-I,” the statement said.

It said that in view of the security forces’ operations, if any unfortunate happening involving the two hostages occurred, the full responsibility have to be taken by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

According to the police in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, the security forces are still clueless about the kidnapped officials of Delhibased Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Ltd. The ULFA-I, in a statement last week, said that it has set February 17 to decide the fate of the two employees -- Pranab Kumar Gogoi, a drilling superintendent, and Ram Kumar, a radio operator -- whom it had kidnapped at gunpoint from the drilling site in Innao area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district

on December 21 last year.

The ULFA-I, which is currently headed by its “commander-in-chief ” Paresh Barua, had, in a media statement last week, said that if the drilling company “fails to take positive steps to secure the release of their employees by February 16, the outfit would take action against hostage Ram Kumar on February 17”.

“If Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Ltd fails to meet our demands, the company would not be allowed to operate in Assam and South East Asia,” it said, but did not specify its demands.

Arunachal Pradesh Police chief R.P. Upadhyaya told IANS over phone from Itanagar that the militants had earlier demanded Rs 20 crore to release the two.

According to the police, in a video reportedly released by the ULFA-I, Gogoi, a resident of Assam’s Sivasagar district, and Ram Kumar, who hails from Bihar’s Khagaria district, are heard saying that they are now in the captivity of the ULFA-I and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and they urged Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to get them released.

northeast

BSF urges B’desh counterpart to allow border fencing in Tripura

AGARTALA, JAN 31 (IANS): In the wake of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) preventing the Indian authorities to carry out the border fencing works in some patches along southern Tripura, the Border Security Force (BSF) has now taken up the matter with the higher authorities of BGB, said officials.

The officials added that the BGB personnel earlier this week had prevented the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Tripura government to erect the border fencing in the southern state’s Sabroom along the IndiaBangladesh border.

A Commandant-level meeting between the BSF and BGB was held on Wednesday, that remained inconclusive. ‘’In view of the BGB’s objections, tensions prevailed along the bordering areas after the SubDivisional authority asked the people to remain alert while movement along the borders,’’ a senior police official said.

A senior official of BSF’s Tripura frontier headquarters at Shalbagan, near Agartala, said that they have asked the senior BGB officials to allow the Indian authorities to undertake the border fencing works in Sabroom.

South Tripura District Magistrate Debapriya

new COVID cases No new COVID case in East Khasi Hills 6push Mizoram’s

Correspondent

Shillong, Jan 31: Ever since the onset of the pandemic, the East Khasi Hills, which has been the most affected district in Meghalaya, reported no new COVID-19 case on the last day January.

Director Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War said that the three new COVID19 cases were detected in the State today, which included one each from the West Khasi Hills district, Ri-Bhoi district and West Jaintia Hills district.

“All the nine recoveries from Covid-19 recorded today were also in the East Khasi Hills district,” he added.

Nevertheless, the East Khasi Hills, which includes State capital Shillong, is the most affected district with 57 active cases and 120 deaths due to the viral disease on the latest count.

The Ri-Bhoi district currently has four active COVID-19 cases, West Khasi Hills district has three, West Jaintia Hills district two, East Jaintia Hills district and South West Garo

Hills district have one case each, while the East Garo Hills, North Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, South West Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills have no active case.

Meanwhile, of the 3,36,160 persons tested for COVID-19, 3,22,396 persons were tested negative of the virus as on Sunday in the State, which had 10 containment zones where active cases have been detected, even as 14 persons were in institutional quarantine and 54 persons in home isolation.

Army rescues 5 truckers in North Sikkim

GANGTOK, JAN 31 (PTI): Five truckers, stuck due to heavy snowfall in North Sikkim, were rescued by the Indian Army, defence officials said on Sunday.

Three trucks were stuck due to heavy snowfall in a remote area between Samdong and Lachen on Friday night, they said.

The trucks were returning to Siliguri

in West Bengal from Samdong but got stuck as more than two feet of snow got accumulated, making driving extremely dangerous, they said.

The truckers were rescued and taken to the Army post where they were provided medicine, food and warm clothing, the officials said.

tally to 4,372

Aizawl, Jan 31 (PTI): Six more persons, including two children and an 82-yearold man, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram, pushing the coronavirus caseload to 4,372, an official said on Sunday.

Of the six new cases, five were reported from Aizawl district while one was reported from Kolasib district, he said.

The new cases were detected through Rapid Antigen Test, he said.

The 82-year-old patient has developed symptoms of COVID-19 while the rest five are asymptomatic, the official said.

Mizoram now has 40 active COVID-19 cases, while 4,323 people have recovered from the disease, he said. Nine people have died in the state due to COVID-19 so far.

Bardhan told IANS that the BSF was looking after the matter to sort out the problem. Except some portions, most parts of Tripura’s 856 km border with Bangladesh already being fenced 150 yards from the zero lines of the international border but in some cases the barbed wire fencing was done less than the 150 yards as the markets, government installations, and habitations fell just along the frontiers.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had earlier appealed to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to complete the border fencing work along the India-Bangladesh frontiers to curb smuggling of drugs and other contraband, illegal cross border movement and crimes.’

The Indian side of the international border passes through 4,096-km IndiaBangladesh borders with West Bengal (2,216 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km) and Mizoram (318 km).

India started construction of the fence and flood lights along the India-Bangladesh border around 25 years ago to curb crossborder movement of terrorists, stop infiltration and check various border crimes, including smuggling and illegal trade.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Teachers’ stir similar to farmers’ agitations in Delhi: Tripura BJP

File photo of teachers’ protest in Tripura.

AGARTALA, JAN 31 (AGENCIES): The ruling BJP in Tripura has claimed that the State teachers’ ‘’politically motivated stirs’’ are backed by the Opposition CPI-M and the protest is similar to farmers’ agitations in Delhi. Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief spokesman Subrata Chakraborty and spokesman Nabendu Bhattacharjee in a joint press conference on Thursday claimed that the protesting farmers in Delhi carrying CPI-M’s red flag while the agitating teachers in Tripura giving political slogans against the BJP-led govChakraborty said that during Wednesday’s incident, the agitating teachers tried to snatch the rifles of the security forces and attacked them. Accusing former Chief Minister Mani Sarkar for the teachers’plight, he

said that the teachers have lost their jobs following High Court and Supreme Court verdicts as the previous Left Front government had done ‘’irrigularities’’ in providing the jobs hence nothing to do with the present BJP government. ‘’We urge the State government to take stern actions against the trouble-making teachers in the name of the agitations,’’ Bhattacharjee said, adding the BJP government has been making alternative arrangements for them. West Tripura District Magistrate and Collector Shailesh Kumar Yadav after promulgating prohibitory orders 144 Cr Pc in the entire Agartala Municipal Corporation areas banning assembly of five or more people said that in all 87 teachers and 17 police personnel were injured

in Wednesday’s incidents (police lathicharge, use of water cannon and burst of tear gas shells). ‘’The agitating teachers also damaged four police cars. Considering the situation, the prohibitory orders were extended until Friday,’’ Yadav told the media. The injured teachers, including many women, were admitted in various hospitals including the Agartala Medical College and Hospital.

Opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist, Congress and other political parties condemning Wednesday’s incident said that ‘’indiscriminate police action and lathicharge were barbaric’’. Referring to Wednesday’s police action, CPI-M State secretary Gautam Das said that Tripura never witnessed such police barbarism

3,986 healthcare workers vaccinated in Mnp Correspondent IMPHAL, Jan 31: As many as 3,986 healthcare workers were vaccinated since the COVID-19 inoculation drive began in Manipur.

A total of 3,986 healthcare workers were inoculated against targeted beneficiaries of 7,310 on the first phase of the drive which commenced from January 16 last, said state health officials on Sunday.

The drive was in progress in 10 centres across the state, the officials added, during a news conference held at the state health directorate office today.

Like other states of the country, COVID-19 vaccination drive in Manipur commenced on January 16 with 54,000 doses of the Covidshield

vaccines received from the Centre.

The state had also received 48,000 more doses of the vaccine on January 20.

Advisor (health) to chief minister Dr Sapam Ranjan who attended the press conference said that the second phase of the drive will commence from the first week of February and hectic preparation on selection of beneficiaries was on.

In the second phase, the state is targeting to inoculate COVID-19 frontline workers, he added.

The health advisor to CM then appealed to the people to continue following the appropriate Covid-19 SOPs. He said that people should continue to follow the SOPs strictly even as the rate of COVID-19 infections and mortality

declined in the state The decline in the infection rate and mortality rate do not mean that COVID-19 was over.

“We still need to follow strictly the COVID-19 SOPs. We have to join hands together in fighting the pandemic,” he said.

Director of state health Dr K Rajo and director of state family welfare Dr Shyamsundro were among others who attended the press conference.

On the other hand, amid the steady decline in the daily spike, Manipur’s COVID-19 tally surged to 29,068 as 16 fresh positive cases were reported on Sunday.

The tally included 28,553, the state health department said, in its daily status update report that put the total number of active cases at 144. The

recovery rate of the state stood at 98.22%.

Against the 16 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours (till 4pm of January 31), eight patients recovered from the viral infection.

The COVID-19 casualty tally of the state remained at 371 as no death due to COVID-19 related illness reported in the last 24 hours.

Among the 16 fresh cases reported today, six were from Churachandpur, four from Imphal West, two each from Bishnupur and Senapati, and one each from Thoubal and Kakching, the health department added.

M e a n w h i l e, w i t h 1,310 samples tested over the last 24 hours, the total number of samples tested for COVID-19 in the state rose to 5,15,122 on Sunday.

Mnp CM flags off ‘Know Your Sanctuaries and Wetlands’ Khandu asks elected representatives

Correspondent

IMPHAL, Jan 31: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Sunday stressed the need for selfless joint efforts on the part of all stakeholders to protect the human race from the harmful effects of climate change.

Singh was speaking to reporters after flagging off a month-long “Know Your Sanctuaries and Wetlands” media campaign from Imphal’s Manipur Press Club, Imphal today.

The campaign was organized by All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) under the joint sponsorship of the state forest department and directorate of environment and climate change.

The campaign started with 22 journalists, including four women and two members of Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association heading for Bunning, Zeliad Wildlife Sanctuary, Jiri Makru, Tamenglong district for a four days trip.

The team will also observe World Wetland Day on 2nd February at Zeliad Lake in Tamenglong district.

The chief minister said that organizing such a media campaign was very impor-

Manipur chief minister flaging off Imphal on Sunday. tant as media could play a crucial role in providing awareness to the public about the importance of preserving state’s wildlife sanctuaries and wetlands.

He lamented the deteriorating conditions of the state’s reserve forest, national parks, sanctuaries and wetlands and stressed on the need of selfless joint efforts by all stakeholders to protect human race from harmful effects of climate change. The chief minister rued that insincerity on the part of concerned of-

Know Your ‘Sanctuaries and Wetlands’ in

ficials by providing patta in wetland and forest areas and their short visions were among the factors of worsening condition of the state’s environment.

Pointing out the large scale deforestation at Mount Koubru, he urged the forest department officials to carry out a spot visit and take up necessary steps with strict rules to save the forest areas.

State forest and environment and climate change minister Awangbow Newmai said that the media

campaign was important not only for providing information but in helping in government’s plan for developmental projects.

He added that the state government had much concern on the protection of forest and wildlife under the supervision of chief minister N Biren Singh.

Maintaining that the state had shown considerable improvement in all aspects, he also sought support and coordination from media persons in taking the state towards further devel-

opment.

During the programme, chairman of Manipur State Pollution Control Board L Radhakishore handed over tracksuits, caps, face masks and hand sanitizers to AMWJU president Bijoy Kakchingtabam for onward distribution to journalists taking part in the media campaign.

The campaign launched today will cover other different places of the state including Ithai Pat, Loktak Pat, Keibul Lamjao National Park and Thinungei Bird sanctuary in Bishnupur district, Lokchao Wildlife sanctuary in Tengnoupal district, Usoipokpi Pat, Waithou Pat, Utra Pat, Lousi Pat, Khoidum Pat, Kharam Pat and Ikop Pat in Thoubal district, Khayang Pat, Kachopung Pat in Kamjong district, Siroi National Park in Ukhrul district, Khamlang Pat, Yaral Pat, Poirou Pat, Heingang Pat in Imphal East, Zaimeng Lake in Kangpokpi district and Kailam Wildlife sanctuary in Pherzawl district.

President of Editors’ Guild Manipur Khogendra Khomdram, officials of forest department, environment and climate change department and senior journalists of the state also attended the programme among others.

to project Pan Arunachal image

ITANAGAR, JAN 31 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Sunday urged elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions to play a pro-active role in projecting a Pan Arunachal image for growth and development in the state.

Addressing an orientation programme for the newly elected BJP panchayat members and councillors, the chief minister said his government is committed to the three basic pillars of prabodaya

(progress for all), swadeshi and gram swaraj.

Khandu said, he would soon devolve powers to the local bodies as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1992.

The 73rd amendment of the Constitution transfers functions and functionaries of 29 institutions such as primary health centres, primary schools and anganwadi centres to panchayats, and enables a state having less than 20 lakh population not to have the intermediate level in the three- tier struc-

ture of Panchayati Raj. Arunachal Pradesh has a population of 13.84 lakh.

Partys state unit president Biyuram Wahge urged the representatives to take the flagship programmes and welfare schemes of both the central and state governments to the people with utmost sincerity.

“Disciplinary actions would be taken against those found guilty of indulging in anti-party activities in the last local body elections.

One new COVID-19 case in Arunachal

Itanagar, Jan 31 (PTI): One more person tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh in the last 24 hours, taking the coronavirus caseload to 16,828, a senior health department official said on Sunday.

The lone case was detected from East Siang district through rapid antigen test, the official said. With no fresh recoveries, the total number of cured patients in the state now is 16,758, State Surveillance Officer (SSO) Dr Lobsang Jampa said.

The recovery rate in the state has touched 99.58 per cent, while the positivity stands at 0.08 per cent and the fatality rate at 0.33 per cent. Arunachal Pradesh currently has 14 active COVID-19 cases, while 56 people have succumbed to the in-

fection so far. The Capital Complex Region -- comprising Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa areas -- and West Kameng have four active cases each, followed by East Siang at one, the SSO said.

A total of 3,92,143 samples have been tested for COVID-10 so far, including 321 on Saturday, he added.

State Immunization Officer (SIO) Dr Dimong Padung said that a total of 16,736 health workers have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far including 386 on Saturday. The health department has been carrying out the inoculation drive four days a week -- Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, he said. Seven persons reportedly developed after effects following immunization, the SIO said.

Farmers to self-guard Singhu site

Farmers say they don’t trust police

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS): Farmers have amplified their internal security at Singhu border protest site following the fresh incident of violence on Friday. Vigil at checkpoints and interrogation of any unfamiliar face has been increased to prevent any untoward incident which they are anticipating.

Naujawan Bharat Sabha President Rupinder Singh said that youth wings of the farmers unions have been told to guard the protest site and not let any suspicious person infiltrate the area.

The youth are patrolling the perimeter of the protest site in groups. Mahendar Pal Singh from the Ganna Sangharsh committee, Hoshiarpur, who was leading one such group, told IANS that young farmers are keeping vigil round the clock in shifts.

“The protest site is an open area, we have to remain alert 24/7, especially after the violence that took place on Friday. Our shifts are divided. My shift starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 2 a.m.

Farmers raise slogans during their ongoing protest against the new farm laws at Singhu border, in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI)

From then, it becomes the responsibility of some other farmer to manage the security,” he said.

The farmers also informed that more than a thousand young volunteers guard the site in two to three shifts. Key entry and exit points are manned by 5-10 volunteers. The three routes within the protest site -- exit to Kundli, TDI mall and a fast food outlet are under the watch of hundreds of young

volunteers.

Another farmer, Majinder Dhannata, said that the farmers do not trust Delhi Police any more after the violent incidents two days ago. “Ab apni suraksha apne haath hai (now the security becomes our own responsibility),” he added.

“We have taken the matter of internal security in our own hands now. The police were complicit in the attack by the goons that

R-Day violence: Delhi Police sends over 50 fresh notices

Police personnel keep a vigil after clashes with farmers and their supporters during tractor march on Republic Day, at ITO in New Delhi, Tuesday. (PTI)

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI): The Delhi Police has sent over 50 fresh notices to people, including farmer leaders, in connection with the violence that broke out during the tractor parade on Republic Day, officials said on Sunday.

The Delhi Police had earlier issued notices against 44 people. The police have identified several people and sent notices to them, a senior police officer said, adding that the process will continue further.

According to the police, some tractors, used during the violence, have also been identified and notices are being sent their owners.

The process of issuing notices is taking time as many people are not residents of Delhi and letters are being to their addresses, police said.

Teams of Delhi Police are carrying out investigations at several locations outside the national capital, including Punjab and Haryana, to apprehend the people who were involved in the violence. They are also looking for those who hoisted flags at the Red Fort, they said.

Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory also visited Ghazipur, Red Fort and ITO to collect evidences. They have recovered a lot of evidences, including a big rope with knots, that was used to climb on Red Fort, police said.

Till Saturday, the police have received 1,700 video clips and CCTV footage from public so far related to the violence and is taking help from forensic experts to analyse the material and identify the culprits.

The Crime Branch, which is investigating 10 cases related to the violence, including that at Red Fort and ITO, is also examining dump data of mobile phone calls and registration numbers of tractors.

A team from the National Forensic Sciences University has been called to analyse the video clips and CCTV footage related to the violence that left 394 police personnel injured and one protester dead.

On Friday, the Delhi Police had issued an appeal in leading newspapers asking people to share any evidence or information about the violence. The investigators are also analysing footage and photos taken from drone-mounted cameras and carrying out 3D mapping of the area vandalised at the Red Fort.

day and they are no more trustworthy. On Friday, they stood and only watched.

We can’t rely on them and their barricades,” Dhannata added.

The farmers were also seen carrying large wooden and bamboo staffs, but clarified that these are not to threaten anyone, but are a measure of self-defence.

“Don’t interpret us as an aggressive group after seeing sticks in our hands. These

PM to dedicate infra projects at Haldia on Feb 7 KOLKATA, JAN 31 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Haldia in West Bengal on February 7 to dedicate several infrastructure projects in the oil and gas sector, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

The projects include 347-km long Dobhi-Durgapur natural gas pipeline built at a cost of Rs 2,433 crore by state-owned GAIL, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) said in a statement.

This pipeline is a part of the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project.

“Conducted an oil industry meet at Haldia ahead of PM@narendramodi ji’s visit where he will dedicate to the nation oil, gas & road projects worth Rs 4742 cr. I invited family members of our oil industry to be a part of this momentous occason in the developmental journey of Bengal,” the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas minister tweeted.

During the project stage, it had generated 15 lakh mandays of employment and will help in the revival of the HURL fertiliser plant at Sindri in Jharkhand and supply gas to Matix fertiliser plant at Durgapur, the IOC statement said.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate an LPG import terminal at Haldia, built by Bharat Petroleum at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore, to meet the rising demand of cooking fuel of the region.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the

TMC looted rations provided by Centre during lockdown: Irani

are just a measure to control the crowd if they get unruly at any given point of time,” Mahendar Pal said.

On Friday, violence erupted at the protest site after over 500 persons claiming to be locals got past three layers of security barricades and pelted a farmers’ camp with stones, leading to a clash between them and the agitating farmers. They claimed that the farmers’ agitation affected their livelihood. However, farmers alleged that the crowd had gathered at the behest of the BJP. Besides, the entry to the stages where farm leaders address the crowd and give speeches are also under restriction. We are not allowing everyone, said volunteers of Kisan Sangharsh Committee, when asked about the low number of audience present there.

Rupinder Singh said that a security room has been created near the main stage. “10 people present there at all times. Additional team of 25 persons maintain vigil nearby. Another trolley next to the main stage has 10-15 volunteers who can be called for assistance round the clock,” he added.

Haryana BJP leader Balwan Singh Daulatpuria quits party over farm laws FATEHABAD, JAN 31 (PTI): Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MLA Balwan Singh Daulatpuria on Sunday quit the ruling party in solidarity with the farmers who are protesting against the Centre’s new agriculture laws.

Daulatpuria, who had joined the party ahead of 2019 assembly polls after switching over from INLD, announced his decision at a Panchayat held at his village Daulatpur here.

Talking to reporters later, he said the three agriculture laws “are antifarmer which should be repealed immediately”.

“A Panchayat was held in my village. They directed that I should come out fully in support of the farmers who are protesting against these laws, after which I announced my decision to quit the party...

I will fight shoulder-toshoulder with farmers and also visit the Tikri border protest site,” Daulatpuria, a former MLA from Fatehabad, said.

Meanwhile, some villagers in Sonipat’s Rai

Balwan Singh Daulatpuria

block took out a ‘tractor march’ in support of the farmers protesting against the farm laws.

A “Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat” was organised by “Arhitiyas Association” in Palwal on the farm laws issue.

A Mahapanchayat will be held in Jind early next month to mobilise support for the farmers agitating against the three farm laws, a farmer leader said.

Earlier on Thursday, Haryana BJP leader and former chief parliamentary secretary Rampal Majra had quit the party over the farm laws issue.

Majra, a three-time former MLA, had switched

over to the BJP from the INLD just before the 2019 assembly elections. He had in September last year dubbed then Centre’s farm bills as “anti-farmer”, claiming that the apprehensions about the minimum support price (MSP) were not unfounded.

In September last year, Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shyam Singh Rana had also quit the party over the agriculture laws.

Rana, who was chief parliamentary secretary in the first term of the M L Khattar-led BJP government, had then said he was quitting the party keeping the farmers’ issue in mind.

The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporations.

However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers and introduce new technologies in agriculture.

Blast site near Israeli Embassy covered with tent New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI): The Delhi Police Sunday covered the blast spot near the Israeli Embassy here with a whitecoloured tent to prevent the site being tampered with as the adjacent road opened for traffic, officials said.

Sources said probe agencies are covering all angles, however, they have not identified any suspect yet.

The APJ Abdul Kalam Road, which was closed for nearly two days after the IED blast on Friday, has been opened for general traffic now.

Police also faced some challenges in collecting video footage as most CCTV cameras in the area were not functional at the time of incident, the sources said.

The said the material used in the bomb will be known after the report of the forensic science laboratory.

An envelope addressed to the Israeli Embassy and containing a note was found at the site of the blast, sources had said. A case has been registered and the Delhi Police’s Special Cell is investigating the matter.

The letter written in English mentioned the names of Gen Qassem Soleimani, the then head of Iran’s elite Quds Force who was killed in a US air strike in January 2020, and Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizad, who played a crucial role in the country’s nuclear programme and was assassinated near Tehran in November the same year, they said.

According to sources,

The APJ Abdul Kalam Road, which was closed for nearly two days after the IED blast on Friday.

police have questioned some persons including a few Iranian nationals and a cab driver who dropped two persons near the blast site just before the explosion.

The details of foreigners who came to Delhi recently are being examined.

Teams from the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) of the NSG and Delhi Police’s Special Cell visited the spot for post-blast analysis on Saturday. A senior officer said NBDC’s findings will be shared with the police team investigating the case.

Investigating agencies are checking Internet Protocol Detail Record (IPDR) of the area to check whether the suspected persons used internet to communicate instead of regular cellular call. They are also checking CCTV footage of the nearby hotels.

The dump data of mobile calls, which were active hours before and after the

blast, are also being examined.

The agencies are collecting data from the cab services of the persons who were dropped in the nearby area of the spot just before the incident happened.

Initial investigations revealed that the IED was planted in a flower pot on the median near Jindal House on A P J Abdul Kalam road outside the Israeli embassy.

A burnt scarf has been recovered from the spot, which has sent for forensic examination, official sources said, adding that a screenshot of Telegram

application is circulating where the Jaish-Ul-Hind is allegedly taking the responsibility of the attack, however, its authenticity could not be confirmed.

The minor blast took place on Friday evening in a high-security zone of the national capital. No one was injured.

The blast took place when President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were present a few kilometres away at the Beating Retreat ceremony at the culmination of the Republic Day celebrations.

KV KHATKHATI

GC CRPF, KARBI ANGLONG(ASSAM) TEL.NO. 0367-249085

Walk in Interview for Part-time contractual Teachers & Coaches on 05-02-2021

Walk-in-interview for preparing panel for contractual teachers 2021-22 on 05-02-2021 from 08:30am onwards.

Post: 1. PGT: (Hindi, Maths, Computer Sc., Biology, Chemistry, Commerce) 2. TGT: (Sanskrit, Art Edu) 3. Primary Teachers 4. Computer Instructor, Sports Coach.

5. For qualification details and bio-data form visit school Website (http://khatkhaticrpf.kvs.ac.in) PRINCIPAL DC-90

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE MOKOKCHUNG : NAGALAND

NO.MDP/RO (CLO)-11/2020-21/2734 Dated Mokokchung the 21st Jan. '2021

AUCTION NOTICE

Union Minister Smriti Irani during the party’s public rally at Domurjala Stadium in Howrah, West Bengal, Sunday. (PTI)

ing the coronavirus lockdown, to help them get jobs near their home and help in development of villages.

“The Prime Minister provided five kg rice and one kg dal for 80 crore people of the country for eight months through ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana’, but in Bengal, TMC looted it during the lockdown,” she

said addressing a BJP rally here.

Claiming that Shramik Special Trains arranged by the Centre were termed ‘Corona Express’ by Mamata Banerjee, Irani said, “I want to ask her whether sons and daughters from Bengal working in different parts of the country are considered viruses by her”.

DC-82

Dumurjala (WB), Jan 31 (PTI): Accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal of indulging in corruption, Union Minister Smriti Irani said on Sunday that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided foodgrains for 80 crore people of the country for eight months during the pandemic, the rations were looted by the party in the state.

Maintaining that over 50 crore mandays were created under ‘Garib Rojgar Yojana’ for migrant workers returning home, Irani claimed that “it did not happen in Bengal”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in June last year launched the employment scheme for migrant workers who had returned to villages from cities, dur-

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national

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

On the recommendation of the Condemnation Board Committee and PHQ Signal approval vide No. PHQ(D-III)Clo/Condemned/2020/2750 dated 17/12/2020, the Unit is intending for public auction of the condemned/unserviceable clothing/equipment/Mod/NSDMA/Tentage/ Sports items and Govt. properties at the minimum rate of 10% of issue rate of the items at the Unit Store on 02/02/2021 at 1100 hrs.

Hence, interested person(s)/party(s) may assemble at the Unit Store near PS-I (complex) Mokokchung on the aforementioned date and time.

Superintendent of Police Mokokchung, Nagaland DC-89

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXxI NO. 56 Dimapur, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

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TN politics

amil Nadu goes to the polls sometime during April-May 2021 to elect a 234-member legislative assembly and decide which of the two main contestants- the ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) or the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)will rule the state. The 2021 electoral battle in Tamil Nadu is going to be a contest between the two major Dravidian parties AIADMK and DMK with the two national players BJP and Congress, playing minor roles from the margins. The BJP is a partner of the ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam while the Congress is an ally of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. DMK leader M.K.Stalin (son of late M.Karunanidhi) is eying to become the chief minister for the first time if his party wins. On the other hand, AIADMK chief minister E.Paliniswami(EPS) is seeking to retain power and is hoping to reap benefits of central assistance through alliance with the BJP. However, EPS is not the only leader in the AIADMK as his rival and current deputy chief minister O.Panneerselvam is also hoping he would regain the chair which he occupied three times- 2001-02 , 2014-15 and 2016-17. Both EPS and OPS are rival claimants but out of political necessity, joined hands against V.K. Sasikala( a close aide of late J. Jayalalithaa), to prevent her from reclaiming the party after coming out of jail. Sasikala was elected as leader of the legislature party and was set to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. However, the Supreme Court played spoilsport by upholding her conviction by a lower court in the disproportionate assets case. She was barred from contesting elections for ten years after her conviction in 2017 and will have to wait till 2027 and by that time she would be 72. Sasikala was sent to four year jail till January 2021. While she was in jail, the AIADMK headed by OPS and EPS expelled her from the party. Now, out of jail, Sasikala is expected to disrupt the state politics by challenging the two key leaders - EPS and OPS- and her former political party AIADMK. The BJP is playing the role of backseat driver in the internal crisis in AIADMK(between EPS and OPS) and between the duo and Sasikala and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam(AMMK) floated by her nephew, Dhinakaran. While BJP hopes to form an alliance with AMMK and AIADMK or return of Sasikala and Dhinakaran into their former party; both EPS and OPS are totally opposed to the return of Sasikala or Dhinakaran to AIADMK. The BJP is hoping to change the expected outcome by forging alliance with AIADMK and opening avenues for talks with Stalin's estranged brother M.K.Alagiri. Perhaps the big disappointment for BJP came when Tamil superstar Rajnikanth, who was expected to float his party and tilt towards BJP, decided not to join politics. Unlike the Congress which has no big plans except to maintain its existence in Tamil Nadu, the BJP can be expected to engineer developments in the same style as it has been doing in other states.

The AIADMK won the 2016 assembly polls by reversing the alternative outcome but the DMK won the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when the party’s alliance bagged 31 of the total 39 seats. Going by the trend, presently DMK is favoured to return to power but in politics, four months is a very long time.

DailyDevotion Do You See Your Calling?

…separated to the gospel of God… —Romans 1:1 Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell— it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes.

Paul did not say that he separated himself, but “when it pleased God, who separated me…” (Galatians 1:15). Paul was not overly interested in his own character. And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. “Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes.” To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character.

Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose— to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9:3).

Quotes

Neither blame or praise yourself. ~ Plutarch

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

ES hints rosy Charvak debt growth

ndia is poised to grow despite the pandemic panic shock during a critical financial year when all budget projections had gone awry because of total countrywide shutdown of all production, predicts Economic Survey (ES) 2020-21.

Agriculture alone is growing at 3.4 percent.

The survey is positive on future real GDP growth for 2021-22 at 11 per cent despite the economy being in recession leading to gross domestic product (GDP) contraction of a record (-) 23.9 percent in April-June, and full contraction of 7.7 percent during the year.

The ES, while praising the lockdown, notes that the economy is technically in a recession due to the severe contractions.

This path, with 11% real GDP growth in FY22, would entail a growth of 2.4 percent over the absolute level of FY20, implying that the economy would take two years to reach and go past the pre-pandemic level. The ES estimates the real GDP to grow at its trend rate of 6.5% in FY23 and 7% in FY24, aided by structural reforms.

(The national statistics

office on January 28 revised the GDP growth rate for 2020-21to 4 percent from 4.2 percent earlier mainly due to contraction in manufacturing and construction.).

The growth is to be achieved on such low base through spending more as there is impulse for “expansionary fiscal policy”, in short the prescription is to follow the Hindu Charvak philosophy of resorting to high debt and be spendthrift for “a happier life” and political dividend as well.

It is an indication that budget is to have high fiscal deficit, may be around 7.5 percent, and likely to resort to tough measures to raise the revenue. It may not be easy on taxes though the room for actually raising it is limited as the industry is keen on softening of the tax regime even on personal income-tax to create an environment for increasing purchasing power.

Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian says economic growth leads to debt sustainability and even if India were to have real GDP growth rate as low as 3.8 per cent each year from 2022-23 to 2028-29, the country’s debt levels will still

come down. Subramanian further said India has a track record of having adopted expansionary fiscal policy focused on infrastructure spending.

So as imagined it will be a five-year budgetary process and not a recovery in two years to undo the pandemic recession. The Fitch Rating agency earlier had indicated that it would take five years to get to the prepandemic level. The survey severely criticizes Moody’s, S&P as “noisy, opaque and biased”. It adds that the fiscal policy “must not remain beholden to Shivaji such noisy/ biased measures and should be guided by considerations of growth and development rather than be restrained by biased subjective sovereign credits”.

Western agencies maintain a negative view on deficits and high borrowing and ES wants transparent sovereign methodology, as India’s willingness to pay is unquestionably demonstrated through zero sovereign default history, Subramanian says, A study sponsored by RBI in mid-2020 by Survey of Professional Forecasters is also not very different

from the sovereign agencies.

It says, “Real GDP is likely to contract by 1.5 percent in 2020-21 but is expected to revert to growth terrain next year, when it is likely to grow by 7.2 per cent”. The survey projects that to 11 percent possibly on better data. But credit agencies globally keep a tab on different growth parameters and even the IMF and World Bank do not wish them away. While the survey extols borrowings, its expectations are bit speculative. Usually sovereign borrowings lead to inflation and act as check on growth. Of late, inflation Sarkar despite some moderation has been high, including that of food, despite a liberal food dole to over 80,000 crore people.

Largely the 2021-22 projections are based on “V” shaped recovery in the second half on a low-base effect of 2020-21; recovery in pent-up demand; high liquidity and low interest rates driving credit – a measure that is hitting the banking sector; supply side reforms through easing of regulations to increase investment!; spending on manufacturing (provided there is demand

growth); and speculative arena of hopes of rise in discretionary consumption of vaccine roll-out!

One major aspect of all these aspirations is the RBI revenue pay-out. The CARE Ratings says that the central bank’s earnings, which build a surplus and contribute to the country’s non-tax revenue may be dented due to low-yielding US dollar assets, and also due to payment of interest to banks in reverse revenue repo. Its earnings were hit by low-interest rates. This would lead to lower dividend payment by the RBI, which had squeezed itself in paying over Rs 2 lakh to pay dividend during the last two years. The ES has not taken this aspect into its calculations.

While the ES has laid stress on rising R&D spending to 3 percent from 1.5 percent, noting more than half of it was done by the government, it has not taken note of the ground reality that most research in academiarelated institutions are not in proper direction and may be a great waste due to the lack of a proper methodology. The ES has stood by the farm laws and labour codes

saying these are instruments of growth and sustains the view by citing of 21 reports since 2001. While the views are fine it has overstressed the benefits of 1991 reforms, often called Manmohanomics. The nation in the 30th year of liberalization needs to have vociferous debate on the “liberalization and new economy”. It needs to study the linkage of present farm stress and protests and look for remedies. Its stress on reforms may not be as ideal as the ES has projected.

However, it gives cue to the budget proposals, which may have large doses of allocations for various supposed “development and construction” projects as it benefits certain industries.

The ES is hopeful on repaying capacity of high projected borrowings but also indicates many distresses like credit delinquency, asset quality review of banks, recapitalization and substantial reform of banks. This could pose severe squeeze on corporate borrowers indicating that the optimism on the overall economy may not be as easy to achieve. The nation, the ES suggests, is not on an easy path despite a rosy projection.

Post-mortem Speech of chairman Q Tuccu Mental warfare on the 42nd NSCN Raising Day O

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord! he Naga people, especially the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) men and women, great and small are indeed grateful to God, the Jehovah, and we give all Glory to Him. Unless He sustained and preserved us and protected our land with His might and wisdom our neighbors could have swallowed us to their hearty pleasure. Thank God and thanks to our people too!

On this most auspicious day of the 42nd year of the NSCN, I, your Chairman, humbly request all cadres to join me in paying our highest respect to the brave hearts who had made their supreme sacrifices by embracing martyrdom in defence of our Motherland, our history, our people and our rights.

They have given up their personal freedom for the sake of our freedom; they have laid down their right to live so that our right to live cannot be questioned.

They have died the undignified death so that we may live with dignity: they have shed their tears, sweat and even blood to its last drop for this land of God’s covenant. Every spring and every brook that flow in Nagalim are now flowing with elements of Nagas’ blood, tears and sweats. The beautiful land, a part of God’s creation now swarms with widows and orphans. Cries and wailings are heard from nooks and corners of Nagalim day-in day-out, year-in yearout. But the adversaries are yet to give it any damn. No compunction! Not at all! The people, who are proud of their civilization of 5000 years, preach Peace and Ahimsa at the top of their voice across the Globe but keep using force armed with most draconian laws with impunity for more than sixty (60) years against the Nagas. Because of the fact that Nagalim has never been integral part of India, it has been held under forced occupation with martial law of AFSPA from the fifties till date. Wait and watch God will surely visit them in His own time: It is just a matter of time - sooner or later.

My brothers and sisters, sons and daughters allow me to say this, be on your guard, Government of India is yet to get serious and honest with the Nagas vis-à-vis the ongoing political talk. Nagas are being taken as if they are purchasable commercial commodities.

But God forbids that things should go wrong in the peace process. Government of India is expected to honor the lofty commitments given to us by the former Prime Ministers. Reinforcing trust and confidence are the key words to crack the nut today. Nagas have never and will never ever try to cause or help cause disintegration of India. We wish a prosperous and strong India but Nagas have no hesitation to say that 16 Point Agreement was and is never the solution to the Indo-Naga problem. Ceasefire in the 60’s followed by six rounds of talk at the Prime Minister level and again the present ongoing negotiations for the past 24 years initiated by Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and religiously pursued by other 5 Prime Ministers should not be denigrated at

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the whims of certain small fries. The political stand of the Nagas in the past vis-à-vis India was “nothing to do with India” but today since the Government of India and the NSCN have signed the Framework Agreement, that India and Nagalim shall enter a new relationship for peaceful co-existence of the two entities on the basis of shared sovereignty, meaning, Nagas are sovereign people, Nagas will abide by the principles of the Framework Agreement- nothing above and nothing below the Framework Agreement. Only the principle of the Framework Agreement is the key to an honorable and acceptable solution for durable peace. Neither economic packages nor imposed political packages will bring about lasting solution.

My dear brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, most of our leaders who have founded the NSCN are no more with us as they have gone the way of our Fathers. But in their time they have done their best which amazes us and also inspires us. Their vision, spirit with solid integrity and passion will continue to lead us till the ultimate day. Formation of the NSCN was a call of history when the NNC had miserably failed to the Naga nation when Shillong Accord was signed in November 1975 by its delegation. NNC had failed because they lost sight of the national goal and it did not walk in step with the people on the front.

Any leader or the led who goes out of step with his people is bound to go out of step with God too and such man ultimately ends up seeking convenience and safe zone. This is a big lesson for all of us to keep it in mind.

There are disciplines, rules and regulations in all organizations. No man prospers without discipline. The Bible says, a man who is not disciplined is like a palace with its wall broken down.

Again it says, no athlete wins a trophy unless he abides by the rules of the game. We are in an organization bound by its disciplines, rules and regulations.

We should never compromise our ethos of leading by power of good example not by example of power. Our culture of mutual respect and sacrifices should be upheld with more vigor. NSCN has its vision and mission. As covenanted by God with our fathers, our vision is to not only liberate our people politically here on earth, but also prepare the highway of salvation for our people through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore our mission is to build a society of peace and justice and egalitarian prosperity.

As the life of a man is limited so is the life of all organizations. When NSCN fails to represent the will and aspiration of the people, that will be the dead end of the organization. The day we fail to give vision to the people, there will be no more mission with us.

At this historical defining moment NSCN cadres should not allow ourselves to be caught unprepared; we must tighten our belt to face any eventuality.

God is with us. God Bless Nagalim and God Bless the NSCN. KUKNALIM Q. Tuccu

ne late night, my friends and I with our pastor’s family were sitting by the bonfire talking about different world views and how quickly times are changing especially the younger generation growing up in a completely different world view from us. As I listened to them talk about how essential it is for the older generation to gear up and sharpen their knowledge on different philosophies of the day, I couldn’t help but think of mental warfare – an Intellectual War. As much as the term, ‘Mental Warfare’ sounds suitable for mental health; it has nothing to do with it. Rather, here, it is a statement to signify the importance of intelligence in the form of knowledge. We have learnt for the longest time that “Knowledge is Power”, however, perhaps, knowledge is not just power but also war.

Intelligence in the form of Knowledge is an element of the mind and an integral part of our being. If we believe that God of the Bible demands from his followers to use the mind for His glory, then there ought not be any further argument that intelligence in the 'form of knowledge' can be used as “one of the tools” in fulfilling the Great Commission. In other words, it can be used as a tool in fighting spiritual warfare.

To state the obvious, younger generation today is of curious minds, therefore leading them to question beyond conventional thinking.

They are willing to go to great lengths in defending their belief system. They are aggressive in their approach; speak boldly and courageously in what they believe–they are fearless! Their questions can make one tonguetied. In short, they are knowledgeable. Perhaps, the old might say, "what do you know when you have no life experience! "It is true that one becomes wiser through life experiences as one grows older in age, however, it is also true that knowledge is not dependent on life experiences alone. Experience is one thing and knowledge another.

For a long time, the church as a community has ignored young voices. Back in the day, I often heard the phrase, “they are just kids!” in unison. It was possible quite often to suppress their opinions. There was a time people were naive, folded their hands and listened to pulpit preaching – accepted and believed the message as it was presented. No questions asked or doubts clarified out of reverence or perhaps fear of hurting the leader’s sentiments– that age has changed radically over the years. Today, they know and they know immensely better of things we know not yet.

These are who seek for answers and it should terrify the older generation if they are not the ones taking responsibility in responding.

However, it is a sad reality to see similar patterns and trend of the ancient carried out to this day. Therefore, in our culture, “questions” in general arouses anger (although it cannot to be blamed on the person as for ages they themselves have not been taught how to handle a question.) However, there is a paramount need in our people, especially the older generation to step up and change the cultural attitude of anger when posed with radical questions by the younger ones. Rather, it is one’s benefit to make a shift towards a new paradigm in learning how to address radical questions through radical answers. And that can be possible only when one is ready for an affair with mental warfare – an Intellectual-War. When one is asked with difficult questions, one enters a battlefield of the mind. Being engaged in mental warfare means being able to respond to young and rising minds of our day through dialogue and healthy discussion who are often bewildered by questions and ideas that can only be dealt intellectually and not in pulpit preaching alone.

The spiritual aspect and the mental aspect go hand in hand. Through the years our people have been following a ‘lop-sided theology’ where we have left aside the aspect of the mind and worked more on the spiritual aspect. There has been an imbalance in our attitude toward work and worship especially in the aspect of the mind.

God of the Bible demands from His followers, 'balance' in every aspect.

Post bonfire, my friend and I continued on this conversation and he mentioned an interesting

term, “anti-intellectualism”. He is right, we are at the peak of time where churches need to come out of their comfortable cocoons of “anti-intellectualism” and be willing to avail themselves, be vulnerable and be present at the battle field of intellectual war by sharpening one’s mind and not be deemed by vagueness. Especially, if one is serious in not losing the younger generation to an iceAge of misinformation on Biblical truth.

However, if one only have rebuking as a tool to keep the young silent, one is at great risk of a bleak future generation, I believe we will be held accountable if we lose the young ones of our day because of our antiintellectualism.

We ought to be fully prepared in our response both spiritually and intellectually and consider it as an open door of opportunity and a call in bringing Kingdom’s Glory. Even more so, to consider it a joy when asked uneasy questions or challenged with uncomfortable statements! One ought to take it as one's call in being equiped and prepared to respond to challenging questions with the right attitude. If we are well prepared, assuredly we are at the threshold of victory. For we are called into ministry not to clutter but to bring clarity in love and in peace.

As C.S. Lewis rightly puts it in his book, ‘Mere Christianity’, ‘one ought to get closer to the fire if one wants to feel the warmth….’, so also, we need to get closer to the realm of intellectualism if we are to bring the young generation of today to know the Light in truth. That one step of getting closer is by getting out of antiintellectualism and sharpening our minds – being open for a mental warfare.

Nungsangmenla Tzüdir, AG Colony, Kohima, Nagaland

Reader’s Post

Sir,

Cleanliness is a must

I came across an incident where the incumbent of a vehicle heading towards city tower threw a can of an unfinished kingfisher beer out of his car in broad daylight. This earned quite a few grumbles from the non-local driver of the auto that I was in and I just nodded my head. However, his next action fazed me. Few meters away from me, the same person spat through his car!

My question here is, have our Naga people lost their civic senses? Are they not even remotely ashamed of their actions?

While the rest of the world is practicing cleanliness, our very own people are staining the soil of what we call ‘homeland’.

Therefore it is my humble request to the general public to at least, be discreet, have some decency in the public and practice cleanliness.

Mhayani, Dimapur

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Media bodies condemns arrest of journalists Those who fear truth, arrest honest scribes: Rahul

Mandeep Punia

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (PTI/IANS): Media bodies on Sunday condemned the police action against two journalists who were picked up during the farmers’ protests at Delhi’s Singhu border for allegedly misbehaving with police personnel.

They said such crackdowns impinge on the media’s right to report freely and interferes with its right to freedom of expression.

Freelance journalist Mandeep Punia and Dharmender Singh (with Online News India) were detained

by Delhi Police last evening for allegedly misbehaving with personnel on duty.

While Singh was later released, the police arrested Punia on Sunday.

The Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India and the Press Association demanded Punia’s

immediate release and said no journalist should be disturbed while carrying out their duties at any place.

“Such crackdowns impinge on the media’s right to report freely and interferes with our right to freedom of expression, and freedom of the press as guaranteed by the Constitution of India,” the bodies said in a joint statement.

They said Punia has been reporting on the present farmers’ agitation right from the beginning and his arrest “is part of the government crackdown on journalists to prevent them from doing their job independently and freely.”

“Punia is a young freelance journalist who contributes to The Caravan and Junputh. The Delhi Police used brutal force while picking him up (on Satur-

day) and did not share his whereabouts to other media colleague entire night,” the media bodies said.

They said the copy of the FIR against Punia was issued only this morning.

Four IPC sections -186 (voluntarily obstructing public servant in discharge of his duties), 353 (assaulting or using criminal force on a public servant in execution of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant in the discharge of his duty) and 34 (acts done in furtherance to common intention) have been pressed against him, they said.

Police had earlier said they placed barricades at the border following the violence on Friday to ensure that no one could get through. However, some people including the journalist were trying to remove the barricades, the police had alleged, adding the scribe also misbehaved with the police personnel there.

On Friday, clashes broke out at Singhu border between farmers and a large group of men claiming to be local residents who hurled stones at each other. The Singhu border is one of the main protest sites against the new farm laws.

Journalists stage protest

A group of journalists and others rallied outside the Delhi Police Headquarters on the Jai Singh Road here on Sunday to protest against the arrest of freelance journalist Mandeep Punia.

Police on Saturday arrested Punia after alleging that he had misbehaved with a station house officer (SHO) at the Singhu border.

Police said that he was moving through roadblocks and barricades when the alleged incident took place.

Calling it an ‘attack on journalism’, the protesters working for different media organsitations carried posters and placards to show support to the journalist.

Traffic movement was briefly closed on Jai Singh Marg and Bangla Sahib lane due to the demonstration.

“Punia has been booked under Sections 186 of the IPC (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty). A case has been registered at Alipur police station,” Said a senior police officer.

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (PTI): The Congress on Sunday slammed the BJPled Centre over the arrest of a freelance journalist from the Singhu border with party leader Rahul Gandhi saying those who fear truth arrest honest scribes.

Mandeep Punia was arrested from the Singhu border on Sunday for allegedly misbehaving with the police personnel on duty at the farmers’ protest site there, officials said.

A case was registered against him and he has been arrested now, a senior police officer said, a day after the scribe was detained.

Reacting to the development, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, “Those who fear truth arrest honest journalists.”

He also tagged a video purportedly showing Punia being held by police at the border protest site.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said journalists covering the farmers’ movement are being arrested, cases are being slapped against them and the internet is being shut down in many places.

“The BJP government wants to trample upon the

voice of the farmers, but they have forgotten that the more you suppress, the more voices will rise against your atrocities,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.

Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in a tweet in Hindi, addressed PM Modi and said by slapping false cases at the BJP’s behest against journalists exposing the attack on farmers and shutting down mobile internet at protest sites, “you will not be able to suppress the farmers’ movement and shut out the country’s voice”.

At a press conference, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate hit out at the government, saying it is the 70th day of the protest by farmers and they have been forced to sit at the borders by an “insensitive, obstinate and stubborn government that itself dug trenches and refused the farmers any entry in Delhi”.

“For anybody who tries to show their plight, their pain, this government will go after them -- whether it is people in social life, in political life or journalists. A very young journalist by the name Mandeep Punia was arrested and was presented before the magistrate even

Rahul Gandhi

before his Defence lawyer could reach,” she said, slamming the government over the scribe’s arrest.

“We strongly condemn the sedition cases they have filed against our own MP Shashi Tharoor or the kind of sedition cases that have been filed against Mrinal Pande, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vinod Jose, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath and Anant Nath ,” Shrinate said.

“We condemn it as these are the people who are trying to show the real face of the farmer, who are trying to bring to light the plight of the farmer and instead of standing with them and letting them do their jobs honestly, this government goes after them,” she said.

Tharoor and the six journalists have been booked by police, including

in BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, over their allegedly misleading tweets on the violence during the farmers’ tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day. Democracy is being “weakened” with every passing day and institutions are being “destroyed”, Shrinate said.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at several border points into Delhi since November-end, demanding repeal of the three agri laws and a legal guarantee to the minimum support system for their crops.

Enacted last September, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the MSP and do away with the wholesale market system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

Mamata working for welfare of nephew: Amit Shah Country sad over insult to Tricolour: Modi

D u m u r j u la ( W B ) , Jan 31 (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah Sunday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of working only for “welfare of the nephew” instead of well-being of the masses, and said she will have no one by her side by the time assembly elections are held.

He said the agenda of the TMC dispensation is to make the nephew the next chief minister of the state.

Pointing to spate of defections from the Trinamool Congress, Shah asserted that Banerjee will be left alone by the time assembly elections are held in the state.

Polls to 294-member Bengal assembly are expected to take place in AprilMay this year.

Several TMC leaders including one of the founding members of the party, Bani Singha Ray, shifted allegiance to the BJP at the rally, which was attended by newly inducted former

TMC minister Rajib Banerjee and many others.

The TMC’s slogan of “Maa, Mati, Manush” (mother, land and people) has been reduced to “dictatorship, tolabaji (extortion) and appeasement”, Shah said while addressing the rally through video-conferencing in Howrah district.

The senior BJP leader who cancelled his two-day trip to Bengal at the last minute due to ongoing farmers protest in Delhi and explosion near Israeli Embassy, however, kept his date with the rally by addressing it virtually.

Shah is making all efforts to realise BJP’s “mission Bengal” by throwing TMC out of power in the state. Lashing out at “dynastic politics” in the TMC, Shah alleged that Banerjee has been working towards the “nephew’s welfare” rather than the well-being of the masses.

“Wherever under the

Amit Shah

leadership of Prime Minister Modi Ji, NDA has formed the government in the states they are working towards ‘Jan Kalyan’ (welfare of the masses) to provide services at doorsteps, but here in Bengal the only agenda of the Mamata Banerjee dispensation is to ensure that the nephew becomes the next chief minister.

“The government of Mamata didi is busy towards ‘Bhatija Kalyan’ (welfare of the nephew) in Bengal. The welfare of the masses is not the agenda of the TMC government,” he said without

naming anyone.

While inducting the new entrants into the party, Shah said the situation in Bengal under Banerjee’s rule was worse than the erstwhile Left regime.

“TMC formed the government after fighting the Left parties, 10 years ago, with Mamata didi promising transformation in the state with the slogan ‘Maa Maati Manush’. What changed in the 10 years that so many people are leaving TMC?” “Mamata Baner jee should think over why so many TMC leaders are joining BJP. It is because she has failed the people of the state. “The way leaders are deserting party by the time elections arrive, Mamata Banerjee will be left alone,” Shah said, taking a swipe at the TMC supremo.

Slamming the chief minister for not being serious about implementing the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Shah said the state govern-

ment has not sent any details to the Centre.

“Initially Mamata didi did not allow implementation of PM Kisan scheme in Bengal. When she realised that the farmers are angry as they have been deprived of the benefits. She agreed.

“But now she is trying to fool the state’s farmers by just sending a paper that she is ready. She did not send the list of farmers, bank account numbers. You did not send anything. Whom are you trying to fool?” he quipped.

Shah, assailed the West Bengal government, for not allowing Ayushman Bharat yojna in the state, and asserted that once the saffron party forms the government, it will propose in its very first cabinet meeting that the benefit of the health scheme is provided to all the eligible poor of Bengal.

Shah also attacked Banerjee’s government over infiltration on Indo-Bangla border.

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS): In his first remarks on the violence and vandalism on Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country was sad to “see the insult to the Tricolour”.

Addressing the country through his first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ monthly radio programme this year, the Prime Minister said the incident occurred days after when the country celebrated Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Bihu festivals as well as the Indian cricket team’s victory on Australia and the celebration of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s 125th birth anniversary as ‘Parakram Divas’.

Unprecedented chaos was unleashed upon Delhi on the 72nd Republic Day as the tractor rally by the

Narendra Modi

protesting farmers went off the designated course and rolled into the iconic Mughal-era Red Fort in the Old City. A protester died on the way and over 300 security forces were injured in the incident. The farmers entered the forecourt of the Red Fort, climbed its ramparts, and hoisted a religious flag on a mast outside where the Prime Minister unfurls the Tricolour every year on Independence Day.

“...On January 26, seeing the insult of the Tricolour, the country was very sad,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi further urged each countrymen to “fill the future with new hope and newness and prove our resolve by working hard as like we showed exceptional restraint and courage last year”. The Prime Minister later wished those who were awarded Padma Awards -- one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The awards are given in three categories -- Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service).

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NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (PTI): Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday expressed dismay over NCP supremo Sharad Pawar’s tweets criticising the farm laws, saying they were a mix of “ignorance and misinformation” about the legislation, and hoped that the veteran leader will change his stand after knowing the “facts”.

In a series of tweets, Pawar had on Saturday said the new agriculture laws of the Union government will adversely impact the Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement and weaken the `Mandi’ system.

The tweets by Pawar -- who as the Agriculture Minister during the UPA period had pitched for these reforms -- came at a time when talks between the Centre and the 41 protesting farmers’ unions have reached a deadlock.

Responding to the NCP leader’s remarks, Tomar said Pawar, who is a veteran leader, is also considered well-versed with the

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Narendra Singh Tomar

issues and solutions relating to agriculture. “Pawar himself tried hard to bring the same agriculture reforms earlier.”

“Since he speaks with some experience and expertise on the issue, it was dismaying to see his tweets employ a mix of ignorance and misinformation on the agriculture reforms. Let me take this opportunity to present some facts,” Tomar said on Twitter.

The minister countered Pawar’s tweet which said that the amended Essential Commodities (EC) Act “may lead to apprehensions that corporates may purchase commodities at lower rates and stockpile and sell at higher prices to consumers.”

“The apprehension has no basis. Under the EC Act, the central government can intervene in case of extraordinary circumstances including war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamities of grave nature,” Tomar said.

He said the new laws encourage additional choice channels for farmers as they can sell their produce to anyone, anywhere with a hassle- free movement in and outside the state to realise a competitive and better net price for their produce.

“This doesn’t affect the current MSP (minimum support price) system,” he added.

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Tomar counters Pawar’s tweets on agri laws

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opportunity in disaster and under the self-sufficient India package.

Experts say that in the upcoming Budget also, other rural development schemes including MNREGA can be increased.

The budgetary allocation of MNREGA was Rs 61,500 crore in 2020-21, but under the self-sufficient package in the corona era, an additional allocation of Rs 40,000 crore was made for the scheme.

Farmers have been agitating for more than two months on the borders of Delhi to repeal the new agricultural laws and to demand a legal guarantee for the purchase of crops at the minimum support price (MSP).

Agricultural experts point out that MSP is a big issue in the farmers’ movement, so some announcement can be expected in the Budget regarding MSP as well.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the General Budget of the upcoming financial year 2021-22 in Parliament on Monday.

Bengaluru, Jan 31 (IANS): Amazon on Sunday announced that sellers will be able to register on the Amazon.in marketplace and manage their online business in Kannada.

This includes everything from registering as an Amazon seller for the first time, to managing orders, inventory management and accessing performance metrics -- all in the language of their preference.

“This experience has been made available on the Amazon seller website as well as on the mobile app.

Amazon also provides Seller Support Services and Seller University videos and tutorials in Kannada,” a company statement said. It added that the launch of seller registrations and account management services in Kannada will benefit over 35,000 existing Amazon sellers and lakhs of new sellers from tier-1 and other markets like Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Kalaburgi and Mysuru among many cities in Karnataka. The launch in Kannada is followed by the recently launched seller reg-

Assam Assembly elections: Cong’s IIT-Kanpur, IIM-Lucknow sign internal report paints bleak picture MoU for startup ecosystem

3rd-4th say prices have gone up after Modi became PM

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and empower future innovators of the country, he added.

The two teams met over a zoom call for signing the MoU. Speaking about the MoU, Karandikar said, “IIM Lucknow Incubator and Technopark are a part of academic powerhouses and bring unique values to the innovation ecosystem.

We are delighted to partner with the IIM Lucknow Incubator to blend these strengths and leverage synergies.”

“We believe that this partnership has the real potential to make a deep and tangible impact on not only Uttar Pradesh but also the country at large,” he added.

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New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS): Almost three fourths feel that after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, inflation has been unchecked and prices have gone up, as per the IANSCVoter Budget Tracker.

At 72.1, this is the highest percentage in PM Modi’s tenure who feel this way compared to a low of 17.1 per cent in 2015. In 2020, only 10.8 per cent of the respondents said that prices have gone down while 12.8 per cent said nothing has changed. The sample size of the poll is 4,000 plus and the fieldwork for the survey was done in third-fourth week of January 2021. The theme of the survey is “Expectations from the Union Budget”.

To a question in the survey, 72.1 per cent respondents said after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, inflation has been unchecked and prices have gone up. This is the worst score for the Modi government on the inflation front since 2015. In 2015, the comparative figure was only 17.1 per cent, in 2016 it was 27.3 per cent, 36.8 per cent in 2017, 56.4 per cent in 2018 and 48.8 per cent in 2019.

The survey reflects the growing worries on the economic front in a Covid hit year, on the eve of the Union Budget on Monday.

Coal India output likely to slip 4 percent in January

Kolkata, Jan 31 (PTI): Coal India’s dry fuel production is likely to snap a five-month growth streak to register a decline in January, owing to high pithead stock, sources said on Sunday.

Coal production for the month is likely to be around 60.2 million tonnes compared with the corresponding period a year ago, when the output was at 63.11 million tonnes, they said.

Till January 29, the output was 56.24 million tonnes, and aggregate production for the 11-month period of the current fiscal (April-January) will be about 454 million tonnes, the sources said.

Coal India is targeting an output of 630-640 million tonnes till March.

The world’s largest miner has been registering robust growth since August 2020, as the nationwide lockdown began to ease, when it recorded a 7.1 per

cent on-year rise, followed

by September (31 per cent rise), October (18 per cent) and November (3.4 per cent).

Total coal offtake for the Kolkata-headquartered company in the first month of 2021 is expected to be 53.3 million tonnes, resulting in a decline of about 5.5 per cent as against the figure during the same period in 2020.

Coal demand from the power sector is on the rise, but with 63 million-tonne of pithead stock, non-power sector requirement will also be crucial for the mining behemoth.

Demand for the dry fuel is set to revive in 2021 with a 3.8-per cent increase, according to a Moody’s Investors Service report.

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Subsequently, party’s Jania legislator Abdul Khaleque won from Barpeta Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and in the byelection, All India United Democratic Front bagged the seat.

The Congress’ strength came down further in 2020 when its Sivasagar MLA Pranab Gogoi and former chief minister Tarun Gogoi representing Titabar seat died. And in December last year, Ajanta Neog and Rajdeep Goala representing Golaghat and Lakhipur seats respectively quit the party and joined BJP, bringing its strength down to 20 members in the 126-seat House.

Kanpur (Uttar P rade s h) , Jan 31 (IANS): The IIT Kanpur Research and Technology Park and IIM LucknowEnterprise Incubation Centre (IIML-EIC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to give an impetus to innovation in the startup ecosystem in the country.

Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur and Chairman Board of Technopark, said,”This association between the two world-class premier institutes will not only foster close linkages between academia and industry but will also open new avenues for resource sharing.”

It would boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Kannada will greatly benefit the SMBs and MSMEs in Karnataka, eliminate language barriers, and help them succeed,” he said.

Pranav Bhasin, Director of MSME and Seller Experience, Amazon India said: “As we move to enable more micro, small and medium enterprises to embrace ecommerce, we remain committed to strengthening our vernacular, voice and video powered initiatives.” “We, at Amazon India shall continue to eliminate barriers faced by these businesses and facilitate ease of business. The launch of the vernacular registration and account management experience for sellers in Kannada is a major step in that direction,” Bhasin said.

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ever optimistic that the party would fare better in central Assam and comfortably win Nagaon, Hojai, Lumding and Jagiroad constituencies. It was also optimistic about Samaguri, Jamunamukh, Dhing and Lahorighat seats going in favour of Congress, besides Batadraba, Morigaon, Kaliabor and Khumtai seats.

In the outgoing Assam Legislative Assembly, the current strength of Congress is 20. Though the party had won 26 seats in 2016 Assembly polls, its strength started to dwindle gradually. At first, its MLA from Baithalangso Mansing Rongpi resigned and later won as a BJP candidate from the same

ary allocation of major schemes of agriculture and rural development sector can be expected to increase in the upcoming Budget.

A senior official of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said that farmers’ awareness about all the schemes of agriculture sector including Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is continuously increasing and the benefits of these schemes are beginning to be seen at the ground level.

The government will also focus on the scheme

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(From p-1) Under the circumstances, the report strongly advocated that Congress forged strategic understanding with the regional parties in few seats to keep the non-BJP seats intact, while predicting that BJP would sweep the entire tea belt and Assam.

The report acknowledged that Congress currently has no leader of standing in upper Assam, and demise of former chief minister and party veteran Tarun Gogoi has led to vacuum. To overcome the situation, it suggested that leaders from Upper Assam should be given responsibilities.

The survey was how-

year, the growth rate of agriculture and allied sectors can remain at 3.4 per cent.

The agriculture and allied sectors recorded a growth rate of 3.4 per cent at constant prices during FY 2020-21 (first advance estimate).

The Modi government’s priority has been to double the income of farmers by 2022 and to develop basic facilities in villages including ‘pucca’ houses for all the poor in the country. Therefore, with a view to achieving these goals, the budget-

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NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (IANS): Amid the coronavirus pandemic when the pace of manufacturing and services sector came to a grinding halt, agriculture and allied sectors in India have picked up pace as the country saw the strength of the farm sector.

The government also took care of a large population of the country related to agriculture and farming and enacted new laws to intensify the winds of improvement in the agricultural sector. The Budget 2021-22 is going to be presented in Parliament on Monday, amid wrangling over agricultural reform.

In such a situation, it is expected that the Modi government, which claims to give priority to the progress of villages, the poor and farmers, will also give priority to agriculture and rural development in the upcoming Budget.

According to the Economic Review 2020-21, while the industry and services sectors are projected to fall by 9.6 per cent and 8.8 per cent, respectively, in the current financial

to provide short-term agricultural loans to farmers at affordable interest rates.

Other schemes of the agriculture sector, including the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme, the Prime Minister Agricultural Irrigation Scheme, can also be given importance in this budget. Agricultural economists point out that along with agriculture, the government will give prominence to the plans of the food processing industry, which will help in achieving the goal of doubling the income of farmers.

Major schemes for the development of villages proved to be very helpful in providing employment opportunities to the workers migrating from the cities during the corona period.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), in addition to providing employment to the daily wage labourers in the villages, proved to be crucial in the development of basic infrastructure in the villages, which was called an

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UK to join Asia-Pacific free trade pact CPTPP EU in Afghanistan calls for ‘end to violence’

LONDON, JAN 31 (PTI): The UK government has announced that it is applying to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the world’s largest free-trade areas made up of 11 developed and emerging economies in the Pacific, under its post-Brexit plans.

Joining the CPTPP reflects the UK’s post-Brexit Pacific tilt and is dubbed as a critical part of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson led government’s wider trade strategy, which aims to deepen links with faster-growing parts of the world and partnering with countries who believe in free and fair trade, including India.

The decision to join the CPTPP, comprising Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, marks one year since the UK left the European Union (EU) on January 31 last year and entered a Brexit transition period which concluded at the start of this year.

“One year after our departure for the EU we are forging new partnerships that will bring enormous economic benefits for the people of Britain,” said UK Prime Minister Johnson.

“Applying to be the

Boris Johnson

first new country to join the CPTPP demonstrates our ambition to do business on the best terms with our friends and partners all over the world and be an enthusiastic champion of global free trade,” he said.

UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will speak to Japanese Minister for CPTPP Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is the Chair of the 2021 CPTPP commission, and Damien O’Connor, Minister for Trade and Economic Growth in New Zealand, which stores official documentation for all CPTPP members, on Monday morning to make the official request to join, with formal negotiations for its first major post-Brexit multilateral trading move set to start this year.

“Joining CPTPP will create enormous opportunities for UK businesses that simply weren’t there as

part of the EU and deepen our ties with some of the fastest-growing markets in the world,” said Truss.

“It will mean lower tariffs for car manufacturers and whisky producers, and better access for our brilliant services providers, delivering quality jobs and greater prosperity for people here at home. We’re at the front of the queue and look forward to starting formal negotiations in the coming months,” she said.

The government says the CPTPP would deepen the UK’s access to fastgrowing markets and major economies, including Mexico, Malaysia and Vietnam, for the benefit of British business.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) hopes joining the 9 trillionpound partnership will cut tariffs for UK industries, including food and drink and

Pak govt to join review proceedings of SC’s acquittals in Pearl murder case ISLAMABAD, JAN 31 (PTI): Amid mounting pressure from the US and the UN, the Pakistan government has said it would formally join the review proceedings initiated by the Sindh administration against the Supreme Court’s acquittal of British-born al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and his three aides in the brutal murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the links between the country’s powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of main accused Sheikh and his aides - Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib - by dismissing appeals against their acquittal by the Sindh High Court. The judgement was denounced by Pearl’s family as “a complete travesty of

Daniel Pearl

justice”.

The Sindh government on Friday filed a review petition in the apex court against the acquittal of Sheikh and his three accomplices.

A spokesman of the Attorney General of Pakistan on Saturday announced that the federal government will file an appropriate application before the apex court to be allowed to join as a party in the proceedings and further seek review and recall of the court’s January 28 judgement.

The federal government will file an application for the constitution of a larger bench to hear the

review petitions. In cooperation with the provincial government, the federal government will continue to take all legal steps to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice in accordance with the law, the spokesman said.

The announcement came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi over phone and discussed the accountability of convicted terrorists responsible for the brutal murder of Pearl.

Blinken also expressed “deep concern” over the apex court’s judgement.

The Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said Qureshi “underscored that it was important and in the mutual interest that justice is served through legal means”.

According to some media reports, the Supreme Court would hear the review petition on February 1. However, no formal announcement has been made as yet.

cars, while also creating new opportunities for modern industries like tech and services, ultimately supporting and creating high-value jobs across the UK. Unlike EU membership, joining does not require the UK to cede control over our laws, borders, or money, it highlights.

“This ambition marks a new chapter for our independent trade policy. As one of the largest free trade agreements in the world, these 11 countries contribute over 100 billion pounds to our economy,” said Lord Karan Bilimoria, the President of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

“Membership of the bloc has the potential to deliver new opportunities for UK business across different sectors. The CBI will continue to work with the government to ensure that firms get the most out of an agreement that will create jobs and deliver wideranging benefits to communities across the country,” he said.

According to official statistics, UK trade with the group was worth 111 billion pounds last year, growing by 8 per cent a year since 2016.

The benefits of CPTPP membership highlighted by

the DIT include: modern digital trade rules that allow data to flow freely between members, remove unnecessary barriers for businesses, and protect commercial source code and encryption.

Also, eliminating tariffs quicker on UK exports including whisky (down from 165 per cent to 0 per cent in Malaysia) and cars (reducing to 0 per cent in Canada by 2022, two years earlier than through the UK-Canada trade deal);“Rules of Origin” that allow content from any country within CPTPP to count as “originating”, for example which would mean that cars made in the UK could use more Japanese-originating car parts, such as batteries; and also easier travel for businesspeople between CPTPP countries, such as the potential for faster and cheaper visas.

“The UK has been a major beneficiary of the rise of digital trade with over 67 per cent of service exports worth 190.3 billion pounds being digitally delivered.

CPTPP will open up new markets for innovative tech SMEs [small and medium enterprises] looking to grow and expand beyond our borders,” said Julian David, CEO of techUK.

Japan set to extend state of emergency Tokyo, Jan 31 (IANS): Japan is set to extend the state of emergency over the raging Covid-19 pandemic, as Tokyo and other surrounding areas continue to register a high number of confirmed cases, according to authorities.

The final decision on whether to extend the current state of emergency in 11 of the country’s 47 prefectures beyond February 7 will be made next week, reports Xinhua new agency.

However, a local media report on Saturday quoted a source close to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as saying that eight of the 11 prefectures are subject to an extension, covering Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka.

Suga said on Saturday that he needs to “observe the situation a little more” before making a decision.

The extension may range from another three weeks to one month, according to the local media

report.

The country’s second state of emergency, first declared for Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures on January 7, was expanded to seven other prefectures six days later.

The emergency state included measures such as calling on the public to avoid unnecessary outings and urging food and drink service facilities to shorten their operation hours.

The Japanese government is considering adding Okinawa prefecture where the coronavirus has continued to spread on remote islands to areas subject to the state of emergency.

Meanwhile, the gover nment will consider lifting the emergency in Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo, as new confirmed cases have dropped significantly.

For a prefecture to lift the state of emergency, its Covid-19 situation must improve from Stage 4 which indicates the worst level on the government’s four-point scale.

Taliban fighters attend a gathering to celebrate the U.S.-Taliban deal in March 2020. (File)

KABUL, JAN 31 (IANS): The European Unions (EU) special envoy to Afghanistan, Ronald Kobia, has called for an immediate end to violence in the wartorn country, followed by a ceasefire.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Kobia said: “If some parties don’t like the term «ceasefire», call it truce, cessation of hostilities, moratorium, silent period.

Whatever the semantics until it stops rivers of Afghan blood. You have an opportunity with new US administration to show you -really- want peace. Now”.

Without naming anyone or party, he stated there

is a good opportunity with the new US administration of President Joe Biden, but political parties in Afghanistan have to demonstrate how much they are intended to have a prolonged peace, Khaama Press reported.

Violent incidents mostly in the shape of target killing has been on rise over the past couple of months amid the tough and slow peace dialogue between negotiating teams of the Afghan government and Taliban group in Doha.

The second round of intra-Afghan talks after more than three weeks of break resumed on January 6 without significant prog-

ress, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to local media reports, no official dialogue has been held between the two sides over the past 10 days.

Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, said last week that he had instructed the government negotiating team to focus on ceasefire and violence reduction to make the talks succeed.

However, the Taliban has demanded the resignation of the Afghan president from power as precondition for ceasefire and making peace.

China has deployed me to crush Baloch movement: Pak general NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (IANS): Major General Ayman Bilal of the Pakistan Army has confessed to China’s role and support in his deployment in Balochistan, Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Sun has reported.

“China has deployed me here to crush the Baloch movement and has given me a six-month task,” Maj Gen Bilal said.

“If the threat of FATF is averted, we will go inside Iran and take action. Iran is the biggest enemy of Pakistan which has a direct hand in the instability of Balochistan,” said new IG FC South Balochistan, Major General Bilal at a special ‘jirga’ (meeting) at FC headquarters in Turbat with few notables including local agents of FC and intelligence agencies.

As per the report, Major General Bilal stationed in Ketch District has openly admitted to China’s role in his deployment and assistance and other important matters. In this special

Ayman Bilal

‘jirga’ session of FC, Raheema Jalal, sister of Federal Minister for Defence Production Zubeida Jalal, Sardar Aziz, head of state formed death squad from Pedarak, Yasir Bahram, head of state death squad Nagor Dasht, Hasil Kolwahi and heads of armed groups who are working on state parole from Tump, Mand, Buleda, Zamuran, Dasht and Hoshap were also present.

Maj Gen Bilal, while admitting in the ‘jirga’, said with concern that he had been posted by China in Balochistan based on his 30 years of service experience at a hefty salary and

had only six months on the task to “crush” the Baloch national struggle.

He said that he has extensive experience of working in Balochistan for the last 30 years and has worked in Quetta, Sibi, Kolwah, Dera Bugti and Awaran.

“China has paid me a salary and a large sum of money and officially posted me here for their regional interests and to thwart Iran’s conspiracies against CPEC, as it is a kind of investment in regional interests,” he said, as per the report.

Bilal said that the end of the Baloch movement and the success of CPEC is very important for Pakistan and China. “We have a good amount of money for this task, so let us know how much you need because we can’t wait any longer for Iran to create unrest in Balochistan, conspire against CPEC and stab us in the stomach in the name of friendship,” he is reported to have said.

World Health Organisation experts visit Wuhan wet market Vietnam President re-elected as communist party chief

WHO team is briefed outside of the Huanan Seafood Market on the third day of their field visit in Wuhan, China, Sunday. (AP/PTI)

CBS news network.

The visit which took place amid tight security assumed significance as the market was widely presumed to be the source of the virus though Chinese official media in recent months questioned the premise.

While permitting the 14-member WHO team of international scientists to study the origin in Wuhan after considerable delay and controversy, China claims that the virus has emerged

from various places in the world while it was the first to report it.

Although the Huanan seafood market has been sealed off, experts believe that there is still plenty to see and experience there. “(We hope to) understand the setting, see the places where cases were linked, reconstruct the initial event there, search for records of animals, products traded there. And possibly talk to some of the merchants who were there

at that time,” Peter Ben Embarek, who leads the WHO team, told the staterun Global Times.

After the visit to Huanan Seafood Market, it is to be seen whether the international team would be permitted to visit the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), where former US President Donald Trump alleged that the virus might have escaped into the open.

Trump had asked China to permit an inquiry

amid emphatic denials from Beijing.

The itinerary of the WHO team has not yet been announced. They were expected to be in Wuhan for about a month.

Earlier the team of international experts, which was constituted by the World Health Assembly (WHA), the governing body of the WHO to probe the origins of the virus, had exchanges with medical workers and early COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China’s National Health Commission said on Sunday.

The team, on a visit to Wuhan for scientific cooperation with its Chinese counterparts on tracing the origins of the novel coronavirus, visited several places, including Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine and Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, where some of the earliest COVID-19 patients in Wuhan were treated, said Mi Feng, commission spokesman, was quoted as saying by the official China Daily. They also visited a food distribution centre for the Chinese city of Wuhan during the 76-day lockdown last year.

HANOI, JAN 31 (IANS): The 13th Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) on Sunday re-elected incumbent President Nguyen Phu Trong as the its general secretary for a third term. The election took place at the first meeting of the newly-elected 13th CPVCC on Sunday mornNguyen Phu Trong ing during the ongoing 13th CPV National Congress agency. The CPVCC’s politscheduled to run through buro, secretariat, inspection February 1, Xinhua news commission and head of the

inspection commission were also elected at the meeting.A total of 1,587 delegates representing over 5.1 million CPV members are attending the congress which kicked off on January 25. A press release made public earlier on Saturday read that the congress had agreed on adjusting the agenda of the political event, which will now conclude on February 1, one day earlier than in the original program.

FELICITATION

With immense joy and pride the Yinga Okho would like to express hearty congratulations to : 1. Shri Chumlamo Humtsoe NCS on his promotion to ADC. 2. Shri Renbomo Ezung NCS on his promotion to ADC 3. Dr. Nzanthung Ngullie on being conferred Doctorate in Civil Engineering from IIT Guwahati.

4. Shri Thungbemo Patton SDO (C) on receiving Governor's Gold Medal The Yinga Okho wishes them the best in all their future endeavour. May happiness, prosperity and God's blessings always be with them.

Renbomo Ezung Phanrumshan (Shan) Khuvung General Secretary Chairman Yinga Foundation Okho Yinga Foundation Okho

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BEIJING/WUHAN, JAN 31 (PTI): The WHO experts, probing the origins of the COVID-19, on Sunday visited the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, where the deadly coronavirus was presumably transmitted from animals to humans in the late 2019 and spiralled into a pandemic.

The wet market was where a variety of live animals were traded until it was shut down following fears that the coronavirus had jumped to humans either from bats or pangolins.

“Very important site visits today - a wholesale market first & Huanan Seafood Market just now.

Very informative & critical for our joint teams to understand the epidemiology of COVID as it started to spread at the end of 2019,” Peter Daszak, a zoologist with the US group EcoHealth Alliance and a member of the WHO team, tweeted on Sunday.

Though the market remained shut and cleaned up after the coronavirus cases surfaced in Wuhan in December 2019, the visit is still important to get a feel of what flow of goods, people were, Daszak was quoted by

Infotainment

10

Cinema halls to operate at full occupancy from Feb 1: Javadekar

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he movie theatre business which was severely hit due to the coronavirus pandemic is expected to be back on track now as theatres have been approved to operate at full capacity across the country.

Cinema halls would operate as usual on 100 per cent seats from February 1. Following the approval from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Union Information

and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has also released guidelines regarding operating of cinema halls on Sunday. Theatres, however, must strictly follow the Covid-19 protocols during this time.

Thermal scanning is mandatory at the entry point of the theatres. There will be some time gap between the two movie shows so that social distancing could be followed between the people entering and

moving out of cinema halls.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday gave information about the new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to film screening. He said, “from February 1, all seats in theatres can be occupied. We are encouraging more and more online movie show bookings.”

Sanitisation facility as well as Covid protocols would need to be followed.

Cinema goers can buy food items from the stalls at the theatres and take them inside the movie halls.

Javadekar said although these things are normal, but the situation became abnormal so all necessary restrictions had been imposed and now these restrictions are on the verge of ending. Therefore, cinema halls would run at 100 per cent capacity.

On January 27, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had approved the opening of theatres with 100 per cent capacity. After which the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued new SOPs and made the information public on Sunday.

(IANS)

NASA’s Perseverance rover to land on Mars next month

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ASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission is set to complete a 470.8-millionkilometre next month as it is scheduled to land on Mars on February 18.

Launched on July 30 last year, the rover is currently closing that distance at 2.5 kilometres per second, NASA said.

Once at the top of the Red Planet’s atmosphere, an action-packed seven minutes of descent awaits -- complete with temperatures equivalent to the surface of the Sun, a supersonic parachute inflation, and the first ever autonomous guided landing on Mars. Only then can the rover search Jezero Crater for signs of ancient life and collect samples that will eventually be returned

to Earth.

“NASA has been exploring Mars since Mariner 4 performed a flyby in July of 1965, with two more flybys, seven successful orbiters, and eight landers since then,” Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington,” said in a statement.

“Perseverance, which was built from the collective knowledge gleaned from such trailblazers, has the opportunity to not only expand our knowledge of the Red Planet, but to investigate one of the most important and exciting questions of humanity about the origin of life both on Earth and also on other planets.”

Jezero Crater is be-

lieved to be the perfect place to search for signs of ancient microbial life.

Billions of years ago, the now-bone-dry 45-kilometre-wide basin was home to an actively-forming river delta and lake filled with water. The rock and regolith (broken rock and dust) that Perseverance’s Sample Caching System collects from Jezero could help answer fundamental questions about the existence of life beyond Earth.

Two future missions currently in the planning stages by NASA, in collaboration with ESA (European Space Agency), will work together to bring the samples back to Earth, where they will undergo in-depth analysis by scientists around the world using equipment far too large and complex to send to the Red Planet.

The Mars 2020 mission is part of a larger programme that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.

(IANS)

Shaan to unveil his Punjabi track soon

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Sonu Sood moves SC against HC order on illegal construction notice

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ctor Sonu Sood has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court order which dismissed his appeal against a BMC notice over alleged illegal construction at his residential building in Mumbai’s Juhu area.

Sood’s petition stated that his application for conversion has been approved by the Municipal Commissioner subject to Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) permission.

It said the high court order dated January 13, 2021 has been passed without considering the provisions of Section 43 (1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 and his application for conversion of residential premises into a residential hotel was submitted in 2018 before the department concerned.

The plea contended that their application for conversion, which has been approved by the Municipal Commissioner subject to MCZMA, be directed to be decided by authorities concerned. “ The petitioners have already stopped the work of internal renovation which require no permission as per the provisions of Section 43 of Maharashtra

Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, therefore, the respondents may kindly be restrained from demolition of the renovation work already done in the building,” the plea filed by Sood and his wife said.

Sood further stated that if the application of the petitioners for conversion is approved, the financial loss due to demolition will not be recovered in any manner and would cause miscarriage of justice to the petitioners. The HC, while dismissing the actor’s appeal and application, said, “Law helps only those who are diligent.”

Sood’s lawyer had sought a time of 10 weeks to comply with the notice issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in October last year, and requested the HC to direct the civic body to not initiate demolition action.

The high court, however, refused and said the actor had ample opportunity in the past and if required,

he could approach the civic body.

Sood had approached the high court earlier this month challenging an order of a city civil court at Dindoshi that had dismissed his suit against the BMC’s notice issued over the alleged illegal construction carried out by him.

The actor, in the interim application in HC, had sought an order from the high court restraining the BMC from taking any coercive action against his residential property in Juhu area. “The petitioner (Sood) has not made any changes in the building that warrants permission from the BMC. Only those changes that are allowed under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act have been done,” Sood’s advocate had argued in HC. As per the BMC, the Bollywood actor had carried out structural changes in the six-storey residential building ‘’Shakti Sagar’’, and allegedly converted it into a hotel without taking requisite permissions.

The BMC earlier this month also filed a complaint at the Juhu police station, seeking an FIR to be lodged against Sood for allegedly converting the residential building into a hotel without permission.

(PTI)

inger Shaan on Sunday shared a glimpse of his upcoming Punjabi track, Yakeen, which he says is close to his heart.

The singer, who has given many hit Bollywood songs like “Chand sifarish”, “Bum bum bole” and “Main aisa kyon hoon”, has been focusing on his independent music lately.

Now, he is looking forward to the release of “Yakeen”, which is slated to drop on February 5.

Apart from singing, Shaan has also composed the Punjabi track, and believes that it carries an important message of belief in oneself and belief in the good. “’Yakeen’ is a track that is close to my heart.

Songs that carry a message along with them are always special and we have tried to do just that with this one. Belief in love, belief in oneself, and the belief that things will get better, are things that form the crux of ‘Yakeen’,” said the singer.

“Yakeen” music video features Punjabi actors Pihu Sharma and Jimmy Sharma.

The “Tanha dil” hitmaker took to Instagram to share the motion poster of the song.

“Holding on with faith that some day everything will be alright #Yakeen releasing on 5th February exclusively on my YouTube channel!,” Shaan captioned it.

(IANS)

Kriti Kharbanda hopes for a ‘time machine’

Men of honour: Reel heroes bring alive real heroes

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ollywood actress Kriti Kharbanda is soaking in the sun and is hoping for a miracle.

Kriti posted a picture on Instagram, where she is seen dressed in a white tank top. She completed her look with minimum make-up and hoop earrings.

“Soaking in the sun, hoping for a miracle, a time machine maybe?! #sundayfunday #takemeback,” she wrote as the caption.

Talking about her work, Kriti was last seen in the thriller drama “Taish” directed by Bejoy Nambiar. She is currently busy shooting for her next film titled “14 Phere”. Directed

by Devanshu Singh, “14 Phere” is a contemporary social comedy film that will see Kriti romancing Vikrant Massey.

(IANS)

B

iopics have traditionally been an easy way to stack up the box office numbers, more so if the subject has a patriotic edge. Men of honour fighting for the nation always make for engaging and inspiring stories.

Over the next months, Bollywood has several stories lined up that focus on valour in uniform. While the Indian soldier as a fictional entity has been around for a while, these films draw from true accounts of uniformed personnel who fought to protect the nation.

While some of these films have announced the cast, others are still in preproduction stage. IANS takes a look at the ones that should make waves upon release: SAM MANEKSHAW Actor Vicky Kaushal will essay the role of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in the biopic directed by Meghna Gulzar. He is was Chief of Army Staff in the 1971 India -- Pakistan war.

The film is being directed

by Meghna Gulzar.

MAJOR Actor Adivi Sesh will portray the role of 26/11 martyr and Ashok Chakra recipient, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who served in the Special Action Group of National Security Guards. Produced by Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu, the film is being shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi.

SHERSHAAH A biopic of Param Vir Chakra recipient Captain Vikram Batra, the Vishnuvardhan directorial will see actor Sidharth Malhotra

play the lead role. During Kargil War, Captain Batra was instrumental in capturing the crucial peak Point 4875, sacrificing his life. He was called Sher Shah among his unit members for his bravery.

The film is produced by Karan Johar.

BULL The film accounts the story of armyman-mountaineer Colonel Narendra Kumar, who was pivotal in Indian Army claiming the Siachen Glacier in 1984.

The film is being produced

by Ramom Chibb and

Anku Pandey.

IFTIKHAR The film tells the story of Major Mohit Sharma, who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra.

The Para Special Forces Officer infiltrated Hizbul Mujahideen under the alias of Iftikhar Bhatt.

While the cast has not yet been revealed, the film is based on Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh’s book “India’s Most Fearless 2: More Military Stories Of Unimaginable Courage And Sacrifice”.

(IANS)

George Clooney wants WhatsApp expands Status messaging to ‘steer clear of’ politics to reassure users about privacy

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acklash over its upcoming privacy policy, WhatsApp that has been using its Status feature to allay fears in India for some time now, has now expanded its “commitment to your privacy” message to the users in the US and UK as well.

The in-app messages started appearing for users in the US and UK on Saturday in Status which is WhatsApp’s version of Snapchat Stories or Twitter Fleets.

The messages read “One thing that isn’t new is our commitment to your privacy,” along with a reminder that “WhatsApp can’t read or listen to your personal conversations as they’re endto-end encrypted,” reports The Verge.

A WhatsApp spokesperson said: “Going forward, we’re going to provide updates to people in the Status tab so people hear from WhatsApp directly”.

“Our first update reaffirms that WhatsApp cannot see your personal messages,

and neither can Facebook, because they are protected by end-to-end encryption”.

Earlier this month, the Facebook-owned app moved back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms, from February 8 to May 15. “We’ll then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15,” it said.

Meanwhile, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an interim stay on the operation of the new privacy policy of WhatsApp, the application with more than 400 million

users in the country.

The Internet Freedom Foundation has argued that application has been necessitated by the imminent harm which is likely to result from the implementation of WhatsApp’s new Privacy Policy scheduled to go into effect on February 8, but reportedly deferred till May 15. As the Indian government asks WhatsApp to withdraw, not defer, the new user data privacy policy, a new nationwide study revealed last week that 79 per cent of consumers among those surveyed are re-considering their WhatsApp usage.

(IANS)

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ollywood icon George Clooney says he is not planning a career in politics, adding that he just wants to use his fame in contributing to social causes close to his heart.

“I’m friends with a lot of politicians who I like and respect and think the world of. Their life is very difficult and I don’t envy a moment of it. I truly feel as if I don’t have to make compromises in the world I work in and if I want to take up a cause and fight for it, I can do that without having to say, ‘Well I can’t tick off this guy because he’s raised half a million dollars for my political campaign’,” Clooney said in an interview with

OK! Magazine, femalefirst. co.uk reported.

“I can be much more effective in the things I want to work on without being tied to politics at all. I’ll steer clear of that one,” he added.

The 59-year-old star admitted he feels a “great sense of responsibility” to ensure his three-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, who he shares with his wife Amal, grow up aware of their privilege.

“I have a great sense of responsibility to the twins because life with them is going to be much easier in some ways, but more difficult in other ways. It’s going to be challenging to remind children who have been born under the magnifying glass of celebrity -- but also with money and all of those privileges,” he said.

“It’s important to get them to understand empathy and to understand about other people who aren’t as fortunate as they are. I feel a great responsibility for that,” he added.

(IANS)

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11

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

circumstances, but Chelsea secures first win under Tuchel Unusual time to talk tennis for Nadal predecessor Frank Lampard as well as under him.

Azpilicueta’s goal was reminiscent of Lampard’s habit of appearing in the penalty area at the right time, crowning a flowing break by overlapping Hudson-Odoi and firing into the roof of the net.

It was Azpilicueta’s first goal in more than a year and, while Alonso’s effort was not quite as surprising given his propensity to find the net, his mere inclusion in Tuchel’s side was an eye-opener given he had not played for more than four months.

Patrick Bamford had a role in all three goals as Leeds United fought back to end Leicester City’s seven-game unbeaten run with 3-1 in the Premier League with a deserved victory at King Power Stadium.

Harvey Barnes had opened the scoring for Leicester after a wonderful run and quick exchange with James Maddison, but the Foxes’ lead lasted just 127 seconds.

Bamford found Stuart Dallas with a well-timed pass and the midfielder picked out the far corner with a low, right-footed strike.

The forward then fired into the top corner to put Leeds in front with his first goal in five league games, before unselfishly setting up Jack Harrison.

Ayoze Perez thought he had restored the Foxes’ lead in a frantic opening 20 minutes but was flagged offside, while Leeds substitute Mateusz Klich also had a goal ruled 10 minutes later. Kasper Schmeichel made a smart save to tip Bamford’s header on to the crossbar and Klich was in an offside position when he hacked in the rebound from close range.

Bamford had to wait until the 70th minute for his goal and then had the awareness to tee up Harrison for a tap-in as Leeds broke for a third late on.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side remain 12th after their victory, while third-placed Leicester missed the chance to go second and could be overtaken by Liverpool later.

Leeds fight back to end Leicester unbeaten run

Chelsea players celebrate after scoring against Burnley during premier League match.

Rafael Nadal

LO N D O N, JA N 3 1 (AGENCIES): Emphatic finishes from Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso gave Thomas Tuchel his first 2-0 victory as Chelsea head coach against a below-par Burnley.

Captain Azpilicueta the longest-serving player in the team - drilled Callum Hudson-Odoi’s lay-off high past Nick Pope just before half-time in the Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Azpilicueta’s fellow Spanish defender Alonso added a classy second late

on, skilfully controlling a Christian Pulisic cross before lashing a volley over Pope at his near post.

The impressive Hudson-Odoi was unlucky not to score in between with a shot that was deflected on to a post by Burnley defender Erik Pieters.

Chelsea comfortably registered a second successive clean sheet under Tuchel, whose first game was the midweek goalless draw with Wolves, as Burnley did not manage a shot on target.

The only downside for

Alubond secures title sponsorship of Abu Dhabi T10

I would quarantine again for Team India’s hard work inspiring: Modi the Olympics, says Naomi Osaka

ABU DHABI, JAN 31 (IANS): Abu Dhabi T10 has announced Alubond, a leading metal composite panel brand, as the title sponsor of the tournament.

Alubond has signed a deal with Abu Dhabi T10 worth $1 million to bagthe title rights.

The fourth edition of the tournament started on January 28 and is slated to run till February 6 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

“We are delighted to have a world-renowned brand as the title sponsor of Abu Dhabi T10 which reflects the growing popularity of the tournament worldwide,” said Shaji Ul Mulk, founder and chairman of Abu Dhabi T10.

“Abu Dhabi T10 will be a perfect platform with broadcast in five continents for Alubond to reach out extensively as Alubond has an equally spread network in more than 100 countries around the world,” he added.

This year’s Abu Dhabi T10 is being covered extensively across 100 countries in five continents.

MELBOURNE, JAN 31 (AGENCIES): Naomi Osaka said she would be willing to undergo two more weeks of quarantine to play at the Tokyo Olympics later this year, if it helped ensure the safety of the people of her home country.

Two days after completing 14 days of isolation in Adelaide ahead of the Australian Open, the U.S. Open champion said she would be prepared to do it all again to play in the Olympics on home soil.

“The way that I feel is I will stay in my room for two weeks to play the Olympics,” the 23-year-old told reporters on Sunday.

“I missed out on the last one. Playing in Tokyo would be very special to me. My concern would be the general safety of everyone else because you’re opening the country.

“Everyone is flying in from different places. I would just want the public to feel safe. I feel like the athletes definitely would want to play, but I would want the public to feel

Tuchel was Timo Werner’s failure to score for a 12th league game as Chelsea climbed three places to seventh in the table, while Burnley remain 15th.

No players in Tuchel’s starting line-up have been at Chelsea longer than Azpilicueta, a 2012 signing from Marseille, and Alonso, who arrived four years later from Fiorentina.

It was strangely fitting that an Azpilicueta goal should christen the Tuchel era given he was the only member of Chelsea’s current crop to play alongside

MELBOURNE, JAN 31 (AGENCIES): Rafael Nadal brushed aside questions about the Australian Open quarantine on Sunday and said it was time to get down to the business of playing tennis and entertaining fans around the world.

The 34-year-old, who secured his 20th Grand Slam title at last year’s delayed French Open, completed his two weeks of isolation in Adelaide on Friday before playing an exhibition match and then heading to Melbourne.

“When we arrived here, we have this quarantine. But I think that’s over. It’s the moment to start talking about tennis,” the world number two told reporters on Sunday.

“That’s why we came here. To play tennis, to try to give to the fans around the world and to the fans here in Australia a good show. For some of the people who are suffering a lot at home, we try to have a good entertainment for them.”

Nadal will get his first taste of competitive action for the season when he spearheads Spain’s challenge for the ATP Cup,

Naomi Osaka

safe.”

Although plans are changing daily, Tokyo organisers are not currently considering wholesale quarantine for the 11,000 athletes taking part in the Games.

Osaka’s most recent competitive match was the U.S. Open final last September so she said she was looking forward to getting a decent amount of match practice this week in the Gippsland Trophy warm-up tournament at Melbourne Park.

“I’m actually really happy,” she said. “For me, I like it’s being held at the same spot. I know nor-

mally we don’t get that sort of luxury.”

The U.S. Open was played without fans and Osaka said while she was delighted that there will be fans in attendance when the year’s first Grand Slam starts on Feb. 8, it did have a downside.

“I think I get distracted by the crowd sometimes because I want to show off a little bit, so I do some crazy shots,” she said. “(But) I would say I definitely love having a crowd watching. I feel like you sort of interact with them. Sometimes they shout things and it makes you laugh.”

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday once again praised the Indian men’s cricket team for their recent Test series win against Australia, saying that the team’s hard work and teamwork is inspiring.

“This month, we got good news from the cricket pitch. After initial hiccups, the Indian team bounced back strongly and won the Test series in Australia. Our team’s hard work and teamwork was inspiring,” Modi said during his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on their part, has expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his appreciation and tweeted: “Thank you Shri Narendra Modi for your appreciation and words of encouragement. Team India will do everything possible to keep the Tricolour flying high.”

The Indian team, after facing an embarrassing loss in the first Test in Adelaide where they were bowled out for their lowest Test score of 36, came back strongly in the next three matches to retain the

which makes a much-delayed start in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Spain lost the ATP Cup final to Novak Djokovic’s Serbia last year and Nadal said he and his team mates would be doing their best to go one better this year, despite the proximity of the tournament to the Feb. 8 start of the Australian Open.

“Of course, it’s different circumstances than last year. It’s a very unusual situation for most of us,” he added.

“Most of you that are around tennis knows I never play the week before a Grand Slam, so it is a little bit new and it is strange situation.

“But here I am, the same as the rest of the team, to try our best in every moment. Everybody’s ready to play, and to play with very competitive level.”

Nadal kicks off his season against Australia’s Alex de Minaur in an ATP Cup Group B singles match on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.

File photo of Indian cricket squad.

Border-Gavaskar trophy in an emphatic manner. The series saw Indian team register their first win at the Gabba in Brisbane -- a venue where Australia last suffered a defeat in 1988.

Earlier, addressing the 18th Convocation of Tezpur University in Assam, Modi had on January 22 said the Team India’s victory is highly inspirational for the youth of the country.

“Indian team faced a lot of challenges in the recent tour of Australia. They suffered crushing defeat yet recovered equally fast and

won the next match. The players showed determination despite injuries. They took the challenge head on and looked for fresh solutions instead of getting frustrated by difficult conditions,” Modi had said.

“There were inexperienced players but their morale was high and they grabbed the opportunity given to them. They overpowered a better team with their talent and temperament,” he added.

Before that, after the three-wicket win in the last Test in Brisbane on January

19, the Prime Minister had congratulated the Ajinkya Rahane-led side and tweeted: “We are all overjoyed at the success of the Indian cricket team in Australia.

Their remarkable energy and passion was visible throughout. So was their stellar intent, remarkable grit and determination.

Congratulations to the team! Best wishes for your future endeavours.”

The Indian cricket team will next take on England in a four-Test home series beginning February 5 in Chennai.

India will start as favourites AC Milan edges Bologna; Juventus Pakistan name 20-man conquers Sampdoria in Serie A squad for South Africa T20Is against England, says Chappell

Match in progress between AC Milan and Bologna during the Serie A match.

ROME, JAN 31 (IANS): AC Milan has kept its lead on the table as it edged past Bologna 2-1, while Juventus also wrapped up three points after a 2-0 away victory over Sampdoria in their respective encounters in Serie A. On Saturday, AC Milan broke the deadlock in the 25th minute as Rafael Leao earned a penalty for the Rossoneri. Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw his atK Y M C

tempt parried by Lukasz Skorupsk, but Ante Rebic followed-up to tap in the rebound, reports Xinhua news agency. The Diavolo won another spot-kick 10 minutes after the interval, and Franck Kessie kept his cool to convert it.

Andrea Poli came off the bench and immediately made an impact as the exMilan star fired home in the 81st minute, but it was too late for Bologna to turn

the game around.

Milan still leads the table with 46 points, sitting two points clear of Inter Milan who demolished Benevento 4-0 on Saturday as Romelu Lukaku bagged a brace.

Also on Saturday, Federico Chiesa’s opener after great teamwork and Aaron Ramsey’s goal in stoppage time helped Juventus register its fourth consecutive win in all competitions.

KARACHI, JAN 31 (IANS): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday named a 20-man squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa beginning February 11.

Pakistan are currently engaged in a two-Test series against the Quinton de Kock-led side, winning the first match by seven wickets at the National Stadium here on Friday. The second Test between the two sides will begin from February 4 in Rawalpindi.

The three T20Is will then be played at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore on February 11, 13 and 14.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt, Asif Ali, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Niwaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfarar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir, Zafar Gohar, Zahid Mehmood

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (IANS): Former Australia captain Ian Chappell believes India “will start as favourites” in the upcoming Test series against England owing to their “quality pace bowling” attack and a consistent batting top-order.

India would enter the four-match series riding high on confidence following their remarkable Border-Gavaskar series win against Australia. The hosts will also be bolstered by the addition of premier batsman and skipper Virat Kohli who didn’t take part in the last three Tests Down Under in order to welcome his first child. The Joe Root-led England, on the other hand, would also feel they can replicate the success of the 2012 England team as they recently defeated Sri Lanka in a two-Test series.

“India will start as favourites after an exhilarating victory over Australia, overcoming all obstacles.

When you add the name Virat Kohli to the batting

Ian Chappell

order, the team suddenly assumes a bulletproof cloak. In also adding the names R Ashwin, Hardik Pandya and Ishant Sharma to the list of available players, India take on an unbeatable appearance,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

The former Australia captain feels India’s formidable top-order may tip the scales in favour of the hosts in the Test series which gets underway from February 5 in Chennai. “India’s top three feature an impressive Shubman Gill, a talented but flawed Rohit Sharma and the indomitable Cheteshwar Pujara, which places them well ahead of England’s top order.”

According to the 77year-old, the middle order of both the teams is equally strong.

“Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant and the possible addition of Pandya have India well placed to take full advantage of any good start. The ability to swiftly accelerate the scoring is nearly as important to winning Test matches as the capability of taking 20 wickets,” said Chappell.

“England are similarly placed with Stokes and Jos Buttler as their lethal weapons. The possible return of Ollie Pope would add some dependability to the threatening nature of that section of the batting order. However Buttler’s departure after just one Test and the possible return of Ravindra Jadeja to the Indian line-up would swing the scales further in favour of the home team,” he added.

India, have a quality pace bowling attack with a lot of depth as was displayed in the recent series in Australia, believes Chappell.

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Mohun Bagan register incredible comeback win At 555mn euros, Messi’s deal

M A R G O A / VA S C O (GOA), JAN 31 (AGENCIES): A revitalised Marcelinho and talisman Roy Krishna inspired ATK Mohun Bagan to a thrilling comeback victory as they edged Kerala Blasters 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at the Fatorda Stadium in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) on Sunday.

Kerala led through goals from Gary Hooper (14’) and Costa Nhamoinesu (51’) before a goal from Marcelinho (59’) and a brace from Krishna (65, 87’) helped Bagan complete a thrilling comeback.

Marcelinho, having joined Bagan on loan from Odisha, was struggling for game time at his former club. But on Sunday he looked a man transformed, adding spark to the Mariners’ struggling attack, thriving in a free role up front. The first half belonged to Kerala, who not only dominated possession but also created multiple chances.

Kerala started strong and missed a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead in the fifth minute, failing to capitalize on a mistake from Tiri. The defender made a mess of a clearance which was inter-

Hyderabad keep hopes alive after beating Chennaiyin

ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters in action during the ISL match on Sunday.

cepted by Jordan Murray, who found Sahal Abdul Samad with a cutback. The latter exchanged passes with Hooper but had his eventual shot blocked by Sandesh Jhingan.

Kerala continued to make inroads and broke the deadlock thanks to a thunderous strike from Murray.

Sandeep Singh picked out Hooper in midfield, who controlled the ball with his chest and struck on the volley. Bagan keeper Arindam Bhattacharja was caught off his line and couldn’t prevent the ball from going in.

It did not take long for Kerala to add another

goal as they scored from a corner. Sahal delivered a teasing cross into the box that was flicked over

by Rahul KP. After some melee in the box, Costa poked the ball home from close range.

Despite trailing by two goals, it was Marcelinho who revived Bagan’s hopes of a comeback with a welltaken strike.

Manvir Singh lobbed the ball over the Kerala defense and found Marcelinho, who kept his cool and found the net with a delightful chip.

The Mariners crawled their way back into the game six minutes later,

with Krishna scoring a penalty after Jessel Carneiro was deemed guilty of handling the ball.

Kerala keeper Albino Gomes dived the right way and got his hand to the ball but the power from Krishna was enough to carry it into the net. The equalizer spurred Antonio Habas’ side as they went all out. And a costly mistake from Kerala’s defense helped Bagan grab all three points late on.

The Fijian beat two defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom corner, helping Bagan record one of their memorable wins of the season.

Bring on the Melbourne crowds: Djokovic

Casey cruises to victory in Dubai for 15th ET crown

Novak Djokovic

M E L B O U R N E , JA N 31 (AGENCIES): World number one Novak Djokovic found playing without crowds last season strange and he can’t wait to wow the fans in the stands at his 17th Australian Open.

Some 25,000-30,000 fans will be admitted to Melbourne Park on each day of the Grand Slam and Djokovic got a taste of what was to come when he played an exhibition match in Adelaide after coming out of quarantine on Friday.

“I had goosebumps coming into the court playing in front of the fans

again after 12 months of not experiencing that,” the Serbian told reporters on Sunday.

“After playing professional tennis for more than 15 years, this is one of the biggest driving forces or motivations, inspirations that I have, playing in front of a crowd.

“Feeding off that energy, exchanging that great passion and joy that I have for the sport and the fans have for the sport.”

Djokovic said the blister on his right hand that restricted him to one set in Adelaide on Friday was “nothing major” and

would not be an issue when he leads Serbia in their ATP Cup title defence this week.

Having upset some locals when he sent a letter to organisers asking for the quarantine conditions to be changed, Djokovic expressed his gratitude at being able to play in Australia.

“I’m grateful, as I think most of us that are here in Australia, that we have an opportunity to practice and to play and to compete in the sport that we love,” he said. “So we are all excited to be here.”

The 33-year-old has won eight of his 17 Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park and said it felt like a homecoming returning at the start of each year.

“It does feel like a home for me in Australia, in Melbourne, particularly in Rod Laver (Arena). That is by far my most successful tennis court in my career.

“Each year that I come back to the court, it feels even better. The more you win on the court, the more confident you feel coming back to it.”

ABU DHABI, JAN 31 (AGENCIES): England’s Paul Casey claimed his 15th European Tour (ET) title after a closing round of two-under-par 70 handed him a dominant four-shot victory at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.

Casey has previously lifted trophies in the United Arab Emirates with victories in Abu Dhabi in 2007 and 2009 and he made it a hat-trick in the desert at the Emirates Golf Club with a score of 17-under, four clear of South Africa’s Brandon Stone.

The 43-year-old also boosted his chances to make a fifth Ryder Cup appearance in September, with the Dubai triumph tying him with 2018 European captain Thomas Bjorn and current skipper Padraig Harrington for Tour wins. Starting with a one-shot advantage, Casey struck two birdies and two bogeys for a level-par 35 on the front nine to extend his lead to three strokes, with Stone bogeying three of his opening seven holes.

Hyderabad FC did their chances of making the Indian Super League playoffs a world of good with a 2-0 victory over Chennaiyin FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium here on Sunday. Goals from Fran Sandaza (28th minute) and Joel Chianese (82) were enough to secure all three points for the Nizams and propel them to third place on the table.

Hyderabad made their intentions clear right from the start, winning a corner in just the fifth minute. The promising Asish Rai, who has enjoyed a break-through season, was the architect of the move, sprinting into the Chennaiyin box and finding Mohammed Yasir. After the latter’s cross was put behind for a corner, Rai got another chance but sent his cross over. Hyderabad kept attacking in the first quarter and they got their reward just before the half-hour mark when Sandaza broke the deadlock.

Monday’s Match Odisha FC Vs Jamshedpur FC Time: 7:30 PM

biggest in sports history: Report

BARCELONA, JAN 31 (IANS): Lionel Messi’s contract with Barcelona is worth up to 555 million euros ($673 million) over four seasons, thus making his deal as the biggest signed by any athlete in sports history, says a report.

According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Messi would receive a maximum of 55,52,37,619 euros ($67,39,19,105) over four seasons, if a series of conditions were met.

The Spanish daily said it had access to the document Messi signed with Barcelona in 2017, which included fixed incomes and variables that could reach nearly 138 million euros ($167 million) each season.

Messi’s 30-page contract, accessed by the newspaper, included a signingon bonus of 11,52,25,000 euros for accepting the renewal and a “loyalty” bonus of 7,79,29,955 euros.

According to the newspaper, Messi has already earned 51,15,40,545 euros with five months still left to run on the deal which comes to an end this June.

The 33-year-old has

Lionel Messi

been with the Catalan club for nearly two decades but had asked to leave at the end of last season after growing disappointments with events on and off the pitch at Camp Nou. It was followed by the resignation of Josep

Maria Bartomeu -- Barcelona president who agreed Messi’s 2017 contract -- in October.

The Argentine has led Barcelona to LaLiga titles in 2018 and 2019, but the Champions League has eluded them.

Lillard stars as Trail Blazers beat Bulls

I L L I N O I S, J A N 3 1 (AGENCIES): Damian Lillard hit two late threepointers, including one on the buzzer, to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 123-122 NBA win over the Chicago Bulls.

Lillard finished with a game-high 44 points, including eight three-pointers.

One of those, with 8.9 seconds left, put the Trail Blazers within two points of the hosts.

And after Portland won a jump ball, it came to Lillard, whose shot went over the outstretched arms of Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen to seal victory.

Enes Kanter scored 22 points and took 11 rebounds for Portland, who lost to the Bulls earlier in the season.

Elsewhere, Anthony Davis marked his return from a quad injury with 27 points and 14 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers survived a late rally to beat the Boston Celtics 96-95.

After 10 games out because of Covid-19 protocols, Jimmy Butler scored

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) is defended by Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) during the second half at United Center.

30 points - passing 10,000 in his career - to help the Miami Heat defeat the Sacramento Kings 105-104.

The Houston Rockets came through 126-112 over the New Orleans Pelicans,

while the Charlotte Hornets were 126-114 winners over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks 111105.

The Memphis Griz-

zlies, in their first game since 18 January after five games were postponed because of player availability, pulled away late to beat the San Antonio Spurs 129-112.

Keely Hodgkinson Levante virtually end Real’s LaLiga title hope smashes world U20 BWF: Tzu-ying clinches 3rd c’ship; indoor 800m record Antonsen wins men’s single title

Real Madrid and Levante players in action during the Spanish LaLiga match on Saturday evening in Madrid.

M A D R I D, J A N 3 1 (IANS): Real Madrid’s slim chances of winning the LaLiga title this season took a heavy blow as they were beaten 1-2 at home

by Levante in their latest encounter.

S a t u r d ay ’s r e s u l t leaves Real Madrid seven points behind league lead-

ers Atletico Madrid, who have two games in hand and just a point ahead of Sevilla, who won away to Eibar earlier in the day, reports Xinhua news agency.

Madrid kicked off with coach Zinedine Zidane at home due to coronavirus along with defender Nacho Fernandez, while Sergio

Ramos, Dani Carvajal, and Lucas Vazquez all missed out through injury.

M a d r i d ’s a l r e a d y makeshift defense was further weakened after just seven minutes when Eder Militao was sent off after a foul on Levante striker Sergio Leon which stopped a clear goalscoring opportu-

nity. The referee first gave a yellow card but changed it to red after consulting with the VAR. Despite going down to 10 men, Real Madrid went ahead after Marcos Asensio finished off a quick break, although Levante felt the move began with a foul by Ferland Mendy in the Madrid area.

Jose Luis Morales equalized for Levante with a sweetly placed half-volley across Thibaut Courtois on the half-hour and that allowed Levante to slow the game down and make Madrid chase the ball.

The visitors had a great chance to take the lead from the penalty spot just after the hour after Vinicius Jr fouled Carlos Clerk, but Courtois did magnificently to save Roger Marti’s spot-kick, getting across his area and putting out a strong hand to deflect away Marti’s shot.

However, the Levante forward had the last laugh 13 minutes from time when he headed home the winning goal following a quickly taken short corner.

VIENNA (AUSTRIA), JAN 31 (IANS): European U18 champion Keely Hodgkinson smashed the world U20 indoor 800m record with a timing of 1:59.03 at the Indoor Track & Field Vienna meeting.

On Saturday, Hodgkinson held back slightly from the swift opening pace and was in fourth place as the pacemaker led the field through half way in 57.56.

She then moved into the lead with 300 metres to go.

By the time the bell sounded, and with 1:28.83 on the clock, Hodgkinson had built up a comfortable lead, as per the World Athletics website.

The 18-year-old Briton continued to pull away from the field and charged through the line in 1:59.03, thus breaking the previous mark by two seconds set by Ethiopia’s Meskerem Legesse in 2004.

“The race was perfect,” said Hodgkinson. “I’ve never gone through the bell that quickly before, but I tried not to panic. It couldn’t have gone better, I’m really happy,” she added.

Tai Tzu-ying

BA N G KO K , JA N 3 1 (AGENCIES): World No.1 Tai Tzu-ying defeated reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin to win the women’s singles title while Anders Antonsen beat compatriot Viktor Axelsen to win men’s singles final in the BWF World Tour on Sunday.

Tai Tzu-ying won a dramatic cliffhanger women’s finals, blocking Carolina Marin’s bid for a hat-trick of titles in three weeks. Denmark’s Anders Antonsen defeated compa-

Anders Antonsen

triot Viktor Axelsen 21-16, 5-21, 21-17 in an hour to win the men’s singles final.

The women’s doubles was an all-Korean showdown with fourth-ranked Lee So-hee and Shin Seung-chan pushing sixthranked Kim So-yeong and Kong Hee-Yong to three games over 92 minutes.

Lee and Shin lost the first game 15-21 before scraping through to claim the second 26-24. They had the momentum early in the third game and were able to hold off a late resurgence

from their opponents to win the decider 21-19.

In the men’s doubles, seventh-ranked Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin of Taiwan won their third title in three weeks. They beat Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan 21-17, 23-21 in 37 minutes.

Thailand hosted three consecutive badminton tournaments in a bio-secure coronavirus bubble, without spectators to guard against the coronavirus outbreak.

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