Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXX No. 76
DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00
Trump visit: roadshow reduced to 9 kms
Chennaiyin FC seal ISL play-offs spot
COVID-19 toll in China increases to 2,236
national, Page 5
sports, Page 12
international, Page 9
Must act fast to contain COVID-19: WHO Warns window to contain COVID 19 outbreak ‘narrowing’ NEW YORK/NEW DELHI, FEB 21 (AGENCIES): The window of opportunity to contain wider international spread of the epidemic of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) disease is closing, the World Health Organization warned on Friday, and countries must act fast if they are to control it. Asked whether the outbreak is at a “tipping point” after new cases of infections and deaths from COVID19 were reported in Iran and Lebanon, the WHO’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he still believed the virus could be contained, but noted that “the window of opportunity is narrowing, so we need to act quickly before it closes completely.” “We still believe that we can contain the virus,” Tedros said, adding that China’s “serious measures” in Wuhan and Hubei province could help contain COVID-19. However, he
Tension in Senapati over arrest of NSCN (I-M) cadre Correspondent
IMPHAL, FEB 21: Residents of Senapati town Friday called for a total shutdown, affecting normal life and vehicular movement, following the arrest of a NSCN (I-M) functionary by troops of Assam Rifles from Mayangkhang, under Senapati PS. The AR action was reportedly a fallout of Thursday’s incident where a captain of the Assam Rifles was overpowered by NSCN cadres while the AR team was in pursuit of NSCN cadres. During the stand-off, NSCN cadres reportedly captured the captain along with his weapon. However, following the intervention of the local residents, both the Captain and the weapon were reportedly released later in the day. Following the arrest of the NSCN 2nd in-command of Senapati town on Friday, local residents came out to the streets in protest and blocked the Imphal-Dimapur. All business establishments were also forced to down their shutters including restriction on vehicular movements. The protestors also demanded the release of the NSCN functionary.
This is it!
“I fail to understand public. They want lots of money but still complain we are corrupt.” K Y M C
noted that the outbreak “could go any direction.” He encouraged countries around the world to keep working on containment while also stepping up measures to prepare for the possibility of more widespread transmission. “What I’m saying is — it’s in our hands now. If we do well within the narrowing window of opportunity ... we can avert any serious crisis.” If that opportunity is squandered, he said, “there will be a serious problem in our hands.”
relax but “unceasingly consolidate achievements and extend combat successes,” it said. China has portrayed its efforts to control the virus, which has killed more than 2,200 and infected more than 75,000, as a war of containment. All-out efforts should be made in Beijing’s epidemic control work, it said. The number of cases of coronavirus in the capital has jumped sharply while many other parts of the country beyond Hubei are reporting fewer or no new infections.
China says situation ‘severe and complex’
Centre asks states to maintain vigil
The daily WHO briefing came after Chinese officials said the coronavirus outbreak there has not yet reached its peak. “A turning point in the development of the national epidemic situation has not yet arrived,” concluded the meeting, chaired by President Xi Jinping, according to state television. “The epidemic prevention and control situation in Hubei province and Wuhan city remains severe and complex.” The ruling Communist Party and the government should not
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Friday urged states to keep high vigil against the novel coronavirus and asked them to continue raising public awareness for its prevention, even though no new case was reported in the country. Vardhan reviewed the preparedness and actions taken so far to handle the situation arising out of the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID19) in China in a meeting here with senior ministry officials, according to a release. He was
informed that several precautionary measures have been taken at the central level in coordination with ministries concerned. All states have been advised to accurately update information about screening and surveillance on a portal set up as a special web tool to monitor the cases on a real-time basis, the statement quoted Health Secretary Preeti Sudan as saying. States and Union Territories have reported compliance to guidelines issued by the Centre and also that sufficient stocks of personal protection equipment including masks, gloves, goggles and shoe covers have been procured, she added. Vardhan was also informed that the screening of passengers is being done at 21 airports, 12 major and 65 non-major seaports and border crossings. In all 3,97,148 passengers from 3,835 flights have been screened so far. A total of 21,805 people are currently under community surveillance in 34 states and UTs through the Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network, the statement said.
India hitting US ‘very hard’ on trade: Trump WASHINGTON, FEB 21 (PTI): India has been hitting the US “very hard” on trade for many years with high tariffs, according to President Donald Trump who said he will “talk business” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first visit to India. President Trump and First Lady Melania are scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi on February 24 and 25. “I’m going to India next week and we’re talking trade. They’ve been hitting us very hard for many, many years,” Trump said at a ‘Keep America Great’ rally in Colorado Thursday. Trump told thousands of his supporters that he “really likes” Prime Minister Modi and they would be talking business. “We’ve got to talk a little...We’ve got to talk a little business. It’s been hitting us hard. They give us tariffs, one the highest in the world is India,” he said. Trump said the two countries could make a “tremendous” trade deal, but indicated that the talks on this might slow down if he did not get a good deal.
ANCSU 40-day ultimatum on CM, minister Demands setting up of common nodal cell for scholarships 110 post of asst. prof. to be routed through the NPSC To appoint principals in colleges without principals DIMAPUR, FEB 21 (NPN): All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has set a 40-day ultimatum beginning February 22 for chief minister Neiphiu Rio and Higher & Technical Education and tribal affairs minister Imna Along to act on its charter of demands. The ultimatum signed by ANCSU president Vimeyiekho Vitso and general secretary Imnameren N Jamir, after the presidential meeting held on Friday, demanded that the State government uphold the assurance it had given and the notification issued in this regard subsequently on October 25, 2019 for setting up of Common Nodal Cell for all kinds of scholarship schemes. While the students were given a hope to soon see an established nodal cell, it regretted that the cell had not yet been set up. ANCSU further reiterated its demand that the state government send the
ANCSU members after the presidential meeting, Friday.
110 sanctioned asst. professors’ posts under Higher ducation department to Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) at one go. As some posts were advertised in 2019 and then kept on hold, the union demanded that the remaining posts (110 posts in total) be sent to NPSC within the next 40 days. ANCSU also demanded that the Higher Education department appoint principals in all colleges that are without principals in the next 40 days. Questioning the sincerity of the department towards the demands of the student community, ANCSU further appealed to the department not to sit comfortably when they were facing shortage of lecturers and their future was at stake. It said that this was the department’s responsibility to oversee the needs
of colleges and recommend to the State government for necessary action. However, it alleged that due to incompetency of the department’s officials, almost all colleges were suffering from various problems. Cautioning the government against waiting for the students to protest, ANCSU urged the department to address the issues on priority to avoid any kind of unrest. While the primary responsibility of students was to attend classes, the government should not compel them to hit the streets, it warned. Meanwhile, ANCSU has also asked the state government to call for a joint meeting of all stakeholders, within 30 days (w.e.f. February 22, 2020) in order to settle the decade long land issue at Kohima Science College, Jotsoma and other district colleges.
Mizoram Assy urges Centre DNSU sets 7-day deadline for closure of liquor dens ENSF urges state govt to hold to protect religious freedom consultative meet over CAA
AIZAWL, FEB 21 (PTI): Mizoram Assembly Friday unanimously adopted a private member’s resolution asking Centre to take measures for protection of religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution. Opposition Congress party leader Zodintluanga, who moved the resolution, said minorities have come under severe attack and the rate of religious persecution increased after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014. He alleged that atrocities, physical assault on minorities and vandalism of religious monuments, including church and mosques, were rampant under the current NDA regime. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act is a “discriminatory law, which seeks to grant citizenship on religious line”, he said, adding that freedom of religion and secularism are the pillars of the Constitution. Members of the ruling Mizo National Front contended that persecution of religious minorities was even higher during the Congress regime. Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga said his party does not follow the ideologies and principles of the BJP and opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The MNF is a partner of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance. “Our ideologies and policies are antagonistic to that of BJP. We are fighting each other in terms of principles and ideologies,” he said. However, cutting across parties, legislators unanimously passed the resolution, which stated that “the central government must take measure to ensure that religious freedom is protected”.
DIMAPUR, FEB 21 (NPN): Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has served a seven-day ultimatum on Commissioner of Excise, Dimapur to close down all illegal liquor dens, outlets and thoroughly check flow of liquor in the town from the date of publication of its press release. In a statement DNSU also demanded strict adherence to the rules and regulations of Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989. DNSU further warned that in the event of failure to comply with its ultimatum, it would be compelled to chart its own course of action for which the department would be held solely responsible, for any untoward consequences. DNSU informed that the issue was thoroughly deliberated during its fourth presidential meeting on February 10, especially the negative impact on the youth and public in general despite the fact that the State government had implemented NLTP
Act to curb the menace. The meeting observed that the Act had been theoretical and not practical in nature since its inception. Further, DNSU referred to analysis and studies that have found that the excise department had shown leniency towards the illegal sellers, producers and suppliers of liquor in Dimapur. It may be recalled that the Central Nagaland Tribes Council on January 19, expressed concern over the spurt in outlets under the garb of bottled water shops in Purana Bazaar and other areas of the town selling spurious liquor and had asked the Dimapur district administration and Naga Council Dimapur, Dimapur District GBs and chairmen forums to check and close down these at the earliest. According to CNTC, though the issue might seem trivial to many, yet they could not ignore the pleas and concerns of parents of children, citizens concerned
and churches as young lives and their health were being greatly affected by these shops selling spurious alcohol. Many of these shops were located very closely to school areas, it added. Though there were many other relevant issues of concern, CNTC said this issue was now becoming uncontrollable with authorities either ignoring or turning a blind eye to this nefarious activity right under their nose. Admitting that Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989 was contentious and that it neither supported nor opposed, the council explained that the prohibition issue required further deliberation amongst all stakeholders. During an interview with Nagaland Post in November last, Nagaland Baptist Churches Council general secretary Dr. Z Kehyo admitted that the council did propose the Act, but stressed that the government should have come up with a strong mechanism to implement it.
DIMAPUR, FEB 21 (NPN): Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has urged the State government to immediately call a consultative meeting to end the confusion and blame game over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the interest of Nagas’ future. Mentioning that it was greatly disturbed at the confusion being created over the Act, the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation pointed out that its representatives, along with representatives of the State government, political parties and other stakeholders, had attended a meeting convened by Union home minister Amit Shah at New Delhi on December 3, 2019 over CAA issue. It claimed that the delegation from the State had unanimously opposed the Act, adding that no party
had expressed support to it. However, on the assurance of the Union home minister that the State would be exempted from the purview of Citizenship Amendment Act by virtue of Inner Line Permit (ILP) notified under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873 and the meeting being conducted for a very brief time, the delegation did not had the chance to deliberate on the same. Being a matured organisation, the federation asserted that it had always maintained its principles and integrity, besides always remaining steadfast in protecting and safeguarding the interest of people. This was stated in a press release by its vice-president Manpang K Wangyen and assistant general secretary Khomo P.
Experts visit incomplete RCC bridge in Dimapur Ex-MLA Kakheho Sukhalu passes away Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, FEB 21 (NPN): Seismic expert engineers visited the incomplete RCC Bridge over Dhansiri River between Shozukhu village and Zukihe village under Dimapur district on Friday. The experts-- Aman Deep Garg, managing director and chartered engineer from New Delhi and Dr. Oinam Ramanbabu Meetei from IIT Tirupati were accompanied by SDO (TC) PWD (R&B) Kohima Dr Khuito Murumi. After their initial two days of inspection, the experts would submit a report about the status of the bridge and what could be done next. On the first day of inspection, they assessed the under construction bridge, inspected the sub-structure and super structure as preliminary action. The engi-
Panel of experts inspecting the bridge on Friday. (NP)
neers, however, refrained from making any opinion about the bridge, saying they would have to do more technical surveys. After the inspection, the engineers said they would be able to put up a proposal to the government. The bridge was supposed to get completed in the year 2007, but due to disagreements between M/s Pabscon and PWD (R&B), the construction was halted
and the case reached the court. The bridge is nowhere near completion till date as about 80 metre of the bridge is yet to be constructed. The completed portion of bridge is also in such poor state that after a recent inspection by the PWD (R&B) officials, it was decided that further construction of the bridge would be allowed only after assessment of the safety of the bridge by “experts
from Delhi.” A statement released by the residents of the area stated that in October 2019, PWD (R&B) officials inspected the site and found that the bridge was found to be distressed for both structures as well as superstructure. The officials also suggested the need for subject experts to be invited to study the same. Accordingly a geotechnical expert from Guwahati and a seismic expert from Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati were contacted and the matter was informed to the chief engineer, PWD (R&B) in the month of November, 2019. The principal of Kamrup polytechnic, Guwahati was also invited to study geotechnical and structural aspects on February 3. The visiting expert noted his observation and is expected to submit his inspection report soon.
DIMAPUR, FEB 21 (NPN): Kakheho Sukhalu, former MLA and vice president of NDPP, passed away at a private hospital in Dimapur on Friday after a prolonged illness. He was 62. Late Kakheho, son of late H. Kawoto Sukhalu and brother of advisor school education KT Sukhalu, after completing his early schooling at Zunheboto, got his B.Com degree from Shillong College, Shillong. He was elected from 35 Zunheboto assembly constituency in 1998 as an independent candidate. Condolences: In a condolence message, the chief minister described late Sukhalu as “an energetic and hard working politician”, who did many good works for his constituency and the people. “He was an honest and straight forward public leader, who could mingle effortlessly with the
masses, Rio said, adding that his death at such a young age was a big loss for the people of Nagaland particularly for the people of Zunheboto district. The chief minister also said that late Sukhalu was a founding member of NDPP and served as senior vice president till his demise. “His demise is a great loss not only to our party and the people of Nagaland but it is also a personal loss to me,” the chief minister maintained and added that he would miss late Sukhalu’s presence and his mature advice at this crucial juncture. The chief minister on his behalf and on behalf of the Government of Nagaland, conveyed deepest and heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and prayed that God grant them strength and peace of mind in their hour of bereavement.
NLA speaker: Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) speaker Sharingain Longkumer expressed deep grief over the demise of Kakheho, ex-MLA, and said that his death has caused a great loss to the Nagas in general and the Sumi Community in particular and the void created would be difficult to fill. In a condolence message, Sharingain described late Sukhalu as a hardworking and devoted man, who worked sincerely for the welfare and uplift of his constituency and for the people of Nagaland. The speaker, on his behalf and on behalf of the Members of the 13th NLA, conveyed heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved family and prayed that the Almighty God grant them solace and comfort at this hour of sorrow. (Cont’d on p-7) K Y M C
