Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXXIII No. 37
DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2023 Pages 12 ` 5.00
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SPORTS, PAGE 12
At CNTC’s request, NPAC defers bandh 8 apex tribal hohos to meet on January 17
DIMAPUR, JAN 13 (NPN): Just on the eve of the January 14 six-hour statewide bandh (from 6 a.m. to 12 noon) in support of solution before election, Nagaland People’s Action Committee (NPAC) Friday deferred the bandh at the request of Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC). Paying heed to CNTC’s request and more so in view of the meeting of eight tribal bodies to be held on January 17, to deliberate on the same issue-- demand for Naga political solution, NPAC said it decided to defer the bandh. Giving this information through a statement on Friday, NPAC said it needed to give credence to the advice which had “confidently
CBI gets Centre’s nod to prosecute Lalu in land-for-jobs scam NEW DELHI, JAN 13 (PTI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has got the Centre’s sanction to prosecute former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with the landfor-jobs scam, officials said on Friday. The agency submitted the sanction before a special court on Friday, they said. Sanction to prosecute from the competent authority is a prerequisite for the special court to take cognizance of the charge sheet filed by the agency, they said. The CBI had filed on October 7 last year a charge sheet against Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with alleged appointments made in the Railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold to his family but the cognisance was pending. In its charge sheet filed before a special CBI court here, the agency has also named Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti, former general manager of Central Railways Sowmya Raghvan, former CPO Railways Kamal Deep Mainrai, seven aspirants appointed as substitutes and four private individuals. “During the investigation, it has been found that the accused in conspiracy with the then GM, Central Railways, and CPO, Central Railways, engaged persons as substitutes in lieu of land either in their name or in the name of their close relatives,” a CBI spokesperson had said in a statement.
This is it!
“Don’t torture your eyes looking at discounts, I’m totally broke.” K Y M C
shifted the given challenges to tribal bodies including members of CNTC.” NPAC said it did not doubt “the sincerity and commitment of our tribal leaders toward solution for election” and thus considered its mission successful as it has been able to “awaken the primary stakeholders satisfactorily to take their mandated responsibility”. For this reason, the proposed 6-hour bandh on January 14 was deferred and expressed the hope that tribal bodies would not fail the public of Nagaland. NPAC also assured Nagas of its continued and unreserved cooperation to anyone and whoever was for “political solution first before election.” As several organisations mainly from the Tenyimi group expressed opposition to the bandh, NPAC lamented that absence of a regular common platform
for the communities and tribes in Nagaland, continue to remain a setback when common interests were to be pursued collectively. It said the same predicament was faced when the people of Nagaland had to actively pursue and facilitate the political negotiation between Government of India and the Nagas. NPAC pointed out that in view of the inordinate delay of political solution, tribal bodies and 72 civil society organizations (CSOs) under the initiative of Nagaland GB Federation converged on June 21, 2022 at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur after which it was resolved to form Nagaland People’s Action Committee (NPAC). NPAC said its formation comprised of limited members headed by Theja Therieh as convener under who, NPAC was empowered to carry out the collective decision to urge
the negotiating parties to expedite Naga talks its logical conclusion. NPAC said its tenure was co-terminus with the closer of political negotiations, whether it was a success or failure. NPAC also reminded that the during the last 25 years of continuous negotiation between the two entities, the NGOs, CSOs and the tribal bodies had submitted several representations and memorandums particularly to the Prime Minister of India urging upon him to resolve the Naga political issue without further delay. NPAC also noted that in Nagaland, the public had also observed bandhs and public rallies against delay of the decision but political solution remains as elusive even in its 26 years of political talks. In the light of the above, NPAC at the meeting with various CSOs on January 12, 2023 at Dimapur,
decided to hold a statewide bandh on January 14 just for 6 hours (6a.m. to 12:00 noon). NPAC also said that the press statement of the 14 tribes published on January 11, 2023 reiterating and reaffirming the resolution of urging Government of India to settle the Naga political issue without delay, confirmed the public opinion enough for the negotiators to understand the sentiment of Naga public to not further resort to any other alternative. In the same pulse, NPAC said the committee, standing for the common cause, announced the proposed statewide bandh on January 14. NMDA: Coming out in support of the bandh, the Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association had asked all its members to observe the bandh in order to support NPAC vis-à-vis solution to the Naga political issue before Assembly polls.
DIMAPUR, JAN 13 (NPN): After the Angami Public Organisation (APO) opposed the 6-hour January 14 bandh called by Nagaland People’s Action Committee, certain tribal organizations also strongly opposed the state wide bandh called in demanding solution before election. Those organisations who opposed the January 14 bandh included-- Tenyimi Union Dimapur (TUD), Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO), Rengma Hoho (RH), Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT), Chakhro Angami Kuda Youth Organization (CAKYO), Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organization (NZPO) and Sovima Village Youth Organisation (SVYO). TUD: Tenyimi Union Dimapur (TUD) resolved to not to participate in the proposed bandh and directed its
CM launches CSR projects in health sector Correspondent
KOHIMA, JAN 13 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday launched corporate social responsibility (CSR) project for Nagaland under the initiatives of Boeing India and Doctors For You (DFY). The CSR initiatives include setting up of model labour rooms (MLR) at six community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs) and medical equipment and other logistics of MLR, besides ambulance, digital x-ray and ultrasound machine to Botsa
Rio at the launch of CSR projects by Boeing India & DFY. (NP)
PHC. Speaking on the occasion, Rio said the initiatives taken up by DFY across the country and its presence in over 300 districts of 26 states, including Nagaland, by means of contributing to public health infrastruc-
ture development, disaster management, risk reduction, hospital infrastructure development and capacity building were laudatory. Through the partnership with DFY, he hoped that quality healthcare, low
Khehovi inaugurates 7 tourism projects
H Khehovi with officials during the virtual inauguration. (NP)
Correspondent
KOHIMA, JAN 13 (NPN): Adviser Tourism, Art and Culture adviser H Khehovi Yepthomi on Friday virtually inaugurated seven projects to promote tourism in the state-- development six tribal circuits and development of infrastructure of a pilgrimage centre, under Prasad Tourism Scheme and
Swadesh Darshan scheme, funded by Ministry of Tourism. Altogether Rs 11,337.44 lakh was being spent on the six tourism tribal circuits and one pilgrimage Centre. The projects include Pilgrimage Facilitation Centre at Aizotu, Zunheboto under Prasad scheme at a cost of Rs 650.84 lakh and under
Swadesh Darshan scheme-Dikhu Eco Resort (Rs. 693.72 lakhs), Tribal Circuit in New Peren (Rs. 3316 lakhs), Tizit Eco Resort in Mon (Rs. 487.89 lakhs), Ungma Tribal Hub (Rs. 2804.32 lakhs), Suteplenden Waterfall Mokokchung (Rs. 510.91 lakhs and Doyang Eco Resort, Wokha (Rs. 3554.60 lakhs) Addressing the programme held at the conference hall of Directorate of Tourism, Art & Culture, he hoped that the newlylaunched assets would cater to the needs of tourists and promote tourism, thereby acting as a catalyst for economic growth and create more employment opportunities for the community. (Cont’d on p-8)
Organizations opposed to NPAC’s state wide bandh call
at a critical juncture with enemies both within and outside trying to destroy the very fabric of Naga nationhood for which the forefathers had sacrificed much. It thus appealed to every right-thinking Nagas to be wary of such elements. CPO: Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) also declared non participation in the bandh and expressed dismay over the decision of NPAC to call a blanket bandh. CPO president Vezuhu Keyho and general secretary Chepetso Koza clarified that CPO had neither endorsed nor authorised NPAC to call the bandh and therefore the latter’s decision has no bearing upon CPO. CPO said that the question of participating in the bandh did not arise as NPAC cannot give any direction to apex tribal body of Chakhesangs in any matter. (Cont’d on p-8)
ECI teams arrives Nagaland
DIMAPUR, JAN 13 (NPN): Full bench of Election Commission of India (ECI) led by chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and election commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel arrived Kohima Friday on a two-day visit to hold meetings with leaders of different political parties and senior government officials ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. According to a DIPR report, ECI team upon arrival held separate meetings with various political par(Cont’d on p-8) ties, enforcement agencies
cost and free basic healthcare services, healthcare education and training, doorstep access to cutting-edge diagnostics and treatment services would be ensured. “Working together, we can ensure the achievement of these goals, making Nagaland a model for other States in the country,” he remarked. He said the launch of CSR projects was another milestone towards ensuring improved quality of healthcare, especially in maternal and child healthcare services through the MLR project.
members to do likewise. TUD media cell said it was “unbecoming of any organisation” to call for bandh every now and then as per its whims and fancies as these only cause harassment to common public. TUD expressed the hope that the administration would take action and thwart such activities. Further the union said while it welcomed any positive step by any organisation towards an honourable settlement; it was however sceptical of actions of some vested individuals and organisations. TUD reaffirmed the decision taken at the consultative meeting on June 28, 2022 to stand on the political principle of “One People, One Nation” based on the ideals of the 1951 plebiscite, which was acceptable, honourable and inclusive of all Nagas and groups. TUD said presently, Nagas were
ECI team with first-time voters in Kohima. (DIPR)
(both Central and State) at Hotel de Oriental Grand, Kohima. At the meeting, the chief electoral officer Nagaland, V. Shashank Shekhar, and state police nodal officers gave a presentation on poll preparedness.
Later, EC team also had an interaction cum felicitation programme with the first-time voters. Earlier, the team was welcomed by CEO Nagaland and a host of senior government officials.
Budget Session from Jan 31 N E W D E L H I , JA N 1 3 (PTI): Parliament’s Budget Session will begin from January 31 with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Session will have 27 sittings and will continue till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on February one. The first part of the Budget Session will conclude on February 14, he said. Parliament will reconvene on March 12 for the second part of the Budget Session.
1,148 ‘unauthorised structures’ on railway land: NFR Bendangchuba
DIMAPUR, JAN 13 (NPN): Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) disclosed that there are 1,148 “unauthorised structures” on railway land in Dimapur. Disclosing this to Nagaland Post, NFR chief public relations officer (CPRO) Sabyasachi De said the railways had sent out eviction notices to the encroachers on December 21, 2022 served under Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971. NFR first pasted its show-cause notice on November 14, 2022 to the “unauthorised occupants”,
directing them to respond to the estate office, NFR, Lumding on or before November 29, 2022, while another notice was served to present themselves in person on December 6, 2022 for the hearing. After expir y of the deadline, the NFR estate officer issued another notice on December 16, 2022, asking the “unauthorised occupants” to vacate land within 15 days from the date of publication of the notice (December 16, 2022). This meant that lands were to be vacated on or before December 31,2022. “Once the period of notices lapses, the railways
will start eviction of all illegal encroachers with the help of district administration,” he stated. It may be pointed out that NFR did not serve notices personally to the “unauthorised occupants” but pasted on walls in and around Dimapur railway station. It also did not publish information about the notices in local newspapers to ensure require attention. De also informed that the total area of land earmarked for development in Dimapur was not finalised as the planning and survey works were still in progress. He disclosed that Dimapur railway station was
proposed to be developed as a “world class” station, with double tracks from Lumding to Furkating. He said these proposals were in final stages and that an exact date could not be committed until plans were finalised. The CPRO said once occupants in earmarked locations were evicted, the land would be utilised to upgrade Dimapur railway station and also modify Dimapur yard. De also said if lands were not cleared off occupants, then economic development of the State, particularly Dimapur, would be adversely affected. (Cont’d on p-8)
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