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16 Jan 2023

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Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXIII No. 39

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023 Pages 12 ` 5.00

S Korean prez travels to UAE, seeks arms sales INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9

68 dead, 4 missing after plane crashes in Nepal

Rescue teams work to retrieve bodies at the crash site (Bijay Neupane/Handout via Reuters)

POKHARA, JAN 15 (AGENCIES): At least 68 people were confirmed dead after a Yeti Airlines ATR 72 aircraft carrying 72 on board – including five Indians – crashed in Nepal’s Pokhara at around 11 am on Sunday, Reuters reported. Reports said the aircraft, with 68 passengers and four crew on board, crashed a few kilometres from its destination about 20 minutes after it took off from Kathmandu for Pokhara. Rescue operations were on as visuals on social media showed smoke billowing from the crash site. According to a Yeti Airlines official, the five Indians have been identified as Abhisekh Kushwaha, Bishal Sharma, Anil Kumar Rajbhar, Sonu Jaiswal and Sanjaya Jaiswal, PTI reported.

15 Oppn parties red-flag RVMs NEW DELHI, JAN 15 (AGENCIES): Leaders of about 15 Opposition parties on Sunday collectively opposed the Election Commission of India’s proposal for remote electronic voting machines (RVMs) for migrant workers by arguing that the poll watchdog not only failed to bring out any clarity on both the definition and size of migrant workers but also failed to credibly address and respond to many pending complaints/ memoranda questioning the trustworthiness of the electronic voting machines (EVMs). After red-flagging the RVM proposal right on the eve of the EC-hosted meeting Monday, these Opposition parties (Cont’d on p-7)

This is it!

“Power plays truant. In summer we can’t enjoy fans and now in winter, we cannot enjoy heater.” K Y M C

The condition of the Indian passengers is unknown. Meanwhile, Ne pal government formed a fivemember commission of inquiry to probe the crash. The announcement came as Prime Minister PK Dahal ‘Prachanda’ called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers following the crash. It has also declared a one-day national mourning on Monday in wake of the aircraft crash, ANI reported. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal stated that the aircraft took off from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport at 10.33 am and crashed on the bank of the Seti River near the airport in Pokhara. Mishandling, malfunctioning of an aircraft system or pilot fatigue could be among the factors that

caused the deadly plane crash, according to pilots and an aircraft accident investigation expert. They also said the exact reasons that led to the accident will be known only after a detailed investigation. Modi condoles: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and offered condolences after 68 people, including five Indians, were killed in a tragic plane crash in Nepal.“Pained by the tragic air crash in Nepal in which precious lives have been lost, including Indian nationals. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families,” Modi tweeted. External Affairs minister S Jaishankar, Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and others expressed grief over the incident.

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Entire India to be covered under DWR network by 2025

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DIMAPUR, JAN 14 (NPN): The recent meeting (from January 12-14) between Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) delegation and the three-member committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Guwahati remained inconclusive. This was the second meeting held in Guwahati this month. Another round of meeting is likely to be held soon, sources said. Sources said that a 32-member ENPO delegation, including talk team members, held series of

meetings over a period of three days (Thursday till Saturday) with MHA committee members headed by advisor (North East) AK Mishra. During the meeting, the ENPO delegation apprised the Central team of the ‘talking points’ discussed during the January 8 meeting at DUDA guest house Sovima, attended by over 100 members including leaders of tribal bodies, legislators under Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union and Rajya Sabha MP. It may be mentioned the MHA team during the January 5 meeting pre-

SPORTS, PAGE 12

Finalization of BJP-NDPP seat sharing on Jan 19 Staff Reporter/Agencies

G U WA H AT I / D I M A PUR, JAN 15 (NPN): Assam chief minister and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the BJP central leadership would be finalising the 40 (NDPP):20 (BJP) seat sharing arrangement by January 19. Accordign to reports, Sarma acknowledged that there were some issues to be cleared with regard to the NDPP-BJP seat sharing agreement, but stated that it would be finalised by BJP central leadership. BJP party sources informed Nagaland Post that State BJP president and minister Temjen Imna Along had left for New Delhi on Saturday to attend the BJP’s two-day crucial national executive meeting and also likely to attend the meeting of the party to finalise the seat sharing arrangement. (Read more on p-7) Sources said the BJP was

NEW DELHI, JAN 15 (AGENCIES): Seeking to further strengthen its weather forecast system and expand its network of meteorological services, the country’s national weather forecaster - India Meteorological Department (IMD)- on Sunday announced to cover the entire country under sophisticated radar network by deploying 25 additional Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) and establish 720 District Agro Meteorological Units to provide more precise farm-related advisories and forecasts to farmers by 2025, a TOI report stated. IMD also decided to increase its agro-meteorological service facilities from 3,100 blocks in 2023 to 7,000 blocks in 2025, and bring Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati under its urban flood warning system in coming years.

Rio and Sarma during their meeting at Guwahati on Jan 12. (Via Twitter)

also likely to decide on the Assembly constituencies where it would be putting up candidates. Leaving aside a few Assembly constituencies currently held by BJP, the party high command would take a final call on the constituencies it would be fielding candidates. “It is very clear that both NDPP-BJP will go as per the 40:20 seat

DIMAPUR, JAN 15 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K Therie said Election Commission of India’s (ECI) announcement to hold Assembly election as mandated by the constitution had conveyed the fact that the people’s demand for implementation of the agreed solutions had been “denied”. Therie said the matter now lay with the Centre. He assured that Congress’ priority was implementation of agreed solutions, for which there was no opposition. He stated that if the BJP government did not implement, it was nothing more than a lying party. ECI’s announcement to hold polls before the term of the current Assembly expired had left the people with few days at hand. As CBSE ex-

aminations were scheduled from February 15, there were 30 days at hand if the election was to be held before February 15, he said. He stated that elections were usually announced 45 days ahead in the past to enable people to prepare their mind for the future five year. But he lamented that even this opportunity had now been hijacked and claimed that people were now in suspense as to whether it would be President’s Rule or election. Meanwhile, Therie said chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s expression of willingness to pave the way had been a mirage all along and asked who was preventing him from paving the way. He mentioned that the people had been running after this mirage for the last 20 years.

sented the ‘blueprint’ in a bid to settle the demand for creation of a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland’ state. Even as the Central team had categorically ruled out bifurcating a small state like Nagaland on several grounds, it had asked the ENPO delegation to table the ‘blueprint’ and hold an open discussion with the community leaders to arrive at a consensus decision. Accordingly, ENPO held a meeting (DUDA Guest house) and submitted its ‘talking points’ to the Central team, reaffirming its stand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’ State.

Though the contents of the blueprint have not been made public, sources said that the recommendations made by the Centre was more or less on similar lines but not separate State. There have been speculations that Centre was ready to create an autonomous council under 6th Schedule of the Constitution, which will include a legislative council formed with elected representatives, and also manage and control funds provided directly from the Centre. It was also speculated that a mini-secretariat would be created and established at Eastern Nagaland.

DIMAPUR, JAN 15 (NPN): Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) director Prof Atul Goel and NCDC joint director Dr Shikha Vardhan arrived here on Sunday to take stock of the progress of NCDC branch building in Dimapur. This is the maiden visit of the DGHS to the State, Dr. Nyan Kikon, SNO, IDSP stated in a press note. The DGHS also visited BSL2 Laboratory in CIHSR, Urban Primary Health Centre

Governor extend Tsungkamneo festival greetings DIMAPUR, JAN 15 (NPN): Nagaland Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi on Sunday extending Tsungkamneo greetings to the people of Nagaland specially to the Yimkhuing brothers and sisters. In his greetings, Mukhi said the festival upholds significant traits such as unity, forgiveness, peace and friendship. “It is a celebration of love and peace among neighbouring villages and a manifestation of reconciliation of disputes,” he said and wished all a safe and a joyous festival.

Bellwether polls in 4 states critical for NE leaders eyeing 2024 gains AGARTALA, JAN 15 (IANS): The assembly polls in four North Eastern states-Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram -- in 2023 are expected to predict the electoral fortunes of the BJP, Congress and other parties in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the mountainous region. Though the assembly polls and Lok Sabha elections are fought on different issues and a dissimilar political backdrop, the assembly polls in the four NE states with six Lok Sabha seats would give a clear political signal about the outcome of the parliamentary polls. The ruling BJP is the dominant party in the al-

liance government in Tripura while the saffron party led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners -- Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Mizo National Front (MNF) and National People’s Party (NPP) lead governments in Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya respectively. The BJP’s 12 MLAs and two legislators are in the governments of Nagaland and Meghalaya respectively. Since 1952, the North Eastern states had been a stronghold of the Congress but over the years the party lost its organisational base leading to the emergence of the BJP and several regional parties.

agreement. However, we have already carried out our assessments in some constituencies where BJP has high chances of winning. There will be re-alignment in Assembly constituencies where BJP will be contesting,” party sources disclosed. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the State BJP, as directed by the Central leadership, had listed out names

of some probable candidates and would be submitting their names to the central election committee. A senior BJP functionary also informed Nagaland Post that during the recent visit of Union Home minister Amit Shah to Dimapur, the latter had categorically told party leaders that the 40:20 seat sharing arrangement between NDPP and BJP had been agreed and finalised and that nothing would be changed. Shah had also told the party leaders that the final decision of awarding party tickets would be made by the central election committee after thorough analysis. Meanwhile, sources said that chief minister Neiphiu Rio held a meeting with Sarma and BJP national spokesperson (in-charge of Nagaland) Nalin Kohli in Guwahati on January 12 and discussed about the forthcoming Assembly election and the seat sharing strategy between the two parties.

Therie on EC’s poll announcement DG Health Services in Nagaland

ENPO-MHA meeting ‘inconclusive’ Staff Reporter

India thrash SL by 317 runs; sweep series 3-0

Political commentator Satyabrata Chakraborti said that the regional parties had emerged highlighting the local and regional issues. Due to a lack of proactive leaders and central leaders’ inactivity, the Congress gradually lost ground to the BJP and the regional parties. “The Congress could not succeed in effectively dealing with the insurgency, unemployment, connectivity, infrastructure development and solution of the diverse ethnic issues. The party failed to exploit even whatever good steps were taken by the Congress governments including setting up of tribal autonomous

councils in several northeastern states,” he told IANS. Chakraborti said that there is no sign that the grand old party would revive its position in the region with a multiplicity of around 400 tribes and diverse religions. “Congress’ double engine (party governments both at the Centre and the states) was very weak or ineffective compared to the BJP’s double engine. The fall of the UPA government and the emergence of the NDA government at the Centre pushed the Congress to a defensive position,” the analyst said. Political pundits predicted

that if the Congress performed poorly in the assembly elections in the four states the party would likely face further erosion and fare poorly in next year’s parliamentary polls. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the eight northeastern states, the BJP has 14 seats followed by the Congress with four and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF in Assam), Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP in Nagaland), Mizo National Front (MNF in Mizoram), National People’s Party (NPP in Meghalaya), NPF in Manipur and Sikkim (Cont’d on p-8)

(4th from R) DGHS Prof Atul Goel with others officials.

in Burma Camp and Dimapur District Hospital and interacted with staff of the units, especially with regard to service delivery and challenges, including areas and gaps that could be filled up,

capacity building and other technical issues. Goel also interacted with senior officials of the Health & Family Welfare department led by principal director Dr Temjentsungla.

35000 Naga youth to receive skill training under PMKVY 4.0 DIMAPUR, JAN 15 (NPN): To boost skilling efforts, 35,000 youth of Nagaland would be trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 in the next 12 months as a part of Skill India Mission. This was announced by Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Under the programme, courses and skill training efforts focusing on futureready skills with industrybacked job opportunities ranging from artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, electronics and IT/ITES to mobile repairing, vehicle maintenance, agriculture & allied sectors, etc, would be introduced for the youth. “Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi is building New India with re-imagined ambitions and aspirations for young Indians. There are multiple opportunities available today and therefore skills become important to take advantage of these opportunities. Skills are the new passport to prosperity,” he stated. He stressed that in line with Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”, the next wave of start-ups and entrepreneurs must come from Kohima and other parts of the Northeast. According to Chandrasekhar, “India today is at an inflection point, it is enter-

ing into its Techade and the future of India is technology. To capitalise and take advantage of this opportunity, skill training is essential.” Nagaland has three PMKVY kendras and 11 training centres apart from eight government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and two Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs). Through customised courses, special projects would be launched to ensure high employability, especially in the fields of green jobs, food processing, leather and sports, electronics and logistics, etc. Already, 25,367 people had been trained under earlier PMKVY programmes. Expansion of Skill Hubs would be undertaken in government schools, engineering and general colleges, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, ITIs and within industry premises, so that greater number of youth could access skilling using the existing infrastructure. Nagaland Tool Room &Training Centre, Mongken Apparel Production Unit, both in Dimapur, National Institute Electronic & Information Tech (NIELIT) Kohima, Dimapur Government College, Kohima Science College, Jotsoma and Software Technology Park of India (STPI), Kohima are the proposed hubs and training centres under PMKVY 4. K Y M C


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