January 3, 2019

Page 1

Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00

www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXIX No. 27

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019 Pages 16 ` 5.0

Taiwan independence a ‘dead end’, says Xi Jinping

Spurs beat Cardiff 3-0; reclaim 2nd place

Oppn slams UP govt’s cow cess plan

international, Page 9

sports, Page 16

national, Page 7

Cong-BJP spar over Rafale in L.S.

NEW DELHI, JAN 2 (PTI): The opposition and the government were involved in a bitter war of words on the Rafale issue in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with Rahul Gandhi saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “does not have guts” to face questions in Parliament and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accusing the Congress chief of peddling “lies” and “falsehood”. The lower house witnessed frequent adjournments as barbs flew from both sides and Opposition Members tried to disrupt speeches of rival leaders during a near three-hour debate. The discussions ended abruptly midway after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan suspended 24 AIADMK members for five days due to the “grave disorder” they caused with their protests in the Well of the House. In an embarrassment to the Narendra Modi government, its ally Shiv Sena also supported the Opposition’s demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) into the Rafale deal, claiming that people say the aircraft is good but the deal is bad. Following Gandhi’s hard-hitting attack on the

ANFATA threatens to boycott class

Correspondent

KOHIMA, JAN 2 (NPN): All Nagaland Fine Art Teachers Association (ANFTA) has threatened to boycott class if the government continued to turn a deaf ear to the association’s demand. The association said it had submitted six representations to the responsible department since 2010, but the department has failed to take any action. ANFTA president V Hetoi Swu told this correspondent that the drawing teachers in the state were not getting equal scale pay like physical teachers, Hindi teachers, carpentry instructor, knitting instructor etc which they ought to. The association asserted that the drawing teachers took training outside the state without any incentive as there no drawing institute in the state. ANFTA, however, stated that employees of other departments of same category, who took training within the state, were enjoying the higher pay scale, which it described was “discrimination.” ANFATA cautioned that failure to fulfil its demand at the earliest would compel the drawing teachers numbering around 280 teachers across the state to boycott the class in the first part of the year.

This is it!

“After acting in ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ he now seriously aspires to become PM.” K Y M C

Arun Jaitley and Rahul Gandhi speak in the Lok Sabha during the discussion on Wednesday. (LSTV grab via PTI)

government, Jaitley led the government’s charge in a scathing counter-attack as he referred to alleged defence scams during the Congress rule and said “conspirators” of past defence scams had the “audacity” to target the Modi dispensation. He also ruled out a JPC probe–– a demand made by most opposition leaders, including Gandhi–– saying there was no need for it as the Supreme Court has already satisfied its “conscience” on the issue. Targeting Gandhi, the BJP leader said he would have played in the lap of ‘Q’, an apparent reference to Ottavio Quattrocchi— allegedly involved in the Bofors case. Jaitley also mentioned the recent disclosure allegedly made by AgustaWestland accused Christian Michel

and referred to terms like “Mrs G” and “the Italian lady” and “her son” to attack the Congress leadership. The House also witnessed high drama after Gandhi sought the Speaker’s permission to play an audio tape, purportedly of a Goa minister, on the Rafale deal. The Speaker also disallowed Gandhi’s request to play the audio tape.

Sparks fly over tape

Sparks flew between the Congress and the Government Wednesday over Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s purported claim he had a file on the Rafale jet deal “lying in his bedroom” and Rahul Gandhi making an attempt in the Lok Sabha to play an audio tape purportedly of a Goa minister regarding this matter. As tempers ran high in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister

Arun Jaitley said the tape is “false and fabricated”, asking the Congress president if he can authenticate. Jaitley also asserted that Gandhi may have to face privilege motion and even expulsion in case the tape turns out to be fabricated. Parrikar on his part termed the audio clip cited by the Congress on the Rafale deal as a desperate attempt to fabricate facts after the Supreme Court exposed the “lies” of the opposition party. The Congress earlier in the day demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Parrikar’s purported claim and asked if this was the reason why a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe was not being ordered. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala came out with a conversation purportedly between Goa minister Vishwajit Rane and another person. Rane purportedly can be heard saying that during a Goa cabinet meeting last week Parrikar stated he had an entire file and all documents relating to the Rafale deal lying in his bedroom, Surjewala claimed, playing the conversation for the me-

Citizenship bill: JPC to submit report on Jan 7 G U WA H AT I , JA N 2 (AGENCIES): Despite the ongoing protest against the citizenship bill in Assam, Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 has decided to submit its report to the Parliament in its present form on January 7. The committee, led by BJP MP, Rajendra Agrawal, will finalise the draft on Thursday and is likely to submit its report on January 7, a day before the conclusion of the winter session. The JPC, which met on Monday, rejected all amendments moved by the members of Opposition parties. While the All Assam Students Union has warned the Centre that it would not accept any move that was against the spirit of the Assam Accord, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), which had been opposing the proposed legislation,

said that if the Bill is passed then as many as “1.90 crore Hindu migrants from Bangladesh will be eligible for citizenship. “The Bill if passed will only push the Assamese people to the doldrums,” KMSS adviser, Akhil Gogoi told reporters here on Wednesday. Meanwhile, AASU chief adviser, Samujjal Bhattacharya said: “the JPC members had committed that they would take views from across Assam and other states of the North East. However, this has not happened. So how can they take a decision without consulting all stakeholders in the region,” Bhattacharya reasoned. Khasi Students Union (KSU) too has criticised the JPC’s move to accord approval to the Bill in its current state. “This is nothing but vote bank politics. The Centre should not compromise with the rights

of the indigenous people,” a KSU leader told the media. Opposition party members in Assam too criticised the JPC for “overlooking the sacrifices of the martyrs of the Assam Movement.” As many as 70 organisations in Assam protesting against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 have decided to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the government’s recent notifications. “The petition to be filed in the Supreme Court is currently being prepared by Prashant Bhushan, and it will challenge all the notifications by the government on citizenship rules since 2015…,” said Akhil Gogoi. These groups believe that the notifications by the Modi government have fulfilled the objectives of the proposed Bill to grant citizenship to a section of non-Muslims from neighbouring countries.

dia outside Parliament. However, there was no confirmation on whether it was the voice of Rane in the audio. The identity of the other person was also not ascertained. Rane termed the audio clip as “doctored” and fake and told BJP president Amit Shah that he has asked the state government to order an inquiry into the matter.

Rahul dares PM to one-on-one debate

After Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ruled out the constitution of a joint parliamentary committee on Rafale jet purchase in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a one-on-one debate on the issue. “The PM does not have guts to face me,” the Congress chief said. Addressing the media, Gandhi said, “The Finance Minister himself told Parliament that size of Rafale deal is Rs 58,000 crore, or Rs 1,600 crore per aircraft.” He added that former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is effectively blackmailing the Prime Minister on Rafale.

Mnp rebels call total shutdown on Jan 4 boycotting Modi’s visit Correspondent

IMPHAL, JAN 2: Manipur-based rebel groups have given separate total shutdown-calls on January 4, 2019 while announcing the boycott of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manipur. The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in Imphal on January 4 to inaugurate a host of projects besides laying foundation stones for some new projects. He is also scheduled to address at a public function in Imphal on the same day. Security has already been beefed up in the twin capital districts of the state since the last few days. Besides random frisking and checking operations, security forces were also conducting search operations at various sensitive areas in both the districts. A team of 29 members of Special Protection Group (SPG), who arrived Imphal on December 31, 2018, were also assisting the state security force and police in taking up security measures particularly along the routes where the Prime Minister would travel and the venue

Union Cabinet okays bill for revision of Arunachal ST list Spl. Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN 2 (NPN): Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the introduction of a Bill namely The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in the Parliament for certain amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 so as to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Arunachal Pradesh. According to an official statement, the ‘Nocte’, ‘Tangsa’, Tutsa’, ‘Wancho’ would be included in lieu of ‘Any Naga Tribes’ in serial No. 10 in list of ST of Arunachal Pradesh. Other changes that would be made in list of ST of Arunachal Pradesh include deletion of ‘Abor’ in serial No. 1, as it is the same as ‘Adi’ in Serial No. 16; replace Tai Khamti’ instead of ‘Khampti’ at serial No. 6; inclusion of ‘Mishmi-Kaman’ (Miju Mishmi), Idu (Mishmi) and Taraon (Digaru Mishmi) in serial No. 8 and inclusion of Monpa, Memba, Sartang, Sajolong (Miji) in serial No. 9 in lieu of ‘Momba’. After the Bill becomes an Act, member of the communities newly listed in the revised list of ST of Arunachal Pradesh will also be able to derive benefits meant for STs under the existing schemes of the government.

(Hapta Kangjeibung) where he would address the people. Another four-member team of SPG arrived Tuesday and joined the earlier team, an official source said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, as part of preventive measure in connection with VVIP visit, the personnel of state police commando and troops of 15 Assam Rifles sanitized the Imphal river bank from Minuthong to Sanjenthong with sniffer-dog. The said area is close to the venue of the public function where the Prime Minister would address. Amidst the tightened security measure being in place, Coordination Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of some major rebel groups, has announced a total shutdown on January 4. The shutdown will be effective from 1 am of the day till the Prime Minister left the state, CorCom stated in an e-mail statement. The conglomerate body stated that Modi’s visit to Manipur was a part of visit of “Indian colonial leaders” to strengthen the colonial rule in the region. CorCom alleged Indian government

continuing British’s divide and rule policy in the region and trying to divide among the people of hill and plain to suppress the people of the region. United People’s Revolutionary Front of Manipur (UPRFM), another umbrella body of some factions of armed groups has also announced a 12-hour total shutdown on January 4 boycotting the visit of Prime Minister. The shutdown will be enforced from 6am of January 4 till 6 pm of the same day, a statement of the front said. However, the total shutdown will not be imposed if the Prime Minister happened to cancel or postponed his visit in the state, the statement added. Maoist Communist Party Manipur (MCPM) also announced boycott to the visit of the Prime Minister, but stated that it will not impose any kind of strike on the day. Asking the people to stay away from receiving or attending Prime Minister’s function, the statement of the MCPM said that the outfit will treat those who come were receiving tips from the BJP.

Nagaland declared ‘disturbed’ for 6 more months under AFSPA NEW DELHI, Jan 2 (PTI): The entire state of Nagaland has been declared “disturbed area” for six more months, till June-end, under the controversial AFSPA, which empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior notice. In a notification, the Home Ministry said the Central Government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of state of Nagaland is in such a disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of civilian power is necessary. “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No. 28 of 1958), the central government hereby declares that whole of the said state to be a ‘disturbed area’ for a period of six months with effect from December 30, 2018, for the purpose of that Act,” the notification said. A Home Ministry official said the decision to continue the declaration of Nagaland as “disturbed

area” has been taken as killings, loot and extortion have been going on in various parts of the state which necessitated the action for the convenience of the security forces operating there. There have been demands from various organisations in the Northeast as well as in Jammu and Kashmir for repealing the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which, they say, gives “sweeping powers” to security forces. The AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland for several decades. It has not been withdrawn even after a framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015 by Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and government interlocutor R N Ravi in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The framework agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years with the first breakthrough in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland.

Meghalaya: Families of trapped miners lose hope Nagaland among 3 NE states with most primary dropouts Correspondent

Shillong, Jan 2: The families of the trapped miners inside a flooded coal pit for 21 days now in Meghalaya on Wednesday said that they are giving up of them coming out alive, even as rescuers are struggling to dewater the pit. “We have lost all hope to see him alive again. I just wish they retrieve his body so that we can give them a decent burial and pray for them,” said Krishna Limbu, the brother-in-law Assh Bahadur Limbu, who is among those trapped in the mine. Assh, 21, a native of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, is one of at least 15 miners trapped inside the flooded illegal coalmine at Ksan village in East Jaintia Hills district since December 13. “Like the other family members of those trapped miners. I have lost all hope,” Krishna sighed.

Rescue Operations Spokesperson, Reginald Susngi, said that Odisha firefighters drained out 7.20 lakh litres of water in 6 hours on Wednesday from an old shaft nearby the main shaft, where miners are trapped. “However, the water level in the main shaft will be determined only after the Indian Navy divers measure the water level,” Sunsgi said. On Monday, Indian Navy divers had located a wooden structure, coal lying beneath and one rat hole with coal at its mouth inside the flooded mine. They had requested for dewatering the flooded mine so that the divers could dive to the bottom of the 370-feet-coal pit. India’s leading pump manufacturers Kriloskar Brothers Limited (KBL), which was roped in by Thailand government and rescued 12 young Thai footballers and their coach from flooded cave, have joined in with four

specialized high-capacity dewatering pumps. Describing the rescue operation as “very slow”, mining expert and awardwinning rescuer Jaswant Singh Gill Wednesday said,

“There is no coordination at all. Safety of the human lives is most important. In this kind of an emergency situation, we expect they should work like a machine and synchronised like a machine.”

SC to hear urgent plea today

Supreme Court agreed to hear on Thursday a plea seeking urgent steps to rescue 15 miners who have been trapped inside an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya since December 13. The matter was mentioned Wednesday for urgent listing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul which agreed to hear the matter on Thursday. The PIL filed by advocate Aditya N Prasad also sought a direction to the Centre and other authorities concerned to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) for rescue operations in “mines and other similar conditions”. The plea, filed through advocate Astha Sharma, sought directions to the Centre and the state to utilise the services of the technical wing of the Indian Armed Forces -- the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force -- in the operation immediately to rescue the 15 miners. The petitioner sought directions to the Centre and the state government to request for high capacity self priming pumps available in the country including that of Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL) which were offered to the Royal Thai government in June-July 2018.

NEW DELHI, JAN 2 (AGENCIES): Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya top the tally of states which recorded high dropout rates at primary level of school education during 2016-17. These worrying figures came to light in a reply given by Union human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar in Lok Sabha during the ongoing winter session of Parliament on Monday. Against the national dropout average of 6.35% in primary level, the percentage of dropout rate in Arunachal Pradesh was the highest in the country at 23.25%, followed by Nagaland (20.95%) and Meghalaya (17.69%). Though the comparatively improved dropout rates in Tripura (4.39%) and

Assam (5.60%) may be encouraging for the two North Eastern states, in Manipur and Mizoram the dropout percentage stood at 16.79 and 15.36 respectively. In upper primary level, where the average dropout rate nationally was 5.67% in 2016-17, Jharkhand recorded the highest dropout in the year at 19.61 percent, followed by two North Eastern states, Nagaland and Meghalaya, which recorded dropout percentages of 18.28 and 17.59 respectively. The dropout percentage of other North Eastern states in 2016-17 are Arunachal Pradesh (12.81%), Manipur (12.76%), Mizoram (9.88%), Tripura (5.34%) and Assam (2.51%). The scenario in the NE is comparatively better in the secondary level. None of the states from the region earned the dubious distinc-

tion of being at the top of the chart of dropout rates, but over 20% dropout rate was registered in all seven North Eastern states at the secondary level. The dropout percentage at secondary level of schooling in the North East are Nagaland (31.28%), Mizoram (30.67%), Arunachal Pradesh (29.93%), Tripura (29.76%), Meghalaya (28.07%), Assam (27.6%) and Manipur (21.05%). Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest dropout rate at the secondary level, with 50%. The national average of dropout percentage at secondary level in the year was 22.13. In the higher secondary level too, the ranks of the North Eastern states were better, with none of them featuring among the top three states with the highest dropout rates of 2016-17. (Cont’d on p-7) K Y M C


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