January 3, 2019 by Nagaland Post

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

state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

YSU, SUD and IVUZ celebrate Jubilees

C. Peter Yanthan with O Thungben Kikon and others after unveiling and dedication of the YSU Jubilee (Inset): T Kiheto Sema releasing the SUD Jubilee souvenir. Shoixe village presenting Aphilo Kuwo. Monolith on December 29. (NP) greetings was delivered by tee. Nivukhu Zhimo, pastor, through the prayer support Lipemo M Tsopoe presi- Chekiye Baptist Church in- of members of Zunheboto dent LSU. The program voked God’s blessings, Rev. and Ikiye Village, the union was chaired by Thungbeni Vikheshe Chishi, principal, had been richly blessed by Kikon, cultural secretary Withee Bible College said Almighty God and had LSU. (Correspondent) the benediction and Rev. Dr. produce many educated and SUD celebrates Silver Kavito Zhimo, principal of qualified people in various Jubilee: Satakhami Union TTC, pronounced the jubi- fields. He urged the gatherDimapur (SUD) celebrated lee blessings. Rev. Luhevi ing to live in faith with God its Silver Jubilee at Agri Zhimo, pastor, Nihokhu and extended his best wishes Expo, Dimapur with T Ki- Baptist Church blessed the for the union to reach its heto Sema, IAS (Rtd) as new incoming office bearers. Golden Jubilee in the year special guest on December Around 1000 Satakhamis 2044. 29. in and around Dimapur atDuring the jubilee celA press release issued tended the event. ebration, ex-women leader by SUD general secretary, IVUZ celebrates Sil- Vizheli Achumi delivered Kahoto K. Zhimomi stated ver Jubilee: Ikiye Village a message of God, where that the special guest urged Union Zunheboto (IVUZ) she urged the gathering that Satakhamis to relive the celebrated its Silver Jubilee forgiveness and accepting past glories of Satakha and on January 1, at D.C Hill weakness of others through also stated that they were Colony Zunheboto. Christian principals should second to none during the A press release from be their duty. Quoting from bygone days. IVUZ silver jubilee media the book of Galatians (5:1), He also recalled that and publicity in-charge, she said that a jubilee signiSatakhami has produced Vitoka K Aye stated that the fies the purest of the pure of Members of Ikiye Village Union Zunheboto during their Silver Jubille celebrations on January 1 in Zunheboto. many Sumis writers. “Sumis, jubilee began with a prayer celebration -- a year of blessas a tribe has lost many op- by Tokali Chophy. ings for the generation. She D I M A P U R / WO K H A , veiled the Jubilee Monolith. “We cannot compro- student leaders who had a that “people without vision portunities in the past due to Delivering the note of thereby said that everyone JAN 2 (NPN): The Jubilee The celebrations were held mise our future if the stu- vision for the future com- will perish.” division among the tribe”, celebration, Ikiye village must accept Christ and live celebrations of Yonchucho from December 28 to 29. dents of present generation munity. He encouraged the He also spoke against he asserted. He also stated head GB Kakheto Aye stated exemplary lives. Students’ Union, Satakhami Speaking on December are not dedicated and walk gathering to expand their the menace of the lives of that Satakhami were torch- that IVUZ was established On the occasion, a JuUnion Dimapur and Ikiye 29 as the special guest, Yan- in the right direction” he vision through inspiration youth and students: alcohol bearers of the Naga national in the year 1994 with seven bilee special song was preVillage Union Zunheboto than stated that knowledge asserted while stating that with a positive attitude and and drugs. He stated that movement. Cultural items households during the initial sented by Ghoshini Zhimo were organized recently. has no end, as education is students were the pillars of seeing things from every per- they not only spoil lives but including aphilo kuwo were formation with its prime and friends. The program Following are reports from a life-long process that ends the future generations. spective stating that “If you bring unrest to the family performed by Shoixe vil- objective to unify bona fide was chaired by Shivito the events. only in the grave. He also encouraged change the way you look at and society. The students lage, Thighale performed members of Ikiye village at Chophy, chairman and YSU celebrates GoldHe urged the young students to be torch bearers things, the things you look were asked to set goals and by Shoipu village and Lejole Head quarter Zunheboto Shikaho H Achumi, secreen Jubilee: C. Peter Yan- students to work hard and who illuminate the dark to at change.” pursue them with determi- sung by Ghukiye village. and to bring prosperity and tary of the Jubilee Planning than, additional director, acquire more knowledge light the way to the future. On the educational nation and to not be strayed. Kivikhu village presented safeguard its citizens. Committee. Avishe Ayemi department of agriculture, and make knowledge a tool Dr. Longshibemo Yan- front, Dr. Yanthan said that The monolith stone was a “Jubilee Song” and Vioto He also disclosed that announced the host for the graced the Yonchucho Stu- for the community’s prog- than, speaking on the theme students need to rededicate dedicated by O Thungben N Shohe presented a special at present there were twenty 2020 New Year Celebradents’ Union (YSU) Golden ress because, he said, once “Expand your horizon”, themselves to their studies Kikon, pastor Wokha Vil- song. The program was eight households of Ikiye tions, which was followed Jubilee celebrations on De- gained, knowledge is never said that the celebration and commit themselves to lage Baptist Church. chaired by T Victo Zhimo, Village stationed in Zunhe- by a mass benediction and cember 29 where he also un- lost or stolen. highlights the past glory of the area of learning stating Earlier, a message of chairman, planning commit- boto. He further said that Jubilee feast.

SXCCK welcomes New Year DIMAPUR: St Xavier Catholic Church, Kidima (SXCCK) observed the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and New Year 2019 program, with Reverend Father Rajesh Lobo SJ, on January 1 at the Church

premises. A press release from P. Tepekrovi Kiso said that Father Rajesh Lobo SJ in his address urged the gathering to pray to Holy Mother Mary for intercession with God for the continuous

grace required in life. The release also mentioned that Franciscan Sisters of Saint Mary of the Angels joined with the community and offered special prayers for new Church leaders and for the days to come.

NPCC, FGN extend New Year greetings

DIMAPUR: With the be- associations and unions” ginning of 2019, Nagaland had destroyed the primary Pradesh Congress Commit- goal of life, “happiness”. tee (NPCC) and Federal He said the divisions had Government of Nagaland blinded society “losing sight (FGN) have sent New Year of a common goal, objecgreetings. tive and the sense of oneN P C C : N a g a l a n d ness.” Pradesh Congress ComAccording to Therie, mittee (NPCC) has wished the “I want more” instinct the people of Nagaland a was out of control, while Happy New Year. individualism had become In a message, NPCC the philosophy. president K Therie hoped He remarked, “We that 2019 would be the year have turned to become one of hope and opportunities. of the most individualist He prayed that the “Lord of society members, perhaps Lords” make 2019 a fulfill- in the world. Welfare of ing year. commoners is only skin Alluding to the divi- deep.” sions that the Nagas had He said though every suffered in recent years, leader spoke of welfare, the the pradesh Congress chief instinct of “I want more” observed that frictions and actually controlled the lives divisions on the basis of of those in power, adding A Nagaland team of eight Child Scientists from Cornerstone School Zunheboto, “religion, tribalism, fac- that “corruption, lies, selfChrist King Hr. Sec. School Kohima, Zeliangrong Heraka School Tening, St. tions, social organisations, ishness and cheating” were Joseph School Kohima, under the aegis of the Nagaland Institute of Health Environment and Social Welfare (NIHESW) Kohima headed by Santu Thapa, State Coordinator and Dr. Pallab Changkakoti, State Academic Coordinator along with three escort teachers attended the 26th National Children Science congress (NCSC) held from December 27 to 31, at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan DIMAPUR: The Naga Students’ Union Bangalore (NSUB) has extended an invitation to its alumni and University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. (NIHESW director Dr. Vizovol Mekro) former executive members to attend the forth coming golden jubilee celebration of the NSUB on January 4, 1 pm at Saramati Hotel in Dimapur. Further enquiries may be directed to Dr. Kaholi Zhimomi at 9945486170 or Wapangla Imchen at 9612583833.

in daily news. He regretted that law and order had been completely sidelined, while spiritual values were not practised in life, especially in matters of governance. The NPCC chief urged Nagas to commit themselves to practising Christian spiritual values in all their activities and receive “365 days of opportunities in 2019.” He further added “To avail the year of opportunities ahead of us politically and economically, the people must decide to achieve common political objective, that is solution, and an economy through clean governance. Together only we can turn the table in favour of the common people.” FGN: Federal Govern-

ment of Nagaland (FGN) has wished all the Nagas a Happy New Year. Greeting everyone in the name of the Most High, FGN Kedahge “brig. (retd)” S. Singnya, in a press note praised God and wished every member of the Naga Household a very Happy New Year. Singnya called this a time for everyone to retrospect, think afresh and resolve to strive for the better. “It is the time also to plan and reach out to one another with love and hope, to renew and strengthen relationship; it is indeed the time when we see the best in us at work” he added. As the unfolding of the best promises of the New Year are anticipated, he extended heartiest goodwill to every individual member

NSUB informs

DDADU finds abandoned auto rickshaw

NSCN (K) discharges 2 on medical grounds

KVK Dimapur successfully completed Swachhta Pakhwada from December 16 to 31, 2018. Field visits, awareness programs on sanitation and homestead gardening and also waste management, planting of trees, distribution of seedlings, mushroom spawn and celebration of Kisan Diwas were some of the activities conducted during the period. (KVK Dimapur) K

DIMAPUR: The office of the NSCN (K), in a press release by its home secretary, A Sema has stated that the following persons: Kahuto Aye, s/o Fekiye Aye, and Tokiye Awomi, s/o Vihoto Awomi of Xekiye village under Kuhoboto

sub-division on Dimapur, have been discharged from their duties on medical grounds. The release added that the government has acknowledged their contribution in their assigned duties and wished them the best for their futures.

of the Naga family. “...may we never forget to remember the collective vision and aspiration of the pioneers of our Naga nation, the sacrifices of sweat and blood upon which the foundation of our nation and our identity was laid firmly” he stated. He however pointed out that this does not mean “that we bask over the past glories or treat unfortunate events with vinegary” and urged everyone to press on forward by letting the rich historical experiences give meaning to both the present and the future. Singnya also wished that “we constantly remind ourselves that it is God who guided us to where we are today and thus seek His face earnestly for the redemption of our aspiration and hope.”

Parishioners watch as an effigy of the “Old Man” goes up in flames on New Year’s Eve 2018 at St. Francis de Sales (SFS) parish in Kohima. Made of hay, clothed and commonly referred to as “Mr. Old Man”, he represents all the sorrows of the year gone by that are to be burned away before the New Year begins. (Max Marius Menuose-O)

DIMAPUR: The Dimapur District Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union (DDADU), in a press release by its president I Vitoshe Sema, stated that it has recovered an abandoned auto rickshaw bearing registration number NL07/F-5801 from Third mile Dimapur and it has been kept it in its custody. The rightful owner has been asked to claim the auto rickshaw from DDADU head office at Super Market near Hotel Saramati during office hours i.e 10 am to 3 pm or contact 9612520353 on or before January 7. K

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Will the year 2019 be better, same or worse than 2018? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

A B C

State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

Unions hold general sessions and conferences

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Better Same Worse

65% 13% 22%

Next poll

Q: Is govt in Meghalaya

looking the other way on illegal mining?  Yes  No  Can’t say

1: Alfred H. Ayemi speaking at the MTSSU 23rd annual general conference held on December 27 and 28. 2: Tecuno Vamuzo speaking at the YSU general session in Yoruba on December 28. 3: (L-R) Dory Yanthan, O. Elhibemo Yanthan, Shanjamo Yanthan and R. Daniel Yanthan, at the LSU general session..

WEATHER FORECAST January 3

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Hazy sun

26 10

Aizawl

Plenty of sunshine

Guwahati Hazy sun Imphal

Plenty of sunshine; pleasant

Itanagar Hazy sun, not as warm

21 7 22 10 22 6 20 8

Shillong

Hazy sun

16 4

Kohima

Plenty of sunshine

17 5

Dimapur Plenty of sunshine; pleasant Mkg

Sunshine; not as warm

22 10 19 7

Tuensang Cooler; a stray p.m. shower

11 2

Abundant sunshine; cooler

15 9

Wokha

Zunheboto Sunny; cooler

16 4

DDADU informs

Dimapur: Dimapur District Autorickshaw Driver’s Union (DDADU) has informed the public that it has been getting reports from the general public regarding not being able to track the belongings left in autorickshaws. DDADU has asked commuters to note down the registration number of the vehicle before boarding it to make it easier to trace belongings that they may leave behind. DDADU has also reminded autorickshaw drivers to submit any belongings if found in their vehicle to the DDADU head office.

DIMAPUR: With the holiday season, various unions and other organizations have been holding their general conferences and sessions. Following are reports of some of them. MTSSU annual general conference: Medziphema Town Sumi Student’s Union (MTSSU) held its 23rd annual general conference under the theme, “Inculcating progressive skills through knowledge and wisdom” on December 27 and 28, 2018 at Medziphema Town Sumi Baptist Church, A press release issued by MTSSU stated that the special guest, G/T government of Nagaland, chairman youth executive WSBAK, Alfred H. Ayemi, emphasized on dignity of labour and how a job, irrespective of its position, should be acknowledged and appreciated. He urged students to enjoy responsibilities and to trust their skills so that they may enjoy their work as they earn. He also pointed out that that no work is too small and urged the students to never be ashamed to perform any kind of labour.

Alfred encouraged the students leave their comfort zones and venture out. The prog ram was chaired by super visor Sunday School MTSBC, Hukali Zhimo; invocation was pronounced by associate woman pastor MTSBC, Viheli Zhimo. The newly elected office bearers for the tenure 20192020 is headed by Bento Chishi as president and Tonato Rochill as general secretary. Yorubami Students Union general session: The Yorubami Students Union (YSU) held its 63rd general session under the theme “Empowering excellence” at Yoruba Local Ground under Phek district on December 28 and 29. A press release from YSU stated that the guest speaker for the inaugural session was Tecuno Vamuzo, Chief Judicial Magistrate Longleng, and Vezalhü Chakhesang, expresident YSU & KCSU, was the session speaker. Dzüvichüno Banuo Veswüh, principal Royal Academy Higher Secondary School, Itanagar graced

the valedictory function of the two day event. Speaking on the occasion, the guest speaker talked about the importance of preserving identity and culture. She laid emphasis on dignity of labour and challenged students to take pride in earning through hard work. Vamuzo encouraged the student body to guide and teach the younger generation. She also recounted some of her own experiences when she was involved in student unions. The program was attended by a host of dignitaries, Church leaders, elders, president CSU and his colleagues. In the evening, Vezalhü shared a brief history of the origin of Nagas and also spoke on the importance of sanitation and cleanliness in the village. A highlight of the second day was the literary day including students participating in various competitions (quiz, essay writing competition, extempore speech, debate, drawing and painting competition.) The program concluded with a valedictory ses-

sion in the evening where meritorious students were felicitated. WVGEU annual conference: Wokha Village Government Employees’ Union (WVGEU) conducted its 24th annual conference at the Wokha village community hall with Er. R.C. Murry, senior manager, E/M, DHEP as the theme speaker on December 28, 2018. A press release from WVGEU president Yanrenthung Kikon and general secretary Hajamo Murry reported that speaking on the theme ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world,’ Er. Murry said that everybody desires to change the world but nobody ever thinks of changing the self. Elaborating further, he said that if the question of who wants change was put forward, everybody would say they want change. But if they are asked if they would change first, nobody wants to say “I will change myself first.” An individual has to first change oneself and only then can change happen in the community and world, Er. Murry added.

E a r l i e r, W VG E U president Yanrenthung Kikon delivered a presidential address and EAC Englan, Echungbemo Erui, delivered greetings at the conference function led by Dr. Nchumbeni Humtsoe. Wokha Village Baptist Church (WVBC) pastor O. Thungben Kikon offered a special prayer for government employees of Wokha village under Wokha district. WVBC deacon Zurenthung Murry said the invocation; Y. Senka Murry from B Khel presented a special number; WVGEU auditor convenor Mhathung Kikon proposed a vote of thanks; and WVBC deacon Phyokhamo Murry pronounced the benediction. The conference function was followed by a luncheon and a general discussion hour where reports, including from the general secretary, finance secretary and a lunch expenditure report was also presented. The union expressed gratitude to all members and all concerned for making the 24th WVGEU an-

nual conference a grand success. LSU holds general session: Lakhuti Students’ Union (LSU) held its 68th general session on December 31 at Local Ground, Lakhuti Village, under the theme “Think, Execute and Win.” A press release by media in charge, LSU, Yanrenthung J Humtsoe said that general manager, NST, Elhibemo Yanthan, was the special guest for the event. In his address, he advised the students to be cautious and to think ahead of every step. Citing the example of Nelson Mandela’s life, Humtsoe also motivated the students by sharing the hardships and humiliation Mandela encountered. Theme speaker, district fishery officer, Dory Yanthan, urged the students to realize their dreams and execute them with open hearts and accepting all circumstances. She also advised the students to hunger to achieve their dreams by believing in themselves and believing in change. Guest of honour for the event was retired assis-

tant director, department of School Education, R. Daniel Yanthan, who in his speech laid emphasis on the importance of the pen. Short speeches were delivered by general secretary, Lotha Students Union, Ashanthung Humtsoem, and general secretary, Lotha Middle Range Students Union, William Yanthan, and vote of thanks delivered by general secretary LSU, Libeni Ngullie. Zarenthung Yanthan and Eyilobeni Kikon presented special numbers, and a welcome song was presented by executive members of LSU. Pastor, LBC, Rev. Ezanbemo Odyuo offered a special prayer for the students, and senior leader Seventh Day Adventist Church Lakhuti, Chonzamo Yanthan offered the invocation, followed by a welcome address by president LSU, Shanjamo Yanthan. The prog ram was chaired by Nzani Ngullie and Vincent Kikon and benediction was delivered by women’s coordinator LSU, Soyingbeni Patton.

ATMA activity reports from Phek and Wokha

Weziho block oyster mushroom demonstration.

Weziho block Mobilization of Farmer Group.

Weziho block Banana Farm School inauguration.

ATMA Wokha inter-state farmers’ training.

DIMAPUR: Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) is a society of key stakeholders involved in agricultural activities for sustainable agricultural development in the district. It is a focal point for integrating Research and Extension activities and decentralising day to day management of the public Agricultural Technology System (ATS). It is a registered society responsible for technology dissemination at the district level. Following are some reports of its activities as K Y M C

reported by the agency. ATMA Phek, Weziho block: ATMA Phek, Weziho block conducted training and demonstration programs at Yisi and Shatuza Village on December 7, 2018. According to a press release by BTM, ATMA, Weziho block, T Sanchibeni Humtsoe, she demonstrated package and practices of oyster mushroom cultivation, where preparation of substrate from paddy straw and filling it in a poly bag with uniform sprinkling of spawn over the straw was shown. She also encour-

aged participants to take up mushroom cultivation to meet their dietary requirements and for additional income. Spawns of Oyster mushrooms and poly bags were distributed to participants. A training and demonstration program on Integrated Pest Management in winter crops was conducted by ATM Weziho block, Nuzo, at Yisi Village who highlighted the importance of careful evaluation of each pest infestation and understanding of the life cycle of pests, possible damage, natural enemies

etc before implementing a control plan. Some mechanical management of pests like: preparation and setting up of yellow sticky traps, cardboard plant collars, pruning and raking etc were demonstrated to participants. In the later part of the training, two farmers group from Yisi and Shatuza village were mobilized and they were briefed about the purpose and benefits of working together in groups by BTM Weziho block, Sanchibeni Humtsoe. On December 8, 2018, the team then vis-

banana pits. A Banana farm school was inaugurated at Kuzatü village under Weziho block on December 8 with Akenuo as farm school teacher. Three farmer groups from Kuzatü and Hutsü villages were also mobilized. ATMA Wokha interstate farmers’ training: ATMA Wokha organized an interstate farmers training program at Green Biotech EcoSolutions, Imphal in Manipur from December 11 to 15, 2018. The program emphasized on organic farming practices including pests and disease control organically. A press release by deputy project director, ATMA, Wokha, Yanglen Y Jami stated that the resource persons for the trainings were: director, Geetashori Yumnam; co-director, Dr Asem Sundari Devi; operation manager, Chirom Menaa; technical head of mushroom unit, Dipachandra Loitongbam; and APO MOVCDNER department of Agriculture Manipur, K.

Nimaichand Singh. The farmers were imparted trainings on organic farming practices and management, Better Efficacy Effective Micro-organisms (BEEM), technology for livestock management, BOKA-C making, aquaculture management, heap composting, mushroom spawn production and its cultivation, bio pest, diseases, fungal and virus control, etc., through theory session

and practical demonstrations with feedback and interactions. Farmers were also shown around some of the important places located in Imphal. The training program was carried out in fulfillment of ATMA cafeteria of activities B. 2.a with participants from farmers of Wokha district and led by two deputy project directors, Yanglen Jami and Subenthung Yanthan.

ited Kuzatü and Hutsü villages and conducted various activities. Nuzo, AT M We z i h o b l o c k conducted ‘Training & demonstration on cultivation practices of banana” where he highlighted ideal conditions for growing bananas including Agroclimatic requirements, soil condition and availability of water. He also highlighted the importance of crop rotation of banana with other crops like sugarcane, paddy etc to help regain soil fertility and to ensure vitality. Participants were also shown how to prepare K Y M C

northeast

AR host police commando meet in KA

Assam Rifles troopers perform a drill at the opening ceremony at Diphu under Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Wednesday. (PTI)

Diphu, Jan 2 (PTI): The ninth All India Police Commando Competition, organised under the aegis of Assam Rifles was inaugurated by Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy at Karbi Anglong Sports As-

sociation (KASA) Stadium at Karbi Anglong district headquarters here in Assam, officials said. Speaking on the occasion, Roy said the competition's main aim is to improve the standard of

professional performance of the police forces of the country. Appreciating the endeavour of the Assam Riffles for organising the competition, Roy said the country's oldest paramili-

tary force has lived up to its credo of being 'Friends of the North East'. A total of 22 teams eight central armed police forces (CAPF) teams and 14 state police force teams are participating in the event, an Assam Rifles official said. A team of 21 paratroopers displayed their skills at the programme, he said. A Traditional Manipuri Musical Band also performed at the programme, he added. The Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, the district Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police were also present at the inaugural ceremony. The closing ceremony of the 9th All India Police Commando Competition is scheduled to be held on January 9 and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal would be present on the occasion, the official of the paramilitary force said.

Guwahati airport gets two new aerobridges

Guwahati, Jan 2 (PTI): Two new aerobridges have been added to the terminal of Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati to ease operations. The new airbridges will reduce congestion, facilitating trouble-free arrival and departure, a release issued by Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday. The aerobridges were inaugurated by a child and woman, both passengers, in the presence of AAI Regional Executive Director D K Kamra, Airport Director Ramesh Kumar, senior AAI officials, CISF personnel among others, it said. “Flying through LGBI Airport in the new year will be a pleasant experience for the passengers with the addition of two more aerobridges to its terminal on January 1,” the release said, adding that the total count of aerobridges at the airport is now six.

Mizoram: 2018 saw Cong losing its last fort in NE

Aizawl, Jan 2 (PTI): Political developments dominated 2018 in Mizoram and as the year drew to a close, the state saw installation of a new government led by rebel-turned-politician Zoramthanga, who was back with a bang after being in political wilderness for two assembly terms. Zoramthanga’s Mizo National Front (MNF) trounced the Congress to bring to an end its 10-year rule since 2008 in the state in December. Seventy-four-year-old Zoramthanga was sworn in as the chief minister for the third time on December 15. He had earlier headed the government in 1998 and 2003.

K Y M C

For the first time, the swearing-in ceremony was marked by Bible reading, prayer and singing of a Christian gospel song. Mizoram is a predominant Christian state. The Congress managed to bag only five seats while the MNF secured 26 seats in the 40-member legislature. The Congress’s slump was sharp considering the fact that it had 34 seats in the last election in 2013. Though the BJP’s pet assertion of “Congressmukt” came true in the Northeast, the party could not do much in Mizoram where it managed to win only one seat. After taking oath, Zoramthanga said that the

MNF has now no intention to leave the BJP-led NDA and the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) although it was under fire for joining hands with saffron forces. The state witnessed a terrible disaster on June 4 when 10 people, seven of them belonging to a family, were killed and one person was injured when a building occupied by two families was swept away by landslide caused by heavy rain in Lunglawn area of south Mizoram’s Lunglei town. Thousands of homes were destroyed, hundreds of families evacuated to safer places and hundreds of houses and large areas of

cultivation lands inundated by flood due to monsoon fury forcing the state government to close down all the educational institutions for two days, due to heavy rain. Simultaneous outbreak of the dreaded Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and the Classical Swine Fever (CSF) from early March resulted in the death of around 4,000 pigs across the state and was only declared as contained in early August. The PRRS had killed over 8,000 pigs and piglets in 2013 and 2017. The Mizoram Legislative Assembly on June 28 unanimously adopted a resolution expressing op-

position to the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016. The resolution moved by the then Congress government had said, “That this House resolves to impress upon Government of India its unequivocal opposition to the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 that seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants eligible to be given Indian Citizenship on the basis of religion.” “The proposed bill, if enacted could be harmful for states like Mizoram where a huge number of illegal Buddhist migrants from Bangladesh were reportedly residing,” it further said.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

Manipur govt to launch ‘Go to School’ Correspondent

IMPHAL, Jan 2: After the “Go to Hills” and “Go to Village” missions, Manipur government is ready to launch another mission: “Go to School”. State chief minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said that his government was all set to launch the new mission (Go to School) by this month. He said this while addressing the 34th Annual function of the All Manipur Newspaper Sales’ and Distributors’ Association held at Khurai in Imphal East on Wednesday. “The new mission aims at ensuring schools providing good and quality education to our children,” he said. As part of the mission, government officials will personally visit the schools and conduct on spot enquiries to assess shortages in terms of infrastructures, besides noting grievances being faced by teachers, staff and students of each school.

Shah to address Tripura BJP functionaries Agartala, Jan 2 (PTI): BJP national president Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Tripura on January 5 to address a conference of party functionaries here. Addressing a press meet here, Pratima Bhowmik, the party’s state general secretary, said on Wednesday that Shah will arrive at Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Airport in Agartala in the afternoon. “During his visit here, he (Shah) will address a conference-cum-mass gathering of 42,000 ‘panna pramukh’ and other functionaries at Swami Vivekanada Maidan,” Bhowmik said.

Manipur chief minister, N. Biren Singh at the foundation day of the Association of Newspaper Hawkers of the state in Imphal on Wednesday. (NP)

Based on the report of officials, the government will take necessary steps so that the schools can impart quality education. The mission also aims to produce good students and make them ideal citizens of the state, the chief minister said. “Priority will be given to providing good and quality education to our

children,” he added. Singh stated that the missions initiated by his government were aimed at rooting out poverty from the state, while he also asserted that various ‘human oriented’ schemes have been implemented for poor and needy people of the state since the BJP-led coalition government came to power in the state.

Dear Dzuve, Happy Birthday to you Dzuve. Wishing you sound health and successful life. -Mom & Dad To Victoria Sangtam, May many happy returns of the day. Whishing you a very happy birthday to my dear sister Victoria Sangtam. and very happy New year to you. May your wishes come true. From. S Litingse Sangtam, Cana, Ashish, Atocheh, Thsidi, Lumchung and Apili. Asi the Beast AKA Beast Naga, Happy Bornday loving brother. May you meet many more years again. We love you so much and will always love you regardless of your complexion. Big Day with big blessings. Always love from, M.Squad.

K Y M C

northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

body to be formed for Clause No plan to extend Assam’s NRC, says Centre High-level Six of Assam Accord implementation

NEW DELHI/ GUWAHATI,, Jan 2 (PTI/ Agencies): The government told Rajya Sabha Wednesday that it has no plans to extend Assam’s National Register of Citizens to other parts of the country. Replying to a written question, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said the NRC of 1951 in Assam is being updated under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955, and the applications for preparation of NRC in Assam were invited in May-August, 2015. “The exercise to update NRC 1951 is being conducted under the special provisions in respect of state of Assam under the Citizenship Rules, 2003. At present, there is no proposal to extend the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to states other than Assam,” he said. Mr Ahir said the complete draft NRC was published on July 30 last year after necessary scrutiny and verification. Names of 40 lakh resi-

Data entry operators of National Register of Citizens (NRC) carry out correction of names and spellings at an NRC Seva Kendra at Birubari in Guwahati, Wednesday. (PTI) dents of Assam were excluded from the draft NRC when it was published, creating a huge political controversy. The minister said the claims and objections on the draft NRC were invited till December 31 and after the disposal of claims and objections, the NRC is to be finalised as per the timelines

After Bogibeel, Assam to get another bridge over Brahmaputra New Delhi, Jan 2 (Agencies): Crossing the Brahmaputra is likely to get a tad easier in Assam. Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bogibeel Bridgethe country’s longest railcum-road bridge connecting Dhemaji and Dibrugarh-the Assam government has said that another bridge over the Brahmaputra is in the offing. According to India Today, the state government has said that a survey has been commissioned to see the viability of constructing a bridge near Silghat. Assam Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain said the survey is near completion. He said the government can consider to include the project in the upcoming Budget. T h e M i n i s t e r wa s speaking at a ceremonial function for flagging off a new train from Silghat

3-member team to visit B’desh for waterway project Aga rtala , J an 2 (PTI): A joint delegation of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Tripura government will be visiting Bangladesh this month to study the possibility of building a new waterway connecting the two countries, an official said Wednesday. A three-member technical team, comprising two IWAI members and an engineer from the state water resource department, will carry out spot assessment at Daudkandi area in Comilla district of Bangladesh, Additional Transport Secretary Anindya Kumar Bhattacharya said. The proposed wa terway on rivers Gomati and Meghna will connect Ashuganj river por t in eastern Bangladesh with Sonamura in Sipahijala district of Tripura, he told PTI. “As a first step, dredging will have to be carried out on both sides (India and Bangladesh) to increase navigability of mediumsized vessels, which can carry at least 10 to 25 tonne of goods,” Bhattacharya said. Last month, a technical team of IWAI had visited the Sonamura to conduct a survey and decide on the possible location of a jetty for the project. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had also met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at New Delhi in December, seeking expedition of the project.

(Assam) to Kolkata, signalling transformation of the middle Assam areas through improved communication. “The introduction of this new train is another step towards transformation through transportation announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The new train consists of 19 new state-of-the-art LHB coaches having modern amenities and facilities,” Gohain said. Speaking about the benefits of the train route, he said tourists who are travelling to the Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary will benefit because the train will have stoppages at Amoni and Jakhalabandha, which are located close to Kaziranga. The minister also said that a Delhi-bound train and a South India-bound train will also be considered for introduction from Silghat soon.

approved by the Supreme Court.

2.65 L objections filed, 31 lakh claims received

The number of objections filed on the draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) shot up abruptly in the last couple of days and more than 2.65

lakh objections have been filed. December 31 was the last date for filing of claims and objections on the draft of the NRC and the process continued till midnight. Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that around 31 lakh claims have been filed and the claims have been received from almost all the districts of the State. But the process of filing of objections was interesting as till a couple of days back, only around 700 objections were filed and the process shot up abruptly in the last two days to reach the 2.65 lakh. The actual number may go up a little higher as reports are still pouring in from remote parts of the State. Sources said that majority of the objections have been filed in the districts of Barpeta, Nagaon, Morigaon and Kamrup. The process of filing of claims and objections started on September 23 and though the process of filing of claims steadily increased since then, most of the objections were filed

on the last day. It may be mentioned here that names of more than 40 lakh applicants were not included in the draft of the NRC. Sources revealed that all the claims and objections received would be digitized and the process of issuing notices to the concerned persons would start from January 31 and the process of hearings for verifications would start from February 15. The NRC Coordinator’s office will not depend on the postal department for issuing notices and the employees engaged in the job would be entrusted to deliver the notices to the concerned persons giving them adequate time to appear for the hearings to be conducted by Class I officers of the State Government. Though the number of officers to be engaged in the process of verification is yet to be ascertained, according to the Standard Operating Procedure cleared by the Supreme Court, between 1,500 to 2,500 officers would be engaged in the process.

Faculty threatens to shut down Jawaharlal Nehru medical institute Imphal, Jan 2 (Agencies): The faculty of Imphal based Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) has threatened to shut down the institute if their demands are not met. According to Northeast Now, the teachers association of the JNIMS warns to completely shut down the out-patient department (OPD) and new admission at the state run hospital on January 3. The Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences teachers’ body took a decision in this regard on Wednesday in an emergency meeting after the authorities concerned failed to give any positive response to their long standing demands. “However emergency casualty services would be open till a further decision

is taken by the Association,” Vice president Th Opendra and general secretary Loitongbam Nelson of TA, JNIMS said in a statement on Wednesday. The association also decided to temporarily suspend any form of agitation on January 4, 2019 because of the impending visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Imphal, it said adding that the OPD, casualty, wards and operation theatre would be fully functional. The association also decided to resume the complete shutdown of the institute from January 5, 2019 again. The meeting also reiterated the earlier decision of the last emergency GBM about relaxation of TA members involved in the upcoming university examination.

The demands of the association according to the news reports include absorption of tenure senior residents(SR)/ tutors demonstrators; implementation of Time Scale Promotion Scheme for CMOs (chief medical officers) as per RIMS (Regional Institute of Medical Sciences) CMOs Time Scale Promotion Scheme; implementation of Career Advancement Scheme for MBBS and diploma SRs; implementation of the Old Pension Scheme for MHS doctors who joined regular service before January 1, 2005; and implementation of the Time Scale Promotion Scheme for all teaching staffs of JNIMS (such as promotion from assistant professor to associate professor and associate professor to professor).

New Delhi, Jan 2 (Agencies): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved setting up of a high-level committee for implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and measures envisaged in the Memorandum of Settlement, 2003 and other issues related to Bodo community. It may be mentioned the Assam Accord was signed on August 15, 1985 after a six-year-long Assam agitation from 1979 to 1985. According to Northeast Now, the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord envisaged that appropriate constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. But the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord has not been fully implemented even after 35 years after signing of the Accord. The Modi Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of a high level

committee to suggest constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards as envisaged in Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, stated a PIB release. According to information, the Committee will examine the effectiveness of actions since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. The Committee will also have discussions with all stakeholders and assess the required quantum of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for the Assamese people. Besides, the Committee will also assess the requirement of measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam, quantum of reservation in employment under Government of Assam and other measures to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people, it added. As per the Cabinet decision, the Ministry of Home Affairs will issue the

composition and terms of reference of the committee. It is expected that the setting up of the committee will pave the way for the implementation of the Assam Accord in letter and spirit and will help fulfil longstanding expectations of the Assamese people, it further stated. At a time when most of the Bodo organisations including ABSU have been demanding solution to the separate Bodoland State issue, the Union Cabinet approved a number of measures to fulfil the outstanding issues related to the Bodo community. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved establishment of a Bodo Musuem-cum-language and cultural study centre, modernisation of existing All India Radio Station and Doordarshan Kendra at Kokrajhar and naming a Superfast Train passing through BTAD as ARONAI Express. Relevant ministries will take the required actions to implement these decisions, the release stated.

OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXIX NO. 27 Dimapur, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

Rats and dons

here seems to be no hope at the end of the tunnel for the 15 labourers trapped in a coal mine in Meghalaya since December 13,2018 as search and rescue operations continue a hopeless effort to locate the missing persons or their bodies. The tragedy continues to be played out in the media since the search and rescue mission in a flooded coal mine have been marred by lack of effective equipment and delays. The miners have been trapped in the illegal rat-hole mine in East Jaintia Hills district since December 13 after water from a nearby river flooded it. The mine is filled with 70 feet of water, making it inaccessible to the rescue workers. The kind of preparedness has been more than highlighted by the amateurish attempt to reach the bottom or the tunnel and the abandonment of the efforts due to lack of proper equipments. The wait for heavy duty water pumps from other parts of India to remove water from the tunnel also revealed that the management of the crisis was a disaster. It took the police hours to locate the mine as the villagers feigned ignorance about the accident. They were afraid that mine owners might cause them harm. Some who consider mining to be their only means of livelihood fear police action may add to their woes,” he said. Rat-hole mining of coal – a technique that entails digging small vertical pits to reach the mineral and carving narrow sideways tunnels to move it underground – was banned in Meghalaya in 2014 by the National Green Tribunal as it did not follow regulations. However, activists allege coal continues to be mined illegally and this incident appears to be proof of that. The issue of illegal coal mining especially -rat-hole mining-had been raised by rights activist Agnes Kharshiing about a month ago. She exposed the illegal activity in the media and inflamed the operators. It wasn’t long before the coal mining mafia in East Jaintia Hills district, set their goons who brutally attacked Agnes Kharshiing and her companion. Kharshiing had reportedly captured photographs of illegal rat-hole mining in the district and was stopped by miscreants on their way back. Rat-hole mining involves digging of narrow tunnels, usually 3-4 feet high, for workers to enter and extract coal. The horizontal tunnels are often termed “ratholes”, as each just about fits one person. Water from rivers and streams in the mining area has become unfit for drinking and irrigation, and is toxic to plants and animals. A study by the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, says the Kopili river has turned acidic due to the discharge of acidic water from mines and the leaching of heavy metals. Coal mining is one of the most lucrative trades in Meghalaya and offered unlimited opportunities to make money. Coal has transformed the people’s economy in Jaintia district where most of them are dependent on the trade for livelihood. Rat-hole mining is a primitive and hazardous method of mining for coal, with tunnels that are only 3-4 feet in diameter (hence, rat-hole), leading to pits ranging from 5-100 sq. mt deep. The ban by the NGT has been challenged by the NPP coalition government , backed by the BJP. The NPP government then permitted mining till January 31, 2019. What the issue also reveals, is that elected members and political parties are themselves deeply involved in coal mining trade and for which lives of poor and marginalised are of no concern.

DailyDevotion Will You Go Out Without Knowing? He went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8 Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?” You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “…do not worry about your life…nor about the body…” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.” Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does? Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.

Quotes

To enjoy the glow of good health, you must exercise. ~ Gene Tunney

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

Post-mortem

Ray of hope in an age of anxiety

nxiety is not something new; certainly not of the present. It has been there through ages. It is part of us, in all of us and thus cuts across race, class, creed, caste and color. It is within us and amongst us and therefore what is to be done. Anxiety will have to be faced boldly and should be addressed and resolved. To bring clarity to this term, Charles Dickens in his masterpiece A Tale of Two Cities (1859) even after 150 years sheds light to us:“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us …” A fabulous blend of polar opposites parallels and paradoxes that describes the web of life that humans cruised through the ages. It is important at this juncture to ponder over that despite many achievements, progress and phenomenal economic, social and technological accomplishments over centuries we are more than ever intensely caught up with the anxiety syndrome. Technology has taken us to greater heights and thus made transformative changes. Global wealth has grown many times that has never been witnessed ever before. Indices of nations’ GDP, GNP and per capita income show stupendous growth figures. Increasingly, we have been entering into a world of digitalization, robotization and atomization. For these stupendous changes technology plays the most crucial part thereby taking us to greater heights. Many of us keep wondering not knowing how to cope-up with stupendous changes, almost at the cusp of posthuman trajectory. For instance, more

than half the global population including India is outside the technological revolution. Majority of them live either US$1 or $2 a day—somehow with great difficulty managing and meeting both the ends. At the same time, global wealth has grown phenomenally, but inequality widened. However, the changes and transformation, growth and progress and wealth and prosperity accrued has not minimized anxiety, rather we live in an age where anxiety has maximized at alarming levels. The reasons are: The chasm of iniquities between countries has narrowed, but within countries, the rich-poor divide has widened. Pollution levels, environmental degradation and ecological disasters have grown due to meddling with the ecosystem in the name of ‘development’. Materialism and consumerism have become the credo. As a result, more than half of the younger populate is obese. On the one hand, children under less than five die of malnutrition and live and prolong without basic health care; many keep dying due to conflicts between castes, clans and racial and creedal differences; hundreds and thousands of people die because of climatic changes like tsunami, typhoons, pollution and landslides, while on the other, communication technology and related apps coupled with all kinds of techs and its disciplines in science and others have taken the world we live-in to unbelievable heights. The biggest worry is a massive technological trend; displacing basic labor in favor of skilled labor and capital. Robotization, atomization and digitalization have taken the toll of semi-skilled labor force. If this is understood as “progress” and “growth”, then it would us to shuddering halts. Inequality is also a “best of times-worst of

times”, followed by questions: @ whose cost and @ what cost? Clubbing all these cumulatively, inequality among all citizens of the world is real which is taking huge toll. A few (super-rich and middle classes) are prospering, but many hardly can meet both the ends and there’s no sign of quality of life in the near future. This scenario is manifests across the world leading to xenophobia, fear of migrants and immigrants within and between countries. Right-wing politics, nationalism, populism BREXIT and Trumpism furthered anxious moments. Due to all these a sense of anxiety has already been crept into us that we live in a world of rising insecurity wherein lynching of all kinds have become the order of the day—terrorism, honor killing, ethnic and religious conflicts; rapes, building walls and host of other. In a world of anxiety, is there any hope? YES! Taking cue from Prophet Isaiah: 40: 31: ‘Arise with Eagles Wings and Be Renewed with Strength, Expectation and Hope’. Analogy of eagle by prophet Isaiah is something unique and apt because for centuries people have seen eagles as symbol of beauty, bravery, courage, honor, pride, determination and grace. Eagle as a bird is important and symbolic to humanity particularly at this juncture because of its characteristics of eagle that has been associated with escalation of anxiety that we face at present. Eagles are fearless and tenacious, which is why they love the storm. Usually, birds tends to flee from the storm and resort to hide-outs, while eagles fly into it and use the wind of the storm to rise higher in a matter of seconds. Eagles use the intensity and ferocity of the storm to glide over. Eagles characterize some of the most amazing characteristics that are to be taken as solid benchmarks for us to move on in a

world of anxieties. There are numerable storms we face and confront each and every moment of our existence. Running away from them shall never be a solution. Eagles fly into it and use the gale/typhoon to fly higher and higher and then glide over storing and preserving its energy. Whatever may be the crises-ridden situations, those who have imbued with the characteristics like that of eagles can overcome daringly with the resolve to maneuver the situation boldly. Let us not assume that life is smooth, straight and devoid of any problems. Life is studded with problems being engulfed with all sorts of issues. Problems vary from each other arising out of social or economic or political or cultural or religious facets, but its magnitude may differ from one to another. Obviously, the problems that we face and confront infuse anxiety that propels us to take diverse actions. However, the core of all these is anxiety. Anxiety therefore is part of human nature which is obviously quite natural. However, handling anxiety differs from one to another. Apparently many sink as they fail to encounter anxiety in the ways it should be handled. But, a few boldly face anxiety and thus transform it as opportune moments. Anxiety should never be allowed to creep-in, because it is like slow-poison, which affects our mind and then gradually seeps into body. Despite problems of all sorts and anxiety of numerous dimensions and proportions, what constitutes in our life is hope. To conclude, let me bring a quote from Bethan Albertson: “Democratic citizenship in an anxious world can be deeper, more informed citizenship”. With hope and in hope, we should move on. Let us strive for secured and humane world. Let 2019 be anxious-free and hope-filled year. Dr. John Mohan Razu

For how long will we go on building plastic states and plastic cultures?

e were once sons and daughters of a vibrant culture that was built on the firm foundations of honesty, integrity and hard work. We were then sovereign and independent villages, dependent on nobody for our political or economic survival. We were so, because then, we lived under the shadows of our own proud rainbow flag of freedom and liberty. But somewhere along the way, some of our own people brought a saffron colored flag to fly over our lands. And life has never been the same since then. From then on, a plastic culture emerged in our lands, where we became dependent on others for our political and economic survival. And for the past 58 years since statehood, we have all been busy building this plastic state and culture. And whether we like it or not, we are all entrapped under its laws and regulations. Of course, this plastic state and culture also has its glitter and glare. Under its alluring shadows, some of our own few privileged ones have made their millions. But what this glittering saffron flag totally lacks is freedom and liberty. In fact, such a saffron flag is totally foreign and alien to our own customs and culture. And yet, for how many more times are we going to talk about our so called privileges under Article 371(A) of that saffron flag and Constitution? Incredulous educated Nagas seems to be totally incapable of ever understanding that the Disturbed Area Act of 1954 and AFSPA 1958 (etc), have already cut article 371(A ) to pieces? These naïve Nagas seems to be foolishly turning around a ripened apple in their fingers without realizing that the apple is laced with poison under the skin. This poison laced apple, hanging on the plastic tree, has almost destroyed our culture. It has now started to corrode even our Christianity and our ethics. But somehow, we are still carrying on building this plastic state and culture, hiding now even under an external form of Christianity. In the 1950’s, under the banner of the Naga National Council and the Federal Government of Nagaland, we were able to give an excellent account of ourselves in defending our independence. In my opinion, our heroic records then had surpassed the records of any other nations in history. But tragically, beginning in the early 1980’s, we disintegrated into all sorts of factions and started hoisting our own small “plastic rainbow flags” in the name of this revolution and that revolution. In the end, today, we are both an externally as well as internally suppressed people. We are indeed today a tormented people, denied our national freedom by a “saffron plastic flag” on the one hand and extorted by many “plastic rainbow flags” on the other hand. Just tell me how a nation can politically and economically progress under such throttling and suffocating circumstances? But now, as a New Year dawns on all of us, let us resolve ourselves to throw away all these saffron colored plastic flags and rainbow colored plastic flags from our land and our country. Let us for once and all, stop building all these plastic states and plastic cultures. May the new ear bring us new insights and new commitments to build a true nation under our own God given Rainbow flag. Long live- all true sons and daughters of Nagaland. Kaka D. Iralu

What I learned from arbitrary detention of journalist

he arbitrary detention of Kishorchand r a Wa n g k h e m , post his social media rant on facebook by the Manipur Government has so many angles entwined behind his action. What Mr. Kishorchandra did may be wrong morally in terms of using abusive words, showing sign language but his detention after being released on bail by District Magistrate Imphal West under National Security Act 1980 is so wrong and had received nationwide condemnation from Indian Journalist Union, Press Council of India, Human Rights Law Network New Delhi, National Television News Channel like Mirror Now, Social Activist etc for official abuse of power by the Manipur Government. Quoting from HRLN New Delhi press release titled HRLN condemns published in Sangai Express dated 26.12.18. Dr. Colin Gonsalves Founder of HRLN and Supreme Court Senior Advocate stated that “F” word used in swearing is a part of the freedom of speech and expression. He further explained that it is lawfully used and is justifiably used as well and that the attempt of the State Government to arrest such a person is totally wrong. Dr. Colin further reasoned that not only should Kishorchandra be able to get bail but the prosecution should be

quashed as well. The use of swear words is totally permissible under the Constitution of India. Historical Angle Kishorechandra in his video countering Manipur Government decision to organize birth anniversary celebration of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhanshi bluntly pointed that Rani of Jhansi has nothing to do with Manipur History or its upliftment accused the Manipur CM of sidelining freedom fighters from Manipur. No Indians can devalue the contributions of Rani Lakshmibai towards Indian Freedom struggle but social political settings are different in the northeast region especially states like Manipur and Nagaland with long history of political unrest where major ethnic groups still harbours ethnic nationalism in addition to lack of emphasis of Northeast region history including the people with diverse culture, languages and traditions, also its importance cut out from mainstream Indian education system again worsened by racial discriminations faced by North-Eastern tribal’s in mainland India, the reason why many youths don’t feel Indian. Have Central Government taken a different approach in dealing with the people of northeast especially Manipur, I believe not even single citizen of Manipur would have protested observ-

ing birth anniversary of any freedom fighters from other part of India but how did the representatives of GOI such as the para military forces deal with the people? It unleashed terror not sparing civilians from militants; its state government running the day to day affairs like a police state, under such ground reality, New Delhi cannot expect the theory of unity in diversity to work in Manipur. Had the birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmibai organized in other North-Eastern States like Nagaland or Mizoram, reaction of the people from these states would send out clear message on whether they are in same boat with Kishorchandra. Taking the instances of Mizo students’ bodies groups which strongly opposed the Central Government plan to honour Khuangchera as an Indian Freedom Fighter, a tribal Mizo freedom fighter who was killed in 1890 resisting the British Expansion into Lushai country citing that though he fought against the British he was not defending India as the idea of Unified India didn’t exist then. In my view, such historical facts should not be manipulated to integrate the tribal’s from Northeast region with the mainstream which patriotic Indians love to do creating more resentment than integration.

Hindutva Angle In today’s India, who had not voice out against the ideologies and policies of right wing Hindu extremists? Take the example of journalist Late Gauri Lankesh, who was gunned down for voicing out against Hindu fundamentalist groups, writer activist Arundhati Roy who is among the first critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP and the RSS. Sedition and Secessionist Angle The detention of Kishorchandra has once again open up anti-national debate in the country this time in Manipur after the JNU campus fiasco in 2016 where its student leaders were arrested on sedition charges on account of being anti-national raising antinational slogans. Their arrest was followed by widespread protests. What relate Kishorchandra with JNU student’s leaders was that they all spoke out against Modi BJP Government and automatically became anti-national in the eye of the government. But the Manipur Government went too far by invoking provisions of Sec. 13 of the NSA Act even after the Magistrate had released the journalist on bail stating that his statements did not seem to disturb the peace thereby his action not worthy of jail time under the provisions of the

Indian Penal Code. In an edited version of the video under the caption Why NSA? It justified the legal action of the Manipur Government as the journalist words ‘present freedom strugglers of Manipur’ is full of secessionist idea and against the unity, integrity and nationalism of India. For how long the GOI and state government would continue to harass civilians for such comments without settling with the main actors. Colonial approach in place of soft power approach towards

complex northeast region would not improve the situations. Conclusion Lastly, irrespective of the outcome of Higher Court ruling, twelve month detention without proper trial has made Kishorchandra a true fearless crusader of the idea of free speech of our time who has now support from nook and corner of India. And the people need to stand with him now to defend democracy in Manipur. Pakinrichapbo (Advocate), Samziuram Village, Peren

Reader’s Post

Retrospect to renew life Sir,

Every year is a New Year celebration but we never retrospect our life for realisation. To think back to our past is very important as to renew our life. Our past retrospection will make us realise what is good and bad. Let us not point to others but let us introspect ourselves first. Belief in God is pointing by ourselves to be the change and not to point at others. Simple words, before we speak think twice, before pointing to others point to ourselves for that reason, to get angry is very easy but to forgive is very hard, earning easy money will make you pay for your life one day, to walk in the light has a narrow-road on earth but in Heaven it will be speechless to praise God how good it is. On earth only hard work person will bring success. Likewise, in Heaven only the faith in God will bring you eternal life. Happy New year 2019. M. Bonglang Phom (Balang) Chakhesang Walford Colony 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.

National

Yogi Adithyanath (File)

be ensured through such thinking of the BJP and the RSS”. UP Congress spokesman Anshu Awasthi said, “The BJP is in power in UP for more than 20 months, but nothing concrete has been done for the cows.” He said the Bharatiya Janata Party had sought votes in the name of the cow and now its government is burdening common people, invoking cows. The government will issue a notification within a week on the new cess under its ‘gau kalyan’ scheme, Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi told PTI, a day after the cabinet approved the scheme to set up the ‘gauvansh ashray sthals’. “Details are being worked out, and it will be

implemented as early as possible,” Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told PTI. UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey rubbished the opposition criticism, saying the “historic decision” will go a long way in benefitting farmers. He said it will prove to be “the largest scheme in the world” to help farmers save crops from stray cattle. At the same time it will help in the conservation of cattle, he added. The sale of byproducts from cattle will also help make the sheds selfdependent, Pandey said. The cowsheds will be opened in all villages, panchayats, municipalities, nagar panchayats and municipal corporations. They will have a capacity to hold at least 1,000 animals, officials said. An official said farmers are abandoning their animals because of increasing mechanisation and the new policy will ensure care for the stray animals. The additional 0.5 per cent cess will be levied along with the toll collected by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) and similar agencies.

Rajnath should order raid on Parrikar’s bedroom: Goa Cong

Panaji, Jan 2 (IANS): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh should order Central agencies to raid the private residence of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to search and seize files related to the Rafale deal in national interest, said Goa Congress spokesperson Siddhanath Buyao. The spokesperson said Parrikar should be accorded security following the disclosure about Rafale, or, he would meet the fate of judge B.H. Loya and former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya. Buyao said officials and personal staff of the former Defence Minister should be quizzed while Parrikar, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and other Cabinet ministers, who were present at the Cabinet meeting where the former Defence Minister allegedly made reference to possessing files related to the fighter jet deal, should be put through a lie detector test. “In national interest, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh should or-

Siddhanath Buyao (File)

der the agencies under his Ministry and other Central agencies to raid Parrikar’s house and his bedroom to seize the files in his possession,” Buyao told a press conference on Wednesday. “He (CM) can meet the fate of judge Loya or Haren Pandya, because this statement was made by Parrikar according to Vishwajit Rane. Parrikar should be given security, now that Parrikar has said that (Rafale) files are with ‘me’”, Buyao said, adding that the individual speaking to Rane in the purported audio conversation should also be identified and provided security. “This is a very serious matter. We have to

get to the bottom of this. Rane and other ministers who were present at the Cabinet meeting, where Parrikar made those comments about the Rafale files, should be subjected to a lie detector test,” he added. Parrikar, who is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, is currently recuperating at his private residence. Earlier on Wednesday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in Delhi, released the audio of a telephonic conversation purportedly between Rane and another person whose identity was kept anonymous, in which Rane is heard saying that Parrikar, during a recently held State Cabinet meeting, said that he has files related to the Rafale deal in the bedroom of his private residence where he is currently recuperating. Surjewala asked Modi to come clean on the deal and make public the files which Parrikar “is using to threaten the Centre and the BJP”.

Also, 0.5 per cent of the profits made by some PSUs and construction agencies like UP Rajkiye Nirman Nigam and UP State Bridge Corporation will be used to generate funds for the planned cow shelters. The ‘Kanji House’ system for holding impounded cattle would also be revived, officials said. A committee will be set up at block, district and tehsil level for the implementation of the plan. The state government has been under some pressure from farmers protesting over stray cattle destroying their crops. Adityanath recently ordered removal of illegal encroachments to pave the way for fresh grazing grounds. Over the past week, people in at least two villages in western Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh and Firozabad districts rounded up stray cattle and locked them up in government schools, refusing to let classes run until the administration did something about the animals. In Aligarh, police stations have started sheltering stray cows after a directive from the district police chief.

TMC against using religion in politics: Mamata

Mamata Banerjee (File)

Kolkata, Jan 2 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), was for the socio-economic development of women, but was against using religion in politics to get justice for them. Baner jee, who was commenting on the Opposition stalling the “triple talaq” bill following which the Rajya Sabha was adjourned, said her party was “totally in favour of women”. She said the TMC had 33 per cent elected women representatives and urged other political parties to follow suit. “We are totally in favour of women. We are for the socio-economic development of women. Women should not face any injustice.

(From p-1) Among all states and union territories, Karnataka registered the highest dropout percentage at 99.93%. Among the North Eastern states, Arunachal Pradesh (22.46%) recorded the highest dropouts in the region, followed by Nagaland (13.96%) and Meghalaya (13.82%). Against the national average dropout rate of 13.09% in the higher secondary level, the dropout percentage of other North Eastern states during 201617 were Manipur (11.81%), Assam (11.72%), Tripura (11.21%) and Mizoram (6.42%). A statement tabled in the house by the HRD minister said that as per independent surveys commissioned by the ministry to estimate children out of school in the country earlier, the major reasons were poverty or economic reasons, lack of interest in studies, disabilities or poor health. It was also revealed by the surveys that some children were not in school because they were needed to help in domestic work. There were also cases where it was found that education was not considered necessary by the parent or the head of the household.

in achieving better synergies between the schemes and thereby improves their effectiveness and help in achieving better outcomes with the available resources,” the statement said. The eight sub-schemes included Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, National Youth Corps, National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development, International

3 key accused held in Gujarat constable exam paper leak case

Ahmedabad, Jan 2 (PTI): Three key accused in the Gujarat constable examination paper leak case of last month have been arrested, the state’s top police officer said Wednesday, taking the number of those behind bars in the matter to 15. Investigations have revealed the accused were part of a gang which had stolen an exam paper meant for recruitment of police constables in Gujarat from a printing press at Manipal town in Kar-

nataka in November, said Director General of Police Shivanand Jha. The trio, key accused in the case, was arrested Tuesday from different parts of the country and brought to Gandhinagar, where an FIR was registered last month, he told reporters in the state capital. Earlier, 12 people, including candidates who had allegedly paid money for the leaked paper, were arrested by the police in the case. The recruitment exam,

originally scheduled on December 2 last year, was called off at the last moment after the authorities came to know about the paper leak. A fresh exam will be held on January 6. The DGP said the trio was part of a professional gang involved in leaking papers of many such competitive exams in the past. They were identified by the police as Vinay Arora of Sonepat in Haryana, and Mahadev Dattatrey and Vinod Rathod, both from Bidar in Karnataka.

Cooperation, Youth Hostels, Assistance to Scouting and Guiding Organizations, National Discipline Scheme and National Young Leaders Programme. The scheme beneficiaries are the youth in the age-group of 15-29 years. In case of programme components specifically meant for the adolescents, the agegroup is 10-19 years, the government said.

DIMAPUR, JAN 2 (NPN): Gover nor PB Acharya attended the inaugural session of Science and Technology Conference of 86th Sivagiri Pilgrimage at Shivagiri Mutt, Varkala, Kerala on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, Acharya stated that Sree Narayana Guru, considered Father of Kerala Renaissance who famously proclaimed “One Caste, One Religion, One God for Mankind”, was a guiding principle for the people even now and had a greater relevance in

Patna, Jan 2 (IANS): Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday said bird flu is under control in the state and that there was no need to panic. “All precautionary measures have been taken to ensure the flu does not spread and human beings do not contract the virus,” said Modi, who also holds charge of environent, for- Sushil Kumar Modi (File) est and climate change, at Modi said the state a high-level meeting in the state capital to review the was put on alert last week after six peacocks were bird flu situation.

the present time. He said Sivagiri Mutt was a major spiritual-cum-pilgrim spot associated with the “hallowed memory” of Sree Narayana Guru, a great yogi and siddha revered even by Mahatma Gandhi for his unrelenting crusade against untouchability and casteism. The governor said the Guru always wanted to develop a society where people never quarrelled and none was discriminated in the path of progress by combining spiritual and temporal matters, “thus liberating and leading

them to enlightenment and progress.” He pointed out that the Guru stressed abstention from religious conflicts and promote universal peace, harmony and prosperity of all religions. He called on the gathering to the follow the teachings of Guru for a better society and to strengthen the nation. “Let us progress through education and strengthen through organisation. Let us emulate the teachings and principles of Guru and work for universal brotherhood and world peace,” he added.

found dead in Patna Zoo due to suspected bird flu. The zoo has been shut. He said there is no possibility of bird flu spreading in the state as there are no reports of any fresh death of birds since December 30. Blood and other samples of 26 species of birds from Patna Zoo were sent for tests in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. A second such sample would be sent on Jan 15. “The zoo will open only after tests confirm negative results,” he said.

Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey said all health centres in Patna are on alert for the flu and all measures have been taken to prevent the flu from spreading to human beings. “The situation is fully under control,” he said. In the last week of December, a statewide alert was issued in Bihar over a suspected outbreak of bird flu after two separate incidents confirmed the presence of H1N1 virus in a section of the avian population in the state.

CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL LENGRIJAN DIMAPUR Motto : Learn to Serve Admission going on for the Session 2019 from Classes A-10 Hostel Facility available for both boys and girls with special tuition in Maths and Science Contact : 7085493800 / 8729979673 K-3765

j.n. aier

college

C’ Khel 4th Mile, Diphupar Dimapur : Nagaland jnaiercollege@gmail.com

SITUATION VACANT Applications are invited for the post of Asst. Professor in Sociology Department. Eligibility :1. M.A in Sociology with 55% above. 2. Preference will be given to those who have NET/Phd Applications along with photocopies of necessary documents should be submitted in the office or by e-mail at : jnaiercollege@gmail.com

DP-15

nation building activities and the extension of the scheme would involve a budget outlay of Rs. 1,160 crore, an official statement said. During 12th Five Year Plan period, eight youth schemes were brought under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram as sub-schemes as part of a rationalization exercise. “This has helped

Acharya lighting the inaugural lamp of the Science and Technology Conference of the 86th Sivagiri Pilgrimage at Shivagiri Mutt, Kerela on Tuesady

Bird flu is under control in Bihar, says Minister

Cab approves continuation of umbrella scheme for youth N e w D e l h i , Jan 2 (IANS): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of Rastriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme, an umbrella scheme of the Union Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, for the period 2017-18 to 2019-2020. The scheme aims to develop personality and leadership qualities of the youth and to engage them in

Nagaland Governor attends science meet in Kerala

K-3746

VACANCIES FOR TEACHERS - 2019 PERENNIAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL ETSUTCHUKHA COLONY, WOKHA

(A Central University Established by an Act of Parliament 1989) School of Engineering & Technology D.C. Court Junction, Dimapur-797112, Nagaland Phone: 03862-234555 Fax: 03862-234561

1. Maths /Science Teacher for Elementary Section, B.Sc., B.Com : 2 Posts 2. Computer Teacher, PGDCA : 1 Post 3. Primary Teacher (B.A.) : 1 Post 4. Assistant (B.A, P.U. Passed) : 1 Post 5. Lotha Teacher (B.A.) : 1 Post * Preference will be given to B.Ed., D.El.Ed and Montessori Trained Walk-in for an interview with a handwritten application along with 1 coloured passport size photograph and Xerox copy of educational qualification documents. Office hours : Mon. – Fri. between 9 am to 2 pm CONTACT NO. : 9612316312 / 8787448345

NAGALAND UNIVERSITY ADMISSION NOTIFICATION-2019

TEACHERS REQUIRED

For more detail contact at : 8731845133, 8731845144

NAGALAND

UNIVERSITY

Applications are invited for the eligible candidates for admission to "Certificate Course in Electrical & Electronic Appliance Repair". Course details: Important Dates: Date of Issue of forms and information : 10th December 2018 Duration : 6 Months Intake Capacity : 50 Last date of receipt of filled application forms : 07th January 2019 Eligibility : Class 10 pass and above Date of Admission : 8th January 2019 Admission Fee : Rs. 2000 Reservation: As per NU Norms Commencement of Classes : 09th January 2019 Important Note: All the admitted students will be provided a stipend of Rs. 1000 p.m. as scholarship subject to fulfilment of satisfactory attendance requirement and performance. Contact/Communication details: Principal, Community College, Nagaland University, Administration Block, PWD Colony, Dimapur-797112 Ph. +9436831373 / 8974524715 Sd/- S.K. Sharma DC-1996 Dean

DP-9739

L u c k n ow, J an 2 (PTI): The Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday slammed the state government’s decision to levy a cess to fund temporary shelters for cattle, saying this would burden people. The BJP government decided Tuesday to introduce an additional levy of 0.5 per cent as cow welfare cess on eight profit-making public sector infrastructure companies to fund the construction and maintenance of cow shelters. The cess will also apply on travel on some expressways where motorists already pay a toll. In addition `mandi parishads, which have been giving 1 per cent of their income for cow welfare, will now be asked to pay 2 per cent. The Samajwadi Party, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have criticised the move. “It is the responsibility of the government to protect cows, but I wonder why the people are being burdened,” SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said. BSP president Mayawati challenged the Centre to impose a similar cess at the national-level, “if the protection of cows can

Nagaland among 3 NE states with most primary dropouts

DP-40

Oppn slams UP govt’s cow cess plan

POST

QUALIFICATION

1. HEADMASTER

B.ED with 5 years experience

2. Social Science

B.ED with experience

3. Science

B.ED/D.EL.ED

4. Hindi

B.A Hindi

5. FIT

BCA/B.Sc.

Interested candidates may submit application with resume to the School Office. Location : Near Dimapur For details contact : 8794536328/ 7005805574

DP-17

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

KAKURO

No. 9096 Yesterday’s solution No. 9095

No. 3715 Yesterday’s solution No. 3714

No. 2741 Yesterday’s solution No. 2740

Across 1 Nasty type first to seize article (5) 4 One who steers or one entering into conspiracy (5) 7 French city to get beaten, we may hear (8) 8 Carreras cut in half for ages (4) 9 Transfer some firm overseas (4) 10 Smoker’s accessory is less burdensome (7) 12 A rough dress - very rough - for soldiers (5,6) 14 Extend a period of incarceration (7) 16 Group of countries not ending obstruction (4) 19 Suggestion from coach in team (4) 20 Australian city set within a river (8) 21 Former performance? Just so! (5) 22 Poor little chap captured by French marshal (5) Down 1 Book accommodation for cleaner (5) 2 Everyone left everywhere (3,4) 3 Love visiting half of Turkey for series of gigs (4) 4 Prior: clergyman in devout environment (8) 5 Blood-sucker finding shelter by church (5) 6 Change retards dealers (7) 11 Inclination to write vocal music (8) 12 Special communications channel for hotel in resort (7) 13 Free to make money from property again (7) 15 Rate change involving ten more (5) 17 Container for tea - may help a golfer (5) 18 Characteristic style of detective inspector (4)

POWER STEERING (Wagon-R)

ADMISSION STARTED Contact : 8974222333 DP-31 9089220559

DIMAPUR TO PUNGRO

SHOP FOR SALE

Night Super Bus Service Departure : 2:30 PM Start From 5th January 2019

Alto Zonal Taxi Ph : 9366028643

BOLERO PIK-UP (NL-Regd.) Model : 2016, 2015, 2012 4X4, 2X2 (NL-Regd.) Contact No. : 7005376665

FOR SALE

ALTO 800 LXI (2013) Price : 2.35 Lakhs ALTO LXI (2009) Price : 1.75 Lakhs (Nego) Contact No. : 8794812558

FOR SALE Mahindra Jeep

Tip Top, Modified Regd. NL Price : 1,10,000/- (Nego) Contact : 7085122250

CAR FOR SALE

1. Maruti Suzuki SX4 Model 2009 VXI With Alloy Wheel/New Tyres NL. No. Price 3.10 Lakhs 2. Maruti Swift LXI Model 2012 AS. No. with NOC Price 3.15 Lakhs (Negotiable) Contact No. : 9436053227

AFFIDAVIT I, Hriishuni Chobow, D/o Lokho Chobow declare through an affidavit Regd. No. 915, Dated 31/12/2018, that my names Hrüshuni Chobow and Hriishuni Chobow are one and the same person of my name, but my official name is Hriishuni Chobow. DP-35(C)

Notary Public Dimapur, Nagaland.

STOLEN

Details of Vehicle Registered Owner : INAKI K JIMO Regd. No. of Vehicle : NL 07 R 4040 Vehicle Class : Scooter (Suzuki Access 125) Chassis No. : MB8DP11ACH8360285 Engine No. : AF211253577 Colour : GL. SP. BLACK Stolen from : Near Imli Ghas, Duncan Bosti Stolen place and time : 22nd January 2018, 3:30 pm Contact No. : 9862694395

LOST NOTICE

I, Yasuj Kumar applying for duplicate copy of NIOS Admit Card and Marksheet as I have lost them. Name : Yasuj Kumar F/Name : Binod Kumar Roll No. : 320005143508 Class : X School : NIOS, Dimapur DP-18(A) Year : 2016-2017

LOST NOTICE I, Manoj Kumar applying for duplicate copy of NIOS Admit Card and Marksheet as I have lost them. Name : Manoj Kumar F/Name : Binod Kumar Roll No. : 14002092336 Class : X Year : 2009-10 Class : XII Roll No. : 320005143508 Year : 2015-16 School : NIOS, Dimapur

URGENT SALE Paddy Field 3 Bighas Below Nagaland Baptist College Niuland road

WELL DEVELOPED LAND FOR SALE

at Purana Bazaar, Dimapur NO BROKERS Contact No. : 9774194789

Contact No. : 8131898651 9402004617

LAND FOR SALE at Naga United Village

DP-37

LAND FOR SALE

120x100, 100x80, 100x70, 100x50 Rs. 150 per sq. ft. Negotiable Contact No. : 8415003804 DP-39 9402047207

Location : Borlingri Area/Price : 50x50/4 Lakhs 100x50 : 8 Lakhs * Approach road & Drainage free Contact : 8119054477

LAND FOR SALE

DP-44(A)

FOR SALE

Golaghat Road Dimapur : (03862-237307 Pungro : 9862815629

10 Bighas of Dry Land @ Padumpukhuri, Dimapur

Near Naga United Village Dry Land Any Size Plot Available Price 130 per sq. ft. 9077455764/ 8259064172

RAFFLE DRAW RESULT Kesio Khel Youth Organization Declared on 31st December 2018 1st Prize 443 2nd Prize 035 3rd Prize 113 Consolation: 128, 005, 361, 085, 246 N.B – Winners must claim the prize within 15 days from the date of draw with the winning Tickets. Failing to comply will result in declaring the ticket as null and void. K-3775

AFFIDAVIT

I, K. Chania Mao, W/o Lokho Chobow, declare through an affidavit Regd. No. 917, Dated 31/12/2018, that my name K. Chania Mao, Kahri Chania Mao, Kahri Chania, K. Chania, Chania Mao and Chania are one and the same person of my name, but my official name is K. Chania Mao. Notary Public Dimapur, Nagaland DP-35(A)

DP-21

DP-34

Auction Modified Price : 1,90,000/- (Nego) Contact No : 9089509918

K-3769

Contact

DP-27

GYPSY KING EURO-II

Near Super Market, Kohima Contact: 8014596759 8256941911

SUPER TRAVELS

DP-36

FOR SALE

BETHANY HOSPITAL NONGPOH

Wa n t e d f o r i m m e d i a t e appointment full time. Residential Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Anaesthetist. Interested Candidates may kindly contact 9612007599 or email their resume at bethanyhospitalshillong@ yahoo.co.in

Dimapur Learn Driving with

DP-24

K-3776

BRO'S DRIVING CORNER

however, may change in the months ahead as the production-cut decision by OPEC and non-OPEC countries took effect from Tuesday. Petrol price in the national capital is at Rs 68.65 on Wednesday – lowest in a year, data on the Indian Oil Corp`s website showed. The year saw petrol price rise to a high of Rs 82.83 (October 16) in Delhi. In Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, the fuel cost Rs 70.78, Rs 74.30 and Rs 71.22, respectively. While prices for diesel in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai stood at Rs 62.66, Rs 64.42, Rs 66.14 and Rs 65.56 respectively.

(No Filling Reqd.) Available in any size. Contact : 7005973055

TENYIPHE -II YOUTH ORGANISATION 31st December 2018 Raffle Draw Result

1st Prize No. : 1814 2nd Prize No. : 1043 3rd Prize No. : 1498 Consolation Prize Nos.: 1. 1459 6. 1350 2. 1633 7. 1989 3. 1589 8. 1680 4. 1693 9. 1593 5. 1722 10. 1875

AFFIDAVIT

I, Hriivuziini Mao, D/o H. Lokho declare through an affidavit Regd. No. 916, Dated 31/12/2018, that my names Hrüvuzüni Mao and Hriivuziini Mao are one and the same person of my name, but my ofﬁcial name is Hriivuziini Mao. DP-35(B)

Su doku

been issued at the time of sale. An official said that this 12 per cent GST rate ideally would have been partially offset by way of taxes paid on inputs by builders and hence the actual incidence of GST on under-construction home buyers would have been around 5-6 per cent. However, builders are not passing on the input tax credit (ITC) benefit to consumers. “One of the proposals before the council is to lower the GST rate to 5 per cent for builders who purchase 80 per cent of inputs from registered dealers,” an of-

authorised lottery attracts 28 per cent. A final view would be taken as to whether the status quo should continue on GST on the lottery or if there is a scope to tweak it. Also, a view on levying calamity cess under GST would be discussed by the council. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi ledgroup of ministers (GoM) had in October had decided to seek states’ views on whether a state-specific or a nationwide ‘disaster tax’ should be levied under the GST. The GST Council, the highest decision-making body of the new tax regime, had in September decided to set up a seven-member GoM to consider a cess for Kerala flood rehabilitation. “The next GST Council meeting within 3 weeks of the last meeting clearly shows the proactive approach of the government towards concerns of the industry and to resolve them at the earliest,” EY Tax Partner Abhishek Jain said.

FOR SALE

New Delhi, Jan 2 (Agencies): Fuel prices in the country will be reduced further said Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Zeenews reported. Talking to reporters, Pradhan said that the government is expanding refinery capacity in the country, which will bring down the prices of diesel and petrol further. Petrol and diesel prices have been on a slide lately with petrol even touching the lowest levels in over a year across the four metros. The continuous decline in prices for the last couple of weeks comes following the recent decline in crude oil prices. The trend,

DP-19

Crossword

apart from discussing levying a calamity cess as well as GST rates on the lottery. The GST Council is likely to consider lowering GST on under-construction flats and houses to 5 per cent, an official said. Currently, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is levied at 12 per cent on payments made for underconstruction property or ready-to-move-in flats where completion certificate has not been issued at the time of sale. However, GST is not levied on buyers of real estate properties for which completion certificate has

ficial said. Also the repor t of group of ministers looking into the concerns of MSMEs under the GST regime would be taken up for consideration. Currently, businesses with a turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh are exempted from GST. The Council could consider hiking the threshold to Rs 75 lakh for only MSMEs. Besides, the council would consider composition scheme for small suppliers, since it felt that the number of small service providers getting registered under GST was not on expected lines. “An in-principle unanimous decision was taken that a composition scheme be framed for small service providers. The threshold and composition charge would be decided in the next meeting,” Jaitley had said on December 22. With regard to GST on the lottery, currently, stateorganised lottery attract 12 per cent GST, while state-

Sale Person for Retail Shop at Kohima Contact:7085961585

Fuel prices to come down further: Dharmendra Pradhan

DP-12

New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI): The GST Council is slated to meet on January 10 to discuss lowering GST on under-construction flats and houses to 5 per cent, as well as hiking exemption threshold for small and medium enterprises. The council, in its previous meeting on December 22, 2018, had rationalised the 28 per cent tax slab and reduced rates on 23 goods and services. “The next meeting is scheduled for January 10,” an official told PTI. This would be the 32nd meeting of the council, which is chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprises his state counterparts. Briefing reporters after the recent council meeting, Jaitley had said that the next meeting would consider rationalisation of tax rates on residential properties and raising the threshold limit for MSMEs from the current Rs 20 lakh. Also, the council would consider a composition scheme for small suppliers,

WANTED

DP-32

GST Council to consider 5% tax on under-construction flats

New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI): Gold prices edged up by Rs 30 to Rs 32,500 per 10 gram at the bullion market here Wednesday due to a firm trend overseas. Similarly, silver gained Rs 100 to Rs 39,350 per kg on increased demand from industrial units and coin makers. Bullion traders said positive global cues and marginal demand from local jewellers led to the rise in gold prices. On Tuesday, gold shot up by Rs 200 per 10 gram. Globally, gold rose to USD 1,286.57 an ounce, while silver held steady at USD 15.45 an ounce in New York. In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity rallied by Rs 30 each to Rs 32,500 per 10 gram and Rs 32,350 per 10 gram, respectively. Sovereign gold however remained unchanged at Rs 25,200 per piece of 8 gram.

DP-33

result, the Indian rupee was one of the worst performing emerging market currencies with around 0.9 per cent fall,” said Sunil Sharma, Chief Investment Officer, Sanctum Wealth Management. Sharma further said that crude holding on to the low prices is the silver lining and bodes well for a recovery in consumer demand in coming months as prices trickle down to the pump. GST collections dropped to Rs 94,726 crore in December 2018, lower than Rs 97,637 crore collected in the previous month. Brent crude, the global benchmark, was trading lower at 53.34 per barrel, lower by 0.86 per cent. Meanwhile, the dollar index was trading higher by 0.26 per cent at 96.33 against a basket of six currencies in the late afternoon trade. Meanwhile, foreign funds pulled out Rs 621.06 crore from the capital markets on a net basis, while domestic institutional investors sold shares worth Rs 226.18 crore Wednesday, provisional data showed.

DP-43

will be no problem in service conditions,” he said. Announced by the government in September last, this reform measure aimed at further consolidation in the banking sector will make BoB the country’s third largest bank with a combined business of Rs 14.82 lakh crore. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the merger proposal, saying the respective boards of the three banks have been directed to consider the proposal at the earliest. Jaitley said the merger would create a sustainable mega-bank.

Mumbai, Jan 2 (PTI): The Indian rupee Wednesday crashed by 75 paise, its first loss in last four sessions, to close at 70.18 against the US dollar amid strengthening of the greenback and heavy selling in domestic equities. At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market, the rupee opened lower at 69.60 and fell further to touch the day’s low of 70.23 a dollar. The domestic currency, however, pared some losses and finally ended at 70.18 per dollar, down by 75 paise against its previous close. On Tuesday, the rupee had appreciated 34 paise to 69.43 against the American currency. Forex traders attributed the rupee fall to strong dollar against major global currencies overseas, fall in domestic equities and weak GST collections. Falling crude oil prices, however, supported the rupee and capped the losses to some extent. “Weak GST collections and concerns around fiscal budget targets added to investor concerns. As a

Gold rises on firm trend overseas

DP-28

New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS): The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the merger of public sector lenders Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda (BoB). Briefing reporters following the cabinet meeting, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the merger will make the “transferee” Bank of Baroda the third largest bank in the country and a “globally competitive entity”. “There will be no retrenchment of employees as the employees of Dena and Vijaya banks will be transferred to BoB. There

The merger decision was taken by the “alternative mechanism” comprising Jaitley, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This is the second such exercise in the last 21 months. In the previous such mega merger, five associate banks and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank became part of the staterun State Bank of India on April 1, 2017, making the country’s largest lender among the world’s top 50 banks. Noting that Dena Bank has been under the Reserve Bank of India’s Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework on account of its massive accumulated non-performing assets (NPAs or bad loans), Jaitley had said the consolidated entity’s capacity to absorb a weaker bank had guided the government’s decision to propose this merger.

Rupee tumbles 75 paise, logs 1st loss in four sessions

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

DP-26

Cabinet clears merger of Dena, Vijaya Banks with BoB

business

DP-18(B)

NOTARY PUBLIC DIMAPUR, NAGALAND

CHIMEN SOCIETY

Lucky Draw Result Declaration 1st Prize No. 1810, 2nd Prize No. 1370 3rd Prize No. 1837

Ten (10) No's of Consolation Prizes : 1. No. 1551 5. No. 1314 9. No. 1381 2. No. 0304 6. No. 1323 10. No. 1832 3. No. 1177 7. No. 1466 4. No. 1033 8. No. 1829 Winner may claim the prize within 7 days from the date of publishing in the local paper with the original ticket. Chairman, Chimen Society Contact No : 7005763764 DP-46

international

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

Hasina’s return as B’desh PM augurs well for India

New Delhi, Jan 2 (Agencies): The new year started on a good note for Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina. No Bangladeshi leader has ever won a third term, and with a reported eighty percent of the vote, Hasina should be the most comfortably placed leader in South Asia, First Post reported. As opposition, especially the Bangladesh Nationalist Party charged Awami League with rigging the elections, reports said that Hasina won with an astounding vote count — 1,000 times more than all her rivals put together. Calls for a re-election have already been rejected by the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda. Violence and intimidation have been reported, however, it is also a fact that Hasina and her party have themselves been victimised when out of power. In Bangladesh, there’s no mercy shown and no quarter expected. Hasina has, however, been more systematic and efficient in this roundabout of repression. At least, 300,000 cases are said to have been filed against the Opposition. Clearly, she was taking no chances. To those who observe Bangladeshi affairs, the win was hardly a surprise. For one, voters hardly

days of September — including, the 126-km-long India-Bangladesh petroleum pipeline that will connect Siliguri with Parbatipur in Bangladesh as part of the government’s plan of connecting not just roads but product pipelines. The ground-breaking ceremony for the Dhaka Tongi Jaydepur railway line was also held just before elections. The slew of projects announced by India also include railway projects linking Tripura to Bangladesh. There are also new agreements on coastal shipping that marks an important field of cooperation. There’s no doubt that Delhi would far rather Hasina continued, than an iffy coalition. While the bonhomie is evident, the troubling factors are not but they exist nonetheless. The failure to resolve the Teesta water sharing issue is the obvious one, which Modi said would be resolved “soon”. Other less obvious ones are the continuing rise of radicalism in Bangladesh. While a spate of arrests of Bangladeshis in the UK, Singapore and India, among others, point to recruitment into the Islamic State, the most visible evidence of an increasing right-wing undercurrent is Hasina’s own propitiation

of the right-wing Hezafat-eIslam, a powerful pressure group comprising teachers and heads of several madrassas in Chittagong, and led by the director of the Hathazari mosque Ameer Shah Ahmad Shafi. In 2013, it virtually brought Dhaka to a halt after a spate of protests. Suspected earlier of being in cahoots with the Opposition, Hasina chose to patronise with the group in its entirety. On 4 November, she announced the recognition of Quami madrassa Dawra-e-Hadith degrees as equivalent to a masters degree at a grand ceremony. This was promised much earlier in 2017, but the recognition, which came just before the elections, was a shrewd move and leaders of Hefazat promising they would vote for Hasina did not help matters much. As she is voted to power for the third consecutive term, Hasina will have to fulfill poll promises which include provisions like death for blasphemy, and declaring Ahmediyas as non-Muslims. The government has also announced its intention of building an Islamic University and some 560 model mosques, most of which is to be funded by Saudi Arabia. As her new

term unfolds, the prime minister will have to deliver on these promises. Bangladeshi media quoted official sources and said that at least 14 lakh students are studying in 14,000 quami madrassas. That’s a group readymade for trouble on the streets. Then there is the inyour-face Padma bridge across the Ganges, and built with Chinese money, as part of the $30 billion promised to Bangladesh by China. The Financial Times quoted local sources indicating that when private investment is added, total investment rises to about $42 billion. China also bought a 25 percent stake in the Dhaka Stock Exchange. More is in the offing. That’s reason enough for Delhi to hold Dhaka close, and ensure that it doesn’t slip into a morass of debt, apart from the inevitable rise of Chinese ‘influence’ — which essentially means buying up the political elite. Hasina’s hat-trick shows that the leader has no lack of shrewdness or intelligence. Certainly, she’s not going to annoy New Delhi who sits just across her borders. Quite understandably, she could also use the China card to get the best deal for herself.

9 Russia blast death toll rises to 21

More bodies are likely to be pulled from the rubble.

London, Jan 2 (Agencies): Russian rescuers have now pulled 21 dead bodies from the rubble of a collapsed apartment block in the city of Magnitogorsk. According to BBC, the death toll rose from 14 to 21 on Wednesday. About 20 people are missing. The condition of an 11-month-old boy rescued on Tuesday is serious but not life-threatening. He is in a Moscow hospital and will not undergo surgery for now. Officials believe a gas leak was to blame for Monday’s blast. A day of mourning is being marked in Magnitogorsk, in the Urals region about 1,695km (1,053 miles) east of Moscow. The current temperature there is -15C, and it plunges further overnight. The rescued baby, called Ivan, spent 35 hours in the freezing cold, and was reported to have severe frostbite to his limbs, a head injury and multiple leg fractures. However, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova told reporters on Wednesday that

his head injury was minor and treatment had improved his blood circulation. His mother also survived the suspected gas explosion. Six people have been rescued at the scene so far. The blast ripped through the first floor at 06:02 local time (01:02 GMT), bringing seven upper storeys crashing down. In all, 48 flats - home to 120 people - were wrecked. There was also some damage to nearby sections of the housing block, built in 1973. Investigators have not found any traces of explosive at the scene, and the FSB state security service is treating it as a gas leak accident. However, a criminal investigation has been opened, for suspected criminal negligence. In an apparently unrelated incident, an explosion destroyed a minibus near the apartment block on Tuesday night, killing three people. Investigators say the vehicle was carrying two gas canisters.

US, Israel quit UNESCO; claim anti-Israeli bias US seeks access to Russia spy accused

Death toll in Philippines storm reaches 85

Washington, Jan 2 (Agencies): The United States and Israel officially quit the U.N.’s educational, scientific and cultural agency at the stroke of midnight, the culmination of a process triggered more than a year ago amid concerns that the organization fosters antiIsrael bias. A c c o r d i n g t o Fox News, the withdrawal is mainly procedural yet serves a new blow to UNESCO, co-founded by the U.S. after World War II to foster peace. The Trump administration filed its notice to withdraw in October 2017 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed suit. The Paris-based organization has been denounced by its critics as a crucible for anti-Israel bias: blasted for criticizing Israel’s occupation of east Jerusalem,

File image of Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina. (AFP)

remembered the earlier BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami partnership with any affection. Nor are they likely to sympathise with the Opposition for rising violence and hartal calls which have reportedly caused losses to the garment industry alone of about Bangladesh taka (BDT) 8.4 billion. Worse, a rising number of attacks by the Islamic State and alQaeda in South Asia which culminated in the attack on the Gulshan café, shocked the country, particularly when arrest in the case seemed to lead to the student wing of the Jamaat-eIslami, among others. A second reason that voters seemed to favour incumbency was that under Hasina, the country has undoubtedly done well for itself. The World Bank called its progress “remark-

naming ancient Jewish sites as Palestinian heritage sites and granting full membership to Palestine in 2011. Israeli U.N. envoy Danny Danon said Tuesday that his country “will not be a member of an organization whose goal is to deliberately act against us, and that has become a tool manipulated by Israel’s enemies.” The U.S. has demanded “fundamental reform” in the agency that is best known for its World Heritage program to protect cultural sites and traditions. UNESCO also works to improve education for girls, promote understanding of the Holocaust’s horrors, and to defend media freedom. The withdrawals will not greatly impact UNESCO financially, since it has been dealing with a funding slash ever since 2011, when both Israel and the U.S. stopped paying dues after

able”. Bangladesh is one of the ten fastest growing economies in the developing world, and the Bank’s latest report states that the economy is likely to remain resilient over the near term, with strong domestic demand and structural transformation. But others point out that the growth is only benefitting the rising number of the super rich in the country. At the bottom, there is continuous distress and therefore an undercurrent of potential violence that should worry neighbours and friends alike. The Modi government with its “neighbours-first” policy has gone out of its way to befriend Bangladesh. Cooperation touched a new high with five projects launched in first ten

Palestine was voted in as a member state. Since then officials estimate that the U.S. — which accounted for around 22 percent of the total budget — has accrued $600 million in unpaid dues, which was one of the reasons for President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw. Israel owes an estimated $10 million. UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay took up her post just after Trump announced the pullout. Azoulay, who has Jewish and Moroccan heritage, has presided over the launch of a Holocaust education website and the U.N.’s first educational guidelines on fighting anti-Semitism — initiatives that might be seen as responding to U.S. and Israeli concerns. Officials say that many of the reasons the U.S. cited for withdrawal do not apply anymore, noting that

Taiwan independence a ‘dead end’, says Xi Jinping Beijing, Jan 2 (IANS): President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on Taiwan to reject independence by terming it a “dead end” and embrace “peaceful reunification” with China. Xi made the remarks at a gathering to mark the 40th anniversary of the issuing of the “Message to Compatriots in Taiwan” -- which seeks peaceful reunification under the principle of “one country, two systems”, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. While Taiwan is selfgoverned and de-facto independent, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland. Beijing considers the island to be a breakaway province and Xi’s comments were in line with China’s longstanding policy towards reunification. Calling both sides a part of the same Chinese family, Xi said: “Reunification is the historical trend and the right path, Taiwan independence is ... a dead end.” “Taiwanese people must understand that independence will only bring hardship,” he said, adding Beijing would never tolerate any form of activity promoting Taiwanese inde-

Xi Jinping (File)

pendence. Xi said his country reserved the use of force in the process of reunification with Taiwan, although he said that it will be directed towards external and separatist forces from the island. “We make no promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means.” “Chinese don’t fight Chinese,” said the President, adding that the use of force will be a way against the interference from external forces and the small number of “Taiwan independence separatists” and their activists. He also said that relations with Taiwan were “part of China’s domestic politics” and that “foreign interference is intolerable”. Beijing “reserves the option of taking all nec-

essary measures” against outside forces that interfere with peaceful reunification and Taiwanese separatist activities. Xi said that China should be and will be unified and added that “it is a historical conclusion drawn over the 70 years of the development of cross-Strait relations, and a must for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the new era”. The Chinese leader’s speech came a day after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen gave her own New Year’s address, in which she called on Beijing to “face the reality of the existence of the Republic of China,” referring to the island by its official name. She also urged Beijing to “respect the commitment of the 23 million people of Taiwan to freedom and democracy”. In 2018, Chinese pressure on Taiwan increased as the latter attempted to participate in international organizations. Taiwan lost three diplomatic allies in 2018 due to pressure from Beijing, including the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.

since then, all 12 texts on the Middle East passed at UNESCO have been consensual among Israel and Arab member states. In April, Israel’s ambassador to UNESCO said the mood was “like a wedding” after member nations signed off on a rare compromise resolution on “Occupied Palestine,” and UNESCO diplomats hailed a possible breakthrough on longstanding Israeli-Arab tensions. The document was still quite critical of Israel, however, and the efforts weren’t enough to encourage the U.S. and Israel to reconsider their decision to quit. In recent years, Israel has been infuriated by repeated resolutions that ignore and diminish its historical connection to the Holy Land and that have named ancient Jewish sites as Palestinian heritage sites.

London, Jan 2 (Agencies): The US is hoping to get consular access “within the next few hours” to see US citizen Paul Whelan who was arrested in Russia on Friday for spying. Secretar y of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that they wanted to know more about the charges and “if the detention is not appropriate, we will demand his immediate return”. Russia says Mr Whelan was “caught spying” in Moscow. His family says he was in Russia to attend a wedding and is innocent. Spy scandals have erupted between Russia and America at regular intervals since the Cold War, while Russia’s actions in Ukraine since 2014, and allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, have seen relations plummet.

Hackers threaten to reveal ‘secret’ 9/11 attacks data

San Francisco, Jan 2 (IANS): A hacker group has threatened to reveal “secret” data related to September 11 attacks in the US after claiming to have got access to a large cache of confidential files. In its announcement published on Pastebin, the group known as The Dark Overlord pointed to several different insurers and legal firms, claiming specifically that it hacked Hiscox Syndicates Ltd, Lloyds of London, and Silverstein Properties, the Motherboard reported on Tuesday. “Hiscox Syndicates Ltd and Lloyds of London are some of the biggest insurers on the planet insuring everything from the smallest policies to some of the largest policies on the planet, and who even

insured structures such as the World Trade Centers,” the group said in the announcement. The group threatened that it would reveal the documents unless the victims pay them an undisclosed ransom fee in Bitcoin. While it is not clear what exact files the group has got access to, it is trying to capitalise on conspiracy theories around the 9/11 attacks. “We’ll be providing many answers about 9.11 conspiracies through our 18.000 secret documents leak,” the group tweeted on Monday. A spokesperson for the Hiscox Group confirmed to Motherboard that the hackers had breached a law firm that advised the company, and likely stolen files related to litigation around the 9/11 attacks.

Paul Whelan

Mr Whelan is a 48year-old former Marine who is now director of global security for Michigan-based automotive components supplier BorgWarner. His twin brother David Whelan told BBC News that Paul had arrived in Russia on 22 December and had been due to return on 6 January. He had been attending the wedding of a fellow former Marine to a Russian

citizen and had planned to visit Russia’s second city, St Petersburg, in addition to Moscow. Pa u l W h e l a n , h i s brother said, has been visiting Russia for business and pleasure since 2007. David said Paul would stand out in a crowd as he is “about six foot [1.8 metres] and kind of hefty with a former soldier’s build”. But asked if he could think of any reason why he had attracted the attention of Russian security services, David Whelan was adamant there was none. “I can’t imagine how someone with a law enforcement background who is also a former US Marine, and who is now working in corporate security and is also aware of the risks of travel, would have broken any law let alone the law related to espionage,” he said.

Manila, Jan 2 (IANS): At least 85 people have died and 20 remain missing in floods and landslides triggered by storm Usman as it passed through the Philippines, officials said on Wednesday. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and M a n a ge m e n t C o u n c i l (NDRRMC) estimated 191,597 people were displaced and 40 were injured. Out of the total number of people affected, only 24,894 were in shelters set up in the central and northern regions of the country, Efe news reported. Local authorities declared a state of calamity in Camarines Sur, a province in Bicol region, which has a population of almost 2 million.

China building ‘most advanced’ naval warship for Pakistan: report Beijing, Jan 2 (IANS): China has started building for Pakistan, its “all-weather ally”, one of its “most advanced” naval warships as part of a defence agreement to maintain a “balance of power” in the Indian Ocean, the media reported on Wednesday. The China Daily quoted China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) -- one of the largest stateowned defence contractor -as saying that the construction of the ship has started in the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai and it is a version of China’s most advanced guided missile frigate, without specifying its type. The warship will be equipped with modern detection and weapon systems and will be capable of anti-ship, anti-submarine and air-defence operations, the CSSC said. According to the Pakistani Navy, the ship’s class is Type 054AP, which means it is based on the Type 054A of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. It previously said four such ships have been ordered, according to the report. Once constructed, the warship “will be one of the largest and technologically advanced platforms of Pakistan’s Navy

The vessel is a version of the Chinese Navy’s most advanced guided missile frigate. (AFP)

and strengthen the country’s capability to respond to future challenges, maintain peace and stability and the balance of power in the Indian Ocean region”, the report said. It will also support the Pakistani Navy’s initiative of securing sea lanes for international shipping by patrolling distant waters, the CSSC said. According to the report, Type 054A was the best frigate in service with the PLA Navy. It cited military sources as saying that the ship had a fully loaded displacement of about 4,000 metric tonnes and was equipped with advanced

radars and missiles. About 30 Type 054As are in service with the PLA Navy, observers said. An insider in China’s shipbuilding sector with knowledge of the Type 054AP programme told the China Daily that the ship is the largest and most powerful combat vessel China ever exported. “Based on pictures circulating on the Internet, the ship will have vertical launch cells that can fire Chinese HQ-16 airdefence missiles and other kinds of missiles. Vertical launch cells will bring flexibility to the user in terms of weapons portfolio, thus giving it a stronger fighting capability,” he said.

sports

Zhadima annual sports meet begins

Roko Angami and others during the opening ceremony of ZVYSO annual sports meet at Zhadima on Wednesday. (NP) mi, president, Nagaland Football Coaches Association (NFCA) and VDB secretary Zhadima as chief guest. Addressing the gathering, Roko said “my life in football journey is not easy, therefore nothing comes easy to be successful.” He observed that time

management was very important for every profession. “You cannot change yesterday but you can do something today that can change tomorrow,” he told the youth. Kezhangulie Theünuo chaired the inaugural function while ZVYSO president Vizosielie Khoubve

Barty defeats Muguruza at Hopman Cup

Mary Kom named event ambassador of Mumbai Marathon

Correspondent

Kohima, Jan 2 (NPN): The 57th annual sports meet 2019 of Zhadima Village Youth & Sports Organization (ZVYSO) began at Zhadima village, Kohima on Wednesday. The opening ceremony was graced by Roko Anga-

Perth, Jan 2 (IANS): Australia’s Ashleigh Barty was victorious 6-3, 6-4 over Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Wednesday, to give her country a 1-0 lead in their Group A tie over Spain.This is Muguruza’s third consecutive defeat at Hopman Cup as she lost to Germany’s Angelique Kerber in singles 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, reports Efe. While teaming up with David Ferrer, Muguruza fell to Kerber and her compatriot Alexander Zverev in their mixed doubles match 4-2, 4-3(3) on Sunday. The Spain-Australia tie will see Ferrer take on Matt Ebden, and the Spanish pair of Muguruza and Ferrer against Barty and Ebden.

District level football tourney

DIMAPUR, JAN 2 (NPN): Dimapur Battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) will be conducting District level Football Tournament from January 6 to 12 at DDSC Stadium, Dimapur. The winner of the tournament will receive Rs. 30,000 while the second and third positions will Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000. Interested teams can register for the same at HQ 5 Assam Rifles, Kashiram Basti or contact 8229925201 and 8630337753 by January 5.

CGY annual sports meet

DIMAPUR, JAN 2 (NPN): The 4th annual sports meet of Chümoukedima Gorkha Youth (CGY) kick started at Local Ground Chümoukedima here on Wednesday. The opening ceremony was graced by National Leader Network Marketing, Nutritionists Therapists, Gaurav Thapa as special guest. Earlier, God’s blessings was invoked by Doray Shrestha, Youth Leader Nagamese Baptist Fellowship Mission compound Chümoukedima. Santosh Chettri, former president CGY exhorted the gartering while welcome address was delivered by Jacob Sundas, sports secretary CGY. The programme was chaired by Tara Chettri general secretary, CGY.

New Delhi, Jan 2 (Agencies): Six-time women’s world boxing champion and Olympic medallist M C Mary Kom has been named as the event ambassador for the 16th Tata Mumbai Marathon to be held on January 20, DNA reported. “The Tata Mumbai Marathon has paved the way for a running revolution in India and is the largest showcase of individuals pushing boundaries of the human spirit,” star boxer Mary was quoted as saying. “From being a legend in the world of boxing to being an important catalyst for the growth of sports in India, Mary Kom is an inspiration; an individual that epitomises the spirit of Tata Mumbai Marathon,” said Vivek Singh of Procam. The organisers said that with prize money of USD 405,000, the marathon will see the participation of over 46,000 runners, including elite Indian and international athletes.

delivered the presidential address. Greetings message was delivered by Zhadima Students’ Union president Kekhrieleo. ZVYSO games and sports secretary Sazolie administered oath to the participating teams. The meet will continue till January 5.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

Record no of 17 women to compete in Dakar rally Lima, Jan 2 (IANS): A record number of 17 women will participate in this year’s Dakar Rally when the event gets underway in Peru next week. The figure is three more than the previous high set last year, though it remains dwarfed by the number of male competitors, which will exceed 500 in 2019. Spain leads the way with four women followed by Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Peru, with two each. Bolivia, France, Italy, Paraguay and Russia will all have one female competitor each, reports Xinhua news agency. The highest profile female entrant is Spanish cyclist Laia Sanz, who finished ninth in the category in 2015. She has completed each of the eight editions in which she has participated. Others include Russia’s Anastasiya Nifontova in the original motorcycle class and Spain’s Cristina Gutierrez, who last year became the first Spanish woman to finish the car category.

Longla village celebrates 25th years of ‘Yean Ngullie Trophy’

Chief guest, Ekonthung Kikon along with Yean organizers. DIMAPUR, JAN 2 (NPN): Morcha, Nagaland as chief Longla Village celebrated guest. its 25th years of ‘Yean According to VDB Ngullie Trophy’ organized secretary, Longla village by Village Council and N. Wobansao Lotha, the VDB from December 18 to chief guest also unfurled 20 at Longla local ground. the jubilee flag after it was The event was graced by dedicated by N. Wobemo Ekonthung Kikon, State Kikon, pastor Longla Bapvice president BJP S/T tist Church. Short speeches

Ngullie and the trophy were delivered by Yean Ngullie (Pioneer of the trophy) and T. Sacheo Ngullie (ex village chairman). Thungbemo Kikon, village chairman delivered the welcome speech. The programme concluded with a benediction by Rev. Khocherao Ngullie.

Sindhu, Caljouw take Hyderabad to top of PBL standings New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI): P V Sindhu began the new year with a win over Saina Nehwal and Mark Caljouw defeated North Eastern Warriors trump Tian Houwei to give Hyderabad Hunters their third win in Premier Badminton League here Tuesday. The victory means defending champions Hunters would end the Pune leg of the cash-rich tournament on top of the leader-board. While the match was important for both teams in their quest for the semi-final spot, the added attraction for the fans on the first day of the new year was the clash between India’s two shuttle queens, Saina and Sindhu. Sindhu, who had lost her last two matches in the PBL against Sung Ji Hyun and Beiwen Zhang, emerged victorious 11-15 15-9 15-5 win. Saina, who had sat out the earlier three matches of North Eastern Warriors due to a shin injury, was not 100 percent and was seen struggling for stamina following long rallies.

But the way she fought back from a 7-10 deficit to clinch seven straight points and then wrap up the opening game showed that the former world number one was not going to go out without a fight. However, Sindhu managed to raise the tempo in the second game as she raced to a 8-3 lead and though Saina fought back to close the gap to 6-8, the 23-year-old Olympic and World Championship silver medallist always looked in control. Saina looked tired in the third and final game and Sindhu dominated the proceedings thereafter as the Commonwealth Games gold medallist struggled to lunge towards her forehand and lost the decider rather easily. Caljouw, who is unbeaten in the tournament so far, had to overcome a strong comeback from Houwei in the second game to to win 15-11 15-14. The Dutchman had raced through the opening game and looked in com-

PV Sindhu plete control when he took a 10-6 lead in the second game. But Houwei wasn’t giving up and engaged Caljouw in long rallies to clinch four straight points to level the scores. It was a battle of attrition from thereon as the players stayed neck and neck with Caljouw having the final laugh after Houwei’s lift sailed long after one of the longest rallies of the match.

Earlier, the experienced Lee Hyun Il got the Hunters back into the contest from the brink as he fought back from a game down to win her trump against Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk. Wi t h t h e H u n t e r s trailing 0-1 following the 8-15, 14-15 loss of Kim Sa Rang and Eom Hye Won in the opening mixed doubles match against Kim Ha Na and Liao Min Chun, Lee had to win the team’s

trump. And it looked an arduous task when Tanongsak dominated the opening game and looked on a roll. But the 38-year-old Lee showed why he is still considered the most dangerous opponent on the circuit as he moved his Thai opponent all around the court to take a 7-1 lead in the second game and then held on to the advantage to force a decider.

India will be difficult to beat in AFC Cup: Chhetri Tendulkar’s coach Achrekar passes away

Indian football team. (PTI) New Delhi, Jan 2 (Agencies): India will be a difficult team to beat in the Asian Cup football tournament starting Saturday, especially after their recent draws against more fancied China and Oman, said talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri. According to DNA, the Asian Cup, the continent’s showpiece event, will be played in four cities of the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1. I n d i a h av e b e e n clubbed in Group A along side Thailand, Bahrain and hosts UAE. They play their first match on

Sunday against Thailand here, followed by games against UAE (Abu Dhabi) and Bahrain (Sharjah) on January 10 and 14 respectively. Ranked 15th in Asia, India played against three quality sides -- China, Oman and Jordan -- in their build-up to the Asian Cup. The Stephen Constantinecoached side drew goal-less against China and Oman and lost to Jordan 1-2. China (76th) and Oman (82nd) are ranked higher than India (97th) while Jordan are below a few rungs down at 109th. “I can assure you that it won’t be an easy job for

other teams to face us. We are a team who hate to lose, and we have proven it in recent times. We are working as per the plan,” Chhetri was quoted as saying by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) website. “All of us are super excited and thrilled right now. Apart from me and Gurpreet (Singh Sandhu), it’s a first-time experience for all else. Everyone is ready to grab this opportunity (of playing in the Asian Cup),” said the skipper, who is set to become the only Indian to feature in two Asian Cup tournaments. The 34-year-old

Chhetri was part of the Indian team that featured in the 2011 edition in Doha where the country lost all their group matches -- against Australia, South Korea and Bahrain. Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was in the 2011 squad but did not play any match. Chhetri, the highest Indian scorer in international football with 65 goals, said his team was focussing solely on the match against Thailand and not looking beyond that. “At the moment, our sole focus is on our opening fixture -- the game against Thailand. We are not looking anything beyond that. Yeah, there are matches against UAE and Bahrain lined up but we will think about them only when they come. “At the moment we know that Thailand will be a very tough opponent and we are concentrating only on them,” he said. Chhetri is set to equal former captain Bhaichung Bhutia’s record of all time India appearances during the Asia Cup. He has played 104 international matches so far, only three shy of his ‘mentor’ Bhutia’s record of 107 games. But, Chhetri said he had never played for records. “It feels good when I get a record under my

name. But I don’t keep track of records. After 10 seconds, I just forget it. I never take any pressure of chasing any record,” he said. “I never ever dreamt that I would play more than 100 games for India or score 60-odd goals,” Chhetri said. Talking about Bhutia, Chhetri said, “I have always been a big fan of Bhaichung bhai. Tell me who isn’t? I have learnt so many things from him. He has always been a huge support.”

Mumbai, Jan 2 (PTI): Ramakant Achrekar, the celebrated cricket coach credited for discovering Sachin Tendulkar, died Wednesday. He was 87 and, according to a family member, had been battling old age-related ailments for the past few days. “He (Archrekar Sir) is no more with us. He passed away this evening,” his kin Rashmi Dalvi told PTI over phone. Achrekar competed in just one firstclass match in his playing career but discovered and shaped the biggest batsman

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT NAP TRAINING CENTRE CHUMUKEDIMA : NAGALAND

No. NAPTC/QB-03/2018-19/1571

Dated : Chumukedima, the 02nd Jan 2019

TENDER NOTICE Sealed tenders are invited by the undersigned for supply of the following categories of Ration Items to NAP Training Centre Chumukedima for the year 2019-20. 1) Group A - All kinds of Dal & Iodized salt 2) Group B - Potato/ Onion & Fresh vegetable 3) Group C - Meat on Hoof (02 Categories) Category A - Khasi (Goat/Sheep) MOH Category B - Pork MOH Substitute items A & B - Chicken (Live)/Egg Tinned Fish 4) Group D - Firewood / Cylinder & Charcoal Interested tenderers may collect the tender forms and details from the office of the Commandant, NAP Training Centre on payment of ` 500.00 (five hundred) on any working day. Last date of receipt of the tender is 16th January 2019 upto 1200 Hrs; and, shall be opened on the same day (16th January 2019) at 1230 Hrs in the presence of the tenderer/s.

DC-01

(BEN LONGKUMER), NPS Commandant, NAP Training Centre Chumukedima : Nagaland

in international cricket after Sir Donald Bradman in Tendulkar. Tendulkar, who is now retired, owns almost all the batting records that were there for the taking in the game, including the highest runs in Tests (15,921) and ODIs (18,426). Achrekar is best known for being his childhood coach and has always been acknowledged by the celebrated right-hander for the role he played in shaping his career as a child. Te n d u l k a r w a s coached by Achrekar at the Shivaji Park here.

“Sir did not say wellplayed to me ever, (but) I knew (when) Sir has taken me to have bhelpuri or paani-puri, Sir is happy, I have done something nice on the field,” Tendulkar had said last year at an event while recalling Achrekar’s contribution in making him the cricketer he became. Achrekar was bestowed the Padmashri award in 2010. Besides Tendulkar, he also coached some prominent players in Vinod Kambli, Pravin Amre, Sameer Dighe and Balwinder Singh Sandhu.

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT 15TH NAP(IR)MAHILA BATTALION CHUMUKEDIMA :: NAGALAND NO.XV NAP (IR) MBN /QB-20/2018-19/4877

Dated Cmd. the 2nd Jan'2019

TENDER NOTICE

Sealed Tenders are invited by the undersigned for supply of the following ration Items to 15 th NAP(IR) Mahila Bn, Chumukedima for the year 2019-2020. Sl. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Particulars All kinds of Dal Iodized Salt Potato Onion Fresh Vegetables Pork (MOH) Khasi/Goat/Sheep (MOH) Chicken/Egg/Tinned Fish (Substitute Items) Firewood Charcoal.

Details of the Tender Notice can be obtained from the office of the undersigned on any Working Day. The last date of submission of the tender will be on 16/01/2019 at 12:00 hrs and opening of the tender will be at 12:30 hrs on the same day at the Office of the Commandant 15th NAP (IR) Mahila Bn, Chumukedima.

DC-02

(ABOLI METHA) NPS Commandant, 15th NAP (IR) Mahila Bn Chumukedima, Nagaland

However, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut reacted sharply, wondering “whether law is bigger than lord Ram.” Drawing a parallel with the triple talaq case, Modi said an ordinance came only after the Supreme Court order. He also accused the Congress of delaying the judicial process in the Ram temple case through its lawyers. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case on January 4. Modi also answered a wide range of issues, including on opposition’s efforts to form a grand alliance to take on the BJP in 2019 elections, rumblings within the NDA, the ‘Modi magic’, Urjit Patel’s resignation as RBI governor, demonetisation, mob lynching and BJP’s defeat in three Hindi heartland states of Rajast-

JD(S) demands 12 LS seats in Karnataka

New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI): As the Congress and its ruling partner JD(S) work out a seat-sharing strategy in Karnataka, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday said his party should get 12 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the southern state in the forthcoming general election. The Janata Dal (Secular) supremo also said the blueprint for seat-sharing would first be discussed at the state level by the coalition coordination committee chaired by senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah and, then, finalised by the heads of both the parties after the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. "The seat sharing will be on a 2:1 formula. After the formation of the coalition government, this formula was adopted in allocating portfolios, (heads of) boards and corporations. Naturally, the same formula will apply to Lok Sabha seats," Deve Gowda told reporters. According to the formula, 11 seats should

come to the JD(S) and the party was seeking one extra seat, he said, noting that differences, if any, would be sorted out after deliberating with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Asked if the JD(S) will go alone in the Lok Sabha polls if the Congress does not agree to give 12 seats to it, the former prime minister said, "That issue will not arise. This formula has been implemented smoothly all these days. No need to come to a hurried conclusion." "This will be discussed at the state level and, then, at the national level. Ultimately, Rahul Gandhi and myself will discuss and finalise," he said, adding that the JD(S) had got seats in accordance with this formula in the past, when it had allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a separate press conference, Congress campaign committee chairman H K Patil said there was "no confrontation and no confusion" between the two coalition partners over seat-sharing.

head, Modi said he had been requesting to be relieved for six-seven months due to personal reasons and these requests were made even in writing. While Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala termed it as, “bereft of ground reality, ‘Jumlas’ (rhetoric) galore, Modiji’s interview looks like a parody”, his party colleague and former Union minister Anand Sharma alleged that it was “fixed”. “Nation suffers DeMo, Gabbar Singh Tax (GST), bank frauds, black money, Rs 15 lakh in every account, corruption in Rafale deal, price rise, national security imperilled, farm distress, and ‘acche din’,” Surjewala said. In his counter-offensive, BJP Spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, “It is a comprehensive, detailed and candid interview in which the PM has spoken on a wide range of issues that have been in the media space for some time. This interview completely demolishes the motivated agenda of opposition parties and vested interests that seek to malign the sterling performance of his government.”

A policeman chases away protesters during a protest against the entry of two women to the Sabarimala temple, in Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday, Jan 2, 2019. (PTI)

T h i ru va na n thapuram, Jan 2 (AGENCIES): BJP and other groups protested across Kerala on Wednesday after two women in their 40s entered the Sabarimala temple in Pathanamthitta as agitators forced shops to shut and blocked roads in many areas. A rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which said

it was a black day after the women offered prayers at the temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, outside state secretariat in state capital Thiruvananthapuram turned violent. News agency ANI reported five members of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha were stopped from entering the secretariat by police. The BJP has called for

arms case linked to the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape cases. Verma was arrested under the Arms Act following the recovery of 50 live cartridges from her residences in Patna and Begusarai during a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid. Manju Verma resigned on August 8 over allegations that Brajesh Thakur,

the main accused in the Muzaffarpur case, had links with her husband. Thankur is now lodged in the Muzaffarpur jail. Of the 42 girls lodged at the shortstay home run by Thakur’s NGO, 34 were found to have been sexually assaulted. The crime came to light after a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai.

a two-day protest against the women’s entry in the Sabarimala temple under police protection. Its state unit president PS Sreedharan Pillai had earlier asked devotees not to get carried away and register their protest only through democratic means. Many temple offices closed and some devotees on way to the hilltop temple

called off their pilgrimage, saying sanctity of the shrine was breached. Bindhu, a lawyer, and activist Kanakadurga are the first women to offer prayers at the temple after the Supreme Court in September last year ordered authorities to lift a ban on women or girls of menstruating age between 10 and 50 from entering the temple. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed Bindhu and Kanakadurga entered the temple. “Earlier, their trek was foiled due to inadequate security. Police are duty-bound to give them protection,” Vijayan said. The temple administration closed the shrine’s doors after the chief minister’s confirmation of the women’s entry to purify the shrine dedicated to celibate Lord Ayyappa. It was reopened after the purification rituals. Hours later, the Travancore Devaswom Board said it will take action against the tantri (priest) for closing the temple.

Bipin Rawat (File)

S r i nag a r , Ja n 2 (PTI): Army Chief General Bipin Rawat Wednesday visited the militancyinfested south Kashmir to review the security situation and counter-insurgency operations in the region, officials said. “Continuing with his visit to the Valley, the Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat reviewed the prevailing security situation and strategy for counter terrorist operations in the hinterland,” an army official said. Accompanied by the Nor ther n Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Rawat was briefed

One male youth, Mr. Imsu Longkumer, S/o W. Imo Longkumer was assaulted at his residence at Padumphukhuri on 24 th December 2018 by a group of unknown armed men. The Ao Union Padumphukhuri strongly condemns such acts of violence at the time of Christmas and therefore requests the authority to apprehend the culprits and award the befitting punishment according to the law, at the earliest. Dr. Merennungba Sanen Pongen President Secretary ASTP ASTP DP-03

FELICITATION

Er. Lichonthung Patton

Er. Lankonthung C. Jami

The Diphupar Nkonjam Tonphyaktsu Ekhung (DNTE) would like to extend our hearty congratulations to our members for successfully qualifying in the recently declared Combined Technical Examination 2018 conducted by NPSC: 1. Er. LICHONTHUNG PATTON, S/o Lt. Lidemo Patton and Mrs. Abeni Patton SDO Cl-1 under (PHE) Dept. 2. Er. LANKONTHUNG C. JAMI, S/o Chungkhu Jami and Mrs. Misano Jami JE Cl-2 Gazetted under Works and Housing Dept. Further the Ekhung prays that the Almighty God continue to guide them and also wishes them a bright future in their career ahead. Orensao Kikon Tsanthungo Onung Chairman Gen. Secretary DNTE DNTE DP-04

by the Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen A K Bhatt at Badami Bagh Cantonment on the overall situation and major operational, informational, logistical and administrative aspects pertaining to the Corps, the official said. Rawat visited the formations and units deployed in south Kashmir, where he was briefed by the local Commanders on existing security situation and the measures instituted to ensure close coordination with all government agencies towards maintaining vigil and peace in the Valley, the official added. During his interaction with the soldiers on ground, the Chief of Army Staff lauded them for their high levels of morale and dedication and further reinforced the need to be prepared to meet emerging security challenges effectively, the official added. Rawat had arrived here on Tuesday on a two-day visit.

OFFICE OF THE SOVIMA VILLAGE AO SENSO TELONGJEM 6th Mile, Dimapur - 797112, Nagaland

Padumpukhuri, Dimapur - 797112

Condemnation

to surrender. On December 21, it refused to extend the deadline by one month as pleaded by him. After his conviction, Kumar resigned from the Congress party. The case in which Kumar was convicted and sentenced relates to the killing of five Sikhs in Delhi Cantonment’s Raj Nagar Part-I area of southwest Delhi on November 1-2, 1984 and burning down of a Gurudwara in Raj Nagar Part-II. Kumar has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the conviction and life sentence awarded to him. There is also another anti-Sikh riots case pending against him. As a precautionary measure, sikh prisoners in Mandoli Jail complex will be kept away from Kumar’s ward, jail sources said. The sources said he will be lodged in ward 14. He was brought by the police after a medical examination at a Delhi government hospital. Shiromani Akali Dal Badal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said Congress president Rahul Gandhi had a lot of questions to answer as to why his family protected Sajjan Kumar, Kamal Nath and Jagdish Tytler.

Army Chief reviews security in South Kashmir

OFFICE OF THE AO SENSO TELONGJEM

THILIXU VILLAGE STUDENTS' UNION HOLDS ITS 32ND ANNUAL SESSION

Thilixu Village Students' Union held its 32nd Annual Session under the theme 'Integral Education for Social and Human Transformation' at Thilixu Village on 28th - 29th December 2018. Mr Nikhevi Yeptho, Proprietor, Eden Hr. Sec. School, Thilixu Village graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and Dr. Hotoli Sema, Asso. Pastor, Women TVBC as the Guest Speaker. In his speech, the Chief Guest emphasized on the students to set their own goals and objectives to pursue their career and that a strong foundation was indispensible to become a successful person. He also urged the students to strive and treat education with greatest importance and to learn the history and traditions of their forefathers. Earlier, the programme was chaired by the President TVSU, Mr. Tohuto Chishi. The session was also marked by a competition on Prepared Speech and Solo Singing for the Junior category. DP-16(A)

two Sikh bodyguards. The trial court declined the plea of Kumar’s lawyer that he be sent to high-security Tihar Jail as the case pertains to Delhi Cantonment area which comes under this jail’s jurisdiction. It was informed by jail authorities that from Karkardooma court, all convicts are first taken to Mandoli jail and from there, the authorities may shift them to another jail, if they deem it appropriate. “The convict is taken into custody and be sent to jail as per rules. Since, there is security threat to the convict, he be provided a separate van for commuting from court to jail and from jail to court,” the magistrate said in the twopage order. Kumar came to the courtroom surrounded by 2-3 commandos along with 20-25 Delhi Police personnel, including women, said one of the police officers. He was flanked by his confidant Kailash and 4-5 advocates. No family member or Congress leader accompanied him. The high court convicted and sentenced Kumar to life imprisonment for the “remainder of his natural life” and set a December 31 deadline for him

FELICITATION We the Sovima Village Ao Senso Telongjem would like to congratulate Mr. Limasunep Jamir, S/o Lt. Sentitangit Jamir and Mrs. C. Aoienla Ozk for being selected as Agri Inspector during the recently declared Combined Technical Service Exam conducted by NPSC. We wish him success in all his future endeavours and pray that Almighty God bless him. DP-45

Patna, Jan 2 (IANS): A Bihar court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of former state Minister Manju Verma, who surrendered in November last year after absconding for nearly three months in an arms case related to the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape cases. After hearing the bail petition of Manju Verma, the Begusarai District Court reserved its order in the firsthalf of the day and rejected her plea in the second-half. Manju Verma surrendered in the court after a lower court and the Patna High Court rejected her interim bail petition. The Supreme Court had also slammed the Bihar Police for its failure to arrest her. The police in mid-November attached the properties of Manju Verma following a court order in an

New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI): Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar Monday surrendered before a city court on the last day of the deadline set by Delhi High Court and was sent to jail to serve his life sentence in a case relating to the deadly anti-Sikh riots in 1984. K u m a r, 7 3 , w a s brought to Mandoli jail in northeast Delhi shortly after he surrendered before Metropolitan Magistrate Aditi Garg, who directed that he be provided a separate van for commuting due to “security threat”. Clad in a black coat and trousers, a cream coloured muffler and a blue cap, Kumar, a former Lok Sabha MP, was flanked by his lawyers and surrounded by scores of security personnel as he arrived at Karkardooma court at 2.15 pm. Kumar is the first big politician to be convicted in the riots. In its judgment on December 17, the high court noted that over 2,700 Sikhs were killed in the national capital, holding that the riots was indeed a “carnage of unbelievable proportions”. The riots broke out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her

Protests after 2 women enter Sabarimala temple

Muzaffarpur case: Bihar court rejects accused plea

Manju Verma (File)

Ranchi, Jan 2 (AGENCIES): When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Palamau in Jharkhand on January 5, one colour will not be permitted in any form: black. The Palamau administration issued the ban order after leaders of the 80,000 para teachers on strike since November 15 demanding regularization of their service vowed to show black flags to Modi in Palamau. “The gover nment staff or common people cannot wear black socks,” an official said. “The ban also covers clothes, bags, shoes, purses and caps.” Modi is scheduled to arrive in Palamau at 10.30 a.m. to spend an hour in the district. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Mandal dam irrigation project, which was pending since 1972. The dam will be built at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore. He will also lay the foundation stone of a pipeline to meet the needs of drinking water and irrigation in Palamau and Garhwa districts at a cost of Rs 1,138 crore.

Anti-Sikh riot case: Sajjan surrenders before court

MAR LONGKUMER Secretary, SVAST

IMTISANGBA AIER President, SVAST

FELICITATION We, the Thilixu Village Students Union would like to extend our heartiest Congratulations to Dr. Josia Sema, son of Dr. Khashepu Chishi and Mrs. Khevili Chishi for making us proud and bringing laurels to the students' community in general by securing the post of Medical Officer (Class 1 Gazetted) under Health and Family Welfare Dept. The students' union further conveys best wishes for his future endeavour. ABETOLI KIBA GHUNAVI AYE President General Secretary

DP-16(B)

Narendra Modi (File)

han, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. Amidst criticism that the surgical strike failed to check Pakistan’s support for terrorism, the Prime Minister asserted that it would be a “big mistake” to think that Pakistan will mend its ways after just “one war”. “Pakistan will never improve on the basis of one war.That nation will still take some time to improve. All PMs of India, across all parties never opposed dialogue with Pakistan,” he said. “But, can we hear anything in the midst of bombs?Today, terror supporting Pakistan is isolated,” Modi said. Rejecting opposition charges that his government was anti-farmer, the Prime Minister said,”there is a small segment of farmers who take loans from banks. A majority of them take loans from money lenders. When governments make such announcements, those farmers do not become beneficiaries of waivers. The farmers who are dying are out of the purview of such schemes.” On the opposition charge Patel was forced to quit as the central bank

Jharkhand town bans black outfits for Modi’s visit

OFFICE OF THE

DIMAPUR NKONJAN EZUNG EKHÜNG (DNEE) Dimapur - 797112, Nagaland

NTSIJANTA YILAN Dimapur Nkonjan lo Ezung jipo nzontsü ntokta (General Meeting) ji tsüngon 5 th January 2019 (Sat) lo enyathüng toku ekhoe (9 AM) Shri. Motsüthüng Ezung, Commissioner & Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs liko (Compound) Burma Camp jilo na khiala. Hoji tsükona Dimapur Nkonjan lo evan Ezung topvüna mmyanta rotale to yilan shi tanjünga yenjantala. Kimongthüng Ezung Chümthüngo Ezung Khokthepvui, DNEE Eranpvüi, DNEE

DP-01

Govt ready to fulfil responsibility: Narendra Modi on Ram temple

New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday suggested any decision on an ordinance on Ram temple in Ayodhya can happen only after the completion of the judicial process but asserted that the government was ready to make all efforts to fulfil its responsibility. Modi’s comments came amidst heightened demands by Hindutava organisations, including the RSS, for an ordinance to allow the temple construction. “Let the judicial process take its own course. Don’t weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever be our responsibility as government, we are ready to make all efforts,” the Prime Minister said during an interview, broadcast by several TV channels. Welcoming Modi’s remarks as a “positive” step towards the construction of the Ram temple, the RSS said it was in line with a resolution passed by the BJP in 1989 in Palampur in which the Saffron party had committed to the construction either through mutual consultation or an enabling legislation.

National

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

National

We need a shared parliamentary agenda: VP

India and Pakistan exchange lists of prisoners

New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI): India and Pakistan Tuesday exchanged details of civilian prisoners and fishermen lodged in each other’s jails. The Ministry of External Affairs or MEA said India handed over to Pakistan lists of 249 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 98 fishermen in its custody. Pakistan has shared lists of 54 civilian prisoners and 483 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed-to-be-Indians. The lists were exchanged in keeping with the provisions of a 2008 agreement under which such lists of prisoners are shared on January 1 and July 1 every year. The MEA said India has called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats. “In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 17 Indian civilian prison-

ers and 369 Indian fishermen to India whose nationality has been confirmed,” it said. “Immediate consular access has also been sought for the remaining prisoners and fishermen to facilitate their early release and repatriation,” it said. India has also asked Pakistan to expedite response in the case of 80 Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences and await repatriation for want of nationality confirmation by Pakistan. To take forward the understanding reached to address the humanitarian issues, especially with respect to elderly, women and mentally unsound prisoners, India has already shared the details of the reconstituted Joint Judicial Committee and that of the Indian medical experts team to visit Pakistan to meet the prisoners. The MEA said India has also asked Pakistan to expedite the visit of the panel.

OFFICE OF THE

WAMEKEN SENSO MONGDANG B.P.O Wameken – S – 1014 District. Mokokchung, Nagaland

CONDEMNATION

DP-10

(BENMOA IMSONG) (T. BENDANGTOSHI IMSONG) Secretary, Secretary, Wameken Mejensanger Putu Wameken Senso Mongdang.

DP-41

The Wameken Senso Mongdang along with the Wameken Mejensanger Putu Menden strongly condemn the inhuman act of cowardice and barbaric assault by some unidentified persons with full arms on Mr. IMSU LONGKUMER, S/o W. Imo Longkumer (Wameken) on 24th December 2018 at his residence in Padumphukhri, Dimapur. We urge the Law Enforcement Agency and Administration to arrest the culprits at the earliest.

Kolkata, Jan 2 (PTI): The Trinamool Congress Tuesday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying BJP should stop lecturing it on “democratic rigts” as BJP itself has destroyed democracy and institutions in the country. TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee took a dig at BJP”s defeat in three Hindi heartland states by saying that the BJP has got a taste of “democracy” in last few elections. “The BJP should not lecture us on democracy and democratic rights. As BJP itself has destroyed democracy and institutions in this country. The BJP itself don’t have any respect for democracy or constitution,” Chatterjee said. Chatterjee’s commnet comes in the backdrop of the Prime Minister’s Office tweet, quoting Modi, “What has happened in West Bengal. A political party (the BJP) is being denied a basic democratic right. Our workers are brutally killed in West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka. Politics of violence has to end. All parties have to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful politics,”. Quoting from Modi’s interview, broadcast by various TV channels, the PMO tweets covered a wide range of issues, in-

Partha Chatterjee (File)

cluding demands for a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Urjit Patel’s resignation as RBI governor, demonetisation, mob lynching and BJP’s defeat in three Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. The BJP is lecturing us on democracy when they themselves has destroyed the economy by implementation of GST and demonetization in the country, Chatterjee said. The BJP and TMC, which is a ruling party in Bengal, are at loggerheads over BJP’s proposed Rath Yatra in the state. M o d i ’s c o m m e t s comes at a time when the Bengal BJP unit has been unable to take out any of its three-phase Rath yatra rallies, being called the Save Democracy Rally in Bengal after the state government denied permission to the party to hold it. The BJP has moved court and the matter is presently subjudice.

Gujarat government’s ‘Jai Hind’ roll call sparks political row

Ahmedabad, Jan 1 (PTI): A political row broke out on Tuesday over the Gujarat government’s directive to schools to ensure that students respond with ‘Jai Hind’ or ‘Jai Bharat’ during roll call instead of the customary ‘Yes Sir’. The opposition Congress as well as Patidar leader Hardik Patel slammed the move and instead asked the BJP government to improve what they said was the “deteriorating quality of education”. But state Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama defended the directive, saying it will instill “a feeling of patriotism” among students. As per the notifications issued on December 31 by the Directorate of Primary Education and Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB), students of class 1-12 of the government, grant-in-aid and selffinanced schools will have to respond to attendance call with ‘Jai Hind’ or ‘Jai Bharat’, starting January 1. The objective of the new practice is to “foster patriotism among students right from childhood”, the notifications stated. The state Congress unit president Amit Chavda said the new practice “will not change the quality of education” in the government and

Hardik Patel (File)

affiliated schools. “The BJP government has made several efforts to instill patriotism among school students. Altering a certain practice will not improve the standard of education,” he said. Chavda alleged that the quality of primary education is going down in Gujarat. “The quality is even worse than many other under-developed states,” he said. “The standard of primary eduction in Gujarat has gone down significantly over the last several years. The BJP government engages only in talks and programmes in the name of improving quality,” the Congress leader alleged. He asked the Gujarat government to focus on improving school infrastructure, recruiting teachers to fill huge backlog of vacancies and “not forcing” teachers to do non-teaching jobs for the government. Hardik Patel said the children and the youth of Gujarat should not be forced

to express their patriotism, “as that feeling runs in their blood”. He said the government should prioritise improving the “significantly deteriorating” quality of education in the state. “Instead of improving the quality of education, the education minister is talking about teaching patriotism to Gujarat’s youth and children. “The minister should know that everybody here is born with the feeling of patriotism,” Patel said. Nobody has the right to force anybody to say something he/she dislikes, he added “This is an attempt to deflect from the real issues. Schools are getting closed. Shortage of teachers is also an important issue,” Patel added. Education Minister Chudasama said the government should be open to accepting “good suggestions”. “’Jai Bharat’ and ‘Jai Hind’ are much better than ‘Yes Sir’”. “Saying ‘Jai Hind’ or ‘Jai Bharat’ creates a feeling of patriotism, which is why I have decided to make the change,” he told reporters. The minister said schools affiliated to the CBSE and other boards have also been asked to follow the new guidelines.

India plans to launch 32 space missions in 2019 Bulandshahr violence:

Bengaluru, Jan 2 (IANS): India is planning to launch 32 space missions in 2019, a top space official said here. “The year 2019 promises to be challenging to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) community with 32 planned missions,” its chairman K. Sivan said in a message to his employees on New Year on Tuesday. The missions include the second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 to land on the moon with lander and rover. The Rs 800-crore lunar mission will the 25th from the second launch pad of the space port at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 90km northeast of Chennai. India’s maiden human space mission in 2021-22, Gaganyaan, will also be pursued this year, Sivan said in a first-of-its-kind New Year message from the space agency top executive

K. Sivan (File)

to its staff. “Gaganyaan activities will go in full steam to accomplish the various development and qualification milestones,” the Chairman said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of Gaganyaan on August 15 last year has allowed the space agency to fulfill its dream of undertaking a human spaceflight programme, Sivan said. The pad abort test held on July 5, 2018 to test the escape system of the crew module has given ISRO confidence to pursue the human space

LANGZANGER VILLAGE COUNCIL KIPHIRE : NAGALAND

FELICITATION

T h e L a n g z a n g e r Vi l l a g e Council would like to extend its profound gratitude and congratulate Shri. Hekato Thonger, S/o, Shri. Pitongse Thonger (Retd) Add. Commissioner Excise, Nagaland for achieving the post of Economics and Statistical Officer (Class-1 Gazetted), under Economics & Statistics Department Nagaland in the recently conducted NPSC (Tech.) exam 2018. The Council wishes him further success in his future endeavours. DP-30(A)

(YANGLISE SANGTAM) Chairman, Langzanger Village Council.

PRESS NOTE Selection of new Office Bearers of the Dimasa Youth Organisation, Nagaland (DYON) 2018 was held on 22 nd December, 2018 at Dhansiripar Community Hall, Dhansiripar, Dimapur, Nagaland whereby the following office bearers were selected:1. President : Atul Rajiyung 2. Vice President : Donwir Daulaguphu & Parsy Langthasa 3. General Secretary : Maiphrang Longmailai 4. Assistant Gen. Secy. : Hamringdi Maibangsa & Sainjali Jigdung 5. Treasurer : Dering Naben 6. Finance Secy. : Amrit Thaosen 7. Publicity Secy. : Baoham Jeedung & Ajoy Kemprai 8. Organizing Secy. : Joythar Khemprai & Jacky Girisa 9. Cultural Secy. : Rajiv Jeedung & Jobin Daulaguphu 10. Games & Sports Secy. : Daniel Langthasa & Mailodi Jigdung 11. Statistics Secy. : Soham Haflongbar 12. Legal Advisor : Maihamti Longmailai & Vidyaraj Hasnu The Union further wishes one and all a very happy and peaceful New Year.

DP-42

(MAIPHRANG LONGMAILAI) General Secy.

mission, he added. The space agency is also aiming to re-instate its microwave remote sensing capability through the Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) series and hopes to attain geo-imaging capability through Geo Imaging Satellite (GISAT) series. “The country will meet the high throughput bandwidth requirement of Digital India and also in-flight connectivity with the launch of GSAT-20,” Sivan said. The space agency will enhance remote sensing data for crop production estimation to cover 10 additional crops and provide inputs for water and energy security. “It is planned to improve the payload capability of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and its variants,” he added. Marking the birth centenary of the founding father of India’s space programme, Vikram Sarabhai, ISRO will

host a year-long celebration from August 12, with national and international events such as fellowships, scholarships at universities. Recounting the year gone by, Sivan said 2018 had many firsts for ISRO, which undertook 16 missions, of which seven were accomplished in 35 days. “The national confidence in ISRO is reflected in the highest ever allocation of about Rs 30,000-crore for 23 new and continuation programmes in a single year,” Sivan said. Among the space agency’s achievements in 2018 were launch of the heaviest satellite GSAT-29 (3,423 kg) on November 14 and building the heaviest communication satellite GSAT11 (5,854 kg), launched on December 5 onboard the Arianespace space agency’s rocket from French Guiana on the north Atlantic coast of South America.

OFFICE OF THE

CHUCHUYIMLANG KAKETSHIR TELONGJEM DIMAPUR : NAGALAND

INFORMATION

The CKTD brings New Year Greetings to all. It also notifies soliciting your prayer, the following upcoming events : 1. CKTD is organising a Youth Camp with the theme : "Go Youth as Transformers (GUTS), which will be held from 4th - 6th Jan. 2019 at Discipleship Bible College, Signal Angami with the main speaker as Rev. Kilang Jamir. [N.B. : Campers are requested to bring your own beddings (mattress, blanket, bed sheet, pillow and net)] 2. CKTD General Meeting for the session 2017-18 will be conducted on 10th Jan. 2019 at Treasurer's Residence (Mr. Tsükjen Pongen, Treasurer, CKTD, Aokong, Dimapur). Contact No : 7005188713/ 8257004114 (Imnasanen) President, CKTD

DP-48

OFFICE OF THE

VISWEMA GAZETTED OFFICERS’ KROTHO VISWEMA : NAGALAND

CONGRATULATIONS

Inspector attacker held

Bulandshahr (UP), Jan 2 (PTI): Police have arrested a man, accused of attacking Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh with an axe during the December 3 violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district over alleged cow slaughter, officials said on Tuesday. The arrest of Kalua from a bus stand on Monday night takes the total number of accused held in this case to 30, a police officer said. Kalua told police that on December 3, he was felling a tree to block a road. When the inspector stopped him from doing so, he attacked him with an axe, the officer said.

On December 27, police had arrested Prashant Nat, who allegedly shot the inspector dead after the axe attack. Five people were arrested on December 18 for their alleged roles in the mob violence and the cow slaughter case. Violence had erupted after cow carcasses were found in a field near Mahaw village in the district. The inspector and a youth had died during the violence. An FIR against 27 named people and 50-60 unidentified people was registered at the Siyana police station for the violence at the Chingrawathi police post.

FELICITATION

The Zunheboto Tokukujomi Kuqhakulu Kohima extend our heartiest congratulations to Dr. Vikashe Swu, S/o Mr. & Mrs. Vukhuhe & Kheholi Swu for clearing the NPSC for the post of Medical Officer. It further extends sincere appreciation for bringing laurels to the union and wishes him success in his future endeavours.

DP-23

(S. Rotokha Zhimomi) Chairman Z.T.K Kohima

OFFICE OF THE WOKHA TOWN LAKHUTI PONGDENRO OKHO FELICITATION

The Wokha Town Lakhuti Pongdenro Okho (WTLPO), with immense joy and pride convey its heartiest congratulations to Mr. Lijamo J. Yanthan, S/o Mr. James Yanthan and Mrs. Lobeno Yanthan for qualifying the NPSC/C-5/ 2012 under the Combined Technical Services Examinations 2017, for the post of Junior Lecturer (Cl-II GAZETTED), under Soil and Water Conservation Department . The Okho also further acknowledge his effort for bringing laurels to the community and wishes him the best in all his future endeavours. Zubemo Patton Sharon Kikon Gen. Secretary (WTLPO) President (WTLPO)

WC-01

Venkaiah Naidu (File)

of the people, there is much more to the progress of the nation. “Parliamentary institutions can’t be held captive to the competing agendas. We can’t afford to lose any more time in lending a degree of maturity to our democratic processes and institutions. “The civility of proceedings in parliamentary institutions is a certain barometer of an aspiring nation finding its feet and fulfilling its quest,” he said. The 2019 calender features 65 leaders, including former chairmen, 12 deputy chairpersons, 26 leaders of the House and 14 leaders of the opposition, since the inception of the Upper House in 1952. Referring to this, Naidu noted that the calendar is a chronicle of political changes and the history of the Rajya Sabha since 1952. Describing the calen-

dar as innovative, imaginative and inspiring, the chairman recalled what his predecessors had said about the functioning of the House and expressed hope that it would serve as a reminder to all the leaders and members about the need for its effective functioning. The calendar features one chairman on each page along with the quotes of what they had said about the expectations from the House and its members. The calendar reveals that the Upper House did not have a leader of opposition for 34 years since the Rajya Sabha came into being. Late Shyam Nandan Mishra of the Congress-O was the first leader of opposition (LoP) from December, 1969 to March 1971. The institution of LoP in Rajya Sabha was formally created through an Act in 1977 and late Bhola Pawan Shastry was the first LoP from February to March in 1978. The periods when Rajya Sabha had no leader of opposition were May 1952 to November 1969; April 1972 to January 1978; March 1978 to December 1979; April 1980 to December 1989 and February 1991 to May 1991.

PM Modi should not to lecture us on democratic rights: TMC

OFFICE OF THE TSÜSWÜZU STUDENTS’ UNION

The VGOK take this opportunity to thank Almighty God and take pride and honour to extend our heartiest congratulations, to the successful Viswemi candidates who have cleared the NPSC Combined Technical Services Examination 2017 in the Gazetted post. 1. VILZOTO VALEO, Asst. Geologist, under Geology & Mining Dept., Nagaland. 2. KHRIEZO KISO, Junior Engineer, under Works & Housing Dept., Nagaland. 3. KHRIEZOSIENUO, Agriculture Officer, under Agriculture Dept., Nagaland. The VGOK also congratulates MECIESUNU SAKHRIE for clearing the NPSC Exam as Agri. Inspector, under Agriculture Deptt., Nagaland The VGOK thank them for bringing laurels to Viswemi in particular and the Nagas in general and further wishes them greater success in their future endeavours. Er. BADI PUSA Er. MEZIVIL KIKHI Gen. Secy., VGOK President, VGOK

K-3770

New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI): Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said Wednesday the nation cannot emerge stronger without a shared parliamentary agenda among different political parties. He said this after releasing the ‘Rajya Sabha Calendar 2019’ in the presence of senior leaders of different parties in Parliament House. Referring to the persisting turbulence in the Upper House, Naidu referred to 12 preceding chairmen of the Rajya Sabha who had insisted on ensuring effective functioning of the House so as to contribute to nation building. “I am pained by our inability to ensure convergence of different agendas into a national agenda. No nation can emerge stronger without such a shared parliamentary agenda,” he said after the calender launch. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad were also present at the launch. Naidu said while there is a broad degree of commonality over rapid economic growth as an instrument of bettering the lives

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

FELICITATION

The TSU heartily congratulates the following members who recently qualified through competitive exams and selection processes : 1. Mr. Vezhoyi Ringa, S/o Mr. Pushoyi Ringa for securing the post of SDO (PHED) through NPSC. 2. Mr. Vethito Nyekha, S/o Mr. Puyo Nyekha for securing the post of Inspector under LMCPD through NPSC. 3. Miss Khrüvolü Swüro, D/o Mr. Zacüra Swüro for clearing the selection of Sub Inspector. 4. Dr. Vekhotso Nyekha, S/o Mr. Kühusayi Nyekha for finishing his MBBS. We wish them the best in all their endeavours. President, TSU K-3772 OFFICE OF THE

FORESTRY GRADUATES ASSOCIATION OF NAGALAND FELICITATION

With immense pride and joy, the Forestry Graduates Association of Nagaland would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to its members for their success in the recently declared NPSC Combined Technical Services Examination 2017. Mr. Chupitho and Mr Ilamwangbe Zeme to the posts of ACF (Class-I Gazetted) under Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department, Mr. Elithung B. Odyuo and Mr Purakum Longkumer to the posts of Junior Soil Conservator Officer (Class II Gazetted), Mr Neizovolie Miachieo to the post of Junior Lecturer (Class II Gazetted) and Mr. Kevilteo Rote to the post of Assistant Research Officer (Class II Gazetted) under Soil & Water Conservation Department. The FGAN further wishes and prays that the Almighty God continue to guide and bless them in all their future endeavors. Zulutoshi Ozukum Lanusanen K-3771 President Assistant General Secretary

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

Trump caused worldwide dismay, says Mitt Romney Washington, Jan 2 (IANS): Former Republican presidential candidate and incoming Utah Senator Mitt Romney has launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump, writing in an editorial that he caused dismay around the world and had “not risen to the mantle of the office”. “It is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination. After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not,” Romney wrote in the Washington Post opinion piece on Tuesday. “... His conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions, is evidence that the President has not risen to the mantle of the office.” Romney, who is set to be sworn into the Senate on Thursday, also said that Trump’s presidency weakened America’s influence abroad, writing that “Trump’s words and actions have caused dismay around the world”. “ T h e wo r l d n e e d s

Donald Trump and Mitt Romney have endured a difficult relationship.

American leadership and it is in America’s interest to provide it.” “With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable... And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.” Trump hit back at the Republican senator-elect in a tweet on Wednesday, saying: “Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast! Question will be, is he a Flake? I hope not,” Trump tweeted, referring to retiring Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican who criticized the President often in the last few years.

“Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful. I won big, and he didn’t. He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a team player and win!” Trump said. Romney said that he agreed with some of the policy changes Trump has championed. “But policies and appointments are only a part of a presidency,” he wrote. Responding to Romney’s piece, Trump’s 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale said that the incoming senator “lacked the ability to save this nation” while Trump “has saved it”.

International Five Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack KABUL, Jan 2 (Agencies): Taliban fighters detonated explosives planted in a tunnel below an Afghan military outpost, killing five soldiers, a police official said on Wednesday. According to Reuter, six soldiers were wounded in the attack on Tuesday in the Maiwand district of the southern province of Kandahar, police spokesman Mohammad Ashraf Watandost said. A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, said the terrorists, fighting to overthrow the government and reimpose strict Islamic law after their 2001 ouster, had killed or wounded 35 soldiers and destroyed a large cache of weapons and ammunition. Afghan border security forces separately thwarted an attack on Italian military advisers at a paramilitary base in the western province of Herat on Wednesday. Noorullah Qadri, the commander of 207 Zafar military corps, said two attackers who had infiltrated the border security forces tried to kill the Italians. “The Italian nationals escaped uninjured. One attacker was gunned down immediately and the other was arrested,” said Qadri.

Kim says ready to meet Trump ‘anytime’ Washington, Jan 2 (Agencies): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Tuesday that he is prepared to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at any time, but warned that he would pursue an alternative course if Washington kept up sanctions on Pyongyang, Fox News reported. In his closely watched New Year’s address, Kim said he was ready to pursue an outcome that would be “welcomed by the international community.” However, he said the North will be forced to take a different path if the United States “continues to break its promises and misjudges our patience by unilaterally demanding certain things and pushes ahead with sanctions and pressure.” Kim also said the U.S. should continue its halt to joint military exercises with South Korea and not deploy strategic military assets to the South. He also made a nationalistic call urging for stronger inter-Korean cooperation and said the North is ready to resume operations at a jointly run factory park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong and restart South Korean tours to the North’s Diamond Mountain resort.

Kim Jong Un delivers his New Year’s speech at an undisclosed place in North Korea. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

Neither of those is possible for South Korea unless sanctions are removed. Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled for months as they struggle with the sequencing of North Korea’s disarmament and the removal of U.S.-led sanctions against the North. Some analysts say North Korea has been trying to drive a wedge between Washington and Seoul while putting the larger burden of action on the United States. Pyongyang over the past months has accused Washington of failing to take corresponding measures following the North’s unilateral dismantlement of a nuclear testing ground and suspension of nuclear and long-range missile tests. North Korea also has

bristled at U.S. demands to provide a detailed account of nuclear and missile facilities that would be inspected and dismantled under a potential deal. The address, broadcast at 9 a.m. local time on North Korea’s state-run television network, was Kim’s seventh since taking power following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011. Earlier, Pyongyang marked the start of 2019 with performances and a fireworks display as thousands of people watched in a square. Kim used his New Year’s speech a year ago to start a newfound diplomatic approach with Seoul and Washington, which led to three summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in addition to a June 12 Singapore sum-

mit with Trump. Kim also met three times with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which boosted his leverage by reintroducing Beijing -Pyongyang’s main ally -- as a major player in the diplomatic process to resolve the nuclear standoff. The hardening stalemate has fueled doubts on whether Kim ever will relinquish the nuclear weapons and missiles he may see as his strongest guarantee of survival. In his meetings with Trump and Moon, Kim signed vague statements calling for the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula without describing when and how it would occur. North Korea for decades has been pushing a concept of denuclearization that bears no resemblance to the American definition, with Pyongyang vowing to pursue nuclear development until the United States removes its troops and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan. Pyongyang used a blunt statement last month reiterated its traditional stance on denuclearization, saying it will never unilaterally give up its weapons unless Washington removes what North Korea describes as a nuclear threat.

UK’s Hunt says confident May will seal deal for Brexit Top Pentagon spokeswoman resigns

Jeremy Hunt

postponed a parliamentary vote on a Brexit agreement with the European Union that has been widely criticized by loyalists and political opponents alike. Her attempt to get assurances from the EU to sweeten the deal has been rebuffed by the bloc. Barring further changes, the parliamentary vote will be held during the week of Jan. 14 — just 10

weeks before Britain is set to leave the EU. In an interview with the BBC on Wednesday, Hunt said ongoing talks are focused on the word “temporary” for terms concerning the Irish border. A so-called backstop could keep the U.K. in a customs union with the EU if the two sides can’t agree on another way to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., and the Republic of Ireland, which is part of the EU. “The EU has agreed that the backstop is temporary and that’s a word they have agreed,” Hunt said. “What we are saying very simply is ‘we’re not asking for anything new, but we are asking you to

define what temporary means so that we can have confidence that we’re not going to be trapped in the customs union forever.’” Even with a tight timeline, Hunt said a second referendum would be a “devastating blow to democracy.” To unite pro- and antiBrexit camps, “we have to make sure that there is a friendly separation where we have the closest possible trade relationship, the closest possible diplomatic relationship with our European friends and neighbors, because I think that is the biggest fear of the remainers,” he added. “We need to find a way of making sure that the Brexit that 48 percent

are afraid of isn’t the Brexit that we end up with and I am confident we can succeed.” Hunt said Britain will seek to strengthen its ties with Southeast Asia postBrexit. He said this includes negotiating a trade deal with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations and possibly joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, a Pacific trade pact. Britain is the biggest European investor in Southeast Asia, with trade totaling nearly 37 billion British pounds ($46.8 billion). Hunt leaves for Malaysia on Thursday.

Washington, Jan 2 (IANS): The Pentagon’s top spokeswoman, who was under investigation over misconduct allegations, has resigned. Dana W. White announced her resignation on Twitter on Monday night, hours after outgoing Defence Secretary James Mattis sent his farewell message to department employees. “I appreciate the opportunity afforded to me by this administration to serve alongside Secretary Mattis, our service members and all the civilians who support them. It has been my honour and privilege. Stay safe and God bless,” White said on Twitter. A Defence Department spokesperson on Tuesday confirmed White had

resigned from her position as assistant to the Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs, the Washington Post reported. Charles E. Summers Jr. replaced White, becoming “acting” assistant to the Defence Secretary, the Pentagon said. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Shri. Khonthrei Konyak and Smti. Angin Konyak

The bond that God binds truly withstands the storm of all kinds. We are deeply grateful to God for your lives and the blessing that we have inherited. God bless you both. By Loving Children

MC-1

FELICITATION

SAKIPHETO BAPTIST CHURCH FELICITATION

K-3773

With immense joy, we take the honour to felicitate Reverend Kahoto Zhimomi, Pastor of Sakipheto Baptist Church (WSBAK) for gloriously and faithfully serving the Lord for 25 long years. He was first deputed in the aforementioned Church as a Pastor on January 1994. We celebrate the Silver Jubilee of his pastorship in the same Church. May the Almighty God bless him and his family abundantly. We wish him furthermore accomplishment in his future endeavour. DP-14

CONGRATULATION

PEREN NAGALAND

/DATED 29/12/2018.

PRESS RELEASE

We the Village Council Tepun, Pastor Baptist Church, CRC Tepun and the believers of Tepun Village in general would like to thank the sons In- law of Tepun village for hosting the 2018 Christmas with one spirit in God, under the theme “Chawang ri Chawang” which means “King of King” with full of merry making and making the Christmas celebration a grand success. We pray to the Almighty God to bless you all abundantly in the days to come.

DP-05 K

Y M C

(K. SANEN LONGKUMER) PRESIDENT

(WAISEMBA) GENERAL SECRETARY

75th Birth Anniversary

TEPUN VILLAGE COUNCIL

(Peramthinlung Newmai) Chairman Village Council Tepun Peren, Nagaland.

With immerse pride and appreciation, THE KOHIMA KINUNGER SENSO TELONGJEM would like to extend our heartiest congratulations to Miss BENDANGJUNGSHILA LONGKUMTSUR daughter of Mr. K. SANEN LONGKUMER and Mrs. MERANGMENLA IMCHEN of KINUNGER VILLAGE for her success in clearing the recently declared NPSC Exam for securing the post of Technical Assistant under the Department of Information Technology and Communication. May Almighty God continue to lead, bless and guide you abundantly. The union further wishes you grand success in your future endeavour. KOHIMA KINUNGER SENSO TELONGJEM KOHIMA KINUNGER SENSO TELONGJEM

OFFICE OF THE

NO.PRN/TVC/FILE-02/2018-19/

and holds the rank of captain in the US Navy Reserve. It was not clear whether White’s departure was related to reports of the probe by the Inspector General to determine whether she mistreated staff members or retaliated against them after they raised concerns, according to the Post.

K-3778

SINGAPORE, Jan 2 (Agencies): British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Wednesday he is confident Prime Minister Theresa May will obtain the concessions needed to convince enough lawmakers to back an unpopular Brexit deal. According to Fox News, leaving the European Union without a deal on March 29 would cause “destruction that could last some time,” Hunt said. “I think that she will find a way to get this deal through Parliament and I know that is what the British people would want,” he added. Hunt was replying to questions at a lecture in Singapore, the first stop on his three-day visit to Asia. Last month, May

K-3777

We t h e f a m i l y members and relatives have the privilege to congratulate Shri R.N.YANTHAN for his elevation to the post of Principal Director of Treasuries & Accounts D e p a r t m e n t w. e . f 1 st Januar y 2019. We are also praying to Almighty God for granting him good health and wisdom so that will enable him to lead the Department in the right direction. K-3774

Mr. V. Khevihe Kiba

Ps. 91:16 with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation

Wishing you a Happy & Blessed

75th BIRTHDAY DP-9731

Loving wife, children, in-laws, grandchildren K

Y M C

Infotainment

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

West talks politics after Actor Martyn Ford loves fame Kader Khan, veteran Bollywood Kanye seeking distance from politics as ‘scariest man on planet’ actor, passes away at 81 A A T day after dismissing reports of his death, Kader Khan’s son Sarfaraz confirmed on Tuesday morning that the veteran actor-writer passed away on Monday evening. Best known for acting in popular films such Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Akhiyon Se Goli Maare, Joru Ka Ghulam, Haseena Maan Jaayegi, Aunty No. 1 and Judwaa, Khan was living in Canada with Sarfaraz and his daughter-in-law Shahista. He was 81. “My dad has left us. He passed away on December 31 at 6 pm as per Canadian time due to prolonged illness. He slipped into coma in the afternoon. He was in the hospital for 16-17 weeks,” Sarfaraz told PTI. “The last rites will be performed here in Canada only. We have our entire family here and we live here so we are doing it. We are thankful to everyone for their blessings and prayers,” he added. In the last few days, Khan was just able

to maintain eye contact. He had stopped talking completely, was put on a BiPAP ventilator and showed symptoms of pneumonia. Sarfaraz had earlier told a media portal that Khan had recently undergone a knee surgery but despite it being successful, he couldn’t walk owing to his ill health. “The surgery did not go wrong. It was just that my father refused to get up after it. We were told that he has to make an effort and try to start walking from the next day but he just didn’t do it,” Sarfaraz said. Khan was also suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), an extremely rare degenerative

disease known to cause slow deterioration and loss of specific volumes of the brain, resulting in loss of balance, slowing of movement, difficulty moving eyes and dementia. Born in Kabul in 1937, Khan made his acting debut in 1973 with Yash Chopra’s film Daag that starred Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore in lead roles. He went on to feature in over 300 films. But before turning to acting, he was a prolific dialogue and screen writer and had penned dialogues for over 250 films, including Randhir Kapoor-Jaya Bachchan’s Jawani Diwani and Rajesh Khanna’s Roti. As a screenwriter, Khan is most celebrated for his collaborations with Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra for several successful films, including Dharam Veer, Coolie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Sharaabi, Lawaaris and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. (News18)

he year has changed. But the politically incendiary Kanye West? Perhaps not so much. The rapper, who said just months ago that he’d be “distancing” himself from politics, jumped back in with a tweet on Tuesday that reaffirmed his support for President Donald Trump. “Trump all day,” West wrote as 2019 was getting underway. “One of my favorite of many things about what the Trump hat represents to me is that people can’t tell me what to do because I’m black,” another tweet read. “Blacks are 90% Democrats ... That sounds like control to me,” read another. In a followup tweet, West simply stated, “2024” — a possible reference to the presidential election to be held that year. In October, the out-

spoken Trump fan said he’d had enough of politics. West told his Twitter followers that his “eyes are now wide open” after he felt he was being used to “spread messages” that he didn’t believe in. I t ’s u n c l e a r w h a t prompted the rapper to announce his “distance,” but at the time he did reference “Blexit” — a campaign developed by conservative activist Candace Owens aiming to move AfricanAmerican voters away from the Democratic Party. Weeks earlier, West had lunch with Trump and also met with him in the Oval Office. Donning a red “MAGA” cap, West praised the president and covered scattered topics, including Superman, the 13th and Second Amendments and North Korea. Referring to Trump’s signature hat, West said, “They tried to scare me not to wear this hat. When I put this hat on, it made me feel like Superman — my favorite superhero. You made a Superman cape for me.” (FoxNews)

t 6 feet 8 inches, bulky and heavily tattooed British bodybuilder and actor Martyn Ford, who has featured in films like “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” and “Undisputed 4”, is dubbed the scariest man on the planet. While he loves that fame, he says there’s a humble and entertaining side to him too. “I love that fame,” Ford said and laughed when asked about his thoughts on being called “scariest”. “Apart from the scariest man on the planet, I am often addressed as the most humble and entertaining man as well. I enjoy the fame and name given to me. People do not get scared standing in front of me but they get excited when their adrenaline shoots,” he said in an email interview to IANS. Ford is looking forward to his India visit later this month for the sixth edition of BodyPower Expo in Mumbai from January 11-13. “This is my second

visit to India and I am really excited to meet my Indian family once again,” added the mixed martial arts star, who promises some “mega surprises”. He is happy to see the world taking fitness more seriously. “I have travelled the globe and still travelling and exploring the insights of the global fitness industry, I must say India is a huge market on the globe for business and so as for new opportunities. “I have observed a tremendous growth in the number of individuals taking up fitness as their primary career, either becom-

ing a fitness athlete/coach/ nutritionist/powerlifter/ cross fitter. His own transition from being an athlete to an actor has been rather interesting. “This will sound awkward, but I always wanted to be a professional cricketer. Due to a troublesome injury, I suffered a glandular fever that cost me around 9-12 months to recover during my peak vital career. “Unfortunately, I had to give up on my career and started finding a new focus for my hunger. I decided to frame my personality in such a way that it should look massive and should give a feeling of fear whenever I stand in front of everyone or anyone see my picture. “Today, a massive number of people look upto me as an inspiration and motivation. I play a very big role in those people’s lives. That’s my responsibility -- to rise and help others rise.” (IANS)

Hilary Duff says two-month-old daughter has colic Nita Strauss says she would love to play with Metallica

inger-actress Hilary ments. Oh and Happy New Duff has asked fans Year. lol. Thank God for for help as her twofilters, baby for sale, any month-old daughter, Banks, takers?” is suffering from colic. Followers shared their Duff took to Instagram own tips and tricks, as well to ask fellow parents for as a whole lot of sympathy, help, explaining that she in the comments section. Hilary Duff can’t put Banks down withColic can be defined as out her screaming, reports metro.co.uk. bouts of intense, loud and inconsolable She wrote: “Calling all parents of crying, for no apparent reason, for three colic babies...this ends right? Can you ever hours or more a day, three or more days a set them down without them screaming week, for three or more weeks in a row. or waking up? We have read everything Duff, who is also mother to six-yearthe Internet has to offer...nothing besides old Luca with former husband Mike Comnursing basically every hour or less helps. rie, welcomed Banks Violet with partner “We have done all the obvious Matthew Koma in October. things...please leave magic tricks in com(IANS)

Y M C

n a brand new interview with “The Roman Show”, Nita Strauss, the Los Angeles-based guitar shredder for the Alice Copper band, was asked if there is any other group that she would love to play guitar for. She responded (see video below): “Oh, so many. So many. You know, I love to play guitar; that’s the thing. If I’m gonna throw the first thing out there, it’s always Metallica. Metallica, if you guys are watching, I’m available.” She continued: “I love

to play guitar. I’ve never really been the type of guitar player that goes, ‘I’ll only play this style of music or that thing.’ I love my regular job playing with Alice Cooper, I love doing my solo stuff, I love doing guest spots and guest tours. So I just love to play, and I’ll play with anybody that’ll have me, just about.” Strauss has been playing with Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Al-

Nita Strauss

ice in time for a mammoth Motley Crüe tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker’s former bass player and Winger frontman Kip Winger.

Nita previously said that she she fell in love with heavy metal at the age of 15 after hearing Megadeth’s “Trust” for the first time. “And ever since then, it was sort of a non-stop train, a non-stop train of heavy metal… crazy train, if you will,” she laughed. “And, yeah, I mean, when you feel it, when you really feel a kind of music in your heart, and you know what you’re supposed to be doing, it’s a beautiful thing. I feel really lucky that I did.”

Nita’s debut solo album, “Controlled Chaos”, was released in November via Sumerian Records. The disc was fueled by a Kickstarter campaign which generated over 600 percent of what Strauss was hoping to raise to help offset the costs around creating the record and touring it. Last year, Strauss became the first female to have a signature series guitar with Ibanez. Nita is also the first female to have signature DiMarzio pickups. (Blabbermouth)

Y M C

Obituaries

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

10TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

of our beloved mother Late Mrs. Sarah Seb

of beloved

3rd January 2009

Late Samanenba Imsong,

Ten years have passed since you left us but never from our hearts. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.

Longjang

(03.01.2018)

A year gone but not forgotten, Your life was a blessing to us, Your presence is always missed.

Loving Children & Grandchildren

DP-09

1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Loving family members. DP-11

1ST DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR BELOVED Born : 09/02/1988 – Died : 30/12/2018 "In the noontide of my days I must depart" We the family of Late Arensang would like to convey our heartfelt and profound gratitude with sincerity to each and every individual, churches, family members, friends and well wishers who stood by us physically, ﬁnancially, materially, morally, spiritually during his brief illness and sad demise of our beloved on 30th Dec' 2018 at Eden Medical Centre, Dimapur. Our sincere & special thanks to: 1. Doctors and Nurses of IMDH, Mokokchung. 2. Doctors and Nurses of Eden Medical Centre. 3. Doctor & Staff of Blood Bank Civil Hospital, Dimapur. 4. Blood Donors. 5. Managing Board and Staff of CSHSS, Changtongya. 6. Changtongya Baptist Arogo. 7. Molungkimong Students' Union. 8. Molungkimong Senso Union, Tuli. Loving Parents, Sister & Relatives. DP-20

DP-07

1 DEATH ANNIVERSARY st

of Mr. Mhademo Kikon 13/11/1996 – 02/01/2018

1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY

In remembrance of our beloved Late Ayamo Jami

LATE SHWENILO THONG Died: 3rd January 2018 “God called your name so gently, that only you could hear. God saw you needed rest, and so opened His heavenly gates. Heaven must be beautiful, He only takes the best.” Deeply missed and always remembered. Loving wife, children, grand children and in-laws. K-3767

FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY of our beloved

1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Late Mr. Bendangwapang Jamir

Late K. Vilotoli (Zhimo) Gangmei

Died on : 01.01.2018

No words could ease what we truly feel. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn't go alone. For part of us went with you the day God took you home. Your life was a blessing. Your memories a treasure. And with the hope that we will meet again someday in a better place. Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed, DP-9715

Loving parents and sisters.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Born on : 12/12/1980 – Died on : 01/01/2018

01.01.2018

You are remembered with love and deeply missed every day. DP-9749

Loving family members.

A year has passed since you left us for your eternal home, but not a single day goes by without remembering you. In silent tears we deeply miss you always. DP-13

Loving husband, daughter, family members & relatives

IN GRATITUDE

A year has passed since you left us for your eternal home, but you will continue to remain in our hearts forever. Your profound acts of generosity and helpfulness are remembered every moment in our lives and will continue to inspire us. We love you dearly and miss your presence beyond measure. DP-22

- Loving wife, children and relatives

IN GRATITUDE

"The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord" Job: 1:21

Born : 12/04/1972 Died : 22/12/2018 We the family members of Late K. Alemba Joseph Tikhir would like to take this opportunity to sincerely convey our heartfelt and profound gratitude to each and every individuals, churches, organisation, GPRN NSCN (IM), Adl. S.P. Kiphire, DC Longleng, SDPO Kiphire, Sangkumti Village Citizen, Sangkumti Baptist Church, Tikhir Baptist Church Kiphire, Women Police Staff Kiphire, Police Baptist Church Kiphire, Family and Friends, Neighbours and well wishers who stood and supported us physically, financially, spiritually and materially in our time of grief, who left us for his heavenly abode on 22nd December 2018. We deeply regret our inability to thank you individually but it is our sincere prayer that our Almighty God continue to bless you all abundantly. Loving Wife, Children & Relatives DP-06

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We convey our heartfelt gratitude to all who stood by us in prayers, in kind, materially and financially during the shocking and untimely demise of our beloved Late IMLITEMSU on 22/12/2018. We can give nothing in return nor thank each and everyone of you individually . But it is our sincere prayer that the Almighty God shall bless each and everyone of you abundantly. DP-38

Beloved Mother, Brothers, Sister, Niece and In-Laws

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

DP-47

1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY of our dearest daddy

Born on : 03/07/1998 – Died on : 26/12/2018

(Job : 1:21) "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away"

We the bereaved family of Late Kivikali Achumi would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and everyone who stood by us through financially, prayer, physically and spiritually during her prolonged illness and sad demise of our beloved daughter who left for her heavenly abode on 26th December 2018. We deeply regret our inability to thank everyone personally for your immense love, care and support, but it is our humble prayer that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly. DP-02 K Y M C

Loving Parents, Brothers & Relatives

Born on Dec. 1st 1967 – Died on Dec. 23rd 2018 We, the family members of Late S Tarep Jamir would like to acknowledge our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy shown to us by many following the demise of our loving father. We would like to acknowledge our Friends, Churches and well wishers who stood by us during our time of grief. Words are not enough to express our humble gratitude to all those who have stood and shared in our loss Physically, Spiritually and Materially. It is not possible to thank each and every one of you individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deepest gratitude. It is our sincere prayers that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly for the loved shown towards us in our times of grief. “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ”. Galatians 6:2 Loving wife, children & relatives K-3768

P. KUGHAHO ZHIMOMI 2nd Jan 2018

This World is not our home and until we meet again, We cherish & celebrate the legacy you left us on this day. To God be all the Glory & Honor, for His timing and His ways are always perfect. DP-9736

Loving wife & children

Born : May 1947 Died : 29th December 2018 Through this column, we the bereaved family members of Late YESHILHO K SEMA would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to: 1. DEF SP Zbto and all Ranks 2. SBCZ and Staff 3. Khuwaboto Prayer Fellowship (SBCZ) 4. Khuwaboto Youth Prayer Fellowship 5. Kawoto Village Baptist Church 6. Khuwaboto Colony Citizen 7. Akuluto Area Union, Zbto 8. Lotisa Union, Zbto 9. Lotisa (Old) Baptist Church 10 ZTYO 11. Khuwaboto Senior Union and each and every individual who stood by us and supported us physically, ﬁnancially and spiritually during the prolonged illness and at the demise of our Father and my Husband. Though we are unable to thank each and everyone of you individually, Your comforting words and kind deeds will forever be remembered by us. God bless you abundantly. Loving wife, children, grandchildren & relatives DP-08 K Y M C

sports

Nagaland Post, Dimapur

Spurs beat Cardiff 3-0; reclaim 2nd place

produced a clinical finish with a shot on the turn after being well set-up by Kane. The South Korean has scored 11 goals in his last 12 starts. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino praised the way his side seized control of the game early. “The energy we showed from the beginning was fantastic to dominate the game. We knew that it would be difficult to open the score and we wanted from the beginning to have a high tempo. We found the solution in the first 20 minutes,” he told Sky Sports. “I don’t want to see the table. Of course we are in a Son Heung-min shoots past Cardiff defender Sean Morrison to score Tottenham’s third good position. We need to goal of the match in the first half. be consistent. You must be

consistent during the whole season,” he said. Pochettino added that he wouldn’t let nervousness over the table prevent him from watching Thursday’s clash between City and Liverpool, the league’s highest-scoring sides. “I don’t care. Of course I will watch, it will be an unbelievable game and I enjoy football,” he said. For his part Warnock suggested that Cardiff, who remain in 16th place three points above the relegation zone, may need to go shopping during the January transfer window. “Hopefully we can get one or two additions which will help,” he said.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3,2019

Nadal withdraws; Andy Murray loses to Medvedev in Brisbane

Murray lost 7-5 6-2 to world no 16 Medvedev Nadal pulled out after practice in Brisbane.

on the eve of his scheduled second-round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after having an MRI on a muscle strain in his left thigh. Nadal said he’d head to Melbourne after a brief stopover in Sydney for a Fast4 event to prepare for the Australian Open. The 32-year-old Spaniard is confident he’ll be fit enough to compete at the season’s first major, which starts on Jan. 14 at Melbourne Park. Also exiting the men’s draw on Wednesday where defending champion Nick Kyrgios, who lost to Jeremy Chardy 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3, and third-seeded Kyle Edmund, who lost to Japanese qualifier Yasutaka Uchiyama 7-6 (6), 6-4. Second-seeded Kei Nishikori beat and 2017 champion Grigor Dimitrov had straight-set wins earlier to set up a quarterfinal showdown _ a rematch of their final in 2017. Also advancing were fifth-seeded Milos Raonic

and seventh-seeded Alex De Minaur. Anett Kontaveit beat fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova 7-5, 7-6 (1) to reach the women’s quarterfinals, and Anastasija Sevastova advanced to a quarterfinal match against U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka when she beat Harriet Dart 6-2, 6-0. Fifth-seeded Karolina Pliskova had a 7-5, 6-2 win over Marie Bouzkova, Ajla Tomljanovic beat Johanna Konta 6-2, 7-6 (2), and Donna Vekic ousted No. 6 Kiki Bertens 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-5. Nadal had one match at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi before arriving this week in Australia, where he forecast his withdrawal when he said he wanted to focus on quality of his play over quantity of matches in his schedule this year. He played nine tournaments in 2018, winning five titles, including the French Open, in a season curtailed by knee and ankle injuries.

India eye maiden series win against Aus Chelsea sign Dortmund forward Pulisic

Thevonü memorial trophy

Lo n d o n, Ja n 2 (Agencies): Tottenham moved back into second place in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool, after cruising to a 3-0 win at lowly Cardiff City on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Liverpool face thirdplaced Manchester City on Thursday night, and City could move back above Spurs if they avoid defeat at the Etihad Stadium. S p u r s, b e a t e n b y Wolves at home on Satur-

Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS): A confident India face Australia in the fourth and final Test here on Thursday, aiming to create history by registering their maiden Test series win Down Under. India are leading the four match Test rubber 2-1. India had won the first test followed by a loss in the second. In the third game, the visitor registered a morale boosting 137 runs victory. The batting department seemed settled with captain Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane among the runs along with Mayank Agarwal, who impressed in his debut Test with a half-century in the first innings, and Rishabh Pant. With the pitch here expected to assist spin, India have named Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin in their 13 player squad. Pacer Ishant Sharma has faced a niggle so he got replaced by Umesh Yadav. Umesh will be supporting Mohammad Shami and inform Jasprit Bumrah. “You might have your name up on the honours board but if your team doesn’t win, it doesn’t really matter. Till now it would

day, took just three minutes to get in front in South Wales through the familiar source of captain Harry Kane. After Kane launched an attack, surging from deep, Kieran Trippier crossed and the England forward had a simple tapin when the ball ricocheted off Cardiff defender Sean Morrison. Cardiff manager Neil Warnock said that early goal was a heavy blow: “When we start off like

that we shoot ourselves in the foot. All the planning goes out of the window,” he told the BBC. Christian Eriksen then made it 2-0 for Spurs nine minutes later with a clever finish from the edge of the box, although Warnock will be disappointed with the way his defenders backed off and gave the Dane space to wriggle and shoot home. The game was effectively over in the 26th minute when Son Heung-Min

EPL standings Team

Pts

Liverpool

Tottenham

Man City

Chelsea

Arsenal

Man Utd

Leicester

Wolves

Watford

-1

Everton

Indian players are seen during a practice session ahead of the fourth and final Test against Australia in Sydney on Wednesday. (AP)

definitely be a big, big series win, not just for me, but also for the whole team purely because of the fact that this is the place where we started our transition to be honest,” Kohli said at the pre-match presser. Kohli also said that in the fourth match the team’s intensity won’t be lacking. “Our year ended very well and we will try to make sure that we start this year well too. We are taking this as a standalone Test, which we must play with full intensity and effort,” Kohli said. Australia, on the other hand, who faced

criticism for their batting might make a few changes. All-rounder Marnus Labuschagne is added to the squad for the last test. Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh could lose their spots as they failed in the last match. In the batting department, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head did their job but lack of support cost the team. Pacers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins would like to up the ante in order to equalise the series and support spinner Nathon Lyon, who did extremely well in the three Test matches.

Squads: Australia: Tim Paine (captain), Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Siddle, Marnus Labuschagne. India: Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav.

Lo n d o n, Ja n 2 (Agencies): Chelsea have signed Borussia Dortmund forward Christian Pulisic for 64m euros (£58m), but will loan him back to the German club until the end of the season. The 20-year-old United States international, who was linked with Liverpool and Arsenal, joined Dortmund as a youth player in 2015. Pulisic has scored nine goals in 23 games for the US. “It’s a privilege to have signed for such a legendary club,” he said. It is the highest transfer fee for an American player, beating the 20m euros Wolfsburg paid for John Brooks in 2017. Dortmund director Michael Zorc said: “It was always Christian’s dream to play in the Premier League. “That certainly has to do with his American background, and as a result we were unable to extend his contract. “Against this background, we have decided to accept an extremely lucrative bid by Chelsea, given the low contract maturity.” Pulisic’s contract at Dortmund was due to expire in June 2020. In an emotional

Brisbane, Jan 2 (Agencies): Andy Murray lost his second-round match less than an hour after Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Brisbane International on Wednesday. Both players arrived in Australia after long injury breaks, and neither had played a competitive match since September. At least Murray completed two matches. Playing on a protected ranking after an injury-interrupted 18 months, he beat James Duckworth before losing to fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2. There were signs in both matches that he is still bothered by the hip problem which has derailed his last two seasons. Murray, a three-time major champion, recovered a service break in the first set and was in the match at 5-5 until Medvedev won six straight games. The secondranked Nadal had a firstround bye but withdrew

Correspondent

Chelsea have won the race to sign Christian Pulisic for £58million and he joins in the summer.

statement on Twitter, Pulisic said he will leave Dortmund with a “heavy heart”. “It feels like only yesterday that I arrived in Dortmund as a raw, excited, very nervous but exceptionally proud 16-yearold from a small American town called Hershey,” he said. “I would not be here without the club and their

belief in giving young players a chance. Many memorable moments stand out - to have experienced all of them before my 20th birthday, still feels at times like a dream. “For the next six months, it’s all BVB. Please do not doubt my passion, determination and my 110% commitment to the team right until the last ball is kicked this season.”

Kohima, Jan 2 (NPN): The 4th edition of Thevonü memorial trophy, which is held after every four years, will be held on January 8 at K. Basa village under Phek district. The tournament is being organized with an aim to revive friendship and brotherhood between Chokri area under Phek district and Southern Angami under Kohima district. Organized by Japfüphiki Chokri Dzevi Krotho (PCDK) and to be hosted by Chokri Area Public Organisation, the tournament will be held under the theme ‘friendship through sports’ coinciding with the 49th games and sports meet 2019 of Chokri Area Games and Sports Association scheduled from January 4 onwards. In the tournament, football (men) and volleyball (women) will be played between Southern Angami Sports Association (SASA) and Chokri Area Games and Sports Association (CAGSA). According to Vesekho Thisa, vice president Chokri Area Games and Sports Association two teams from each unit will represent their respective units in football (men) and volleyball (women).

Sharapova enters Shenzhen QFs

Maria Sharapova

SHEN Z HEN , J a n 2 (Agencies): Maria Sharapova reached the quarterfinals of the Shenzhen Open on Wednesday after Chinese teenager Wang Xinyu retired in the second set with cramps. A c c o r d i n g t o A P, Sharapova, who lost the first

set 7-6 (4), was leading 5-2 in the second before Wang was forced to quit. “It’s not the way either of us wants to finish the match, win or lose,” Sharapova said. “I thought (Wang) was absolutely the dominant player in this match, and had all the op-

portunities to win it, even though I felt like I was finding my stride and getting a little bit closer to the line and being more aggressive.” Wang, 17, who won two Grand Slam doubles titles last year, received a wild card into the Shenzhen event. “She has all the tools to play well, and I think she showcased that, and it’s obviously a very unfortunate way to end the match,” Sharapova said. Sharapova, 31, will next face top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the quarterfinals. Sabalenka defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia 6-3, 6-3. Earlier, Wang Yafan reached the quarterfinals by beating Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. She will next face Monica Niculescu of Romania, who defeated Kristyna Pliskova of Czech Republic 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4.

Printed, Published and Edited by Geoffrey Yaden at G.M. Printers, Circular Rd. Dimapur-797112. Ph: Desk 248489, Fax: 225366, e-mail-npdesk@gmail.com, nagapost@rediffmail.com. Adm.& Advertisement :248267 Fax: 248500 e-mail-npostadvt@gmail.com Kohima: 2290567, R.N. 40978/90 RN/NE 707 K Y M C

K Y M C