Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVIII No. 221
WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2018 Pages 12 ` 5.00
Opposition seeks TN CM’s resignation after IT seizes cash, gold
France give WC winners a heroes’ welcome
Bezos becomes the richest man in modern history
national, Page 7
sports, Page 11
business, Page 8
BJP, Oppn set for showdown
Monsoon Session of Parl begins today Oppn to move no confidence motion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi other leaders after an all-party meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): Government and the opposition appeared set for a showdown in Parliament’s Monsoon Session beginning tomorrow with the Congress pushing for a no-confidence motion while the BJP is likely to raise Rahul Gandhi’s reported statement that his party “is for Muslims” to corner it. Worries remain if the impasse seen in the Budget session will carry over to this session with both the government and the opposi-
AMK objects to bail for rapist
D imapur , J ul 1 7 (NPN): Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho(AMK), has strongly objected to any bail for prime accused Sabir Ahmen, involved in the gang rape and brutal murder of late Pezano Mor(Aged 51) and mother of seven, on March 26, 2018 at Khonoma village. AMK president Kevinuorheno Seyie and general secretary Shürhivino Nakhro, in their joint appeal to the District & Sessions Judge Kohima, said they were shocked that Sabir Ahmed, reportedly an Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrant (IBI) and a labourer has been able to engage “some top local Advocates for his bail process.” They said that was also a reason to believe that there might be “a hidden society backing the perpetrators in the case” and opined that if the accused was granted bail then there was every possibility that Ahmed could jump bail and escape forever. (Cont’d on p-7)
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tion engaged in acrimonious exchanges in its run-up over a host of issues including religious polarisation, lynching incidents and banking scams. Opposition leaders today wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker that trends that emerged in the last session might prove lethal to the constitutional democracy if left unchecked. At an all-party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sought cooperation of all political parties and asked them to
ensure that it turns out to be a productive session. The Monsoon session will begin Wednesday and end on August 10. Addressing a meeting of leaders of various parties, the prime minister hoped that each one of them would raise issues of public importance in the larger interest of the country. However, BJP sources asserted that they will not take lying down the opposition offensive and will thwart attempts to corner the Modi government over issues convenient to them. The ruling party has been raising the pitch over Rahul Gandhi’s reported remarks, which have been denied by the Congress, that his party is for Muslims. It has accused the Congress of Muslim appeasement and practising divisive politics. Congress on its part has accused Modi of pursuing divisive agenda to win elections after his governance “failure”. Closing ranks, leaders of opposition parties in the Lok Sabha, including the Congress, CPI(M), Samajwadi Party, NCP, IUML, CPI, RJD and some other parties, wrote to Speaker
Sumitra Mahajan, accusing the BJP of denigrating rules and the Constitution which “lowered” the dignity of Parliament and the Chair. Oppn to move no confidence motion: Opposition parties are set to back a noconfidence motion moved by Telugu Desam Party MP Srinivas Kesineni in the Lok Sabha. Congress party also announced that it will bring a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that all Opposition parties have come to a consensus to move the vote of no-confidence against the council of ministers. “All Opposition parties have also come to a consensus to move a vote of noconfidence,” Kharge said. A number of opposition parties had given notices for no confidence motion during the Budget session, but Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had rejected all of them. BJP MPs, in turn, issued appeals on social media to Congress president Rahul Gandhi to let the House function smoothly.
Maneka asks states to register all childcare institutions to CARA Spl. Correspondent/Agencies
New Delhi, Jul 17 (NPN): Union minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday directed states/ UTs to compulsorily register all the child care institutions in the State and link them with CARA for proper monitoring. Addressing a high-level national conference of state/UT ministers-in-charge of Women & Child development held here, Gandhi also asked all States to invest in cradle centers to make available more destitute children for adoption. The minister also drew the attention of states to the issues concerning child abuse and asked for wider dissemination of information about e-Box for complaints from children on child abuse and SHe-Box online complaints portal for sexual harassment at work for women. She also appealed to the states to implement 33 percent women composition in police forc-
es to enable a fearless atmosphere for women affected by crimes. Meanwhile, Gandhi informed that the Ministry was all set to amend the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ) to ensure that district magistrates and collectors become “competent officers” for approving adoptions, instead of courts. According to reports, Gandhi has also asked states to get the childcare homes run by Mother Teresa-founded Missionaries of Charity inspected immediately. However, Gandhi clarified that the announcement of the amendment has no connection with the incident that took place in Jharkhand. Some orphanages have challenged the validity of the law under the JJ Act, a WCD official was quoted by PTI. Around 2,300 CCIs are linked to CARA, while another 4,000 remain pending for linkage. Gandhi brought to notice that the 2,300 institutions linked to CARA were not under an adoption system.
Manipur NPF reacts to Biren Singh’s comment
Ready to strike down laws violating fundamental rights: Apex court
IMPHAL, Jul 17 (NPN): A day after Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh talked tough on the Naga peace talks, NPF Manipur unit, which is part of the ruling coalition here, expressed regret over chief the minister’s statement to a national publication. In a statement, NPF Manipur unit general secretary (Adm) Honreikhui Kashing said it was regrettable that the chief ministerled delegation sought limiting the ambit of Framework Agreement within the borders of Nagaland. He said the news published on July 15 by a local daily created tension among the peace loving people of Manipur. Kashing said Nagas in Manipur and other communities in general were provided a ray of hope that they would finally live in peace when the Government of India (GoI) declared its intent to peacefully resolve the Naga political issue, followed by signing of the Framework Agreement between GoI and NSCN (I-M), he added.
NEW DELHI, JUL 17 (PTI): The courts cannot wait for a “majoritarian government” to decide on enacting, amending or striking down a law if it violates fundamental rights, the Supreme Court asserted on Tuesday. “We would not wait for the majoritarian government to enact, amend or not to enact any law to deal with violations of fundamental rights,” a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra observed while hearing a batch of petitions seeking decriminalisation of consensual gay sex by striking down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The courts are not in obligation to wait and would act if any violation of fundamental right was brought before it, the Supreme Court bench—which also comprised Justices R.F. Nariman, A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra—said. The observations by the Supreme Court bench, which is dealing with a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity
Correspondent
(Cont’d on p-7)
NPRAAF alleges NRDWP project guidelines flouted DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) on Tuesday alleged that National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) projects in the State were not implemented as per Central government guidelines. NPRAAF through its information and publicity cell said it had filed an RTI in the PHE department on May 7 this year seeking copy of actual payment receipt (APR) and documentary proof and photos of works executed and completed under NRDWP, besides showing break up of expenditure division and district-wise from 2015 to 2018. However, the forum said the department could not furnish these documents even after lapse of the mandated period under RTI Act. (Cont’d on p-7)
of Section 377, came when advocate Manoj George, appearing for the Apostolic Alliance of Churches and Utkal Christian Association, submitted that it was the legislature’s job to decide whether to amend or allow Section 377 in the statute book. “The moment we are convinced about violation of the fundamental right, the object of these fundamental rights gives power to the court to strike down the law,” the Supreme Court bench said. George also referred to the term “sexual orientation” and said it cannot be read interchangeably with the term “sex” used in Article 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which deal with the right to equality of the citizen. George said the term sexual orientation was different from the term sex as there have been several kinds of sexual orientation, besides the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer). Section 377 refers to ‘unnatural offences’ and says whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against
the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term, which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to pay a fine. The Supreme Court had on July 12 said the social stigma and discrimination attached to the LGBTQ community would go if criminality of consensual gay sex is done away with, while maintaining that it would scrutinise the legal validity of Section 377 of the IPC in all its aspects. The Supreme Court had observed that an environment has been created in Indian society over the years that has led to deep-rooted discrimination against the LGBTQ community, which has also adversely impacted its mental health. Earlier, Centre had left it to the Supreme Court to test the constitutional validity of Section 377, urging that issues like gay marriages, adoption and ancillary civil rights of the LGBTQ community should not be dealt by it.
DPON denounces DNC’s allegation
DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): Dimasa Public Organisation, Nagaland (DPON) has taken umbrage to reports appearing in a section of media about Dimasa National Council having submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. In a press release, DPON publicity secretary Amon Difoe said the organisation held an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation and clarify on the matter. He said DPON had no knowledge about the existence of Dimasa National Council (DNC) and the demands put forth by it to the Government of India. According to Difoe, the council was formed by few individuals without having the mandate of the people as per reports from Dimasa frontal organisations of Assam. DPON publicity secretary also strongly refuted and condemned the allegation of atrocities alleged to have been committed on the Dimasas of Nagaland by Naga rebels, which was nothing but “a sinister design to create
animosity between indigenous tribes”. He appealed to everyone to avoid misunderstanding on the issue and maintain age-old cordial relationship among tribal communities. DNC: According to Northeast Now report, DNC reiterated its demand for a separate Hirimbapur Autonomous State including return of Dimapur to Assam. DNC president Dhironjay Naiding had said: “We, the members of Dimasa National Council also appraised the Government of the atrocities of the Naga rebels in some parts of our former territory and opposed the demand of separate Nagalim comprising the land of Assam. This move of Nagalim will be resisted at any cost by DNC. We will not lose an inch of our land…” Assam MP: BJP MP from Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency Ram Prasad Sharma on Tuesday demanded that Nagaland should immediately return Dimapur to Assam as it has no legal ownership over the commercial town. His statement came against
the backdrop of DNC’s demand for merger of Dimapur with Assam on Monday. The DNC also submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this regard. Talking to Northeast Now Sharma, who is also a lawyer, said, “Lease is a temporary arrangement for a fixed period. Lease cannot give full ownership right. And Nagaland has no ownership right on Dimapur, they should return it immediately.” He requested Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to claim the territory of present Dimapur district of Nagaland as the territory of Assam. “It was a mauza of Jorhat district. We have to take it back from Nagaland. We should claim the territory of Dimapur,” Sharma said. According to Sharma Dimapur was leased out to Naga Hills for 30 year in 1918 for construction of railway lines. But after the lease period Nagaland continued to occupy the land and even made Dimapur a district ‘on its own’.
Myanmar bars NSCN (K) from singing NCA NPF accuses PDA govt of doing NAYPYIDAW, JUL 17 (AGENCIES): A faction of the NSCN (K) will not be allowed to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) because of the ethnic Naga armed group’s core demand for an independent Naga homeland spanning either side of the MyanmarIndia border, according to government spokesperson U Zaw Htay, reports the Myanmar Now, an independent news agency. Zaw Htay was speaking at the Union Peace Conference, taking place 11-16 July in the capital Naypyidaw. The conference, also known as “21st Century Panglong,” is one of a series convened by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to build consensus towards a peace accord that would end decades of conflict with an array of ethnic armed groups. NCA, conceived as a foundation stone for the
peace process, was signed between the Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups in 2015. They have since been joined by two other groups, but most of the more powerful groups remain outside of the agreement. NSCN (K), who broke ranks with other leaders in the Naga crossborder insurgency, signed a ceasefire with the Myanmar government in 2012 and was allowed to open a liaison office in the town of Hkamti. Khaplang died of ill health last year in Myanmar. Though NSCN (K)’s headquarters are in northwestern Myanmar, close to the Indian border, its main engagements have been with the Indian Army and it has not fought with the Myanmar army since 2012. Responding to an NSCNKhaplang ambush on Indian soldiers in 2015, the Indian government branded it a terrorist group and alleg-
edly conducted cross-border raids on its camps, though the Indian government denied this. India accuses the group of using kidnapping and extortion to fund its activities. The group’s demand for a sovereign Naga homeland, which they call Nagalim, incorporating areas of both India and Myanmar, marks it out from most other ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, which demand autonomy within Myanmar. Like other groups that have not signed the NCA, the NSCN-Khaplang is merely observing the current peace conference in Naypyidaw. “We can’t agree to divide the country. It is difficult to negotiate with groups that hope for a separate country,” said Zaw Htay on July 16. Zaw Htay is also a member of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) secretariat, which
organises peace talks. However, Zaw Htay said the group itself was not prepared to sign the NCA. Another member of the UPDJC secretariat, U Hla Maung Shwe, said the NSCN-Khaplang could only join the NCA if they abandoned the idea of “separation.” Myanmar’s 2008 Constitution bars any attempt to secede from the Union. About 2 million Naga people, who are predominantly Christian, live in mountainous terrain that spans the northeastern Indian states of Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, as well as Sagaing Region in northwestern Myanmar. Myanmar’s Constitution outlines a Naga SelfAdministered Zone comprising the townships of Lahe, Leshi and Nanyun in Sagaing Region, but this provides for minimal autonomy.
nothing over deplorable NH-29
DIMAPUR, JUL 17 (NPN): NPF has accused the PDA government of being a mute spectator even as the condition of the Dimapur-Kohima road has gone from bad to worse due to the ongoing construction work for converting it into a four-lane road, thereby causing immense hardship to commuters of Manipur and Nagaland alike. In a communiqué issued by its media cell, the opposition party expressed resentment at the pathetic condition of the existing two-lane Dimapur-Kohima road and regretted that despite media reports no concrete measures had been initiated by the two construction firms engaged in the construction work – M/s ECI Engineering & Construction Co Ltd and M/s Gayatri Projects Ltd – to ease the woes of
the general public. And the PDA government remained a mute spectator by giving little attention to the issue in the last four months after coming to power, NPF alleged. According to the opposition party, the two construction firms, in response to information sought by leader of opposition TR Zeliang, had clarified on July 15 that if at any point of time the State government felt that they were not doing sufficient maintenance, they could be summoned and instructed by the government for necessary action. As per relevant clause of the contract agreement, the two firms were bound to maintain the existing road at their own cost during the construction period, it pointed out. NPF, therefore, asked the ruling coalition whether
it was of the view that the contractors were taking up maintenance work satisfactorily as per the contract. And, if it not satisfied, why was it silent on the matter till date. The opposition party pointed out that the response of National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) clearly indicated negligence of PDA government, which was least bothered about completion of the project or the hardship faced by the people. PDA government must realise that it was in the best interest of the State to abandon its practice of shifting blame onto others and rather start focus on welfare issues like the four-lane of DimapurKohima highway, which was lifeline of the States, NPF stated. K Y M C