Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXIX No. 210
DIMAPUR, SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2019 Pages 12 ` 5.00
Mythical Legends and Legendary Myths
Senegal enter Africa Cup QFs
NBFC crisis has peaked but not ended yet: FM
Sunday Post Supplement
sports, Page 11
business, Page 8
HDK govt loses majority; 13 MLAs quit BENGALURU, JUL 6 (PTI): The JD(S)-Congress government plunged into a crisis on Saturday with 13 MLAs of the H.D. Kumaraswamy led alliance submitting their resignation to the Speaker. The ruling coalition, which has 118 members, faces the risk of losing majority in the 224member Assembly if the resignations are accepted. The crisis, which had been brewing ever since the BJP swept the parliamentary polls in the state, deepened as the group of MLAs reached the Speaker’s office to put in their papers and later met Governor Vajubhai Vala at the Raj Bhavan. “Fourteen MLAs from Congress and JD(S), including Anand Singh, have submitted resignation from the Assembly to the Speaker,” JD(S) MLA A H Vishwanath said after meeting the Governor. However, Assembly secretariat sources said a total of 13 MLAs have put in their papers, including Singh who submitted his resignation to the Speaker earlier this week. Vishwanath accused the coalition government led by chief minister H.D.
ANPWDFWA reminds govt on pay revision DIMAPUR, JUL 6 (NPN): All Nagaland PWD Field Workers’ Association (ANPWDFWA) has reminded the state government to grant revision of pay and allowances of work charge and casual employees on a par with other categories of employees. In a reminder letter addressed to the chairman Nagaland Work-Charge & Casual Employees Commission, the ANPWDFWA president K Atovi Awomi and general secretary Zubemo Ngullie stated that the state government had not responded to its demand till date. They stated the finance department has already submitted proposal to the higher authority for granting of revision of pay/wages of work-charge employees and casual employees. The association also stated that labour & employment department issued a notification to revise/enhance minimum rates of wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled employees/workers employed in the state of Nagaland. ANPWDFWA contended that the state government was required to implement wages recommended by the Government of India under the provision of Minimum Wages ACT, 1948 and the minimum wages Rules, 1950.
This is it!
“Not giving agriculture its due, they think a nation can survive only on money.” K Y M C
he calls us, certainly we are ready to form the government. We are the single largest party, we have got 105 people with us,” senior BJP leader DV Sadananda Gowda said on being asked if the BJP will form government in Karnataka. The BJP welcomed the political development in the state.
Cong attacks Modi
Dissident MLAs from JD(S) and Congress meet Karnataka Governor Vajuibhai Vala, Saturday. (PTI)
Kumaraswamy of failing in its duty and denied that the BJP was behind the revolt. “ T h e g o ve r n m e n t failed to coordinate with the MLAs...and take them along. It has also failed to live up to the expectations of the people,” he said. On the charge that the BJP was trying to poach MLAs to destabilise the government through “Operation Lotus”, he said it is “a figment of your imagination”. “There is no BJP angle to it. We are all seniors. No operation can happen... we are resigning voluntarily against the apathy of the government,” he said.
The JD(S)-Congress coalition’s total strength, including those who have put in their papers, is 118 (Congress-78, JD(S)-37, BSP-1 and Independents-2), besides the Speaker. The BJP has 105 MLAs in the House. Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar, who was not in his office when the legislators went there Saturday, said “whether the government will fall or survive” would be decided “in the Assembly”. Later, Congress MLA Munirathna (Rajarajeshwari Nagar) put in his papers, the Assembly secretariat sources
said. He was also seen with the rebel MLAs outside the Raj Bhavan. As a last-ditch bid, Congress’s “trouble shooter” and Minister D K Shivakumar met the legislators and tried to convince them.
BJP ready to form govt, says Sadananda With the ruling Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka staring at a crisis, the BJP is ready to form the government if the party gets an invite from the governor. “Governor is the supreme authority, as per the constitutional mandate if
Congress on Saturday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, saying that the party had orchestrated the resignations of nearly a dozen legislators in Karnataka, spelling fresh trouble for the ruling coalition. “MODI means Mischievously Orchestrated Defections in India,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told journalists, referencing the Prime Minister’s last name and borrowing his knack for coining acronyms. “It’s very unfortunate that the BJP is trying to bring down a democratically elected government with offers of money and power. Democracy is being denigrated in broad daylight,” the Congress leader said.
USD 5 trn economy goal: PM calls critics ‘professional pessimists’ VARANASI, JUL 6 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday dismissed as “professional pessimists” the critics of the Centre’s target to achieve a USD 5-trillion economy within the next five years and asserted that the “new India” is on the threshold of sprinting forward. A day after the Union budget was presented by Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman, the prime minister shared his views on the budget at the launch of the BJP’s membership drive here on the occasion of the 118th birth anniversary of party ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Modi said his government’s Budget for 2019-20 lays down a roadmap for nearly doubling the size of the Indian economy to USD 5 trillion in five years by raising per capita income, boosting consumption and increasing productivity. “Size of the cake matters. The larger the cake, larger pieces are what people will get. So we have set a target of making India a USD 5-trillion economy. Larger the size of the economy will
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the launch of BJP membership drive, in Varanasi, Saturday. (PTI)
be, the larger prosperity will it bring for the country,” he said. Citing global examples, he said countries have leapfrogged from developing to developed status on the back of a jump in per capita income. “India can also do that. The target is not difficult,” he said. Modi said some people are questioning the need for becoming a USD 5-trillion economy. “They are what I call professional pessimists. They are detached from the common man and if you go to them for a solution, they will put you in crisis,” he said, adding while
there should be debate and criticism on ways and means of achieving the goal, but questioning the target of building a USD 5 trillion economy is wrong. “The country needs to be wary of these pessimists,” the prime minister said. Referring to the budgetary provisions, Modi said a “new India” was on the threshold of sprinting forward. Modi while elaborating his views on the budget said it did not have big announcements about allocations made under different heads but laid down a path for the economy to achieve the USD 5-trillion target.
Over 100 houses hit by flood in Dmu Health department monitoring JE in Nagaland Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, JUL 6 (NPN): Heavy incessant rains in the wee hours of Saturday inundated over 100 houses in K. Sachu Colony, Dimapur. Talking to Nagaland Post, chairman of K. Sachu, Dziese Sachu informed that half of the colony was flooded due to heavy rains on Saturday around 3 a.m. Even as the water receded by around 10 a.m., Dziese said several kutcha houses were damaged by the flood. With no proper drainage system around Dimapur, he said the overflowing water from Rangapahar area and other parts was one of the root cause. According to reports, Central, Eastern and North Eastern India continues to be affected by the presence of a cyclonic circulation, trough and southwersterly humid winds from the Bay A view of inundated K. Sachu Colony in Dimapur. Heavy rainfall in the wee hours of Saturday inundated several low-lying areas. (M Daniel) of Bengal.
DIMAPUR, JUN 6 (NPN): With 49 deaths due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Assam till July 5, Nagaland’s Health department has allayed fears by pointing out that so far there has been no reported case of JE and dengue in Nagaland till date. This was stated by chief medical officer (CMO) Dimapur, Dr. K Vikato Kinimi, Friday while talking with Nagaland Post. Dr. Kinimi said that the department was closely monitoring the situation and that all preventive measures were being taken. The CMO informed that vaccination for JE was available in all government health units. He also informed that diagnostic services for JE with Elisa kits have been made available in the district hospitals. Dr. Kinimi said that all private hospitals have already been directed to send samples
to the district hospital for confirmatory report. Further, Dr. Kinimi said that in order to prevent risk of “dangerous” JE epidemic, people should take measures in keeping the surrounding clean and get rid of stagnant water to prevent breeding of mosquitoes and also to avoid mosquito bites. The CMO further reminded people that the DMC had issued order on conducting mass social work for removal of stagnant water every Saturday in view of the starting of the transmission period for Vector Borne Disease (Malaria, Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis). According to Dr. Kinimi, in the year 2016, though there were 18 suspected JE cases yet there had been no confirmed case. Again, in 2017, he said of 43 suspected cases, eight were confirmed and two deaths reported. In 2018, he said
out of 25 suspected cases, only one was confirmed but no death reported. CMO said that the preventive measures against JE was to use of insecticide treated bed-net, introduce larvivorous fish in water bodies, clear stagnant water and avoid sleeping near any pigsty. According to Dr. Kimimi other measures such as fogging was not advisable until and unless it was epidemic. JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex species mosquitoes, particularly Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The virus is maintained in a cycle between mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts, primarily pigs and wading birds. Wild birds are likely to be the natural hosts of JEV, and mosquitoes are the vectors. A vector does not cause disease but passes it on. When mosquitoes infect an animal, the ani-
mal might become a carrier of the virus. When other mosquitoes feed on these animals that have newly acquired the virus, they take it on board and infect other animals. JE virus infection may result in febrile illness of variable severity associated with neurological symptoms ranging from headache to meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms can include headache, fever, meningeal signs, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, paralysis (generalized), hypertonia, loss of coordination, etc. Transmission can occur year-round, often with a peak during the rainy season. People are at the highest risk in rural areas where the virus is common. Japanese encephalitis is common around towns and cities. It is more likely to affect children because adults in areas where the virus is endemic generally become immune as they get older.
2019-20 Budget without head or tail: NPCC Petrol hiked by Rs 2.45, diesel by Rs 2.36 DIMAPUR, JUL 6 (NPN): Slamming the union as an “extortionist” and “figureless” budget without “head or tails” , Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K. Therie , quoting former finance minister P.Chidambaram who asked , whether there had ever been a budget speech where there was no disclosure about total revenue, total expenditure, fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, additional revenue mobilisation or financial concessions?.” He also said the budget did not disclose allocations for important programmes such as MGNREGA, Mid Day Meal scheme, health, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe, women welfare programmes, minorities etc. Instead, Therie said the budget raised taxes on petrol and diesel which will add to the burden on the citizens
as it would lead to rise in cost of essential commodities due to rise in transport charges. Therie also likened the ambitious goal of a “$5 trillion economy by 2025” which he said was another ‘Rs.15 lakh promise’(made in 2014). Therie said expecting a $5trillion economy from private investments without a roadmap to attract investment was blunt He accused the Modi gover nment of having tricked the poorest of the poor to open bank accounts but when the minimum balance could not be maintained, defaulters were penalized with more fines. Therie wondered who would invest in India under the present environment when over 7,000 billionaires of Indian origin alone had fled India in 2017. He said some of those who fled were under trial while private sec-
tors like Kingfisher and Jetairways have closed down. On the other hand, he said over 3 lakh small and medium industries have closed down while unemployment was highest in 45 years. He said the budget offered nothing new except assurances to expand the current schemes while states would face tough times ahead. Therie also noted that Central share of taxes for States appears have been reduced to 23%, if the figure projected by The Times of India was correct. He pointed out that the 14th Finance Commission had increased States’ share in the Union Taxes revenue by 10% thereby giving a record 42%. He said Nagaland appears to be in deep financial crisis while funds have not percolated down to the districts. In view of this, Therie wondered how the state legislators had passed
the 2019-20 Budget? He said it was for the first time in Nagaland that the budget was reduced to Rs. 18,301 crores from the earlier Rs. Rs. 18,303. Normally budget showed a step up of 1525% and it should have reflected in a figure between Rs. 21,048 to 22,000 crores in view of increase in payment of salaries, increments, pensions, allowances, price escalation as per market and additional plan activities. He said even if the state’s plan activities were put to hold, increment, allowances and price escalation cannot be avoided. Therie opined that the impact on general life was going to be tough since the ruling government would not even let a few drops percolate down and lamented that there was no one to cast the first stone nor point a finger. (Cont’d on p-7)
DIMAPUR, JUL 6 (NPN): Petrol price was Saturday hiked by a minimum Rs 2.40 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.36 after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised taxes on fuel to part-fund her Budget for 2019-20. Petrol price in Delhi was increased by Rs 2.45 per litre to Rs 72.96 while diesel was hiked by Rs 2.36 per litre in Delhi to Rs 66.69, the increase in Mumbai, according to a price notification issued by state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC). In Dimapur, petrol and diesel costs Rs. 70.84 and Rs. 64.38 per litre respectively while in Kohima petrol was Rs. 71.70 a litre and diesel Rs. 65.05 per litre. Rates vary from state to state depending upon the incidence of local sales tax or VAT. Also prices vary by a few paise at pumps operated by other state-owned fuel retailers, BPCL and
District Dimapur Kohima Mokokchung Zunheboto Wokha Mon Tuensang Longleng Kiphire Peren Phek
Petrol (Per Litre) Rs. 70.84 Rs. 71.70 Rs. 72.12 Rs. 72.79 Rs. 72.15 Rs. 72.25 Rs. 73.24 Rs. 72.45 Rs. 73.14 Rs. 71.09 Rs. 72.76
HPCL. Sitharaman had on Friday raised excise duty and road and infrastructure cess on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre each to raise Rs 24,000-28,000 crore on an annual basis. Post considering local sales tax or valueadded tax (VAT), which is charged after adding central excise duty on base price, the increase in pump rates was higher. Before the tax increase,
Diesel (Per Litre) Rs. 64.38 Rs. 65.05 Rs. 65.52 Rs. 65.99 Rs. 65.46 Rs. 65.64 Rs. 66.44 Rs. 65.84 Rs. 66.47 Rs. 64.61 Rs. 66
petrol attracted total excise duty of Rs 17.98 per litre (Rs 2.98 basic excise duty, Rs 7 special additional excise duty and Rs 8 road and infrastructure cess). Now, this tax has gone up to Rs 19.98 a litre. On diesel, a total of Rs 13.83 per litre excise duty was charged (Rs 4.83 basic excise duty, Rs 1 special additional excise duty and Rs 8 road and infrastructure cess). Now, Rs 15.83 per litre is charged as excise duty. K Y M C