Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00
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Vol XXVIII No. 94
DIMAPUR, MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2018 Pages 16 ` 5.00
To build a united front against BJP, Sonia invites opposition
Serena Williams vs Venus Williams at Indian Wells
Trump believes N Korea will honour its commitment
national, Page 11
sports, Page 15
international, Page 9
Discontentment within PDA PORTFOLIO AND INDUCTION ISSUES IRK BOTH NDPP, BJP
Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAR 11 (NPN): There appears to be simmering discontent within the ranks of the NDPP and BJP over the issues of induction and delay of portfolio allocation even as legislators of both the pre-poll partners are believed to be holed up in hotels in Kohima and Dimapur. A BJP member said, Paiwang Konyak, a senior BJP legislator who had won on party ticket in 2013 and 2018 has been sidelined in precedence. Even in the NDPP camp too, there are several senior leaders who have not been considered for the cabinet. Owing to the peculiar BJP and NDPP quota where NDPP which has 18 seats has only four including the chief minister in the cabinet, while BJP with 12 MLAs has six in the cabinet including the post of deputy chief minister. The distribution of cabinet has also rankled some NDPP members with veteran legislator Pohwang Konyak expressing his view that the pre-poll alliance had greatly
NPCC rejects K. Therie’s offer to resign DIMAPUR, MAR 11 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Sunday informed that the party has rejected its president, K. Therie’s offer to resign. NPCC did not deny that K. Therie had offered to resign as president, by owning moral responsibility for the Congress’ debacle in the recently-held Assembly election during the NPCC’s executive meeting held on Saturday. However, NPCC general secretary, Capt. G.K. Zhimomi said that the NPCC executive committee rejected his offer and further resolved to urge the All India Congress Committee to honour the committee’s decision until proper accountability was fixed on factors responsible for the election debacle. Meanwhile, reacting to reports published in some local dailies, NPCC general secretary said the report had even gone to the extent of writing political obituary for NPCC, which caused much confusion. He also termed as unfortunate the “one-sided story” published in a section of local dailies and also circulated on social media.
People’s Democratic Alliance Govt
Sl. Name Status Party No NDPP 1 Neiphiu Rio Chief Minister BJP 2. Y. Patton Deputy chief minister NDPP 3 C.M. Chang Cabinet minister JD (U) 4 G. Kaito Aye Cabinet minister NDPP 5 Neiba Kronu Cabinet minister BJP 6 Pangnyu Phom Cabinet minister BJP 7 P. Paiwang Konyak Cabinet minister BJP 8 Jacob Zhimomi Cabinet minister NDPP 9 Metsubo Jamir Cabinet minister Ind 10 Tongpang Ozukum Cabinet minister BJP 11 Kashiho Sangtam Cabinet minister BJP 12 Temjen Imna Along Cabinet minister benefitted BJP. Pohwang said not insist on cabinet berth BJP demanded six cabinet as he wanted the coalition berths including the post of government under chief deputy CM which was given. minister Neiphiu Rio to run However, after sacrificing in effectively. the interest of PDA coaliAnother NDPP legislation, and after giving what tor, speaking on condition of was demanded, Pohwang anonymity said BJP should said it was not fair that BJP have been given four cabinet was again arm twisting to berths considering that it has get plump portfolios. “Just 12 MLAs. If BJP persisted, because BJP is ruling at the he said it could have been Centre does not mean that offered five at the most so the party can act like this,” that NDPP could get one in he said. addition to four it currently Pohwang also said that has. The legislator was also the people want a stable peeved that his colleagues government and in order were kept in the dark about to avoid instability, he did cabinet formation. Another
NEW DELHI, MAR 11 (PTI): Centre has informed the Supreme Court that states and union territories have been asked to set up special fast-track courts to try 3,816 criminal cases pending against 1,765 lawmakers. The special courts are currently being set up in 11 states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, the law ministry said. While 12 states are yet to set up such courts, the status report from states like Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Goa was still awaited, it added. The Ministry of Law and Justice has told the top court that information with
respect to criminal cases pending against MPs and MLAs had been sought from High Courts, state and UT Legislative Assemblies and the state and UT governments for compiling the cases. The Law Ministr y said that it had sought information from the chief secretaries of the states, secretaries of state legislatures and also from all high courts. It said the information received from the High Courts were being relied upon for compilation of criminal cases pending since it is considered more authentic. The Centre has also proposed to set up these courts in pursuance of the top court’s November 1, 2017 order and has earmarked Rs 7.8 crore to 11
NEW DELHI, MAR 11 (AGENCIES): In a big move, the Election Commission (EC) has reportedly filed a revised petition in the Supreme Court to make the Aadhaar linking mandatory with all Voter ID cards. The poll panel, which has previously supported the move, claimed that the mandatory seeding can prevent voter fraud and ensure each person has only one vote, reported the Sunday Indian Express. Earlier, the EC said that linking the 12-digit unique identity to all voter cards is voluntary. However, the poll panel changed its stance after former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AK Joti took charge in 2016. As many as 32 crore Aadhaar numbers have been linked to voter ID cards so far, incumbent Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said on Saturday. “So far, as many as 32 crore Aadhaar numbers have been linked to voters’ ID cards. Another 54.5 crore will be done as soon as we get a nod from the Supreme Court,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the 14th
National Conference of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an NGO in Bengaluru. Asked how long it would take to link another 54.5 crore Aadhaar numbers, Rawat said “we did 32 crore in just three months”. In February 2015, the poll panel had issued guidelines for linking Aadhaar with Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC), popularly known as the voter ID card, as part of the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP). However, the Supreme Court stayed the move in its August 2015 ruling, stating that the unique identification number or the Aadhaar
states under the scheme. While Uttar Pradesh tops the list with a total of 565 cases against 248 lawmakers, Kerala follows with 533 cases against 114 members of Parliament and state assemblies. The details were stated in an affidavit in pursuance to a plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking to declare the provisions of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, which bars convicted politician from contesting elections for six years after serving jail term, as ultra vires. The Election Commission had supported the plea seeking life ban on politicians convicted in criminal cases and said they have already made recommendations on this to the Centre.
DIMAPUR, MAR 11 (NPN): Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) on Sunday urged the authorities concerned to rededicate themselves and pursue the Kohima smart city project on a war footing, saying the project could not be allowed to fade away without producing results. In a press release, AKMWP general secretary Thejao Sekhose and joint secretary & legal advisor Hukato Chishi said the Kohima Smart City Project had caused much excitement and raised expectations of the masses that the State Capital would be transformed to catch up with the more advanced, scientifically developed and planned cities sooner rather than later. They claimed that AKMWP had extended support and also organised a one-day mass social work
in Kohima to satisfy a key requirement of the smart city project – “partnership and participation of the public” – and to secure declaration of Kohima Smart City Project at the earliest. Asserting that AKMWP and its constituent individual panchayats had accorded considerable attention and time, the release pointed out that, at the requests of the authority concerned, the panchayats had put efforts in preparing and forwarding well-considered smart city proposals best suited and required in their respective wards. The association, however, regretted that though the people were eagerly awaiting practical implementation of the project, it did not notice any tangible progress so far. Alleging that, of late, the project was “eerily quiet”, AKMWP remarked
that public-private partnership and consultations appeared to have gone into hibernation even as denizens were left to wonder what was going on and if any good would come of it. The association said that it was given to understand that the Central government had released its share of funds – Rs 107 crore – for the project. Subsequently, the Finance department accorded clearance and had made it available for the implementing agency Kohima Smart City Development Corporation Limited through the Municipal Affairs department in the first half of 2017. Now, after the lapse of about one year, the masses were left wondering if the funds were utilised and works executed, the release added. Stressing that time and tide waited for none, AKMWP commented that
30k farmers march on Mumbai to confront govt NCRB launches mobile app
All Indian Kisan Sabha members march from Nashik to Mumbai to gherao Vidhan Bhawan on Sunday. (PTI)
K Y M C
BEIJING, MAR 11 (IANS): In a historic decision, China on Sunday removed the twoterm limit on presidency, clearing the decks for the all-powerful President Xi Jinping to rule the world’s most populous country for life. Scrapping the 35-year old rule brought by “paramount” leader Deng Xiaoping to prevent the country from returning to one-man rule like that of Mao Zedong, China’s largely ceremonial parliament amended the Constitution by lifting the two-term limit. With the term limit gone, Xi can rule China until he retires, dies or is ousted. He is already dubbed as the country’s next Mao, founder of modern China who ruled from 1949 until his death in 1976. Of the 2,963 deputies (lawmakers) of the Chinese parliament, three abstained and two voted against the proposal to amend the Constitution. China watchers say the country, which has a one-party rule, could well be headed for a single-man rule. (Full report on p-13)
Poll panel wants Aadhaar linking mandatory with voter ID cards
card will not be used by the respondents for any purpose other than the PDS scheme and in particular for the purpose of distribution of food grains, and cooking fuel such as kerosene. Later in July 2017, the EC submitted its application to the top court for the collection of Aadhaar details of voters and linking them to their database. All matters pertaining to Aadhaar have been placed before a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court. Though the EC supports compulsory seeding of Aadhaar with the voter card, it is not in favour of using the Aadhaar card as the Electors’ Photo Identity Card.
11 special courts to try 3,816 cases Speed up execution of Smart city project: AKMWP against lawmakers: Centre tells SC
This is it!
“Now you know how I spent sleepless nights trying to please all MLAs?”
NDPP legislator however said he was more keen that the party alliance get to work but at the same time, felt that BJP was trying to undercut the spirit of alliance. The legislator said though NDPP has more veterans in its ranks, yet it conceded to all the demands made by BJP in order to strengthen the alliance to provide a strong and capable coalition government. It was also lear nt that the ticklish issue over portfolio with the BJP was discussed with the party’s national leader in Dimapur on Sunday in presence of the chief minister. When contacted, veteran regionalist and senior NDPP leader Noke Wangnao, who won his first election in 1974 and only lost three times since, did not offer any comment about the discontentment within the NDPP. It was also learnt that not only the NDPP, BJP, JD-U and Independent legislators were kept in hotels but even NPF legislators were also being strictly confined in a hotel at Kohima.
China gives Xi Jinping lifelong rule
MUMBAI, MAR 11 (AGENCIES): Around 30,000 farmers, led by the All India Kisan Sabha, descended on Mumbai on Sunday afternoon to protest against the failure of the BJP-led government to address agrarian distress. The farmers will stage a protest outside the State Assembly on Monday, demanding fair remunera-
tion and loan waiver. These farmers will seek answer from the government for non-implementation of the demands that were promised by the government, said Ajit Nawale, state general secretary of AIKS. “Farmers in the state are reeling under the ripples of agrarian distress and they are under huge financial burden. The government
has not done anything to provide them any relief. So they are left with no option but to express their anguish through the protest march,” Nawale said. As the sea of red neared Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appointed minister Girish Mahajan as the government’s representative to talk to the leaders of the march when they reach Vikhroli. The opposition Congress and BJP’s estranged ally Shiv Sena have extended their support to the protest, dubbed the ‘Long March of Farmers’. The 180-km long foot march was launched with around 12,000 farmers and the number has reached to 30,000 now, which showed the intensity of discontent among farmers, Nawale said. As a stream of people flowing in to join the march, the number of protesters will go up to 55,000- 60,000 figure when it will reach the
destination, he added. Complete loan waiver and profit of 1.5 times input cost for all major agriculture commodities are the major demands of the AIKS. These farmers want an immediate implementation of M.S. Swaminathan committee’s recommendations, which ensures fair remuneration. The agitating farmers are also demanding compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for destruction of crops due to hailstorm and pinkworm, allocation of forest land under cultivation to farmers and implementation of Forest Rights Act. In June last year, similar protests had boiled over most parts of the state, forcing the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led government to announce a conditional Rs 34,000 crore loan waiver, which farmers said has not been implemented properly.
for citizen-friendly services
Spl. Correspondent
NEW DELHI, MAR 11 (NPN): National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Sunday launched a mobile app called “Citizen Services” developed inhouse by NCRB, for providing better citizen-friendly services by law enforcement agencies. The mobile app was released by the director Intelligence Bureau, Rajiv Jain on the occasion of the NCRB’s 33rd Inception Day in Delhi as chief guest. Rajiv Jain emphasized the importance of making user friendly systems and making them useful to Citizens. He also suggested to take IT initiatives of NCRB to other countries through Ministry of External Affairs. The App can be used by citizen for various services such as complaint registration & status check, view FIR detail, SOS– stay safe, locate police stations, vahan-samanvay, emergency contact list, police stations telephone directory and citizen tipoffs wherein anyone can inform the police about any suspicious activity. NCRB director, Dr. Ish Kumar informed that over than 93% police stations have been connected with the CCTNS and the CCTNS national data base consists of more than 12.5 crore records. He said 35 states and UTs have opened State Citizen Portals where citizens can avail of various services.
the “promising” Kohima Smart City Project could not be allowed to fade away without producing results. The association also congratulated the People’s Democratic Alliance government on assuming office and appealed for its attention on the matter. It may be recalled that Kohima, after failing to make it to the list of 20 cities selected in the first phase under Smart Cities Mission (SCM), finally managed to find a place in a new list on September 20, 2016 Kohima was among the list of 27 cities announced by the Minister for Urban Development, M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. Kohima had missed the first round of the competition in January and also narrowly missed a Fast Track competition held in May, 2016.
Transaction days for treasuries, banks DIMAPUR, MAR 11 (NPN): Nontransaction Wednesdays – March 21 and 28 – have been declared transaction days, while March 17 and 31 (Saturdays) shall be declared transaction days for both treasuries and banks in the state. According to DIPR, secretary (Finance & Budget), Y. Kikheto Sema, through a priority office memorandum, requested all departments to submit proposals for issue of DA/DL to the finance department on or before March 26. However, proposals under CSS, NEC, NLCPR, negotiated loans etc. may be sanctioned and credited to the state only towards the end of the financial year. He also asked departments to ensure all requisite details for issue of DA/DL are furnished along with the proposals. All DA/DL issued by the finance department are to be presented to and passed by the treasuries on or before March 28 and no claim for cash payment will be entertained after March 29 except on the strength of DA/DL issued by the finance department. K Y M C