Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXIX No. 102
DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 Pages 12 ` 5.00
Ardern vows to make mosque attacker face ‘full force of law’
IPL group stage schedule released
India in danger if Modi gets re-elected: Gehlot
international, Page 9
sports, Page 12
national, Page 5
Rio taunts NPF ‘visionless policies’
Neiphiu Rio with PDA leaders at the launching of the Lok Sabha poll campaign at DDSC stadium. (NP)
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAR 19 (NPN): Ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) chief minister Neiphiu Rio formally launched the coalition’s 2019 parliamentary electoral campaign at the DDSC stadium here Tuesday. Launching the PDA campaign for the lone Lok Sabha seat for Nagaland PDA chief minister and star campaigner, Neiphiu Rio, hit out at the opposition NPF for “visionless policies and unstable leadership”. Rio took a jab at the NPF for failing to field its own candidate and added that the party was rather even ready to “borrow” a candidate. He claimed that NPF’s indecision was be-
NRMSATA-2016 demands 5-month pending salary DIMAPUR, MAR 19 (NPN): Nagaland RMSA Te a c h e r s A s s o c i a t i o n (NRMSATA) 2016 batch has appealed to the state government to release fivemonth pending salary. In a press release, NRMSATA-2016 finance secretary Amos Seb stated that despite several reminders to various affiliated departments for release of pending salary, there has been no positive response till date. The association expresses dismay that its request has been sidelined time and again. NRMSATA-2016 pointed out that the court directive dated on January 29, 2019 directly ordered the authority not to delay the salary of the teachers in the midst of the legal proceedings. It also stated that teachers were working diligently amid legal proceedings and patiently waiting when they would receive their hard earned dues. Without salary for more than five months, the association said each passing day has become a challenge to meet even the most basic needs.NRMSATA-2016 has, therefore, urged the responsible authority to closely examine, consider and take immediate necessary actions.
This is it!
“Remarkable evolution of Nagaland politics. One word describes it allChange.” K Y M C
cause of infighting among its leaders; where some wanted to set up a party candidate while others were in favour of supporting the Congress candidate. Rio said the NPF has shown that despite having 26 MLAs it does not have a candidate for Lok Sabha since none of its MLAs or leaders were willing to contest. “Nobody wants NPF ticket. So their option is to distribute tickets on the roadside and field someone who will take their party ticket,” mocked Rio. Rio said it would be “disgraceful” for NPF which has 26 MLAs if they decide to support a candidate of another party (Congress) which does not have any MLA. He described NPF
party a “confused party” and urged people not to waste their time on NPF but instead re-elect PDA consensus candidate and sitting MP, Tokheho Yepthomi. Referring to PDA candidate Tokheho’s speech made earlier, that only the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre can settle the Naga political issue, the chief minister said “only a strong party like BJP with a strong leader, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi”, will be able to settle the decadelong issue. He pointed out that NDA-I under then Prime Minister, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, recognized the “Uniqueness of Naga history”; while NDA-II under Modi signed the historic ,
No question of alliance with ruling NDPP: NPF
Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAR 19 (NPN): NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu has clarified that the question of exploring possibilities with NDPP to form a coalition government in the State did not arise. He made this remark on the sidelines of NPF’s ticket distribution ceremony held at the party’s central office here on Tuesday. It may be recalled that 19 NPF legislators had on March 6 written to NPF Legislature Party leader TR Zeliang calling for working out “necessary modalities with the NDPP party leadership at the earliest” before the Lok Sabha polls. When asked about the progress and stand being taken by the party leadership, Liezietsu said “that chapter is closed”. Meanwhile, in his speech at the ticket distribution ceremony, Zeliang
said the contention of 19 MLAs writing him a letter to explore possibilities to form a coalition government with NDPP or other party was clear. He explained that the issue came up as some NDPP leaders had contacted NPF leaders for joining them, proposing that they resign and then re-contest in the election with an assurance that they would get elected. T h e r e f o r e, b e f o r e NDPP could break up the party, Zeliang said the 19 MLAs urged him to explore the possibility of forming an alliance through the front door. He, however, did not say whether the letter was considered. After the letter was widely circulated in social media, and reaction from NDPP, it was learnt that the MLAs left the issue to the party president and NPF-LP leader to work out the modalities.
Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015. On the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 (CAB), Rio accused NPF of misleading the people. Instead, he questioned NPF as to why it boycotted the January 31, 2018 meeting of the tribal Hohos, civil society organizations and all political parties if it was serious about the issue?. He also questioned the vision of NPF leaders for choosing to walk out of the NLA session when a resolution was to be passed against the Bill. “What is their vision? How can they protect the Nagas and people of Nagaland when they keep running away?” asked Rio. The chief minister then said that whether CAB was passed in the parliament or not, PDA government was “very clear and firm that Article 371 (A) can protect the Nagas and people who are in Nagaland”. Exuding confidence that BJP-led NDA under the leadership of Narendra Modi would again form the government at the Centre, Rio called upon the people of Nagaland to continue to support the PDA government. (Cont’d on p-7)
Nagaland to receive rains until Mar 21 DIMAPUR, MAR 19 (NPN): Light to moderate rain and thundershower activity at many places over North Eastern states including Nagaland are expected until March 21, 2019. According to Skymetweather report, the moisture feed would be more Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh whereas Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura would get patchy rains. The rain intensity would reduce over the area by March 22. Thereafter, the weather would become almost clear, report stated. The report also stated that there would be another spell on March 23, with moderate showers. By March 24, intensity would start reducing over entire North Eastern states, it added. After this, rain deficiency of North Eastern states is expected to reduce to some extent.
Ex-SC judge Justice PC Ghose appointed India’s first Lokpal
Dr. Shürhozelie calls for defeating ‘communal forces’ in Lok Sabha polls Correspondent
Pinaki Chandra Ghose
KOHIMA, MAR 19 (NPN): The contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) is likely to become a major issue in this ensuing Lok Sabha election. NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu has warned that the future of Nagas would be imperilled if “communal forces” return to power as they would pass the CAB. Speaking at a ticket distribution ceremony for 26 Aonglenden Assembly Constituency (A/C) and outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency (PC) in Manipur held at the party’s headquarters here on Tuesday, he gave a clarion call to party workers to work hard for defeating the “communal forces”. NPF has fielded Toshipokba for the by-election to 26 Aonglenden A/C and Dr. Lorho S Pfoze from outer Manipur PC. He said both the byelection and Lok Sabha election were crucial for the party by stating that CAB was a real threat to the existence of indigenous people of the Northeast.
Dr. Shurhozelie with (L) Toshipokba and Dr. Lorho S Pfoze during the ticket distribution. (NP)
Liezietsu said if NPF committed any mistake, posterity would not forgive the party, adding that there were political parties and leaders supporting the communal forces that would bring danger to the region. The NPF president reminded that the PDA government had declared not to oppose the Bill but, seeing the public mood, backtracked and tried to cover up its blunder. He pointed out that NPF had made its position very clear that it was opposed to the Bill and that even the party’s Rajya Sabha member KG Kenye had stated publicly to oppose the Bill, if it was brought up in the House. Stating that party ticket was “an authorisation, a license” to legalise the status of a person concerned in the eyes of election laws and
a blessing from the party, Liezietsu insisted that the ticket should be valued by the candidates, while urging the electorate to ensure that NPF candidates get through the electoral process successfully. He said there were two candidates initially for Aonglenden AC– Toshipokba and Dr Wati Zulu, a doctor by profession. He, however, added that Wati gave way in favour of Toshipokba that, according to Liezietsu, was “a rare act of brave heart”. For Manipur Outer PC, he said NPF had decided to award ticket to Pfoze, who was also a doctor by profession, while appreciating Samuel Risom and BD Behring for displaying their “magnanimity” by agreeing to pull out from the race in the interest and welfare of the party.
Rahul pledges to restore spl. status to NE states
NPP decides to field candidate for by-poll
NEW DELHI, MAR 19 (PTI): Former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose was Tuesday appointed as the country’s first Lokpal, the anticorruption ombudsman, according to an official order. Fo r m e r S a s h a s t r a Seema Bal chief Archana Ramasundaram, ex-Maharashtra chief secretary Dinesh Kumar Jain, Mahender Singh and Indrajeet Prasad Gautam were appointed as non-judicial members of Lokpal. Justices Dilip B Bhosale, Pradip Kumar Mohanty, Abhilasha Kumari and Ajay Kumar Tripathi have been appointed as judicial members in the anticorruption ombudsman. These appointments were recommended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led selection committee.
ITANAGAR, MAR 19 (PTI): Congress will restore special category status to all states of the Northeast if voted to power at the Centre, party president Rahul Gandhi said Tuesday, reaching out to the electors of the region where it is a sensitive issue. He also accused the BJP of trying to destroy the social and cultural ethos of the people of the Northeast by imposing on them the “RSS ideology”. Addressing a Congress rally in the run up to the Lok Sabha and Arunachal Pradesh assembly polls to be held simultaneously, Gandhi sought to appeal to the regional sentiments, saying his party will never “attack the language, culture, customs and traditions” of the Northeastern states. “The people of the region are close to Congress’s heart. The Congress has always worked for the development of the region.
My party, if voted to power, will restore the special category status to Arunachal Pradesh and other states in the Northeast,” he told a well attended rally at Indira Park here. The Congress party’s last standing citadel in the Northeast fell in November last year when BJP ally Mizo National Front stormed to power in the state. There are some states which require special status because of their “unique problems and difficulties” such as connectivity, terrain and infrastructure, he said. Gandhi said these states had special status when the Congress helmed the central government. The Congress president called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s slogan of “Congress mukt Bharat” an expression of “hatred” towards the main opposition party. “However, the Congress being a secular party
would not even want the BJP finished,” he said. Accusing the BJPled central government of imposing “RSS ideology” across the country, including the Northeast, Gandhi alleged ineligible people with Sangh family background were appointed as vice chancellors. Touching upon yet another sensitive issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Gandhi said his party will never allow it to be passed by Parliament as it is detrimental to the people of the region. “We will not allow the suppression of the people of the Northeast,” he asserted. “After the NDA government came to power, the Planning Commission, which was set up for meticulously planned development, keeping in mind the special requirements of the region, was replaced with Niti Aayog.
Drainage clearing underway in Dimapur Naga officer, among others awarded DIMAPUR, MAR 19 (NPN): Ahead of the arrival of the monsoons, the Dimapur district administration in coordination with Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has taken initiative for cleaning/ clearing major affected drainages in Dimapur city starting from March 19, 2019. According to a DIPR report, cleaning of the affected areas, which would be taken up colony/ward wise, would continue for one whole month. On the first day, cleaning started from United Colony, GHSS area by DMC and the colony members. DMC administrator, Moa Sangtam, informed that the cleaning work in the same stretch would take two more days. Office of the deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur is taking care of the refreshment provided to the workers. Every year during the monsoon, residents face problems due to flooding when water from clogged drains inundate colonies. Poor waste management also results in Clearing of clogged drainages in progress at United Colony garbage blocking drains, which Dimapur on Tuesday. (DPRO Dimapur) contributes to flooding.
Shaurya Chakra by President Kovind
Spl. Correspondent NEW DELHI, MAR 19 (NPN): President of India, Ramnath Kovind awarded the gallantry award-- Shaurya Chakra to a Naga officer of the Indian army, Maj. Imliakum Keitzar at the Defence Investiture Ceremony- II, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi on Tuesday. Maj. Imliakum was among the 12 recipients, conferred with the Shaurya Chakra by the President. Maj. Imliakum Keitzar was awarded Shaurya Chakra for displaying courage, selfless devotion, leadership and conspicuous gallantry during “Operation Rekha” at the LOC at Keran Sector Kupwara district J&K. President Kovind also awarded two Kirti Chakras and two Shaurya Chakras posthumously to soldiers who laid down their lives in Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East. In a rare occurrence, President also awarded a Shaurya Chakra to 16-yearold Irfan Ramzan Sheikh who thwarted a militant attack on his home in 2017. Kovind also awarded the Param
(Cont’d on p-7)
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAR 19 (NPN): National People’s Party (NPP) has decided to filed, O. Tinu Longkumer as its candidate for the ensuing by-election to the 26-Aonglenden Assembly Constituency, scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Parliamentary elections on April 11, 2019. Despite hectic parleys between Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and NPP president and Meghalaya chief minister, Conrad Sangma, to come to an understanding to support the PDA consensus candidate, in which NPP is also part of the alliance, sources said Conrad however chose to field its own candidate. As reported earlier, NPP is set to put up O. Tinu Longkumer as its official candidate. Tinu is the brother of late Imtikumzuk Longkumer, who was the sitting NDPP legislator from 26-Aonglenden A/C. Meanwhile, the opposition NPF was still yet to decide on fielding a candidate for the Lok Sabha elections. The party has not been able to come to a decision on the matter, NPF sources informed.
NPF to kick off poll campaign on Mar 29
Maj. Imliakum Keitzar receiving the award from President Kovind on Tuesday.
Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) to 13 senior officers of the three armed forces. He presented the Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal (UYSM) to two Army officers, including Lt. Gen. Anil Kumar Bhatt, currently the Director General of Military Operations. Twenty-six officers of the three armed forces were also awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. State chief minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated Maj. Imliakum Keitzar on receiving the Shaurya Chakra.
DIMAPUR, MAR 19 (NPN): In view of the byelection to the 26 Aonglenden Assembly Constituency, NPF would kick off the campaign for its official candidate Toshipokba on March 29, 2019 at 11am in the Amphitheatre of Ungma Village Council, Mokokchung. In a notification, NPF secretary general and MP Rajya Sabha KG Kenye, has asked all the NPF Legislators led by Leader of the Legislature Party and all the COBs, Frontal and Cell led by Party President (Central) including Divisional Presidents and all rank and files in the party to attend the kick-off programme. K Y M C