March 4, 2021

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Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXI No. 87

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Boxam International: Kaushik in QFs sports, Page 12

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Options available if MCM land issue not resolved: Rio Correspondent

KOHIMA, MAR 3 (NPN): A day after Chi Village Council withdrew the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the proposed Medical College Mon (MCM) site at Chi Ponghoa in Mon district, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said that there were other options if the land issue cannot be resolved. Addressing media persons after taking the first dose of Covid vaccine at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, the chief minister said that he was in touch with Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, Konyak Union and legislators from Mon district on the issue and hoped that this would be resolved. Asserting that Mon town has good gradient, Rio however remarked that if the differences could not be resolved over the present

location, then there were “many more alternatives” and therefore there should not be any problem. Though the land belonged to an individual, Rio, however said that the area was traditionally under Chi village. Deputy Commissioner Mon, Thavaseelan K on Tuesday informed Nagaland Post that the district administration was well aware of the issue. He said the district authorities along with Health department was working to resolve the issue. It may be mentioned that the Union Health minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan laid the foundation stone of the much-awaited Mon Medical College in Mon district headquarters at a glittering function held on February 26. Dr. Vardhan had also categorically affirmed that he would personally moni-

tor and stay in touch with state government to ensure timely completion of the medical colleges in Kohima and Mon. In a joint statement on Tuesday, the Chi Village Council cited the State government’s failure to honour its commitment to CVC during the laying of the

medical college’s foundation stone on February 26 at Mon district hospital. They pointed out that CVC had to cooperate with the government and issued NOC with pre-condition, which the government had also agreed, but accused it of subsequently backtracking on them.

‘People should speak their mind at consultative meet on reservation’

With the crucial consultative meet scheduled on March 5 over reviewing the reservation policy, Rio exuded confidence that stakeholders would come forward and speak their mind. The cabinet sub-committee along with the chief secretary and the Home department would be holding a consultative meeting with all stakeholders. Claiming that the State practised a vibrant democracy by conducting consultations, he said people must understand the concept of consultative meetings. “We have to go by the system and we practice a refined democracy and do a lot of consultation before implementing a policy so as to make people understand the change,” he said. Rio was hopeful that the stakeholders will attend the meeting and speak out their mind.

nagalandpostofficial nagalandpostofficial

Centre writes to States on IT Rules, 2021 Spl. Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAR 3 (NPN): Centre clarified that the powers under Part III of the of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were administered by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. In a letter to chief secretaries of all states, I&B Ministry underlined that those powers have not been delegated to the state governments or district magistrates or police commissioners. It also clarified the provisions of the rules under Part III which relate to publishers of digital news and current affairs and publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms). The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 under Information Technology Act, 2000 were notified on February 25, 2021.

CM, others receive first shot of vaccine

(L-R) Neiphiu Rio, Y. Patton and Pangnyu Phom being administered the Covid vaccine. (NP/DIPR)

Correspondent/Staff Reporter

KOHIMA/DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): State chief minister Neiphiu Rio, his wife Kaisa Rio and cabinet colleagues – health minister S Pangyu Phom, soil & water conservation and geology & mining minister V

Kashiho Sangtam, urban development & municipal affairs adviser Dr Neikiesalie Nicky Kire – got themselves inoculated with COVID vaccine on Wednesday. While the chief minister and his wife Kaisa Rio, along with deputy commissioner Kohima, received the first

shot of Covishield at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima in the evening, S Pangyu Phom, V Kashiho Sangtam Dr Neikiesalie Nicky Kire were vaccinated at Dimapur District Hospital. Speaking to media persons after 30 minutes of observation at NHAK, Rio

appealed to the citizens to come forward and take the vaccine. He said it was proud for the nation to have a domestically-manufactured vaccine, adding that he had received the first shot of the vaccine in the third phase of vaccination under which citizens 60 years and above and all those aged 45-59 years with co-morbidities or diseases were being targeted after the first and second phases had targeted health and frontline workers. He advised the vaccine beneficiaries not to miss the second dose, which was 28 days after administering of the first dose to get immunity from COVID-19. He reiterated his ap-

peal to the citizens to come out and take the vaccine at any of the session sites. Hoping that the vaccination rate would be higher this time, Rio remarked that even though the State’s COVID positivity rate was low, people should not take chances and must come forward for the vaccine. Along with others, Bishop of Kohima diocese, Reverend Fr. James Thoppil was inoculated on Wednesday. In Dimapur, Health minister, S Pangyu Phom received the first dose of Covishield at District Hospital Dimapur (DHD), along with V Kashiho Sangtam and Dr Neikiesalie Nicky (Cont’d on p-8) Kire.

5 new COVID cases reported in Kohima Centre can cut excise COVID-19 STATUS AS ON march 3, 2021 duty on fuel by Rs 8.5

DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Nagaland on Wednesday ACTIVE CASES reported five new COVIDSymptomatic AsDeath MiRecovunder Total 19 cases, all from Kohima District ympCritical-ICU Death grattomered InvestiCases ModSeWithWith On ed taking the total caseload to Mild atic gation erate vere out Oxy- Venti12205. As on March 3, acOxygen gen lator tive cases in the State stood Dimapur 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6340 62 0 75 6478 at 12. Kiphire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 1 0 0 41 39,535 doses adminisKohima 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 3809 21 0 46 3886 0 9 19 tered: State Health depart- Longleng 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 7 193 ment Wednesday informed Mokokchung 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 183 3 Mon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 594 2 0 9 605 that a total of 39,535 doses Peren 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 506 0 0 1 507 of the Covishield Vaccine Phek 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 0 0 0 47 have been administered Tuensang 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 246 1 0 1 248 across the state till date. Wokha 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 1 0 2 39 According to state imZunheboto 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 139 0 0 3 142 munization officer (UIP) Total 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 11949 91 0 153 12205 Dr. Ritu Thurr, 483 senior citizens 60 years and *10 deaths not due to Covid-19 *0 deaths under investigation above and 55 beneficiaries ties between 45-59 years any adverse events needing with specified comorbidi- were inoculated without medical interventions.

This is it!

“He wants to be in it after the state proposed to make Nagaland as the music capital.” K Y M C

New Delhi, Mar 3 (PTI): Centre has room to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by up to Rs 8.5 per litre without impacting its target for revenue from the tax on the two fuels, analysts said. Petrol and diesel prices hover at a historic high following a relentless increase in rates over the past nine months. There have been calls by opposition parties as well as sections of society to the government to reduce excise duty to ease consumer pain. “We estimate excise duty on auto fuels in FY22 (April 2021 to March 2022),

if it is not cut, at Rs 4.35 lakh crore versus budget estimate of Rs 3.2 lakh crore. “Thus, even if excise duty is cut by Rs 8.5 per litre on or before April 1, 2021, FY22E budget estimate can be met,” ICICI Securities said in a note. It expressed optimism for an excise duty cut given demand recovery, impending privatisation and inflation concerns but expected it to be more modest than Rs 8.5 a litre. Despite oil prices recovering, the government has not yet restored the taxes to their original levels.

Covaxin 81pc efficient in trials: Bharat Biotech NEW DELHI, MAR 3 (PTI): Bharat Biotech’s vaccine, whose emergency use approval before finishing final stage testing had triggered a row, has shown an 81 per cent efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in an interim analysis of the advanced clinical trial, the company said on Wednesday, boosting prospects of its usage. Covaxin, which was shunned by some health workers due to lack of final trial data, showed efficacy better than the company’s

previous guidance of around 60 per cent. In a statement, Bharat Biotech Chairman Krishna Ella said Covaxin has “demonstrated high clinical efficacy” as also shown “significant immunogenicity” against rapidly emerging variants. In a separate video address, he added that “many people criticized us”. The results come as a shot in the arm for India’s immunisation drive against coronavirus. The drug regulator in January had allowed Covaxin as well as the vac-

cine made by AstraZeneca’s local partner, the Serum Institute of India Ltd. But the lack of final trial data inhibited the use of Covaxin, which made up for only about 11 per cent of the more than 1 crore vaccines administered till last week. The findings cement Bharat Biotech’s claims of India’s first successful home-made COVID-19 vaccine being safe while also brightening prospects for sales overseas. The Hyderabad-based firm said it already has at-

tracted interest from more than 40 countries. The second phase of vaccination opened this week with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a shot of Covaxin. Bharat Biotech said the efficacy data was based on tests on 25,800 subjects, the largest ever conducted in India. The Phase 3 study enrolled participants between 18-98 years of age, including 2,433 over the age of 60 and 4,500 with comorbidities, it added.

Rockets hit airbase in Iraq hosting US troops international, Page 9

Myanmar security forces kill at least 33 protesters: Reports YANGON (MYANMAR), MAR 3 (AP): Myanmar security forces dramatically escalated their crackdown on protests against last month’s coup, killing at least 33 protesters Wednesday in several cities, according to accounts on social media and local news reports compiled by a data analyst. That is highest daily death toll since the February 1 takeover, exceeding the 18 that the UN Human Rights Office said were killed on Sunday, and could galvanize the international community, which has responded fitfully thus far to the violence. Videos from Wednesday also showed security forces firing slingshots at demonstrators, chasing them down and even brutally beating an ambulance crew. The toll could even be higher; the Democratic Voice of Burma, an independent television and online news service, tallied 38 deaths.

Protesters run as one of them discharges a fire extinguisher to counter the impact of tear gas fired by police in Yangon on Wednesday. (AP)

Demonstrators have regularly flooded the streets of cities across the country since the military seized power and ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Their numbers have remained high even as security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds, and arrested protesters en masse. The Wednesday death toll was compiled by a data

‘Indo-Naga’ political talk progressing: NSCN (I-M) DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Asserting that Nagaland governor RN Ravi’s recent “reckless statement” in Nagaland Assembly that the “Indo-Naga” political talks have concluded created “unnecessary confusion”, the NSCN (I-M) Wednesday said that talk was progressing, adding “Indo-Naga political talk teams are back on the table”. NSCN (I-M) through its MIP stated that the “historic Framework Agreement (FA) signed on the 3rd August, 2015 is being brought back to live in order to remove any misinterpretation and thereby hasten the signing of Naga solution agreement.” Maintaining that Ravi’s “statements and conclusions” reflected his role as Nagaland governor and not as interlocutor, the NSCN (I-M) said “It is a matter of regret that his role as interlocutor is nothing less than disparaging and dismal.” According to NSCN (I-M), the status of the “Indo-Naga” political talks that came up in the last parliamentary session was confirmed by the Union Government that the talk was at an advanced stage. “No doubt, this is the ground reality of the In-

do-Naga political talk and NSCN talk team is leaving no stone unturned to safeguard the political identity of the Naga people,” it stated. Further, NSCN (I-M) termed as “very unfortunate” Ravi making “such a misleading statement before the whole nation by blatantly contradicting the GoI and the Indian Parliament besides the 136 crores Indians and the world community in the matter of such sensitive Indo-Naga political negotiations going on for more than two decades.” In the matter of Naga political issue, NSCN (I-M) said Ravi should be cautious of every single word he uttered “lest his credibility is damned.” It maintained that the “Indo-Naga” political talk was being handled by both the parties to take the Naga people and the government of India to the point that was honourable and acceptable. “This is the official understanding and the only way to conclude the talk,” NSCN (I-M) said. Therefore, NSCN (I-M) maintained that it would, under no circumstances, fail the Nagas, adding that it would never sign any agreement that was short of the mutual standard as agreed upon.

analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity. He also collected information where he could on the victims’ names, ages, hometowns, and where and how they were killed. AP was unable to independently confirm most of the reported deaths, but several square with online postings. The data analyst, who is in Yangon, said he collected the information to honor those who were killed for their heroic resistance.

B.Ed. trainees urge NU to hold online exam DIMAPUR, MAR 3 (NPN): Opposing the Nagaland University (NU)’s decision to conduct offline examination for B.Ed.1st semester and 3rd semester, the B.Ed. trainees of 20192021 and 2020-2022 batch have appealed to the university authority to conduct online examination. In an appeal letter to the controller of examination Nagaland University, the B.Ed. trainees from at least nine colleges stated that when the entire teaching-learning process was conducted online, the decision to conduct offline exam was “unfair”. They said that the sudden decision to switch from online learning to offline examination “seems rather impractical.” B.Ed. trainees stated that colleges were not fully prepared to conduct offline examinations with proper safety protocols and equipment. They also said that there was fear of breaking the guidelines for maintaining SOPs in educational institutions. Further, they stated that students would not be able to adapt to the sudden shift from online to offline as they were not physically and mentally prepared.

Sasikala says she will stay away from politics; to pray for Jaya’s ‘gold rule’ CHENNAI, MAR 3 (PTI): Weeks ahead of Tamil Nadu assembly elections, VK Sasikala, expelled AIADMK leader and close aide of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Wednesday announced “she will stay away from politics,” but would pray for the “golden rule” of the late party supremo. In an announcement that came as a bolt out of the blue, she urged “true supporters of Amma” to work like siblings and ensure Jayalalithaa’s “golden rule continues.” “I will stay away from politics and keep praying my sister Puratchi Th-

VK Sasikala

alaivi (Jayalalithaa), whom I consider as God, and the Lord Almighty for the establishment of the golden rule of Amma,” she said in a statement. She appealed to Jayalalithaa’s “true support-

ers” to work unitedly in the April 6 elections and prevent “common enemy”, DMK, identified as “evil force” by the late chief minister, from coming to power. After being released from a Bengaluru prison following completion of a four-year term in an assets case, Sasikala had last month announced her intention to engage in active politics. Her subsequent political moves, including the stand of AMMK floated by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, in the polls was keenly awaited by observers and political parties alike. K Y M C


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March 4, 2021 by Nagaland Post - Issuu