Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00
www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVIII No. 91
DIMAPUR, FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 Pages 16 ` 5.00
South sees more obstacles ahead to disarm N Korea
Minerva Punjab win maiden I-League title
AAI chalks out Rs 18,000-cr capex plan for next four yrs
international, Page 9
sports, Page 16
business, Page 8
Rio sworn-in along with cabinet
Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio; dy. chief minister Y. Patton along with the newly inducted cabinet ministers on Thursday at Khouchiezie (local ground) Kohima. Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAR 8 (NPN): Leader of the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), Neiphiu Rio was administered oath of office and secrecy for his fourth stint as chief minister by Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya at an impressive function at a jam-packed Khuochiezie (local ground) Kohima Thursday. Eleven other legislators that included six from the BJP, four from NDPP and one JD (U) and Independent also took the oath of office and secrecy-- deputy chief minister, Yanthungo Patton and cabinet ministers-C.M. Chang, G. Kaito Aye, Neiba Kronu, S. Pangnyu
Transfer & posting of IAS/ NCS officers DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Governor of Nagaland, P.B. Acharya has ordered the transfer and posting of some IAS/NCS and other officers. A notification from chief secretary, Temjen Toy said that Home commissioner, Abhishek Singh (IAS) will hold additional charges of commissioner and secretary for Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) department and also to the chief minister. Tourism and Personnel & Administrative Reforms, commissioner and secretary, Angau I. Thou (IAS) is relieved of the charge of Personnel & Administrative Reforms department. Industries & Commerce (I&C) department, principal secretary Menukhol John will hold additional charge of the School Education department. Rural Development secretary and secretary to chief minister Nagaland, Kelei Zeliang (IAS) is relieved of the charge of secretary to the chief minister of Nagaland. Art and culture department, under secretary, Asalie Lese (NCS) is transferred and posted as under secretary, Land Revenue department.
This is it!
“Though I’m no more CM but feel free to call. I’ll always be there.” K Y M C
Phom, P. Paiwang Konyak, Jacob Zhimomi, Metsubo Jamir, Tongpang Ozukum, V. Kashiho Sangtam and Temjen Imna Along. Neiphiu Rio holds the record for being in the chair three consecutive terms and has now been sworn-in as chief minister four times. BJP achieved its highest ever political elevation when BJP MLA and former NPF minister, Yanthungo Patton was sworn-in as the deputy chief minister. Present in attendance was union minister for defence Nirmala Sitharaman, minister of state (Home) Kiren Rijiju, BJP national president Amit Shah, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav including the chief min-
isters of Assam- Sarbananda Sonowal,Ar unachal Pradesh-Pema Khandu, Meghalaya- Conrad Sangma and Manipur-Biren Singh. The oath-taking started an hour late after the dignitaries arrived. With cabinet berths completed, the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) gover nment headed by Neiphiu Rio will now turn its focus on appointment of the remaining 20 MLAs from NDPP-14, BJP-6 and NPP-2. It may be pointed out that NPP chief and Meghalaya chief minister along with Nagaland NPP president Ato Yepthomi resolved the issue of the party MLAs
also supporting the PDA. Earlier, NPP had forged a pre-poll alliance with NPF but after the results and owing to some factors, NPP decided to support PDA but later withdrew the letter of support. Addressing the gathering after taking oath, Rio thanked the electorate for giving mandate to the alliance and giving the alliance partners an opportunity to serve them. He said this was first time that a government was sworn in a public place and recalled that it was from the same venue that Dr S Radhakrishnan proclaimed Statehood from Nagaland on December 1, 1963. (Cont’d on p-11)
At its first meeting, cabinet charts PDA govt’s action plan D imapur , M ar 8 (NPN): Neiphiu Rio-led Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) government held its first cabinet meeting on Thursday in Kohima to chart out its action plan. Extending its sincere appreciation to the electorate for reposing faith in NDPP-BJP alliance and voting it to office, the cabinet meeting also appreciated the Church, civil society groups, tribal hohos and NGOs for their positive contributions in the election process. It also congratulated the Election Commission of India, election department, administration, police and all law enforcing agencies for successful conduct of the polls. It also appealed to all sections of the people to leave behind the bitterness of election and come together under a spirit of unity and oneness in the greater interest of the people of Nagaland and in the interest of lasting peace. Some major decisions were also taken at the cabinet meeting, many of which have been set an achievement target of 100 days.
VIP culture: In a move aimed at curbing VIP culture, use of name/designation plates by ministers, legislators and government employee in vehicles would soon be banned, even as a colour-coded car pass system would be designed for official use, especially for ministers and MLAs, to avoid inconveniences. Further, use of pilots and security escorts by all government functionaries, barring the governor, chief minister, deputy chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker, have been banned within Kohima and Dimapur. Security surveillance in both the State Capital and Dimapur would be enhanced and improved so that ministers and other functionaries need not use escorts and pilots within city limits. Peace Process: The cabinet assured the people to play the role of a facilitator in the ongoing peace process so that a solution that was honourable, inclusive and acceptable to the people was arrived at as soon as possible. It appealed to other
NPGs, who are not part of the negotiation process, to join the peace talks that were currently underway. Good governance & Transparency: While deciding to make all-out efforts to implement good governance initiatives, implement transparency and promote a culture of meritocracy, the cabinet instructed all departments and government institutions to have their websites and social media accounts to provide all information within 100 days. The meeting decided to do periodical appraisals and assessments of the departments, including performance of ministers, regularly, besides giving specific targets and deadlines for achievement of programmes and policies and completion of projects. Targets for 100 days, six months and one year would be made public, it added. Further, in another important move, all ministers and elected members have been given 100 days to declare their assets and assets of their spouses and dependents. (Cont’d on p-11)
No parl secretaries in PDA govt: Rio TDP ministers quit; to remain in NDA Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAR 8 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio on Thursday declared that his government-- People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) will not go against law of the land and hence will not appoint parliamentary secretaries. He said he was also discussing the matter with legal luminaries and its alliance partner- BJP. Addressing media persons after attending the first cabinet meeting at Nagaland Secretariat here on Thursday evening, Rio also announced that BJP MLA Mmhonlumo Kikon would be pro tem speaker of the newlyconstituted Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA). Maintaining that solving the Naga political issue would top the agenda of PDA government, he stressed that the new government would play its role as an active facilitator and strive to bring all groups together. He appealed to groups still outside the negotiation process to join it.
Rio informed the media that a political affairs committee would be constituted for facilitating the peace process. “We are making good progress though it was taking time,” he remarked, adding that if the issue was accelerated, solution would come sooner than later. The chief minister promised the people that PDA would provide a stable government, good governance and ensure transparency in administration. After attending the first day of budget session and election of new speaker of NLA on March 13, Rio said he would fly to New Delhi to share grievances of the State and other related matters with the Centre. On sharing of cabinet berths, the chief minister explained that two ministerial berths of NDPP were allotted to JD (U) and Independent MLAs respectively. On NPP’s support to his government, Rio admitted there was some misunderstanding. He, however, added that during his
brief meeting with NPP president and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma and State NPP president Ato Yepthomi at the swearing-in ceremony, the duo assured him of support. On Governor P.B. Acharya’s confidence of a solution to Naga political issue in six months, Rio said he did not have any idea and that nobody could set a term for arriving at a solution. Referring to decentralisation of budget insisted by the governor, Rio said there was lot of confusion as Planning Commission had given way to NITI Aayog and the funding pattern was changed. Therefore, it all depended on how a chief minister allocated funds, he added, pointing out that fund was flowing in and it depended on how the State judiciously used it. On Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing a special package for Eastern Nagaland, Rio said details would be known only after meeting him in New Delhi.
NEW DELHI, MAR 8 (PTI/ IANS): Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y.S. Chowdary, two Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ministers in the BJPled NDA government, Thursday submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Raju later told reporters that his party will continue to part of the ruling alliance. Their resignations came a day after Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that the party’s ministers will quit the central government in protest against its refusal to grant special category status to the state. Y.S. Chowdary said the issue of special category status to Andhar was very emotive for the state but the Centre did not address it and added that even the special package was not adequate. Chowdary, however, said it would be unfair to say that the Central government did nothing for the state. Naidu had earlier in the day had a telephonic conversation with Modi.
BJP ministers quit Andhra cabinet BJP ministers Kamineni Srinivas Rao and P. Manikyala Rao tendered their resignations to chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday. Medical and Health minister Srinivas Rao and Endowments Minister Manikyala Rao met the Chief Minister in his chamber in the Assembly and handed the letters of resignation to him. They thanked Naidu for the opportunity as the chief minister also appreciated their efficient working. Later, Srinivas Rao said: “I had the privilege of working with him for more than three-and-a-half years. I recently asked him about his opinion on my work. He gave me the certificate that I have no enemies,” he said. The resignation came ahead of the presentation of the budget for 2018-19 in the Assembly by Finance minister Y. Ramakrishnudu, a party official said. Both BJP ministers had stayed away from the cabinet meeting here that was convened to formally approve the budget.
Ban on use of name plates on vehicles Gandhi, Ambedkar’s statues defaced in Chennai, Kannur
DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Nagaland government on Thursday banned the use of designation/ name plates on vehicles. An order from Home commissioner Abhishek Singh said that as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Act 1989 nothing except the registration number of vehicles should be displayed on the number plate. The government cautioned that violators of the order would face action under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988. However for ministers and MLAs, appropriate colour coded car stickers would be issued to facilitate their movement. Meanwhile, adhering to the provisions of the said Act, deputy commissioner (DC) of Dimapur, Sushil Kumar Patel, Thursday removed his designation plate
DC Dimapur removes the designation plate from his official vehicle on Thursday.
from his official vehicle and requested others to follow suit. The notification to ban the use of name/designation plates comes on the day the new government took charge, as promised in the NDPP election manifesto. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio said his government was committed to fulfill poll manifesto. “We have com-
mitted in our manifesto that we will remove VIP culture from Nagaland and we will ensure that the citizens of the State are the real VIPs”, the newly appointed Chief Minister said. It may be pointed out that several such notifications were issued even in the past, but were not implemented on the ground.
CHENNAI/KANNUR, MAR 8 (PTI): The desecration of statues of leaders continued today with busts of Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar being found defaced in Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively. A 42year-old man, Dinesan, was arrested in connection with the defacing of Mahatma Gandhi statue in Kannur district of Kerala, police said. Police said he was mentally unsound and later released on bail. Gandhi’s bust near the Thaliparamba taluk office was found defaced in the morning with its spectacle carving damaged and a garland on it seen lying nearby. Meanwhile, at a residential locality in Chennai, a bust of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar was found with paint smeared on its face
and head. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said statues of leaders should be given due respect. He said stern measures would be taken against those vandalising statues or attempting to do so. The Police department has been directed to provide due security to the statues of all the leaders, he told reporters The bust of Ambedkar is placed inside a structure covered with a grill in a residential neighbourhood in Tiruvotriyur in North Chennai. Police assured the agitated local people that action would be taken against the culprits. A series of incidents of desecration of statues of various leaders, including Ambedkar, rationalist E V Ramasamy “Periyar” and Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad
Mookerjee, have been reported from different parts of the country over the past few days. The incidents began after a statue of Communist icon Vladimir Lenin was pulled down in Tripura after the BJP’s victory in the assembly elections, ending 25 years of Communist rule. Meanwhile, a day after a statue of Dalit icon Bhimrao Ambedkar was damaged in Meerut, BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday demanded Those disturbing peace and harmony by vandalising statues should be booked under the sedition law. “Such acts are not in the interest of the country as they weaken the democratic and secular fabric as well as harm communal harmony,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said in a statement in Lucknow.
BJP to work for NE development: Sonowal KOHIMA, MAR 8 (NPN): Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the BJP and its allies can be expected to bring development to the entire North East region. He said this while speaking to media persons at Kohima local ground after the swearing –in ceremony. Sonowal expressed gratitude to the people of Nagaland for giving their mandate to the BJP alliance and he appealed to everyone to work together for the development of the North East region. (Correspondent)
T.R. Zeliang fetes Rio
KOHIMA, MAR 8 (NPN): Former chief minister T. R. Zelaing, Thursday, congratulated the new chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio after the swearing-in ceremony at Kohima local ground. When asked for his opinion if the new alliance government would provide stable governance, Zeliang said “I don’t know, no comment, let’s see”. “Politics is a game we have to honourably accept, sometime we win and sometime we lose” he said. (Correspondent)
Load shedding in Dmu
DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Department of Power, Office of the SDO (E) No-II, Burma Camp under Dimapur Electrical Division will be carrying out preventive maintenance work at 2 x 10 MVA, 66/33 KV S/S for 3 days (March 9 to 11) from 4 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. A notice from the Dimapur Electrical Division executive engineer, Er. Imsenkaba, requested all affected consumers to kindly bear with the inconvenience.
Mar 10 & 24 working day
DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): Home Commissioner, Abhishek Singh (IAS), in a notification, said that the government of Nagaland has declared March 10 (2nd Saturday) and March 24 (4th Saturday) as working days on account of the forthcoming Budget Session for offices located in Kohima. According to DIPR, all administrative heads and heads of department have been directed to ensure attendance of their officers & staff.
NSCN (R) appeals DIMAPUR, MAR 8 (NPN): NSCN (R) has requested all its functionaries to be extra vigilant and prepared to escape from the tactics of some Indian agencies. According to a press release from NSCN (R), Ceasefire Supervisory Board, kilonser and supervisor, Imlongnukshi Chang, the NSCN (R) wants a durable and beneficial solution with India. But it had come to their knowledge that some Indian agencies were working tirelessly to prevent the solution, the press release said. NSCN (R) added that these agencies were instigating the CFSB board that weapons were being transported all over Nagaland by special ceasefire identity card holders “and arresting of cadres and workers moreover to cancel special ceasefire ID cards of important leaders.” It alleged that this was being done with the selfish motive of continuing to gain from the huge funds India spends on internal security which would stop coming if a solution was arrived at. K Y M C