Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXIX No. 162
DIMAPUR, MONDAY, MAY 20, 2019 Pages 12 ` 5.00
TDP, TMC seek action against PM Modi
TMB crowned OBT champions
May pledges ‘improved deal’ to save her Brexit plan
national, Page 5
sports, Page 12
international, Page 9
Exit polls predict landslide win for NDA
NEW DELHI, MAY 19 (PTI): Most exit polls Sunday forecast another term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with some of them projecting that BJP-led NDA will get more than 300 seats to comfortably cross the majority mark of 272 in the Lok Sabha. However, a number of exit polls predicted big losses for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, where it had won 71 seats in 2014, but the saffron party appeared to make major gains in other states. Times Now telecast two exit polls giving the NDA 296 and 306 seats, while projecting 126 and 132 for the Congress-led UPA. The CVoter-Republic exit poll has forecast 287 and 128 seats for the NDA and UPA respectively. However, ABP NewsNielsen and Neta-NewsX predicted that the ruling alliance may fall short of a majority as they respectively gave it 267 and 242 seats. ABP News and NewsX predicted 127 and 164 seats respectively for the UPA. Elections to 542 seats of the Lok Sabha ended Sunday. The Election Commission has deferred elec-
NPCC lauds NPF move to withdraw support to BJP D I M A P U R , M AY 1 9 (NPN): NPCC has welcomed the decision of Naga People’s Front (NPF) to withdraw support to the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur. In a statement, NPCC president K. Therie said this would further the cause of secularism in the Northeast and expressed solidarity in “defending our faith and identity and in securing a realistic political solution.” Therie also slammed NDPP for pointing its forefinger at NPF and accusing it of double standards while conveniently forgetting that the remaining three fingers were pointed at it for double standards. He said BJP and NDPP-led governments in Manipur and Nagaland opposed CAB in their respective States but in practise, they supported the BJP manifesto that vowed to pass CAB. Therie said in the past 17 years BJP assured that political talks for solution were in the right direction but had no answer when questioned in the State Assembly on the status of negotiations. He said the purported letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi by NDPP and its filing defamation case thereafter, was another example of double standard.
This is it!
“Read it. It says no taxation on road but nothing about shops.” K Y M C
EXIT POLLS 2019: POLL OF POLLS NDA Times Now-VMR 306 C-Voter 287 Jan Ki Baat 305 News Nation 286 IPSOS 336 Nielsen 267 My-Axis 360 Chanakya 350 Poll of Polls 317
tion for Vellore in Tamil Nadu over allegations of misuse of money power. The counting of votes is slated for May 23. The CNN News18-Ipsos exit poll said the BJP-led alliance can win a whopping 336 seats with the saffron party getting a majority on its own. It projected only 46 seats for the Congress and 82 for its allies. In 2014, the NDA had won 336 seats and the Congress 44. The BJP had
notched up its maiden majority by bagging 282 seats. Several exit polls predicted that the SP-BSP alliance is likely to trump the BJP in the country’s politically most crucial state Uttar Pradesh. The BJP had won 71 and its ally Apna Dal two of its 80 seats in 2014. The CVoter-Republic forecast gave the grand alliance in UP 40 seats against 38 for the NDA, while the Jan Ki Baat said the NDA
UPA 132 128 124 122 82 127 98 95 110
Others 104 127 113 134 124 148 84 97 115
may win 46-57 seats against 15-29 of the SP-BSP combine. ABP News predicted a huge loss for the BJP in the state, saying it may win only 22 seats while the opposition alliance may emerge victorious in 56 constituencies. In West Bengal, CVoter-Republic and ABP said the BJP may win 11 and 16 (of the 42 seats) respectively, a big improvement on its tally of two in 2014.
No regret for parting ways with BJP, says NPF president D I M A P U R , M AY 1 9 (NPN): Naga People’s Front (NPF) president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu Sunday said his party had no regrets on parting ways with BJP as the latter changed its colour and walked away in search of greener pastures. Saying he was constrained in responding to the NDPP’s allegation that NPF was playing a “double game”, Dr. Shürho asked the rival party to take note of his party’s stand. He admitted that NPF had alliance with BJP for many years which began in 2003 when BJP was in the opposition at the Centre. He said in 2003 BJP had eight MLAs after the Assembly election but in 2008 it won only two seats that included the present deputy chief minister Y Patton. He said both BJP legislators then merged with NPF leaving the party with-
out any MLA in the Assembly for some time. In 2013 election, only one BJP MLA managed to win, he added. He reminded that when BJP stormed to power in New Delhi in 2014, NPF was happy since one of its alliance partners took over the rein of power at the Centre. However, Dr. Shürhozelie alleged that BJP changed its colour completely and began trying to dictate upon NPF. He reiterated that NPF could not yield to their demands as the party represented the identity of Naga people as the party has its own principles to defend and protect the interest of our people. He opined that after realising this, the BJP walked away from the alliance in search of “greener pasture” and wished the best to BJP with its new partners and in
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee dismissed the exit polls as a “gossip” and a gameplan to “replace” EVMs. “I don’t trust Exit Poll gossip. The game plan is to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs through this gossip. I appeal to all Opposition parties to be united, strong and bold. We will fight this battle together,” she tweeted. News channel ABP said the BJP in Odisha may win nine seats. It had won only one in 2014. Exit polls in the country have had mixed record on accuracy and quite often their projections have been way off the actual results. However, Congress ally and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, said every single exit poll cannot be wrong. “Time to switch off the TV, log out of social media & wait to see if the world is still spinning on its axis on the 23rd (May),” he tweeted. Some social media users pointed out that election results in Australia proved most psephologists and news polls wrong.
Violence in Punjab, Bengal in last phase
A fire set ablaze during clashes, allegedly between BJP and TMC activists in Bengal under Bhatpara Assembly constituency where by-election was underway, Sunday. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, MAY 19 (AGENCIES): Incidents of violence in West Bengal and clashes in Punjab were reported during the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha polls on Sunday, with over 64 per cent turnout being recorded in 59 seats. Sources said a Congress worker was allegedly murdered by unidentified people in Hardo Sarli village of Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency. Punjab when the deceased was going to cast his ballot. Akali Dal workers were also allegedly attacked in Rampura Phul city of Bathinda, which left one
person injured. While four other people were injured in Kot Mohan area of Gurdaspur seat after a violent clash broke out between the two rival groups--Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Three SAD workers were injured in a firing incident that took place near a polling station in Talwandi Sabo area of Bathinda district. Polling was stopped at this station after violence took place. The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained, however, sources purportedly said that it had taken place between the Congress and SAD workers.
In West Bengal, there were reports of crude bomb blasts at Raidighi under the Mathurapur Lok Sabha seat, polling was also delayed due to altercations between BJP and TMC workers. EVM glitches in the morning also added to the confusion since Sunday morning, India Today reported. Constituencies from both south and north Kolkata witnessed incidents of violence. The BJP candidate from north Kolkata constituency even alleged that TMC workers threatened their polling agents. At Rajarhat, a BJP office was also set on fire Saturday night.
4-lane project contractors file FIR over clip Staff Reporter
D I M A P U R , M AY 1 9 (NPN): Contractors engaged in construction of the 4-lane highway between Purana Bazaar to Chumoukedima have filed an FIR against video and comments that went viral on social media and questioning quality of workmanship. In a joint statement, the contractors said the works are being implemented as per the specifications and guidelines approved by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). In the video that went viral on social media, a man is seen breaking the cover of a drain along the highway while another person heard alleging that low grade sand and mud mixture were used for the concrete of drain cover. The contractors said all components with their own specifications were used for drainage and the cover. (Cont’d on p-8) They also clarified that ve-
its de facto government. On NPF’s part he said the party has no regrets whatsoever since it was of the same people with the same policies and programmes, whether it is with A or B or alone. On NDPP questioning NPF about its support to the BJP-led government in Manipur, Dr. Shürhozelie admitted that its four legislators continued to extend support even after NPF parted ways with BJP in Nagaland. Dr. Shürhozelie reiterated that every Naga leader, including NDPP leaders, were aware of the Naga political problem as all of them talked of peace, unity, settlement of the Naga political problem. Therefore, he opined that if there was any real concern for a political solution to the long-standing
hicles were not supposed to ply over the drains but only to be used as footpath. One of the contractors said that the drain covers/slabs were not weak by design and that materials used and the workmanship were designed for pedestrians and wherever vital and main crossings were there, these have been specified as per MoRTH engineering yardstick. Slamming the video for alleging that materials used for drain cover were inferior, the contractors pointed out that the particular spot where the cover collapsed was not specified as a vehicle-crossing junction and therefore the slab was not supposed to withstand the weight of a 20tonne dumper truck which was made to go over it. They explained that there was a procedure to be followed and likewise anyone having grievance should approach the engineers and Video clip of man allegedly dismantling the pavement constructed contractors stationed at project sites. (Cont’d on p-7) by the 4-lane road project contractors. (Social Media)
NSCN (I-M), NNC, others react to Myanmar’s military action NPCC, NH demand thorough D I M A P U R , M AY 1 9 (NPN): Several organizations like the NSCN (I-M), NNC (PB), NMA and FNR have expressed serious concern over recent the military offensive carried out by Myanmar army in Konyak region of Myanmar affecting the lives of Nagas living that region. Stating that whatever is happening in “Nagalim areas in Myanmar” is a matter of serious, NSCN (I-M) strongly condemned the military action of Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) that it alleged was being coordinated by Indian security forces from the international border. It called for a better way to handle the issue. NSCN (I-M) said that the chaotic situation created by the “blatant offensive” of Tatmadaw has destabilized the livelihood of Naga villagers as they are being made to bear its brunt. Mentioning
that what has happened to Hoyat and Laonyu villages is just another act of treachery that will not help strengthen the peace process started by Myanmar government under the 2012 ceasefire agreement, NSCN (I-M) called on all stakeholders to abide by the ceasefire agreement in the interest of creating conducive atmosphere for lasting peace. According to the organisation, what is important for the Government of Myanmar is to take cognisance of the historical and political rights of the Nagas and go for peaceful means as neither India nor Myanmar is an enemy of the Nagas. Any differences should be solved through peaceful political process, it stressed. NSCN (I-M) said the Myanmar government or Tatmadaw for that matter should also understand the deep sentiment of the
Nagas who had withstood all hardships to stand by their historical and political rights. Aggression of the Indian armed forces in collaboration with the Myanmar armed forces on the rights of the Nagas in that part of Naga territory in the guise of flushing out Meitei armed groups – UNLF and PLA, besides ULFA (from Assam) – is a “naked and deliberate violation” of human rights, it emphasised. Given the hostility shown by Tatmadaw in the so-called Indo-Myanmar corridors, the organisation warned that the road to peaceful solution may get jeopardised if it failed to recognise the need for trust, respect and mutual understanding that goes together in solving a political problem that is more complex than one could see. Placed under such a situation, NSCN (I-M) said
Nagas cannot stay aloof from what fellow Nagas in the east under Myanmar occupation are going through at the hands of Tatmadaw. It said, “We are one Naga family and we express profound solidarity with them at this critical stage of their suffering.” NSCN (I-M) also appealed to all Nagas without borders to raise their voice of concern to drive home the message that the entire Nagas are with them. NNC (PB): On the other hand, NNC (Parent Body) too condemned in the strongest term the Myanmar army attacking NSCN (K) camps during peace time in the Naga region, even as it alleged that the Indian Army had sealed the border on the other side and imposed curfew. Claiming that the Naga people were maintaining absolute peace for the last two
three years, the organisation said creating such a situation against the people at such a time is called for, especially in targeting innocent people and burning their entire properties, killing their livestock and destroying their granaries. It alleged that innocent public are being made to suffer immensely due to the conflict, especially the old, women and children who are all being made to run to the jungle. As this is the summer time with bad climatic condition in the area, it warned that many may die due to starvation and diseases. NNC (Parent Body) appealed to the Naga people as a whole to pray to their living God to help protect “our people” in the area. May God intervene in the situation for peace to prevail in the Naga area, it hoped.
probe into contract killing case
D I M A P U R , M AY 1 9 (NPN): Expressing shock over the report of a plot to assassinate a Nagaland based politician after the Lok Sabha polls by a Haryana based hit-man, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) and Naga Hoho (NH) have demanded a thorough probe to reveal the truth. In a press note, NPCC media cell said the party was seriously concerned about the shocking development and urged both Delhi Police and Nagaland Police to initiate a thorough probe in order to unearth the mastermind/s behind this heinous conspiracy of attempting to eliminate political leaders. “The revelation goes on to prove some politico-criminal nexus at highest level,” NPCC added. While (Cont’d on p-8) lauding Nagaland police
for taking prompt action by deputing an IGP rank officer to Delhi to be part of joint investigation with Delhi Police, NPCC at the same time urged the state government to review security cover of top political leaders irrespective of party affiliations. NPCC said the government had in the recent past scaled down/withdrawn security for majority of the opposition party leaders in the name of austerity and low threat perceptions. In such a scenario, NPCC said many political party leaders have been left vulnerable to attacks from criminal elements. In view of such development, NPCC urged the state government to ensure adequate security arrangements to deter any criminal minds from carrying out their dastardly act. (Cont’d on p-7) K Y M C