May 24, 2018

Page 1

Nagaland Post This issue 12 + 4 = 16 Pages @ ` 5.00

www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVIII No. 166

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018 Pages 16 ` 5.00

Italy president summons PM candidate

KKR beat RR to enter Qualifier 2

Govt working on long-term solution to fuel prices: Prasad

international, Page 13

sports, Page 16

business, Page 8

VP attends NIT’s 2nd convocation Rio seeks public cooperation for PDA Zeliang lashes out at PDA government Lok Sabha by-election campaign trail

Staff Reporter

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 3 (NPN): Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday stressed on the need to improve connectivity of the North Eastern states in order to bring the region into the mainstream. Addressing the 2nd convocation programme of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Nagaland at Chumukedima, Naidu said there is immense investment potential in the region and that ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries should not be allowed to miss the opportunity For this, he said Central and State governments should work in tandem. He also emphasized that corridors of connectivity should be converted into corridors of economic growth with a symbiotic market model of development. Lauding NIT Nagaland for catering to educational needs of students in Nagaland and neighbouring states, Naidu said it could play an even more significant role in filling the industrial gap in the State. Naidu remarked, “Be-

Fuel prices hiked 10th day in a row NEW DELHI, MAY 23 (AGENCIES): Petrol and diesel prices across the country were raised for the tenth consecutive day Wednesday with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) passing on the increase in international fuel prices to the consumers.

Govt says working on long-term solution, see p-8 The Central government however said it is working on a long-term solution to address the volatility and frequent revisions in rates. Petrol prices and diesel prices reached unprecedented levels as petrol prices almost hit Rs.85 in Mumbai and Rs. 80 in Chennai on Wednesday. The BJP-led government had in June last year junked a 15-year old practice of revising rates every fortnight and introduced daily revisions which worked well except periods immediately preceding an election. There was a 19-day freeze in revising rates before Karnataka went to polls, and since the time the hiatus ended on May 14, rates have gone up by Rs 2.54 a litre in case of petrol and Rs 2.41 in diesel.

NIT Nagaland can play a significant role in filling industrial gap - Venkaiah Naidu ing a technical institute of national importance, I can foresee NIT Nagaland playing a significant role in filling the industrial gap in Nagaland by bringing industries, corporate sector and technocrats from other parts of the country to the State for its overall growth and development.” He also encouraged students from Nagaland and other North Eastern States to take full advantage of the institute by acquiring worldclass technical education. Naidu reminded NIT Nagaland that the real strength of any academic institute lay in maintaining high standards of excellence through teaching and top quality research. He said this could be achieved only through dedication, discipline and determination of the faculty and students, adding there

should not be any compromise on quality of teaching and research. The vice president also acknowledged the efforts of NIT Nagaland in reserving home State quota completely for Naga students and wished the institute to grow and succeed in all its efforts and reach greater heights. While congratulating the students, Naidu advised them that knowledge and technical skills acquired by them in NIT would form main pillars in their professional career. He told the students that while life skills acquired by them were important, values of ethics, morality, integrity and compassion were equally important in navigating through life’s challenges and help them in contributing to building an inclusive New India.

Naidu also advised the students to promote and preserve their mother tongue, love their motherland and respect their “gurus” (teachers). Emphasising on unity in diversity, the VP said, “We must all be proud of our States. In Nagaland, you must be proud to be a Naga, but at the same time at the national level you should be proud to be a Bharatiya”. He added that despite speaking different languages, India’s greatness lies in its people’s oneness. He said India’s secularism was safe not because it has been enshrined in the Constitution of India, but because it was in the blood of all Indians. Mentioning that the Northeast was endowed with abundant natural resources, the VP admitted that it could not realise its true potential due to difficult terrain, dispersed habitations, poor connectivity and inadequate infrastructure. In his address, Nagaland Gover nor P.B. Acharya said NIT Nagaland is the first Centrallyfunded technical institute in the State and one of only 31 such NITs across the country.

DIMAPUR, MAY 23 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has called upon the people of Nagaland to come forward and extend support to the State government in providing stability, transparency, good governance and improving the overall welfare of all sections of the people. Addressing rallies in Kiphire and Phek Wednesday, Rio said that it is an advantage for the people to have the PDA government in the State which was in alliance with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and added that there could not be a better opportunity to expedite the peace process and all-round development of the State. Commenting on the NPF’s ongoing tirades against the NDPP and the BJP, Rio said that it was purely vindictive politics since the BJP chose to ally with the NDPP under his leadership. “NPF is now accusing the BJP but the truth is they were in alliance for the last 15 years. The NPF could not provide good and stable governance to the people as there was a lack of decisive leadership for which the (Cont’d on p-8) public also rose up openly

against the government,” Rio stated. Recalling the NPF president’s statement to the opposition leader as a “heraka boy” last year, Rio stated that now the NPF had no other option but to attack the NDPP and BJP in order to divert the public’s attention. Rio stated that the NPF’s claim to be regional is not founded on truth since in the past the erstwhile NPC had teamed up with the Congress to depose the then chief minister KL Chishi. Rio went on to highlight the visions, developmental programmes and policies of the NDA and PDA governments and encouraged the people to reap the fruits of a good, stable government that was focused on the all-round development of the State. Rio further assured that one of his top priorities will always be to address the grievances of the people. In his speech, PDA candidate Tokheho Yepthomi assured the gathering of serving the people with utmost sincerity, if elected. He also appealed to all PDA partners and supporters to vote in favour NDPP’s globe symbol.

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 3 (NPN): Upping the ante against the ruling coalition, opposition NPF intensified its attack on PDA government as the date for the Lok Sabha by-poll nears. Addressing a public rally at Zunheboto town on Wednesday, NPF legislature party leader T.R. Zeliang charged the PDA government of bringing change “only through words and not deeds”. Recalling the issue of Students Insurance Scheme which he had raised during the first Session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and is yet to receive a reply from the government, he questioned as to whether the insurance scheme was a “Centrally-sponsored scheme or a State-funded scheme”. “How are they going to implement it?” he wondered. He further queried as to whether the scheme had any linkage with third party companies and whether it was free for all or certain premium was to be paid by the beneficiaries. Citing incidents on how chief minister Neiphiu Rio attempted to sow seeds of division and instability within the NPF, Zeliang (Cont’d on p-7) alleged that Rio had earlier

projected G Kaito Aye as chief ministerial candidate, which gave rise to crisis and hardships to the people of Nagaland. “However now that Rio is in power, G Kaito Aye is being sidelined and preference is given to the newly elected members in the Cabinet,” he added. Calling upon the Sumi community to remain vigilant against “evil designs” of the chief minister lest more capable Sumi leaders are sacrificed at the altar of his “political game for power and wealth”, Zeliang also highlighted sanctions approved for Zunheboto by the previous NPF regime which was allegedly diverted by the PDA government recently. “Rs 2.75 crore which was sanctioned for development of Zunheboto town has now been diverted leaving no penny for the town,” he alleged. Taking a dig at Rio for the State’s financial crisis, Zeliang asserted that “after the one-time grant provided by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, the State’s deficit came down to zero. However, the tenure of 11 years by Rio as CM abnormally spiked the deficit to Rs 1,234 crore by the time he left for Delhi.” (Cont’d on p-7)

NDPP, BJP lodge complaints against NPF D I M A P U R , M AY 2 3 (NPN): With barely two days before campaigning ends for the May 28 Lok Sabha by-poll in Nagaland, PDA alliance partners– NDPP and BJP-- have taken the by-election fight to the Election Commission of India through a complaint against NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, alleging he violated the Model Code of Conduct by making “communally inflammatory speeches” on May 15 at Ura Academy Kohima. BJP president Visasolie Lhoungu and Prasielie Pienyu polling agent of NDPP candidate have drawn the attention of the ECI in separate complaint letters to the speech made by Dr. Liezietsu wherein he purportedly told the gathering that RSS, of which BJP was the political wing, was persecuting minorities across the nation including Christians.

The two parties in their complaint alleged that Dr. Liezietsu had spelt the option that if one was to become Hindu then they can vote for PDA candidate Tokheho Yepthomi but if they want to vote for Nagas and for secularism and Christianity, then they should vote for (NPF candidate) Apok Jamir. The signatories of the complaint letter addressed to ECI have cited various sections of the Representation of People Act 1951 including Section 153A of Indian Penal Code covering the Model Code of Conduct. They have urged upon ECI to direct the state government to immediately register FIR against Dr. Shürhozelie and criminal proceedings also initiated against him. They have also urged upon ECI to direct the state government/ district administration to forthwith restraint any campaign ral-

lies where Dr. Shürhozelie is to speak. The PDA alliance partners have stressed upon the inflammatory nature of the speech of the NPF president which was a threat to law and order during the bypoll as well as creating enmity among different classes and tribes of people. They also said that the speech made by none else than Dr. Shürhozelie the president of NPF not only deviated from the path of decency but could result in violent clashes and street fights that could vitiate the atmosphere for peaceful conduct of the by-poll. It remains to be seen whether the ECI in this case, will act given the fact that incendiary and communally inflammable hate speeches in various states during recent elections have not been acted upon. (NDPP, PDA confident of action against NPF, see p-7)

Oppn show of unity at HDK’s swearing-in

This is it! HD Kumaraswamy with leaders of Congress, BSP, SP, RJD, CPI (M) & NCP-- Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Pawar.

“I too voted for change. They said 60 days and they know we may have to wait for 600 days.” K Y M C

BENGALURU, MAY 23 (IANS): H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK) was on Wednesday sworn in as the Chief Minister of a Janata Dal-Secular-Congress coalition government in Karnataka. Governor Vajubhai Vala administered the oath of office to Kumaraswamy, the state’s 25th chief minister in the presence of national and regional leaders from across the country. Parameshwara of the Congress took oath as the deputy chief minister. H.D. Kumaraswamy will take the floor test in the Assembly on Friday to prove that

the JDS-Congress coalition government enjoys a majority in the house. Talking to media persons after the swearing in HD Kumaraswamy said JD(S) along with Congress had succeeded in tying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ashwamedha’ horse (victory horse) in Karnataka, fulfilling his aim. Calling himself a “child of circumstances,” Kumaraswamysaid he decided to join hands with the Congress on the advice of several political leaders in the “national (Cont’d on p-7) interest.” K Y M C


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