May 27, 2019

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXIX No. 169

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, MAY 27, 2019 Pages 12 ` 5.00

Smriti in Amethi: 7 suspects detained in aide’s murder

Valencia stun Barca to win Copa del Rey

Pakistan ready to hold talks with new Indian govt: Qureshi

national, Page 5

sports, Page 12

international, Page 9

Modi to be sworn in on May 30 It may be mentioned that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had won a resounding majority in the Lok Sabha elections, securing over 350 seats in the 545-member Lok Sabha out of which the BJP alone has a majority of 303 Members of Parliament.

Spl. Correspondent/Agencies

NEW DELHI, MAY 26 (NPN): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was re-elected with a thumping majority for a second term at the Centre, will take oath at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 30. The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m., President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted. Other members of the Union Cabinet will also be sworn, reports stated. “President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of Union Council of Ministers on May 30 at 7 p.m. at Rashtrapati Bhavan,” a communiqué issued by President’s press secretary Ashok Malik said. Names of the ministers who would join Modi in his second innings is yet to be disclosed, though there has been speculation about some new members like BJP president Amit Shah, expected to join the council, including from states like West Bengal that played a key role in the BJP’s massive victory in the just-held Lok Sabha elections. On Saturday, Modi was unanimously elected as the

Narendra Modi (PTI)

leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party and the NDA Parliament Party to head the new government. A delegation of the NDA led by BJP president Amit Shah, along with Prakash Singh Badal, Rajnath Singh, Nitish Kumar, Ram Vilas Paswan, Sushma Swaraj, Uddhav Thakeray, Nitin Gadkari, K Palaniswami, Conrad Sangma and Neiphiu Rio, called on the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. They handed over a letter to the President stating Modi has been elected the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party. Later, the Prime Minister-elect called on President Kovind and staked claim to form a new government at the Centre.

NDA may get majority in Rajya Sabha next year IANS: After its overwhelming success in the Lok Sabha, the BJP-led NDA is expected to get a majority in the Rajya Sabha by the end of next year which will make it easy for the Modi government to push its legislative agenda that has often faced hurdles in the upper house during the past five years for lack of majority. At present, the NDA has 102 members in the upper house of Parliament, compared to 66 of the Congress-led UPA and 66 of the parties not aligned with either of the two alliances. The BJP-led NDA is expected to add about 18 seats to its tally by November next year. The ruling alliance can also be sure of the backing of some nominated, independent

and unattached members. The half-way mark in the upper house is 123 and the members of upper house are elected by the members of state assemblies. BJP will win most of the 10 Rajya Sabha seats that will fall vacant in November next year in Uttar Pradesh. Nine of these seats are held by the opposition parties- six by Samajwadi Party, two by the Bahujan Samaj Party and one by Congress. By next year, BJP will also pick up seats in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh. It would lose seats in Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. While biennial elections have already been announced for two seats in Assam, three more seats will fall vacant in the state next year. Nearly one third of the seats of the upper house will fall vacant between June this year and November next year. Two seats will fall vacant in Assam next month and six in Tamil Nadu in July this year. Thereafter, fifty five seats will fall vacant in April next year, five in June, one in July and 11 in November.

NPCC calls for open debate on CAB to take collective stand

ECI lifts model code of conduct NEW DELHI, MAY 26 (PTI): The model code of conduct, which came into force on March 10 when the Lok Sabha election was announced, ceased to be in existence, the Election Commission said on Sunday. In an instruction to the cabinet secretary and chief secretaries of state governments, the commission said the model code had been lifted with immediate effect. The code bars the party in power from using official machinery to further its political interests. The poll panel uses the model code to pull up politicians who are either found guilty of threatening voters or using religion and bribe to seek votes. The election watchdog used its constitutional powers to ban some politicians from campaigning for a few days. It cited the disruption of level-playing field to ban biopics on politicians, including one on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, till the election process was over. The seven-phase electoral exercise began on April 11 and ended on May 19.

D I M A P U R , M AY 2 6 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has called for an open debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) issue in the presence of all political parties, civil society groups and legal luminaries for enabling all to take a collective stand and generate a consensus, so that the Central government can leave out Nagaland from the purview of the Bill as there is no relation between CAB and Article 371(A). As in the party’s political analysis it was found that Nagas will not be safe under CAB, NPCC president K Therie, in a release, explained that Congress had raised its voice on the issue during the recentlyconcluded Lok Sabha election. However, he admitted that the mandate was in favour of CAB with NDPPBJP combine winning by a slender margin. Alleging that the entire CAB issue was a vote bank politics, he said BJP has reaped benefits from it in the Parliamentary election. Despite the Northeast’s united protest against the Bill, he pointed out that

BJP, with no regard for sentiments of the people of the region, had boldly reiterated during its campaign in Assam that it would pass the Bill should it be voted to power. Asserting that BJP had won in West Bengal and Assam due to illegal immigrant voters and well-wishers yearning to bring their relatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, Therie asserted that if their votes can win the election, that alone is proof that they are not in small numbers as was explained in a study paper. He alleged that BJP is not worried about the hill States’ objection to CAB as their numbers hardly matter. What should be focused is the long-term objective of the Bill to submerge political rights and identities of tribals and the region in time to come, he added. While pointing out CAB plans to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955 and grant legal status to the illegal immigrants and that Himanta Biswa Sarma, “alleged architect of the Bill”, had admitted that there are more than eight lakh

Hindu Bengalis in Assam, NPCC president feared that the actual numbers could be more, and all of whom would be granted citizenship. Therefore, the number 31,313 quoted as the number of people who would benefit from CAB is misguiding, he claimed. Recalling that the PDA government had even adopted a resolution to oppose the Bill, Therie alleged that, with the winds having changed at the Centre, an attempt is being made to rebrand and change the narrative of the Bill in the context of the Nagas to please New Delhi. However, he warned that the issue, if not handled with wisdom, could be the start of an end of the Nagas and “our indigenous status”. Pointing out that he was worried because he would not like his future generations to be submerged in the ocean of migrants that he foresees in a matter of a few decades, Therie cautioned that demography will be changed and “our religion, identity, culture and social practices will vanish in the overcrowded population” with time.

Fuel prices ENPO, tribal bodies and 4-lane: TSUD calls Rahul takes back offer to resign as Cong chief hiked for fourth frontal units flay ambush for resolving land wanted him to remain at tasted defeat in Jodhpur. the helm of the country’s Gandhi said that Party gen. secys straight day DIMAPUR, MAY 26 (NPN): Eastern Nagaland compensation issue oldest political party. Ashok Gehlot campaigned & state chiefs The CWC has autho- in Jodhpur for a week, D I M A P U R , M AY 2 6 People’s Organisation (ENPO), along with six DIMAPUR, MAY 26 (NPN): Exrised Gandhi to make com- ignoring the other tasks of (NPN): Petrol and diesel federating tribal bodies and two frontal organisa- pressing concern over the ongoing may face the axe plete overhaul and detailed the party. prices were increased on tions, have condemned the ambush of an Assam dispute between land owners and Sunday for the fourth consecutive day. After the daily revision in retail fuel prices, petrol prices in all the metro cities raised by 13-14 paise a litre while diesel became costlier by 7-8 paise. In the national capital Delhi, petrol prices rose to Rs 71.67 a litre against Rs 71.53 a litre on Saturday while diesel price climbed to Rs 66.64 per litre as compared to Rs 66.57 per litre on Saturday, as per data from Indian Oil Corporation website. Meanwhile in Dimapur, petrol price was hiked to Rs. 69.36 as compared to Rs. 69.23on Saturday and diesel was hiked by 7 paise costing Rs. 64.08 per litre. In Kohima, petrol cost Rs. 70.17 per litre, a hike by 14 paise and diesel was hiked by 7 paise costing Rs. 64.69 per litre on Sunday. The fuel price is dependent on the global crude oil prices, rupee to US dollar exchange rate, global cues, fuel demand, etc. Fuel price includes excise duty, valueadded tax (VAT) and dealer commission. VAT varies from state to state. India imports 80 per cent of its crude requirements.

This is it!

“If there are complaints about polling, it is done by voters not by EVMs.” K Y M C

Rifles (AR) team by suspected militants between Tobu and Ukha in Mon district on Saturday in which two AR personnel were killed and several injured. In a joint statement, the organisations said the incident was contrary to the December 18 Tuensang Resolution that was based on popular public prayer and demand for peace and tranquillity within ENPO jurisdiction. This was the outcome of people’s experience of years of hardships and violence, particularly fratricidal killings, they explained. Appealing to all concerned to honour the sentiments of public for peace and tranquillity and refrain from merciless killings, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation and the six federating tribal bodies and frontal organisations also conveyed their deep condolences to the bereaved and wished speedy recovery of the injured. The six federating tribal bodies included Chang Khulie Setshang, Khiamniungan Tribal Council, Konyak Union, Phom People’s Council, United Sangtam Likhum Pumji and Yimchunger Tribal Council, while the frontal organisations are Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation and Eastern Naga Students’ Federation.

contractors engaged in four-laning of NH-29 over land compensation issue, Tenyimi Students’ Union Dimapur (TSUD) has appealed to both Land Owners’ Union and Dimapur district administration to resolve the issue so that development activities are not stalled. In a statement, TSUD president Azo Wetsah and speaker David Keneingutuo Sorunuo, pointed out at a time when the much-awaited construction of the four-lane highway is going on and the public, specially students, are having to endure dusts caused by construction activities but are still eagerly awaiting completion of work at the earliest, it is unfortunate that the work is being sought to be stopped. The duo appealed to both parties to hammer out their differences with understanding and maturity, keeping in mind the general welfare of all.

New Delhi, May 26 (IANS): Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took back his offer to quit as the Congress President, a proposal he made during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday following the party’s rout in the Lok Sabha elections, party sources said. A party source told IANS: “Rahulji has taken back his proposal to resign as the party chief today.” The source added that responsibility will be fixed for the party’s debacle in the general elections and action will unfold in the next 10 days. Many party General Secretaries and state unit chiefs could face the heat, the source said. Gandhi offered to step

Rahul Gandhi (PTI)

down from the President’s post at the CWC meeting, taking responsibility for Congress’ embarrassing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in which it won just 52 seats. However, his offer was unanimously rejected by the CWC members though Gandhi had insisted on its acceptance. Party sources said Gandhi took back the offer to resign in the wake of the views expressed by the CWC members who

restructuring of the party at every level. According to the source, the Congress President was quite forthright at the CWC meeting, not sparing even some senior leaders of the party. Gandhi is believed to have said that Congress Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath were eager to give ticket to their sons although the party President was not very keen on the idea as he felt that they had a bigger role to play in campaigning. While Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath’s son Nakul Nath successfully contested from his father’s stronghold Chhindwara, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot

The source said that Gandhi also referred to veteran Congressman and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram for pushing for a Lok Sabha ticket for his son Karti Chidambaram from Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu. Karti Chidambaram is one of the eight Congress candidates who won in Tamil Nadu. The Congress President reportedly told the Congress Working Committee that these senior leaders had put the interests of their sons before the interests of the party. Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have said that Chidambaram was even willing to walk out of the party if his son was denied a Lok Sabha ticket.

Widespread rainfall in NE due to cyclonic circulations M’laya HC sets aside controversial GUWAHATI, MAY 26 (AGENCIES): Under the influence of two cyclonic circulations, moisture-laden winds have entered the North Eastern region and this situation has caused widespread rainfall activities over AssamMeghalaya and NagalandManipur-Mizoram-Tripura (NMMT) meteorological (Met) sub-divisions on Saturday, covering almost all areas of the two Met subdivisions. As per a report in the Assam Tribune, the first cyclonic circulation, extending up to 0.9 km above mean sea level, is persisting over northern part of Gangetic West Bengal and neighbourhood, while the second cyclonic circulation, extending up to 0.9 km above mean sea level, is persisting over south Assam and neighbourhood. Under the impact of both these systems, moistureladen winds are reaching the

‘Hindu Country’ verdict by HC judge

Trough Cyclonic Circulation Western Disturbance

lower atmospheric levels of the NE region. At present, the moisture-laden winds are reaching Assam-Meghalaya and NMMT. This is the reason why these parts of the region experienced widespread rainfall activities on Saturday. However, the situation will improve thereafter, sources in the Regional Meteorology Centre (RMC) here said.

It needs mention here that in the meteorological parlance, a cyclonic circulation (Cycir) is an atmospheric wind flow in upper levels associated with any low pressure system and under it, the wind flow is counter clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. A Low Pressure Area

is an area in the atmosphere in which the pressures are lower than those of the surrounding region at the same level and is represented on a synoptic chart by a system of one closed isobar (wind speed on the surface < 17 Knots (Kts) when the system is at sea or one closed isobar in the radius of 3 Deg. from the centre over land).

SHILLONG, MAY 26 (PTI): Meghalaya High Court has set aside a controversial judgement made by Justice SR Sen, its former judge, observing that India should have been declared a ‘Hindu country’ after partition, a TNT report stated. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir found the judgement “legally flawed” and inconsistent with the constitutional principles. In a judgement in December last year, a single judge bench of Justice Sen had observed that India, if divided on the basis of religion, should have been declared a Hindu country. “After bestowing our thoughtful consideration to the entire gamut of the matter we have reached to

a firm conclusion that the judgment impugned dated 10.12.2018 is legally flawed and is inconsistent with constitutional principles, the observations made and directions passed therein are totally superfluous, therefore, is set aside in its entirety,” the bench said in an order. While disposing of a petition by a person who was denied domicile certificate by the Meghalaya government, Justice Sen had also observed that anyone opposing Indian laws and the Constitution should not be considered a citizen of India. The judgement faced criticism from various quarters forcing him to issue a clarification four days later, saying his judgment was neither politically motivated nor influenced by

any party. In his judgement, Justice Sen had also set aside two notifications issued by the Meghalaya government relating to issuance of permanent residence certificate/domicile certificates. The division bench, however, observed that setting aside of the two notifications without any challenge was “impermissible” and “not sustainable”. Justice Sen had also directed the Centre to enact a law to safeguard the interests of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis, Khasis and Garos who have already come to India and who are yet to come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan as well as Persons of Indian Origin who are residing abroad. K Y M C


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
May 27, 2019 by Nagaland Post - Issuu