Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVII No. 345
India’s Manushi Chhillar crowned Miss World 2017
Manushi Chhillar
SANYA, NOV 18 (AGENCIES): India’s Manushi Chhillar won the Miss World beauty pageant for the year 2017. The win comes 17 years after Priyanka Chopra brought home the coveted title in the year 2000. Chillar competed against 108 contestants from various countries at a glittering event held at Sanya City Arena here. Stephanie Hill, who is Miss England was the first runner up and Miss Mexico Andrea Meza was second runner up. Ms. Chhillar, a 20-yearold from Haryana, studied in St. Thomas School in New Delhi and Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women in Sonepat. After reaching the top five Ms Chhillar was asked during the Question and Answer round, which profession she thought deserved the highest salary and why. Replying to the question, Ms Chhillar said it was not a question about a person’s salary and that a mother was worthy of the highest respect. “I think a mother is of highest respect. I don’t think its just about cash but love and respect she gives to someone. She is the biggest inspiration in my life. Mother should get highest respect.”
KPU temporarily calls off indefinite agitation
D I M A P U R , N OV 1 8 (NPN): Consequent upon the decision of the state government to constitute a four-member committee to look into the RD Block Chunlikha imbroglio and the appeal made by the state government, the Kandi Public Union (KPU) has decided to temporarily suspend its indefinite agitation. Informing this in a statement, KPU press and media cell said the decision to this effect was made during its emergency meeting held on November 18. This was also done keeping in mind the upcoming festive season, KPU stated. The union said it was hopeful that the wise decision of the committee report would benefit the community at large.
This is it!
“It’s not that we’re afraid of him. Rather we’re irritated when he includes us in his foolish talks.” K Y M C
DIMAPUR, sunday, november 19, 2017 Pages 12 ` 4.00
‘Disconnect between Pak Army HQ, troops’
NUFC start ISL campaign with draw
‘Economy is not out of wood despite rating upgrade’
national, Page 5
sports, Page 12
business, Page 8
CM intones ‘solution not election’
Staff Reporter
D I M A P U R , N OV 1 8 (NPN): Echoing the rhetoric by some state legislators, Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang has called for consensus among all sections to defer the Assembly polls scheduled next year, in the interest of solving the decades-old vexed Naga political issue. Zeliang said this while speaking as chief guest at the official inauguration programme of St Joseph University at Ikishe village here on Saturday where he exhorted civil society groups to come together to seek a solution first to the Naga political issue, before going for the elections. Zeliang’s thinking was that if the Naga political issue was not resolved in time and took another two or three years and during which elections take place, then people’s attention would be concentrated more on the elections than seeking a resolution to the issue. He also informed the gathering that at the DAN meeting called by NLA speaker, Dr Imtiwapang Aier on Friday, legislators deliberated on the solution
T.R. Zeliang inaugurating the university’s main building. (NP)
to Naga political problem and agreed that Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) should take the lead of Christian forums that include all denominations in search for a solution. He also declared that if the Naga people, including civil society groups, Churches and Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), desire “one solution”, then he, as head of the government, and his cabinet were ready to relinquish their positions and carry the mission for seeking the solution forward. He maintained that solution was not only for one person or the Nagas of this generation, but in the interest of lasting peace
for the future generations to come. Sustaining nine NNPGs in a State and expecting to move forward was a huge challenge and the matter needed to be looked into by everyone, he added. Citing the problem of unemployment, Zeliang said although there were many educated and qualified youth, they found it very difficult to get jobs as large corporates refrained from coming to Nagaland primarily due to multiple taxation. Zeliang said that although the State government and Naga society do not condone paying taxes to NNPGs openly, there were
some people who indulged in such a practice secretly. “Revolutionary movements will not be able to survive without the general population paying such taxes, which are illegal. This tradition has become an open secret,” he added. He also called upon the Nagas to pray for an early solution and that all the NNPGs should come together and accept a single solution that would enable the future generation to move forward, instead of being bogged down by multiple taxations. Lamenting about the prolonged duration of the Indo-Naga conflict that had spanned over seven decades, he said it was a sign of lack of unity among the Nagas. He, however, added that now since all the NNPGs had come together, Naga civil societies and church organisations too should join hands and support the quest for a peaceful solution. On education, the chief minister lamented that Nagaland still lacked quality in higher education which was evident from the fact that every year thousands of Naga youth left the State (Cont’d on p-7)
Govt alone cannot bring NPF (TR-NR) spurn the change, says TR Zeliang Shürho’s olive branch DIMAPUR, NOV 18 (NPN): State chief minister, T.R. Zeliang on Saturday reminded all that “change has to come from everyone. Government alone cannot do.” He said this during the prayer day conducted with the legislators, NBCC and various prayer groups at the state banquet hall, CMO media cell stated. The service was led by, state chaplain, Rev. Kuzeirang Thou to seek God’s guidance and for permanent peace in the state. In his time of sharing, the chief minister appealed to the large gathering to pray for Nagaland as the state was beset with a lot of problems and need of great change. Zeliang also stressed that to eradicate the vices of deep rooted corruption the government would need support from all the people. He also said that everyone talks about corruptionfree state and clean election but felt that nobody seemed seri-
ous in reality. He said change must come from everyone and not the government alone. The chief minister believed that like Mizoram, Nagaland also can have clean elections if there is a “code of conduct” agreed upon by all politicians. On the Naga political issue, TR Zeliang said that, all Nagas pray for political solution but don’t come out with a concrete resolution. He felt that everyone talks about peace in the state but nobody seemed to be seriously working for peace. He personally believed that there should be a starting point, that too from the top. Lastly, Zeliang also suggested that the NBCC play its crucial role to invite the tribal hohos and NNPGs to come together to resolve the Naga political issue. He therefore called upon all to come together for solution, saying “this is a God-given opportunity. Let us not miss it.”
DIMAPUR, NOV 18 (NPN): Taking a dig at the ‘olive branch’ offered by NPF (Shürho), rival NPF (TR-NR) has termed it as “absurd, shallow and without any logic” and Dr. Shürhozelie’s statement as “savagery words” that were unbecoming of such a senior citizen. Stating this, NPF press & information cell reminded Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü that he was hardly surviving in his position as the leader of a minority group. It instead asked NPF (Shürho) to join hands with the majority NPF “if they want to save and uphold the NPF party”. NPF P&IC also claimed that since their group has vast majority of CEC and also absolute majority of MLAs under the leadership of Rio-Zeliang, there was no question of “majority falling prostrate before the minority” in the present NPF party symbol dispute in the EC. P&IC also said they left the splinter group due to “unconstitutional and dictatorial functioning style of Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu” and not any confusion created by others. P&IC reminded that majority always prevails in electoral politics. It also said minority should not muzzle the voices of majority under the plea of “arrogantly inviting us to join them by even labelling us as wrong doers”. P&I Cell said it interpreted the olive branch extended by Dr. Shürhozelie as being “laced with phrases such as ‘come to me, join me’ as being neither sincere nor democratic but an autocratic gesture to grind us.”
Manipur CSOs reaffirm opposition to tinkering with territorial integrity Correspondent
IMPHAL, NOV 18: Manipur based civil society organizations (CSOs) on Saturday reaffirmed to oppose any kind of agreement between Government of India and the NSCN (I-M) that could tinker with Manipur’s territorial integrity. This reaffirmation was made at the one-day open dialogue on “Possible Outcomes of Framework Agreement in the Context of Manipur” held at Lamyanba Shanglen in Palace Compound. The open dialogue was held in the wake of some reports doing the rounds of a final agreement between Centre and NSCN (I-M) before the ensuing Christmas. Leading civil society organisations like United Committee Manipur (UCM), All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) and Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak (CCSK) convened the open dialogue.
After a threadbare discussion on the issue, the leaders drafted a four-point resolution which included pressing the Centre that any agreement with the NSCN (I-M) or any Naga body should in no way disturb the territorial integrity of Manipur as well as the unity of the people. It also resolved that the Government of India should not make any decision without the consent of the Government of Manipur and its people. The meeting further resolved to oppose any form of demands like pan Naga cultural, provincial, territorial council or financial autonomy or ethnic administrative division as demanded by NSCN (I-M). Another resolution demanded making State ratification compulsory if the Parliament wanted to invoke Article 3 of the Constitution of India and also include a provision in Article 371 C to ensure that historical, cultural, political and social identities
were protected. Earlier, talking to reporters on the sideline of the programme, AMUCO president Ph Deban Sharma asserted that the Centre should not allow any demand that would affect harmony of different communities in Manipur. Accepting certain demands to appease a particular community like pan Naga cultural, provincial, territorial council or financial autonomy would disturb the peace and harmony of different communities as other communities like the Kukis, Nepalis and other smaller ethnic communities were also residing in the State, he emphasised. “The Centre should know that giving autonomy to a particular community would lead to similar demands from other communities like the Kukis, Meiteis, Meitei Pangals, etc. So, instead of bringing peace in the region, it will lead to further unrest situation in the region,” he cautioned.
PCC warns of intensified phase II stir DIMAPUR, NOV 18 (NPN): Public Coordination Committee (PCC) has expressed appreciation to the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues for “agreeing in principle” to fulfil the terms negotiated on Friday, within November, at the same time warned that it would intensify the agitation in the second phase if there was no positive outcome within the stipulated period. In a press note, PCC said chief minister, T.R. Zeliang and his cabinet colleagues during Friday night’s meeting, had assured to initiate the process of setting up Lok-
ayukta by inviting its leaders for a meeting on Monday for further consultation with the Standing Committee and introduction of the Lokayukta Bill in the Winter Session of NLA on December 14. In this regard, PCC has appealed to all its units, partnering organizations and volunteers to wait for a positive outcome within the given time frame. Zeliang also told the PCC that the cabinet would sit within this month to take a decision on revocation of the October 26, 2017 Office Memorandum (OM), (Cont’d on p-7)
Scientists discover new parasitic plant in Nagaland KOLKATA, NOV 18 (AGENCIES): Scientists have discovered a new species of parasitic flowering plant that has no chlorophyll, and survives by feeding on another species of plant that does (chlorophyll helps a plant make its own food using sunlight), The Hindu report stated. The species, named Gleadovia konyakianorum, in honour of the Konyak tribe of Nagas, was identified during a botanical exploration earlier this year near Tobu town of Mon district in eastern Nagaland. “It is a holoparasite [complete parasite] that derives its entire nutritional requirement from the host plant, which is a Strobilanthes species. The plant was found in the semi-evergreen forest at an altitude of 1,500-1,600 metres,” said Dilip Kumar Roy, a scientist with the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). Along with Mr. Roy, two others – N Odoyo, also from the BSI, and a Russian scientist, Leonid V. Averyanov – have published the details of the newly discovered species in the journal Phytotaxa. Though it is has no chlorophyll, the plant has a vascular system and
Gleadovia konyakianorum. (The Hindu)
extracts its nutrition from the host plant with the help of a haustorium, the scientists said. A haustorium is a specialised structure with which plant parasites attach themselves to the tissue of host plants and derive nutrition. Gleadovia konyakianorum is a root parasite that grows up to 10 cm in height, and bears white, tubular flowers. Interestingly, this is only the fourth species from the genus Gleadovia to be found in the world. The other three
are Gleadovia banerjiana (discovered in Manipur), Gleadovia mupinense (found in China) and Gleadovia ruborum (discovered in Uttarakhand and also reported from China). The white flowering parasite was found in a group of 15-20 plants, and since the species hasn’t been reported anywhere else, scientists have described its status as ‘data deficient’ as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species Criteria. “Parasitic plants are often referred to as curious plants as they steal their entire nutritional requirement from the host. Not only are they rare but they are crucial evolutionary links in the plant kingdom that attest to Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest,” said Rajib Gogoi, a scientist from BSI’s central national herbarium. Plant parasites are differentiated as stem and root parasites. Common stem parasites found in India are Loranthus sp, on Mango trees, and Cuscuta reflexa, a climber. Among the root parasites are Sapria himalayana, a rare holoparasitic flowering plant found in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. K Y M C