Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXVII No. 318
DIMAPUR, monday, october 23, 2017 Pages 12 ` 4.00
DMK criticises EC for not announcing Guj poll dates
Barca beat Malaga to extend lead
Spain Catalonia issue: Foreign minister denies ‘coup’ by Madrid
national, Page 5
sports, Page 11
international, Page 9
Imchen wants PR not election
Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCT 22 (NPN): Just on the eve of the arrival of Government of India’s Interlocutor to Naga Political Talks, R.N. Ravi to Dimapur for meeting with the NNPGs Working Committee, Nagaland minister for Health and Family Welfare & Election, Imkong L. Imchen on Sunday threw the gauntlet by saying that if the government of India was sincere in resolving the Naga political issue then it should put off the scheduled election in February 2018 and instead allow the tenure of the present 12th NLA to expire after which President’s Rule be promulgated. Addressing section of media persons at his official residence Sunday afternoon, Imchen said that “without election, the negotiated settlement can be brought about more easily”. Imchen raised reservations against elections against the backdrop of general expectations that the government of India was likely to announce a settlement of the Naga political issue in 2018. His demand also falls along
KPU 48 hrs NH-2 bandh from Oct 31
DIMAPUR, OCT 22 (NPN): Consequent upon the expiry of the 15-day deadline on October 21, Kandi Public Union (KPU)-- comprising of six villages under Tseminyu sub-division has decided to take up its first phase agitation by imposing total bandh along NH-2 for 48 hours with effect from October 31, 6 a.m. till November 1 midnight. KPU publicity and information secretary, Khiyalo Kez said several representations were submitted to the concerned authorities including a 15-day ultimatum to RD minister to commence the construction of the BDO office at Chunlikha RD block. Though the foundation stone was laid on November 29, 2012, KPU said that the government had issued the work order to M/s JK& Sons construction only on November 11, 2016. However, KPU said that the work was yet to begin. In this connection, KPU said that the union during its emergency meeting on October 21 at Sishunu Village Council hall decided to launch its first phase agitation in the form of NH-2 bandh since the government failed to respond positively to their ultimatum.
This is it!
“If only all Indians admire the Taj Mahal like you foreigners do, then we’ll know what love means.” K Y M C
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2018 Assembly election should not be held and let it be lapsed by March 15, 2018 constitutionally, necessitating the Centre to promulgate PR in view of the impending Naga political settlement
similar lines of some who have been demanding an interim government instead of elections. He explained that holding elections would mean diversion from the Naga political issue besides creating tensions, discords and huge expenditure which would vitiate the atmosphere for talks. Imchen also opined that if election took place before settlement, then those who have been elected will not like to resign when solution is arrived because they have incurred huge election expenditure. In addition since the 60 MLAs would be voted for a five-year tenure, even the government of India cannot just dismiss them for a political solution. He speculated that such a
Imkong L. Imchen
situation would create difficulties for resolution of the Naga issue. He also raised the issue of the oft repeated condition by political parties that any solution should be “honourable and acceptable to all”. He said neither the government of India nor the Naga political groups had asked the political parties as to what was meant by solution that was “honourable and acceptable”. “Politically I am from NPF Party. The NPF Party has also been giving our support in the ongoing political talk with these two conditions. I also strongly support the NPF Party stand even though I really don’t understand what is the actual definition of (i) Honourable (ii)
Acceptable and therefore I call it ‘conditional support’. Even though many of my colleagues doesn’t like my language but I am still quite firm that as a political party we should be clear in our political approach and stand but not in such a ambiguous position like conditional support”, he said. Imchen said Nagas were facing untold problem therefore the negotiating parties, especially NSCN (I-M) should be well aware of the state inherent difficulties. He opined that chief secretary and chief minister should also have a consultative meeting and explain the difficulties of the state government in the functioning, thereby the difficulties could be included in the agreement. Imchen further admitted that state politicians including himself adopted double-standards while dealing with both the government of India and the underground groups. He said with the government of India, politicians would say one thing while with the undergrounds they would say just the opposite.
Note ban anniv: Oppn parties plan protest against Modi govt
NEW DELHI, OCT 22 (AGENCIES): Five Opposition parties - Congress, TMC, BSP, SP, and DMK - will meet on Monday to chalk out a strategy to take on the BJP-led government at the Centre on the first anniversary of demonetisation. The meeting will be another attempt to forge unity between parties from across the spectrum. The parties could plan another protest, possibly on the streets, against the note ban, a drive declaring 500 and 1000-rupee notes as illegal to eradicate corruption and black money menace. A year ago, when PM Modi launched the demonetisation, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by a number of other Opposition leaders, had marched to the President’s house demanding the withdrawal of the exercise. However, the movement came a cropper after it failed to change people’s perception that demonetisation indeed was for the better of the public at (Cont’d on p-7) large.
Flash flood in Khuzama village destroys homes
Houses damaged by flash flood in Khuzama.
DIMAPUR, OCT 22 (NPN): Incessant rains on Sunday wee hours wreaked havoc causing flash flood that swept through Khuzama village under Jakhama subdivision, destroying homes and other properties. According to village authorities, at least six houses were completely damaged. The flash flood also took away livestock and poultry reared by the villagers besides destroying the paddyfields and the main drinking water reservoir of the village. However, there was no report of loss of lives.
The village authorities said that the affected families were unable to retrieve any of their belongings. Further, the route to TB Hospital, Eden Garden Orphanage and those families living around that area has been completely cut off. Meanwhile, SDO (C) Jakhama, Alemyapang Longchar along with a team officials, Khuzama Village Council and Southern Angami Youth Organisation rushed to the affected areas to assess the damages caused by the flash flood.
CNTC backs WSH ultimatum on Govt will take about a year to NSCN (K) resolves govt and TUCT’s Oct 5 resolution stabilise GST: Revenue secy to ban aadhaar
DIMAPUR, OCT 22 (NPN): Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has resolved to fully support the 30 day ultimatum served on the state government by Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) with regard to bringing the ILP gate back to its original place and the 10-point resolution adopted by the Tribal Union Chumukedima Town (TUCT) during the October 5 rally at Chumukedima. The decision to back the WSH and TUCT demand was made during the meeting of the CNTC on October 19 along with the heads and representatives of its constituent units-- Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho and Sumi Hoho, CNCT media cell stated. While asserting that the issue of illegal immigrants needed to be tackled with coordinated efforts from all sections of the society, CNTC also sought the government’s immediate intervention by implementing proper mechanisms to tackle the issue, as demanded by the civil societies. “There is a genuine desire in the people to see the government do
some genuine duty on this issue with a sense of obligation and responsibility for our coming generations,” CNTC stated. CNTC opined that it was the responsibility of the government to handle such issues rather than passing the buck to the common public and civil societies to tackle them. With regard to issuance of indigenous trade and commercial vehicle licenses to illegal immigrants, CNTC demanded the state government direct all its agencies to check on such malpractices and to cancel them immediately. Expressing serious concern over the unabated influx of illegal immigrants posing grave threat to the social security and demography of Nagaland, CNTC called upon every Naga to wake up and no longer remain passive and silent spectator. In order to tackle such issues, the council said any responsible elected government or an accountable representative should have a strong political will without any fear or favour.
NEW DELHI, OCT 22 (AGENCIES): With the new GST regime firmly entrenched, a complete overhaul of the tax rates is now required to reduce the burden on small and medium businesses, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has said. In an interview to PTI, he said the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which amalgamates more than a dozen central and state levies like excise duty, service tax and VAT, will take about a year to stabilise. Nearly four months since its introduction, the new indirect tax threw up teething troubles and compliance issues, which the GST Council -- the highest decision-making body of the new regime -- has addressed through several rounds of changes.
To ease hassles facing medium and small businesses in paying taxes and filing GST returns, it has tweaked various aspects of the new indirect tax regime to make it industry friendly. Also the GST Council has rationalised rates on over 100 commodities and made refund process easier for exporters. “There is a complete overhauling that is required... It is possible that some items in the same chapter are divided. So ideally we should do harmonisation of items chapter wise and wherever we find there is a big burden on small and medium businesses and on common man, we have to bring them down (and) then only there will be a better compliance, a better acceptability of GST,” Adhia said. (Read more on p-8)
DIMAPUR, OCT 22 (NPN): Taking note on the grievances faced by the public, after Aadhaar was made mandatory for various governmental and non-governmental agencies, the NSCN (K) on Sunday resolved to “ban enforcement of aadhar in Naga inhabited territories with immediate effect.” In this regard, NSCN (K) MIP, in a press statement, has directed all aadhaar registration agents to immediately close down the registration centres and cease their activities. It also asked the common public to refuse registration. MIP has also directed various government and non-government departments and agencies operating in the Naga inhabited territories including the financial institutions not to insist aadhaar or make aadhaar mandatory for any job applications or other services. MIP further warned that “contravening this directives shall incur stringent action”. “There will be surprise checking anywhere and anyone found possessing aadhar card will face consequences”, MIP said.
Now original IDs mandatory for transactions above `50k Zeliangrong people’s NEW DELHI, OCT 22 (PTI): The Government has made it mandatory for banks and financial institutions to check the original identification documents of individuals dealing in cash above the prescribed threshold, to weed out the use of forged or fake copies. The Department of Revenue in the Finance Ministry has issued a gazette notification making an amendment to the Prevention of Moneylaundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules. The new rule now requires the reporting entity to compare “the copy of officially valid (identification) document so produced by the client with the original and recording the same on the copy”. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) forms the core of the legal framework put in place by India to combat money laundering and generation of black money.
The PMLA and its rules impose obligation on reporting entities like banks, financial institutions and intermediaries to verify identity of clients, maintain records and furnish information to Financial Intelligence Unit of India (FIU-IND). As per Rule 9, every reporting entity shall at the time of commencement of an account-based relationship, identify its clients, verify their identity and obtain information on the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship. Intermediaries
like stock broker, chit fund company, cooperative bank, housing finance institution and non-banking finance companies are also classified as reporting entities. Biometric identification number Aadhaar and other official documents are required to be obtained by the reporting entities from anyone opening a bank account as well as for any financial transaction of Rs 50,000 and above. The same is also required for all cash dealing of more than Rs 10 lakh or its equivalent in foreign curren-
cy, cash transactions where forged or counterfeit currency notes have been used and all suspicious transactions. All cross border wire transfers of more than Rs 5 lakh in foreign currency and purchase and sale of immovable property valued at Rs 50 lakh or more also fall under this category, according to the reporting rules. The Gazette notification said in case the officially valid document furnished does not contain updated address, a utility bill like electricity, telephone, post-paid mobile phone, piped gas or water bill which is not more than two months old can be considered as a proof of address. Also, property or municipal tax receipt, pension or family pension payment orders issued to retired employees by Government departments, or letter of allotment of accommodation from employer can be considered for the same purpose.
convention postponed
DIMAPRU, OCT 22 (NPN): The proposed convention of the Zeliangrong people, which was jointly agreed to be organized by the Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) and Zeliangrong Union (AMN) has been postponed. In a press note, ZB-ZU unification committee, N. Diswang Hau, members-- T. Mirhu and K. Elu Ndang informed all those living in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland that the convention had to be postponed following the withdrawal of the Zeliangrong Union from jointly organising the convention. It was jointly declared by Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) and Zeliangrong Union (AMN) at Namdunlong, Imphal on May 25, 2017 to hold the convention for merger of the two bodies into one single Zeliangrong apex body, the signatories stated. However, the committee said sincere efforts would be made to ensure that ZB and ZU jointly organise the Zeliangrong people’s Convention at the earliest, to settle the long pending issue, in the larger interest of the Zeliangrong people. The date and venue of the convention would be notified in due course of time, the committee informed. Further, the committee also appealed to all Zeliangrong people to have patience and extend fullest cooperation in the endeavour to unite the ZB and ZU into a single apex body of the Zeliangrong people.
CRPO extends ultimatum on govt
DIMAPUR, OCT 22 (NPN): Following the appeal made by the DC Phek and SDO (C) Pfütsero, the Chizami Range Public Organization (CRPO) has decided to extend its ultimatum on the government to November 10, CRPO president, Welhipe Chiero and general secretary, Mekhalo Lohe stated. The decision was made after a joint meeting of the DC Phek and SDO (C) along with CRPO, Chizami range VCCs, GBS, Chizami town adhoc committee and public leaders on October 16. In an open letter to commissioner Nagaland, CRPO had demanded the posting of SDO (C) at Chizami sub-divisional headquarters on or before October 20, 2017. CRPO further appealed to the public to bear the inconveniences until a new SDO (C) was posted for Chizami subdivisional Hqs. CRPO also appreciated the DC for taking keen interest to help the public on this issue.
Awareness trg to contain dengue
DIMAPUR, OCT 22 (NPN): To contain the outbreak of dengue in and around Dimapur municipal area, the DMC in collaboration with medical department will organize one hour awareness training on October 25 at 11 a.m. at Town Hall Dimapur. In this regard, DMC administrator, Moa Sangtam, has informed all colony councils’ chairmen and GBs under DMC area to attend the training. At the conclusion of the training, follow up exercise would be taken up in each colony to be initiated by the colony authority, he added.
UNTABA, WC discuss boundary issue
DIMAPUR, OCT 22 (NPN): United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas (UNTABA) on Sunday met the Working Committee of the six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and held indepth discussion on the boundary issue between Nagaland and Assam. During the discussion, UNTABA team consisting the advisors, executive committee members, action committee members, Dimapur District GBs association and concerned leaders from the border areas, reiterated that the boundary issue between the two states be settled at the political level based on historical facts and official documents, said UNTABA chairman, Hukavi Yeputhoi and secretary media cell, Richard Haolai in a press statement. Meanwhile, UNTABA extended appreciation to the Working Committee of NNPGs for coming together under one umbrella for the common good of Naga people and assured its co-operation. The association has also lauded the leaders of the Working Committee for sparing precious time to listen to the voice of the people on the issue. K Y M C