Thursday, February 21, 2013

JD(U) hopeful of DAN retaining power in Nagaland

Kohima: Ruling Naga People's Front ally JD(U) on Wednesday expressed hope that the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland would retain power for the third consecutive term.

After fielding three candidates -- one each in Wokha, Tuensang and Longleng districts, JD(U) national general secretary Arun Kumar Srivastava said he is hopeful of winning at least two seats and become a part in the next government.

Polling for the 60-member Nagaland Assembly will take place on February 23.
Reacting to recent haul of cash with weapons, particularly from NPF candidates, by security forces in the state, Srivastava alleged that the opposition Congress is using the Centre to influence armed insurgents to intimidate voters for forcefully support Congress candidates.

In this connection, the JD(U) leader demanded stern action against the Congress and its candidates for breaking the model code of conduct.

On its part, Congress in Nagaland brought in Union Minister Sachin Pilot at the last moment to campaign for its candidates in Dimapur town this evening.

Talking to reporters in Dimapur, Pilot avoided questions on the Naga political problem. He, however, said the talks have been positive and it can be expedited further if Nagaland is ruled by a Congress government.
He expressed the hope that the party will be able to get a clear mandate so that it can provide overall development in Nagaland and peace in the Northeast region.

PTI

Ex-Nagaland minister held with Rs 1.10 cr cash granted bail

Kohima: A court on Wednesday granted bail to former Nagaland home minister Imkong L Imchen who was arrested in Wokha district here for allegedly transporting Rs 1.10 crore in cash and arms and ammunition.

Imchen was produced before the Wokha district judicial magistrate who granted him bail on 'health ground'. Assam Rifles personnel while conducting searches on vehicles on Monday morning detained Imchen while he was on his way to his Assembly constituency Koridanga in Mokokchung district.

The Assam Rifles personnel handed him over to the district police who arrested Imchen for allegedly transporting Rs 1.10 crore in cash, arms and ammunition in his vehicle.

Meanwhile, official sources in the Chief Minister's Office here, has confirmed that the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio yesterday accepted Imchen's resignation from the council of ministers.

Rio would now be holding additional charge of the Home portfolio till electioneering is over in the state, they said. After his arrest by the police Imchem had submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister.

PTI

Rahul pledges to work for progressive Meghalaya

Mawkyrwat (Meghalaya): Seeking vote for Congress, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday pledged that he and his mother along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would work for a "progressive" Meghalaya under a Congress-ruled government.

"Congress president, the Prime Minister and I, will work to help Meghalaya. We will support Meghalaya and we will support your voice in Delhi. We will do everything we can to make this state progress faster," Rahul told a rally here, 80 km from state capital Shillong.

Lauding Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and the state government under the Congress rule, Rahul said, "You have your government in Delhi which wants to support the growth of Meghalaya. I want both these governments to work together to bring massive developments to the state."

Hinting that the state suffers from corruption in high places, Rahul reminded how his father had said that only 15 paisa reaches the last man in the country out of one rupee spent, and said, "We need to change so that our people can benefit." Praising the unique grassroots democracy practice by indigenous tribals in the state which gives the common man his voice, Rahul said, "The west talks about democracy and over here, you have had traditional democracy for hundreds and hundreds of years."

"What is democracy? Democracy is the voice of the people. It is the voice of every person regardless of who he is whether rich or poor, and this is what you have taught to the rest of the country," he said.

Stating that the vision of the Congress is also in similar lines with the true democracy of the tribal people in Meghalaya, Rahul said, "I want to thank you for giving this gift to the country. And we for the last couple of years have been running a government in the country which also tries to listen to the voice of the people before taking decisions."

Assuring that all groups and tribes would be taken into consideration for development in the state, Rahul said, "When we want to talk about development in Meghalaya, we want to say that every single tribe, every single group has to move together forward."

According to him, the Congress believes that it is everybody's right to have access to development regardless from where they are from or who they are.

Stating that the decisions on MGNREGA, RTI, or Right to Food, all are the result of listening to the voice of the people, Rahul said, "We do this because we understand that every single person's voice is important." In Williamnagar and Nongpoh, Rahul urged the youths in the state to join his party allowing the Congress to build a better Meghalaya.

His appeal to youths was clearly a part of coordinated Congress strategy to woo all sections of the society in the battle of ballots.

Appreciating the youths of the state who are working in every nook and corner of the country today, Rahul said, "When I see the youths of the region working in Delhi and Bangalore, I feel nice. They are working there because they are capable and can compete with the best."

Urging the youths to join the party, he said, "I want you to enter into the political system."

"If we really want to change politics, then we have to bring youngsters into the political system. Youngsters who are sensitive to the views of the common man, youngsters who feel the pain of the poor person, youngsters who suffer when they see a bad road, youngsters who suffer when they see that their people do not have the medical facility they need," he said.

During their campaign meetings, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had highlighted the economic gains made by state during the past five years, while Congress president Sonia Gandhi touched on emotive local issues like illegal mining and illegal immigration at Jowai yesterday.

Rahul said even though Congress has capable leaders, it needs to produce next generation of leaders from different states to take the country forward.

"Meghalaya may be small in size compared to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, but it is an important state. We cannot ignore any state. Every state is important, every culture is important for the India to grow," he said.

Cash flow in Nagaland: EC writes to BCAS, FIU

New Delhi: Worried over the recent spate of huge cash seizures in poll-bound Nagaland, Election Commission today asked Bureau of Civil Aviation and FIU to conduct detailed inquiries and report to it immediately.

The state goes to polls on February 23 and two big cash seizures-- one involving state home minister where more than Rs one crore was seized and the other where a Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF) candidate was held for carrying Rs one crore in a helicopter recently-- have prompted the EC to shoot off letters to both the central departments.

The EC, according to sources, is particularly wary of instances of cash being secretly flown in helicopters, reportedly without the permission of the District Election Officer (DEO) and the Air Traffic Control.

The EC, in its letter issued to the BCAS today, has asked the department to conduct an inquiry in this regard. Instances have been reported where pilots of privately hired choppers carry political candidates and they do not land but keep the helicopters six inches above the ground thereby stating that they are not landing and only flying sorties.

Local poll officials have complained to the EC in this regard as the helicopter operators allegedly are not informing them about the scheduled sorties.

These choppers and such activities are suspected to be in aid of ferrying illegal cash and the BCAS needs to intervene and report the facts to the EC, the Commission said in its letter.

These choppers are also ferrying political candidates to far-flung villages in the remote state in order to evade the EC surveillance teams.

In order to curb these, the EC asked the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the Finance Ministry to investigate and submit a suspicious transaction report on the operations of all banks of the state.

The EC suspects that banks are allowing huge cash withdrawals, above Rs 1 lakh, which is being illegally pumped to be used at the hustings.

The EC, sources said, has taken cognisance of media reports that more than Rs 300 crore has been withdrawn from some banks in the last one week in the state.The FIU has been asked to submit a report on the transactions of all the banks-- both public and private-- during the last one month.

Another Rs 20 lakh has been seized by the authorities since yesterday in the state, they said.

Nagaland has a 60-member Assembly.

PTI

Congress hopes all parties will cooperate for smooth functioning of Parliament

New Delhi, Feb. 20 (ANI): A day before the commencement of the Budget Session of Parliament, the Congress party on Wednesday expressed the hope that all the political parties will cooperate for smooth proceeding of the session, saying some very critical Bills needed to be cleared.

"It is a very important session and some very critical Bills are coming up, we hope that we will get cooperation from all the parties," said Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit, while addressing a press conference here.

Asked about the BJP demand of an apology from Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde over his ''Hindu terror'' remark and withdrawal of the controversial comment, Dikshit said that the former has as well as the Congress has given clarification on the statement and there is no need of apology.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has threatened to stall the proceedings over Shinde''s statement, alleging the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror-training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country.

Earlier in the day after the all-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj said the BJP too wants the house to function properly, but it will be possible only after withdrawal of the remark and an apology from the Home Minister.

Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party''s Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. (ANI)

BJP demands withdrawal of ''Hindu terror'' remark, apology from Shinde

New Delhi, Feb. 20 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will have to withdraw his controversial ''Hindu terror'' remark and apologise, if the government wants Parliament to function smoothly during the Budget Session starting tomorrow.

Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj said the BJP too wants the house to function properly, but it will be possible only after the issue of Shinde''s remark will be resolved.

"We want the house to function properly because it is the Budget Session and we too want discussion on various issues this session. But, the speaker of the Lok Sabha will have to first address the issue of Home Minister''s remarks," said Swaraj after attending the all-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

"We asked the speaker to first resolve the matter, because the Home Minister of this country, who is eventually the leader of the house, has alleged us of running terror cams and promoting terror in the country. If the BJP is a terrorist organisation and we are running terror cams, we have no right to seat in the house, and the home minister should take action against us like terrorists," said Swaraj.

"Shinde will have to withdraw his comment and apologise to the nation," she added.

She further stated that the BJP wants to raise the crucial issues including the recent chopper deal scam, drought situation in Maharashtra, fuel price hike, ceasefire violation and mutilation of our soldiers at LoC, and Chinese influence alongside the border areas in the session, but the speaker will have to resolve the above said matter first for smooth functioning of the house.

Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party''s Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. He had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror-training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country. (ANI)

BJP demands withdrawal of ''Hindu terror'' remark, apology from Shinde

New Delhi, Feb. 20 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will have to withdraw his controversial ''Hindu terror'' remark and apologise, if the government wants Parliament to function smoothly during the Budget Session starting tomorrow.

Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj said the BJP too wants the house to function properly, but it will be possible only after the issue of Shinde''s remark will be resolved.

"We want the house to function properly because it is the Budget Session and we too want discussion on various issues this session. But, the speaker of the Lok Sabha will have to first address the issue of Home Minister''s remarks," said Swaraj after attending the all-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

"We asked the speaker to first resolve the matter, because the Home Minister of this country, who is eventually the leader of the house, has alleged us of running terror cams and promoting terror in the country. If the BJP is a terrorist organisation and we are running terror cams, we have no right to seat in the house, and the home minister should take action against us like terrorists," said Swaraj.

"Shinde will have to withdraw his comment and apologise to the nation," she added.

She further stated that the BJP wants to raise the crucial issues including the recent chopper deal scam, drought situation in Maharashtra, fuel price hike, ceasefire violation and mutilation of our soldiers at LoC, and Chinese influence alongside the border areas in the session, but the speaker will have to resolve the above said matter first for smooth functioning of the house.

Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party''s Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. He had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror-training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country. (ANI)

Stop atrocities against Scheduled Castes and tribes, says Minister Selja

New Delhi, Feb. 20 (ANI): Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Kumari Selja on Wednesday said the government has always attached a very high priority to the effective implementation of the Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) against Schedule Castes (SCs) and Schedule Tribes (STs) Act to check atrocities against them.

Addressing a function here, she emphasized that the government is constantly taking various steps including the setting up of the exclusive special courts aiming at bringing down atrocities against the backward communities of the society.

However, the minister asserted that despite several measure and earnest efforts made, it is ironical that the offences of atrocities against members of SCs and STs continue unabated.

"In spite of overall growth in educational and economic indices, such offences continue reflecting the perpetuation of social biases and discrimination against weaker sections which is a major cause of concern and without arresting this trend, dream of an inclusive growth and society will remain a dream only," said Kumari Selja

Echoing the similar views, Minister of State for Home Affairs R. P. N. Singh said SCs and STs faced atrocities even after more than 60 years of Independence is a matter of disappointment.

He asked police stations to avoid delay in registering FIR against atrocities to reduce crime and added the government is committed for the expeditious trial and early disposal of cases relating to atrocities. (ANI)