KOHIMA, April 10 – Election in the lone Lok Sabha constituency in Nagaland has always been dominated by the unresolved Naga political problem. Any party which aspires to represent the State in the Parliament promises to resolve the issue in a bid to get voters support, but the problem remains where it has always been ever since the State was formed in 1963. The constituency is witnessing a direct fight between C M Chang of NPF and former two-term MP Asungba Sangtam of Congress in the April 16 poll, though there is a candidate from Trinamool Congress too.
Both the main contending parties are wooing the voters by accusing each other of not doing enough for resolving the vexed problem. Both promise to pursue the Centre for an early settlement of the protracted problem if they win the election.
The State also goes to by-polls in four Assembly seats.
Whether it was Assembly or parliamentary election, every electoral exercise has experienced large voter turn-out in Nagaland despite boycott calls by underground organisations. Till the emergence of Congress into political arena of Nagaland in late seventies, this seat was represented by either of the two regional outfits. – PTI
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Attack on train: 1 killed, 17 hurt in NC Hills
HAFLONG, April 10 – A CRPF jawan was killed and seventeen others were injured when suspected memberers of the DHD (J) fired indiscriminately at the Up Special Passenger train coming from Badarpur to Lumding at Wardengdisa in North Cachar Hills district around 1.15 pm today. The injured people were admitted to Maibong Rural Hospital. The deceased jawan was identified as A K Tiwari. Security forces launched a vigorous search operation to nab the culprits.
A couple of days back the convoy of the Central Election Observer, Arun Chandra Sing was attacked near Gunjung, following which State DGP, G M Srivastava had flown to Haflong to take stock of the situation in the district.
Our Staff Reporter in Guwahati adds: Four coaches and the engine of the train were also damaged in the incident.
The NF Railway authorities suspended running of trains on the route for the day today. However, a decision on the future course of action from the NFR authorities in this connection is still awaited.
None of the railway employees on board the train reported injury, sources said.
After the gory incident, the train stopped at Maibong and it is stated to be there till the filing of this report.
The DRM and other high officials of the Lumding Division rushed to the spot immediately after receiving the news of the incident, said the sources, adding, discussions with the State Government on the development following the incident, were on.
The injured have been identified as Dhanesh Buragohain (24), Kamaluddin Laskar (48), Sabir Ahmed (15), Mehrun Begum (31), Champa Devi (20), Raibanan Langthasa (40), Imdadur Rahman (31), Manik Das (60), Bhagawan Mahato, Bhopal Barua (38), Amarjit Singh , Rangthanan Haflongbar (48), Jakamiyan Ahmed (18), Biswajit Chutiya, Faidanan Langthasa (49), Rajesh Newar (22) and Abdul Sukkur (41).
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PA Sangma demands equal representation of States in RS
SOBHAPATI SAMOM
CHURACHANDPUR, April 10 – Nationalist Congress Party general secretary and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma has demanded equal number of Rajya Sabha seats among the States of the country in order to give voice to the North East in Parliament.
Sangma, the star campaigner of NCP was here along with his ex-Minister son Conrad Sangma for an election rally in favour of five party combine – Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA) consensus candidate L B Sona, told reporters, “every State big or small should have same number of representatives in the Upper House as in the United States of America”.
The NCP leader, who had once objected to the increase of number of Lok Sabha MPs based on their population, said, if the seats are to be increased based on it’s population, Bihar or UP will have more representatives than the NE States, so I do not accept it.
Reacting to the indifference within Congress in the wake of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s statement on territorial integrity of Manipur, Sangma said Congress has no clarity. They bring it only during election time to fool the people, he added.
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee had distanced itself from the statement of Rahul Gandhi in his recent poll campaign in Manipur. He said they still stand by the unanimous resolutions passed in Nagaland Assembly for integration of Naga-inhabited areas.
He felt that since individual voices of the MPs from the NE States are never taken into account, there is a need for all the representatives to unite to boost the region’s bargaining power with Delhi. He pronounced his formula for strengthening the voice of NE at the Centre by putting up a united front of the representatives in association with 13 regional parties.
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Tripura declares ex gratia for polling staff
AGARTALA, April 10 – The Tripura Government has announced ex gratia ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for polling personnel including jawans in case of any fatal incident during the election process.
Informing this to media, Addl CEO Dilip Acharjee on Friday said that in case of any death of polling personnel, an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh would be given to the next of kin of the deceased as ex-gratia. “ The amount will double if the death is caused due to violent act by extremists or un-social elements like mine and bomb blast”, he said.
“In case of permanent disability, he or she will get Rs 2.5 lakh as ex-gratia and this amount will be doubled if the disability is caused due to extremist violence”, he said adding that this would come into force from the date of announcement of polls till the election process is over. Acharjee said that this is the first time the ex-gratia would be given to the polling personnel instead of insurance coverage of Rs 1 lakh. “The money will come from the government exchequer”, he said.
Acharjee said that the move has been taken keeping in view of the complications in providing money under the insurance coverage and the Election Commission has approved the move. About 18,000 polling staff will be engaged in the ensuing parliamentary election to be held on April 23.
Meanwhile, the printing of postal ballots for the ensuing parliamentary elections has got underway. Acharjee, who has visited the government press, where printing of postal ballots is taking place, today, said that around 50,000 postal ballots would be required for the election.
“A temporary post office has already been set up at the government press premises to ensure timely delivery of postal ballots”, he said.
On the issue of the postal ballots, Acharjee said that postal ballots for service voters would be issued within a day or two. The total number of service voters in Tripura stands at 2,395.
Source: www.assamtribune.com
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Both the main contending parties are wooing the voters by accusing each other of not doing enough for resolving the vexed problem. Both promise to pursue the Centre for an early settlement of the protracted problem if they win the election.
The State also goes to by-polls in four Assembly seats.
Whether it was Assembly or parliamentary election, every electoral exercise has experienced large voter turn-out in Nagaland despite boycott calls by underground organisations. Till the emergence of Congress into political arena of Nagaland in late seventies, this seat was represented by either of the two regional outfits. – PTI
--------------------
Attack on train: 1 killed, 17 hurt in NC Hills
HAFLONG, April 10 – A CRPF jawan was killed and seventeen others were injured when suspected memberers of the DHD (J) fired indiscriminately at the Up Special Passenger train coming from Badarpur to Lumding at Wardengdisa in North Cachar Hills district around 1.15 pm today. The injured people were admitted to Maibong Rural Hospital. The deceased jawan was identified as A K Tiwari. Security forces launched a vigorous search operation to nab the culprits.
A couple of days back the convoy of the Central Election Observer, Arun Chandra Sing was attacked near Gunjung, following which State DGP, G M Srivastava had flown to Haflong to take stock of the situation in the district.
Our Staff Reporter in Guwahati adds: Four coaches and the engine of the train were also damaged in the incident.
The NF Railway authorities suspended running of trains on the route for the day today. However, a decision on the future course of action from the NFR authorities in this connection is still awaited.
None of the railway employees on board the train reported injury, sources said.
After the gory incident, the train stopped at Maibong and it is stated to be there till the filing of this report.
The DRM and other high officials of the Lumding Division rushed to the spot immediately after receiving the news of the incident, said the sources, adding, discussions with the State Government on the development following the incident, were on.
The injured have been identified as Dhanesh Buragohain (24), Kamaluddin Laskar (48), Sabir Ahmed (15), Mehrun Begum (31), Champa Devi (20), Raibanan Langthasa (40), Imdadur Rahman (31), Manik Das (60), Bhagawan Mahato, Bhopal Barua (38), Amarjit Singh , Rangthanan Haflongbar (48), Jakamiyan Ahmed (18), Biswajit Chutiya, Faidanan Langthasa (49), Rajesh Newar (22) and Abdul Sukkur (41).
------------------------
PA Sangma demands equal representation of States in RS
SOBHAPATI SAMOM
CHURACHANDPUR, April 10 – Nationalist Congress Party general secretary and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma has demanded equal number of Rajya Sabha seats among the States of the country in order to give voice to the North East in Parliament.
Sangma, the star campaigner of NCP was here along with his ex-Minister son Conrad Sangma for an election rally in favour of five party combine – Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA) consensus candidate L B Sona, told reporters, “every State big or small should have same number of representatives in the Upper House as in the United States of America”.
The NCP leader, who had once objected to the increase of number of Lok Sabha MPs based on their population, said, if the seats are to be increased based on it’s population, Bihar or UP will have more representatives than the NE States, so I do not accept it.
Reacting to the indifference within Congress in the wake of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s statement on territorial integrity of Manipur, Sangma said Congress has no clarity. They bring it only during election time to fool the people, he added.
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee had distanced itself from the statement of Rahul Gandhi in his recent poll campaign in Manipur. He said they still stand by the unanimous resolutions passed in Nagaland Assembly for integration of Naga-inhabited areas.
He felt that since individual voices of the MPs from the NE States are never taken into account, there is a need for all the representatives to unite to boost the region’s bargaining power with Delhi. He pronounced his formula for strengthening the voice of NE at the Centre by putting up a united front of the representatives in association with 13 regional parties.
-------------------
Tripura declares ex gratia for polling staff
AGARTALA, April 10 – The Tripura Government has announced ex gratia ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for polling personnel including jawans in case of any fatal incident during the election process.
Informing this to media, Addl CEO Dilip Acharjee on Friday said that in case of any death of polling personnel, an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh would be given to the next of kin of the deceased as ex-gratia. “ The amount will double if the death is caused due to violent act by extremists or un-social elements like mine and bomb blast”, he said.
“In case of permanent disability, he or she will get Rs 2.5 lakh as ex-gratia and this amount will be doubled if the disability is caused due to extremist violence”, he said adding that this would come into force from the date of announcement of polls till the election process is over. Acharjee said that this is the first time the ex-gratia would be given to the polling personnel instead of insurance coverage of Rs 1 lakh. “The money will come from the government exchequer”, he said.
Acharjee said that the move has been taken keeping in view of the complications in providing money under the insurance coverage and the Election Commission has approved the move. About 18,000 polling staff will be engaged in the ensuing parliamentary election to be held on April 23.
Meanwhile, the printing of postal ballots for the ensuing parliamentary elections has got underway. Acharjee, who has visited the government press, where printing of postal ballots is taking place, today, said that around 50,000 postal ballots would be required for the election.
“A temporary post office has already been set up at the government press premises to ensure timely delivery of postal ballots”, he said.
On the issue of the postal ballots, Acharjee said that postal ballots for service voters would be issued within a day or two. The total number of service voters in Tripura stands at 2,395.
Source: www.assamtribune.com
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