Cong-NCP set to form Govt in Meghalaya | Purno holds meeting with Manmohan

NEW DELHI: The emerging political scenario in the country had its shadow in far off Meghalaya, with the Congress-NCP coming close to form the next Government in the State with the initiative of none less than the Prime Minister himself! NCP leader Purno A Sangma met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the latter's invitation here on Tuesday night.

"We discussed the current political situation in the State especially in view of expiry of President's rule on May 19," Mr Sangma told The Shillong Times after the meeting.

The discussion was to end the stalemate, he said while refusing to divulge details.

A top-level meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office at the behest of Dr Singh where AICC General Secretary in charge of North East L Faleiro and others were present. This was followed by a meeting with the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and former Chief Minister DD Lapang and other MLAs.

It is learnt that the meeting at the Prime Minister's Office looked at the possibility of revoking President's rule in a day or two after which the Congress-NCP Government would take oath immediately, most probably on May 7 or 8, highly placed sources said.

In the event of the new alliance taking charge some of the MLAs who triggered the crisis might be taken into the Cabinet, sources said.

But regional parties like UDP, HSPDP and some Independents would be out of the coalition, sources confirmed.

Unlike the previous formation, the coalition would be unconditional but both factions would share the ministry.

The Congress feels that it badly needs NCP at the Centre for formation of the next Government. The new Government would also need Mr Sangma for his block of MPs in return for a berth in the Union Ministry, sources said.

The state unit of the Congress is unhappy with the latest developments. The leaders MPCC claim they have a majority on their own. "However they cannot go against the wishes of the Prime Minister and the High Command who are weighing the overall national scenario," sources added.

Although the AICC leaders are assured of the majority that the State Congress claims to have, they want a viable, stable government. The Congress and NCP combine would have more than two-thirds majority in the House. This, the Congress feels would enable the coalition to smoothly complete the remaining term of four years.

The Congress is said to have taken this view after considering the previous Congress-NCP coalition which allowed the Government to last its full term. But the new combine would certainly leave the regional parties and Independents in the lurch.

Source: THE SHILLONG TIMES

“Violation of Women is Violation of Life”

Dimapur | May 5 : Responding to the call of the Naga Women Hoho of Dimapur, thousands of people cutting across barriers turned up at a rally called by the hoho to protest against recent incidents of crime against women in the state. Participants, mostly womenfolk and students, braved the scorching summer sun of Dimapur and registered their protest at crimes against women, especially rape in the present times in the Nagas’ land.

The rally, which was attended by prominent citizens and social leaders started from the Supermarket at about 8:00 am and converged at the City Tower junction. The rally culminated with a memorandum being handed over to the state by the women leaders through the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur.

ONE VOICE: Dimapur today took out a rally protesting crime against women in the state. Seen here are a teeming mingle of citizens and students streaming through Church Road on way to City Tower where the protestors converged. (Right) A Women’s Rights activist says it like it should be.

The president of the Naga Women Hoho chairing the forum, straightaway set the proceedings rolling by demanding the severest of punishments to those who dared ‘to spoil the chastity of women’. Asserting “virginity is every woman’s birthright” she said “nobody has any right to take it away with force”.

Chairperson of the Nagaland Women commission, Sano Vamuzo discoursing on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (Act) 2005 said this particular Act of the parliament covers any kind of atrocity and abuse, including rape, committed against women. However, she opined that most women are not aware of their rights. For this, she said awareness must be created “among the people (women) on this Act of government.” She said “even if we are in a patriarchal society, we (women) must know our rights”. Introspecting on the present state of affairs, she pondered why such a shameful act as rape is happening in the society. “What is wrong with the society?” she queried, calling upon all mothers to introspect.

“How did we give birth to such children (the perpetrators), are they not our children?” she queried adding that mothers need to examine “ourselves”, setting “our house in order first.”

Maintaining that the state government has failed miserably in dealing with crimes against women, Rosemary Dzuvichu, (Gender Expert Member on NE with National Commission for Women) stressed on a concerted effort to take up remedial measures to rehabilitate victims of such atrocities.

Citing instances in the past when criminals would be put to jail but after serving for a specified period they are released, general secretary of the Naga Mothers’ Association (Kohima) also participating at the rally said “We (women) are insecure”. However, this time “we must set an example by giving the fittest of punishment to them” she reminded.

Condemning the March 25 incident, Savi Liegise, president of the Dimapur Naga Council called for a stricter law against rape. He stressed on the revival of “family values” to heal the society of such menace. Appealing to the government to bring to book all the rapists he further demanded the strongest possible punishment to the culprits to set an effective example so that “no other women are subjected to such ordeal ever”. He appealed to the “authorities under whose umbrella two culprits have taken shelter” and urged that the culprits should be handed to the authorities without further delay “to let justice run its full course”.

“We are gathered here to strengthen ourselves” in the “fight against evil elements” announced the president of the Ao Union of Dimapur. Advising “lawyers or government agents, agency or factions” against helping in bailing out the culprits, he warned “we shall not stay silent or tolerate any compromise whatsoever”.

Aside from other prominent speakers who addressed the rally, the presidents of the Naga Students Federation and the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union, conveners of the NPMHR, GBs’ and DBs’, and representatives from various women civil organizations of the Ao community also spoke. After the rally representatives of the Naga Women Hoho met the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur at his office chambers and submitted a memorandum. The DC informed to hand over the said memorandum to the state chief minister today.


Zunheboto rape to be tried in Kohima

Dimapur, May 5 (MExN): State Women Commission (NCW) chairperson Sano Vamuzo today informed that the April 11 Zunheboto rape case would be transferred to a “higher court” in Kohima district. Speaking to The Morung Express after today’s rally organized by the Dimapur Women Hoho in Dimapur, the NWC chairperson maintained that justice cannot be expected in Zunheboto. The case will be tried in Kohima, she said.

Voices of disgruntlement have arisen over the case hearing being deferred by a month as decided during the April 30 hearing of the Additional & Session Court Zunheboto. The NWC and the Sumi women folk have also expressed dissatisfaction. Significantly, a Sumi Totimi Hoho executive member informed that the women organization, during an executive meeting on May 4 in Zunheboto, had also decided to appeal the Guwahati High Court Registrar to transfer the case to a “higher court” in Kohima. While expressing critical opinion on the court’s proceeding in Zunheboto, the STH executive member disclosed that the Additional District & Session Judge of Zunheboto is a relative of the main accused in the April 11 rape case, one Tito. As such there is a possible chance that the case would not be tried fairly, the member said.

Morung Express News