Manipur News

NNN: Naga intellectual what did you foresee with regard to the much hyped would-be Naga political settlement (talks between NSCN-IM and New Delhi?
Niketu Iralu: First of all I am not an intellectual. It embarrasses me to be called something I know very well I am not! I am only a Naga who, like everyone else, is deeply worried about our deteriorating crisis in which our society seems to be collapsing into itself.
To come to your question of what did I foresee? It was not difficult to see that the Ceasefire achieved by NSCN-IM in 1997 was a very helpful thing for all Nagas. And also that the competently organized NSCN-IM Consultations in Niuland, Bangkok, Hebron Camp, etc, were very helpful initial steps in the right direction. But that after those Consultations the IM group needed to go on to the next step, namely, get all the different groups or “factions” as we have come to call them, to sit down and thrash out together as leaders who have all made their shares of mistakes, the precise terms for negotiation for a political settlement that would be honourable and acceptable to all Nagas and to India also, and therefore would be workable. The most difficult issue for them would be sovereignty. But Nagas are clear only our national workers can decide what is right on this issue. If those who have sacrificed for our cause had honestly evolved a common position on this issue and told the people it was the best for us at this stage of our history, the Nagas would have fully supported their decision.
It was not difficult to foresee this to be the bold, game-changing step of statesmanship that was needed to be taken by the NSCN-IM. They had the priceless advantage over the others to take such a step, and they were the ones best placed and capable to take it and win all our people to stand together.
The NSCN-IM has for reasons best known to them and guessed or suspected by the rest of us, adamantly refused to take this step in faith. I have to say as a citizen, this is tragic for them and for the Nagas. I do wish the settlement we keep hearing is coming will be honourable, acceptable and workable as all Nagas desire. But I don’t see how it can be if only one group alone or a combination of the groups will bring it.
NNN: What could be the mind of the Indian leaders on the Naga issue? In what manner they like to settle the issue?
Niketu Iralu: I doubt Indian leaders have time to think about the Naga issue. Their minds are too preoccupied with the monstrous scams they have to lie about or explain away. At any given time this will be the reality with the leaders in Delhi. I think Indian leaders, meaning politicians, are too busy with their own concerns. So they think the carrot and stick policy will settle the Naga issue.
Can we deny we have become so addicted to the carrot that the stick is now used less and less! The new generation of Nagas must think in terms of going to the Indian people, the most important audience we Nagas must help to understand why our stand is so important to us as well as to India. If we go after we have given sufficient thought to all issues that are important for us and for India, we will be surprised by the response we will get from the Indian people.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/indian-leaders-think-the-carrot-and-stick-policy-will-settle-the-naga-issue-niketu-iralu/

DIMAPUR, Oct 17 NNN: The whirlwind meetings of the Nagaland legislators with the Central leaders in New Delhi has wound up this evening with BJP stalwart L.K Advani as the last man whose help was sought by the former.
The 20-member delegation of the Joint Legislature Forum (JLF) headed by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio met L.K Advani at around 5:30 this evening and pressed the BJP leader to help settle the vexed Naga political issue at the earliest time possible.
What conspired in the meeting was not known but a source closed to Neiphiu Rio disclosed to Newmai News Network that the BJP leader ‘did not disappoint’ the Naga legislators but ‘created an ambience of optimism’.
With this meeting with L.K Advani, the camping of the Nagaland MLAs in New Delhi has concluded. “The chief minister is likely to come back to Nagaland in a couple of days,” further disclosed the source while adding, “However, all the 20 members will not be coming back together since everyone has their own respective programmes.”
The 20-member team representing the 60 MLAs of the Nagaland legislative assembly had gone to the national capital on Sunday last and had met several Central leaders that included Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj, convenor of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Sharad Yadav, New Delhi’s interlocutor R.S Pandey, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah.
“Since the JLF delegation had met the Prime Minister in their first leg they had opted this time not to meet him,” the source stated. This is the final camping of the JLF in the national capital.
Floated few months ago by the 60 MLAs of the Nagaland legislative assembly cutting across party lines, the JLF had toured various parts of Nagaland meeting Naga militant outfits on the vexed issue.
However, the move of 60 Nagaland MLAs is not without crticism and opposition from certain quarters.
The NSCN faction headed by Khole and Kitovi Zhimomi had questioned whether the JLF was favouring only one Naga militant outfit and so is the NSCN-K which had expressed that the outfit would never be a part of “the so called JLF”.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/naga-mlas-meet-advani/

DIMAPUR, Oct 17 NNN: It is time for minute consultation spree with the Naga civil societies for Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu.
After the much hyped “settlement” stories pertaining to the Naga political issue minted from New Delhi, NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chsi Swu and the outfit’s general secretary are arriving in Nagaland on Thursday for what they called “home consultations.”
The two NSCN-IM leaders will be consulting with the Naga civil societies and those who matter in the issue on the unfurling development of the Naga peace talks. “We have reached a crucial and a very sensitive stage and consultations have become a necessity,” a well placed source from the NSCN-IM disclosed.
It is not certain whether the NSCN-IM leaders will meet other Naga militant outfits during their stay in Nagaland this time.
This leg of the two NSCN-IM leaders’ home-bound visit is significant if the recent comment of Union Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is taken into account who had stated that the settlement pertaining to Naga political issue would be brought about by March next year, the time before the next assembly election of Nagaland. The concerted efforts of the 60 MLAs of Nagaland make the ambience more euphoric and feverish for the Nagas who have been eagerly waiting to see that once and for all the Naga political issue is settled.
More urgency is the comment of no other than Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio who had just stated prior to the Joint Legislature Forum (JLF)’s departure for New Delhi. “If this opportunity is missed, I don’t know whether such opportunity will come back to our people during our lifetime,” was what Rio had said.
Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements have been made at Camp Hebron, off Dimapur (the NSCN-IM’s headquarters) by the NSCN-IM. Security perspective both by the government and the outfit has also been reviewed, according to reports received.
Since Isak Swu and Th. Muivah are classed in the Z-Category (Security) by the government of India, every time the two leaders arrive in Nagaland, security beefs up.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/isak-muivah-coming-at-nagaland/

New Delhi , Oct 17 (ANI): India Against Corruption (IAC) activist Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari of having a huge business empire in Maharashtra , and alleged that the former and NCP leader Ajit Pawar were hand-in-glove with each other in the irrigation scam.
Kejriwal accused Gadkari of corruption and claimed that his businesses are flourishing at the cost of farmers.
“Nitin Gadkari has a huge business empire in Maharashtra . We want to know if his interests as a businessman are clashing with that of the farmers. Gadkari and Ajit Pawar are working in tandem. Gadkari’s business interests clash with Vidharba farmers,” Kejriwal told mediapersons at the Constitution Club here. “Ajit Pawar has diverted irrigation water to power industry. Gadkari was given 100 hectares of farmers’ land at behest of Ajit Pawar. The land given to Gadkari in Vibhadra is in violation of government order,” he added.
Kejriwal further said that Gadkari’s business interest clashed with Vidharba farmers.
“100 hectares of farmers land given to Gadkari’s Purti Power and Sugar Industries Ltd. Gadkari placed business interests over farmers’ well being. Gadkari’s business interests also led to farmers’ suicides. The land was snatched from farmers and given to Gadkari,” said Kejriwal ” Maharashtra irrigation scam is worth Rs. 70 crores. Rs. 70 crores was spent, but nothing was spent on farmers. There is NCP-BJP nexus in irrigation scam in Maharashtra . Gadkari has five power and three sugar firms in Maharashtra ,” he added.
Kejriwal further alleged that Gadkari’s firms used all water from the Vadgaon dam. “The dam water was used for irrigating Gadkari’s industries, not for irrigation,” he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kejriwal-turns-heat-on-bjp/

IMPHAL, Oct 17 MNS NNN : Effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi and state Home Minister Gaikhangam were on Wednesday burned by protesters during the 24-hour statewide general strike imposed by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) urging deliverance of justice in the killing of Amom Rajen. The JAC is likely to take further decision to launch violent agitation in a few days time. Rajen was found killed in West Bengal on September 27. Meanwhile, in Kumbi Terakhong in Manipur’s Bishnupur district and its surrounding areas, large number of people supporting the bandh staged several forms of agitations including protest dharnas during the strike that began from 5 am. However, the bandh failed to produce any effect in Imphal and other districts. A large number of bandh supporters including meira paibis in Kumbi Terakhong and its surrounding areas sat protest dharnas from around 7 am condemning the state Government for keeping mum over the death of Rajen. Placards reading like “Resign responsible home minister and”Save Manipuris outside” were held by the demonstrators. The protesters blocked Kumbi-Wangoo road which had disrupted traffic along the route. Several vehicles defying the road block were damaged. The Rajen JAC has made five demands to the state Government such as to book the accused in the killing and to provide a suitable Government job to the next of kin. However, the Government has not taken any step yet to meet any of the demands till now. Irked by the apathetic attitude of the state Government, bandh supporters burned effigies of the chief minister and the home minister at Terakhong Awang Leikai. “We will decide tonight further course of action to launch violent agitation,” joint secretary of the JAC, Loitongbam Ibomcha told reporters. Protest will continue until and unless all the demands of the JAC are met by the Government at the earliest, he vowed. Ibomcha also vowed that people in Kumbi Terakhong and its neighbouring areas will never in future lend support to any agitation or movement take up by major NGOs in the state because they have sidelined and neglected the issue of Rajen. Amom Ongbi Bina, wife of the victim Rajen said she condemns the state Government in the strongest term for not heeding to the voice of the JAC which has also submitted representations to it time and again to address the issue. She, however, made an appeal to the Government to kindly consider about herself and her children and take prompt action over the death of her husband. Rajen was reportedly found dead at a place about 10 km from Howrah Railway Station in West Bengal on September 27 last. Protesting the alleged silence maintained by the state Government over the death, the Rajen JAC has called the 24-hour Manipur bandh which ends at 5 am tomorrow. No unwanted incident was so far reported during the course of the strike. The bandh failed to produce any effect in Imphal and other districts. All the Government establishments and educational institutions were opened as normal. All the business centres were also carried out their normal activities and both public and private transports were seen playing and servicing on the roads.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/effigies-burnt-to-protest-killing-of-teacher-at-bengal/

AIZAWL, Oct 17 NNN : Jointly organised by Mizo Academy of Letters (MAL), Sahitya Akademi and NECOL, Agartala, a one-day programme of “Study on Ralte Language” and releasing function of the translation named ‘Mizo Gan, Adhunik Kabita O Lokakatha’ (Translation of Mizo poems and fictions in Bengali) was held at MBSE Hall today. The programme was graced by Parliamentary Secretary Lal Thanzara.
Speaking on the occasion, Lal Thanzara stressed, among other things, “that although different clans exist under the collective term Mizo, yet we live peacefully”. “Therefore, people who try to be apart from the ‘Mizo’ should also give up such thinking. We should be satisfied in being we are Mizos”, Lalthanzara said. Also mentioning the recently released Ralte Bible, he said it should be kept in the museum; and “we also need to understand that the those people who endeavours for it do not have any thinking to stay apart from the collective Mizo community,” he added.
Lal Thanzara said, “Literature is that from which one can know how far a community has progressed”. “In this field we the Mizos have many tasks yet to do. We also need to endeavour so as to make our literature accessible to other communities. One of the fathers in literature in India, Rabindranath Tagore, in whose language – Bengali – the Mizo poems and fictions, being translated now is indeed an important milestone. I thank all those who endeavours for this,” Lalthanzara lauded.
Angshuman Kar, Regional Secretary, Sahitya Akademi also said, “There are many languages which are not recognised by our Constitution, which are even on the verge of extinction; in order to preserve such languages Sahitya Akademi is doing its best. Regarding the rendering of Mizo poems and fictions into Bengali Angshuman Kar said, “It is a known fact that when any literary work is translated into other languages, we cannot bring out the essence which the original contained. However, this kind of exchange brings about integration and understanding. I also hope that the translation of the book which has been released today will be good-selling one among the Bengali speaking people,” he said.
Today’s programme was presided over by MAL president Lalthangfala Sailo. In the first session of the programme a Study on Ralte language was conducted. Teaching faculty and students from Mizo Department of Mizoram University, besides MAL members participated in the programme.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/study-on-ralte-language-conducted/