Day: January 3, 2013

DIMAPUR, Jan 3 NNN: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has accused the leaders of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) as not genuine leaders of the people but only agents of outsiders imposing alien cultures upon the Nagas. The NPF also accused the Congress leaders that they are always trying to suppress the voice of the masses by misusing the powers of its ‘high command’ to rule.
Countering the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC)’s statement, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has said on Thursday it was issuing this press release in reply to the ‘absurd’ statements of the Congress.
“The NPCC’s criticism of the Planning minister representing the chief minister at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting in New Delhi is illogical and out of place. For the record, it is being informed that the chief minister has always attended NDC meetings in the past years and it was only this year that the Planning minister was made to represent the chief minister in view of important engagements that had already been scheduled for the chief minister. Moreover, the report and speech tabled by the Planning minister on behalf of the chief minister had the approval and clearance of the chief minister. Therefore, the question of the chief minister not giving importance to the economic development of the State just does not arise,” the NPF stated.
“In fact, it goes without saying that the State has witnessed tremendous economic growth and development under the astute and visionary leadership of Neiphiu Rio. It may be noted in every NDC meeting, a member of State Ministers would invariably be representing their chief ministers, who cannot attend the meeting due to some reasons or the other. Even this time, the chief ministers of West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Manipur did not attend. In the case of Manipur which is a Congress ruled State only the chief secretary, and not even a minister attended,” the NPF claimed.
It then said the NPF is also shocked to see that that the Congress has used God’s name in their attempt to gain political mileage. To say that God has rejected the Democtatic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government is a total misuse of the Almighty’s name and explains the mental state of the Congress leadership in Nagaland. Going to the extent of saying that the Almighty has rejected a Government means that the Congress is completely frustrated and in a desperate State of mind. It also means that the Congress will go to any length for their narrow political gains without any sense of morality and spirituality.
Let the leaders of the Congress know that Almighty God does not belong to the Congress, but the Almighty is for all humanity. God will deliver justice and his name should not be used in vain, least of all for scoring cheap political points. The Congress party has gone to the extent of saying that DAN Government is “the pagan government”, just because they give due respect and importance to our traditional village elders by giving them a platform during the State’s premier tourist event, like the Hornbill Festival. Let it be known that invoking God’s blessing by Naga elders in traditional attire is not anti-Christian in any manner, the NPF statement added.
“So far as the role of church organisations in the Naga political movement is concerned, the NPF is of the clear stand that the Church plays a very crucial and important role. In fact, the Church has always played a contributory role in the political movement, and the NPF, while respecting this aspect, has given high importance to the church organisations in every aspect. Consecutive NPF led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) governments have regularly had consultations with the Church, irrespective of denominations, and the views and submissions of the Church organisations have always been given prominent weightage.
The leaders of the Church organisations are well aware of the DAN government’s approach to the role of the Church and we do not need a certificate from the Congress on our approach to the Church. Rather, it is for the people to realise that the name of Almighty God and the Church is now being used by a frustrated and desperate Congress,” the NPF further added.
It is also clarified to the people that prudent and responsible financial management has ensured a sound financial health of the State. There is no cause for alarm and the State’s finances are being managed in an exemplary manner. The State Government has been led by visionary leadership that has laid the foundations for a progressive new Nagaland. Visionary leadership, accelerated development and people friendly policies and programmes have ensured a State Government that is connected with the people and the grass roots, it stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/npf-heaps-allegations-on-npcc/

New Delhi, Jan.3 (ANI): The Supreme Court will hear public interest litigation matters related to setting up of fast track courts for speedy trial in rape cases and effective implementation of existing laws for safety of women on Friday.
A two-judge bench of the apex court, comprising of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra said that it was aware of the gravity of the issue, and would take up the PILS for review and argument tomorrow.
One of the PILs has filed by retired lady IAS officer Promilla Shanker.
The bench headed by Justice Radhakrishnan decided to hear the matter on Friday as it had received a report from the apex court registry that an identical matter relating to the safety of women was already pending.
The judges were of the view that they would like to know the details of the other pending matter.The apex court will also hear another PIL related to the issue which was filed by an advocate and social activist Omika Dubey in which directions have been sought for appointment of additional judges to adjudicate the matters of crime against women and for providing compulsory compensation to victims of rape.
The PIL filed through advocate Ravi Prakash Gupta also sought an order to restrain print and electronic media from publishing and telecasting obscene pictures of women.
The Central Government was pulled up by the Supreme Court on Thursday for failing to stop illegal clinical trials of untested drugs by multinational firms.
Charging the central government with going into deep slumber over the issue, the apex court said drug trials are creating ?havoc? across the country and causing the death of many citizens.
The court said the government needed to urgently introduce proper mechanisms to stop these ?rackets? of multinational companies.
A two-judge bench of the court, comprising of Justices R.M. Lodha and A.R. Dave said that all clinical trials will henceforth be done under the supervision of the Union Health Secretary.
You have to protect health of citizens of the country. It is your obligation. Deaths must be arrested and illegal trials must be stayed, the bench said, asking the government to handle the menace on an urgent basis.
The court also rubbished the government?s contention that various committees were look into the issue and that it would come back to the court after getting suggestions from them.
You can get back to the court but what about those people who are losing their lives in such clinical trials? the court retorted.
It is very easy to form a committee or a commission. It is done just to divert people?s attention on the issue. It is the best way to divert attention on important issues, the bench said.
The court said that the government is shying away from responding to its queries while noting that the affidavit filed by the Centre was not in consonance with its earlier order.On October 8, last year, the apex court had sought the reply on the allegation that human beings were being used as guinea pigs by drug companies.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/supreme-court-to-hear-pils-on-rape-cases-women-safety/