Month: November 1999

IMPHAL, May 31: `A Working Women`™s Hostel for those hailing from the North Eastern states will be inaugurated in the month of June, 2011 at New Delhi. This will greatly help the working women from the region in terms of safety and comfort`, said Bijoy Krishna Handique, union minister of DoNER at New Delhi today.

According to an emailed statement, the 500 seater working women`™s hostel in Jasola is funded by the ministry of DoNER through the North Eastern Council (NEC) in association with the ministry of Women and Child Development.

According to the statement, the total cost of the project is Rs.17.44 crores wherein the share of NEC is 25%. Land cost for the hostel has been shared between NEC and ministry of Women and Child Development on a 50-50 basis. The minister has been in touch with Krishna Tirath, minister of State for Women & Child Development to make the hostel functional at the earliest.

Handique also said that construction works have progressed to a major extent for another hostel named Rajiv Gandhi Girls Hostel to accommodate 500 Tribal Girl Students from the NER at the Delhi University Campus at a total cost of Rs.23.33 crores jointly shared between NEC and ministry of Tribal Affairs on 60:40 basis. It is likely to be completed within this financial year. It is located at Dhaka Housing Complex, University of Delhi; Banda Bahadur Marg, New Delhi. NEC has already released Rs. 11.50 Crores towards this hostel project, the statement maintained.

Apart from these two hostels, there is already a fully functional 500 seater girls hostel at Delhi University North Campus wholly funded by Ministry of DoNER, the statement added.

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Guwahati, May 31 (IANS): At least 32 people were killed in Assam when a bus plunged into a gorge and petrol tanker turned turtle and exploded, officials said Tuesday.

Twenty-eight people were killed and 10 had a miraculous escape when a bus, carrying a marriage party — the bridegroom, his family and friends, plunged into a gorge after hitting a wooden bridge around 11 p.m. Monday near Charabari village in Kamrup district, about 30 km from Assam`s main city of Guwahati.

The dead included the groom, his father, and other friends and relatives.

The bus was on its way from Guwahati to the bride`s house at Tihu in Nalbari district.

`The marriage rituals at the bride`s home in Tihu were to take place early Tuesday and the bus was on its way with the groom when the accident took place,` police official A. Das said.

`Initially, it was believed there were 43 people on board, but now after verification from the groom`s family it was found there were 38 people in the bus. Rescue workers and locals fished out 28 bodies, while 10 survived and are now in hospital,` Assam`s Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after visiting the accident site.

According to witnesses, the driver failed to notice the wooden bridge without any railings or signposts and then straightway plunged into a deep gorge, about 40 feet from the road.

The Assam government has ordered an enquiry into the accident.

`We have already ordered an enquiry to find out as to why the wooden bridge had no railings or signposts alerting drivers about the bad condition of the bridge,` Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

`Immediate steps are being taken to make a concrete bridge, besides statewide alert sounded to look for such vulnerable bridges that need urgent repair or attention,` he said.

Gogoi also announced Rs.100,000 for the next of kin of each of those killed and Rs.50,000 each to the six injured.

Local residents, however, alleged that district civil and police authorities failed to react urgently following the accident.

`The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was informed around 11 p.m. and they arrived at the accident site only around 7 a.m. Tuesday saying they don`t have night vision equipment and hence they came in the morning,` local community leader Bhabesh Bora told IANS.

`It is a shame the NDRF and other civil and police officials failed to react to such disasters.`

In the other incident late Monday, four people were burnt to death and 12 critically injured when a petrol-tanker turned turtle and exploded on a highway near Bokakhat in eastern Assam, about 250 km from Guwahati.

`After the tanker skidded off the road, there was a massive fire with several houses along the highway set ablaze with sleeping villagers charred,` police official B. Bora said.

Four people were charred beyond recognition, while 12 people were admitted to hospital with third degree burn injuries.

The fire raged for more than 10 hours and was brought under control around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

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IMPHAL, May 31: The 23 year old IAS topper Haulianlal Guite, from Churachandpur district ranking 33rd position, probably the youngest among toppers of the state sees potential in Manipur in producing toppers in good ranks.

Comparing the past performance of the state and the present he said, `My achievement is the testimony that we have potential`, in an exclusive interview with the IFP.

The Bachelor student of Philosophy who graduated from St. Stephen College, DU, is the eldest of four siblings of Dr. Thangchinkhup Guite (father) MHA, USA and Dr. Dr. Paozachiin Guite, an eye specialist.

The young topper expressed his desire in preserving the ecology of Manipur and arranging alternative livelihood for those whose activities is threatening it. He is also willing to work for encouragement of animal husbandry and improvement of road connectivity.

He observed the need of reformation of the education system in the state especially the Matriculation. He maintained that the syllabus is somewhat narrow when compared to others.

Haulianlal further suggested the need for introducing logical reasoning which he sees as a helpful tool in studies and appearing in competitive examinations and asserted that he does not believe in `punishment`™ but productive measures to encourage students. And most importantly, he lamented on the lack of Library facilities in the schools of Manipur. `These things are vital, my success and experiences is a testimony` he said.

He did his schooling till six standards at St. Joseph Churachandpur, which he termed as the `formative years`™ for it was the first time that he have ever been exposed to public speaking. He shifted his school from seven standards at the St. Paul institute, Churachandpur, and matriculated from there. And He received his higher secondary studies at the Air Force School, New Delhi.

Haulianlal reacted that his result was beyond expectation. He revealed that he was confident of going through the exam however was expecting within 300 positions. His outmost desire is to become a philosopher, but somehow he ended appearing the civil service exam owing to his father`™s suggestion.

He asserted that this was his second attempt.

He expressed his love for reading books base on philosophy, human and science etc and stated that Steven Hawkings remains one of his favorite.

Responding on being asked about his way of preparation for the exam, the young topper maintained that he spent 4 to 5 hours a day reading on a regular basis. As for the preliminary round of the exam he said that he prepares his notes by himself base on past papers and college notes and as for the mains exams, he took coaching.

He likes to indulge in extracurricular activities like badminton, table tennis, hiking and has hobbies of Philosophical Writing, Reading books, news paper etc.

As strong believer of God and determination, he gives his credits of success to God and his parents. `God help those who help themselves`, said Haulianlal.

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IMPHAL, May 31 (Newmai News Network): “In democracy there is no room for violence,” said Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh in a village in Ukhrul district today during a special training programme on ULA and state governments flagship schemes. The chief minister said that gun and bomb culture will not last.

The programme was held at New Canaan village today attended by former chief minister and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gaikhangam, ministers DD Thaisii and N Biren.

Addressing the people, Ibobi Singh also said that more power will be given to local bodies such as ADC, IMC and Zilla Parishad so that every development scheme reaches its target. The chief minister disclosed that cabinet had already discused the matter. Ibobi Singh also stated that in order to improve the educational system in the hill districts a committee each will be formed in every ADC constituency where the chairman of the committee will be the ADC member of that constitruency.

These committees will look after the government institutions in their respective ADC constituency. On the success of the Congress in the just concluded Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) poll, the chief minister said the results of the IMC poll was a tell-tale sign that the public have their confidence in the Congress party.

Speaking on the occasion, Rishang Keishing claimed that the Congress is the only party that works hand in hand with the people. Asking the people to have courage in safeguarding ones` rights, the Rajya Sabha MP said that the people should be bold enough to fight back those elements who continue to intimidate the people.

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IMPHAL, May 31: The Maring Land Women Development Society has today informed that a complaint has been lodged against senior minister, Y. Irabot, with the Manipur State Commission for Women, for allegedly assaulting at least three women of the Maring Lane area and subsequent firing on the night of May 28 at Maring Lane Imphal East district, under Porompat Police station.

A press conference was held in this connection at the Manipur Press Club today, wherein chairwoman Shangnu, Maring Lane Development Society questioned the motive of the minister resorting to firing several rounds in the air creating fear and havoc in the locality.

She further questioned the right of the minister for the alleged assault meted out to the women folk adding it informed that the incident has been placed before the women`™s commission to deliver justice to the innocent women.

The alleged women victims also took part in the press conference.

The victims were identified as one R. Sangkhambi, 28, w/o R. Korung of Phunal Maring, Uleidar, 30, w/o U. Mopham of Phunal Maring both presently staying at Maring Lane and KB. Shanti, 32, w/o KB. Kothang of Maring Lane.

It may be recalled that a firing incident took place late night of May 28 around 11 pm involving Minister Y. Irabot and Okram Henry, nephew of Chief Minister, O. Ibobi following an alleged abused of a tenant identified as Khambi,15, d/o S. Korung by her landlady identified as Lucy, landing her to the hospital.

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IMPHAL, May 30: The Members of Autonomous district councils has strongly condemn the bomb blast that shook the ADC office of Khuman Lampak injuring three women of a family terming the act a heinous crime acted upon the members, staff and innocent people.
A statement jointly signed by vice chairman, ADC Ukhrul and chairman ADC Senapati, stated that a joint meeting of ADC members was conveyed at the office of the Khuman Lampak wherein the members resolved to vehemently condemn the act terming it inhumane.
It appealed the individual/group responsible for the attack to come forward, with their reasons behind such an extreme act, for peaceful dialogue and bring about amicable solution with mutual understanding and maturity. Such barbaric threat or human rights violation activities can never bring any lasting and peaceful solution it said adding the act will only create more problems in the society.
The ADC members maintained that the most urgent need of our society today is development and peace. Any attack on the life of people who are in the front line for development is a direct attack on the life of common mass and so such hindrance to development should not be encouraged by the society at any cost. 
It conveyed that the ADC have been restored for local self governance after a gap of 20 years to provide direct benefits to the people from the grass root level in the development aspects.
More powers and facilities are already devolved to which is the top priority of our society. Various works implementation have already started in the villages, blocks and districts level. Therefore, common people are urged to support ADC members in implementing various developmental works which are solely meant for the mass who have the right to enjoy such benefits.
It further appeal the government to bring the culprits to book at the earliest so that such anti social activities are nor repeated and also to provide a sense of security to the members in the near future.

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The monsoon has just set in. The state has seen a few days of intermittent but heavy downpours in the past fortnight. Sorry evidences of this are already making their appearances everywhere. The leakages on the roof of the three Khwairamband Keithels, the collapse of the stretch of the retaining wall along the Nambul River near Takyel are two very prominent ones, but there are plenty more, and ones which are much more widespread. In Imphal area alone, during the showers many areas were water-logged, and when these flood waters receded, they left many roads with their black toppings either washed off or else loosened beyond redemption and ready to fall off once heavy traffic resume on them. At the Kongba Road for instance, adjacent to the Andro Parking, a huge and deep pothole has appeared, and its girth is widening slowly but continuously in the absence of any effort by the concerned authorities to repair it. As we had noted before the onset of the rains, the innards of the road at this point was already becoming visible because of the wearing off of the thin bitumen coat over it. The rains are now devastating it, soaking and softening the compact earth and gravel foundation under the road.
Since the rains have started, the repair work now probably have to wait till the dry seasons, but the unfortunate thing is, by then the road at this point would have been cut diagonally by the expanding pothole. There are also other spots on this stretch of road which had been soaked and weakened by logged water and it is anybody’s guess that more potholes would appears at these spots sooner than later during this monsoon. The question is, why were no effort made to repair these weak spots before the onset of monsoon. A stitch in time would have definitely saved nine. Now, at the end of the monsoon, major and expensive repair work would have to be done, unless the government intends keeping the potholes for commuters to tackle as they would. This too is quite likely, for though it calls itself a welfare government, governments in Manipur has had no scruples about causing the ordinary citizens imminently avoidable harangues.
The authorities ought to have noticed too that where the black toppings of the roads are most vulnerable to peeling off during monsoon are those portions where the roads do not have parallel drainage systems running alongside them. When the rains come, the rain water having no drains to run into, take the paths of least resistance, and these, most often than not, become the roads themselves. We wonder how roads came to be built without any accompanying water drainage mechanism. It is inconceivable that the government did not know this is like buying buckets without handles to carry them. But whatever its reasons, ignorance or neglect, the brunt always get being borne by everybody. The government should also worry about the recurring repair cost this neglect is causing the public exchequer. The problem is, not many, not the least those in the government, are worried about exhausting the public exchequer unnecessary, after all, the attitude has always been, public property is nobody’s property.
There is another way the roads get spoilt and potholes appear in them. In the last couple of decades, with the increase of traffic volume on our roads, Imphal roads in particular have had to be widened several times with the result that municipal water pipelines which once upon a time ran parallel to the roads a meter away from them, have now come to buried under the roads. To provide connection to any consumer, the roads would now have to be dug up. After these connections are made, the earth filling is never firm, leaving the roads broken and ready to be destroyed by the next monsoon. The question is, when these roads were being widened, the authorities ought to have also constructed connection points to these pipelines which protruded beyond the breath of the road so that the roads can be left untouched when new connections are made. We wonder again why the government has still not realised that in the conduct of these enterprises, close coordination between its various concerned organs is vital. As of now, many of them continue to work at wasteful cross purposes. When will the citizens ever get to see a sane administration which cares for their welfare and conveniences?

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TORONTO, May 30: From May 23-25, Nobel Peace Laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Mairead Maguire led an unprecedented conference in Canada, to develop strategies for ending rape as a weapon of war.
According to a statement from Mary D Khuvung of Control Arms Foundation of India, they were joined by over 120 civil society activists, corporate and security sector leaders, military and peacekeeping personnel, and academics to discuss and share ideas at the conference, entitled Women Forging a New Security: Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict.
 According to Nobel Women`s Initiative who organised the Conference, “Sexual violence takes place in every region of the world, with the reasons for its use varying from conflict to conflict. It has been used as a tactic to terrorize communities suspected of supporting guerrilla forces, as a way to force population off land, and to punish human rights defenders”, it added.
 “Waging war on the bodies of women has got to stop,” says Jody Williams, who won the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for her work to end anti-personnel landmines. “Like any tactic of war, it can be eliminated.The magnitude of the problem must be matched by our collective effort. Working together, we can finally bring an end to this scourge on women and their communities.”
 The statement also stated that Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and honorary member of the Nobel Women`s Initiative, Aung San Suu Kyi also sent a video message emphasizing the critical importance of ending sexual violence in conflict.
 On 26 May, which was declared as international day of action against sexual violence in conflict, the three Nobel Peace Laureates called upon concerned people and nations from around the world to TAKE A STAND to end rape in war, it added.
 Binalakshmi Nepram, Founder of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network who participated in the conference spoke about the situation in Manipur and in India`s Northeast Region and the non-violent ways of unique protests in which women in Manipur and Northeast India have undertaken to respond to sexual violence against women in conflict zones, the statement added.
 A declaration was also unanimously adopted at the historic conference which called up Government of India, Manipur and other Northeast Indian states and also to non-state armed groups to stop violence against women in conflict areas and work to protect women.
According to the statement, the conference has resolved that, “We, 120 women from 33 countries including three women Nobel Peace Laureates gathered at the conference “Women Forging a New Security: Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict” in Montebello, Canada, May 23-25, 2011, call upon the Governments of India and the state of Manipur and other Northeast Indian states and non-state armed groups operating in the region to end violence against women in Manipur and Northeast India. We declare our solidarity with Irom Sharmila and hundreds of thousands of women in Manipur and India`s Northeast region who have non-violently resisted militarization in the name of insurgency and counter-insurgency. We call upon the Government of India to uphold its democratic values by repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958. We call on all parties to cease attacks on the civilian population and seek peaceful solutions”.

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IMPHAL, May 30: The women bodies of Pallel areas under Chandel District have expressed their serious concerned over the ever increasing illegal smuggling and selling of drugs in Chandel district and Pallel areas.
A joint press statement issued by Chingtam Nupi Lup, Pallel, All Tribal Women’s Organisation (ATWO) Chandel District, Mahila Mandal Pallel mentioned that hundreds and thousands of youngsters are becoming victims of these narcotic drugs. Parents and guardians are crying to save their children from the from the drugs. The society is polluted and the future of the youngsters is on the verge of downfall and destruction due to the presence of large numbers of drug smugglers and sellers.
It is also mentioned that the organizations have been working hard to find out the ways and means to checked illegal smuggling and selling of drugs in Pallel areas and Chandel district. Action Plan has been contemplated to take strong action on whoever found guilty including eviction of places of illegal activities, expulsion from the locality, handing over of the culprit to the authority concerned for taking befitting action etc.
The joint statement further mentioned that, the organizations hailed the BSF for arresting Winson Shinglai of Yeason village, Ukhrul District and presently staying at Island village near Pallel with drugs worth lakhs of rupees. He has been suspected by the people since a long time back but could not do anything due to lack of evidence, it maintained.
It has further stated that he is one of the main smuggler of drugs not only in Chandel district but to the whole part of Manipur. He pretended to be a driver of the vehicle where drugs were recovered by the BSF. But he drives to smuggle drugs to different parts of the Manipur and even to Dimapur and Nagaland as per the findings made by the organizations, it maintained.The statement also mentioned that, Winson Shinglai should be tried in the court of law and he should imprisioned to life if not be hang to death. because it is better one man die instead of thousands of youngsters to be perished.
It is also mentioned that, moreover the organizations also hailed the recent arrest of MK Ringneihoi w/o Parpa Samson Chothe of Chothe Khunou presently residing at Pallel Bazar by the Manipur Police Commandos for smuggling and selling of drugs. This couple had been on the trial by the public of Pallel for their suspicious movements, it added.
The joint statement further appeal and seeks the cooperation of the public and law enforcing authority and to conduct frequent raids at the suspected places, including residential houses, shops etc to check and control the menace of growing illegal trade of drugs in Pallel bazaar and Chandel district to make their places and drug free zones.
The joint statement also reminded the concerned shop owners and Pharmacists to stop selling of illegal drugs items like Kores, Erax, Dendrite etc and any other harmful substance from June 6 next month in Pallel bazaar areas and the joint organizations have also decided to conduct raids in the shops and suspected places and any shopkeeper including including pharmacists, individuals are found selling, keep stocks or having possession of  any narcotic drug items, they will be given strong punishment as desired fit by the organization and there will be no further warnings or excuses the release added.

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IMPHAL May 30: The Manipur Cycle Club held its ‘Critical Mass II’ on May 29. The event was participated by around 50 cyclists, and the ride began from DM College of Science and passed through Thangal and Paona Bazar.
According to a release of the club, after passing through Singjamei, the ride ended at Yaiskul Oil pump where a BMX and skating show took place as a way to attract passers by. Leaflets promoting cycling as a means of transport were also distributed.
The next Critical Mass III will be on June 26 and those interested may contact Manipur Cycle Club at 2445134. Critical Mass is a cycling event, which happens on the last Sunday of every month, where cycle enthusiasts get together to promote cycling as the key means of transport, added the release.

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IMPHAL, May 30 (Newmai News Network): The Ukhrul District Congress Committee and also the North East chapter of Jesus Gospel Ministry (JGM-NE) have condemned the bomb attack at the office of Autonomous District Council (ADC) located at Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal on May 28.
Three persons–a woman and her two daughters–were injured in the explosion on Saturday morning. Till date no organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Ukhrul District Congress Committee termed the Saturday incident as “undesirable bomb attacking culture targetting the innocent people. The Commiittee then appealed those elements responsible for such act to abstain from repeating in future.
Meanwhile, the Jesus Gospel Ministry-North East India (JGM-NEI) while asking the people involved in the May 28 incident to identify themselves, has said that such act is against any religion. “No religion permits such cruelty,” said Ashang Kasar who is the director of the JGM-NEI. He also said that acts of violence will not bring any good for the society but only more problems.

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IMPHAL, May 29: Get together function of Foodgrains Transport Trucks Owner`™s and Driver`™s Association was held today Kyamgei Heibong Makhong.

During the function, Kh Inaoba of M/s Zimomi Traders, a tranport contractor under FCI, said scarcity of foodgrains is one major factor in creating serious law & order problem and hence procurement of foodgrains and its stockpiling is utmost necessity for a state.

M/s Zimomi Traders along with another sub-contractor of the FCI have managed to regularly transport rice through NH-53 after hiring about 200 private trucks. The duo sub-contractors have been trying its best to sufficiently piled up rice stocks for the state despite of numerous problems, threats and intimidations, Inaoba added.

While stating that ferrying trucks along NH-39 has caused numerous problems due to frequent disturbances either in the forms of bandh or blockade, Inaoba also said using NH-53 instead of NH-39 would fare much for the state.

He also said Imphal-Jiri route of the NH-53 has improved since last year but need much more to be improved to fully utilise the highway throughout the year.

He also appeal all the pressure groups not to create disturbance along NH-53 particularly to trucks ferrying foodgrains and other essential commodities for the general public.

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The clamour over the visit by the Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, to Senapati district to inaugurate an office of the political party he belongs to, the Naga People`™s Front, NPF, and the whimper with which it all ended was a situation which could have best been avoided with a little diplomatic acumen on the part of the Manipur government. What ought to have been realised all along is that setting up the office of a political party is not what matters in the end, but getting MLAs and MPs elected on the tickets of the party in elections in the state. The government of Manipur, as it had done in the last minute, should have ignored the matter, or even welcomed the chief minister of the neighbouring state and invited him to touch Imphal as well for a tete-a-tete. That would have robbed the wind out of the Nagaland chief minster`™s sail, not so much as a sinister Machiavellian plan, but the goodwill contained in such a gesture would have flattened all political posturing and gimmicks. As all die hard optimists do, we too believe goodwill is excellent diplomacy on its own, intended or otherwise. The Manipur chief minister, Okram Ibobi has clarified later that he had only the consideration of the law and order situation in the state for sending out the advisory to his Nagaland counterpart to refrain from coming to the state for the function, but later relented as the Rio insisted on coming. This explanation seems like an afterthought and a desperate effort to seek an honourable way out of the slippery situation, but it must be conceded he does have a point. After all, the law and order situation Manipur is at this moment, abysmal. Years ago, everybody would remember very well how a former Speaker of the Nagaland Assembly, Thenucho, almost fell victim to bullets of the Manipur police commandos who ostensibly mistook his bodyguards for militants and opened fire killing all in his car, except him. Surely nobody would want to see such a costly catastrophe repeated at any cost.

All well that ends well. The event came and went, and if not for the clamour created by the government, probably it would have been just another ordinary routine event. This however does not mean that the event did not have any ulterior political agenda. It was indeed intended as a symbolic move to send out the message that the push for a Greater Nagaland is still very much alive. The speakers at the function, including the Nagaland chief minister was pretty honest about this. But so long as he does not incite violence, or does anything to disturb the peace, his overture, even if in bad taste, should have been considered as part of his right to free speech. In the opinion of the law of the land too, it had become quite clear after the intense debate on whether the pro-Kashmiri Azadi movement statement made in New Delhi not long ago by maverick social activist and author, Arundhati Roy, amounted to sedition or not. All will remember that the court had in this high profile case, ruled that Roy`™s statement did not, for sedition clause can only be invoked if somebody actually incites violence or calls for breach of peace.

But let those pushing the issue also not be so naive as to believe the NPF is a national party and has the mandate of the provisions of the Election Commission of India, to open office anywhere in the country. It can open offices anywhere but not as a recognized political party by the ECI. A political party can become a national party only if it manages to poll at least one percent of the total electorate in four different state in elections held in these states. Likewise, it will be a state political party if it manages to get the same percentage in a state election. The NPF has fulfilled this clause in Nagaland elections, but in not in any other states as yet. It can aspire to be a national or a regional party but for the moment it is a Nagaland state political party. Moreover, for a political party to be a regional or national party, its primary membership would have to be open to every Indian and not confined to just one ethnicity. The NPF obviously does not satisfy this criterion either and is confined to just the Nagas. If this was otherwise, and the NPF membership was open to all, we would have advised all other communities in the state to flock to it, enrol themselves and domesticate it to make it look like another Manipur party. Jokes aside, the matter could have been handled in a much more matured way, and in the process deflated many trumped up egos as well.

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