Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Pratibha Patil signs decree: New Delhi, Jan 3: Nagaland was on Thursday night brought under central rule with President Pratibha Patil putting her stamp of approval on the recommendation of the union cabinet in this regard. The President, who was handed over the recommendation yesterday, signed the proclamation on Thursday evening, Home Ministry sources said. Patil, who is at present in Hyderabad, had received the decision of the cabinet taken at its unscheduled meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January one. The cabinet meeting was convened at a short notice to discuss the political situation in Nagaland against the backdrop of the BJP-backed Democratic Alliance winning a controversial no-confidence motion last month. Nephiu Rio survived the trial of strength on the floor of the assembly on December 13when it was defeated 23-19 in the 60-member House after Speaker barred three independents from taking part in voting and held that the votes of nine dissident ruling NPF...

NPA, Rio fight battle of Kohima in Delhi: Dimapur: With the state plunging into political uncertainty following the December 13 vote of no confidence motion and subsequent political developments in Nagaland, the Union Cabinet is expected to decide on the report of the Governor K.Sankaranarayanan by Thursday. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nephiu Rio has rushed back to the state after attending the National Development Council meeting in New Delhi, where he also held a series of discussions with leaders of UPA partners -- NCP, LJP and the Left. CPI general secretary AB Bardhan was reportedly opposed to President’s Rule in the state. On Tuesday, a delegation of the Nagaland Progressive Alliance (NPA) led by its leader I. Imkong, CLP leader, had also met several central ministers and AICC functionaries demanding installation of an alternative government by the newly formed NPA. In Dimapur, the Dimapur District Congress Committee had reportedly resolved at a meeting held on Wednesday that par...