Kohima: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday issued a statement reaffirming its support to the ongoing movement ‘against unabated taxation(ACAUT)’ spearheaded by the Action Committee, while criticising the Naga Peoples Front led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Government for partially blaming the Central Government for the ‘taxation’ happening in the State.
A release from the NPCC media cell stated that the DAN Government cannot absolve itself from the cries and demands of the people burdened with unabated taxation which has reached a boiling point.
It said that since the main demand of the ACAUT is for one tax only to each Naga national group and an end to dealership and syndicate systems, which has led to monopolisation of the market and manipulation of prices by some few individuals, the DAN Government ‘shifting the blame on the Congress Government at the Centre for not ensuring rehabilitation package for the Naga underground groups is simply a naive approach to the serious issue confronting the state.’
Further it stated that ‘overwhelming response’ to today’s bandh in Dimapur and Kohima called by Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) under the aegis of Naga Council Dimapur and Kohima Town Traders Union (KTTU) respectively, and supported by various business establishments in different districts should be an eye opener for the DAN Government.
The statement further pointed out that the movement to check unabated taxation and corruption should start with the state government itself ‘as brought out earlier by the NPCC and which has also been highlighted even by the Naga National groups.’
However, it stated that it was bewildering to note the silence of the same civil societies when it comes to the acts of omission and commission committed by the State Government for the past decade.
‘The system of commission institutionalized by the DAN government slices nearly 40 per cent of any payment made by the state government and this has silenced the government itself to turn a blind eye to other nefarious activities across the state.’
It also expressed concern that the mushrooming of illegal syndicates and dealerships in addition to numerous welfare associations, NGOs and civil societies engaged in collection of funds under the patronage of some individuals or groups with vested interest has throttled the economy of the state.
Meanwhile, the NPCC appealed to the people of the state to unanimously stand and fight against the issue of unabated taxation and not to be cowed down by intimidation and threats which may be posed by some people with vested interest. (UNI)